If two Michigan House bills become state law, recreational anglers targeting walleyes and lake trout in state waters will have to share those resources with commercial netters.
That’s the gist of state House Bills 5801 and 5802, courtesy of Reps. Dave Prestin (R-Cedar River) and Jason Morgan (D-Ann Arbor). Their introduction last month intends to provide new fish targets to state commercial netters who, for many previous decades, could only legally net lake whitefish and yellow perch.
Whitefish and perch numbers are now in drastic decline. About a dozen in-state commercial fishing operations want a bigger piece of the state’s gamefish resources — namely walleye and lake trout. And this pair of bills would significantly deregulate commercial fishing enough to open that door.
Anglers Voice Their Concerns
Public hearings on the proposed commercial netting expansion are currently underway. And to put it mildly, Michigan rod-and-reel anglers are frothing at the mouth with anger…