Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Fisheries Research Report No.1826, 1975
Effects of "Trophy" and "Fish-for-Fun " Regulations on Fish Populations in Lakes of Sylvania
W. C. Latta
Abstract.-The 21,000-acre Sylvania Recreation Area, part of the Ottawa National Forest, in Gogebic County, Michigan, was opened to the public as a semi-wilderness in 1967. Fishing was permitted under "trophy" and "fish-for-fun" regulations. Prior to the opening, the tract had been a private estate and fishing in the lakes had been light. Under the "fish-for-fun" regulation, all fish taken had to be returned to the water. Under the "trophy" regulation, bass could not be kept unless they were a minimum size of 18 inches, lake trout--30 inches, walleye--20 inches, and northern pike--30 inches, while for all other fish there was no size limit. The creel limit for the first group, under the "trophy" regulation, was two singly or in combination, while for the second group it was 10 fish daily. Only artificial lures could be used. The fish populations have been monitored with experimental gill nets in October of most years. In 1966, before the tract was opened to the public, an attempt was made to sample the fish populations in most of the lakes. In succeeding years, eight lakes have been sampled again from one to four times. Of these eight lakes, four were under the "trophy" regulation, -two were under the "fish-for-fun" regulation, and two had the regular statewide regulations. Judging from the catch per effort of the smallmouth bass in the gill-net collections, bass 18 inches or larger, as well as those in the category 15.0 to 17.9 inches, have decreased substantially in numbers under the "trophy" regulation. Because of poor samples no judgment can be made on the change in abundance of bass under "fish-for-fun" and statewide regulations. There were no obvious changes in numbers of lake trout, walleyes and northern pike. With the decrease in large, old bass there was no increase in numbers of yellow perch or white sucker, with the exception of the latter species in one lake. As a result of the decreases in numbers of large bass the fishing regulations for 1975 were changed; under the new regulations no bass may be kept regardless of size. Minimum sizes for lake trout, walleyes and northern pike remain the same. For these three, only one fish may be kept each day. For the other species, the daily limit is 10 singly or in combination and there is no size limit. Only artificial lures may be used. The low harvest potentials of 1.4 to 4.5 pounds of fish per acre for the Sylvania lakes suggest that fishing for fun is the only way to provide a satisfactory angling experience for more than a few people. Apparently "trophy" fishing for smallmouth bass leads to harvests greater than the minimum size limits allow, and "fishing-for-fun" is the best alternative.