Attention all bass anglers - Input required for bass season extension

[Mark Christianson]

FM has approved this message.

There is an effort to extend our current bass season. Please read the petition in the attached link for details as to what is being sought after.

If you agree, please sign the petition.

http://thiscause.org/p/menu.php?p=Allen62626DB

[Ole the Guide]

I'm with you! Send this to all your friends!

[Tom Wilson]

I did my part.

[HawgMan]

Me To

[Mark Christianson]

Right on guys!!!!!

Pass on this link to all your friends, family, coworkers, etc.

Lets get it done!

I have a reliable source that tells me if we can prove via this petition that there is significant response to this petition that we could get action as soon as this coming season!!!!!!!!!!!

Pass it everywhere!

[DTro]

Could we tack on my petition for two lines?

[Daze Off]

Thanks for the opportunity! Mine is done!

[Rick]

fixed

[blakjack23]

Not trying to start a debate, but I was just thinking. If opener was moved up, there were be a lot of tournaments at that time. A lot of bass would be taken off their beds(to go to the weigh-in)and in turn the eggs would probably be eaten. Is this not a factor in this matter? MN has great bass lakes right now with the system that is currently in place. Would we want to take the chance that this change would cause the great fishing we have here to diminish???

[Mark Christianson]

In the petition we have put in the stipulation that an earlier opener would be C/R ONLY.

Tournies could not be held, because you wouldn't legally be able to put fish in the livewell to go to a weigh in.

Tournies would not be an issue.

[blakjack23]

Ok, I guess taking fish is not an issue if its only C&R at that time. But still, would we want to take the chance that this change COULD cause the fishing to diminish? I would love to fish 2 more weeks at one of the best times in the year, but if there is any chance that it will hurt the fishing in future years then I'll stick with what we have.

Anybody know how long this current opener date has been in place?

[Mark Christianson]

As stated in the petition, NE MN opens 2 weeks earlier already. And its been that way for a LONG time.

You sure dont hear people complaining about the lack of bass fishing opportunities in that zone. And I have never heard anyone state that they want that date moved to match southern MN's bass opener.

It makes no sense.

The south half of the state should open before the north half if anything.

Now wouldnt that make sense if there is really a concern about fishing for bass that might potentially be spawning?

[augernaut]

apparently my post was deemed unacceptable?????

[HawgTide]

Catching Female bass before the spawn is not a problem that has any of the Fishery experts worried. If it was, other states and organizations like BASS would raise the issue, adopt similar seasons, and ban spring tournaments altogether. Catching male bass after the spawn has far more affect on the Bass population. They are the ones protecting the nest from sunfish. What we are proposing is a Catch and Release season for 2-6 weeks at the beginning of the season. That way both the females with eggs and males guarding the nest will be released during the spawning season, creating a better fishery than what exists now. At the present, during the first week or so of the season, there are probably thousands of male bass kept for the dinner table that were protecting their nest.

Maybe we could get the DNR Fisheries Manager to post his view point on this issue. Who would know better than him?

[Mark Christianson]

Augernut

There was problems with FM when you originally posted.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Augernaut-It hadd nothing to do with your post.. we had a bit of a server crash here at FM.. please re-type your post!

[basser]

I tried but it says my IP has been banned from that server - what the?

[Mark Christianson]

Is your work blocking it?

I know a guy who could not get to the site from work, but he could from home.

[basser]

Nope - it has a diff message when work blocks it - I will do it from home.

Excellent idea - now would they ever implement it?

[HawgTide]

They must be having a problem with the server. Please keep trying. No IP's have been banned.

[EBass]

I can't wait for this to change. C'mon people sign up! Most bass fisherman catch and release any who.

[bucketmouth64]

This has been a long time coming. I hate it when the opener arrives and we just sit and wait. Tired of people asking why I'm not fishing the opener.

[NBR]

While I live in NH, I have fished the MN/ONT border waters for many years. NH has an interesting and I think effective approach to the bass season. Except for certain trout waters the season is year around but from May 15 to June 15 C&R only. This came from Fish & Games (Our version of DNR). Web site. My memory of the regulations from the 2005 book is that there is a reduced possession limit from the 2005 is 2 bass only and I am guessing at the dates are something like May 1 to June 1.

Although I don't fish tourneys I was on a lake with a T going on and the limit was according to a friend who was fishing the T.

An interesting approach to managing the resourceand it seems to be effective. Time will tell.

[HawgTide]

NBR, as far as I know, there were no changes for this year regarding possession, except for special regulations on specific waters.

Thanks to everyone signing this! We have 114 as of this morning. Keep spreading the word...Let's Git R Done!

[HawgTide]

On a related note...In the new Bassmaster Magazine, there is a blurb about Michigans season. They (the Anglers) are trying to get the DNR to open it up to C&R before the season starts. Looks like it will pass and could be allowed as soon as this next season. Let's hope MN will follow quickly!

143 Signatures as of this morning. Email your friends! Spread the word. Thanks.