URGENT - NEED EVERYONE TO UNITE AND HELP STOP INDIANA RULE CHANGE

[Jayrod00]

Hey Guys, this is a pretty big deal….there is only 1 week left to express our vote. Even though it says smallmouth and is confusing the actual rule is to change all black bass limits to a slot limit under 12 and over 15 and you can only keep 2 over 15…..this will kill tournament fishing on the river. Please get on the link below and voice that you are not in favor of this rule change on the Ohio and forward on to everyone you know.

http://www.in.gov/nrc/files/sm...d.pdf

Thanks to all

Click the link below…..scroll down to smallmouth bass…..click the link to ‘comment on this rule’

http://www.in.gov/nrc/2377.htm

[ss]

Done. Unfortunately, by the time our DNR has gotten to the point where they are asking for "public input", the decision has already been made. Kind of like stocking millions of walleye in Patoka that no one will fish for.

[BassnBuck]

I also commented. I understand their goal, but to do it on the Ohio River with nieghboring states having different size limits is ridiculous. All someone would have to say if questioned by a C.O. about a 12" to 15" fish is that they caught it on the Kentucky side. Seems pretty impossible to enforce unless they catch you in the act of catching it and it is the only one in the box. I mainly suggested keeping the Ohio River exempt.

Steve, you're right, it's kinda like having a public notice meeting for a project when it is already scheduled to start. Nieghbors can speak what they want to stop it, but it's gonna happen. We shall see though. They seemed to listen to the hunters when they expressed their concern for the changes to the deer season next year.

[RoughThumbBG]

I didn't even open the link, but if they could enforce that rule somehow it would suck being that a 15" fish on the river is hard to come by.

As for being able to enforce it, I would suspect they would go by licenses. If you have a IN license you are subject to IN laws, and if you have a KY license you are subject to Ky laws.

[ss]

Here's how I see it being enforced, at least as far as tournaments are concerned. We have a BFL at Rocky Point. A guy runs to a creek on the Kentucky side and catches a limit of 14" bass. He comes back to Rocky Point and ties his boat up to the dock and starts to get his fish out. He is in a creek on the Indiana side, and in posession of illegal fish in Indiana. The conservation officer stands at the weigh-in line and gives everyone a ticket that has more than 2 15" fish, or any fish between 12" and 15". Its no different than a police officer sitting right where the speed limit changes from 70 to 55. As soon as you cross that line, you better be going 55. As soon as you enter a creek on the Indiana side of the river, you have to be in compliance with Indiana laws.

[BassnBuck]

Good point. I could definitely see that happening.

[RoughThumbBG]

I personally don't really see them changing this rule on the ohio. I think it is more directed towards small rivers and streams.

BUT if they change it. Maybe the Hoosier BFL will finally stop going to the river 3 times each year and hit up some decent lakes more often.

[hardestyeric]

This rule will change, unless there are enough comments posted on their website. The wording is all ready in place to include the Ohio, unless we can change their minds and they have said that they will base their final decision on what comments are posted.
Eric H.

[ss]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by RoughThumbBG &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I personally don't really see them changing this rule on the ohio. I think it is more directed towards small rivers and streams.

BUT if they change it. Maybe the Hoosier BFL will finally stop going to the river 3 times each year and hit up some decent lakes more often. </td></tr></table>

The problem we have in Indiana is that we don't have any decent lakes. The ones that don't suck as much are not big enough to have 100+ boat tournaments on. The BFL also doesn't want to deal with our DNR and get permits for tournaments on the reservoirs. That is why they go to the river, because they don't need a permit.

[Muddbugg]

PLEASE voice your opinion on this issue gentlemen. Tourneys on the Ohio will be a thing of the past if this thing goes thru!! This is another example of the incompetence of the Indiana ( OH and Ky for that matter!) DNR. If you want to help the bass population on the Ohio, concentrate your efforts on habitat degradation, water fluctuation, and siltation. As far as those saying BFL will go to "better" lakes...are you kidding me? Name me a better lake Monroe???? The meeting is being held October 17th at 6:00pm at the address below:

Miami County Fairgrounds, Community Building
1029 West 200 North
Peru, IN 46970

[TOddLahey]

I have already commented and forwarded to everyone I thought did not get the email from FLW.

[BassnBuck]

Here is a copy of the email i recieved from FLW. Sounds like they will be having a few individuals there to discuss the matter...

The Indiana Natural Resources Commission is considering an amendment to its fishing regulations that would place a 12 to 15 inch slot limit on all black bass caught from rivers and streams within the state, including the Ohio River and its tributaries.
While we applaud the commission’s efforts to protect black bass populations and increase the quality of bass fishing opportunities in certain rivers and streams within the state, we believe that adoption of such a broad amendment requiring anglers to immediately release all bass measuring between 12 and 15 inches would be devastating to the state’s bass-fishing community. We believe the commission has severely underestimated the negative financial impact on local businesses that depend on revenue from bass tournament anglers throughout the state.
A public hearing on the proposed change to regulation 312 IAC 9-7-6 Black Bass is scheduled for Oct. 17 at 6 p.m. at the following location:
Miami County Fairgrounds, Community Building
1029 West 200 North
Peru, IN 46970
FLW Outdoors and TBF representatives will be in attendance, and we encourage you to attend as well so that the voice of the tournament community is heard.
We also encourage you to submit your comments to the commission.
Thank you for your time and consideration to this important issue that has the potential to adversely affect small businesses throughout the state and bass anglers who enjoy fishing tournaments in Indiana.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fennel
President, Operations Division
FLW Outdoors
Robert Cartlidge
President
The Bass Federation

[skeeterator]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Muddbugg &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">As far as those saying BFL will go to "better" lakes...are you kidding me? Name me a better lake Monroe???? </td></tr></table>

Ok,i'll name a better lake,EVERY lake in indiana is better than that cesspool you love so much.Not everyone enjoys casting their asses off hoping to catch a 12 inch fish.I'd love to see all major trails stop going to the river completely.Let em pass it and then you guys can beat your brains out chasing 11 inchers.

[dannyphil]

wawasee and lake james

[bruce180vf]

Nice one. Fished the state finals one year at Lake James. I vowed never to go back. Nothing against the fishing. It was the one lane boat ramp that was 30 ft away that took me 2 1/2 hours to get too, that ruined it for me. Having a one lane ramp on a state hiway that police have to stop traffic to let you back in and pull out of was too much. I hope it has changed and I am sure there were other ramps this tournament did not use them.

[dannyphil]

you can get fresh donuts while waiting

[BassnBuck]

Here's an update from FLW...

Thank you for the tremendous feedback generated by Thursday’s Legislative Alert concerning the proposed slot limit on all black bass caught from rivers and streams in Indiana.
We spoke to the director of fish and wildlife for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on Friday afternoon and received assurances that the proposed 12-to 15-inch slot limit will be amended so as not to adversely affect tournament fishing and the local businesses that depend on it throughout the state.
The commission’s efforts to protect black bass populations and increase the quality of bass fishing opportunities in certain rivers and streams within the state are to be commended, as is the commission’s spirit of cooperation with tournament organizers to ensure that Indiana remains an attractive tournament destination.
We still encourage those interested in attending the public hearing scheduled for today at 6 p.m. at the Miami County Fairgrounds Community Building in Peru, IN to do so, but please attend in the spirit of cooperation....
Thank you again for your quick action. It is encouraging to see what can be accomplished by our dedicated members.
Sincerely,
Kathy Fennel
President, Operations Division
FLW Outdoors
Robert Cartlidge
President
The Bass Federation

[Jayrod00]

Thanks guys for getting together and making our voice heard.