Coming up on April 9, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee will be meeting to discuss how fisheries and related programs can be adjusted for the year to meet the latest challenges or concerns facing the lake.

DNR Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator Jay Wesley tells us the Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee is made up of industry stakeholders that advise the DNR on the best way to protect the resource that is Lake Michigan.

“This committee started out as a task group back in the late 1980s when salmon populations crashed in Lake Michigan due to bacterial kidney disease,” Wesley said. “So they, at the time, were started just to work with the DNR to help find solutions.”

That body eventually morphed into the Citizens Fishery Advisory Committee. Wesley says it includes groups interested in fisheries, like charter boat captains, a steelheaders group, conservation clubs, Trout Unlimited, and even some tackle industry representatives from time to time.

“We go to the committee and get their recommendation on what the stocking level should be, what species we should stock, what ports, regulations on different fish species, and things like that.”

The committee will review the latest data and make proposals on bag limits for some kinds of fish. Wesley says no major changes are expected out of the meeting, but it’s important for these talks to take place as the lake is constantly facing challenges from threats like invasive species.

Additionally, there will be a fisheries workshop on April 17 in South Haven that will essentially go over the same information as the April 9 meeting in Clare and be more open to the public. In fact, anyone can attend the South Haven meeting, to be held at the American Legion Hall.  Wesley says you can learn the latest info on Lake Michigan fisheries by attending.

You can find out more about the South Haven meeting workshop.