Great Lakes Bass Fishing Forum

Member Services - Find a Fishing Partner, Contests => General Calendar Events => Topic started by: djkimmel on July 13, 2014, 07:43:31 PM

Title: Public Meeting Gaylord Wed 7/23 6pm on proposed MI bass season regulations
Post by: djkimmel on July 13, 2014, 07:43:31 PM
Public opinion needed on proposed bass season regulations (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/conservation/index.php/2014/07/13/public-opinion-sought-on-bass-seasons)

Online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BassRegs) on proposed Michigan bass season changes also available

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is asking for public input through public meetings and online survey on proposed largemouth and smallmouth bass season regulation changes. Photo: Michigan DNRIn order to get public input on proposed regulations to expand Michigan's bass fishing seasons, the Department of Natural Resources has announced an online survey and public meetings throughout the state in July.

For the past year the DNR's Fisheries Division has been working with the Warmwater Resources Steering Committee (a public advisory group) to discuss expansion of bass seasons.


The public can hear about the four bass season options, discuss them and provide their input to the Michigan DNR during a meeting Wednesday, July 23, 6-7:30 p.m. (EDT) at the DNR Field Office, 1732 W. M-32, Gaylord (North Michigan).




Read the Public opinion needed on proposed bass season regulations article (http://www.greatlakesbass.com/conservation/index.php/2014/07/13/public-opinion-sought-on-bass-seasons) on GreatLakesBass.com Conservation, Legislaton and Environment News for additional meetings dates, times, locations and details.

For more information or questions on these meetings visit www.michigan.gov/fishing (http://www.michigan.gov/fishing) or contact the Michigan DNR: Patrick Hanchin, 231-547-2914, ext. 227; Elyse Walter, 517-284-5839 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815.
Title: Re: Public Meeting Gaylord Wed 7/23 6pm on proposed MI bass season regulations
Post by: djkimmel on July 13, 2014, 07:44:10 PM
If you are able to attend this meeting and willing to handout some information before the meeting please contact Dan Kimmel (http://glbass.com/contact).

PDF Resources
Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation Bass Season Proposal (http://glb.glwimg.com/docs/MDNR-Proposal-Bass-Season2013-04-21-full.pdf)
-With full supporting documentation and research citations. This is one of the 4 options being presented to the public.
MUCC Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation Bass Season Resolution (http://glb.glwimg.com/docs/2014-Michigan-BASS-Nation-Bass-Season-Proposal-adopted2014-06-22.pdf)
-The bass season resolution as passed by MUCC delegates at their state convention June 22, 2014. This is MUCC's organization policy now.
Title: Re: Public Meeting Gaylord Wed 7/23 6pm on proposed MI bass season regulations
Post by: djkimmel on July 13, 2014, 07:44:22 PM
BASS SEASON OPTIONS
Here are the 4 bass season options as described from the survey the MDNR is asking for public input on (the order and language may be different from various sources including the online survey, a mailed survey and what will be presented at the public meetings):




MDNR BASS SEASON STATEMENT
Here is the introductory language from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources from their public online bass season regulations survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BassRegs) regarding Michigan largemouth and smallmouth bass populations and management. If you have not taken the survey yet please do so.

Quote from: MDNR SurveyLargemouth and smallmouth bass populations are widely distributed across Michigan and populations are maintained by natural reproduction. Over the past year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Fisheries Division has been working with the Warmwater Resources Steering Committee (WRSC), a public advisory group, to discuss possible expansion of bass seasons. Several regulation options related to expanding bass seasons have been developed.

Expanding either the catch-and-immediate-release or traditional harvest seasons (by setting earlier start dates or year-round fishing) would pose a slight risk to bass populations in that it would likely increase fishing effort during the spawning period. Current bass seasons allow fishing (catch-and-immediate-release and then harvest) over spawning bass. The regulation expansion options being discussed would, to varying degrees, increase the extent to which possession and harvest are allowed during the spawn. However, bass populations would still be protected by a winter no-harvest season, the 14-inch minimum size limit, and the daily possession limit of five fish. Fisheries Division biologists are not in full agreement with the proposed changes, and conservation officers have some concerns related to law enforcement; however, the regulation options meet the biological requirements determined by fisheries managers and they likely only present a slight risk to bass populations. The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) and DNR, Fisheries Division have the authority and responsibility to protect and manage the fisheries resources of the state of Michigan.

Opinion surveys are a management tool used by Fisheries Division to gauge public opinion so we can best accomplish our statutory responsibility. The objective of this survey is to determine whether the public supports increased angling opportunities for largemouth and smallmouth bass through the use of changes to seasons. We encourage you to take the time to complete this review and answer the questions with respect to your angling desires.



If you do not want to see Michigan continue to be 1 of only 4 states with a statewide closed bass season, please make sure you take the online survey and take the time to attend 1 of these public meetings!