hypothetically speaking....

[thedude]

you could print this up and take it with you fishing in march and april to prove you're not fishing for bass.

http://www.lurenet.com/productdetail.aspx?id=KTK1

[Skulley]

Good point however there is always that DNR officer that does know that some of these lures will catch bass.  I guess you would have to have this picture and have these lures in the boat as I know most of us due.  Good point.


BD                               

[dartag]

Probably have to be on a lake with trout in it. 

If you are fishing from a bass boat on a lake with bass in it using bass tackle he might know what you are doing.

been on Union Lake 26 years and don't think I have ever seen a CO in the spring.   They are do a lot of checking at Proud Lake after they release the trout in the huron.

The way it is going we will have ice until April 30 anyway.

[Dougdad]

 They have to prove you are targeting bass, some in the boat might get one in trouble.  I have caught alot of gills, perch and crappie on small bass lures and alot of bass while fishing with leaf worms for pan fish and trout.  Last I knew they were not picky if they are hungry and the bait is handy.

[djkimmel]

That looks like a finesse bass kit to me...

[1javelin]

I've always wanted to say I'm not targeting any species, I'm just fishing for whatever happens to bite my lure. I don't think that would necessarily work though. I have a lot of work to do and school until the end of April, so I will just try to go to Indiana a time or two and avoid breaking the law. I did take the boat out locally the other day to see how it ran, make sure there weren't any problems. Now I have to replace a livewell pump and the hoses for the livewell, take the motor to get it tuned up and probably have the timing and idle adjusted, and I still have to replace the bunks on the trailer, the lights on the trailer, the winch on the trailer, and get everything to run and attach my new Humminbird units. I hate being broke all the time. Anybody want to donate some time to motor repair, or bird installation? Make life a lot easier for me!

1jav

[Fishmael]

I have caught so many crappie using jerkbaits, it's not even funny.  Two years ago, caught a master angler quality 14 1/2 crappie on a 5 1/2 inch rogue.  If you tie feather tails on it, they jump all over it.

[Eric]

Bring it up and I'll do the birds. 

There!  This thread has officially been hijacked.

[huston]

1jav, I installed all that HB stuff on my ASTRO and it wasn't that difficult but it was time consuming. Installing the thru hull and the shoot thru transducers was the tough part working in such a confined space. Also, converting your old Waypoints with HB PC was a little confusing, but I got that done too. If you wire the the power wires to the HB's backwards, the units will not work but  will not be damaged. Just reverse the wires. Still have not been on the water to look at them and still need to get use to them. The boat is in the garage.

[markwe1]

What is the penelty for "bass fishing out of season" with no bass in the boat? what proof would there be?


Is there a law that states you can not posses a med/hvy rod with a crank tied to it?

[gmetime24]

I have no idea what the law actually states. What I do know is that I have caught crappie, rock bass and the occasional big bluegill on my bass lures. When it comes down to it I feel you can catch many species on a bass lure. How could they ever prove what you are out trying to target. Many states don't even have this stupid law and there are facts that it does not hurt the spawn as long as you catch and immediate release.

[djkimmel]

Last time I reviewed every single state that has bass (Alaska is the only exception - no bass) there were only 6 states with any broad closed bass season. Only 4 or 5 states that had any kind of statewide closed season.

The law is the same for all game fish in Michigan, you cannot take or attempt to take a game fish that is not in season. Up to the conservation officer to determine if he/she feels you are attempting to take bass.

It doesn't really happen often in Michigan if you aren't keeping them, but they can ticket you if they see you catch bass, especially repeatedly and believe you are trying to. Depends on each individual circumstance (and probably attitude).

I don't like regulations either that are questionable as to need especially if they could allow more recreation by more people which helps everyone; and/or if the regulation is just begging to lead to bias or can be misused or mishandled easily - such as when fishing out of a bass boat for anything that is open on any lake or river that also has bass, or fishing with a 'known' bass lure that actually catches all kinds of fish, some of which are in season.

I realize there are snakes out their who abuse any regulation when they think they can get away with it, but the rest of us shouldn't have to suffer loss of recreation we could be enjoying because of a few bad apples.

This is not a dead issue. Just needs a few organized, dedicated persons with some time to take charge again.