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Bass rule changes are a long way off

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By Jim Morris, Contributing columnist 9:40 PM Saturday, November 27, 2010

Opinions about fishing regulations are like belly buttons — everybody has one, especially avid bass anglers.

One that has been bouncing around Internet sites, chat rooms and bulletin boards for quite some time has the state pouncing on all of its lakes with restrictive “slot limits” on black bass — largemouth, smallmouth and spotted. Of course, like any change, some welcome it and others get upset just thinking about it.

What probably fueled all the rumors was an online survey the Ohio Division of Wildlife conducted earlier this year, asking Ohio anglers what they thought of three possible scenarios involving bass regulations. They followed up by asking similar questions to fishermen in creel surveys at 15 inland lakes.

The bottom line is: no changes in bass regulations for the coming year and probably none for the following year.

“We have spent a considerable amount of time gathering data and we are still going through it,” said Scott Hale, administrator for inland fisheries for the Division of Wildlife. “We received a great amount of public feedback, so there is a great deal for us to consider.”

He said it is impossible for regulations to change by March, the beginning of the next license year. And considering all the steps it takes to change regulations once they have been proposed, it is not likely to come by March 2012, either.

“We are not going to rush into it ... we want to make sure we get it right,” Hale added.

The survey posed the following three ideas to bass anglers as possible changes:

• A 12-inch minimum size limit, which is quite common across the country.

• A split daily bag limit of two bass under 15 inches and two over 15 inches.

• Anglers would be able to keep two fish under 14 inches and one over 20 inches in what many anglers refer to as a “slot limit.”

“We have talked to a lot of tournament guys and they have expressed an interest in being able to keep at least a couple of smaller fish,” he added.

Some Ohio lakes have 15-inch limits, which makes it difficult for some tournament anglers to bring anything back to the dock. But if the limit were 12 inches, that would change.

No matter what limit changes are eventually coming, they are likely to be different at different lakes.

Hale said that although the period for public input has concluded, he would look at any e-mails sent to him offering opinions on future regulations. Send to scott.hale@dnr.state.oh.us.

Youth hunt slightly down

Young hunters across Ohio bagged 9,024 whitetail deer during last weekend’s annual youth deer gun hunting season. That number is down slightly from 9,331 in 2009.

The Division of Wildlife estimated 40,000 young hunters participated.

The regular gun season is scheduled for Nov. 29 to Dec. 5 and the weekend of Dec. 18-19. Muzzleloader season will be Jan. 8-11.

For more information about Ohio deer hunting, visit wildohio.com or call (800) WILDLIFE.

Outdoors columnist Jim Morris can be reached through his website at www.examiner.com/outdoor-recreation-in-dayton/jim-morris or by email at sports@DaytonDaily News.com.

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