MDNR Public Meetings Announced

[djkimmel]

Below is the press release announcing 24 public meetings on the bass season issue. Note I've marked two sentences that show that the MDNR is definitely expecting to lead anglers to reach their 'acceptable' conclusion.

You can get your own copy of the release here: Bass Season public meetings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 22 JUL 04
Contact: Todd Grischke, 517-373-1280

Meetings set to discuss proposed bass season changes

State fisheries officials today announced 24 public meetings throughout the state in August to gather input on proposed bass season changes.

The DNR in April finalized a report called “Black Bass Fishing Seasons in Michigan,” now available on the DNR web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. **The report identifies ways to provide additional recreational fishing opportunities without putting bass populations at risk.**

At a May meeting of the External Coolwater Regulations Committee – a group that includes Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Michigan BASS Federation, Michigan Musky Alliance, Michigan Darkhouse Angling Association, Pikemasters, Michigan State University and University of Michigan fisheries professors – the group reviewed the report and unanimously supported moving forward with the public review process.

**Four of the seven scenarios identified in the report will be the focus of the public meetings.** The forums are intended to provide background information on the proposed season changes, answer questions about the report, and take public input on the proposals. The meeting schedule includes the following:

Aug. 2: 7 p.m., Newaygo County Sportsmans Club, 7951 Elm Avenue (just north of M‑82), Newaygo

Aug. 3: 7 p.m., Cadillac Junior High School Cafeteria, 500 Chestnut Street, Cadillac

Aug. 4: 7 p.m., Traverse City Civic Center, 1213 West Civic Center Drive, Traverse City

Aug. 5: 7 p.m., Gander Mountain, 43825 West Oaks, Novi

Aug. 10: Walli's East Motor Lodge, G-1341 South Center Rd, Flint

Aug. 10: 7 p.m., Escanaba Civic Center, 225 N. 21st St., Escanaba

Aug. 10: 7 p.m., Charlevoix High School, library room

Aug. 11: 7:30 p.m., Jackson County Outdoor Club, 3550 Hart Road, Jackson

Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., Caledonia Sports Club, 10721 Coldwater SE, Middleville

Aug. 17: 7 p.m., Great Lakes Grill Conference Center, 817 E. State St., Cheboygan

Aug. 17: 7 p.m., Bay City State Park, near Bay City

Aug. 18: 7 p.m., Best Western, M‑32, Gaylord

Aug. 18: 7 p.m., Chesterfield Twp., 47275 Sugarbush, Chesterfield

Aug. 18: 6 p.m., Dickinson County Library Conference Room, Iron Mountain

Aug. 18: 7:30 p.m., Three Rivers Community Center, 103 South Douglas Ave, Three Rivers

Aug. 19: 7 p.m., Van Buren Township Hall, 46425 Tyler Road, Belleville

Aug. 19: 7 p.m., Days Inn, 1496 M‑32 West, Alpena

Aug. 20: 7 p.m., Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare

Aug. 23: 8 p.m., Tahquamenon Area Sportsmen's Clubhouse

Aug. 24: 7 p.m., MSU Extension Office, 1040 S. Winter St., River Raisin Room, Adrian

Aug. 24: 7 p.m. (EST), Negaunee Township Hall, 43 M‑35, Negaunee

Aug. 25: 7 pm (CST), Gogebic Comm. College, Solin Center, Room B‑2, Ironwood

Aug. 31: 7 p.m., Manistique Courthouse, Manistique

[djkimmel]

It appears the MDNR has decided to cram the meetings into a small calendar - 24 in one month - probably to make sure we are limited in how many we can attend. There are up to 4 in one night.

We will definitely need to enlist local help in leading anglers who want more bass opportunity at these meetings since the MDNR will be doing their 'dog-and-pony' show on how there are only a few acceptable choices really. We will need to counter the absurb claims to the anglers at the meetings that are unsure.

By the first meeting, we will have some people identified and asked to help lead. We will need everyone to plan to at least attend one in their area. We need some willing to speak and as many as possible willing to raise their hand in case any kind of vote is held. (If they do hold a vote of some kind - the old show-of-hands - and don't allow all the options to be voted on, don't vote on one that is not acceptable and we would also, of course respond to any such attempt.) We plan on probably having our own new proposal put forward and ask for your support. We are waiting to see the MUCC and bass federation's final positions.

We will have information available to counter the things the MDNR claims that doesn't match the real science available around the country - the stuff they are ignoring like "why do only 6 states even have a closed season if it is so necessary?" And "why do all these other states that allow their anglers to fish still have bass if the risk is so great?"

I will be attending as many of these meetings as humanly possible and be prepared that if I see any possible violation of process at the public meetings to contact whomever is needed to get the MDNR back on a level and fair playing field. Hopefully, they won't attempt anything, but rumors still exist that the MDNR has discussed ways to limit certain 'types' of anglers at the meetings. I will be prepared for that circumstance just in case it happens.

Anthony and I are looking at seeing about arranging some pre-meetings too at least maybe before one of the northern meetings since we haven't been up there yet. I will notify everyone if we can set that up.

I would like to hear from people who are pretty sure they can attend a meeting on what meeting they will attend. Please post here or email me once you know. Thanks.

[Eric]

I will go to Newaygo.

[djkimmel]

Thanks Eric. I'm working on additional information for anglers attending the meetings to use.

[Dan]

Hey Dan,
We will have Tear Drop Tournament Trail anglers at the Newaygo, Cadillac, Traverse City, and Caledonia meetings. Any input as to what you would like us to emphasize would be welcomed.

Dan Shine

You can email me from the link at teardropbass.com

[djkimmel]

Great Dan (hey, nice name !

I'll have some things to you by the end of this weekend.

[djkimmel]

The August 10 meeting in Flint starts at 7 PM.

There are only 23 meetings listed and that appears to be it.

A number of anglers have commented about a lack of a meeting in the far SE of the state or between Muskegon/Grand Rapids/Holland. There may be an opportunity to request more meetings at the early meetings.

[djkimmel]

It’s time for the public meetings. Here are the meetings I plan on attending (I will be there early with petitions and also have a handout which I’ll post below if you wish to check it out and/or hand out at meetings you attend that I can’t make):

Aug. 2: 7 p.m., Newaygo County Sportsmans Club, 7951 Elm Avenue (just north of M-82), Newaygo

Aug. 3: 7 p.m., Cadillac Junior High School Cafeteria, 500 Chestnut Street, Cadillac

Aug. 5: 7 p.m., Gander Mountain, 43825 West Oaks, Novi

Aug. 10: 7 PM Walli's East Motor Lodge, G-1341 South Center Rd, Flint

Aug. 11: 7:30 p.m., Jackson County Outdoor Club, 3550 Hart Road, Jackson

Aug. 12, 7:30 p.m., Caledonia Sports Club, 10721 Coldwater SE, Middleville

Aug. 17: 7 p.m., Bay City State Park, near Bay City

Aug. 18: 7 p.m., Chesterfield Twp., 47275 Sugarbush, Chesterfield

Aug. 19: 7 p.m., Van Buren Township Hall, 46425 Tyler Road, Belleville

Aug. 20: 7 p.m., Jay's Sporting Goods in Clare

Aug. 24: 7 p.m., MSU Extension Office, 1040 S. Winter St., River Raisin Room, Adrian

I will attempt to speak at all. I will post some of what I want to cover in the next couple of days for those of you who also want to speak at a meeting. I would appreciate if you can make any meetings, please do so and also bring as many other people as you can. If you want, you can just restate what is on the petition about what you do and don’t want to see done.

If you especially can make one of the other meetings with some petitions and the handout that would really be great. Traverse City, Alpena, and Three Rivers are probably key meetings that we need good representation at. I think Escanaba is probably the key meeting in the UP. If you are interested in speaking at one of these meetings or any other one, please don’t hesitate to contact me for any help I can offer.

[djkimmel]

Did you know?
· Only 6 states have a significant closed bass season. The other 43 states allow their anglers to fish legally for bass all year.
o The closed states are Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, New York and Vermont.
o Wisconsin, Maine and Vermont have legal spring catch-and-release seasons; New York has early May openers on Lake Erie and the Finger Lakes.
o Minnesota has an early May opener for bass that includes keeping them in the extreme northeast because residents there consider them a nuisance species.
o Northern states that allow their bass anglers to fish for bass legally all year (catch-and-keep or catch-and-release) include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Washington among others.
· The trend recently in the northern states has been to liberalize bass seasons, not shorten them. Pennsylvania went to year-round bass fishing on all waters by adding a catch-and-release season all spring. Wisconsin added a May catch-and-release season.
· Michigan has had legal catch-and-release bass fishing on 6 lakes for 16 years that open April 1. Those lakes – Muskegon, Hardy Dam Pond, Holloway, Cass, Pontiac and Kent – still have plenty of bass despite being the only legal catch-and-release lakes all that time.
o An MDNR study was done on these lakes and showed that no affect was apparent to the bass population because of the spring catch-and-release fishing added to the existing bass season. Pennsylvania used this study in designing their catch-and-release season.
o The study showed that we could increase bass fishing opportunity in Michigan with almost no risk by adding a spring catch-and-release bass fishing season.
· Despite bass being the most popular gamefish in Michigan and being the most widespread, they have the shortest season in Michigan of any gamefish.
· The MDNR stocks trout, salmon and walleye consistently to supplement fishing opportunities. Bass are rarely stocked and almost never to supplement a fishery. The MDNR has stated in the past that “bass take care of themselves” as to why they don’t stock them.
· Studies have consistently shown for decades that fishing during the bass spawn does not correlate to a less successful spawn. That is why so few states have a closed bass season. The following statements are from the Minnesota DNR
o Largely because of the male's fastidiousness in building and guarding the nest, many fry survive, and a few adult bass can quickly populate new waters. In fact, researchers have found no correlation between the number of spawning bass and the subsequent number of young-of-the-year fish. The success of the spawn depends entirely on good spawning areas and stable weather. (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/biology.html on bass biology)
o As with the largemouth, research on smallmouth has shown no relationship between the number of spawning fish and the success of the spawn. The strength of the year class depends solely on water conditions - in particular, the absence of a sudden cold snap or muddy floodwaters that can kill eggs and fry.” (http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fish/bass/biology.html on bass biology)
o Even MDNR studies support this: “Generally, there is no close relationship between the number of adult bass and the number of fingerling recruits they produce” (Latta 1974, 1975). “Only six adults per acre can produce excessive numbers of fingerlings” (Schrouder et al. 1989; Mraz 1964).” “Generally, anglers are unable to catch every bass, or even enough bass to harm recruitment” (Bennett 1972).
· The MDNR has allowed some harvest during our bass spawn legally for over 30 years since our season opens during the southern spawn and before most of the northern spawn. Despite this, we have better bass fishing than ever on many waters.
· About 80% of Michigan bass anglers state they release most of the bass they catch.
· 92% of all bass caught on Lake St. Clair last year were released.


For more information, please contact the Michigan Bass Anglers at 810-658-2540 or visit:
www.michiganbassanglers.com or hometown.aol.com/djkimmel/fishing/bassseason.htm

[Dan]

Hey Dan,
It was an interesting meeting at Newaygo. Wished more people would have shown up. Learned a lot from you and appreciate your efforts. Is anyone helping to defray your traveling expenses to these meetings? I have called a number of our Tear Drop anglers and they have told me they plan to attend the Cadillac meeting. I will be collecting names from locals and at our tournaments on the petitions you gave me.

Thanks again
Dan Shine
teardropbass.com

[djkimmel]

We had a little better turnout at the Cadillac meeting, but still disappointing overall - 10 anglers counting Anthony Adams and I. One lake association guy. One reporter from the Ludington Daily News. He interviewed several of us for a column.

I appreciate you coming. We did not do a good job of getting out the message enough in the north. That definitely showed at Cadillac. They did all sign the petition, but their views were mixed on some issues although they all seemed to feel the MDNR had an agenda and had already made their decision - which the MDNR denies.

Most said don't take away their regular season at all and about half said leave it the way it is. One said he liked proposal 6. I was surprised.

Thanks for the petitions. We will need them. It won't be enough just to counter the MDNR's weak points especially the way things are setup.

I expect better turnouts at some of the southern meetings. I have at least two good guys going tonight to Traverse City for me. I needed a night off to see my wife and get some things done around the house including rewriting my speech a little more for Novi Thursday night.

As far as my expenses, there's a possibility some may be covered, but I will do what I can and think needs to be done and worry about the finances later. Thanks again.
Dan

[djkimmel]

I'm very disappointed in some of the things the MDNR is using as 'science' at the meetings. It's important you come and see for yourself and make sure you're heard.

I would like to post more about it but I didn't get home until about 2AM last night from Cadillac and I need to rewrite my speech again with more hard facts anglers need to hear to counter some of the nonsense.

We need turnout and we need a good, consistent front. Only 5 people at the first meeting and 10 last night counting myself.

They are trying to get everyone to fill out a survey at the beginning of the meeting before they hear anything from anyone. They say they will have the survey online soon. I don't see it yet.

They are doing their 20 to 25 minute dog-and-pony show. Then allowing about the same time in questions. Then allowing a few minutes per person to speak at the very end if you filled out a card and indicated you wanted to. If I can get my speech done in time, I will email it to you all that have been on my list to date.