Help With Understanding Rules In Michigan

[MightyMichigan]

Im in the military (stationed in south carolina) and i'll be going on leave to michigan to see my parents from mid to late may. The DNR website said Largemouth season is the saturday before memorial day to (cant remember the date) but anyways, was that season for being able to keep the bass I catch or does that mean i cant even catch bass and release them immediately? im really curious, the rules here in south carolina are very different..... but i dont want to get in trouble when i try to take my brother fishing. So just to be on the safe side im asking for help.

[Scorcher214]

Bass season starts on the 3rd Saturday of April. We've had a weird spring this year, it actually snowed in mid april! Anyways, water temp has to be in atleast the 40s, but im not forsure. I haven't done any real fishing yet, just casting off my deck, messing around with new lures. Where ya fishing at? I'm on St. Clair.

[Lund Explorer]

Im in the military (stationed in south carolina) and i'll be going on leave to michigan to see my parents from mid to late may. The DNR website said Largemouth season is the saturday before memorial day to (cant remember the date) but anyways, was that season for being able to keep the bass I catch or does that mean i cant even catch bass and release them immediately? im really curious, the rules here in south carolina are very different..... but i dont want to get in trouble when i try to take my brother fishing. So just to be on the safe side im asking for help.

To begin with, thank you for your service.

Michigan's catch and release season actually starts on the last Saturday of April and continues until the traditional openning day which is the Saturday before Memorial Day (or the 3rd Saturday in June for Lake St. Clair).

Also of note, is the fact that you may qualify for a reduced fee fishing license because you'll be on leave from military service. If you have maintained a MI driver's license and/or voter registration while you are in the service, you can purchase a special $1 fishing license. You'll just need to take your military ID card and a copy of your leave orders to your license dealer.

Here's the link to the MI-DNR website page that cover current fishing regulations.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-10364_52261_52262---,00.html

[MightyMichigan]

Bass season starts on the 3rd Saturday of April. We've had a weird spring this year, it actually snowed in mid april! Anyways, water temp has to be in atleast the 40s, but im not forsure. I haven't done any real fishing yet, just casting off my deck, messing around with new lures. Where ya fishing at? I'm on St. Clair.

Im in the Grand Rapids/Walker area, i dont have a boat here so im gonna do some shore fishing over in pickerel lake or maybe drive to gun lake. Thanks for everything. I just wanted to play it safe knowing how the northern states are picky about fishing around spawning time. Once again thanks.

[MightyMichigan]

To begin with, thank you for your service.

Michigan's catch and release season actually starts on the last Saturday of April and continues until the traditional openning day which is the Saturday before Memorial Day (or the 3rd Saturday in June for Lake St. Clair).

Also of note, is the fact that you may qualify for a reduced fee fishing license because you'll be on leave from military service. If you have maintained a MI driver's license and/or voter registration while you are in the service, you can purchase a special $1 fishing license. You'll just need to take your military ID card and a copy of your leave orders to your license dealer.

Here's the link to the MI-DNR website page that cover current fishing regulations.

http://www.michigan....2262---,00.html

Thanks, i did the reduces military license thing last year (but i took leave in july), i just wanted to make sure since im going up north earlier this year. Youre guys' news really made my day. You know of any bass fishing areas around Grand Rapids (if youre from that area) other than the Grand River or pickerel lake?

[Lund Explorer]

Thanks, i did the reduces military license thing last year (but i took leave in july), i just wanted to make sure since im going up north earlier this year. Youre guys' news really made my day. You know of any bass fishing areas around Grand Rapids (if youre from that area) other than the Grand River or pickerel lake?

Reed's Lake over in East GR has several new fishing piers. Not sure all what fish are in that lake, but I would assume there are bass in it.

Did I see you mention going south to Gun Lake? If you two would consider about the same drive to the north, drop me a line. I'm sure with a week's notice I could get you guys out on the lake for a day. You can find my location if you look on the Member's Map at the top of this page.

Steve

[MightyMichigan]

Reed's Lake over in East GR has several new fishing piers. Not sure all what fish are in that lake, but I would assume there are bass in it.

Did I see you mention going south to Gun Lake? If you two would consider about the same drive to the north, drop me a line. I'm sure with a week's notice I could get you guys out on the lake for a day. You can find my location if you look on the Member's Map at the top of this page.

Steve

Thanks for the offer, i'll keep that in mind when i go up

[NBR]

Having lived on or near Gun for years I'd think the shore fishing would not be very productive. To bad I moved far away or I'd take you in my boat.

[green]

if your stuck with shore fishing, just go to the grand river for smallmouth, or if you want to go to a lake i would try a smaller lake than gun, the large surface area of lake would make it hard to work with from shore.