zgrinder on Fin Warrior

Bill 5093 has been introduced into the Mi House of Representatives that would institute a number of changes to inland and Great Lakes fishing licenses for the purpose of increasing dedicated funding to the fisheries programs. A Hatcheries Stamp will be required to possess trout and salmon caught on the Great Lakes. EdB has posted a great summary of the bill in the Forum / General Discussion section of GLF - thank you Ed! One other point to add that might interest the solo fisherman amoung us - the bill would replace the 3 rod limit with an unlimited rod limit when fishing from a boat on the Great Lakes. Progress and revisions to Bill 5093 can be tracked at: https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/mi/2025-2026/bills/MIB00027860

Ed, thanks for posting a great summary of the bill.

Not a big surprise that a lot of boats were out tonight. I ran solo tonight, fishing mostly 60 FOW back and forth over the Saugatuck channel. Ran one dipsey (spoon), SWR off the downrigger as my lowest presentation (meat with no teaser) and 200 Weighted Steel on the other side (J Plugs). Marked bait pinned to the bottom in the skinny water. Reports were slow from 90 to 160 FOW. I stuck to the inside cause that is what 2MD would do and kept working the marks. However, I only got one jack about 8:00 and nothing else. Put the evening program down, glow on SWR as my lowest line, a white spoon with a little glow on it on the dipsey and my money lure on the 200 Cu, a hand painted dark blue/green/gold/yellow ladder back J. I have been running this J for over 20+ years with big evening bites. Well it worked tonight. After the sun was down in 55FOW that plug got bit, both hooks were set and the result was a 17.5# king. I decided to rip the other two lines at that point. There was another boat in my proximity that was patient with my boating the fish and the 180 maneuver I made to bring up the other two lines. Looking back on it, running solo, I did not yield to his right of way after his vessel turned inland, although we were never near a potential collision. I got him on 68 to thank him for his patience as I was in his right of way and he acknowledged it was not a problem. So pleasant when captains are aware, understand what other vessels are doing on the water and not in a hurry to make way. It is a big pond out there!