Thank you for taking time out of your valuable schedule to assist Fisheries Division and the Department of Natural Resources in our request for your opinions of changing Statewide regulations for the number of fishing lines from 2 to 3. Your opinions are highly valued and each response counted in our formulation of the proposal to request a change in the number of lines anglers can use. We heard from nearly 700 interested citizens and almost 80% of those responses were in favor of increasing the number of lines that an angler can use.
Since 2000, anglers have been allowed to use three lines when fishing for salmon on the Great Lakes, but were restricted to two lines elsewhere and when pursuing other species in the Great Lakes. Just recently, the Michigan Legislature amended State Statute to provide the Director of the DNR the authority to allow for an increase in the number of fishing rods for all anglers on all public waters of Michigan. The intent of this change is to allow anglers to fish with three lines (rods) regardless of species, location or season. The Director would also have the authority to reduce the number of lines to no less than 2 if necessary.
Fisheries Order 247.09 was signed recently by the Director and states that "on all of the public waters in Michigan, those persons in the act of fishing shall be restricted to using no more than 3 single lines or 3 single rods and lines, and shall not attach more than six hooks total on all lines." The order becomes effective April 1, 2009.
