Seeing a ferocious strike from a huge largemouth bass as it blows up on a topwater lure at sunrise or sunset is absolutely thrilling. To witness the power and aggressiveness on full display sends a collective shiver down the spine of any passionate angler; it’s also one of the most consistent ways to catch big bass throughout the hot summer months.

When it comes to topwater bass fishing, there are several categories of lures, which are effective in certain situations. Among the favorites are poppers, walkers and prop baits, as well as frogs. For this, we’ll just consider the first three since frogs fall in a category all their own.

Largemouth bass are ambush predators and are willing to strike nearly anything that comes into range. Read more

May 5, 2025
Contact: Brenda Madden, 906-286-1348

The Kids Fishing Day Team is thrilled to be celebrating the 32nd anniversary of its annual Kids Fishing Day this year.

The day of fun, fishing and families will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park, located on the Upper Peninsula State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Registration for Kids Fishing Day will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. (EDT) and the event will run until 3 p.m. All activities are free of charge and open to youth ages 16 years old and younger.

“We are excited to again hold our fishing event at the Pocket Park,” said Brenda Madden, longtime Kids Fishing Day team member and organizer. “It offers plenty of space for most all the traditional fun favorites at Kids Fishing Day events, plus some new activities, and the Pocket Park offers a beautiful natural-like setting right in the middle of Escanaba.”

Familiar activities returning include bluegill fishing, minnow races and face painting, along with free food and raffle prizes.

Greg Karch, certified angler instructor and founder of the non-profit organization Learn 2 Fish with Us, will be returning to the event this year to teach kids how to cast a fishing line and tie fishing knots.

Karch’s organization has educated more than 50,000 anglers in Wisconsin since 2006 and has hosted nearly 300 fishing workshops, including Kids Fishing Day at Camp 7 where he offered Backyard Bass for youngsters.

In addition, Smokey Bear will be wandering the grounds. There will also be a scavenger hunt and opportunities for kids to learn how to shoot at the Pocket Park’s archery and pellet gun ranges. Read more

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

The Rifle River has held a special place in my heart and the pop-up camper was loaded for another early season trek to the Michigan’s North country.  Running right through the Rifle River Recreation Area is one fine trout fishery, providing one can negotiate the maze of fallen ash trees killed by the invasive emerald ash borer.  Curses!  Some are hidden below the surface of the river and that presents its own fishing challenge.  Other bug-bit ash trees are everywhere making bank fishing nearly impossible.  However, I’ve found an intriguing eddy that always seems to hold good browns- most of which are over 14 inches in length and its fishable.

Michigan allows campsite reservations for the park, but they can’t be made earlier than six months in advance.  I’ve never had an issue getting the first week following opening weekend for my private site, but I make early reservations nonetheless.

In fact, I was the only person in the rustic camp by mid week.

The first catch of the trip was a sucker.

Oh, I realize they’re a favorite of those with a smoker, but I have no use for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn’t long before a hefty brown inhaled the tiny red worm and gave me a fierce battle with my Fenwick rod and Pfluger ultra-light reel and light line.

I was foolish not to have a measuring tape; however, that plastic tackle box the fish is on measures 14 3/4 inches.  Add another 3 inches or more and that’s close enough for me.  (I’ve already added a small tape measure to the kit).

In any event, another great solo trip for some fresh trout!

 

 

May 2, 2025

DNR reminds anglers of lake sturgeon fishing regulations and rehabilitation efforts

As spring arrives, anglers fishing in our rivers may unexpectedly find themselves with a lake sturgeon on the line. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that special regulations exist for lake sturgeon, and fishing for lake sturgeon is prohibited except in a few locations in the state.

Can anglers fish for lake sturgeon?

In the Lower Peninsula, lake sturgeon may be encountered in places such as Manistee Lake, the Manistee River, Muskegon Lake, the Muskegon River, the Grand River, the Kalamazoo River, and Saginaw Bay and its tributaries, but it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon in these waters; any lake sturgeon incidentally caught while targeting other species must immediately be released. Additionally:

• Never hold a sturgeon in a vertical position by its head, gill covers or tail.
• Never touch the fish’s eyes or gills.
• Handle the fish as little as possible.

Waters with sturgeon possession seasons include Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River, Otsego Lake, the Menominee River and Black Lake. Waters with sturgeon fishing seasons (catch-and-release only) include the Detroit River, the St Marys River, Portage-Torch Lakes and the Ontonagon River.

In all other waters in the state of Michigan, it is unlawful to fish for lake sturgeon. (See Page 15 of the 2025 Michigan Fishing Regulations for detailed information related to lake sturgeon.)

Anglers can report incidental (unintentional) capture of lake sturgeon and report illegal harvesting or targeting of lake sturgeon at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField or by calling the DNR’s Report All Poaching hotline: 800-292-7800.

What is special about lake sturgeon? Read more

Get ready to go fishing!

Trout and other seasons open Saturday

It’s time to dust off your fishing gear and get ready to put that new fishing license to good use: trout and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons open Saturday, April 26.

Make plans with your fishing buddies or bring someone new this year to share in the fun!

Anglers should note that in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open Thursday, May 15.

Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 7 (catch-and-immediate-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year).

And don’t forget the catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters, unless otherwise closed to fishing. Check the current Michigan Fishing Regulations summary for specifics.

The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 24 — except for on Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 21.

Storm damage

Anglers should be aware of potential road and waterway obstructions, including downed trees and branches, due to recent ice storm damage in Alcona, Alpena, Antrim, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Crawford, Emmet, Mackinac, Montmorency, Oscoda, Otsego and Presque Isle counties. Find up-to-date information about closures and conditions on the DNR storm recovery page. Read more

Winter has melted away like Frosty the Snowman and early spring crappies are now in play

With ice off our lakes in the upper Midwest, it’s crappie time. For anglers farther south, it’s been the deal for some time. But up north, with water temps around 50 degrees, crappies are moving shallow to feed and eventually spawn. The movements are signaled by water temperature and length of day; crappies know internally when the time is right to move from the deeper-water basins they inhabited during the winter. In shallow water areas, life takes off first thanks to runoff and sun exposure. This brings in clouds of baitfish to feed on micro-invertebrates and bugs.

So, as soon as the ice goes out, on warm days, crappies will move into bays to feed, but not necessarily spawn – yet. That comes later, typically when the water temperature reaches around 58-62 degrees. And throughout the southern Midwest region, we should be getting close to that.

Where To Find ‘Em

Focus your efforts on northern, northwestern, and northeastern shorelines and off-shoots of the main lake – the first areas to warm up. Read more

LUMENOK (The Burt Coyote Co) is excited to launch the DIY Jug Fishing Light—a tough, reliable, and brilliantly simple lighting solution designed for nighttime jug fishing. Built to fit nearly any screw-top jug, from 16 oz bottles to 2-liter soda bottles, this adaptable light module brings your jug rigs to life the moment a fish bites.

When tilted by a strike, the internal sensor activates a bright red or green LED, instantly lighting up your jug—no more wondering which line got hit in the dark. Translucent jugs work especially well, casting a brilliant internal glow that’s easy to see in the roughest of waves.

Easy Setup. No Guesswork.

Installing the DIY Jug Fishing Light is quick and simple. All you need is a cordless drill and a Phillips head screwdriver. We supply everything else—including the mounting hardware. Whether you’re a first-time builder or a seasoned rig master, this kit makes it easy to get on the water faster. Read more

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