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Creel Clerks & Angler Surveys

What are creel clerks?

If you are out fishing on the Great Lakes or on various inland waters, you may encounter a DNR employee who will ask you questions about your fishing activity such as how long your trip was, what species you were targeting and how many and what kind of fish you caught. In some case they may ask to measure or weigh fish and to take scale or other bony part samples. These DNR staff are called "creel clerks" and they are conducting angler surveys to collect valuable information that helps us make decisions about managing Michigan's fisheries.