Category: Fishing

Michigan DNR has new online form for reporting fish kills

Winter weather can create conditions that cause fish and other aquatic creatures to die

To simplify the public’s ability to report fish kills, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently developed an online form for reporting fish kills in quantities larger than 25 fish. A fish kill of this size could have more factors involved that need further DNR investigation. The new Sick or Dead Aquatic Species form can be found in the DNR’s Eyes in the Field application at michigan.gov/eyesinthefield.

Information requested in the form includes waterbody and location (both descriptive and latitude-longitude coordinates), observation details, and any available photos showing the fish kill. Close-up photos showing any external disease signs such as bloody patches, unusual wounds or odd coloration are particularly helpful to DNR staff as they try to determine the cause of the issue and its seriousness. Entered reports and associated images automatically are forwarded to fish health staff for quicker evaluation and action. Read more

Fishing

Michigan Arctic grayling habitat better understood following research project funded by Consumers Energy Foundation

Last year the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and Michigan Technological University received a $117,175 grant from the Consumers Energy Foundation to support Michigan’s Arctic Grayling Initiative, an effort to reintroduce Arctic grayling into the state.

Recently completed work supported by this grant addressed two immediate needs for a successful Arctic grayling reintroduction. The first was to collect stream habitat and fish community data in the upper Manistee River. This data collection allowed for both the evaluation of current stream habitat conditions and the development of criteria to determine which other streams may provide suitable habitat for Arctic grayling.

Additionally, funds from the Consumers Energy Foundation grant supported collaboration among interested partners, including the development of the initiative’s official action plan, which was released in July 2017. This document provides direction for all activities related to Arctic grayling reintroduction, including research, management, fish production and outreach. Read more

Fishing

Michigan: DNR Stocked 834,000 Fish in 76 Locations

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced the totals from its 2017 fall fish-stocking efforts. The DNR stocked nine different species totaling 834,175 fish that weighed nearly 11.5 tons. Fish were stocked at 76 locations throughout the state.

“It was another outstanding fall fish-stocking season that will provide enhanced opportunities throughout Michigan,” said Ed Eisch, DNR fish production manager. “When added to our successful spring and summer stocking efforts, that brings the total for 2017 to more than 26.4 million fish put into Michigan’s waters.” Read more

Fishing

Mote Scientists Join White Shark Expedition


By Shelby Isaacson, Mote Marine

Dr. Bob Hueter, Director of the Center for Shark Research at Mote Marine Laboratory, and scientists from several other institutions are boarding OCEARCH’s research vessel this week for a return expedition to the waters off South Carolina, north Florida and Georgia –Expedition Lowcountry II. This Jan. 15-Feb. 5 trip, the 31st expedition hosted by OCEARCH, aims to expand scientific knowledge about white sharks, popularly known as great white sharks.

“We’re returning to the Lowcountry because our white sharks led us here,” said Chris Fischer, OCEARCH founding chairman and Expedition Leader. Previous data collected shows that OCEARCH’s mature, Lowcountry-tagged white sharks have traveled differing paths from those of OCEARCH’s mature, Cape Cod white sharks. The team is returning to gather data that will assist researchers in understanding if there are differences in habitat use of the Lowcountry vs. the Cape Cod white sharks. Read more

Fishing

Michigan DNR creel clerks are collecting fishing information this winter

As the winter fishing season gets under way, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that fisheries staff again will be stationed at several locations throughout the state in order to interview them about their fishing trips. The DNR appreciates anglers’ cooperation in sharing feedback about their experiences, because that information provides critical data for fisheries management.

Through brief interviews, DNR fisheries assistants – commonly known as creel clerks – will ask anglers about how long they fished, what species they targeted, what they caught, and where they live. In a few instances, the clerks might ask to measure or weigh fish and take scale samples to gather key biological information on those fish. Read more

Fishing

Explore the Au Sable River without leaving mid-Michigan

International fly-tier kicks off new program series at Michigan History Museum

Regardless of what Mother Nature has in mind, the Michigan History Museum in Lansing has a thaw scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 20. That day, winter will be put on hold, as the museum encourages thoughts of summertime fly-fishing in a fly-tying workshop with international professional fly-tier Jeff “Bear” Andrews.

The workshop kicks off a new series of programs revolving around the museum’s special exhibit, “The River that Changed the World.”

“The River that Changed the World” tells the stories of Michigan’s famed Au Sable River, including seasonal use of resources by Anishinaabe peoples and the river’s role in the founding of Trout Unlimited and the fight for sustainability. The exhibit, featuring a real riverboat and a recreated bait shop, also explores the river’s recreational opportunities. Read more

Fishing

Michigan: 2018 lake sturgeon season on Black Lake begins Feb. 3 at 8 a.m.

The Department of Natural Resources has announced that the 2018 lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake (Cheboygan County) will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. All anglers wishing to participate in the lake sturgeon season must register.

The 2018 total allocation to state of Michigan anglers for Black Lake is seven lake sturgeon. However, to reduce the chance of exceeding this allocation, officials will close the season once the sixth fish is harvested, or if five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season, which will end either 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, or when one of the two above scenarios is met, at which point, anglers will be notified on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon. Read more

Fishing

Legislation Introduced  for State-based Wildlife Conservation Funding

(Washington, DC) – Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Members Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI) introduced H.R. 4647, the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bipartisan bill aims to meet the increasing need for proactive wildlife conservation funding for the full array of our nation’s fish and wildlife resources and the habitats on which they depend.

Specifically, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will annually redirect $1.3 billion in funding in existing revenue from royalties collected on onshore and offshore energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters to be used to provide proactive funding for state-based wildlife conservation.

This legislation will not establish any new taxes at the expense of taxpayers or the businesses that are currently contributing anywhere from $5 billion to $12 billion in royalties from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters. Read more

Fishing, Hunting

Florida: License Sales Not Keeping Pace with Population Growth

Florida may proclaim itself the “fishing capital of the world,” but wildlife officials say they need more anglers to help cover costs of running state programs.

The same goes for hunters.

The number of people buying hunting and fishing licenses hasn’t kept pace with population growth in the state, and wildlife officials are concerned that could impact the future management of public lands.

Brian Yablonski, chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the state needs more “folk outdoors and experiencing angling, as well as hunting, for resource purposes as well as to build that constituency for wildlife conservation.” Read more

Fishing
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