11-21-2006, 08:10 PM
The Department of Natural Resources has scheduled two public hearings to receive comments on proposed Indiana fisheries administrative rule changes. The hearings will be held on:
- Monday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. (EST) at the DNR's Northeast Regional Office in Columbia City, 1353 S. Governors Drive.
- Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. (EST) at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area near Edinburgh, 7970 S. Rowe Street. Map at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/att.htm
The DNR is proposing several rule changes to help protect fisheries resources while addressing enforcement, legal and social concerns. Several important proposed changes concern:
- BASS
A 20-inch minimum size limit and one-fish daily bag limit on black bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted) is proposed for Sugar Creek in west central Indiana.
A protected 12 to 15-inch slot size limit on black bass is proposed at the Blue River in southern Indiana where bass smaller than 12 inches and longer than 15 inches would be able to be taken, but only two of the five bass daily bag limit may be larger than 15 inches.
- TROUT
The former closed season for inland stream trout fishing would be changed to a "catch and release only" season from Jan. 1 through April 14. A proposed closed trout season on inland streams would run from April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) during which the hatcheries complete the annual trout stockings.
Opening day for stream trout season would still be the last Saturday in April. However, the starting time would be changed from 5 to 6 a.m. local time to adjust to daylight savings time.
A brown trout bag limit of one fish (out of the daily limit of five trout) would apply at inland lakes and streams statewide, but would not apply to Lake Michigan and its tributaries.
Three stream segments in Elkhart County (totaling 2.8 miles) are proposed to be "catch and release only" and "artificial baits or flies only" trout fishing areas.
- BOWFISHING
Bowfishing would be allowed day or night for certain fish species at eight large stream reaches where gigging and spearing is already permitted.
- SHOVELNOSE STURGEON
Shovelnose sturgeon would be required to be at least 25 inches long from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail in order to be taken by either sport or commercial fishermen. A commercial fishing open season would be defined as Oct. 1 through May 31 on public waters other than the Ohio River.
- J.C. MURPHEY LAKE
Existing experimental rules for largemouth bass and panfish would become permanent at this popular fishing lake at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in Newton County. Bass are regulated by an 18-inch minimum size limit (and two fish daily bag limit) and there is a combined 25 fish daily bag limit for bluegill, redear and crappie.
Rule changes preliminarily adopted by the Natural Resources Commission are available online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/about/
Click on "2006 Fisheries Administrative Rule Changes.
Public comments can be sent by e-mail or written letter, or voiced at the public hearing.
Written comments can be sent to:
Hearing Officer<br />
Natural Resources Commission<br />
402 W. Washington Street, W272<br />
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Or send comments via email to:<br />
jkane@nrc.in.gov
- Monday, Dec. 18 at 6 p.m. (EST) at the DNR's Northeast Regional Office in Columbia City, 1353 S. Governors Drive.
- Thursday, Dec. 21 at 6 p.m. (EST) at Atterbury Fish and Wildlife Area near Edinburgh, 7970 S. Rowe Street. Map at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/att.htm
The DNR is proposing several rule changes to help protect fisheries resources while addressing enforcement, legal and social concerns. Several important proposed changes concern:
- BASS
A 20-inch minimum size limit and one-fish daily bag limit on black bass (smallmouth, largemouth, spotted) is proposed for Sugar Creek in west central Indiana.
A protected 12 to 15-inch slot size limit on black bass is proposed at the Blue River in southern Indiana where bass smaller than 12 inches and longer than 15 inches would be able to be taken, but only two of the five bass daily bag limit may be larger than 15 inches.
- TROUT
The former closed season for inland stream trout fishing would be changed to a "catch and release only" season from Jan. 1 through April 14. A proposed closed trout season on inland streams would run from April 15 to the last Saturday in April (opening day) during which the hatcheries complete the annual trout stockings.
Opening day for stream trout season would still be the last Saturday in April. However, the starting time would be changed from 5 to 6 a.m. local time to adjust to daylight savings time.
A brown trout bag limit of one fish (out of the daily limit of five trout) would apply at inland lakes and streams statewide, but would not apply to Lake Michigan and its tributaries.
Three stream segments in Elkhart County (totaling 2.8 miles) are proposed to be "catch and release only" and "artificial baits or flies only" trout fishing areas.
- BOWFISHING
Bowfishing would be allowed day or night for certain fish species at eight large stream reaches where gigging and spearing is already permitted.
- SHOVELNOSE STURGEON
Shovelnose sturgeon would be required to be at least 25 inches long from the tip of the snout to the fork of the tail in order to be taken by either sport or commercial fishermen. A commercial fishing open season would be defined as Oct. 1 through May 31 on public waters other than the Ohio River.
- J.C. MURPHEY LAKE
Existing experimental rules for largemouth bass and panfish would become permanent at this popular fishing lake at Willow Slough Fish and Wildlife Area in Newton County. Bass are regulated by an 18-inch minimum size limit (and two fish daily bag limit) and there is a combined 25 fish daily bag limit for bluegill, redear and crappie.
Rule changes preliminarily adopted by the Natural Resources Commission are available online at: http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/about/
Click on "2006 Fisheries Administrative Rule Changes.
Public comments can be sent by e-mail or written letter, or voiced at the public hearing.
Written comments can be sent to:
Hearing Officer<br />
Natural Resources Commission<br />
402 W. Washington Street, W272<br />
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Or send comments via email to:<br />
jkane@nrc.in.gov