Cullin on Boom Lake

On Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:09:59 GMT, "johnval1"
wrote:

Fishermen really want to be
warmly and welcomely greeted. Some states (Florida, Alabama,
Tennesee, Texas) do a good job of that and other states don't.
(Wisconsion, Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Michigan, etc.)


Dwayne, I live in Michigan and am new to bass fishing now that I have
entered my retirement years. What rules or regs in MI makes this an
unfriendly state to fishermen? With the auto industry on its last legs in
MI, it seems as though this state should be doing all it can to attract
recreators from outside the state.

Hi John! The first thing that jumped out to me Michigan is
its limited bass fishing season...from the Saturday before Memorial
day to December 31st (on most waters) and from the 3rd Saturday in
June to December 31st (on St. Clair and Detroit River). For bass
fishermen, it's basically a great big "No Trespassing" sign on the
Welcome to Michigan sign.

Not only do I not agree with the need for a fishing season like
that, but I also believe it increases the social problems you folks
have (ie. more kids inside smoking pot/getting in trouble when they
could be on the water fishing, more husbands and wiives arguing when
the husband or wife could be on the water fishing,etc.). Now, a lotta
folks might laugh when they read the above...but the cold hard plain
truth of it is that increased recreational activities is good for the
social welfare of people. The more you limit the opportunities...the
more people will do other things which may not be as healthy for them.
If every neighborhood had a park nearby...and/or a fishing lake
nearby...I believe you'll find a lot happier neighborhood in the long
run. (less crime, less social disharmony, etc.)

BTW, I don't envy anyone who lives in cold, harsh environments
like Michigan all too often has. I endured it up there for 3 years
when I lived in Lansing, Michigan when I went to law school. Now I
did have the good fortune to fish the Grand river quite a bit as well
as different marsh ponds in central Michigan. And I was fortunate to
get my first taste of trout fishing up there. And the bass fishing
was often excellent on the Grand for smallmouth and largemouth when
the river wasn't out of control...

--
Dwayne E. Cooper, Atty at Law
Indianapolis, IN
Email:
Web Page: http://www.cooperlegalservices.com
Personal Fishing Web Page: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/OnTheWater
Dog Fishing: http://www.hoosierwebsites.com/onthe...fishing040.htm
1st Annual ROFB Classic Winner

Hi John! The first thing that jumped out to me Michigan is
its limited bass fishing season...from the Saturday before Memorial
day to December 31st (on most waters) and from the 3rd Saturday in
June to December 31st (on St. Clair and Detroit River). For bass
fishermen, it's basically a great big "No Trespassing" sign on the
Welcome to Michigan sign.



Dwayne, I know the season starts late, but rashly assumed it was to protect
a late spawn due to the northerly clime. I would be more than happy to be
educated further on this issue. Meanwhile, I will contact the Fishing Gods
here in MI to find out the reason for such a late start. Good point you
made. By May, there are one heck of a lot of bass caught in other places
when it is illegal to do so here.

I had to smile at your (only slightly) tongue in cheek comments on the lack
of good fishing being at the root of social disorder. Short story: I was
in Gander Mountain a month ago to buy some frogs for fishing the weeds. A
young guy followed me up to the front of the store to talk fishing strategy
and effective use of the frogs. The kid was about 20 with multiple tattoos
and all the body piercings known to man. I am 57 and look like a former law
enforcement officer. Not exactly a marriage made in heaven, but we had a
delightful conversation. All made possible by a common interest in bass
fishing.

My wife told me she thought I would rather bass fish than anything else. I
told her she was wrong, I would rather bass fish with her than anything
else.