October NRC Preview: Fisheries orders still on deck, department to present on FY 22 budget, sandhill cranes

lschultz • October 8, 2021

October NRC Preview: Fisheries orders still on deck, department to present on FY 22 budget, sandhill cranes

The Natural Resources Commission (NRC) is expected to take action on a number of remaining fisheries orders that have received several proposed amendments from commissioners.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be providing presentations to the commission regarding the recently passed fiscal year 2022 budget, sandhill cranes, Saginaw bay walleye and preliminary elk season results.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 14 at the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory located 4125 Beaumont Road Lansing, Michigan 48901. Tune into MUCC’s Facebook page to watch the meeting live if you are unable to attend. An agenda for the day can be found here .

The bulk of the meeting is likely to be comprised of discussions surrounding a variety of fisheries orders that are before the commission. Items to garner the most discussion include steelhead bag limits and underwater spearfishing.

 

New Business

The following fisheries orders are up for being presented for the first time and will be available for action at the November meeting.

 

Old Business

The following listed orders are up for old business with the ability to be passed by the commission at the October meeting. Several of these orders have proposed commissioner amendments which can be viewed through the linked agenda above, and it’s expected that some of the more contentious items will be held over until the November NRC meeting.

FO 200.22 is expected to have an amendment from Commissioner Nyberg regarding a reduction in steelhead bag limits on select streams. MUCC will be providing an objective, informational document to educate our membership and fisheries committee on this topic and potential paths for advocacy moving forward.

 

Commissioner Richardson has proposed an amendment to align the walleye size limit of 15 inches and a daily possession limit of 5 for Lake Gogebic. Richardson also proposed another amendment to the order for Lake Gogebic implementing no size limit on northern pike and allow for a daily possession limit of 5 with no more than one being greater than 24 inches.

 

This fisheries order would allow for lake trout, northern pike and walleye to be taken by underwater spearfishing in certain Great Lakes waters (rubber propelled, no scuba gear).

Commissioner Richardson proposed removing Lake Superior from the order. Commissioner Baird proposed a three-year sunset to the regulation. Lastly, Commissioner Rose proposed a delay in the proposed northern pike season for underwater spearfishing so that it would run from July 1 through March 15.

 

Commissioner Richardson proposed an expansion to the combined daily possession limit for lake whitefish, round whitefish and cisco to allow for an additional 10 roundfish on Lake Superior waters.

There are other fisheries orders that could be acted on at the October NRC meeting. Please reference the agenda if you are interested in seeing the whole list of fisheries orders.

 

Land Transactions

There are several land transactions proposed and pending action before DNR Director Daniel Eichinger that can be viewed using the agenda linked above.

MUCC carefully reviews every proposed land transaction of the DNR and ensures no net loss of hunting land in conjunction with assessing the disposition of any parcels above 80 acres.

Recent Posts

By Olivia Triltsch April 24, 2025
Historically, Michigan experienced a lumber era in which the state was a leading producer for 50 years starting in 1860.
By Katelyn Helsel April 23, 2025
Rochester Hills, MI — On the Ground, MUCC’s volunteer stewardship program, celebrated its 250th habitat improvement project in Oakland County this past weekend. In partnership with Metro-West Steelheaders and the Clinton River Watershed Council , 62 volunteers removed more than 460 pounds of trash from the Clinton River watershed and surrounding areas, restoring more than 80 acres of fish and wildlife habitat. Volunteers focused on picking up trash and other debris in the river near Yates Park and along various walking trails near the Yates Cider Mill. Many different items were collected, including a couple of tires, fishing line, old cans, a sign, and even a car bumper. “We definitely wanted to clean up as much trash as possible because that's going to help the watershed as a whole, and it’s going to clean up the river for both humans aesthetically, and also the animals that live in it, and create safer drinking water” said Olivia Triltsch, MUCC’s Habitat Program and Partnerships Coordinator.
By Olivia Triltsch April 17, 2025
In addition to their impact on water quality, these three orders of insects are an important part of the diet of game fish, making anglers, especially fly fishermen, interested in the conservation of these small animals.
More Posts