Kicking around the idea of a Michigan bass season conference call

[djkimmel]

I'll look at the schedule after the Tuesday all day meeting in Clare. I have to add 1 or 2 other meetings yet.

[djkimmel]

Haven't forgotten or given up on this idea. Things have been happening, with some changes in strategy, and several additional meetings. Between the Bassmaster Classic next week and Outdoorama the week after it will have to happen in early March. Maybe I will have better information to share by then? Supposed to be a follow up meeting of the Warmwater Resources Steering Committee scheduled around that time. Not sure yet exactly what we'll be discussing there.

Meanwhile, speaking at the NRC meeting tomorrow about the bass season and bass fishing, and then various outdoor discussion Friday with the Conservation Coalition and some MDNR leadership.

MDNR Fisheries Division chief Jim Dexter is going to the Bassmaster Classic next week to meet with all of us B.A.S.S. federation conservation directors. I last heard the Ohio fish chief and a policy person from Wisconsin were going from our region. Haven't heard if anymore from the Great Lakes are going. I hope a few more decided to go.

It helps to meet, to get to know each other a little better. Find out that we all care about bass, bass fishing and our natural resources as much as anyone else. Find out none of us actually has two heads... or horns...

[SethV]

Dan, count me in

[djkimmel]

Okay. Thanks for coming on board.

[djkimmel]

I see the latest Bassmaster Classic Conservation Summit list now includes a representative from the Iowa DNR and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. I was hoping a few more agencies from the Great Lakes would make it. Maybe some have been added since the last list update.

I was told by the MDNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter Thursday that we are expected to get the MDNR proposals back at the next Warmwater Resources Steering Committee meeting to be scheduled in March.

Also been told we need to update some legislation. Word is Senator Hansen will introduce the legislation, and as long as MUCC and the bass federations support it, it shouldn't be a big problem to get it passed. This is to allow the NRC to have the legal authority to adjust the bass season equal to the Legislature authority, as Public Act 21 of 2014 intended.

Still working out some bugs to enable that law completely. That's only if we get enough petition signatures (300,000+) to defeat the vote in November by hs us to repeal Public Act 21 taking away scientific management of fish and game...

[djkimmel]

Waiting on a date for the follow up MDNR Warmwater Resources Steering Committee meeting where Jim Dexter says we'll get the MDNR Fisheries Division proposal(s). Supposed to be soon I was told.