Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

I saw this link on FLW's web page today.  Once I read the article, I wondered if it could happen here?  What do others think? 

http://www.flwoutdoors.com/article.cfm?id=145160

Maybe what they have to do is "threaten" not to have live release and just keep all the fish. I know that is not a desirable outcome for most of us, but if they are going to mess with tournaments like this then you can legally you can keep the fish. We have had to resort to "the threat" a few times when on lakes that are interconnected and the DNR wanted us to ask each angler which lake they caught their fish in and then release them in that lake. It just wouldn't have worked in this case. They gave us grief until we told them that we would just keep all the fish. (We wouldn't have but it did work.) Lt. Dan probably has the stats on if and how fishing during those months actually hurts the population or increases likelihood of LMBV.? Sounds to me like they are concerned about LMBV, and if that is the case maybe certain lakes would have to be left alone. If we get a call for arms we need data like Lt. Dan takes when he's on the offensive. Educated and informed and in numbers you usually can affect change.

If this doesn't help anglers understand why I go to all the meetings I do, write letters and speak out as much as I can, I don't know what will. I do let the frustration get to me sometimes about why so many anglers won't do their part to protect their sport they say they love so much. Some tell me this kind of stuff will never happen and don't believe when I tell them it already has.

It's worse when it happens in another northern state because they all tend to follow each others' lead to some degree or another. We have similar concerns about largemouth bass virus and other use issues in Michigan, and when you add that to the situation that a fair amount of people don't like bass tournaments, it's not a matter of will it happen, but when will it happen.

You got me sharpening my sword Lt. Dan.