Category: Fishing

BoatUS Asks Boaters to Say “No” to More Ethanol in 2017

Ethanol damage to boat engine fuel system.

THE ISSUE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking for comments on a proposal to increase the amount of ethanol that must be blended into the nation’s gasoline supply for 2017. If adopted, these proposed levels will require the use of a record amount of ethanol, forcing higher-level ethanol fuel blends (including E15 or 15% ethanol) into gas pumps and at more gas stations. Most marine engines are built to only work with up to 10% ethanol, and it is illegal to use gas containing more than 10% ethanol in any marine engine.

ACTION NEEDED NOW: Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is urging all recreational boaters to send a message today urging the EPA to lower the ethanol mandates to ensure an adequate supply of fuel that will work with recreational boat engine and fuel systems. BoatUS offers a simple way to send comments by going to: http://goo.gl/yczkuK. The deadline for public comments is July 11.

BACKGROUND: The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) is the 2005 law that requires the blending of biofuels such as corn-ethanol into our gasoline. When written, it was assumed that America’s use of gasoline would continue to rise. However, US gasoline usage has actually dropped steadily since 2005 and now the law forces more ethanol into fewer gallons of gasoline. Read more

Fishing, General

Cabela’s Outdoor Fund Helps Launch Digital Mentoring App

Wichita, KS — Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors announced today Cabela’s Outdoor Fund has awarded the organization a grant to fund the development of a revolutionary Digital Mentoring program delivered via the Powderhook app. The app functionality will provide hunters and anglers with ready access to Digital Mentors in their area. Digital Mentors who use the app provide advice and tips, making it easier for new people to begin, and helping people of all experience levels enjoy better days outdoors.

“Thanks to the generosity of Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors and Powderhook will be able to provide a valuable resource for new hunters and anglers through an online social support system,” stated Mike Christensen, President of Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc. “We are grateful that Cabela’s Outdoor Fund shares our vision and is lending their support to our efforts. We believe we can multiply our impact by adding a technology component to our existing programs, and expanding through an app in places we don’t yet work on a daily basis.”

According to Powderhook CEO, Eric Dinger, mentoring has been a hot topic among the 50 state fish and wildlife agencies, as well as leading non-government organizations, but solutions that scale to meet the demand for mentoring have been tough to find. “A traditional mentoring relationship remains the backbone of how we’ll get more people started in the outdoors. Most people reading this can probably harken back to their mentor, whether it was their father, grandpa or neighbor. But, being a long-term mentor to a single child or new person via a traditional mentoring approach requires a lot of time. We believe many people who may not be able to commit the time to a full mentoring relationship will be willing to lend an answer here or there via an app. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

MUCC’s 2016 Annual Convention Recap

Michigan United Conservation Clubs had its most important event of the year this past weekend in Big Rapids: our Annual Convention, where delegates representing our 50,000-plus members and 250-plus affiliated local sportsmen’s clubs vote on what hunting, fishing, trapping and conservation policies we will pursue, honor dedicated conservationists, elect officers and even improve local wildlife habitat.

2016convention.jpg

New conservation policies adopted by MUCC’s membership (and their sponsors) this weekend include:

  • Support for the use of centerfire rifles at night for coyote hunting. (Chris Kettler and Michigan Trappers and Predator Callers Association)
  • Banning the use of large quantities of chocolate in bear bait. (Michigan Hunting Dog Federation and Michigan Bear Hunters Association)
  • Educate bear hunters about the danger of using chocolate in bear bait. (Richard P. Smith)
  • Base chumming regulations on the best available science. (Adam Trenz, Metro-West Steelheaders)
  • Creation of a statewide urban deer management plan emphasizing bowhunting and venison donation. (Tomahawk Archers)
  • Define and regulate “airbows” as pneumatic firearms, not archery equipment. (Michigan Bow Hunters)
  • Reverse MUCC’s prior opposition to the use of crossbows during the archery deer season. (Elden Montross, Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club)
  • Support for bass tournaments. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Encourage the DNR to use adaptive management for bass. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Increase waterfowl hunting opportunities in county parks and extend liability protection to local government units which allow hunting on their properties. (Macatawa Bay Waterfowl Association and Jack Van Rhee)
  • Create a Federal Fish and Wildlife Disease Trust Fund. (MUCC Wildlife Committee)
  • Reduce the use of chemicals in native aquatic vegetation management, which provides fish habitat. (Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation)
  • Move the start date of the early turkey season in southern Michigan up from a Monday to the prior Saturday. (Millard H. Holton)
  • Allow rough fish harvested during bowfishing tournaments to be donated to rendering facilities. (Rob Miller, Bowfishing Association of Michigan)
  • Encourage the DNR to recognize Michigan’s diverse landscape in management decisions. (Tom Heritier, Saginaw Field & Stream Conservation Association)
  • Increase penalties for hunter harassment. (Jim Pryce)
  • Allow purple paint to be used in place of “No Trespassing” signs. (Jim Pryce)
  • Support the designation of the monarch butterfly as the official state insect. (Tomahawk Archers)
  • Support the designation of a 1.8-mile stretch of county road in a Grouse Enhanced Management System in Marquette County, currently open for ORV use, as a multi-use ORV route to allow funding allocation for signage. (Tim Kobasic, Hiawathaland Trail Association)
  • Confirm an earlier emergency resolution to encourage moose culling at Isle Royale National Park. (MUCC Wildlife Committee) Read more
Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

James Powell elected President of POMA

GW:  Welcome aboard, Mr. Powell!

DU’s Director of Communications will serve two-year term

MEMPHIS, Tennessee – Ducks Unlimited’s (DU) Director of Communications, James Powell, was elected volunteer President of the Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA) at their annual conference in Montana last week.

“It’s truly an honor to be elected President of such a highly regarded organization,” Powell said. “I’m looking forward to working with other outdoor media leaders to help POMA grow and reach the goals set out in our mission.”

Powell has been DU’s Director of Communications for the past four years, and has served on the POMA board for two years. As President, he will preside over all meetings of the POMA Board of Directors and act as the liaison between the Executive Director and the Board. He is also responsible for member communications, the development of strategic partnerships and oversight of strategic marketing programs.

“We learned at the board meeting last week that POMA’s corporate partnerships have grown by 18 percent, which is a big increase from previous years,” he said. “While corporate partners undoubtedly allow POMA to do even more great things, we’re certainly going to be focused on membership growth as well.” Read more

Fishing, Hunting

MI anglers asked to complete online muskellunge survey DNR employee holding up muskellunge


The Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Michigan Muskie Alliance, is investigating the muskellunge fisheries of the state by distributing an online angler survey.Since 2014 an angler survey has been conducted, gathering information about muskellunge angler demographics and catch data. Fisheries managers have difficulties obtaining muskellunge angler information through traditional survey methods, such as creel and postcard surveys. Starting this year the survey is being conducted online and can be found on the DNR and Michigan Muskie Alliance websites or through the survey’s link. Read more
Fishing

New Arctic grayling initiative could bring historical species back to Michigan’s waters


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in partnership with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, has announced a proposed initiative that aims to bring back an extirpated species to the state – Arctic grayling.The proposed initiative, announced at today’s Natural Resources Commission meeting in Gaylord, will seek to establish self-sustaining populations of Arctic grayling throughout its historical range. The initiative is a proposed objective in the DNR’s 2017 Inland Trout Management Plan, which currently is being drafted.

The Arctic grayling is a native and iconic fish species in Michigan. Slate blue in color, they have a sail-like dorsal fin and were virtually the only native stream salmonid in the Lower Peninsula. In the lower 48 states they are native only to Michigan and Montana, further cementing their legendary status.

Michigan’s native grayling population died off nearly a century ago due to statewide logging efforts of the 1800s, over-fishing and general habitat destruction. Read more

Fishing

Fun events planned across Michigan for Free Fishing Weekend


On Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, everyone in Michigan – including residents and nonresidents – can fish without a license, but all other fishing regulations still apply.These two days make up the Summer Free Fishing Weekend – an annual effort (it’s the 31st year this has been celebrated) to promote Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities. While many individuals and families will head out to fish for free on their own, there are numerous organized events scheduled throughout the state to celebrate the weekend as well. Read more
Fishing

Michigan Anglers Encouraged to Monitor Bait for Juvenile Asian Carp

Juvenile invasive (Asian) carp often can be confused with common baitfish found in Michigan, like those pictured here.

Juvenile Asian carp next to common baitfishThe Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to monitor their live bait purchases this holiday weekend – and during the entirety of the fishing season – to look for juvenile invasive (Asian) carp.

The DNR is doing many things to prevent adult invasive carp (bighead and silver) from entering the Great Lakes, but many people don’t realize juvenile invasive carp pose a threat to the state’s waters as well. Juvenile invasive carp can be confused with common baitfish, such as gizzard shad, emerald shiner, spottail shiner or golden shiner. Because bait often is transported across state lines, including from areas with breeding populations of invasive carp, it is possible for juvenile invasive carp to make their way into the bait supply. Read more

Fishing

Women Continue Outdoors Trend

Fernandina Beach, FL. – As overall numbers of hunters and anglers have remained relatively steady in recent years, one thing is certain; within that group of adventure-seeking outdoor enthusiasts, the number of women participants continues to climb. Today, women make up more than one-quarter of all anglers (nearly 27 percent), while just over one in 10 hunters (11 percent) are women. As a result of their growing numbers, women hunters and anglers are increasingly a force outdoor businesses are attempting to reach. To help those companies and organizations seeking to understand the modern sportswoman, Southwick Associates has created their annual “Women in the Outdoors in 2015” which is available for free on their website.

Key statistics and findings in the updated report include:
  • Forty-four percent of female anglers who fished freshwater fished for largemouth or spotted bass.
  • Seventy-two percent of female freshwater anglers used artificial lures, the most by far. Second was live bait, used by 59 percent of female anglers.
  • Fifty-six percent of female anglers who fish saltwater do so for any fish that bites.
  • Ninety-six percent of female anglers fish with rod and reel, more than those who fly fish, ice fish, bow fish, noodle or fish with a cane pole combined.
  • Just as with male hunters, the whitetail deer is the most sought after North American game animal by women (60 percent).
  • A higher percentage of men (76 percent) than women (59 percent) shoot rifles, but a larger percentage of women (47 percent) use shotguns than men (43 percent).
  • A larger percentage of women (28 percent) also enjoy archery than men (23 percent).
  • Ammunition was the most purchased hunting/shooting equipment in 2015 by both women (82 percent) and men (83 percent).    Read more
Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

MI DNR personnel recover body of missing angler in Chippewa County


Nearly six months after he disappeared while fishing, the body of a Saginaw County man was pulled from the choppy waters of Lake George Thursday afternoon, east of Sault Ste. Marie.The body of William Kenyon Wenzel, 52, of Merrill was positively identified Thursday by a family member.

Wenzel had been reported missing Nov. 27 after he had gone fishing alone in a boat on Lake George. ChippewaMap of the Sault Ste. Marie area with Lake George. County Sheriff’s deputies said there were high winds and waves that day and it was suspected Wenzel had fallen overboard. Read more

Fishing
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