Michigan’s Platte River Spawning Closure Extended to Apr. 28
OutdoorHub 01.31.12
The Department of Natural Resources has announced the Platte River spawning closure, which typically runs Jan. 1 to March 31, has been extended until April 28, 2012.
The Department has earnestly worked to bolster the steelhead run and create a backup steelhead egg take facility at the Platte River Hatchery. The closure is an effort to better protect the returning adult steelhead and provide higher-quality fishing opportunities in the future.
This closure affects the Platte River from the Platte River State Fish Hatchery down to Platte Lake.
The DNR recognizes this change will restrict the steelhead fishing opportunity in this area for anglers this season, but wants to highlight the potential benefits that come with this change.
“We realized that we need to take a harder look at the steelhead spawning closure on the Platte River now that we have a stocking program in place,” said Heather Hettinger, DNR fisheries biologist for the Platte River. “We believe that adjusting the closure could provide better protection once our stocked fish start returning.”
“The realization that this closure needed to be adjusted or re-thought has brought about a whole new level of discussion in regards to the Platte River salmon and trout fishery, which we are now developing” said Rich O’Neal, fisheries supervisor for the Northwest Lower Peninsula.
The outcome of these discussions should provide more opportunities for steelhead anglers on the Platte River in the future. Over the course of the next few months steelhead regulations and fishery closures on the Platte River will be re-evaluated by considering several options in an effort to protect the broodstock steelhead and provide opportunities to anglers.
Regulations have changed at the lower Platte River Weir as well. In the past, the Platte Riverhad been closed to fishing all year within 300 feet of the lower weir. Starting April 1, 2012 the lower weir will be closed to fishing only when the weir is in place.
