Why cant we fish for bass?

[uwecsteeple]

I am wondering if anybody can explain why the DNR chooses now till late May for the closed season. Are bass most vunerable now? I always thought that bass spawn later in may and early june when the water temps get between 60 and 65. Same question for 'eyes, they seem to be the most vulnerable just after opener? I am sure the DNR knows what they are doing, but would like to know how they choose the seasons.

Thanks

[Cabela10]

I think it has more to do with "ICE OUT" than anything else. DNR lets the fishing season end in March so you can use the same license from the previous summer. So our new season starts every spring during the spawn of walleye, and then bass.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I think there are a couple of reasons. One it does help jump start the economy, each year. It also helps to give resorts time to clean up and get ready for the "fishing season". Lastly, it does help protect them for the spawn, they(the DNR) hopes that most of the spawning is done by the time season opens for bass. We here in MN and WI have some of the best bass fishing in the nation. Maybe our fish dont get as large as they do in other states, but that has to do with growing season, not quality of the fisheries. But for numbers of fish, and numbers of decent fish, MN and WI have some of the best there is. And I feel that a large part of it has to do with us having a closed season on them for a while. Most other states do not. It may also just be a part of tradition?

just my opinions.

[Ray Esboldt]

I'll go with Deitz on this one. We should be patting the DNR on the back with regards to the bass fishery in MN. I doubt there is a state with more consistent fishing than here.

And, you know, you could fish for something else besides bass while it's closed. Panfish are pretty fun. Catfish are available and pull a lot harder than a bass. Bass aren't the only game in town. But, if you really need a fix, fish Mississippi from the Ford Dam on down. Bass is open year round there.

[EBass]

So Pool 3 is open for Bass all the time? I knew P2 was and P4 was, but not too many people talk about P3. Cool - now if we could fast forward a month

[matthothand]

I agree the DNR wants most of the fish to spawn before an open season. It works out perfect if you fish steelhead. Once bass season opens steelhead are winding down and where I fish there's usually bass on the beds for a week or even two still.

[fishane]

Up here in Northeast MN the bass season opens May 12, and the rest of the state May 26. I don't know about the metro or south MN but up here our bass spawn late May at the earliest, and usually in June. So the late opener is not about protecting fish on the beds, at least up here. I myself would love a early opener or continous season for bass. I actually think that it is more ethical to fish for them during prespawn than it is to fish for them on the beds. I personally don't like to drag male smallies off their beds, so I wish the DNR would let me enjoy a little legal prespawn love.

[Cabela10]

I think Pool 3 is one of the worst pools around here for bass. I usually just head up the St. Croix.

[RobertELee]

Quote:

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I think Pool 3 is one of the worst pools around here for bass. I usually just head up the St. Croix.

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Check the regulations, the St. Croix from Taylors Falls to Prescott is closed and opens May 26th not even catch and release.

[Slyster]

It is a shame we can't! A friend of mine (lives in Western Canada) got out for the first time yesterday and he and his buddy caught FIFTY bass!

[Ole the Guide]

I'm with fishane on this one. We're one of just a few states that have this long closed season on Bass. Basically, we're done bass fishing(open water in a boat) from Dec. till June. 6 months is hard to take especially when others(the southerners) get to fish year round! SD seems to be doing fine with their seasons. Vheck out their web site. They have a whole page on this issue!

I think if us Basslovers had a preseason opener say, from April 1 to May 15, then close it for two weeks for the spawn it would be fine. It would generate more business for our fishing industry (resorts, bait stores, etc..) and we could have a chance to take in some water time for the fish we love to catch and release.

That season would be C+R only, which 90% of us observe year pound anyway!!

We kick this around on the forum every year but it would be nice to do something about it!

Just my $.02 worth!!

Ole

[pondhopper]

The thing is though, the spawn time is much too variable to have only a two week window for bass to spawn. I'm willing to lay off bass fishing for a few months to preserve the highest quality of bass fishing in the country.

[Cyberfish]

Plenty of bass fishing spots around the backwaters in wabasha, I think I will be going down there once the waters go down a bit. It is not too long of a drive, and is a really pretty area too. No closed seasons, there is however a 14 inch minimum size limit on black bass.

[Bobb-o]

I am gonna be smallie fishing next weekend!! mississippi south of minnehaha falls. luckily this is the first year in the last 5 that i havent given up bass fishing for lent!