I suspect that being surrounded by the world's greatest freshwater resource, the State of Michigan is hyper-sensitive about protecting it. After the last election, the regulation will only get worse.

The only popular pond fish on the Michigan prohibited list is the white amur. The state is very afraid of Asian carp entering the Great Lakes through Chicago, so white amur probably falls in that same category.

Also, much of the water recreation in Michigan is on the Great Lakes or the numerous natural lakes "Up North." Lots of second homes and cottages in the northern lower peninsula. This type of leisure is far more popular than being a pondmeister around here.