Guys already bass fishing

[Manxfishing]

My thoughts are
For the most part. I don't fish bass early
But there has been a few trips. I just think of it has trophy crappie fishing.

The speeding part
We all know the law, And yes I speed to and from work every day
On the water, It's the same thing. We all know (or should know) the law

Here's the debate that get's brought up (more on the Walleye sites)
If the rule says your allowed 2 days possession of walleye
Are they talking about in the cooler (or being transported) or the house freezer.

[djkimmel]

It would be the same debate. Follow the law / regulations or don't. It's been shared on here a number of times, and shared all over the Internet in other places - the total possession limit is interpreted as in your boat, in your cooler, in your car/truck/camper, at home in your freezer and everywhere else that you keep fish.

You can't legally have 500 bluegill fillets in your freezer that you caught in Michigan, or 25 filleted walleye in the combination of all the places you store fish you caught in Michigan.

People talk about it all the time. Many seem to believe that is incorrect but all you have to do is ask a Conservation Officer to get the answer above. I see 'experts' sharing their opinions on websites all the time who have obviously never read the Michigan DNR fishing guide let alone spoke with a Conservation Officer or the Lansing office.

Will they raid your home and count your perch fillets? Probably not. Though, if you're selling perch to restaurants and/or someone reports that you're keeping huge numbers of Michigan fish it is possible.

They just reported at the last citizen's fishery committee I attended on busting a ring of anglers up north who were selling sport caught fish to local restaurants.

[Mike S.]

I just chimed in for the fact that people get caught up in worrying about what the next guy is doing, and trying get to paint the perfect picture, that they forget that they too may break a law here and there as well. Do t take it personal anybody, because I don't really care what the next guy does, as long as he's not hurting me. If you get caught breaking the law, that's on you. I saw so many comments about "I just don't break the law", that I had to chime in.

Good news is, next year we won't have anything to bicker a out other than ice on the lakes when we could be bass fishing.......hopefully.

[motocross269]

It would be the same debate. Follow the law / regulations or don't. It's been shared on here a number of times, and shared all over the Internet in other places - the total possession limit is interpreted as in your boat, in your cooler, in your car/truck/camper, at home in your freezer and everywhere else that you keep fish.

You can't legally have 500 bluegill fillets in your freezer that you caught in Michigan, or 25 filleted walleye in the combination of all the places you store fish you caught in Michigan.

People talk about it all the time. Many seem to believe that is incorrect but all you have to do is ask a Conservation Officer to get the answer above. I see 'experts' sharing their opinions on websites all the time who have obviously never read the Michigan DNR fishing guide let alone spoke with a Conservation Officer or the Lansing office.

Will they raid your home and count your perch fillets? Probably not. Though, if you're selling perch to restaurants and/or someone reports that you're keeping huge numbers of Michigan fish it is possible.

They just reported at the last citizen's fishery committee I attended on busting a ring of anglers up north who were selling sport caught fish to local restaurants.

Last year I saw a post on Craigslist from a guy that was selling filets of smallmouth and Walleye fresh caught from LSC...Guys at LSC.net were all over it and it was off craigslist in a few days...


Those the are the types of guys we as anglers need to band together to hammer.....There just aren't enough LEOs out there so we need to self police to a point....

[djkimmel]

Mike S. (and everyone else) I always think of the ancient saying of 'let he who is without sin cast the first stone.'

moto (and everyone else) There will probably never be 'enough' Conservation Officers considering all the things they need to cover. I continue to believe one of the best solutions is to stop trying to regulate fish species with closed seasons when other fish that will hit the same lures are open. The water either has to be completely closed to ALL fishing, OR open to all legal fishing with only the clarification of which fish you can keep and which fish you need to release.

I've been cruising the fishing web the past week or so and seeing the same posts (bickering) I see every winter and spring. I especially love all the 'non-bass' anglers accusing anyone in a 'bass boat' of breaking the law on the Mile Roads KNOWING those persons are making the judgment that IF you're in a 'bass boat' fishing the Mile Roads you're a scummy lawbreaker BUT if you're fishing the EXACT same Mile Roads in a 'non-bass boat' you're 'legally' fishing for open pike, walleye or other open fish - no judgment based on what you're catching or using to fish with half the time either - just based on the 'type' of boat you own.

Man! Am I sick of that... Like I said, guilty by bass boat has to end. I see the exact same thing for years now over pike verses muskie anglers. If people see you out fishing on Lake St. Clair before June 1 and they know you like to muskie fish you're a lawbreaker. If they don't know you like to muskie fish, you can fish the same exact places with the same exact lure and you're a fine, decent upstanding citizen angler.

What a waste of energy and a major way anglers don't help each other when we most need each others help.

Considering we need anglers buying fishing licenses to fund the MDNR I feel the clear choice is to create common sense, non-infighting fishing regulations that make it easier for people to just go fishing. Whenever they can.

[dartag]

Only 3 days to go.  Put my pontoon in yesterday and cruised around.   Saw some fish suspended along the breaks but nothing shallow where they will be in 2 weeks.  water is still cold.

[djkimmel]

That's enough info to get people that much more excited about opening day! Thanks!

[Mike S.]

I don't think Muskegon is going to be much fun this opening weekend. It is tore up from the river flooding. I don't know where I'm going to fish yet.

[red68prostreet]

I got the boat out of my garage last sun and dropped it into Howell lake. I wanted to make sure everything was fine before my annual trip to KY lake on May 1st. I can see both sides of the debate and for me it's simple as many have said. If the law say's I can't fish for bass then I'm not. What i did do on sun was something I have never done in the past. After make sure the boat ran and cking everything else out I spent an hour learning more about my electronics. I spent time learning how to split the screens on my units and cruised around looking for fish. I was actually quite pleased with myself for doing that.
As far as speed goes the older I have gotten my need for speed is not what it was. I do however love KY lake in the early morning and later in the evening. That lake gets smooth as glass and there is plenty of room to stretch a boat out for miles. I get my yearly fix for speed at that time. Many of the inland lakes here are too small or busy to speed. The other thing is I have never been on LSC when it is smooth. The fastest I have ever gone on that lake is 50 mph but then again I only fish it about 10 times a yr.
Good luck to all who venture out this sat. I read the blog about White Lake. I went by the ramp last thurs and cannot believe how small it is. Sat weather looks to be cool.
Mark

[Waterfoul]

Which White Lake are you refering too?

[mikesmiph]

We were talking about the one in Oakland Co, but now it looks like nobody is going. We have always had lunch at the White Lake Inn, which is on the water.

[Mike S.]

I was told that our White Lake, in Muskegon county, just lost its ice last a week or so ago. It stayed way longer than Muskegon's did.