Hey Guys,
My name is Benji Wood, I'm the V.P. of the Boundary Waters Musky Club and live in Iron Mountain. I am also a member of MMA. Our Club has been working with yours (Will in particular) on support for a more conservative-minded approach to muskies through the DNR and Coolwater Steering Committee. While higher size limits and restricted bag limits are great, any expansion of spearing can still have a dramatic effect. I'm going to copy what I just posted on another site and ask you to take a few minutes of your time to protect our fragile populations. I was going to attach the DNR proposal as well, but don't see where I can attach a file?
Hello Everyone,
As many of you know, we do have lakes in Michigan that are open to muskellunge spearing. While this is unfortunate in the eyes of most catch and release hook and line anglers, it gets worse. An attempt is being made to expand the current list of lakes exponentially and include most bodies of water in the state. In the Upper Peninsula alone, there would only be a handful of lakes closed—six total. See the attached file for specifics.
The musky clubs in Michigan have been working with the DNR to develop more conservative restrictions on harvest, and those are still in the works, but the spearing issue is still of GREAT CONCERN! The impact spearing can have on vulnerable adult populations in our relatively small lakes (the vast majority 500 acres or less) can be devastating over just a season or two. Right now the bag limit is one fish per day. Regardless of what happens with the fight for higher size limits and lower bag limits, an expansion of lakes open to spearing is not, in my opinion, an acceptable concession at this point.
The Michigan DNR is taking public comment on this issue over the next couple of weeks. The proposal was set to be signed into the new regulations in October, but they have agreed to push it back and do a more extensive review after a number of contacts with a number of different people within the Department and our Natural Resource Commissioners. We still can stop this, but need your help! If you live in Michigan, have ever fished in Michigan, plan to visit sometime, or just want to have your voice heard on this issue, PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO THE DNR! 5 minutes of your time could really make a difference.
Written comments may be submitted to:
Director, Rodney A. Stokes, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909-7973 or e-mail: ** you do not have permission to see this link ** and
Natural Resources Commission, P.O. Box 30028, Lansing, MI 48909 or e-mail: ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Jessica Mistak, Northern Lake Michigan Supervisor, 6833 US Highway 2, 41, and M35, Gladstone, MI 49837 or email: ** you do not have permission to see this link **
Jim Dexter, Acting Fish Chief: ** you do not have permission to see this link **
STEVENS T. MASON BUILDING • 530 WEST ALLEGAN STREET • P.O. BOX 30028 • LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7528
<url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
">** you do not have permission to see this link ** • (517) 373-2329
DEPARTMENT OF NATU RAL RESOURCES
MICHIGAN
DNR
RICK SNYDER
GOVERNOR
STATE OF MICHIGAN
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
LANSING
RODNEY A. STOKES
DIRECTOR
SUBMITTED: August 15, 2011
MEMORANDUM TO THE DIRECTOR
Information: Natural Resources Commission
Subject: Spearing Regulations – Statewide (FO-219)
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Authority
The Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended, authorizes
the Director to provide for better protection and preservation of fish, game and birds.
Discussion and Background
Fisheries Order 219 governs spearing regulations statewide for anglers who harvest fish with
spear or bow. This Order sets the regulations for gear, seasons, species, and waters open to
spearing activity. We are recommending significant changes to this Order based upon a lengthy
review of our spearing regulations. The recommended changes simplify spearing regulations
and increase the diversity of fishing opportunities while maintaining effective protection to the
resource.
In 2007, Fisheries Division established a Workgroup to formulate a strategy for modifying
statute to simplify spearing regulations. After the formation of the Workgroup, an opportunity
arose to revise statute and move the authority for spearing regulations from the Legislature to the
Department. In October of 2008, the Department was granted authority for establishing and
modifying spearing regulations through the issuance of a Fisheries Order. This was a significant
change as spearing regulations had been set in statute for more than 50 years. Because the
Department had limited authority to modify spearing regulations, what resulted was a
complicated set of regulations that was difficult to convey to the fishing public. With the
passage of Act 291 of 2008, the Division now can move forward with wholesale changes to
spearing regulations.
The spearing Workgroup met on several occasions to review spearing regulations and to identify
ways to simplify regulations. Each fisheries management unit was charged with reviewing
spearing regulations in their waters and to recommend any changes. Informational surveys were
developed and discussed at two statewide biologist conferences where breakout sessions were
conducted and regulation proposals were drafted. As a result, a draft regulation package was
prepared for review by the Coolwater Regulations Advisory Committee. This is a Fisheries
Division based committee with invited stakeholder representation that provides advice and
recommendations to the Division regarding regulations such as FO-219.
Spearing Regulations – Statewide (FO-219) -2- August 15, 2011
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Over the past year, staff from Fisheries Division, have met several times with this committee to
develop a proposal to improve spearing regulations.
Proposed changes to spearing regulations include:
· Expanding the season for spearing opportunities on many waters;
· Expanding the waters where spearing opportunities exist;
· Expanding the type of gear that can be used;
· Expanding the list of species available for harvest to include gizzard shad;
· Moving spearing provisions listed in FO-220 to this Order;
· Elimination of some waters due to management changes; and
· Elimination of many restrictions and exceptions.
Prior to 2010 many Fisheries Orders contained regulations or references to spearing. As part of
the simplification process, several of these Orders were rescinded and/or incorporated into other
Orders, reducing the number of Orders dealing with spearing from seven to two. This is the final
phase of the process as spearing regulations listed in FO-220 are being recommended for
addition into this Order. Thus, FO-219 will rescind FO-220. As a result, all spearing regulations
will be contained in this Order, except for the provision allowing lake sturgeon to be speared as
listed in FO-240.
Spearing Regulations – Statewide (FO-219) -3- August 15, 2011
FOR INFORMATION ONLY
Recommendation
It is our recommendation that changes to spearing regulations proposed in Fisheries Order 219
that are summarized above be approved to take effect April 1, 2012. The recommended changes
simplify spearing regulations, increase the diversity of spearing opportunities, and maintain the
effectiveness of protection to the resource.
This Order is being submitted for information at the September 15, 2011 meeting of the Natural
Resources Commission. This Order will be resubmitted for action at the October 13, 2011
meeting of the Natural Resources Commission. This item appeared on the Department’s
September 2011 calendar, and will be eligible for approval on October 13, 2011.
James L. Dexter, Acting Chief Gary Hagler, Chief
Fisheries Division Law Enforcement Division
Russ Mason, Ph.D., Chief Lynne M. Boyd, Chief
Wildlife Division Forest Management Division
Ronald A. Olson, Chief
Parks and Recreation Division
Kelley D. Smith, Ph.D.
Acting Natural Resources Deputy
I approve the staff recommendation.
___________________________ ____________________
Rodney A. Stokes, Director Date
FO-219.12
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ORDER
SPEARING REGULATIONS – STATEWIDE
Under the authority of section 48703 of 1994 PA 451, as amended, being MCL 324. 48703, the Director
of the Department of Natural Resources on October 13, 2011, ordered that for a period not to exceed five
years, the following spearing regulations are established:
The seasons, waters, and species where a hand propelled spear may be used are as specified in the table
below and lists which follow (except as otherwise prohibited). In addition, a bow, rubber-propelled spear,
spring-propelled spear, or light may be used where noted.
SEASON WATERS SPECIES
December 1 – March 15
All waters (through the ice) except: Designated Trout
Lakes (FO-200) and Streams (FO-210), and specific
FO-220 waters. No muskellunge spearing on
L. St. Clair, L. Erie, Detroit R., and St. Clair R.
Northern Pike
Muskellunge
January 1 – end of February L. St. Clair (bow may be used) Yellow perch
January 1 – end of February (bow and light may be used) Inland non-trout waters
(through the ice): See FO-220.
All year (Note 1) (bow and light may be used) Great Lakes, L. St. Clair,
St. Marys R., St. Clair R., and Detroit R.
Bowfin Carp
Bullheads Gar
Catfish Drum
Cisco Whitefish
Suckers Smelt
All year Great Lakes Burbot
April 1 – May 31
South of highway M-46
April 15-May 31
Between highways
M-46 and M-72
(bow and light may be used)
All non-trout streams
Trout streams in List A
Bowfin
Carp
May 1 – 31
North of highway M-72
Gar
Suckers
All Year
(submerged under water with rubber or spring
propelled spears only)
Waters in List B
May 1 – August 15 (bow and light may be used)
Inland non-trout waters
Bowfin Carp
Gar
October 15 – December 31 (light may be used) Hubbard L. (Alcona Co.), Ottawa
L., Chicagon L. (Iron Co.)
November 1 – December 31
(light may be used)
Elk L, Torch L, Clam R. (Grand Trav., Antrim,
Kalkaska Cos.), Crystal L. (Benzie Co.) All inland
non-trout waters in the lower peninsula counties lying
wholly south of M-20 (including all of Huron, Sanilac,
and Tuscola Cos.)
Carp
Cisco
Suckers
Whitefish
Note 1: In Little Bay de Noc, bowfin, carp, and gar may be speared January 1 – end of February.
FO-219.12
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The seasons, gear, waters, and species where a spear or bow may be used are as specified in the
table below and lists which follow (except as otherwise prohibited). Spearing gear shall be limited
to: hand-propelled spear, rubber-propelled spear, spring-propelled spear or bow (and arrow).
Artificial lights may be used. It shall be unlawful to use a rubber-propelled spear or a springpropelled
spear without being submerged and have the spear under control by means of an
attached line not exceeding twenty feet in length. It is unlawful to spear any fish in a waterbody
closed to fishing, except as noted in the spearing exceptions lists.
SEASON GEAR *WATERS SPECIES
open for the
entire year spear or bow
ALL WATERS except:
Designated Trout Lakes
and Designated Trout
Streams
bowfin, bullheads,
burbot, carp,
catfish, drum,
longnose gar,
gizzard shad, lake
herring (cisco),
smelt, **suckers,
whitefish
December 1
through March
15 (through the
ice)
hand-propelled spear
ALL WATERS except:
Designated Trout Lakes
and Designated Trout
Streams
northern pike and
muskellunge
*Check the spearing exceptions list for regulations that differ from those listed in the table above.
**For the purpose of this Order the term suckers refers to: suckers (longnose, white, northern hog,
spotted), redhorse (silver, golden, black, greater, shorthead), buffalo (bigmouth, black), lake
chubsucker, and quillback carpsucker.
FO-219.12
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LIST A
TROUT STREAMS OPEN to the use of HAND PROPELLED SPEAR or BOW for taking BOWFIN,
CARP, GAR, and SUCKERS
The following trout streams are open to the use of bow or hand propelled spear during the seasons
indicated for taking bowfin, carp, gar, and suckers. Artificial lights may be used. Rubber and spring
propelled spears may not be used in these trout streams.
ALCONA COUNTY
April 15 – May 31
Bryant Creek down from Vaughn Lake to Little Lake
May 1 – May 31
Buff Creek
Sucker Creek down from mouth of Vincent Creek (T27N, R8E, S9) to Hubbard Lake (T28N, R8E,
S36)
ALGER COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Big Indian River down from widewaters (T44N, R19W, S13) to Highway 13 Bridge
CASS AND ST. JOSEPH COUNTIES
April 1 – May 31
Dowagic Creek and tributaries from Bunker Lake outlet (T5S, R14W, S14) down to Goodenough
Road (T5S, R14W, S16)
Rocky River down from Pioneer Road (T5S, R13W, S29) to Bent Road (T5S, R12W, S21)
CALHOUN COUNTY
April 1 – May 31
Nottawa Creek: From Calhoun County line (T4S, R8W, S31) upstream to T3S, R5W, S35
Rice Creek: South Branch Rice Creek from confluence of Rice Creek and Kalamazoo River (T2S,
R6W, S25) upstream to Concord Road (Jackson County)
CHEBOYGAN COUNTY
April 1 – June 15 it shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take any species of fish with a spear, bow and
arrow or gaff hook from the following waters:
Black River
Cheboygan River
Indian River
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Trout Creek down from Big Trout Lake (T42N, R3E, S31)
Prentiss Creek (T42N, R2E)
DELTA COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
All streams south of US-2 and tributary to Great Lakes waters east of Peninsula Point
Squaw Creek below County Road 513
FO-219.12
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EMMET COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Carp Lake River from mouth up to old dam just above Wilderness Road
GOGEBIC COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Gypsy (Sucker or Camp) Creek upstream to old road crossing (T50N, R45W, S31)
East Branch of Middle Branch of Ontonagon River down from Crooked Lake to north line of T45N,
R40W, S34
Ohman's Creek upstream to east-west road in middle of T49N, R48W, S32
IRON COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Briar Hill Creek
Holmes Lake Creek (T46N, R36W, S32) from outlet of lake 500 feet downstream
Swan Lake outlet
Winslow Creek (T45N, R36W, S2, 11) from the outlet of Winslow Lake to 1000 feet
downstream
LUCE COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Little Two Hearted River from mouth upstream to bridge on County Road 412 (T50N, R9W, S25)
MACKINAC COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Doe Creek (T43N, R10W)
Foley Creek down from I-75
Hoban Creek down from US-2
Hudson Creek (T41N, R11W, S8)
Martineau Creek down from I-75
McClouds Creek
Milakokia River, Milakokia Lake down to Heinz Lake
Norton Creek from M-135 down to South Manistique Lake
Nunn's Creek from Highway M -134 to mouth
Pearson's Creek, T42N, R1W and R1E
Rabbits Back Creek down from Mackinac Trail
Scrams Creek (T42N, R11W, S11)
Taylor Creek (T43N, R12W, S2, 11, 12 and 13)
MANISTEE COUNTY
April 15 – May 31
Little Bear Creek down from Bear Lake to trunkline Highway US-31
MARQUETTE COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Carp River down from the bridge (T47N, R27W, S9) to mouth in Deer Lake
Goldmine Creek from its mouth in Deer Lake (T28N, R27W, S29) for a distance of 1000 feet
upstream
Middle Branch Escanaba River from County Road Bridge (T47N, R29W, S1) to Greenwood
Reservoir
FO-219.12
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Spruce River down from the mouth of Mill Creek (T47N, R30W, S20)
Rock Lake outlet from Rock Lake to mouth (T47N, R27W, S4)
MASON COUNTY
April 15 – May 31
Sauble River from Freesoil Road down to Custer Road (T20N, R16W, S22)
MENOMINEE COUNTY
May 1- May 31
Cedar River from US-2 bridge down to bridge in middle of T38N, R26W, S15
Harter Creek downstream from CO 577
Pemenee Creek from the mouth of Dehaas Creek downstream to Menominee River
Wilson Creek (T38N, R25W, S7 and T38N, R26W, S12) from a point 1,000 feet above the Chicago
& Northwestern Railway Bridge downstream to the junction with the Big Cedar River.
MISSAUKEE COUNTY
April 15 – May 31
Clam River down from mouth of Taylor Creek (T22N, R7W, S33) to Falmouth Dam
West Branch Muskegon River down from Goodrich Bridge (T23N, R5W, S29)
OCEANA COUNTY
April 15 – May 31
All drainage ditches in T15N, R15W and R16W
SCHOOLCRAFT COUNTY
May 1 – May 31
Delias River – in entirety
Kilpecker Creek from county line down to Thunder Lake
VAN BUREN COUNTY
April 1 – May 31
Dowagiac River and tributaries above 50th Street (T45N, R15W, S35)
Lake of the Wood Outlet to confluence with Dowagiac River (T45N, R15W, S34)
LIST B
WATERS OPEN to the USE of RUBBER and SPRING-PROPELLED SPEARS for taking BOWFIN,
CARP, GAR, AND SUCKERS
The following listed waters are open all year to the taking bowfin, carp, gar, and suckers with rubber and
spring-propelled spears. By statute, the person using the spear must be submerged in the water and have
the spear under control by means of an attached line not exceeding twenty feet in length.
GREAT LAKES and CONNECTING WATERS OPEN ALL YEAR
Lake Superior except the North and South Portage Ship Canal and Huron Bay;
Lake Huron except Potagannissing Bay, Pike Bay, Island Harbor, Les Cheneaux Channels and within a
three-mile radius of Fort Gratiot light (located at the upper end of the St. Clair River, St. Clair Co.);
FO-219.12
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Lake Michigan except Northport Harbor (Leelenau Co.) and that part of little Bay de Noc presently closed
by statute to commercial fishing;
Lake Erie
Lake St. Clair
St. Mary's River
Detroit River
INLAND WATERS OPEN ALL YEAR
ALCONA COUNTY
Hubbard Lake
ALGER COUNTY
Grand Sable Lake
ALLEGAN COUNTY
Gun Lake
BARRY COUNTY
Duncan (T4N, R10W, S5, 6, 7), Gull, Gun, Leach (T4N, R8W, S32), Middle (T4N, R8W, S28, 32, 33),
Payne (T3N, R10W, S17, 20), Pine (T2N, R9W, S8), and Wall (T2N, R9W) lakes.
BERRIEN COUNTY
Big Paw Paw Lake
BRANCH COUNTY
Coldwater Lake
CALHOUN COUNTY
Duck (T1S, R4W) and Goguac (T2S, R8W) lakes.
CASS COUNTY
Diamond Lake (T6S and T7S, R14W and R15W)
CHIPPEWA COUNTY
Carp Lake (T44N, R6W S22, 27) and Frenchman Lake (T44N, R6W, S26)
CLARE COUNTY
Long Lake (T20N, R4W, S22, 26, 27, 35)
CRAWFORD COUNTY
Jones Lake (T28N, R2W, S30, 31)
GENESEE COUNTY
Ponemah Lake (T5N, R6E, S21, 22)
HILLSDALE COUNTY
Bear Lake (T7S, R3W, S8, 17)
FO-219.12
-7-
IOSCO COUNTY
Foote Impoundment (T24N, R8E)
JACKSON COUNTY
Michigan Center Chain of Lakes (Michigan Center, Price, Big and Little Olcott, Big and Little Wolf Lakes
and connecting waters) (no spearing January-February)
Round Lake (T4S, R3E, S36), Wamplers Lake (T4S, R2E, S34, 35, 36)
KALAMAZOO COUNTY
Campbell (T2S, R10W, S3, 4), Gull (T1S, R9W and R10W), Indian (T3S and T4S, R10W) and Sugarloaf
(T3S and T4S, R11W) lakes.
KALKASKA COUNTY
Big Twin Lake (T28N, R5W and R6W)
LAKE COUNTY
Idlewild Lake (T17N, R12W, S5, 6, 7, 8)
LENAWEE COUNTY
Devils (T5S and T6S, R1E), Evans (T5S, R3E, S6, 7), Round (T6S, R1E, S11)
Round (T5S, R2E and R3E), and Wamplers (T5S, R2E, S1, 2, 3) lakes
LIVINGSTON COUNTY
Portage (T1N, R4E and R5E) and Silver (T1N, R4E S33, 34) lakes.
LUCE COUNTY
Round Lake (T45N, R11W and R12W)
MASON COUNTY
Round Lake (T19N, R15W, S28, 29, 33)
MECOSTA COUNTY
Chippewa Lake (T16N, R8W)
OAKLAND COUNTY
Cass (T3N and T2N, R9E), Buckhorn (T4N, R7E, S21, 22, 27), Lakeville (T5N, R11E S15, 22, 27), Pine
(T2N, R9E, S11, 12, 13, 14), Orchard (T2N, R9E), Oxbow (T3N, R8E), Union (T2N, R8E and R9E), and
Walled (T1N and T2N, R8E) lakes.
OCEANA COUNTY
Stony (T13N and T14N, R18W) and Pentwater (T16N, R18W, S13, 14, 23, 24) lakes
OGEMAW COUNTY
Clear Lake (T23N, R1E, S2, 3, 10, 11)
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
Fishers (T5S and T6S, R11W) and Klinger (T7S and T8S, R11W) lakes.
TUSCOLA COUNTY
Cat Lake (T11N, R10E, S7)
FO-219.12
-8-
VAN BUREN COUNTY
Lake of the Woods (T4S, R14W and R15W) and Van Auken Lake (T2S, R16W, S28, 32, 33)
WASHTENAW COUNTY
Four Mile (T1S and T2S, R4E), Halfmoon Chain of Lakes (T1S, R3E and R4E), and Horseshoe (T1S,
R6E, S8, 17) lakes; Huron River (T1S, T2S and T3S, R4E, R5E, R6E and R7E); Big and Little Portage
Chain of Lakes (T1S, R4E, S1, 2, 11, 12); and Round (T4S, R3E, S31), Silver (T1S, R4E, S3), and
Pleasant (T3S, R4E, S21, 22) lakes.
SPEARING EXCEPTIONS
LIST A – INLAND WATERS
WATERS CLOSED TO NORTHERN PIKE AND MUSKELLUNGE SPEARING
It shall be unlawful to fish by any means other than hook-and-line for northern pike or
muskellunge in the following waters:
Alpena County: Fletcher Floodwaters
Barry County: Thornapple Lake (from
McKeown Rd T3N, R8W, S27 to Barger Rd
T3N, R7W, S20)
Chippewa County: Caribou Lake
Clare County: Budd Lake
Clinton County: Lake Ovid
Iron County: Brule Lake, Chicagon Lake, Paint
Lake, Paint Pond (Brule Isle Imp.) and Stanley
Lake
Kent County: Campau Lake and Murray Lake
Keweenaw County: Lake Gratiot
Lenawee County: Lake Hudson
Montmorency County: Fletcher Floodwaters
Otsego County: Big Bear Lake
Roscommon County: Houghton Lake
St. Joseph County: Long Lake (T6S, R12W, S7)
Van Buren County: Bankson Lake and Round
Lake (T4S, R16W, S31)
WATERS WITH SPEARING AND GAFF HOOK RESTRICTIONS
Cheboygan County
April 1 through June 15, inclusive, it shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take any species of fish
with spearing gear or gaff hook from the following waters:
Black River
Cheboygan River
Indian River
DESIGNATED TROUT STREAMS OPEN TO NORTHERN PIKE SPEARING
Cheboygan County
December 1 through March 15, inclusive.
Tower Pond: a hand-propelled spear may be used to harvest northern pike (through the ice).
DESIGNATED TROUT STREAMS OPEN TO SPRING SPEARING
The following designated trout streams are open to the use of spearing gear from April 1 through
May 31, inclusive, for taking bowfin, bullheads, burbot, carp, catfish, drum, longnose gar, gizzard
shad, lake herring (cisco), smelt, suckers (as listed above), and whitefish:
Alcona County
Bryant Creek from Vaughn Lake downstream to Little Lake
Buff Creek
Sucker Creek from confluence of Vincent Creek (T27N, R8E, S9) downstream to Hubbard
Lake (T28N, R8E, S36)
FO-219.12
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Calhoun County
Nottawa Creek: from Calhoun County line (T4S, R8W, S31) upstream to T3S, R5W, S35
Rice Creek: South Branch Rice Creek from confluence of Rice Creek and Kalamazoo River
(T2S, R6W, S25) upstream to Concord Road (Jackson County)
Chippewa County
Trout Creek downstream of Big Trout Lake (T42N, R3E, S31)
Prentiss Creek (T42N, R2E,)
Delta County
Squaw Creek downstream of County Road 513
Mackinac County
Doe Creek (T43N, R10W)
Foley Creek downstream of I-75
Hoban Creek downstream of US-2
Hudson Creek (T41N, R11W, S8)
Martineau Creek downstream of I-75
McClouds Creek
Milakokia River, from Milakokia Lake downstream to Heinz Lake
Norton Creek from M-135 downstream to South Manistique Lake
Nunn's Creek downstream of Highway M -134
Pearson's Creek, T42N, R1W and R1E
Rabbits Back Creek downstreamof Mackinac Trail
Scrams Creek (T42N, R11W, S11)
Taylor Creek (T43N, R12W, S2, 11, 12 and 13)
Mason County
Sable River from Freesoil Road downstream to Custer Road (T20N, R16W, S22)
Van Buren County
Dowagiac River and tributaries upstream of 50th Street (T45N, R15W, S35)
Lake of the Wood Outlet to confluence with Dowagiac River (T45N, R15W, S34)
LIST B – GREAT LAKES AND CONNECTING WATERS
WATERS CLOSED TO MUSKELLUNGE SPEARING
It shall be unlawful to fish by any other means other than hook-and-line for muskellunge in the
following waters:
Lake Erie
Lake St. Clair
Detroit River
St. Clair River
WATERS OPEN TO YELLOW PERCH SPEARING
January 1 through end of February, inclusive.
Lake St. Clair: a hand-propelled spear or bow may be used to harvest yellow perch.
FO-219.12
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This Order shall be assigned number FO-219.12, and is entitled “Spearing Regulations – Statewide.”
This Order supersedes the Order entitled “Spearing Regulations – Statewide,” which became effective
April 1, 2010 and is assigned number FO-219.10.
This Order rescinds the Order entitled “Special Muskellunge and Northern Pike Regulations,” effective
April 1, 2010 and assigned number FO-220.10.
This Order shall take effect on April 1, 2012. This Order shall remain in effect until March 31, 2017 or
until this Order is amended/rescinded, whichever comes first. Although this Order may be reviewed and
amended on an annual basis, a review of this Order shall occur no later than August 1, 2016.
Issued on the day of , 2011.
Rodney A. Stokes
Director
The Natural Resources Commission has reviewed this Order.
Timothy L. Nichols Deb Whipple
Chairperson Executive Secretary
Posts: 60
Update! Just got off the phone with the DNR and apparently there is some confusion on interpretation of FO-219. I had asked you to voice your concern over the huge increase in lakes that would be open to spearing in that order….however, there still are a handful of lakes that would stay closed as part of FO-219. So I'm hearing that at the state level, there is some confusion when they're hearing people are opposed to 219, which does protect some lakes. They say general opposition could be interpreted as opposition to leaving any lakes open.
Semantics or not, please clarify your position if you've sent something in opposition to 219 and just ask that they not open ANY additional lakes to spearing. Multiple emails do not hurt. Sounds like they have been surprised by the number of comments in the last few days, which is great.
The spearing movement has unfortunately also wrangled in some legislative support, so please also send your comments to Senator Tom Casperson, Rep. Ed McBroom, Rep. Matt Huuki, Senate Majority leader Richardville and House Speaker Bolger.
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Please be careful with this we do not want to contradict something that MMA already agreed to support. The combination of FO-220 and FO-219 which also includes the elimination of a number of lakes that needed to be removed from the list was agreed upon by the coolwater regulations steering committee, MMA is a member of that committee. MMA did not agree with the removal of any lakes that contain muskie from the original list but had no basis to disagree with the manager(s) that were removing lakes.
The manager(s) of the lakes in question asked for these lakes to be removed. The acting chief has agreed to hold this order until he can get the justification from the managers on certain lakes.
Please keep in mind that this order is much more than muskie and pike spearing. This combined order included all kinds of spearing along with changes and clarification in bowfishing regulations.
Right now the darkhouse group is trying to stop this order from being signed and wants the entire list of muskie waters removed.
I will not tell anyone what to say regarding this order but I will tell you that MMA has/does supported the combined order.
My emails expressed my opposition to the spearing of muskellunge in any lake. I think the season on Muskellunge should be closed from December 31st to opening day. I did not address the orders in particular. I simply told them I support a one tag per season on Muskellunge and that spearing them should be banned. Mike
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