Understanding The S-13 Regulation -- Why Waters With Illegal Introductions Of Bass Have No Size Or Bag Limit On Bass

By IFW Fisheries Biologist Brian Lewis Part of the recent Fishing Laws booklet simplification process included multiple reviews by staff biologists to ensure major errors were not included in the final product.   While going through one edition of the booklet I chose to focus on the S-13 special regulation.   This special regulation allows unlimited harvest of largemouth and smallmouth bass with no minimum length limit and is generally placed on waters where bass have been introduced illegally, particularly in waters managed for salmonids. The purpose of the regulation is three- fold.   It is used primarily as an educational tool to alert the angling public as to the prevalence of illegal introductions of bass.   Secondarily, it is meant as a message to those irresponsible individuals guilty of illegal bass stockings that the Department will not actively manage or protect the resulting populations.   Thirdly, the S-13 regulation allows the maximum possible relief for native and coldwater fish populations impacted by competition and predation from illegally established bass populations. In order for this last part of the regulation to function, anglers need to be willing to target S-13 waters and harvest the bass they catch regardless of size.    Who likes to catch lots of fish, keep everything they catch, and eat fish sticks?   Kids of course!    When my son was a bit younger and just learning how to fish I took him to a local bass hot spot and showed him why all us anglers do what we do.   The fact that I took him to an S-13 water meant we could keep all the bass we caught regardless of size. We began by using small golden shiners on slip hook rigs towed slowly behind the family canoe on calm evenings in the summer.   Bass of all sizes respond eagerly to such offerings and offer plenty of fight to a five year old just learning to handle an ultralight rod.   When fishing an S-13 water that also has an S-4 regulation (no live fish as bait), I find that slowly trolling a jointed silver or gold Rapala has a very similar effect on the fish and hook setting can be less of an issue.  The occasional 16-20 inch bass may require some parental assistance, but the ensuing chaos ensures an enduring memory. The lessons learned while mom or dad fillets and fries the evening’s catch are a valuable bonus at the end of an outing and fried fresh bass fillets can be mighty tasty.   A couple tricks to eating bass (and enjoying it) are to start out with young fish between 6 and 12 inches long and to cook them the same day as harvest.   The recipe below is for a clam batter my grandmother used for years at the drive in restaurant she owned in the 1980’s.   Simply mix the ingredients, dip bass fillets in batter, and deep fry until golden and crispy. Those most sensitive to the “fishy” taste may want to sprinkle the bass fillets with some Old Bay seasoning to taste prior to dipping in the batter.   Be sure to check the fish consumption advisory information on page A-4 of the fishing law book to review the safe eating guidelines for freshwater fish.   The S-13 regulation offers the opportunity to get kids interested in fishing by providing the opportunity for fast action and a delicious meal at the end of the day so take a kid fishing on a water with an S-13 regulation on it and harvest some fish sticks! Grammie Robbins’ Starlight Drive-In Clam Batter -2 eggs -2 cups milk -2 cups flour -½ teaspoon vinegar -1 teaspoon baking powder