Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Just before the October Natural Resources Committee meeting on Thursday, October 9 in the Upper Peninsula, Commissioner John Walters added in an amendment to Fisheries Order 206 – "Bass - Closed bass CIR season from May 1 – Friday before the third Saturday in June for Burt, Mullet, Crooked, Pickerel, and Black Lakes and their connecting waters."

This means NO bass fishing on the Inland Waterway from May 1 until the third Saturday in June. I've been sick with bronchitis so I missed this until the night of the NRC meeting. Thank goodness the NRC tabled this amendment for input and clarification until at least the November 6, 2025 meeting.

This is coming out of the so-called Burt Lake Preservation Association (lake association really) pushing the MDNR hard to do something about the changes they think they are seeing in shallow beds on Burt Lake and they are blaming gobies.

This is a great case of reverse scientific method. Unfortunately, despite multiple times being told there's nothing that need to be done about this by the Michigan DNR, this group is being relentless. They say they are not anti-tournament, but that's the type of fishing they keep mentioning the most. They are not clear on many things including thinking there were regular bass tournaments in mid-May, which is of course, not true.

Commissioner Walters is from there and knows these people so he is doing this for them despite DNR and MUCC opposition.

To be clear, this is NOT the MDNR doing this. It is one NRC Commissioner. Unfortunately, they have the authority over all fish and game regulations so they could adopt this.

If you do not like this type of loss of fishing - a complete closure again for about 7 weeks, and especially if you are worried about this being expanded to more goby waters, please take action. I am posting an action alert that will be on the home page of this website shortly with how to act and information that might be helpful.

You can always email nrc@michigan.gov and tell them what you think. That will get to the entire 7 Commissioners. They rarely hear from bass anglers, yet they have complete authority. You can find out more about the NRC and the Commissioners at michigan.gov/nrc.