Category: Fishing

Winter #MiFreeFishingWeekend is this Saturday and Sunday

Everyone in Michigan is invited to fish for free Saturday, Feb. 18, and Sunday, Feb. 19, for the 2017 Winter Free Fishing Weekend. A license is not required to fish for those two days, but all other fishing regulations still apply.Ice shanties on frozen lake with language promoting 2017 Winter Free Fishing Weekend

These two days make up #MiFreeFishingWeekend – an annual effort to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will bundle up and head out to fish for free on their own, the DNR points out that there are several organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend, too. Some of these events include: Read more

Fishing

Sportsmen’s Alliance Seeks Clarification from Trump Administration

On Feb. 9, the Sportsmen’s Alliance submitted comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs seeking public clarification from the White House pertaining to President Trump’s executive actions issuing a freeze on new regulations, as well as mandating the repealing of two regulations for every new one passed.

The Sportsmen’s Alliance believes public lands should be presumed to be open to hunting, fishing, trapping and other recreational activities, unless closed for a specific and documentable reason, such as resource conservation, public safety, natural security or protection of private property rights.

Unfortunately, many federal statutes currently require that land managers take specific action to open public lands to recreational activities, and that requires agencies to adopt a regulation. The longstanding legal framework requiring that federal lands are closed until specifically opened poses challenges for public access to millions of acres of federal land.

“The Sportsmen’s Alliance is filing these comments to ensure that any efforts at regulatory reform ultimately helps hunters, anglers and other recreational users and does not inadvertently make these activities—or access to the public land on which they occur—more difficult,” said Evan Heusinkveld, Sportsmen’s Alliance president and CEO.  Read more

Fishing, Hunting

31st Annual Michigan Deer & Turkey Expo Returns

PEWAUKEE, Wis. — The annual Michigan Deer & Turkey Expo, the state’s premier consumer expo for hunting and outdoor enthusiasts presented by Field & Stream and Outdoor Life magazines, is returning for three days of all things deer and turkey hunting Feb. 17-19 at the Lansing Center.

Hundreds of hunting exhibitors and outfitter booths will be on-site to showcase the latest in hunting and archery equipment, accessories, clothing and more. Other show features include interactive activities, action-packed demonstrations and informative how-to seminars. Read more

Archery, Firearms, Fishing, Hunting, Optics

BoatUS Members Asked to Petition on Ethanol Policy

ALEXANDRIA VA, – Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is asking its more than half-million members – and any recreational boat owner concerned with having a safe fuel supply – to petition the Trump administration and Congress to reform the ethanol mandate, also known as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a communication to members, BoatUS urged boaters to go to Fix the Ethanol Mandate to easily send a communication to their legislator in Congress and President Trump.

“Boaters must act now to get a fix to ethanol policy rolling in the new year,” said Government Affairs Manager David Kennedy. “Our members have an important role in this process and we’re counting on them to make their voices heard.” Read more

Fishing

Conservation Groups Support Resolution to Restore Alaska’s State Wildlife Management Authority

On February 6, twenty-seven sportsmen’s conservation groups sent a letter to Speaker of the House Paul Ryan and Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy in support of House Joint Resolution 69, which would nullify the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule, “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska.”

This final FWS rule contradicts the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s constitutional mandate to manage the state’s wildlife resources for sustained yield, which is affirmed in the Alaska Statehood Act, the Alaska National Interests Land Conservation Act, and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act.

H.J. Resolution 69, introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Member Congressman Don Young (AK), requests that Congress eliminate this rule to allow appropriate state-based management of natural resources in Alaska, as existed prior to finalization of the rule. This Resolution is anticipated to be voted on the House floor on Wednesday, February 15.

CALL TO ACTION: Contact your U.S. Representative and request that they vote “yes” to H.J. Resolution 69 on the House floor.

Fishing, Hunting

Sale of Public Lands Plan Abandoned

Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced decision to abandon H.R. 621, which would have seized millions of acres of public lands and waters

WASHINGTON – Following pressure from Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and numerous other sportsmen’s interests and businesses, Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced last night his decision to abandon H.R. 621, legislation that would have mandated the sale of more than 3 million acres of public lands in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming.

BHA President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response to the decision by the congressman from Utah:

“Representative Chaffetz should never have introduced this ill-conceived bill, but the instant and overwhelming response by sportsmen and women forced him to listen and ultimately abandon H.R. 621, which would have seized millions of acres of public lands. His fellow lawmakers should take note of the ire and rapid response by hunters and anglers. We aren’t going away. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Michigan: Success of Fishing License Restructuring

Just a few years ago, the state of Michigan, and along with it, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), had a big challenge on their hands. Around 200,000 people had left the state, where unemployment was peaking at 15% after nearly 800,000 jobs were lost over a 10-year period. Public perception of the agency was low, so the Michigan DNR went to work to gain public support and win back anglers. Read more

Fishing

Scientists Develop Video Fish Counting System

Scientists at the UMass School for Marine Science and Technology are reporting a major advance in a new technology to use video to survey the fish stocks in the fishing grounds of the North Atlantic.

Dr. Kevin Stokesbury’s team surveyed the entire Stellwagen Bank, a fishing ground in the Gulf of Maine about 15 miles south of Gloucester and 6 miles north of Provincetown. They found large numbers of cod, whose stock assessments have been sharply reduced in recent years because of surveys done by NOAA fisheries. The reduction has caused a chain reaction in the fishing industry as abundant species cannot be caught if too much cod is hauled in as bycatch. Read more
Fishing

Michigan Man Lured into Fishing by the Art of Decoys

When most people see a cedar fence post or an old, broken cedar limb on the ground, Dave Kober sees a trout; or a perch; or maybe, a bluegill.

Kober carves fish decoys.

Decoys have long been used by ice fishermen to lure large fish – generally pike, but also sturgeon and others – within range of the spearing hole, though some hook-and-line anglers use them as well.

Dave Kober shows off a perch decoy outside his shop near Cadillac.Primarily turned out by home-shop artisans, fish decoys were once manufactured by major bait companies – James Heddon’s Sons Co. in Dowagiac produced them decades ago – but the homemade models have become highly collectable, unique examples of American folk art that can fetch six figures.

Kober, 78, has been carving decoys since he was a young boy.

“It’s grandpa’s fault,” said Kober. “My grandfather was an ardent hunter and fisherman and he liked to carve decoys. He taught me everything I know I guess. I started it as a hobby. Read more

Fishing
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