Early Christmas present?

[WatterBoy]

It's still just a proposal and wouldn't take effect until 2015, but I'm excited about it anyway! This would buy me two extra weeks of bass fishing.

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By Joe Albert Associate Editor
Posted on December 12, 2013

Bemidji, Minn. — Past years have found Vern Wagner across the border in Wisconsin in early May, taking advantage of the opportunity to fish bass while Minnesota’s season is still closed. Soon, he may not have to put on all those miles.

That’s because the DNR, as part of a rules package it’s unveiling in the next month or so, is proposing to institute an early catch-and-release season for bass beginning in 2015. Long on the wish list of bass anglers, it would open across the state with the walleye season and run until the regular bass season opens the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

“It’s a dream come true for almost anybody who fishes for bass,” said Wagner, Anglers for Habitat vice president and a member of the DNR’s Bass Workshop.

[woody]

Being able to go bass fishing a 1/2 month earlier, after a long winter, yeah I can see how this would get you excited.


-Mark

[bassinbob]

Don't you still have hard water till May? Sounds great.

[OkobojiEagle]

I like it! We won't have to put up with the Mineyotans on our Iowa waters for as long in the spring.

oe

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by OkobojiEagle

I like it! We won't have to put up with the Mineyotans on our Iowa waters for as long in the spring.

oe

Hey, c'mon...I was born and raised in Iowa. You will at least cut me a break and not mind if I fish in Iowa for my pre-MN season fishing, right?

[WatterBoy]

Originally Posted by bassinbob

Don't you still have hard water till May? Sounds great.

Yeah, average ice-out up at the lake our cabin is on is April 28, but every now and then it's a week or two earlier than that. This year was really late, though, and ice-out was actually the same day as walleye opener.

I don't know why they don't just let us fish C&R for bass any time up to bass opener, but I'll take any improvement I can get at this point. Too bad it's not for 2014 though.

[keithdog]

That's going to be a nice gift for sure for you and many others. I agree with you about allowing C&R for bass any time. Makes sense to me.

[Bassboss]

Man that's pretty sweet! Hope Wisconsin follows heel to toe with that one!