Dear Mr. Stokes, Director DNRE,

We, the undersigned, are against any further gear restrictions on Michigan streams and rivers.

In the draft proposal from the DNRE on further gear restrictions it is stated over and over for nearly every stream or river considered that, "fishing mortality is only a small component of total annual mortality (as in most Michigan streams), gear restrictions instituted to reduce fishing mortality will not noticeably affect trout populations."

In addition, the draft proposal also shows that the current gear restrictions on the Pere Marquette have not done anything to improve either the numbers or the average size of the available trout over 23 years of surveys, starting in 1973 through 2009.  Yet, the draft recommends to keep them in place because they are popular.  

We believe that managing the resource based on political or social reasons is a mistake, and prefer to use sound science to support stream trout regulations.  For these reasons we are opposed to the implementation of any further gear restrictions that do not have sound science in place to back them up.

Thanks for your time in considering this petition,
Michigan Anglers Against Gear Restrictions

Sponsor

Links