Oct. 12, 2012
The Department of Natural Resources has announced new spearing regulations that will result in new fishing opportunities on Houghton Lake in Roscommon County. A nearly 75-year-old prohibition on spearing in Houghton Lake has been removed and crossbows have been added to the list of acceptable spearing gear. The changes became immediately effective on Oct. 11, 2012, when DNR Director Keith Creagh signed Fisheries Order 219, Spearing Regulations – Statewide.
The Houghton Lake spearing prohibition was listed in statute and Fisheries Order 219 mimics statute. The recent passage of Public Act 301 on Sept. 27 removed the spearing ban on Houghton Lake, which had been in effect since 1940. In July a bill was signed authorizing the DNR to regulate the use of crossbows for fishing. These two new provisions will take immediate effect.
Although Fisheries Order 219 may be reviewed and amended on an annual basis, a review of this order will occur no later than Aug. 1, 2016. The order may be found on the DNR website on the Fish Orders page.
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I wonder if a crossbow will be legal only on some waters, and only for some species. IMO, this is taking all the skill out of spearing now. What's next? Handguns? 12 guage? Dynamite? The fish don't have a chance in hell, now. 🙄
If this is just added to the current species you can bowfish for, I don't see much of an impact. We used to bow fish for carp in brooks creek by fremont when I was in high school. it was a riot!
here is the list of species from the Fishing Guide, for spears – bows – crossbows:
Bowfin, bullheads, burbot, carp, catfish, cisco, drum, gizzard shad, goldfish, grass carp, longnose gar, smelt, suckers, lake whitefish.
The regs for pike and musky still remain hand propelled spear only.
The new regs show up on the online version of the fishing guide in red already! nice work on being prompt DNR!
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I knew I was in a mood that was going to prevent me from thinking logically.
Your right, it won't do much for the spear chuckers.
Is it a complete waste of time to start working towards a Musky spearing ban?
Maybe considering the magnitude of the new regs it isn't a good time to try and work towards even more?
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