TOPIC:

We wanted to provide an update on the GLSI proposal for an optional trolling license. We have been constantly emailing, calling and meeting Michigan State Legislators to gain support for our proposal. We are pleased to report we are getting some traction and positive responses over the past 2 months. As many of you know, the attempt to raise base fishing and hunting licenses failed in the lame duck session of the legislature in December. Since that occurred, there is more interest in our proposal for a voluntary license.

We have had face to face meetings with House Representatives Kathy Schmaltz and Representative Amos O'Neal. We have a meeting in Lansing with Representative David Martin who chairs the House Natural Resources Committee the first week of March. He is a key legislator to move our proposal forward in his committee. We have had email exchanges and phone calls with other legislators that also seem interested. Ideally, we would like to see a Democrat and Republican co-sponsor a bill to enact our proposal.

The GLSI remains very concerned that without some increase in funding, inflation is eating away at the DNR Fisheries Division budget and programs that support our fisheries will be cut. The fisheries division has not had a funding increase since 2014. We are also participating in a new Fisheries Division Oversight Committee with the DNR to try to solve this problem. Our proposal is on the table along with other ideas to avoid cuts to stocking and research that is critical to our fisheries. Perhaps there should be a smaller license increase or a boat license that allows Great Lakes anglers to run additional rods?   What are your thoughts on that? 

One other interesting idea from other members of the committee would be to establish a youth license for $1-$3 dollars. The concept is still voluntary in nature because it would allow youth to fish for free and catch and release fish but if they wanted to creel a limit, they would need the youth license. Keep in mind, youths have to purchase a license to go hunting. It seems like it would be worth it to parents to keep another limit of salmon, walleye or panfish for the price of a cup of coffee. The best thing about this idea is that for every license sold, the DNR would get an extra $10 in Federal Dingell/Johnson funding. So for every $1-$3 youth license sold, the DNR would get $11- $13 with the Federal money.  We would like to hear from anglers on what you think about a youth license like this? Developing a voluntary trolling licenses along with a new youth license could go a long way to prevent fisheries programs from being cut.

We are also kicking off our 2025 membership campaign. We are asking for your membership renewal for 2025 at this time. Our base membership is only $20. Silver and gold memberships are also available.  The GLSI represents our members at the Lake Michigan Citizens Fisheries Advisory Committee, the Lake Huron Citizens Fisheries Advisory Committee, the Tribal Co-Management Advisory Committee, and the new Fisheries Oversight Committee. We have reached out and formed a coalition of Great Lakes angling clubs and organizations who support our proposal for a trolling license.  Indiana does not have advisory committees like these and the GLSI has been leading the charge there to bring anglers and the IDNR together to cooperate and provide input through our annual Indiana Fisheries meeting. If we are successful in getting a trolling license established in Michigan, we plan to focus on Indiana next. We attend Seagrant, State and Federal science and research meetings to stay informed on the latest information affecting our fishery. We use this knowledge to advocate for and make the best recommendations to sustain the great fishing throughout the Great Lakes. We support the Coalition to Protect Michigan Resources to fight against gill nets and this battle is still going on in Federal Appellate Court. Thanks to your membership contributions, we have donated over $2000 to fund the lawyers for this cause. 

Our Board of Directors are all unpaid volunteers who use their own money to travel and spend time at the various meetings we participate in. We need your financial membership support in 2025 more than ever to get our trolling license proposal established.

When the GLSI formed in 2016, we hired lobbyists to help in our fight to prevent the elimination of king salmon stocking that was proposed at that time. We were successful in that fight, but it was very costly. We are taking a grass roots approach to get our trolling license established and things move very slow in the state legislature but we are making progress.  Our last resort in this effort would be to hire lobbyists again but we need your membership support to do that. Please renew your membership in the GLSI and ask your fishing friends to join us too.

You can renew or join at this link:    glsalmon.org/great-lakes-salmon-initiative-memberships/     or you can send a check to:   Great Lakes Salmon Initiative,  PO Box 189, Chelsea MI, 48118

We also want to thank a number of people who have already renewed for 2025! Your support is greatly appreciated!
 
Our mailing address is:
Great Lakes Salmon Initiative
PO Box 189
Chelsea, MI 48118

Just donated, Ed.

Thanks!