Bass Season History

Michigan Bass Season Public Process History

This is about where the public process began and how it initially evolved for those who want a historical perspective of the recent events.

This page contains the MDNR bass season recommendation that surprised us pleasantly in August 2005. Go to the main bass season action page (link at left to read the final MDNR Fisheries Order). A summary of the steps we went through leading up to this result follows (history). (Return to the Bass Season Action Page.)

MDNR Fisheries bass season recommendations

After going through their recent evaluation of the bass season issue combining public meeting comments, studies and survey comments, the MDNR announced they will take the following recommendations to the Director and the Natural Resources Commission (NRC):

1. Keep the existing catch-and-keep bass season opener on the Saturday before Memorial Day, and the existing 3rd Saturday in June opener on the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River system;
2. Catch-and-Immediate-Release (CIR) of bass will be allowed statewide on all waters of the Lower Peninsula from the last Saturday in April until the regular bass season openers, and from May 15 until the existing regular bass season opener in the Upper Peninsula. All waters statewide include all inland lakes, rivers and streams, and the Great Lakes and connecting waters. Exceptions would be existing special regulation lakes and areas to be spelled out in the regulations.
3. Eliminate the special April 1 opening on the 6 test bass lakes so they will now open at the same time as other Lower Peninsula lakes since these lakes are no longer being studied.

• A monitoring and assessment protocol will be implemented to evaluate the new regulations structure.
• A fisheries order will implement the new regulations with a 5-year sunset clause although any serious concerns could be addressed before the 5 years are up.
• Special regulations areas such as the Beaver Island Archipelago and the Sylvania Tract are still under review.

The MDNR agreed to review the CIR season for the lower Great Lakes since the main concern for the initial start date is to match existing pike, trout and walleye season openers, and these Great Lakes waters are open all year. MDNR fisheries leadership will announce their recommendations on this suggestion later this fall. This is looking positive so far with the Law Division appearing to have no issue with this change.

Now that the MDNR fisheries has announced their initial recommendations, the next steps in this process are:

• Input from this coolwater external committee are considered (from the 8/23 mtg);
• Post card data received back from anglers who did not respond to the mail survey are analyzed;
• A final report is written which will be presented to the Director and NRC;
• Fisheries leadership provides their recommendations for information to the NRC at the September 8, 2005 meeting in Houghton, MI;
• The recommendations are presented for public input and review at the October NRC meeting in Lansing;
• Action is taken on the recommendations at the November NRC meeting;
• The final outcome goes to the MDNR Director as Fisheries Order 215 for signature to enact;
• The new fisheries order would go into effect April 1, 2006.

The MDNR also announced they are going to a 2-year fishing guide effective 2006 as a cost-saving move, so there would be no further changes to fishing regulations until 2008. This was a factor in the final decision fish division made regarding the bass season issue, and why it was importance the change could go directly to the Director as a fisheries order instead of requiring legislation that would probably delay any change until 2008.

Dave Borgeson announced he was confident the Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) would support these recommendations. The coolwater external committee was unanimously supportive of the recommendations. Ron Spitler and I are acquiring the support of the various bass angler groups in Michigan, and informing BASS and other organizations also.

First of all, now that you see the outcome of this long and challenging process, I want to make a few comments. Ron Spitler was extremely instrumental, with his over 30 years of fisheries experience, knowledge of the MDNR and irrefutable expertise on the subject making a huge difference in the final outcome of the MDNR fisheries recommendation. Ron was able to work with BASS biologist and Conservation Manager Chris Horton, and on his own collecting data and studies that had a measurable impact on the MDNR decision. Ron’s impact was significant. Thank you Ron.

Anthony Adams of ABA also was very instrumental in many ways, especially in single-handedly pulling off the important set of successful bass meetings we anglers had last year to develop our plan and spearhead our movement. Anthony’s persistence was felt throughout the process. Thanks Anthony.

Bob Gwizdz was heavily involved from the start getting information quickly out to large number of anglers, and seeing clearly through the confusion and challenges to where this could end up if followed wisely. Bob’s articles were great. Thanks Bob. Keep up your great work in reporting the outdoors to the public.

Other media persons also had significant impact at important times. People such as Louie Stout, Bill Parker and Kevin Elliott to name a few. I’m very sorry if I left any names off here. I thank them all and especially want to point out the supportive forum Bob Bauer gave us a number of times on his 97.1 FM radio show.

Thanks also to the participation and counsel of all the folks at BASS HQ. They helped all of us quite a bit and are continuing to help now and into the future compiling tournament results and providing additional data and counsel. Thanks Chris, Noreen and Bruce.

The support of MUCC is almost always necessary to get something like this accomplished. It was enjoyable to have the MUCC in support of more bass fishing opportunity.  Other major tournament group leaders also have done quite a bit, especially Russ Hirdes at BBT, Jim Sprague at NBAA and of course Anthony Adams for ABA. Several fishing/outdoor companies also had significant impact, particularly Randy VanDam and D & R Sports along with Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s.

Additionally, there are way too many other people to thank everyone individually without writing another longer ‘book.’ All of you who attended meetings, who spoke at meetings, who posted your opinions and debated on the forums, submitted written comments, obtained petition signatures and just kept the faith, thank you so much. No single person or small group of persons could accomplish something like this without the support and desires of the many. Thank you all so much and I hope you all get special enjoyment next spring out of your fishing.

A number of things came together to get our MDNR to come up with the recommendations they put forward. I think considering them will help all of us understand how we got to this point and why we should accept and promote these recommendations.

Survey results were very important in this final outcome. Key among them were:

• A majority of respondents said they would accept more complex regs;
• 58% said they release 90-100% of their legal-sized bass;
• >62% said they supported early season CIR opportunities, and it was 50/50 on how respondents felt about the importance of adding CIR opportunity – the MDNR particularly felt this meant a majority of anglers would accept a spring CIR season;
• The results of two questions asking about the importance of the existing opening days and the willingness to give up the existing opening days showed the majority of anglers were saying don’t change opening day;
• And, additionally the MDNR interpreted the answers to question 18 about how much more fishing you would do if there was a new CIR season as showing there would not be a significantly risky increase in spring fishing since they felt only 10% of respondents said they would fish many more days (44% said they would fish the same, 23% said they would fish a few more days and 24% said they would not fish then).

A copy of the complete bass season survey results in Adobe pdf format is available here.

The MDNR considered only opening up CIR on 20-40 large lakes, but this would have meant public meetings for each lake with the vocal involvement of lake associations and other parties for each lake. Also, they would have to develop a process to choose the lakes to include. It was felt this could take 1 to 2 years to complete. When added to the new 2-year fish digest schedule, it would delay any change until 2008. The MDNR stated they do want to provide additional fishing opportunities when they can.

The MDNR stressed they are not trying to fix something that is broke, but do want to increase fishing opportunity without undue risk on the quality of fishing. They define quality of fishing as health of the fish; numbers of fish in the population; size of fish; simplicity/complexity of regulations and public values towards catch-and-release fishing over nesting bass.

Key considerations were: what was the biology telling them about biological risk; what was the social risk – what were anglers telling them; and keeping regulations simple without compromising the quality of the fisheries/resource. This last factor also leads into not making any decisions without involving the law division’s opinions, and ease/difficulty of enforcement of proposed regulations.

By not changing the existing season opener, the need for legislation was removed. The need for legislation could have meant a delay similar to other possible proposals that along with the new 2-year fishing guide would have delayed any change again until at least 2008. MDNR fisheries division feels their recommendations above best meet all the needs identified by them and supported by the majority input from anglers through all the methods used.

But we aren’t done quite yet. We still have to positively support and smoothly advance these recommendations through the rest of the process as detailed above. We can all help smooth the way for approval and implementation of a new CIR bass season in Michigan by our actions and support.

I know I want to start by commending the MDNR fisheries division for reaching the conclusions that they did by looking at all the input and not making a final recommendation until they had considered all the input from all the anglers who cared enough to be involved. I believe that doors have been thrown open that will help all of us, and more importantly, the bass fishery in Michigan, long into the future. I commend the MDNR fisheries division for showing they will put a new and increased emphasis on the importance of Michigan’s bass fishery to so many anglers.

We need to support these recommendations as the best possible outcome that we could expect to receive. We need to meet the MDNR half way to get these recommendations passed to benefit all bass anglers in Michigan, and to move forward in a new era of bass management for our waters with improving relationships between bass anglers and the MDNR.

Other positives coming out of this process and the August 23rd meeting were promises from the MDNR that improved communication and cooperation will be coming from the MDNR fisheries biologists with bass anglers and bass tournament groups to investigate ways we can work together to protect and improve bass fishing in Michigan. Jay Wesley, MDNR fish biologist from Plainwell was outspoken on this issue. Ron Spitler and I also had a great discussion with Mike Thomas (MDNR St. Clair station) after the meeting about looking cooperatively into issues affecting the St. Clair system and bass.

So yes, I feel this is a big win-win for all of us, and we should support it positively and wholeheartedly as an acceptable outcome we can all live with. I hope you agree.

Although the actual process to change our Michigan bass season by adding more legal catch-and-release opportunity really started back in 1986, the real movement began shortly before the MDNR released the infamous SALBRC report. This commentary was in response to that inauspicious beginning. Thankfully, it appears there will be a much happier ending…

History

Way back in 1987, the Michigan BASS Chapter Federation started a process with the MDNR and other parties to liberalize our Michigan bass season so bass anglers could enjoy more fishing opportunity in Michigan with all the benefits that come with increased fishing. Initially, we began with our 6-lake test catch-and-immediate-release bass season beginning in 1989. The MDNR study on that season was actually published in 1993 after being finished in 1992. It stated that we could add more lakes even on a conservative path. The study and my commentary are posted on my bass biology section here.

Sixteen years later, we still have the same 6 test lakes, Kent, Pontiac, Cass, Holloway, Muskegon and Hardy Dam open to legal catch-and-immediate-release from April 1 until the Saturday of Memorial weekend and despite being the only 6 legal lakes in Michigan all that time, they all still have bass in them to catch. Some have even increased in their smallmouth bass output during that time (Holloway and Kent).

Finally, our MDNR has decided to act after quite a bit of pressure from bass anglers who travel to and read about all the other states (43 now) who have legal year-round bass fishing for their anglers. Unfortunately, our MDNR is once again taking the overly conservative approach by only using parts of a few studies done in a few Northern locations and combining their proposed changes with an opportunity to limit bass tournaments by pushing several scenarios that actually reduce some of our bass fishing opportunity. The full 53-page Smallmouth And Largemouth Bass Regulations Committee (SALBRC) PDF document released in April 2004 after a long time in secret development is available here.

Continued below…

Additional information can be found by clicking on the Bass Biology & Management link and at the following web sites:

Bass Biology & Management Forum

There are 7 scenarios including scenario 3 that claims to leave the bass season as it is now. The MDNR is apparently pushing hard for one of only 4 of the scenarios even though they claim to want to let Michigan anglers decide what ‘risk’ they are willing to accept. Their push includes scenarios 3, 4, 5, and 6 only. They seem to be attempting to keep Michigan anglers from wanting any of the other scenarios and even left out one obvious one.

Here are the 7 scenarios in summary the MDNR has printed in their SALBRC bass report:

Scenario 1: Possession from January 1 through March 15; Closed season from March 16 until the last Saturday in April; Then possession through December 31.

Scenario 2: Catch-and-Immediate-Release from January 1 until the Saturday preceding Memorial Day; Then possession through December 31 (this is the proposal I’ve personally been working for since 1987).

Scenario 3: Status Quo – Closed from January 1 until the Saturday preceding Memorial Day; Then possession through December 31. This is the present regulation where it is illegal to take or attempt to take bass during the closed season.

Scenario 4: Possession from January 1 through March 15; Closed March 16 until the last Saturday in April (lower peninsula) or May 15 (upper peninsula); Catch-and Immediate-Release from the last Saturday in April (LP) or May 15 (UP) until the 3^rd Saturday in June; Possession from the 3^rd Saturday in June through December 31.

Scenario 5: Catch-and-Immediate-Release from January 1 through March 15; Closed March 16 until the last Saturday in April (lower peninsula) or May 15 (upper peninsula); Catch-and Immediate-Release from the last Saturday in April (LP) or May 15 (UP) until the 3^rd Saturday in June; Possession from the 3^rd Saturday in June through December 31.

Scenario 6: Closed January 1 to the last Saturday in April; Catch-and Immediate-Release from the last Saturday in April (LP) or May 15 (UP) until the 3^rd Saturday in June; Possession from the 3^rd Saturday in June through December 31.

Scenario 7: Closed January 1 through July 14; Possession from July 15 through December 31.

Scenario 7 is extremely restrictive – it would make Michigan the most restrictive bass season anywhere. Luckily, no one really wants that one. I’m not even sure why they bothered putting it in their report other than to confuse people and make them think it had any validity at all. I think it was a mistake to put it in because it may demonstrate to some anglers just how over the top our MDNR can be when it comes to not allowing more fishing opportunity.

Almost no one is asking for a longer possession season than we have right now. There is very little demand, if any, for a January-February ice-fishing bass season as described in scenario 1. It seems to have been put in to have something different to oppose the other scenarios against.

Scenario 2 is the simplest option in my mind, which is why I’ve pushed for it. Leave the present possession bass season as is. It’s been working for decades, and just make it legal to catch bass the rest of the year as long as you immediately release them. That removes the finger-pointing and a CO having to determine if someone meant to catch the bass or not even though that person releases the bass. Incidental and technically illegal targeting of spring bass has been going on at many of our lakes for over 20 years. The demand is there and our bass fishing is better than ever anyway.

Scenario 3 changes nothing. We get no additional bass fishing opportunities even though our own studies show we can have more bass fishing. It is not clear if we would even keep our 6 existing spring bass lakes. They have been re-approved every 5 years since 1989, but there are no guarantees that will continue. It is not a good idea to continue to push more anglers who want spring bass fishing to either break the law or crowd on to only 6 lakes either.

Scenarios 4, 5 and 6 all take away our present traditional Memorial weekend opener and move it all the way back to the 3^rd Saturday in June despite studies showing that is definitely necessary. We actually have a 1987 MDNR study on Lake St. Clair saying it does not need any more spawn protection than any other lake in Michigan that opens on Memorial weekend, so I really question why they now feel the need to do the exact opposite and move the rest of the state to the late June St. Clair opener their own study says isn’t necessary.

You would be able to catch-and-release bass under these scenarios from Memorial weekend, but if you caught a trophy on the weekend so many anglers look forward to and vacation on, you would not be able to keep it. You could also not have any fresh bass to eat if that is your tradition as it is with some bass anglers. Of course, regular bass tournaments that have been held during those weeks for decades would now not be allowed. The main point is that the MDNR should not be taking ANY fishing opportunity away without good cause, and the existing studies and practices of many other states including several surrounding us is that this change is not justified.

We would also lose the April 1 to the last Saturday in April portion of the catch-and-release season we’ve had for 16 years on the test lakes because the MDNR feels the need to not allow anglers out on lakes where pike, walleye and trout might be closed. Again despite even our own studies showing more lakes could be added to the existing season, not to take away more opportunity.

Two other reasons I feel this position is flawed are: 1) that the majority of anglers are decent anglers who do not keep gamefish out of season and they should not lose major fishing opportunity of a month just because a few bad anglers might try to keep fish out of season – an easy enforcement – anyone who keeps a fish out of season is a lawbreaker and should be punished and/or reported by other anglers – just catching a fish and releasing it is much more gray and subject to many negative problems; 2) not allowing catch-and-release bass fishing until the last Saturday in April does not address the major issue on Lake St. Clair where anglers can legally fish for walleye and pike all year so many anglers will be out on that lake in early April catching bass whether they mean to or not – it does not resolve that enforcement issue

Oh. The one obvious scenario they left out – why not at least suggest legal catch-and-release from April 1 until Memorial weekend and then leave the existing bass season as is. If the MDNR really wants to let the bass anglers tell them how much ‘risk’ they are willing to accept, they should have considered more scenarios that are not at the extreme ends such as 1 and 7. I will continue to push for what is scenario 2 at the moment, but better compromise options might have made this process easier on everyone. Let the anglers fish. Worry about problems only if they actually ever happen.