Thursday, May 22, 2014

Experience outstanding bass fishing when catch-and-keep season opens May 24

Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to prepare for the statewide catch-and-keep bass-fishing season which opens this Saturday.
A successful outing on Lake St. Clair, named to Bassmaster magazine's 2014 list of the top 100 bass lakes.This season opener provides the perfect opportunity for anglers to partake in world-class bass fishing. In April, Bassmaster magazine produced its list of the 100 best bass lakes of 2014 – of which six locations were in Michigan.

The six locations on Bassmaster’s list included Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan (No. 9), Lake St. Clair (No. 16), Burt Lake (No. 39), Thunder Bay, Lake Huron (No. 43), Mullet Lake (No. 46) and Lake Charlevoix (No. 82). This annual, national list is developed courtesy of information from every state’s natural resources agency, B.A.S.S. Nation presidents and conservation directors, and B.A.S.S. members.

Please note the catch-and-keep bass season for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River does not open until Saturday, June 21.

“We’re always thrilled to see Michigan water bodies recognized as top bass-fishing destinations in the country,” said DNR Fisheries Division Chief Jim Dexter. “For these locations to be recognized by bass experts from across the country really proves the value of the state’s fisheries.”

For more information on Michigan's and other states' rankings, see Bassmaster’s complete 2014 list of the 100 best bass lakes at www.bassmaster.com/top100.

Just a reminder that Michigan's new license season began April 1, so anglers need to be sure they have purchased a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2014 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2015. Please note, anglers are not required to purchase a base license when purchasing a fishing license.

For more information on fishing for bass in Michigan, including rules and regulations, check out the 2014 Michigan Fishing Guide available at www.michigan.gov/fishingguide