[Gitzit]

I have reached my limit with the DNR and their general disregard for us fisherman.
They have announced today their cancellation contract with Bass Pro Shops. Fisherman can no longer access the fishing hotline becuase of " budget problems".
The way that the DNR respects what the fisherman is about is a joke; take their attitude to bass tournaments, to the dnr guys at boat ramps that do not have a clue as to treat the public or run the ramp use.
I bet that the DNR will now try to raise out fishing liscense fees due to "budget issue" .
I have a suggestion, if someone out there becomes aware of something that the dnr is going to do that might affect the fisherman in a negative way, place a post to let other fisherman know. We all need to let the dnr know that the fisherman will not accept changes without our feelings on it.
I am sure that there will be someone will reply that the dnr is not against the fisherman but my reply to that is that actions speak louder than words and their actions say alot.
What are everyones feelings on this subject?

 

[h2o]

I think the Department of Natural Resourse's try's to do there best and maybe we should list the good they do. They protect our fishery, and maintain it, and launch's. Maybe we should concentrate on the good they do. Let look at the past and give them credit for what they have done, the stocking programs and caring for what we treasure. I'm all for them raising the fee for the liesence because that will improve what we have. I guess i'm just a positive thinker and for one appreiciate what they do for us... Maybe this isn't what you want to hear but you did say What are your feelings...

h2o<----------hails the DNR

 

[muskiebobsr]

Basically I agree with H20. There are a few bad apples in the buschel but that happens no matter what you are talking about. Our ex gov, messed things up with the DNR but it could be worse. Bob

 

[boatmonkey]

I respect the DNR and appreciate the job they do managing our wildlife with just a simple set of rules and very little real control. I have occassionally disagreed with a policy but it has almost always been when I thought they were allowing too much harvest or making things too easy, taking the "sport" out of sportsman - snagging salmon and baiting deer are examples of things I didn't agree with at the time that have since been repealed.

But I realize I don't know everything they have to deal with or what they are seeing every day. It makes sense to me that although something like a decline in fish population may be due to bad weather one year, the DNR can't control Mother Nature so they do the best they can with what they have control of, rules and regulations restricting harvesting.

I believe that to be a sportsman the first thing you have to do is obey the rules. I don't care if you like them or not, you have to obey them. And I don't agree with tailoring an interpretation of the rules to suit your own convenience. I've had friends living here on the lake who could justify going out in the morning and catching their limit of walleyes, bringing them home to the freezer and then going back out and catching their limit again in the afternoon, and maybe again in the evening. They rationalize that they should be able to catch 7 limits in a week and they can't fish every day so it's OK to bend the letter of the law because they are still acting in the spirit of it. Please! Regs aren't written expecting fishermen to go out every damn day and we all know it. This is just an example of what the DNR has to work around trying to preserve the resources we have. No matter what rule they enact too many folks skate around it so that noncompliance has to be factored in and every rule is probably more stringent than it would otherwise have to be.

I also respect the right of individuals to petition the DNR for changes in the laws and to sponsor discussions of regulatory issues as so often happens right here. But bottom line, I believe in obeying all fish and game laws and I support and am thankful for the good job the DNR does.

 

[Gitzit]

I think that the DNR could do more than they are doing when it comes to our fishery. If they need to raise money due to budget cuts, what are they doing other than just raising liscense fees? If they have to get rid of the fishing hotline, what else did they do than terminate their contract with Bass Pro shops?
The future of fishing lies in the children now; if there are fewer kids taking up fishing, that means down the road less liscenses being bought which then equals less revenue for the DNR.
The DNR person that I am talking about is the politician DNR and not the guys in the field, the bulk of the officers in he field do a great job with what they have. And yes there are some knuckle head officers in the field.
The DNR official does not go out of their way to find solutions, to inform the fisherman what is going and just display a lack of caring towards the fisherman. I stand by what I said, their actions speak louder than words and why should the status quo continue and it should not.
There are to many people like sheep and just follow.

 

[OneSided]

I believe the DNR is just like any other government agency, they have a budget set by the state and have to live within the boudaries of the plan. They have no revenue and are not run like a public company. Yes, they need to make decisions on allocation of funds provided to them , but I would rather see cutting a hotline service than reduce their stocking programs.

 

[Mac]

I agree,..better to work with them than against them....IMO

 

[Reelin Realtor]

I agree it's best to work with the DNR and that's by having people and organizations involved in policy making. To my knowledge the only bass fishing interest group is the BASS Federation and MUCC is the other primary voice with the exception of a few hand picked individuals. If you want more response there needs to be more involvement.

The DNR is no different than any other government bureaucracy. The policy and ideology is set at the top and the rest follow. It's important to understand that what you're told is generally by employees paid to tow the company line. If the upper management wants a certain policy and the lower level or field people have evidence to the contrary they will not go against the upper level, not if they value their careers. The information and science you hear from the DNR if designed to support policy rather than what may be best or feasable.

The one thing that I do believe is that the DNR should speak out more about the real reasons for change in our fishery and use science to help keep anglers properly informed about the real reasons things happen. I think the biggest reasons for bickering and a lack of unity with fishermen is the DNR. I really feel the DNR could do much more to promote maximum untilization of our resources and create more opportunities for fishermen. They've got to promote more cooperation between user groups. I think that we do need more fishing groups and organizations involved with the DNR but it's important when dealing with them to try to realize they give information and misinformation.

 

[Gitzit]

That is an excellent post Reelin!!!
You are saying what I am saying, the DNR is just another government bureaucasy and is acting on policy rather than what really makes sense.
When we see or hear of something that the DNR is doing that does not make sense or is not in the best interests of fisherman, we need to let other fisherman know as well as letting the DNR know that the fishermen of Michigan do not like what they are doing.
Again, I believe that the DNR could do more if it thought outside the lines and try to find alternatives on issues rather than the easy way out on issues.
I am not saying to work against the DNR but rather let the DNR know that they work for us, the fisherman.

 

[TINMAN2003]

You Know I really hate the DNR. I am sick of paying $24.00 on a fishing fees. The DNR think there god, and there not. Maybe some on else will support the fishing hot line i hope

 

[OneSided]

I am asking since I have never used it, what is/was the "fishing hotline"? Was is different than the standard DNR weekly report?

 

[Gitzit]

Don't worry about your $24 fee, you need to worry about the $27 fee that it is about to cost.
The bulk of the fishing hotline was being paid by Bass Pro Shops but some bean counter thought it was easier to just cut out the hotline rather than finding an additional sponsor for it.
I may not be a rocket scientist or accountant but it could not cost to much to record a voice message and have a phone line set up for someone to dial into.
I do know that my kids would like to call it to see if the fish were hitting before we went( I did this to get them interested/ excited about going).
The hotline was one more way to keep access for fishermen and FUTURE fisherman. The more fishermen in the future means MORE revenue for the DNR and then they would not have to cut programs that benefit the people or they would not have to raise liscense fees.
I am sure that some DNR tree hugger will stick up for them again and say what a fantastic job they are doing but I am saying they can do better.

 

[No More Mini]

Professional Fishing Center on Jefferson has a hotline as do many other tackle/bait stores around the lake.

Mini

 

[h2o]

Lakeside does to and da this board has awesome information Look how Cory helps and you can always post a request for fishing information here. Beside's i don't take stock in fishing reports been fishing to long.. Every year it's the same..Meaning the reports basically are the same year after year. And who know's just get out there and fish and maybe your report will be a good one to share.

h2o<---------- says fish are in the lake go get them.

 

[PWood]

The DNR DID NOT get rid of the fishing hotline.
You can no longer access the fishing hotline through the toll-free number.
You can reach the fishing hotline by calling 517-373-0908 or on the DNR website at
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-1...34956--,00.html
Getting rid of the toll-free number was brought about because of budgetary cuts to the department. Just about every department in the state has had their budgets cut and they have to deal with this lack of funding.
What would you have them cut so they could keep the toll-free number? Cut the number of biologists and/or COs in the field? Cut some fish stocking program?
Personally, I don't mind paying for a phone call to get a statewide fishing report. I did it before they had the toll-free hotline and I'll do it now that the toll-free number has been canceled.

 

[No More Mini]

Thank you fro the clarification Terry....

I have never called the DNR Hot Line before.

Mini