Letter from the DNR.

[dartag]

Anyone get this letter.  one of my co-workers is on the dnr mailing list.    wish I had steelhead in my lake.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2012

Contact: Tami Pullen, 517-373-1230 or Ed Golder, 517-335-3014


Catch-and-immediate-release bass fishing season opens April 28

The Department of Natural Resources would like to remind anglers that although it has felt like summer on many days recently, the bass fishing season is not open yet.

The catch-and-immediate-release bass fishing season will not open until Saturday, April 28, 2012. Michigan conservation officers have noticed an increase in anglers targeting bass illegally this spring, likely due to the warm weather Michigan has been experiencing.

"Anglers need to be aware it is not legal to target largemouth or smallmouth bass prior to April 28," warned the DNR's Sgt. Robert Torres. "If anglers are seen deliberately targeting those species prior to April 28, they can be ticketed."

Instead of targeting bass illegally, the DNR advises anglers to take advantage of the many other spring fishing opportunities available in Michigan.

"Fishing for panfish and steelhead are the two main fishing activities plentiful this time of year," said DNR fisheries biologist Mark Tonello. "Anglers should pursue crappie and bluegill in particular, as April can offer some of the best panfishing of the entire year. Steelhead runs have also been very impressive this year, with many fish entering Michigan rivers during the warm, wet month of March."

For more information on fishing for these species in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing and click on Angler Information.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.

[Waterfoul]

Just one more reason to change the season!!!

[djkimmel]

I get the daily digest by email and that one is not in today's digest that I received? Was it an actual paper letter, or an email? Might be a different list I don't know about or some different setting maybe?

I feel it is a sign of the building pressure for change from many people with the inevitable opposite reaction pressure from fear of change and 'don't want more people on my lake' and the other things that come up whenever this kind of thing occurs. I'm betting more people now than ever are just ignoring the law because they don't believe it is necessary. People just want to fish. There is always some backlash to that for many different reasons we have discussed on here.

No matter what, there will be some people who call the MDNR and complain, and the MDNR will feel like they have to respond to that since there is the thing about the law.

Your high physics teacher probably mentioned to you about the general rule of action and reaction. Hopefully, we are reaching the mass of change that will overwhelm and bowl of the people who are afraid of change, or have their other various reasons to be against it that have nothing to do with protecting bass.

I am hearing from more people about running into CO's out looking for bass fishing out of season. Maybe a little more than previous years. Probably because of that early warm spell. But also because it is building to a pressure point. More people than ever seem to be doing it. Maybe the ease of social media is just bringing it out more into the open since all of us on here know that it has been going on for decades.

I am not saying I condone that. Most of the time, I just do my best to keep you informed of present laws, regulations and things going on so you can make your own personal, informed decision. I was personally asked to set an example to follow the law when we had the MDNR meeting were the new regulation was announced a few years ago. I've done my best to do that in the spirit of creating good will with the MDNR. That is one of the main reasons I ask that none of you talk about it on this website. They do come here and read from time to time. Thanks.