House environment panel considers year-round bass fishing season

You might think a bill to allow a year-round fishing season for largemouth and smallmouth bass would be controversial.

But all evidence from Tuesday’s House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee meeting indicates that HF2824 enjoys wide support.

It has sponsors from both sides of the aisle. The DNR supports it. Angling organizations support it. Committee members spoke in favor of it.

The only opponents could possibly be the largemouth and smallmouth bass themselves, right?

But would their population suffer from the proposed law change?

Not really.

“Bass are doing quite well in this state.” said Brad Parsons, DNR fisheries section manager. “We see this as an opportunity to provide more angling experience with no biological risk.”

May and June are typical spawning times for bass, so Parsons said that adding several months outside of that time should have minimal impact on their population.

The season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is now the same as for walleye and some other species, running from the Saturday two weeks prior to the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend through the last Sunday in February.

The committee laid the bill over for possible inclusion in a policy bill.

Rep. Jim Nash (R-Waconia) is the sponsor. He said the impetus is twofold: to encourage more people to develop a healthy outdoor hobby and to help an industry that has suffered recently.

“The resort region has suffered in years past. Having the ability to go and angle for bass without a limitation of a season would be very helpful and beneficial for them,” he said.

Jimmy Bell, president of the Student Angler Organization, said a year-round season would increase participation in high school fishing teams by allowing them to recruit anglers before schools close for the summer.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in student angling in the state of Minnesota, which is just absolutely awesome,” he said. “We’ve got to keep them engaged, and the way that you keep them engaged is giving them more opportunity.”