Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission (NRC) on November 6 voted unanimously to allow divers to spearfish for walleyes, pike and lake trout in portions of Lakes Superior and Erie. The ruling also expanded zones for spearfishing the same gamefish species in Lake Michigan. The new spearfishing rules begin in April. It also makes the activity permanent in parts of Lakes Michigan and Huron that had been allowed on an experimental basis.
The rule is for free divers only. No SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) tanks may be used by divers. Spearfishing is also limited to daylight hours and can’t take place near shoreline swimming areas.
The concept of spearing important gamefish species such as walleye, pike and lake trout is abhorrent to many hook-and-line recreational anglers. Such fishermen believe spearing, or use of bows and arrows, should only be allowed for rough fish, such as carp, suckers and similar non-sportfish species.
Mixed Emotions
Anglers who are now becoming aware of Michigan’s new spearfishing law question if other species such as steelhead and bass could be the next targets of divers. But few Michigan fishermen seem willing to go on record opposing the new spearfishing law.
“I have no issue about it,” said Troy Waterman, of Michigan Walleye News, to Wired2fish.
But Michigan’s DNR reportedly was not in favor of the NRC vote, noting that public support for it was at best uncertain. Michigan’s diving community, however, was all for the new law granting expanded spearfishing for pike, walleyes and lakers in major areas of the Great Lakes.
“This amendment pushes Michigan to the top of the list of Midwest states creating opportunities for the underwater spearfishing community,” said Jon Durtka, Michigan Spearfishing Association president.
Suckers and carp have been open targets for Michigan spearfishermen for 12 years, and was expanded to parts of Lakes Huron and Michigan four years ago.
Where Is It Legal to Spearfish in Michigan?
The recent expansion of Michigan’s lake trout, walleye and pike spearfishing covers Lake Michigan from Indiana to the 45 parallel and to Michigan’s south shore of the Upper Peninsula.
Western Lake Erie is also open to Michigan spearfishermen from the Detroit River at Detroit to the Ohio state line near Toledo.
Western Lake Erie has some of the best walleye sportfishing in America. The news that Michigan will allow spearfishing for the prized gamefish is alarming to some anglers who know the region well, such as D’Arcy Egan. He was the long-time outdoors editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and few know the history of the lake region and its angling better than Egan.
“I was unaware that Michigan opened spearfishing for walleyes, pike and lakers,” Egan told Wired2fish. “I think it’s ridiculous to expand that activity to gamefish. It’s really stupid, considering how much hard conservation work went into building these superb sportfisheries that we now enjoy.
“If a state were to open spearfishing for steelhead, brook trout or smallmouth bass, there’d be a revolt in the angling community. If spearfishing is allowed for walleyes, pike and lakers, it may become a slippery slope to include other gamefish species, too.”
