O
MICHIGAN TBF HOSTS LEGISLATIVE SPORTSMEN’S CAUCUS FISHING EVENT
n Monday, July 11, The Bass
Federation of Michigan hosted
state lawmakers, Department
of Natural Resources staff and
Michigan United Conservation Clubs
representatives at its second annual
Lake St. Clair bass fishing outing –
dubbed the Legislative Sportsmen’s
Caucus Bass Fishing Event.
The event was designed to help
legislators better appreciate the
world-class fishery of St. Clair and its
fertile yet fragile ecosystem, while giv-
ing bass tournament anglers a
chance to meet policymakers and
conservation officials.
Before the group hit the water, DNR
fisheries biologist and bass tournament
liaison Tom Goniea gave a short pres-
entation at the Lake St. Clair Fisheries
Research Station. He reported that
nearly 2,000 bass tournaments had
registered for 2016 on the Michigan
Fishing Tournament Information
System to date. Results from several
hundred events had already also been
entered to give the DNR a better under-
standing of the state’s most popular
bass destinations.
After the presentation, boater vol-
unteers and guests were matched up
and sent fishing on Lake St. Clair for
three hours before returning for a
luncheon hosted by TBF of Michigan.
Legislators in attendance are members
of the Michigan Legislative Sportsmen’s
Caucus, the largest bipartisan caucus in
Michigan state government.
TBF of Michigan Conservation
Director Dan Kimmel reports that
both the fishing and presentations
were well received by the lawmakers.
“Some participants landed their
first-ever Great Lakes smallmouth
bass, along with a number of other
species,” he says. “Legislators also
appreciated the presentation and left
with a deeper understanding of the
impact bass tournaments have on
Michigan’s economy.”
Kimmel thanked TBF volunteers,
including TBF of Michigan President
Dave Reault, for donating their time
and covering all boating and lunch-
eon expenses to ensure the event
involved no cost to taxpayers.
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Sen. Ken Horn (left) shows off a nice smallmouth
caught while fishing with boater volunteer Tommy
Robinson.
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