Mi House Bill 5093

[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

[ThreeDogsDown]

This bill is way better than SB 276 & 277.  This puts our license fees where they belong - back in the fisheries division of the DNR...not the black hole of death (The General Fund).  A healthy DNR budget will get stockings more dispersed across the state, increase walleye in inland lakes, and give us fishermen a say in the management process (via the Fisheries Oversight Committee).  Looking good here.    

[SeaFoam]

I see more tangles in my future!!


Sent from my iPhone using Great Lakes Fisherman

[littleboat]

I'LL HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER NET!

Sent from my SM-A156U1 using Great Lakes Fisherman mobile app

[2MD]

so you mean PUG and I wont have to take 5 kids with us to put out the full 18 rod spread!? hope it passes!

[FBD]

Man remember when it was two rods each?  Rigger and planer board per side or two boards per side?  Choices…

[Lef T]

How many rod holders can I put on a 17' Lund?

[FBD]

I ran ten rods out of a 14’ with an eight and seven year old in the crew.  Second fish was a 8# brown.  That got interesting but the youngest crew landed it.

[Moxie]

Thanks for sharing Rich, I truly hope to see legislature like this pass to any measure. Unlimited rods for a solo seems to good to not be amended! More money and more money from the sportsmen, how can the everything robbed to the general fund stay mystical while we attempt to support what should already be funded??

[Twiliter]

Any update on this proposed legislation?  Thanks In advance.

[ThreeDogsDown]

Progress is creeping along on HB 5093.   The bill will get a hearing at the House Natural Resources & Tourism Committee on either January 14th or 21st.  

The bill needs to pass the NR&T Committee to move to a vote by the full House of Representatives. The GLSI and Michigan Angler's Consortium have verbal and/or in writing commitments of supporting groups and businesses and this lists keeps growing.  ending emails to the House Natural Resources Committee member to urge them to pass HB 5093 will also really help, especially if you are in their district.  Contact info here:
https://www.house.mi.gov/Committee/HNATU

This Bill will really help our big water and inland lake fisheries.  How?  The first 2 on the list are the BIG TWO changes from this bill:

1)  Puts all license fee revenue in the DNR Fisheries Division-right now your license money goes into the black hole general fund.

2)  Puts a Citizen Advisor in a new Fisheries Oversight Committee to speak for recreational and charter boat fishermen, and oversee DNR Fisheries spending-this will expand funding transparency and align DNR Fisheries priorities with recreational and charter boat fishermen's priorities.

 

3)  1 million more walleye for inland lakes

4) Increase of 25,000 more muskies for inland lakes

5)  Increase the number of inland brown trout, rainbow and lake trout stocking sites

6) Continue reintroduction efforts of arctic grayling and sturgeon restoration.

7)  Fund increased cormorant control.

Expand inland lake and river surveys which are critical to stocking plans and regulation changes such as slot limits to increase natural reproduction.
9) It will continue funding for salmon and trout stocking programs. 
10) It will continue ongoing research and data collection such as creel counts; charter reporting, fish population studies and forage surveys are required to manage inland and Great Lakes fisheries.

Here is the current sign on list and it continues to grow.  Get your group to sign up.  We need to pressure Lansing to do something about our dwindling inland lakes and our regulation management.

• Ludington Area Charter Boat Association
• Northwest Michigan Fishing Club
• Eastern Michigan Sportsman
• Hammond Bay Area Anglers Association
• Arenac County Walleye Club
• Battle Creek Chapter of MSSFA
• Manistique Area Sportfishing Club
• Muskegon Charter Boat Association
• Michigan Spearfishing Association
• Grand Haven Chapter of MSSFA
• South Haven Chapter of MSSFA
• Pentwater Sportfishing Association
• Southwest Michigan Chapter of MSSFA
• South Shore Fishing Association
• Marinette Menominee Great Lakes Sportfishing
• Captain Chucks II
• Blood Run Tackle 
• Dreamweaver Lures
• Yeck Lures
• Traxstech
• Saugatuck Sportfishing Association
• Holland Sportfishing Association
• Cannon Downriggers
• Michigan Boating Industry Association ( MBIA ) 
• Charlie's Fishing Hole and Tackle Shop
• Michigan Salmon and Steelheaders Fishing Association.
• Michigan Trout Unlimited
• Raptor Trolling Flies
• Great Lakes Salmon Initiative
• Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance
• Visit Keweenaw
• Michigan Charter Boat Association
• Detroit Steelheaders
• Magee Insurance
• Ludington Bay Brewery
• Reel to Reel Outdoors
• Blue Water Sportfishing Association
• Andersons Pro Bait
• Lake Michigan Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee
• Tournament Trail.Net
• Hoosier Coho Club
• St. Clair-Detroit River Sturgeon for Tomorrow
• Lake Superior Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee
• Manistee County Sportfishing Association
• Haglund Floor Store
• Fish Hawk Electronics
• Fish On For Freedom
• Michigan Muskie Alliance
• Jamesport Brewery
• Ludington Meat Company
• Great Lakes Fisherman’s Digest (John Bergsma)
• Michigan Outdoors TV (Jimmy Gretzinger)
• Shalvis Taxidermy
• Mascot Reel Service
• MAC Rod Repair
• Sekenske Marine
• Sportsman Charters Pentwater
• In Depth Precision Charters
• Tribal Co-Management Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee
• Fisheries Oversight Committee
• Danish Brotherhood of Ludington
• Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie 1354
• Mike Avery’s Outdoor Magazine Radio