Bass Season Dates

[RuddyDuck]

I'm guessing this has come up before, but here's my question.

Has anyone ever gotten a good answer from the DNR as to why they don't open a Catch and Release Bass season at the same time as the Walleye and Pike opener? I know it opens later cause of the spawn, but I would think a catch and release season for those two weeks wouldn't have much of an impact.

It also seems really odd that it is completely closed down here, but actually opens in the NE part of the state on the regular opener. Wouldn't their spawn be even later? Maybe I'm missing something. Don't know the area well, but looked on Lake finder and it seems like there are a few Largemouth lakes in that area. Guess that just baffles me. Are the seasons just based more on Politics and Economics than conservation?

[thatoneguy]

Probably the same reason why there isn't a catch-and-release walleye season while they are spawning, I would guess. Not sure of the science behind that, though; that's above my pay grade.

[Juan Grande]

I read something in Outdoor Weekly that said the only reason they have the earlier opener up north is because that's the way it's always been. You're right, if it's meant to protect the spawn then that opener should actually be later than everyone else.

[Bobby Bass]

A couple of reasons come to mind for me. A catch and release season during spawn would be like fish harassment. You just know someone will be fishing the beds.

Season open north, we don't have that long of an open water season up here as it is. As for largemouth bass lakes up here, yes there are some good ones up here but the DNR does a good job of closing spawning bays on lakes to keep fishermen out. With smallmouth being catch and release come September the bass season up here is shorter then down in southern part of the state. Another reason might be the explosion of smallmouth up in this part of the state, lot of walleye fishermen complain about waters turning into bass fisheries, displacing the walleye.

[gritsnham]

I previously had a job with the DNR and the director sent out a request for any ideas to help raise revenue. I wrote a lengthy response about an idea of a catch and release bass season requiring a stamp and cited some studies on how the impacts of fishing spawning fish are minimal. Got a thanks but never a follow up.

It does suck that the season starts so late and business goes to Wisc or other states as a result. We also have a pretty amazing state for bass fishing so they must be doing something right.

I just always wonder how much damage gets done from people panfishing and northern fishing and then people keeping large spawing fish during the open season compared to what effect catch and release season would have. Also why dont bass get a protected slot of only one of say 18in or something similar. A boat of 4 keeping a 24 bass limit that size could have a big effect on the spawning population...

Either way dont see it changing anytime soon...

[Craigums]

This topic burns me up every year because I disagree with it so much. Your right about business going to WI though. I buy a WI license every year so I can fish early, or else Ill go to Pool 2

[EBass]

One word: Tradition

I know it's dumb.

[Deitz Dittrich]

My theory, and I know many will hate me for my feelings.. I love the fact that our season protects the spawners. I believe the fishing here is great, and much of that has to do with our DNR and its protection of the spawners. I too buy a WI license, and give them some of my money, but I also feel that our fishing is superior to theirs because we protect ours.

I believe that this year, this spring, the MN state record bass will be broken. Pretty sure the entire state will have the chance to catch a fat female full of eggs. I think there is a chance to eclipse the record by a good ammt as well, not just an ounce or two. maybe 1/2 pound or so even. I also think that along with that, for the most part I think the spawn and year class for the 2013 year will suffer. Will it hurt our fisheries, probably not, but if we allowed it year after year, I think it would take a huge toll on our fisheries.

I look at it this way, Ive already waited 4-5 months, another 2 weeks will not kill me if it allows us to have the great fishing we have.

Flame away.. I can take it.

[Search Function]

Are the seasons just based more on Politics and Economics than conservation?

Along with tradition, politics, and economics are the reason. The politicians and resorts in the NE corner of the state lobbied to have the season open for themselves in part because they didn't care for smallmouth bass back in the day.

When our bass season opens has little to nothing to do with the spawn, that is just a convenient excuse.

[bassfshin24]

As much as I hate the closed bass season I agree with Deitz. The fishing is Minnesota is unbelievable. I guess I am just lucky to have Pool 2 close by.

[EBass]

The whole north side of the state opens before the southern part is what ticks me off. I understand protecting the spawning bass, but that isn't what's going on up nort.

[thatoneguy]

I'm with you 100%, Deitz.

[corncob]

I agree Dietz, however, where thatoneguy and I live spawning is usually after opener anyway. Should there be a seperate opener?....NOT!

[RumRiverRat]

Last time I checked bass fishing is pretty decent in FL,TX,GA,MS,AL,LA etc........

The MN DNR is not in control of seasons in MN, politicians are.....case in point Pelican Lake in northern MN.

[thatoneguy]

griz, don't give those knuckleheads any ideas!

[Superduty]

I don't have a problem with our season dates in MN. Does it make sense? Not at all. I don't think we have to worry about a ton of bass fisherman keeping and killing bass during the spawn, but I think a lot of the "panfisherman" would throw 'em right in the basket if the law allowed! On a normal year, our lakes are full of early season panfisherman searching the shallows for spawning bluegills and crappies. The bass tend to be in those same areas and are pretty eager to eat a leech or worm under a bobber. Our bass fishing is pretty darn good in MN. I don't see the need to mess with it.

As far as this being the first year you guys expect to fish for spawners... I can't ever remember a year in MN when I didn't legally fish for both spawning largies and smallies. Not all fish spawn at the same time.

[RuddyDuck]

I did say I would be for a catch and release only Bass season for the first two weeks of the regular eye/pike season. This would eliminate any being kept. I would not be for an open season during this time.

It sounds like the NE area that is open is mostly because of politics and economics, nothing really about protecting the spawn. I suppose one could say there is less pressure up there on bass, but not really sure of that. Thanks for the input so far.

[RumRiverRat]

Even last year there were smallmouths on beds opening weekend on Mille Lacs.

We all know how accelerated things were last year.

Because a small group that fishes for panfish would keep a bunch of bass we all have to wait.

Fishing for bass on beds is about the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Lots of places on Pools 2 through 9 where you can legally fish for bass year round and at the height of the spawn.

[MuskieFever]

If it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT!

[HandGunner]

my idea is here in MN as of now late April and it still snows lakes are not even open yet and yes my friends are also fleeing to WIS now just to get their poles wet..... I believe we have mild winters bad winters and last year no winter! point Im trying to make is it can be survival rates in the winter, the whole winterkill thing. A few years ago a set of ponds was dynamite, last year was slow and ugly their I feel as bass numbers must have dropped tremendously. No one hardly fishes those ponds and only a few even know it actualy has fish in their! As long as I know the regulation keeps people from keeping breeders and risking bass populations I will wait until the opener too. BUT hey you cant stop everyone.

Think about it I see pics of ppl in WIS a few weeks ago crowding the shore in the water with waders fishing like no other and were still here in MN shoveling our cars out of the snow. As of now Im suppose to be carrying a rod not a shovel for snow. Hopefully I will no longer see snow or else Im dropping dynamite on the ice just so I can fish

[Juan Grande]

With how much I (and most bass fishermen) invest in my boat, rods and tackle, I want to be able to open water bass fish more than 5 months a year in MN.

[skocsuhs]

sounds like the typical selfish entitlement, me me me...if you don't like it Juan you can always move south...

[Juan Grande]

Yep, that's me skocsuhs, Mr. Selfish. How's fishing in garbageville? Maybe I'll move there.

[bassfshin24]

No need to bash on Juan. It his opinion. I guarentee that if there was no season in place in MN, 95% of us would be fishing as soon as possible.

[Search Function]

I have no problems with keeping smallmouth lakes closed as they currently are; in fact I think smallmouth should probably be closed to fishing until mid-June. It HAS been shown that pulling smallmouth off the nest can negatively harm recruitment in a lot of cases. Not all smallmouth in a lake spawn in a given year and when caught off the nest a couple of times the males are a lot less likely to return. Smallmouth in rivers spawning can be easily effected by flooding.

Largemouth are a different story. There is no proof that I am aware of that pulling largemouth off the nest adversely effects recruitment with immediate catch and release. It really doesn't seem to matter if a lake looses all but a couple of nests and that is unlikely to happen because largemouth spawn in a diverse amount of places and water depths. To my knowledge all largemouth that are able to spawn in a given year attempt to do so. There apparently is rarely if ever a bad year class in waters where largemouth are well established. Therefore I do not believe closing largemouth to catch and release fishing can hurt anything. In recent years the DNR's of Michigan, New York, Vermont all added early catch and release season's. I believe MN should as well. It seems pretty simple to me; If there is no good reason to forbid catch and release fishing for largemouth, than the state shouldn't.