Category: Fishing

Dam Removal Rehabilitates Michigan Streams


With the crisp chill of autumn in the air, they made their way north. Negotiating obstacles along their way, these hearty, determined travelers normally would be stopped at the old dam on Thompson Creek – but not today.For the first time in more than half a century, Chinook salmon were able to reach graveled spawning areas upstream of the dam.

This historic event occurred thanks to a recent cooperative project to remove two old dams, which were associated with the Thompson State Fish Hatchery, along Williams and Thompson creeks in Schoolcraft County.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists, who had been hoping for this outcome, were thrilled.

Chinook salmon are shown swimming over the gravel bottom of Williams Creek in autumn 2015, the result of a dam removal and stream restoration project.”Salmon and steelhead have returned to the creek,” said Jan VanAmberg, manager of the Thompson and Marquette state fish hatcheries. “It was the first time salmon had ever had access to the creek since the dams were built prior to the Great Lakes salmon program.” Read more

Fishing

Sportsmen’s Community Opposes Proposal to Restrict Scientific Fish and Wildlife Management in Alaska

GW:  Centralized government’s big nose and the push for more control over its subjects.  Let the individual states manage their own affairs and stick to more important matters such as sidling up to Cuba or getting Hillary off the hook.

In recent weeks, a wide array of key entities, including the state and national sportsmen’s community and members of Alaska’s Congressional Delegation, have highlighted concerns with proposed rules from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) that would severely restrict the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s (ADFG) ability to carry out traditional, effective wildlife management techniques on National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) lands in Alaska. The FWS rule docket, titled “Non-Subsistence Take of Wildlife, and Public Participation and Closure Procedures, on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska (proposed rule),” would severely inhibit ADFG’s ability to engage in predator management practices that have historically been used to sustain populations of key big game species critical to subsistence users in Alaska.

Among the chief concerns expressed by the aforementioned parties are that the proposed FWS rules:

  • Run counter to Congressional direction on fish and wildlife management authority given to FWS in both the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997 (NWRSIA);
  • Abridge wildlife management primacy given to the state of Alaska in both the Alaska Constitution and the federal Alaska Statehood Act;
  • Constitute an arbitrary assertion that managing for “natural” diversity takes precedence over all other management considerations, despite the fact that no scientific justification for the rules was ever provided or demonstrated by FWS, and that humans are considered by ANILCA to be a natural part of the environment;
  • Did not take into any real consideration feedback and concerns expressed by ADFG on the negative consequences that the proposed rules would have for scientific fish and wildlife management efforts in the state;
  • Would almost certainly have a negative impact on populations of key big game species in Alaska, which constitute a critical component of the diet of the many subsistence-based users that reside in the state;
  • If passed, would represent a dangerous precedent for federal overreach into the fish and wildlife management duties that have traditionally been carried out by state fish and wildlife agencies, the primary managers of fish and wildlife resources in the United States; and
  • Run directly counter to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, the unique and hugely successful ethic that has guided fish and wildlife management in the United States for over a century by relying on science-based management efforts carried out by trained professionals. Read more
Fishing, Hunting, Wildlife

Michigan: Large Trout Stocked in Clinton, Huron Rivers


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently stocked adult trout in the Clinton River at Riverside Park, Huron River at Proud Lake Recreation Area, and Spring Mill Pond at Island Lake Recreation Area.The Clinton River was stocked with just over 900 brown trout from 11 to 15 inches and 150 rainbow trout ranging from 20 to 22 inches. The Huron River was stocked with 1,800 brown trout sized 11 to 21 inches and nearly 1,200 rainbow trout sized 15 to 21 inches. Spring Mill Pond was stocked with nearly 350 brown trout sized 11 to 21 inches and nearly 600 rainbow trout sized 15 to 21 inches. Read more
Fishing

Court Approves the Largest Environmental Settlement in History

The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana has approved the settlement reached between the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment Trustees (Trustees) and BP for natural resource injuries stemming from the spill and also a settlement of the Clean Water Act violations with the United States. This settlement is the largest settlement of environmental claims in history. The Trustee Council, which includes the Alabama Trustees, will now begin implementing restoration as laid out in its comprehensive restoration plan. Read more

Fishing, Wildlife

New fishing regulations adopted for 2016-2017 season take effect today

2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide cover

The Department of Natural Resources annually adjusts fishing regulations to ensure Michigan’s fisheries resources are managed properly and provide the best benefits to anglers and the public.

For the coming 2016-2017 angling year, which starts Friday, April 1, the DNR would like anglers to be aware of the following new or changed fishing regulations:

  • Lake Michigan – Lake trout and splake are now covered by the same regulations in MM 1-8.
  • Michigan-Wisconsin Boundary Waters – The Menominee River lake sturgeon protection zone was expanded and now encompasses the Grand Rapids Dam downstream to the end of the breakwalls in Green Bay.
  • Anglers fishing for trout on inland waters should double-check the regulations for where they plan to fish as regulations for several waters were changed.
  • Regulation changes effective last fall (November 2015) are highlighted in red text in the 2016-2017 Michigan Fishing Guide.

Anglers should note that this year’s fishing guide covers a two-year cycle, 2016 and 2017. A new guide will not be produced in 2017. The guide is available at all major retailers and online at michigan.gov/fishingguide.

Fishing

New Michigan Fishing Licenses Due April 1


The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that a new fishing license season begins Friday, April 1, which coincides with the new regulation cycle. All 2015 fishing licenses are good through Thursday, March 31.Anglers have five options to choose from when making their purchase. All fishing licenses are good for all species.

  • Resident annual – $26
  • Non-resident annual – $68
  • Senior annual (for residents age 65 or older) – $11
  • 24-hour (resident or non-resident) – $10
  • 72-hour (resident or non-resident) – $30

Those interested in targeting lake sturgeon and/or muskellunge also will need to obtain free fishing and harvest tags from their local license retailer. Read more

Fishing

New Aqua-Vu HD cam


?””””””New Aqua-Vu HD cam displaying dynamic fish movements for real-time river viewerCrosslake, MN – For seven years now, Aqua-Vu has provided the optics for an extraordinary underwater viewing resource called Wolf River Cam. This spring, for the first time ever, the real-time fish cam is utilizing a new high definition underwater viewing system—the AV Multi-Vu HD—to treat site visitors to remarkable, colorful underwater views of fish migrations in Wisconsin’s Winnebago River System. Walleyes, sturgeon, and a profusion of other cool species are likely swimming past the live fish lens—at this very moment. Read more
Fishing

Mercury Marine releases new video showcasing MasterCraft NXT20 with Verado package

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – During the 2016 New York Boat show, MasterCraft displayed its new NXT20 Global Edition to the public for the first time. Designed for watersports enthusiasts living in coastal zones, this new extension of MasterCraft’s popular entry-level NXT line is the company’s first outboard towboat in over 20 years. Ever since the New York show, boaters around the world have had the opportunity to experience the NXT20 Global Edition, powered by a 175hp Mercury Verado outboard engine with the option to upgrade to a 225hp model.

The growing relationship between the two companies has been chronicled in this new video. https://youtu.be/LkUrSS1duNg

“MasterCraft continues to expand its product line to meet the consumer’s demand for quality construction and reliable performance across all boating categories,” said Terry McNew, MasterCraft president & CEO. “The introduction of the NXT20 Global Edition opens up MasterCraft ownership to boaters in coastal and overseas markets where shallow waters and harsh salt water conditions require an outboard configuration. Suffice to say, anything we do in the outboard industry, we will do it with Mercury.” Read more

Fishing

Steelhead egg collection to occur on Little Manistee River this spring

DNR employee collecting eggs from steelhead

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources soon will be collecting steelhead eggs at the Little Manistee River weir in Stronach (Manistee County).

Since 1968, the Little Manistee River weir has served as the sole source of winter-run steelhead eggs for fish hatcheries in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. Yearling steelhead produced through hatchery operations are stocked in select tributaries of all the Great Lakes. To provide a backup egg-take source in case of emergencies, another broodstock steelhead population is being developed on the Platte River in Benzie County. Read more

Fishing

ICAST 2016 is the Largest Showcase of Sportfishing Products in the World

ICAST is the venue for launching new fishing products and setting industry trends  

Alexandria, Va. – March 24, 2016 – With Orlando, Fla. as the backdrop, the 59th International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades, better known as ICAST, the world’s largest showcase of fishing tackle, apparel and accessories, is taking place July 12-15, at the Orange County Convention Center. All the details, including registration, are available at www.ICASTfishing.org.

ICAST Week 2016 will host 600 exhibitors, a 650,000-square-foot show floor, a week-long lineup of business and networking events and more than 13,000 attendees. Produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA), the trade group that represents the sportfishing industry, ICAST is the venue for launching new fishing products and setting industry trends.  Read more

Fishing
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