FISHING GUIDE FOR MULLLET/BERT LAKE

[bassdude]

Dad and I are planning on renting cabin on Mullett Lake Sept 12-16 and have never fished these lakes. We would like to hire a guide for that first day, Sept 13th. Anyone have any suggestions? thanks!

[robtheboatman]

Check if Marcel Veenstra has any openings during that time.  I know he does several trips up there each year, and is a great guide to fish with.

http://www.marcelsguideservice.com/

[Firefighter Jeff]

  Dan Kimmel could probably guide ya  !!! 

[Golden Ghost]

Check if Marcel Veenstra has any openings during that time.  I know he does several trips up there each year, and is a great guide to fish with.

http://www.marcelsguideservice.com/

Ditto

[djkimmel]

  Dan Kimmel could probably guide ya  !!! 

Except I don't have a license for that.

[Firefighter Jeff]

   Minor detail !!!  LOLOLOL

[Dan]

You could just take him out as a buddy trip and work for tips.

[djkimmel]

Tips are illegal. Gas money is illegal. Giving anything of value to the boat owner is illegal in Michigan. I can't get by just on my looks either...

I could never be a guide for very long anyway. I like to catch 'em too much!

[Waterfoul]

There is a big difference between taking a buddy fishing and sharing the expenses, and guiding.  I take guys fishing all the time, and never ask for anything, and don't expect anything.  But if they feel the need to put a little fuel in my truck, so be it.

That said... wanna take me fishing Dan?   

[djkimmel]

Sure! We'll have to fish from shore though...

[BIGSHOW]

Are you serious about getting money for taking someone out. I understand if you advertise or are a guide. But tips? gas money? sounds extreme

[djkimmel]

I don't write the law. If someone asks about a specific topic I try to get the accurate answer. I have had a number of talks about this topic with the MDNR over the years and legally, there is no leeway according to the Law Division.

It came out of the burgeoning charter industry in the early days of the the salmon planting in the Great Lakes. They say boaters were taking out groups of people fishing and getting paid for that by other means than cash, or cash under the table as a gas money or something, so the boaters could get around going through the whole time and expense of becoming a licensed charter captain.

The same regulations apply to anyone who takes anyone else fishing anywhere in Michigan. You can't give the person who takes you fishing anything of value.

I was asking in the past because of the tournament habit of giving the boater a rider fee. Technically, that is illegal in Michigan. The MDNR has not made a habit out of doing anything about that but they definitely will occasionally setup stings for boaters who have a habit of taking out other anglers and getting something in return while not having the proper licensing/inspection for all waters, and certification/inspection for the Great Lakes.

[djkimmel]

If you're going to go through the expense of hiring a guide, it probably works out better to stick to fully legal guides.

If you're fishing with your buddy, do what you want but be aware of the law in Michigan.

If a stranger walks up to you at the dock and says take me fishing, I'll giver you $50, you might want to think a while on the answer...

[BIGSHOW]

Good point, i'll keep this in mind. Thats what is messed up with all the rules of the water. Once you think you got em down one pops out that takes you by surprise. Like years ago I was cruiseing down the river near ecorse and was going maybe 10 mph eating a burger ans got pulled over in no wake zone. The area I was at was a 1000 ft from shore no wKe zone. How was I to know. I was probably 700 ft give or take. Needless to say I try and stay informed now. The ticket was high 115 or more. Maybe 150, dont remember

[djkimmel]

The no wake regulations on the lower Detroit River are crazy! They change every time you cross town or township boundaries anywhere from 100 feet to 1,000 feet. There are stretches where being exactly in the middle still isn't enough room to be legal on plane but they generally (not guaranteed) don't pull you over if you stay in the middle.

At Elizabeth Park they expect you to come off plane in the middle of the channel and then idle in to the launch. If you run down the shore or turn and run in towards the marina ramp opening they will sometimes pull you over for that too (I know firsthand).

I have posted the link to the sheriff department's map on here somewhere before.

[BIGSHOW]

I'm gonna have to find this. If you see it somewhere message it over if you have time

[djkimmel]

Look for Monroe County Sheriff Marine Patrol. I believe it is on this website several times and still on their website. If I remember where it is I will post again but a quick search should turn it up.

[BIGSHOW]

Here is a good map I found with no wake zones for det river. May save a ticket.. full size map at bottom http://www.questoutdoors.net/locs/michigan/det_river/special_regs/pg2.html