DNR Considering Raising Fishing and Hunting License

They're meeting Jan 17th to consider raising it up to $22, so only a $5 increase. Which doesn't bother me because I know that money goes straight back into the lakes and streams. However, what caught my attention, and irked me a bit, was there justification for the increase. Per their agenda (link), agenda item 7 (link), it says "Furthermore, Indiana's license fees are substantially less than Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio, so this change brings Indiana into a consistent market value with neighboring states". I don't know about you guys, but in my opinion Kentucky and Michigan have superior fishing to Indiana (never fished in Ohio) so those fees are justified. So what do you think? Could the increase in funds provide Indiana with better waters to fish?

IN is so far behind other states around us, it's not even close. I haven't seen anything put into the fisheries in the areas I frequent since I moved to IN 10 years ago. I still pay the non resident fee and fish KY quite a bit and feel I get my moneys worth. IN has let good lakes be ruined around me that I doubt will ever come back.

I beat Indiana dnr out of their money when they first offered lifetime hunting licenses at 200 bucks and now don't even offer them and also have a lifetime fishing license also. I wouldn't complain if dnr were to actually show us the benefits of a increase and quit playing politics and do their jobs like they used to. Heck, all the launches, state parks, and facilities are falling apart and in disrepare.

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Originally Posted by cevans

I beat Indiana dnr out of their money when they first offered lifetime hunting licenses at 200 bucks and now don't even offer them and also have a lifetime fishing license also. I wouldn't complain if dnr were to actually show us the benefits of a increase and quit playing politics and do their jobs like they used to. Heck, all the launches, state parks, and facilities are falling apart and in disrepare.

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All true statements

My wife and I fish many weekends in Indiana, we catch very little. The State Park fishing areas are a shambles and in early summer they do a weed kill and you can look below the docks and see all the dead fish.
We love to fish but have no luck until we make our twice a year trips to KY Lake. Sure wish Indiana would step it up. I also notice that as soon as you leave Indiana the highways are better, I'm all for the budget surplus but let's take care of the people paying.

When I was fishing up there on a regular basis, the lakes I fished received little attention from the state. I fished Elk Creek and Ferdinand State Forest routinely, those places got no attention or money.

I personally just don't think they would put the extra dollars to good use. Is there even a trophy fishery up there outside of bass fishing at Patoka?? Crappie are good at Hardy, redear are decent at Hardy, Elk Creek, Ferdinand and used to be good at Indian and Celina.

I always wanted to see Indiana build a big lake and manage it for trophy fishing. Look at the Mississippi crappie lakes, the TVA lakes in Tennessee and the awesome lakes in Kentucky, now that's fishing.

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Originally Posted by redearhoosier

When I was fishing up there on a regular basis, the lakes I fished received little attention from the state. I fished Elk Creek and Ferdinand State Forest routinely, those places got no attention or money.

I personally just don't think they would put the extra dollars to good use. Is there even a trophy fishery up there outside of bass fishing at Patoka?? Crappie are good at Hardy, redear are decent at Hardy, Elk Creek, Ferdinand and used to be good at Indian and Celina.

I always wanted to see Indiana build a big lake and manage it for trophy fishing. Look at the Mississippi crappie lakes, the TVA lakes in Tennessee and the awesome lakes in Kentucky, now that's fishing.

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Nope.......Hardy has been ruined as well

Really?? What in the world happened? You were the man at Hardy!

Many different variables that all could have been avoided for one of the best crappie lakes in this part of the state. I can still catch fish there, but I'd have to weed through 20 yellow bass to every crappie. It's sad..

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Indiana's last big lake project was defeated in the early 80's. the building of several locks and dams on the wabash all the way past Lafayette. It got all the way to the Federal level and when the money was being appropriated, the farmers and libs beat it into defeat. Dick Lugar was our Senator then and I had worked 4 yrs with him building that up. We thought we had it done too. No big lakes since or ever will be in this state built unless some municipality needs water is what I am thinking and then it won't ever be a biggie due to the opposition.