Awesome segue I can't pass up. I recently posted the major parts of the actual study that the Michigan DNR (FTR 91-6) ran from 1988 until 1992 with involvement from the Michigan BASS Chapter Federation on my website. In a nutshell, there was a five-year sunset clause, but the 6 lakes have been re-approved several times now.
Without the federation or anyone else pushing things along with our conservative and sometimes tattered MDNR (and some anglers), the study has been stagnant despite the recommendation that it be expanded to other lakes. I've post plenty on this before.
I will just add that this latest rabbit they've pulled out of the hat about the study being invalid because some of the lakes are reservoirs or riverine is nonsense. I was every bit as involved in the preseason bass test as anyone else. I was at most of the pre-study meetings and spoke at most of the public meetings. I've also talked quite a bit to the researchers. This is just the latest excuse the MDNR is using to avoid doing something a few in their numbers don't want due to tournament bias and others don't want because they think there is still too much opposition from anglers who are afraid of anything that sounds like change.
I have zero tolerance for the bias. I can appreciate their concerns about getting hammered by anglers who aren't knowledgeable about bass biology, but I can't let that stop me. I think too many anglers are now ready for this change to put it off anymore.
I think everyone who loves to bass fish and even remotely wonders if they should be able to fish more owes it to him or herself to read more of the study.
Click here to read the actual study information please. This page is only the study information, not mine.
If you really want to see what it's all about, I have a detailed commentary on the site based on my reading of this complete study and interviews with involved biologists along with all the other studies and biologist information I have collected over the years. You can go to that document from the study page if you want to. I hope you do. I put a lot of time into this subject.
As far as Kent goes, I may get over there with cameraguy again. Maybe I'll call madman if my boat is still being worked on then. Depends on how good the big crappies are biting on the other side of the state (and whether or not madman's invitation to do some fishing is still open). I know I'll be hitting some of the other 'test' lakes too.
Enjoy the fishing fellow anglers, but remember there are about 400,000 bass anglers in Michigan and only 6 test lakes. A great number of bass anglers have admitted to preseason fishing for bass. Do we want to continue to try to force them onto just 6 lakes or do we want to do as our own study says and add more lakes?
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