April 11, 2025

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources began an emergency reduction of water levels at Trout Lake Dam in Gladwin County on April 10 to reduce risk of structural failure and an uncontrolled release of water from the impoundment.

A DNR media release on January 27 announced a recommendation to the department to remove the dam, as well as the DNR’s intent to initiate drawdown in 2025. The drawdown timeline has advanced to emergency status after spring runoff fully recharged the impoundment. The added pressure against the stop logs increased the likelihood for failure, particularly if a significant precipitation event occurs. Read more

A jubilee is a naturally occurring phenomenon that happens in only two locations in the world, Mobile Bay and Tokyo Bay, during which large numbers of fish and crustaceans are forced into shallow water due to low dissolved oxygen in the water. Jubilees are not “fish kills” and the fish, shrimp, and other marine life generally return to normal behavior when the conditions change. However, the events bring sea life right to the shore where they can be seen and harvested.

These events are special times in the lives of coastal residents and visitors. It is impossible to predict the exact location, time, and duration of a jubilee which makes planning uncertain for participation in this uniquely Alabama event. Individuals must abide by creel limits, size regulations, and other laws and regulations that protect Alabama’s valuable marine resources from overharvest during these events.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has worked with Representative Matt Simpson, who represents parts of the Eastern Shore of Mobile Bay where most jubilees occur, to provide information to residents and visitors alike to ensure they can participate in these events within the law and enjoy the bounty of Mobile Bay. Read more

April 10, 2025

The annual collection of steelhead eggs at the Little Manistee River weir in Stronach (Manistee County), Michigan, is tentatively scheduled to begin Tuesday, April 15. The facility is open to the public for up-close viewing during egg-take operations.

Steelhead provide one of Michigan’s premier sport fishing opportunities for both open-water fishing on the Great Lakes and tributary stream fishing. Yearling steelhead produced through hatchery operations are stocked in select tributaries of all the Great Lakes.

Since 1968, the Little Manistee River weir has served as the sole source of winter-run steelhead eggs for fish hatcheries in Michigan and the main source for Ohio and Indiana. This year, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plans to collect 4.5 million eggs. Thompson State Fish Hatchery and Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery will receive 3.7 million of those eggs, and Ohio and Indiana will each receive 400,000 eggs. Read more

April 7, 2025

With nearly 11,000 inland lakes and 76,000 miles of rivers and streams, Michigan has a wealth of inland fishing opportunities, and inland fishing guides help anglers enjoy those abundant resources. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers and guides that since March 1, 2024, inland fishing guides operating in the state are required to have an inland sport fishing guide license to take clients on guided trips on inland lakes, rivers or streams.

Great Lakes connecting waters refer to specific bodies of water in Michigan that connect the Great Lakes to each other: the St. Marys River, the St. Clair River (beginning at the Fort Gratiot Light), Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River (beginning at the imaginary line extending due south of the Windmill Point Light, Wayne County, and ending at the imaginary east/west line drawn through the most southernly point of Celeron Island).

Those interested should complete the following steps to apply for an inland sport fishing guide license:

1. Review the requirements and complete the questionnaire. The DNR will review responses to verify license requirements are met. Applicants will be notified via email within five business days with further instructions.
2. Upon receiving notification of DNR approval, buy the license online or on the Michigan DNR Hunt Fish mobile app. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

After years of fishing with only the integral bench seats (above), I’ve opted for a padded seat with a backrest.  For mounting, I chose the adjustable clamp-type mount.  The idea is to install the seat before I get to a given lake either at home or at the lake.  The clamp mount is screwed to the underside of the seat and is installed as one unit to the boat.

Seat Clamp 

 

The mount rotates 360 degrees, and I lubed it as a precautionary procedure before use.  Also, I found that the adjustable rods are much too long for my narrow seat and therefore cut off sizeable lengths (and, filed the ends) so that they didn’t protrude unnecessarily.  I also fashioned a 12-inch length of 1-inch PVC as a tool to tighten the wing nuts.  I cut a notch across one end to connect to the wing nuts to tighten it to the seat.  This is important:  It’s almost impossible to get at the wing nuts when the clamp is on the bench seat.  There are also two brackets that retain the clamping framework to the seat front to prevent the seat from coming loose.  Too bad there is only one set provided.  With a bit of creativity, a person could fashion a couple more sets and install them to the other seats.  This way, the seat can be relocated.

 

This is the seat added to the Jon Boat.  Although it folds down, it will be removed before I store the boat, which is always upside down.

The good times are now: Smallmouth bass fishing has never been better in Lake St. Clair By JAN-MICHAEL HESSENAUER, fisheries research biologist and MARCEE WARDELL, communications specialist, both from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Now is the best time to be a bass angler on Lake St. Clair in at least the last 50 years. Lake St. Clair in southeastern Michigan, consistently rated as a top 10 bass fishing lake by Bassmaster Magazine, is a popular destination fishery for high-level professional fishing tournaments and fishing enthusiasts from around the world. Anglers love this opportunity to connect with nature, that feeling of a tug on the line and a beautiful fish in their hands. This isn’t just hype – smallmouth bass are thriving in Lake St. Clair, despite the presence of invasive species, an intense fishery and other perceived or potential threats. A new research study from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Lake St. Clair Fisheries Research Station looked at this fish population to explore what might contribute to its success. What they found might surprise even the most avid Lake St. Clair anglers. Read more

New regulations take effect April 1, 2025

Heading out to fish? New sportfishing regulations for Michigan’s 2025 fishing season begin Tuesday, April 1, and are in effect through March 31, 2026. Changes this season include modifications to steelhead and muskie size limits and gear restrictions on some waters. Highlights include:

Inland stream rainbow trout (steelhead) possession limit

Steelhead regulations on several Type 3 and Type 4 streams have been slightly modified from last year. Some streams no longer have a 20-inch minimum size limit on steelhead (the daily possession limit of which is one). See Pages 42-65 of the Michigan Fishing Regulations for more specific information. Read more

Approximately 4,250 adult trout were stocked recently by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in the Huron River (Proud Lake Recreation Area, Oakland County) and Spring Mill Pond (Island Lake Recreation Area, Livingston County) in southeast Michigan. These fish are retired broodstock from Michigan’s state fish hatcheries.

• The Huron River, downstream of the Proud Lake Dam, was stocked with approximately 1,950 brown trout and 1,350 rainbow trout, all ranging in size from 13 inches to 19 inches.
• Spring Mill Pond was stocked with approximately 450 brown trout and 500 rainbow trout, also ranging from 13 inches to 19 inches.

Special regulations apply for anglers interested in targeting these trout:

• • The Huron River at Proud Lake Recreation Area is closed to fishing Oct. 1 through March 31. April 1-25, anglers are limited to flies only, catch-and-release fishing, with the exception that children under 12 may keep one trout sized between 8 inches and 12 inches.
  • Spring Mill Pond at Island Lake Recreation Area is closed to fishing March 15-31. Anglers are limited to artificial lures only, catch-and-release fishing April 1-25.
  • On both bodies of water, beginning April 26, all baits are allowed, and anglers may keep up to five trout over 8 inches, but only three over 15 inches.

Read more