Category: 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

MI DNR creel clerks to collect angler information this summer


As this year’s open-water fishing season gets under way, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that Fisheries Division personnel are out at lakes, rivers and Great Lakes ports collecting fishing data from anglers.DNR creel clerks will be stationed at boat launches and piers around the state asking anglers questions as they return from fishing trips. Information will be requested on trip length, target species and number and type of fish caught. In some cases, creel clerks may ask to measure or weigh fish and to take scales or other body parts for aging. These data are key information in helping the DNR manage the state’s fisheries. Read more
Fishing

Anglers should expect good Great Lakes lake trout fishing, according to results of 2015 surveys

Anglers should expect good Great Lakes lake trout fishing, according to results of 2015
Each year the Michigan Department of Natural Resources assesses lake trout populations in lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron, using a fleet of specially designed Great Lakes research vessels to determine trends in their populations and their status toward being self-sustaining. The results of the 2015 surveys and outlook for 2016 for each lake are as follows: Read more
Fishing

More trout fishing locations highlighted as part of MI DNR’s Trout Trails application


What angler wouldn’t like inside information on potentially new “hot spots” for Michigan trout fishing? A second round of quality trout streams and lakes accessible to anglers has been added to the Department of Natural Resources’ online Trout Trails application to help with that. Trout Trails is a comprehensive map featuring fisheries biologist-verified trout waters that are often lesser known, but considered outstanding destination points.This is the second phase of Trout Trails locations revealed, with more than 60 additional sites added to the application. That brings the total locations highlighted close to 200. These newly added sites are spread out over the western and central Upper Peninsula, northern Lower Peninsula and southwestern and southeastern Lower Peninsula. Read more
Fishing

MI DNR asks anglers to report tagged walleyes


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently jaw tagged 3,000 walleyes in a number of Saginaw Bay tributary rivers. Anglers are asked to collect information on tagged fish they catch and to report it to the DNR.The DNR has tagged more than 100,000 walleyes in the Saginaw Bay area since 1981. Jaw tagging is part of a long-term research project to monitor survival and harvest rates and to learn about walleye movement. The program depends on anglers to report when and where they catch a tagged walleye, as well as the fish’s length, weight (if known) and tag identification number. Once reported, anglers will receive a letter back detailing the history of their fish.

About 10 percent of the tags include a $100 reward for reporting the tag. Each tag is stamped with a unique identifying number and a P.O. box address. If anglers prefer, they can report their tagged walleyes online at michigandnr.com/taggedfish/. Anglers can keep the fish, of course, or release it if they prefer. Anglers are reminded that in order to be eligible for a reward, photos are required of the flattened tag. If the fish is released and an angler is not interested in being eligible to receive a reward, the tag should not be removed from the fish’s jaw. Read more

Fishing

Multiple openers kick fishing season into high gear


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources would like to remind anglers to dust off their fishing gear and get ready for the opening of two fishing seasons Saturday, April 30. The statewide trout season and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons all open that day.In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons open Sunday, May 15.

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 Michigan Fishing Guide for specifics). The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 28, except for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 18.

Fishing is a major economic driver in many parts of the state. In Michigan, anglers typically spend 28 million days on the water and generate $4.4 billion in economic activity, which produces $623 million in local, state and federal tax revenue. On top of that, sportfishing in Michigan is estimated to support nearly 38,000 jobs. Read more

Fishing

Senate Passes Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Priorities in Energy Legislation

April 20, 2016 (Washington, DC) – After five years and multiple attempts to pass a comprehensive sportsmen’s package of legislation through the U.S. Senate, a bipartisan amendment containing many provisions of great importance to the hunting and fishing conservation community was adopted with a vote of 97-0 under the Natural Resources Title of the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012).

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Fishing, Hunting
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