Closed Bass Season? - The Big Ones are biting NOW!

[motocross269]

For me personnally things are fine the way they currently are....Ice out on alot of lakes was less than a month ago...The delay in bass season also gives me an excuse to walleye/crappie fish for a couple of weeks before I have to "Go to work" pre-fishing...(Of course I am kidding about the go to work part, I love it but you guys know what I mean)

Whatever the reason, size limits, management, natural causes etc etc..Fishing is better now than I ever remember it for pretty much all species..I have no reason to complain and I say "drive on, keep up the good work" MDNR and the powers that be in this state.....
Take a look at other states tourney weights or talk to some guys from other states about how tough their fishing is and I am sure you will see how blessed we are here in MI...
Even in inland waters our bass fishing ranks pretty high nationwide...

[motocross269]

I don't see tourists coming to Michigan to Ice fish for bass....

Good post though I agree 100 percent with the environmental issues that are ignored..
The lake that my family lives on up north just went through the exact same thing...Thousands of dollars were spent on both sides , but in the long run the fisherman did not have the resources of the wealthy land owners and lost their battle in court...It is not always a decision by the DNR on weed management, sometimes as in this case it is fought in the court system...

[djkimmel]

It is not the MDNR that approves all the aquatic plant killing. It is the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). For some time, the two did not appear to be working together. It was really bad for some time after Engler split the MDNR into the two parts after promising he wouldn't do that. I don't think it has recovered anywhere near where it should be, but I will need to have a discussion with friends within the MDNR to find out how the relationship goes at this time.

One other point - many anglers often confuse tougher fishing due to pressure with a change in the bass population when studies have shown the population is as good as it was before the fishing 'got tough.'

Part of the reason it is rare to show anglers 'fished down' a fishery is because appearances can be misleading.

[1javelin]

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?ID=3257

here's an interesting article with some interesting views.  I agree that the tournaments held during spawn can't have nearly as big of an affect on the population as the many lakes that are sprayed around memorial day for the patrons from other states to enjoy their water sports.  Some weed harvest may be good,  but it has to be done right, and by right I don't mean finding the company that makes the most effective weed killing chemicals.  There has to be other ways.  I think you mentioned something in the Paw Paw Lake weed kill write up Dan, maybe you can pm me and we can talk about it.  Thanks

1Jav

[djkimmel]

Yes - some companies do try to maximize profit by overspraying since they rarely have oversight - state employees... or anglers watching that they stick exactly the limits of the application permit.

And if anglers get more involved up front at public meetings and by submitting comments during public comment periods, maybe the application permits can be even more limited. Not always, but it can work better than it does now.

After that, we can start pushing for active recovery plans that don't happen. Okay, now you've killed the plants, what are you going to do to bring the 'good ones' back?

[MBell]

Michigan could be a premier tournament fishing destination in April/May, if the season was open.  I don't think a lot of people realize what we are missing by not fishing during the prespawn.  You can fish it legally further up north and it is incredible, we are missing a lot on St. Clair with the closed season.  I also don't think spawn tournaments hurt a fishery anymore than tournaments at other times of year.  I have seen released smallmouths begin to bed again within hours of being released.  I know over the past 5 years on saginaw bay the bed fishing has gotten better for size and numbers even with all the tournaments. 
-Matt   

[djkimmel]

Maybe we should all start taking non-tournament anglers fishing more during the spawn on various lakes? If more persons could see what we see a few times...?? Well, change is hard, but easier when people see things several times with their own eyes... well not everyone, but enough.

I've had people who should know better tell me mabye I didn't know what I was seeing... when I've told them some of things I've observed (over and over and over... Hey, I just thought of some ideas cameraguy mentioned the other day that might help...)