Here’s where we are at right now. 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 that chain and Black Lake from May 1 until the third Saturday in June!
Luckily, the NRC as a whole tabled this last-minute amendment for input and clarification until at least the November NRC meeting. We need to let the entire NRC, all 7 Commissioners know what we think about this big step backward BEFORE the November 6, 2025 NRC meeting. I will be at that meeting in Lansing to speak. It would be VERY helpful if any of you could also attend to speak about this topic as it looks like there’s not a lot of interest if only 1 person shows up.
What we need before that is for you to email all of the NRC Commissioners at the nrc@michigan.gov email address your thoughts and concerns about this amendment. Be aware that Commissioner Walters originally included the entire Elk-Torch Chain in this same smallmouth bass fishing closure.
He is doing this because he lives in Indian River and knows the persons from the Burt Lake Preservation Association (which is really just another lake association). These persons are seriously pushing their “save the smallmouth bass from the gobies” agenda to all the lakes in Northern Michigan. They got a bunch of other lake associations to sign on to this idea that the smallmouth bass aren’t spawning successfully anymore because they can’t see all of the same shallow beds on Burt Lake they used to see. These same people claim they can count the number of eggs on a bed just by looking at it above the water??? They point out fishing during ‘the spawn,’ especially bass tournaments as being bad, without any actual scientific support.
So first, this is NOT the Michigan DNR doing this. They also oppose this amendment as unnecessary. They are not seeing any evidence any regulation changes are needed due to gobies. The MDNR has told Commissioner Walters they have no plans for a study to look at this. If you are aware at all of their budget challenges, they cannot afford to pursue unnecessary research.
So that is Reason Number 1 we do not need this new closed bass season. There is no point in creating a season and calling it a test if there will be no before and after research to scientifically prove anything about this change.
Reason Number 2, the MDNR Fisheries Division is saying they do not see any need for this unnecessary restriction after considering the literature and what they do know about the smallmouth bass fishing in Michigan. So, the scientists are saying this season closure is not scientifically necessary.
Reason Number 3, the Michigan United Conservation Clubs is opposed through policy to this season closure. They would only consider supporting a test on a few lakes IF it appeared to be scientifically necessary (see Reason Number 2), and the MDNR was going to do an actual study of such a closure (see Reason Number 1).
Since this will not be a study and the scientists are saying it is not necessary, MUCC is opposed to a bass season closure.
Reason Number 4, no one else anywhere has closed a bass season dues to gobies. This is a pretty good sign it is not considered scientifically necessary, and it has been looked at by Ohio and Ontario. Neither the Ontario or Ohio studies showed population level negative harm, and the was the consideration that mattered.
Michigan would be the only state or province closing a bass season dues to gobies. That doesn’t look very good or scientific.
This would set a seriously bad precedent that could be extended to huge areas of smallmouth bass waters considering everywhere gobies are present. Something this significant should not be considered just because some non-scientists are behaving as if their unprofessional observations have any true scientific basis.
Studies have shown smallmouth bass are bedding deeper on many waters due to a number of changes. These locals on Burt Lake are not even aware there are deep bedding bass out there. They believe all the bass bed where they can see them, and they think they are not seeing as many now.
Reason Number 5 – because of this amendment, the MDNR Fisheries Division just performed a survey at Burt Lake looking for young bass. They were able to find plenty of young bass showing there is adequate spawning success occurring at Burt Lake. There’s no truth to claims there are no small bass in the chain of lakes. There is no evidence that bass recruitment is a problem.
I was up there are Mullett Lake in mid-June somewhat post-spawn, and I never have any difficulty catching small bass too, and seeing evidence of bass spawning success in fry, fingerlings and bass that are obviously only a year or two old.
Reason Number 6 – this would be another questionably enforceable regulation as it would STILL be legal to fish for walleye, pike and muskie during this bass closure, leading to more accusations that someone saying they are walleye fishing is actually bass fishing, etc. We took a very long time to get away from most of that online and live angler arguing and accusations. We do not need to return there just because a few lake association people believe they are now scientists. Regardless, people will still be catching bass during such a closure because they can legally be out there fishing with the same lures during that period.
What you can do is simply write an email to nrc@michigan.gov BEFORE November 6 stating you oppose this bass season closure on Burt and Mullett chain (The Inland Waterway). You could go further and state you oppose any bass season closure due to gobies. You can mention any of the reasons above, and/or use something more personal to yourself.
Please be respectful remembering that only 1 Commissioner so far is pushing for this amendment. The NRC has complete authority on fish and game regulations so they could still re-insert this amendment and pass it legally, but I believe if enough of us show solid, consistent opposition to it, they will drop it for now. I can tell you, the so-called Burt Lake Preservation Association is not going to give up. They also have money they are willing to put towards this though no entity has taken them up on their offer to put some money towards a study, so far.
You could actually have even greater impact by calling any of the 7 commissioners directly and telling them how you feel. Most of them have a phone number listed on michigan.gov/nrc at the link to their contact information. Becky Humphries is the present Chair. She is a good person to contact about this. Do not only contact Commissioner Walters. He is the starter of this for questionable reasons, but we need the other Commissioners to clearly hear the opposition to this amendment.
Please share this information with your fellow anglers if you would. The more outcry, the better to stop this bad amendment before it really gets somewhere.
It would be super helpful if you could attend the NRC meeting in November and ask to speak on this topic during the public speaking session. I realize it is quite a commitment, but this is a very important issue to stop before it catches, and spreads.
The meeting usually lasts a good part of the day. They go through the presentations by the Director and the DNR before they get to the public speaking portion. That part of the agenda can begin at about any time during the day, and there may be a good number of public speakers.
If you contact nrc@michigan.gov before October 31 end of day, you can get on the agenda to speak for 5 minutes. If you sign up after that date or at the meeting, you get 3 minutes. You are timed, and the time flies when you are speaking to the Commission. I will be signing up shortly to make sure I get 5 minutes.
The November meeting is Thursday, November 6, 2025 at Lansing Community College, West Campus Rooms M119-121, 5708 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing, Michigan 48917.
Please remember, at any time, these appointed Commissioners can make or change regulations that affect your sport. They need to hear from you. At minimum, please email them. If you have questions or comments, please contact me. Thank you.
