Spring catch and release bass fishing in Michigan

[djkimmel]

If you haven't already, please read the details I've posted on my website from the Michigan DNR catch and release spring bass season study. I posted the MDNR study info under: MDNR FTR 91-6

I've also posted a detailed commentary on the study based on my interviews with study biologists, other biologists from around the country and research from other studies and sources at: My Commentary on MDNR FTR 91-6

Thanks.

[MadWags]

You did an awesome job on this Dan.
I'm with you 100% on this.

[djkimmel]

Thanks. I think all the coughing I did over the last few weeks knocked some new brain cells loose so I'm changing my MDNR letter a little. I'll have it done by the end of the weeked.

I'm thinking about writing In-Fisherman too. They're starting to sound like the Gordon Pyzer anti-spawn fishing magazine. It's irritating me. I hate to waste time, but if people don't make their views known, nothing changes... even though some things don't change anyway.

[djkimmel]

I finally got it done - my letter proposing the early Michigan catch-and-release bass season from January 1 until opening day is in the snail mail and email now.

I felt I could have worked on it more and included even more things, but it was already over 13 pages. I know some won't be surprised by that. I call it thorough.

I will be posting the full letter on my website very soon. Anyone who would actually like a copy and can read MS Word for Windows documents can email a request and I'll get a copy out to you.

Rumor is the MDNR will be starting committee meetings again and at least inviting Ron Spitler from the Michigan BASS federation to participate anyway. They seem about ready to put out their first public (secret right now) proposal in a few weeks.

Should get interesting soon.

[Andy]

Macatawa Bay Bass Club is behind you 110% anything we can do just let us know and we will be there

[djkimmel]

Thanks Andy. I'll check to make sure your club is on my list.
Dan

[WayneC]

How about just an outline on your report, or Cliff Notes?

If I read this first, will I not like the movie?

Keep up the great work Dan! It seems like we're at the point where something has got to give. This report could represent a turning point in the annals of bass fishing in Michigan for years to come.

Let us know if we can support your efforts by sending letters to interested parties.

[Roy Randolph]

Dan any word on the meetings? Let’s make sure we have a good representation there!

Is your game plan just to send that letter and see what happens? What’s the plan? Call me (if you have my number) or email me and I’ll send it to you. Let’s get a solid game plan going here, let’s start making some calls and make sure the right people have read the letter and understand it. I got plenty of time to call people and bang on doors so we get this done!

Time to light some fires!

[ggsmalls]

When you look at the situation that we currently have regarding our bass season it really is a mess. The laws that we are excpected to follow were written at a time when anglers kept for harvest what they caught.

Bass fishing has grown leaps and bounds in both popularity and the catch and release monement. In fact catch and release probably happens almost 90 percent of the time if not more for bass.

Im not sure why there is such a resistance to change by our DNR but it is truly goverment at it's finest. After the results of the catch and release study were released a decision should have been made right then and there.
The conservation officers that are out on St. Clair are just enforcing the law as it reads. Is it right? Are they really accomplishing anything or are they wasting our tax money?? No and yes to those questions in my opinion.
The real problem is not the CO's it is our DNR'S absolute antiquated ways of operating that are causing this mess. The only way to get things changed is to keep doing the things that Dan has been doing for years. I personally have made no or little effort to voice my feelings to Lansing and am ashamed that I have not. I am sure I am not the only one that feels this way. If we want change everyone is going to have to do more.

Gerry Gostenik

[djkimmel]

Gerry,
Great to have you as a member! Thanks. You and I have talked about this and I'm aware you went out with Eric Sharp recently and that will get a bunch of needed publicity in the open again. Very important.

Roy/Gerry/Everyone,
I will be talking to Ron Spitler soon since he has been invited to participate in the next round of meetings that are supposedly happening soon. The MDNR had said their paper will be out sometime this month or early next. Maybe they are doing some rewriting.

For now, a little pressure is needed. The Free Press article is a start. I have also been asked to do a summary for the Michigan Outdoor News on my proposal which I should have in by this weekend. All this adds up to help put the issue in the open where everyone has to play a little more fair if we do our jobs of showing the demand for more legal bass fishing in Michigan is large. I think we are doing that already.

We can do more of course. We will see how much more when the MDNR paper comes out. I have not approached MUCC yet either, which I need to do. That is on my calendar for very soon.

I've been contacted by one other outdoor writer for the Lansing paper who is also interested in covering the issue. No details yet, but he should be helpful.

I had one person email today about writing the Governor which I responded by saying it's never bad to let our officials know how you feel. I only want to involve those who need to be and so I'm waiting on government until I see they truly have to be involved even though it looks like they will based on existing legislation. I want to make sure since going through the legislature can be the most difficult and time-consuming.

I won't hesitate to find influential ones who are sympathetic to add pressure though if the need arrives. I've also been contacted by the Minnesota BASS federation conservation director about assisting him do the same thing we are trying in Minnesota. That will actually help if he gets it going soon, so good news there. MN DNR and MI DNR influence each other quite a bit.

Things will start happening over the next few weeks. I have no doubt about that.

[Roy Randolph]

Dan find out whose running this meeting and I will see that you have a seat at the table! Ron is a nice guy but you know my feelings on this, he was DNR and still wears the uniform under his fishing shirt. I think they need to hear it from the horse’s mouth!

If we lay back and don’t show we mean business then they will just leave things the way they are. We need a body there not just a piece of paper!

[djkimmel]

I understand where you're coming from Roy. I do want you to know that Ron is on our side on this topic.

Ron and I are actually more in agreement on this issue than we've ever been on any other by far. He wants this change as much as we do and is playing hardball too. He was very supportive of our positions.

The lead MDNR person on this issue has been an MDNR fish biologist named Kurt Newman. This is what I have on him although I haven't spoken to him:
Kurt Newman
LAKE ERIE BASIN COORDINATOR
MDNR FISHERIES DIVISION
PO BOX 30446
LANSING MI 48909
517-241-3623

I've spoken to the Livonia, Erie and St. Clair biologists so far along with some of the researchers. The Fish Chief is off on leave so Jim Dexter is acting chief. I haven't talked to him in a while. I did send him a copy of my letter.

Ron will keep me up on the meeting. I wouldn't mind the opportunity to go to some of the meetings, but these won't be the only meetings. It's a lot harder for me in my present job to get time off now for these kinds of things, especially on short notice so I might miss some anyway. I would go to any I could get to.

When the public meetings and/or legislative stuff starts to happen, it will be much more important to be at those. Thanks for your dedication.

[Eric]

WOW, imagine being able to get the DNR to change their name to something other than Does Nothing Right. The work you guys are doing is incredible. Keep us posted, and let us know what we can do to support your efforts.

[Steve]

The Dnr could really benefit from an early catch and release season. Can you imagine how much revenue they could generate from an early bass season?

Lets say they make bass anglers buy a special license to fish early. I don't know a single person who wouldn't spend $10-$20 to fish an early season. They could use this extra income to pay for more research, stocking programs and much more!

Dan i like what your doing and as an angler you have my support. I have 40 anglers in the club i belong to that feel the same way. If there is anything we can do let me know.

[djkimmel]

Thanks for your reply and support.

I'm not pushing an additional fee since many anglers are against additional fees and costs. I think there are other ways to enhance revenue that would be more acceptable to more anglers.

Just having more fishing legal in the spring will raise some additional revenue for the MDNR.