Indiana Rivers and Streams Black Bass 12"-15" Slot Regulation

This summer the DNR implemented this regulation as a result of concerns from fisherman in the nothern part of state. Their concern was the availablity of trophy smallmouth on 4 or 5 smallmouth habitate river systems in the northern part of Indiana. Unfortunately the DNR decided to go statewide with the regulation. Our fishing group met with one of our Indiana DNR biologist earlier this summer. He told us flat out this rule will do nothing to affect our White River fishery and other fisheries and should never have been implemented statewide. His recommendation was to implement only on those rivers that were the concern in the first place where the rule would have the desired affect.

I would respectfully request your help in overturning this unnecessary slot rule. You can do so in a couple of ways. Below is a DNR website where you can register your concerns.

Also and more importantly there are two public meetings that are to be held. The first open house will be July 25 from 5-7 p.m at the Spring Mill State Park Inn near Mitchell. The second open house will be July 30 from 5-7 p.m. at the Plymouth Public Library. The biologist pretty much told us you need "numbers" to get the DNR's attention. So if could attend it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you and hope to see you on the 25th.

From July 15 to Aug. 1, the public can use a convenient online form to provide input to the DNR. The process is like a “virtual” open house.

To participate, go to wildlife.IN.gov <[url]http://links.govdelivery.com:80/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTIwNz[/url] A1Ljg4MTU0NTEmbWVzc2FnZWlkPU1EQi1QUkQtQlVMLTIwMTIwNzA1Ljg4MT U0NTEmZGF0YWJhc2VpZD0xMDAxJnNlcmlhbD0xNzA2MzMzNCZlbWFpbGlkPW JzY2hvZW51bmdAZG5yLmluLmdvdiZ1c2VyaWQ9YnNjaG9lbnVuZ0BkbnIuaW 4uZ292JmZsPSZleHRyYT1NdWx0aXZhcmlhdGVJZD0mJiY=&&&100&&&http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/> and click on the “Got INput?” box near the middle of the page. The form will be available for use beginning July 15. A list of potential regulations will also be available on the “Got INput?” page.