Aug. 24, 2026
Contact: DNR-Fisheries@Michigan.gov

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources honors the memory of Dr. Howard A. Tanner, former DNR director and Fisheries Division chief, who passed away Aug. 16 at the age of 102. Dr. Tanner is remembered for his conservation and fisheries management work, which has left an indelible mark on the state and created new fishing opportunities for Michigan anglers.

Dr. Tanner served as the chief of the Fisheries Division of the DNR (then known as the Michigan Department of Conservation) from 1964 to 1966. He was then the director of the Natural Resources program at the Michigan State University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources until his return to the DNR in 1975 as the agency’s director.

Perhaps best known for his contribution to the recreational Pacific salmon fishery on the Great Lakes, Dr. Tanner, as chief of the Fisheries Division, was charged with addressing the issue of alewife — an invasive species that was washing up on shore in droves, making beaches unusable and throwing Great Lakes ecosystems out of balance. In response, he determined to stock coho salmon and acquired surplus eggs from Oregon. The first of these coho salmon were stocked in the Platte River and its tributaries in 1966, resulting in the start of the “something spectacular” that gives title to Dr. Tanner’s memoir: a Great Lakes recreational salmon fishery that exists to this day.

“Dr. Howard Tanner had the vision and courage to imagine a different future for the Great Lakes when few others could,” said Randy Claramunt, DNR Fisheries Division chief. “His decision to introduce Pacific salmon transformed Michigan’s fisheries, created a world-class recreational fishery, and changed the way we think about managing the Great Lakes. “We are the beneficiaries of his bold leadership today, and his legacy will continue to influence fisheries management for generations to come.”

Additionally, Dr. Tanner was instrumental in addressing mercury contamination in Michigan waters and influential in the Milliken administration’s ban on the manufacture and sale of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), toxic industrial chemicals that are harmful to human health, in the state in 1976. Read more

Contact: Neal Godby (DNR), 231-340-2621; Jay Woiderski (SFT), 231-420-1237 or Doug Larson (MSU)

Following the tours, hatchery-reared sturgeon fingerlings will be released into the Black River and Mullett Lake 

Lake sturgeon are one of Michigan’s most unique and interesting fish, and you have the chance to see them up close and in person this Labor Day weekend. To learn more about what goes into rearing sturgeon, you’re invited to take a free tour at the Black River hatchery Saturday, Sept. 5. Tours will run 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the facility, located northwest of Onaway.

“Visitors will see 3- to 4-month-old lake sturgeon currently in the hatchery and learn about their early life history, as well as how we can all play a role to keep this species healthy in our waters,” said Tim Cwalinski, Northern Lake Huron Unit supervisor with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Researchers from the DNR and Michigan State University will be available to talk about lake sturgeon biology, life stages and current research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss restoration work to improve sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming.

About the hatchery

The hatchery is located in Cheboygan County on the Upper Black River adjacent to the Kleber Dam. From M-68, 2 miles west of Onaway, take Black River Road (F-05) north to Twin School Road, then west a little over 3 miles to the hatchery, which is on the north side of the road, just before the dam.

The free hatchery tour day is made possible by the DNR, MSU, Tower-Kleber Limited Partnership and Sturgeon for Tomorrow.

The streamside rearing facility is an important part of lake sturgeon rehabilitation efforts in the Cheboygan River watershed. The facility conducts research to increase our understanding of lake sturgeon, thanks to DNR, federal, Great Lakes Fishery Trust and Sturgeon for Tomorrow funds. Research results provide valuable guidance for lake sturgeon recovery efforts, while improving the effectiveness of lake sturgeon culture — such as best practices for feeding and stocking efforts and disease treatment.

Fingerlings release following tours

After hatchery tours conclude Sept. 5, the sturgeon fingerlings — young fish about the size of a finger — reared at the hatchery are scheduled to be released into the Black River and Mullett Lake.

For more information on lake sturgeon and to get involved in rehabilitation efforts, visit SturgeonforTomorrow.org or Michigan.gov/Sturgeon.

Photo courtesy of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks

Trevor Swisse of Sidney not only harvested the biggest paddlefish in Montana in 2026, but the nearly 117-pound female had avoided recapture by fisheries crews and anglers in Montana and North Dakota for 22 years.

“That’s the biggest one I’ve ever caught,” Swisse said.

Montana’s state-record paddlefish, caught in 1973 in the Missouri River, was 142.5 pounds, but 117 pounds is definitely on the larger end of fish harvested.

Swisse was paddlefishing at Seven Sisters Wildlife Management Area near Sidney on June 12 with his boys, Mason, 15, and Charles, 6, when he snagged the fish. Read more

Lake sturgeon lifespans may be even longer than we thought

By EDWARD BAKER, PhD., Marquette Fisheries Research Station manager and MARCEE WARDELL, communications specialist, Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Lake sturgeon: the living fossils.

They’ve earned this moniker not only because they first appeared in the fossil record at least 100 million years ago or because their bony scutes give them a dino-like appearance, but because of their long lives.

According to previous research, lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) have a lifespan of up to 150 years.

But a new study published by researchers from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources suggests that lake sturgeon may live longer than previously thought — much longer. Read more

July 23, 2026
Contact: Sgt. Jon Warner, WarnerJ4@Michigan.gov

A paddle boarder and kayaker who tried to help also were rescued along the way

Amid high winds and rough water on Lake Huron near Harrisville Wednesday afternoon, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers rescued two men after their sailboat flipped, as well as a paddle boarder and kayaker who had attempted to reach the struggling sailboat.

The officers were in Harrisville Harbor during regular patrol when, at 10:59 a.m., Alcona County Central Dispatch advised of boaters in need of a water rescue: A 16-foot, catamaran-style sailboat had flipped over in Lake Huron, approximately 1.5 miles offshore and about 3 miles south of the harbor. It was estimated that the occupants of the sailboat had been in the water about one and a half hours before 911 was notified.

A National Weather Service small craft advisory was in effect Wednesday through evening hours, citing winds with gusts up to 29 mph, waves 5 feet or greater, and water temperature of 67 degrees.

Conservation officers Jeff Panich, Jesse Grzechowski, Alex Bourgeois, Nico Luna and Sgt. Jon Warner responded from Harrisville Harbor and fought through 5-foot waves to reach the sailboat. Everyone played a role and shared duties as needed: a boat operator, two spotters and three people to assist in getting people and equipment safely aboard.

The sailboat was successfully righted and then sailed to shore, accompanied most of the way by the CO patrol vessel. The sailboat’s occupants, a man estimated to be in his late 60s and a man in his early 30s, reportedly were vacationing in the area.

While returning to Harrisville Harbor, the COs encountered a man on a paddle board approximately a mile offshore who had attempted to assist the sailboat. However, the wind and waves were blowing him further offshore and he was unable to return to the beach. The officers pulled the man, a 62-year-old from Ortonville, into their boat and continued on, next spotting a man in a kayak.

Upon reaching the kayak, officers determined this man, too, had set out from the beach attempting to assist the sailboat but found himself unable to return to shore. As the CO patrol boat approached the kayak, a wave tipped the man — not wearing a life jacket — off the kayak. The 53-year-old visiting from Joplin, Missouri, was safely pulled into the CO boat.

Both men, the paddle board and the kayak were safely brought to shore in Harrisville Harbor at approximately 1 p.m. Because the CO boat was able to reach everyone before the situation became more serious, none of the people rescued, including the sailboat occupants, requested or required follow-up medical treatment.

“That successful water rescue of four people on Lake Huron is the best possible outcome, and an excellent reminder of the importance of checking and monitoring weather conditions and using proper lifesaving gear when on the water,” said Chief Brandon Kieft, DNR Law Enforcement Division. “The Great Lakes are especially inviting in the summer months, and we want everyone to safely enjoy them, but they are powerful, often unpredictable bodies of water that must be respected at all times.”

The Alcona County Sheriff’s Office and the Michigan State Police Marine Services Unit stationed out of Alpena assisted in the effort. Read more

Welcome to the Idaho record fish books, Timothy Hicks!

Timothy was fishing on Lake Pend Oreille on June 13 when he landed a 49.75-inch Northern pike. The Post Falls angler’s pike beat out the previous catch-and-release record caught by Scott Blahnik in 2020. Timothy’s pike was a mere 3/4 of an inch longer, earning himself the top spot in the record fish books.

More About Idaho’s State Record Fish

Thinking about chasing a state record fish? Check out the state record fish page for more information.

How to Apply for a Catch-and-Release Record

All applicants must submit a complete Record Fish Application Form, with accompanying photographs. This form can be completed online or downloaded from our website. Read more

Such fishing isn’t for me, but congrats to this young lady!

A 67-pound catfish caught by hand proved to be the catch of a lifetime for 33-year-old angler Emily Horst, whose unforgettable Black Belt fishing adventure earned the top honor in the Alabama Black Belt Adventures Association’s inaugural Big Catfish Photo Contest.

The photo of Horst grinning while holding the massive catfish she caught while noodling in Alabama’s Black Belt on the Alabama River received the most online votes, making her the first Big Catfish Photo Contest champion.

Emily described the fish as “a doozy of a fish” and said the experience exceeded every expectation.

“I didn’t realize how special this fish was,” Horst said, noting it was only her second-ever noodling trip. “When that fish clamped down on my arm, I was like, ‘This is the greatest feeling ever.'”

As the contest winner, Horst receives a two-person, half-day guided noodling trip with Bama Noodling in 2027, giving her another opportunity to again experience a truly unique Alabama outdoor tradition by catching catfish by hand. Read more

July 17, 2026
Contact: CO Anna Cullen, 517-643-5752

Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline

Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials are investigating a lake sturgeon that was found on Durham Road in Whitehall (Muskegon County), just south of the White River access.

The 71-inch fish was dumped on the road between midnight and 5:30 a.m. Friday, July 17. Damage to the left gill plate of the sturgeon indicates that it may have been snagged. Special regulations exist for lake sturgeon, and fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited except in a few locations in the state; these do not include the White River, where the fish was most likely taken. Sturgeon captured incidentally while targeting other species must be released immediately.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the DNR’s Report All Poaching Hotline by calling or texting 800-292-7800. Tipsters who provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of any individuals may be eligible for a cash reward.

Lake sturgeon are the only sturgeon species found in Michigan and play a crucial role in the ecosystem, as well as being an important cultural resource. Due to overfishing and habitat loss and degradation, lake sturgeon were listed as a threatened species in the state in 1994, and restoration efforts are ongoing.

The species is long lived, with some lake sturgeon documented at over 100 years old. A fish 6 feet long, like the sturgeon found in Whitehall, would likely have had a long life. It takes sturgeon up to 25 years to mature and reproduce, so protection of mature fish is critical to rehabilitate the species.

“Lake sturgeon are such an iconic species,” said DNR Conservation Officer Anna Cullen, who patrols Muskegon County. “We hope to give this fish justice to help protect this important species. Maybe there’s someone out there who can help us do that.”

Report illegal harvesting or targeting of lake sturgeon by calling the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline, 800-292-7800. See page 15 of the 2026 Michigan Fishing Regulations for detailed information on lake sturgeon fishing regulations, including locations open to fishing, season dates and size requirements.

Michigan DNR conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who provide natural resources protection, ensure recreational safety and protect residents through general law enforcement and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers.

For over 50 years, Northland Tackle has delivered anglers tools to be successful under the ice. Now it’s time to get above the ice with the brand new Hardwater Hub House.

“We are introducing 3 Hub House models this coming ice season,” says Jace Peterson, GSM Brand Manager. “One of our goals with the Hardwater Hub Houses was to build something that was simple. They set up quickly, pack down ice easily, and provide the protection ice anglers need to stay comfortable from first ice to late ice.”

The Hub House is available in 3 models: an insulated and non-insulated 300 size that comfortably fits 2-3 people, as well as a 600 size that fits 5-6 people. Get yours this Winter at your favorite retailers and on Baits.com. Read more