Out here in OR there are seasons for trout in streams, salmon,  steelhead, etc.

 

No season closures for bass, walleye and lots of other warm water species, and no limits on size or numbers in lots of waters, but they are trying to eradicate them from many waters. 

 

 

I don’t understand who or what group is proposing this But, it is completely nonsense.  I know the MiDNR biologist are against it. Its only hope is getting this proposal rammed through the NRC (MI Natural Resources Commision). The NRC is basically, the board of directors that overseas the MiDNR.  The NRC is all political appointees appointed by the sitting Governor which, has turned the NRC  into a total clown show. I’m assuming it’s one of our lovely fishing guides with a buddy with a seat on the NRC trying to ram this through. 

 

So I have not fished the lakes mentioned but, have fished Crystal in Benzie county which, is a very similar lake.  May and June is about the only time those fish are in a decent depth to catch.  Once the water warms up above 65F  those bass are heading for 40-70ft of water.

 

The last thing we need are a bunch of jack wagons Ripping a bass out of 40-70 ft and trying to fizz a fish “ I saw it on Youtube how hard can it be”.  I’m not a fan of bed fishing but, i’d rather allow bed fishing that than ripping them out of 40-70 ft. Ripping any fish out of those depths for catch and release is not a good idea. If your keeping them to eat than it is what it is. 

 

It took Michigan long enough to get a year round catch and release season.  We have had year round catch and release for almost 10 years now.  Allowing this to happen would be a major step backwards. 

On 10/23/2025 at 6:06 AM, 12poundbass said:

 It this isn’t the state pushing this, it’s one person on a lake association and the sheep are following. Now I get the representatives are supposed to listen to their constituents. Hopefully in this case listen to science as well.

 

So theoretically a group of homeowners could say they want their section of a state highway changed from 55mph to 25mph  even though science and safety say it’s a terrible idea and the state is going to rollover? Not a chance! 

They are trying to do an End around using the NRC.  The NRC sets the policy for the DNR.  The only thing the DNR can do is make suggestions to the NRC.  It is the NRC that makes all of the policy and the DNR has to enforce it.  The only thing that the NRC can’t do is add game species or set licenses prices.  Those two things has to come from the state legislature. If the NRC votes to close the catch and release seasons on those lakes.  The MiDNR is bound by law to follow the directive. 

 

The NRC started with good intentions however, it has turned into a special interest and political nightmare.  There are people on the board who have zero idea most of the time of what is being proposed. 

The real problem is if it passes and does no harm.  It might then spread to other lakes or states.  I could see MN change it mind and scrap the new C&R season here. 

Smallmouth season used to be restricted on St Clair until a few science based studies were done to prove it had no effect to open it up to C&R.  Heck, I’m so old, I remember when it was illegal to use a dropshot on St Clair due to the hook being above the weight.  

Without passing judgement one way or the other,

I'll simply post the results of the November 6th NRC meeting in Lansing, MI.

Final Verdict ~ Inland Waterway Bass fishing Closure Defeated. 

https://www.greatlakesbass.com/news/conservation/closures/inland-waterway-bass-fishing-closure-defeated/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOT_PJleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF4RWg5MHZxM3hLdDlWZnBRc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHn82_hzq_bYlfLIUIrqR4SsBpNZBsM5V23p90Pc_cRRDYiQGWv9qC4NeaR06_aem_AWDaMDtsqm_86vCPocouTw

A-Jay

 

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Without passing judgement one way or the other,

You’re such a Saint. 
 

I’ll say it, 

 

1 hour ago, 12poundbass said:

You’re such a Saint. 

If you only knew . . . .

#dismas

A-Jay

 

Good deal!!!

9 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Good deal!!!

It certainly is.

And don't think for one minute that I wasn't sweating it.

At least a little.

A-Jay

 

On 10/26/2025 at 4:29 PM, Mbirdsley said:

I don’t understand who or what group is proposing this But, it is completely nonsense.  I know the MiDNR biologist are against it. Its only hope is getting this proposal rammed through the NRC (MI Natural Resources Commision). The NRC is basically, the board of directors that overseas the MiDNR.  The NRC is all political appointees appointed by the sitting Governor which, has turned the NRC  into a total clown show. I’m assuming it’s one of our lovely fishing guides with a buddy with a seat on the NRC trying to ram this through. 

 

So I have not fished the lakes mentioned but, have fished Crystal in Benzie county which, is a very similar lake.  May and June is about the only time those fish are in a decent depth to catch.  Once the water warms up above 65F  those bass are heading for 40-70ft of water.

 

The last thing we need are a bunch of jack wagons Ripping a bass out of 40-70 ft and trying to fizz a fish “ I saw it on Youtube how hard can it be”.  I’m not a fan of bed fishing but, i’d rather allow bed fishing that than ripping them out of 40-70 ft. Ripping any fish out of those depths for catch and release is not a good idea. If your keeping them to eat than it is what it is. 

 

It took Michigan long enough to get a year round catch and release season.  We have had year round catch and release for almost 10 years now.  Allowing this to happen would be a major step backwards. 

 

This was essentially one wealthy guys efforts that lives on said lake that were fortunately curbed.

 

The reality is this, lets just call them Karens, with money that live on these lakes and form "associations" are the next big enemy that anglers will face... Frankly, regarding weed treatments, we have been facing them for a very long time. 

 

Long Lake here in Grand Traverse County last year, they got a state grant to double the size of their parking lot and boat ramps, after using the state tax payer dollars to do such improvements, they "the township and lake association" immediately attempted to implement a $20+ dollar per day use fee on BOTH public ramps, with no option for annual pass or anything, basically making it to where the average angler, would be much less inclined to fish the lake. Effectively making it a private lake to some degree, despite the fact that public anglers had paid to create and manage the fisheries within it for decades and non-township/association dollars paid to revamp the ramps and parking area...

 

It ticked off the state enough they had their lawyers look over the terms of the grants, which in the end, the state had no say over what the township did, but there was enough of an uproar, mostly from local anglers that the decision was overturned. 

 

This kind of stuff will only get worse with time, why it's imperative for anglers to stay united, regardless of how one fishes or what they fish for... We also need a DNR Fisheries Division that has the capability of doing regular surveys to curb special interest groups from gaining traction... Had the MDNR not gone out and conducted that Fall survey, they wouldn't have had enough hard evidence to dispute the efforts, there is essentially a war over the science taking place, everyday.