Angler Mitch Holland couldn’t believe his luck.

Almost a week to the day since he caught a brown trout measuring roughly 29 inches, he was back in the same spot at the exact same moment — 7:31 a.m. — of the Little Red River with a nearly identical big brown trout suddenly at the end of his line. He secured the fish, took a photo and released it back to the Greers Ferry Lake tailwater, just as he had eight days earlier.

And Holland wondered, considering the fish seemed the same size as his previous catch, and he was in the same vicinity and at the same time of morning: Could this have been the same trout?

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Communications Division forwarded that query on to Christy Graham, the AGFC’s Trout Management Program coordinator, who had an answer. Read more

Norsk® Lithium provides the perfect power solution for every level of kayak angler

Kayak fishing has grown far past paddling a repurposed recreational kayak into a small pond with a spincast rod & reel combo. With vast improvements in boat design, the emergence of kayak fishing tournaments, clubs, and networks of anglers coast to coast, south to north, the sport has become as sophisticated as regular multi-species boat angling.

Some kayak anglers’ boats look like mini bass boats, fully outfitted with numerous graphs, forward-facing sonar, shallow-water anchors, a trolling motor, and other power-hungry accessories. Read more

Various considerations must be made when selecting the right rod transport rack for any watercraft. These include the vessel’s size, the space the racks will occupy, and the capacity to accommodate different rod types. Ultimately, anglers require a rack that complements their boat and fulfills their fishing requirements.

Millennium Marine makes that choice easier with its R-300 Rod Transport Rack. It’s heavy-duty, easy to assemble, and gives anglers the most transport bang for the buck for any size craft. The R-300 Rod Transport Rack is perfect for group fishing trips and excursions, featuring easy removal and sure lock adjustments with SpyderLok teeth.

The R-300 Rod Transport Rack, made of heavy-duty anodized aluminum, is a versatile solution for anglers. Weighing just 11 pounds and assembling in about 10 minutes, it’s perfect for multi-species anglers who value space on their craft while transporting several different types of rods. Read more

Looking for another reason to get on the water? How about the Midwest Walleye Challenge? The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is partnering with MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas on a statewide walleye fishing challenge that includes all inland waters and runs through June 30.

The MyCatch mobile app maintains anonymous location data, so anglers’ secret spots stay secret, while Michigan DNR fisheries biologists get valuable information – generalized lake and river catch data entered via the app – to better assess and manage walleye populations. Specific catch locations from anglers are not listed on public leaderboards.

“We’re interested to see what new information we can learn from Midwest Walleye Challenge participation,” said Seth Herbst, manager of the DNR Fisheries Division’s Research Section. “We have hundreds of waters in the state where we manage for walleye, but because of the vast amount of lakes and rivers in Michigan we have a limited ability to monitor the status of those fisheries.

“The challenge provides a unique opportunity to supplement our survey data and have a better understanding of the status of walleye populations throughout the state. In particular, we are excited to learn whether our walleye stocking efforts are resulting in successful trips for anglers. The more anglers who join this challenge, the better data we’ll have for future management decisions.”

The challenge

This year’s challenge includes several states across the Midwest and into Canada as part of a larger fisheries research project funded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Michigan anglers compete only against Michigan anglers for biweekly prizes, while all catches from across the Midwest qualify for the grand prize drawings at the end of the event. Full details about prizes and qualifications are available on the prizes tab of the main event webpage.

Participants can choose the free entry option to qualify for noncash prizes or pay the $25 fee to qualify for all prizes, including cash payouts.

REGISTER TODAY

Michigan anglers can register for the Midwest Walleye Challenge and get in the game!

SEASON/LICENSE INFO Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is awarding more than $1.7 million in Fisheries Habitat Grants for conservation projects on lakes and streams statewide. The funds are matched by more than $950,000 in partner contributions, for a total conservation value of about $2.7 million.

“These grants provide critical funding for projects that yield cleaner water, healthier fish populations and better aquatic habitats – all of which make the outdoors safer and more enjoyable for residents,” said Randy Claramunt, chief of the DNR Fisheries Division. “Our natural resources have always been central to Michigan’s appeal as an outdoor recreation destination, and creative, collaborative projects like these make a lasting, positive impact on those resources.”

The projects will rehabilitate and protect valuable fish habitats that provide the foundation for Michigan’s world-class fisheries. Two of them are DNR Priority Habitat Conservation Projects – those proactively identified by the department as important to sustaining healthy habitats, fisheries and aquatic communities – and another four are projects that directly benefit priorities of Michigan’s Wildlife Action Plan.

The Fisheries Habitat Grant program provides funding for a variety of activities including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and access to recreation opportunities such as fishing. Funding from fishing license sales, state of Michigan general funds and a settlement with Consumers Energy is distributed through three grant areas: aquatic habitat conservation, dam management, and aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river watersheds.

Most of the funding is distributed through traditional grants that are funded this year, but the Fisheries Habitat Grant program also provides conditional commitments for funding from future years. These conditional commitments enable partners to leverage future Fisheries Habitat Grant funds in applications for federal and other funding sources, making high-priority and sometimes very expensive projects possible.

Joe Nohner, a resource analyst with the DNR Fisheries Division, said the funded projects will protect and rehabilitate aquatic habitats across the state, while in many cases also improving public safety through the removal of dams.

“These projects are critical to strengthening and maintaining populations of fishes and other aquatic species,” Nohner said. “They will improve fish migration in over 327 miles of Michigan streams and boost public safety through the removal of three dams and seven culverts.”

Supporting work in 12 counties Read more

Johnny Morris, legendary angler, noted conservationist and Bass Pro Shops founder, recently announced a personal donation of $200,000 to the nonprofit Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which when added to a $200,000 grant from the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund, makes a total donation of $400,000 for the transformative work to restore Lake George.

These announcements, set against the backdrop of the elite competition at the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River, come at a critical juncture for Lake George, whose vital aquatic vegetation — a linchpin for the ecosystem and pivotal for prized freshwater fish like the Florida largemouth bass — is under threat. Hurricanes Matthew and Irma significantly damaged the lake’s aquatic vegetation. In response, FWC increased monitoring and restoration efforts to bring back this crucial habitat.

“We are honored and excited to be able to support this important work in one of the most iconic and celebrated fisheries for bass anywhere in the world,” Morris said. “We’re proud to stand alongside our customers in advocating for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts in supporting this important conservation project. Maintaining the health of Lake George will ensure its future for generations of anglers and everyone to enjoy.” Read more

Connect-Ease® RCE24VBCHK & RCE24VSCK Kit Systems Offer Anglers Plug & Play Solutions For Rigging 24V Trolling Motors and Batteries

One of the hassles of fishing is dealing with boat batteries, whether you use lead acid, AGM, gel, or lithium. Ultimately, we all want our electronics and trolling motor to work flawlessly on the water, providing enough power to see us through a long day filling the live well—or a couple days—without the need for recharging.

And anglers’ boats come in all sizes, shapes, and species-specific styles. From fishing kayaks to 14- and 16-foot all-purpose fishing boats, to dual “cast & blast” jon boats, to walleye and bass boats, center consoles, and big water rigs, anglers use all kinds of vessels to chase gamefish.

And here’s a fact: Most anglers in the U.S. do not run big, fancy boats requiring the latest in 36V trolling motors. Reality is, the majority of anglers fish from rigs with 12 or 24V trolling motors, which supply more than enough power, whether used on the bow or transom. Read more