ekbelt

Awesome... I have to say I was very impressed on how quick the response was!

For what its worth... I sent my 2 cents to the DNR fisheries about removing fish limits for the rest of the year, this is what came back. I'm ok with it... still think they could lift the limits even if their research shows it won't do anything.

From: Erik Konynenbelt

Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:03 AM

To: DNR-Fisheries

Subject: Salmon Fishing

With all the concerns about the alewive population collapsing and the salmon fishery in jeopardy, I believe there is something the DNR could do RIGHT NOW to help out. Remove the fish limits on salmon for the rest of 2012. The fisherman could do some damage to cut the population down!

Act on it! Remove fish limits!

Erik Konynenbelt

--------------------------------------Response

Mr. Konynenbelt,

Excellent point!

In 2009, this exact comment was presented to our Fisheries Division. Although it met a lot of resistance from Charter anglers, we raised the possession limit from 3 to 5 Chinook. As part of the process, we agreed to follow a policy that tracks catch rates to determine when to keep the bag limit at 5 or bring it back down to 3. I have attached a brief article on the policy. We have already announced that the bag limit will remain at 5 for 2012.

As you can see from the graph in the article, catch rates and harvest vary from year to year. Even with ample salmon in the lake, most anglers do not catch their limit now.

Also, our research indicates that recreational harvest is very difficult to predict and is not significant enough to reduce the Chinook numbers. Reduced stocking is our best bet to balance predator and prey numbers. Also, there are many social issues surrounding bag limits such as equitable catch, what is enough?, reasonable targets (people like to say they limited out – if limit is too high, it might be more difficult), etc.

If conditions continue to change and if there is more interest in a higher bag limit, we will pursue it. Right now, we would like to follow the existing policy.

We work with a Lake Michigan Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee, which is represented by many angler groups and anglers at large. They bring ideas to us and we bounce ideas off of them. To date, no other groups or organizations have indicated that they would like to see the bag limit above 5. Again, we will pursue it if there if public interest. However, we have not heard that much interest at this point in time.

Thanks for your comment.

Jay

Jay K. Wesley

Southern Lake Michigan Unit Manager/

Acting Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator

Fisheries Division

Department of Natural Resources

621 N. 10th Street

Plainwell, Michigan

269-685-6851 Ext. 117

[email protected]

Want to learn more about and comment on future salmon stocking in Lake Michigan? Check out the Michigan Sea Grant website http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/fisheries/stocking/index.html

Nice!!!

I hate to say it. But this is exactly what happened with our side of the lake.. Some of the best fishing there had ever been preceded the crash of Lake Huron. I sure hope its not too late!

I have heard this before, thats why I think they should lift fish limits for 2012. It's something that can be done right now and could have a positive effect for the future.

One angle I've been trying to look at it from is maybe the fishing isn't supposed to be this good and thats part of the reason the DNR has concerns.

I agree Kevin... kill as many salmon as you can! We don't throw anything back, the little ones eat way better than the big ones anyway. If they want to drop the salmon population to save the alewives they could lift fish limits right now and we could really put the hurt on them!

Nice work!

I would call around to places that do canvas work. I had some plastic hardware break for the soft top on our '89 Lund and was unable to track anything down that old. I ended up making something work. We had a fun day out fishing one time with a few too many drinks and my brother tried backing the boat in the garage with the top still up... ooops.

cheese and rice!!! Nice Job!

Nice work Joe!

Nice work Dave!!!

Why not just buy a fishing license? It's probably the cheapest requirement needed to go fishing.

Fish out of SH-- fish from 100-175. The fish were there last weekend, and with the water temp not having much variation they're not going to move much at all in my opinion.

I would say nothing... If anything push them in a little. The water temp is the same all over so its not like there will be a big temp break setting up anywhere.

Just my 2 cents

Lookin good Ken!!!

Great fish porn!!! Nice work! Hoping to get out Saturday morning rain, shine, wavy or calm!

18' Lund Tyee - we've been out to 260 twice this year and have been past 300 in the past.

I hope Saturday is fishable!

Hey you guys your waaay overcomplicating this thing. I had a thread on another board regarding this, so maybe this will help out. Break the water into thirds...top third, mid third, bottom third. If you are fishing the top third, or shallow, fish a 50, 75, 100, 150 32lb copper. Mid third (like 40-60 down) fish a 200, 250 or 300. If you are catching fish deep, throw out your 350, 400, 450. It does not matter one single bit to try and estimate the exact depth of your coppers. Just stuff the active strike box with as many legal lines as you can without getting tangled...that's the game. We fish all 32lb, we just like it better. We sell 50-50 on 32lb vs 45. Whoever said the 45 and 32lb fish almost the same, you are 100% correct. If you straight line troll, no turns, constant speed, you will see exactly that result. If you turn or let your buddy drive and dont watch the throttle, your rigs are all over the place on depth so why even worry about where you might think your rigs are fishing. If you are that particular, dont turn, dont touch the throttle, and 50 foot spacing on copper rigs will cover everything in the active strike box.

I've always been a 45lb copper guy but I'm leaning towards trying a spool of the 32lb next time... Once my bulk leadcore is gone I'll probably get a 3000 ft spool of the 32lb bloodrun.

This is what I use for depth calculations:

Leadcore - sinks 4 ft per color

Example: 5 color

5*4 = 20ft

32lb Copper - divide the feet of copper by a factor of 5

Example: 200ft 32lb copper

200 / 5 = 50ft

45lb Copper - divide the feet of copper by a factor of 4

Example: 300ft 45lb copper

300 / 4 = 75ft

It's not 100% exact but it gets you close. I personally think 45lb copper doesnt get as deep as some think it does.

So a 3 color in a short core would be 60ft of 32lb or 50ft 45lb and then a 5 color would be 100ft of 32lb or 80ft 45lb. At that short of a length I bet 32 and 45 are pretty close in depth.

I would keep the 7 color. I do really well on 7 and 8 color for some reason.

A 175 copper is really going to be the exact same setup, just a little shorter length.

Looks nice... what would you charge for a set?

Yep... its an expensive hobby. I have thousands invested in tackle.

I think it has to do with where the bait is... who knows, maybe the fish are there every year? Who would have thought to go out 10 miles in March fishing any other year?? I know I'm going to try it next year again!

Sweet!!

I've bought a bunch of stuff from Northwoods in the last few months online... Best prices and really fast shipping!