NEW MICHIGAN BOWFISHING RULES

owlbait · February 26, 2012, 08:12:00 PM

New rules: Bowfishing is open year round and catfish, suckers, drum, bullhead, and burbot are now legal as well as the rough fish that was legal before! Finally, some no nonsense rules and a chance to shoot some eaters!

owlbait · February 26, 2012, 08:14:00 PM

Effective April 1st. :D

Mike Vines · February 26, 2012, 08:16:00 PM

My son was just asking me today on our hike if we could go fish shootin for catfish. I told him not yet, and we have to wait till May. Guess I have some good news for him in the morning.

Overspined · February 26, 2012, 08:30:00 PM

Nice!!

Shinken · February 26, 2012, 08:33:00 PM

YEAR ROUND - that is great news for bow fishermen!

Drop the string on some delicious fish in MI!

Shoot straight, Shinken

RedShaft · February 26, 2012, 08:35:00 PM

I MISSED ABOUT 25INCH CHANNEL CAT IN THR RIVER THIS YEAR.THEY OPENED IT UP TO CATFISH FOR US AS WELL.

Thumper Dunker · February 26, 2012, 08:36:00 PM

How can you get a cat fish? At night maybe? Out here they are always in the deep.

LoweBow · February 26, 2012, 08:36:00 PM

Great news in the fight against invasive species! My hat is off to those that lobbied to get this done. Having worked to change many of KY's bowfishing regulations, I know the time that someone invested in this one! AWESOME!

RedShaft · February 26, 2012, 08:43:00 PM

HONESTLY AT NIGHT WOULD BE YOUR BEST BET. BUT IT CAME UP THE RIVER AND SWAM RITE OVER A HUGE SLATE ROCK AND I SEEN IT COMING CAUSE OF THE LOW WATER IN THE SUMMER AND I GOT EXCITED LIKE IT WA A DEER. AND SHOT RITE OVER ITS BACK. IT WAS A DANDY.

February 26, 2012, 08:46:00 PM

Man, we had catfish legal for one year; then TPWD recinded it and we can no more shoot the catfish. It sure was fun bowfishing for good eating fish! Hope y'all have fun in April.

Bisch

CDR · February 26, 2012, 10:04:00 PM

ksbowman · February 27, 2012, 09:40:00 AM

Thumper, Around here after a good rain you can find a small feeder stream or drainage going into the river and the cats will be around the mouth of the inlet.

gvdocholiday · February 27, 2012, 11:38:00 AM

Bowfishing has always been open year round for those species on certain bodies of water.

gvdocholiday · February 27, 2012, 11:40:00 AM

I should also point out that you still can't bowfish on designated trout streams or lakes.

Disregard. Found the proposed FO-219.12

Wow does that simplify things...and a long time coming.

Basically, all bodies of water that were open during the past seasons are now open year round and a lot of gear limits have been removed so that bow and arrow are now classified the same as a spear.

I'm a huge fan of this...however, I'd voice my opposition greatly should a proposal ever be made to open up designated trout streams/lakes to bowfishing.

riverrat 2 · February 27, 2012, 12:05:00 PM

AND if you fellows like those yummy Whitefish,THEY can be taken with a bow as well.
this is also new law. Check the DNR site for
specifics,but I do know that it IS legal when
they are spawning on West Michigans flooded river
mouths. Like Muskegon Channel. Where they get a
heck of a run in late November. Check the regulations for boundry line info. rat'

riverrat 2 · February 27, 2012, 12:06:00 PM

OOOH almost forgot,you can also use a spotlight.

Stone Knife · February 27, 2012, 12:20:00 PM

I wish NY would make some sensible rules for a change, all we can shoot is carp and they have a season

Not sure why you would put a season on an invasive species

owlbait · February 27, 2012, 04:03:00 PM

Being able to shoot bullhead, catfish, drum, and suckers in my area opens up more shooting opportunities and the chance to add to the table fare. When you shoot where suckers and carp comingle, it is nice to know it will be easier to stay on the right side of the law.

2treks · February 27, 2012, 04:27:00 PM

I sure wish I some places to go bow fishing. This sounds like a real good time.

CTT

owlbait · February 27, 2012, 04:48:00 PM

Chuck, we can probably take you out bowfishing but you'd have to give some self bow lessons in return :D