Public opinion sought on proposed bass fishing regulations

boy holding a bass on Lake St. ClairIn order to get public input on proposed regulations to expand Michigan’s bass fishing seasons, the Department of Natural Resources has announced an online survey and public meetings throughout the state in July. For the past year the DNR’s Fisheries Division has been working with the Warmwater Resources Steering Committee (a public advisory group) to discuss possible expansion of bass seasons.

The regulation expansion options being discussed would increase fishing and harvest seasons. Under all options, bass populations would still be protected and include a winter no-harvest season, 14-inch minimum size limit and daily possession limit.

To gauge public opinion, both anglers and non-anglers (particularly lake property owners) are encouraged to complete the DNR’s bass regulations survey, available here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BassRegs. The goal of this survey is to determine the level of support for increasing angling opportunities for largemouth and smallmouth bass through changes to existing fishing seasons.

Additional public input will be gathered via a series of public meetings. Dates, times and locations include:

  • Monday, July 146-7:30 p.m. (CDT), Dickinson County Library,
    401 Iron Mountain St., Iron Mountain
  • Tuesday, July 156-8 p.m. (EDT), Carl T. Johnson Hunt & Fish Center,
    6093 M-115, Cadillac
  • Tuesday, July 156:30-8 p.m. (EDT), Oshtemo Branch Library,
    7265 W. Main St., Kalamazoo
  • Tuesday, July 156-8 p.m. (EDT), Saginaw Bay Visitor Center (in Bay City State Recreation
    Area), 3582 State Park Drive, Bay City
  • Tuesday, July 156-7 p.m. (EDT), Tahquamenon Area Public Library,
    700 Newberry Ave., Newberry
  • Wednesday, July 167-8:30 p.m. (EDT), DNR Customer Service Center,
    1801 Atwater St., Detroit
  • Wednesday, July 23, from 7-9 p.m. (EDT), Ishpeming Town Hall,
    1575 U.S. 41 West, Ishpeming.
  • Wednesday, July 236-7:30 p.m. (EDT), DNR Field Office,
    1732 W. M-32, Gaylord
  • Thursday, July 247-9 p.m. (EDT), Portage Lake District Library,
    58 Huron St., Houghton

A random selection of licensed anglers also will receive a survey in the mail.

For more information on these meetings, visit www.michigan.gov/fishing.