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Keep Our Waters Great, Don't Dump Your Bait
    It's the law:
  • Dispose of unused bait on the land or in the trash
  • Empty livewells and bilges at the ramp
  • Don't transfer live fish to waterbodies other than where they were caught

    Help prevent disease transfer
  • Disinfect livewells and bilges with a bleach solution (1/2 cup bleach to 5 gallons of water)
  • Allow equipment to dry thoroughly before using in a different body of water

What Anglers Should Know

• What is VHS?
What is VHS? What are the symptoms? Will the virus affect humans?

• Attention Anglers

• Understanding VHS Rules PDF icon

• VHS Clinical Signs (Photos) PDF icon

• Fisheries Order 245, Fish Disease Control PDF icon

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Fish Species That Have Tested Positive (susceptible species list) PDF icon
Prohibited fish species. It is illegal to import baitfish into Michigan unless they have been certified disease-free. The following fish species are known to be susceptible to VHS and are subject to the restrictions imposed by Fish Disease Control Order FO-245.

• Fishing in Shared Waters
Important Information for Michigan Anglers Fishing in Shared Waters

• Anglers and Boaters: You are an important partner in preventing the spread of fish diseases and other aquatic nuisance species
Anglers and boaters can take some easy steps to prevent the spread of fish diseases and other aquatic nuisance species such as zebra mussels by taking the following steps to help prevent the spread of the virus.




Bait Dealers

• Baitfish Receipt Requirements under FO245

• Certified Baitfish Lot List PDF icon

• Disinfecting Eggs With Iodophor PDF icon

• Guide for Certification of Status of a Facility and Status of Fish Health PDF icon

• Receipt Example PDF icon

• Retail and Wholesale Frequently Asked Questions


Related Resources

• Minnow ID

• Moratorium on Coolwater Fish Production for Walleye, Northern Pike, and Muskellunge - 2007 PDF icon

• North American Strain of VHS detected in Lake St. Clair Muskie PDF icon

• VHS Briefing Paper (Updated February 6, 2009) PDF icon


Posters

• Don't Dump Your Bait Poster PDF icon


In The News

• Public Service Announcement


Related Links

• Clean Boats, Clean Waters Manual

• Focus on Fish Health

• Illinois and Indiana Sea Grant

• Indiana DNR

• Indiana State Board of Animal Health

• Michigan Sea Grant

• Minnesota DNR

• New York Department of Evnironmental Conservation

• Ohio DNR

• Ontario Cananda Ministry of Natural Resources

• Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

• Walleye Production for 2011 PDF icon

• Wisconsin DNR






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