New Rules and Regs for 2015

[Bouncer]

This list was just released today and these changes are just proposals for now. They still have to be approved before being able to be enforced later this year. You can click on the link and read all of the proposed changes. Here are the two major fishing changes that would affect the most of us.

312 IAC 9-7-9: Adds a 9-inch minimum size requirement to harvest crappie at Dogwood Lake in Daviess County and Hardy Lake in Scott County. Research indicates that a 9-inch minimum length limit on crappie at Hardy and Dogwood lakes should improve crappie fishing and make these standout lakes in Indiana.


312 IAC 9-7-10: Establishes a statewide daily bag limit of 25 (in aggregate) for all species of sunfish (Lepomis spp. – which includes bluegill, redear, warmouth, pumpkinseed, green sunfish, and others). In recent years, technology has greatly increased fish-catching efficiency. Having a sunfish bag limit in place at times when fish are highly vulnerable would help maintain long-term fishing quality.

DNR: Rule/Regulation Changes

[Rprince80]

Haven't they proposed this like the last 3 or 4 years?

[apersohn17]

I like these changes.

[Whaler]

I think it is time to make these changes. The size and numbers are going down at Dogwood. It is not hard to figure out when people take hundreds of fish during one extended trip and there are dozens of campers doing the same thing from ice thaw to freeze up. Not against keeping some but being reasonable should be rule one. Once saw a lake almost die because of over harvest of bass and crappie. It is finally coming back after almost 20 years.

[wannabe fisherman]

2 key words here that, to me anyway, just cause confusion, Proposed and if approved. Those words mean nothing has changed as of yet, however I'm not saying the changes aren't needed. I very hardly keep any fish anyway.

[indyfisherman]

There not in effect now! They are just being proposed click on the link says that if they go to these changes it wouldn't be till LATE summer or fall OF 2015!

[bigarm]

Make it state wide on the crappie size. If it is good for one lake wouldn't it be a good for most other lakes?

[apersohn17]

Maybe they are doing this for a small test? If they like the results then they will make it state wide?

[Rprince80]

These changes wouldn't affect me because

1. I don't keep any Crappie under 9"
2. There are usually 2 of us in the boat and we can't seem to catch 50 fish.

[Bouncer]

I agree on making it statewide, or if not put a special rule in place at Patoka/Monroe. I wouldn't even mind to see a slot limit introduced at those two lakes, just something to help bring the quality back that they once had. Our state has too many good resources for them to be in the shape that they are. We could learn a lot from Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas on lake mgmt IMO.