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Committee hears bipartisan bill to remove bass-specific seasons in Minnesota
Summary
A bipartisan bill to eliminate spring bass seasons drew testimony from anglers and DNR biologists who said bass populations are stable and removal would expand youth and tournament fishing; the committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus.
Representative Steve Nash introduced House File 2824, a bipartisan bill to remove bass-specific open seasons across Minnesota, saying the change would expand youth and tournament opportunities and benefit resort-region commerce.
The author told the committee that DNR netting data and biological assessments indicate bass have “plenty of time to nest” and that historic netting surveys show population increases. “If you spend any time on Minnesota lakes, like I do, smallmouth bass caught in Mille Lacs, you’ll recognize that bass fishing or fishing in general is one of the great legacies that we have,” Nash said.
Mark Holston, executive director of the Minnesota Fish Sport Fishing Foundation, said anglers make up roughly 30% of the state population when licensed and unlicensed youth are combined, and called the bill “a small step” to expand angling opportunity. “We see this as a small step in providing the opportunity for anglers throughout Minnesota to be able to go out and enjoy the sport that they love,” Holston testified.
Jimmy “Jim” Bell, president of the Student Angler organization, told the committee youth participation in angling has increased and that allowing year-round bass angling would support student tournaments and family engagement. Bell cited a DNR analysis that compiled 53 years of netting data showing average annual increases of about 4.5% for largemouth bass and 3.4% for smallmouth bass.
Brad Parsons, fisheries section manager for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, testified the department has tracked bass spawning timing and abundance for many years. “Bass actually are spawning more into May and June as opposed to March and April when this proposed fishing season would occur,” Parsons said, adding the DNR “feels comfortable that this is something that can be provided to anglers with no conservation risk.”
Committee members asked about license-season timing and monitoring. Parsons noted the license year runs March 1 through the following February and that the department would continue its long-term surveys, handling any needed adjustments through the agency’s rulemaking process.
Representative Nash closed by reiterating the bill’s bipartisan support and the recreational and economic value of bass fishing. The committee moved to lay House File 2824 over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill.
Ending: The committee did not take a final vote on the bill today; it was laid over for possible inclusion in a future omnibus bill.
