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Anglers Rights on Public Streams:

On fenced or posted property or farm property, a fisherman wadding or floating a navigable public stream may, without written or oral consent, enter upon property within the clearly defined banks of a stream or, without damaging farm products, walk route as closely proximate to the clearly defined bank as possible when nessisary to avoid a natural or artificial hazard or obstruction,suchas, but not limited to,dams deep holes,fence,or other exersize of ownership by the riparian owner.

LargeMouth Bass Virus:

During the month of May,2005,LANSING State fisheries officials announced that the Largemouth Bass Virus continues to spread in southern Michigan lakes, and called upon anglers to help contain the disease and protect fish populations. Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV) is one of more than 100 naturally occurring viruses that affect fish, and is closely related to viruses found in frogs and other amphibians. Its origin and how it is spread are unknown. In the fall of 2000,Researchers from both Michigan and Indiana Departments of Natural Resources discovered the presence of LMBV durring an examination of a die-off of largemouth bass in Lake George, located on the Michigan-Indiana border near I-69. It was first discovered in the Santee-Cooper Reservoir of South Carolina in 1995. Since then, the virus has been detected in wild fish from 17 states including Indiana, Illinois and Michigan. The Michigan DNR began surveying lakes in Southwestern Michigan for LMBV in 2002 and continued in 2003. according to their data, the virus was confirmed in 4 lakes examined in Southwest Michigan. These lakes are as follows: Lake George, Branch County - Klinger Lake, St. Joseph County – found in 2001 Long Lake, St. Joseph County – found in 2001 Austin Lake, Kalamazoo County – found in 2002 Saddle Lake, Van Buren County – found in 2002 The following lakes were found to not be infected by LMBV: Diamond Lake, Cass County – sampled in 2002 Union Lake, Branch County – sampled in 2002 Randall Lake, Branch County – sampled in 2002 Eagle Lake, Van Buren County – sampled in 2002 Jordan Lake, Barry County – sampled in 2002 Camp Lake, Kent County – sampled in 2003

Marked or Tagged Fish:

The DNR continually evaluates the migration, survival, and harvest of various fish stocks to provide more and healthier fish to sport anglers. This evaluation involves the marking of fish with a fin clip, external tag, or an internal tag. You might take a fish bearing an external tag with the letters DNR, WIDNR, IDNR, IDC, FWS, or OMNR inscribed. If you catch one of these fish, please record the following information and notify the nearest Fisheries office species, length, weight, sex (if possible), date and location caught, and fin clip or tag number.

Do I need a fishing license in Michigan?:

Anyone above the age of 17 must purchase a fishing license to fish in Michigan. Children may fish without a license. Licenses can be purchased for 24 hours or for the entire season which runs March 1 of the given year through March 31 of the following year. Seniors and residents of Michigan receive a discount on license prices. Licenses must be kept on your person, along with identification, whenever fishing.

Fishing Licenses prices are as follows:

Resident 24 hour unrestricted license: $7

Resident unrestricted annual license: $28

Resident restricted annual license: $15 (good for all species except trout and salmon)

Senior residents: $6

Military residents: $1

Non-resident 24 unrestricted license: $7

Non-resident annual unrestricted license: $42

Non-resident annual restricted license: $34 ((good for all species except trout and salmon)