What would you think about an experimental CIR (catch and immediate release) season for a few waters in Michigan? It would have to be waters with NO natural reproduction that are maintained by stocking. This would be a spring CIR season from 3/15 to the last Saturday in April or May 15.
Thoughts?
Concerns?
Ideas?
"Muskie Medic" said:
How would the Reg read? would it be Pike and muskie, or just muskie?
TF
I don't know, what do you think?
IMO this would depend on the situation, some lakes probably wouldn't be good candidates due to spawning pike.
Realize that this is ONLY in the discussion phase on this forum and NOWHERE else! It's likely that nothing will ever happen beyond our discussion.
I guess I've always been one to give the fish a chance at a hassle-free spawn if the species is less than prolific. Give the sturgeon and muskies a chance to propagate. Smallmouths have a hard time being successful at it if they are pulled off the nest due to angler catch, according to Gord Pyzer at the In-Fisherman. Even if a lake is thought to be unfavorable to muskie spawning, you might get eggs and sperm together on a nice spring day. Some of the natural WI muskie lakes look pretty barren on the shoreline but there has been enough habitat to get the job done.
Now, largemouths, catfish, panfish are a different story. That's where I'm coming from.
What's the difference between C & R and C I R? In theory, not much I should think. Perhaps no hand held picture or water release only? Anyway, I personally don't feel compelled to get my boat out of storage that early and deal with the early conditions. It probably would be good practice for ME, however, as I'm not the most patient presentation guy in cold water. Larry's comments seem sensible in my opinion. I don't have my equipment ready to go yet anyway, but I can wait until the ICE OUT ChALLUNGE in Indiana. There doesn't seem to be any plus for the overall fishery in this situation and since I got my cabin fever stroked in Chicago and the banquet I say nay. I'll be gung ho in Indiana next weekend, however….get those hooks sharpened if not already.
I can see the moral concern about spawning fish but there is not a biological concern with the lakes I have in mind. This has been proven in many other states where there is no closed season.
CIR is the term used by the DNR. Mainly it's used to clarify that fish can't be retained in a livewell. This was particularly importatnt in the recently approved CIR bass season so that it excluded weigh-in tournaments.
My thought is that this would create additional angling opportunity in Michigan, something the DNR likes to do. Keeping Michigan anglers and their money at home is another plus in the eyes of the state.
Will, I was in the process of picking a couple of days to fish with someone from the webster lake club and he told me that the days I picked could mean very tuff fishing because historically the fish are in the heat of the spawning act and I may want to re-think. I guess I assumed that most of them were taking a break that week or two.
"MuskyDan" said:
Will, I was in the process of picking a couple of days to fish with someone from the webster lake club and he told me that the days I picked could mean very tuff fishing because historically the fish are in the heat of the spawning act and I may want to re-think. I guess I assumed that most of them were taking a break that week or two.
That's what I figured, it's can be tough but if you choose the lake wisely fishing should still be good.
57
28