When the water’s cold, Rapala baits are red hot. If you’re not slinging Shad Raps, Husky Jerks, X-Raps, or DT’s this time of year, you might as well stay home.

So says a Who’s Who of Bassmaster Series pro anglers — Michael “Ike” Iaconelli, Ott DeFoe, Brandon Palaniuk and Pete Gluszek.

In water 55 degrees down to nearly freezing, a Shad Rap’s tight wobble “makes fish bite that won’t really bite a lot of other baits,” says DeFoe, a three-time Bassmaster Classic contender and 2011 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year. The reason? “It’s a balsa-wood bait that has a natural swimming-type motion,” he explains. “And, it still resembles a shad better than anything else out there.”

Gluszek, another three-time Classic contender, agrees. “It’s got to be one of the greatest-all-time cold-water baits ever designed,” he says. Read more

The new Fenwick® HMG® fly rods are available in six models, from the small-water 7 foot, 6 inch 3-weight that weighs a mere 3.0 ounces to the 9-foot 8-weight. The crisp, medium-fast action generates a high line speed to stabilize the line in the air. This produces effortless, accurate casts whether working up close or shooting to long distance targets. Quality materials are matched to the high modulus graphite blank, giving the angler the rod they expect with the Fenwick tradition.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 10, 2015) – Over forty years ago Fenwick® introduced the High Modulus Graphite fishing rod and changed fishing forever. The new Fenwick HMG® fly rod reinvents this fishing classic with the lightest, most comfortable HMG fly rod ever. These new fly rods are now available at retail outlets nationwide. HMG fly rods are designed with a crisp, medium-fast action that generates a high line speed to stabilize the line in the air for effortless, pin-point accurate casts up close and at a distance. These rods are ideal for popping bugs, dry flies, nymphs or streamers, just right for panfish, trout, bass and any other fish a fly angler chooses to pursue. Read more

The Department of Natural Resources today announced it is seeking input from anglers who fish for inland trout in Michigan. The DNR plans to use the information to assist in the development of a statewide plan for inland trout fisheries.

The Michigan Inland Trout Angler survey will gather information about these anglers, how they fish, what their thoughts and opinions are on inland trout management, and other items. Inland trout populations are defined as populations that spend their entire lives in inland lakes and streams, and generally do not migrate into the Great Lakes.

“The information we obtain from this survey will be critical in our effort to make sound management decisions,” said Troy Zorn, research biologist with the DNR’s Fisheries Division. “We hope anglers will take the time to complete it so our future management plan is reflective of their input.”

Available online, the Michigan Inland Trout Angler survey is available now until Tuesday, March 31. It should take anglers approximately 10 to 20 minutes to complete.

The Department of Natural Resources has announced the release of the 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide, which includes rules and regulations effective April 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016. Copies of the guide can be obtained at any location where fishing licenses are sold.

This year’s guide is the third year the DNR has implemented improvements geared toward the request of anglers. The 2015 guide is printed on higher-quality paper to better withstand the wear and tear of fishing in Michigan, is of a smaller physical size (better able to fit in anglers’ tackle boxes), and includes an easier-to-read font size.

This is the first year the DNR solicited photos from the public for potential use on the cover of the fishing guide. This year’s selected photo was of the Muskegon River and was submitted by Amber LeClear. The DNR will collect potential cover photos for the 2016 guide as well; interested individuals should send theirs to DNR-Fisheries@michigan.gov. The DNR is looking for photos that focus on places to fish, not so much on people or fish species.

The 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide also is available in a user-friendly, electronic format online at michigan.gov/fishingguide.    Read more

GW:  A great way to ice fish on stakeout and stay warm in the distance…

Tom Goniea credits tip-ups with converting him into an ice fisherman.

A Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist, Goniea said he’d never been ice fishing when a buddy invited him to set tip-ups. He took an immediate liking to it.

“I felt like an 8-year-old on the ice,” Goniea said. “I was happy to just get flags and I was perfectly content to catch undersized pike. Tip-ups are relatively easy to set up, relatively easy to use, and pike are relatively easy to catch.

“But I went on to research where there were lakes with populations that had larger pike in them and started chasing them.”

Goniea eventually became a full-fledged ice fisherman – walleyes, pan fish, even smelt – but says it was his early success with tip-ups that opened his eyes to the joy of ice fishing.

Tip-ups are devices designed to fish set lines through the ice. Tip-ups are equipped with spring-loaded flags that “tip up” when the bait is taken by a fish.

Traditionally, tip-ups were constructed of wood with three basic components – a pair of cross-members, which forms an X – and a third piece attached perpendicular to the cross-members. The cross-members straddle the hole in the ice, keeping the tip-up from falling into the water.

A simple spool is attached to the vertical member that is submerged (which keeps it from freezing) and a spring-loaded flag is attached to the portion of the vertical member above the ice. When a fish takes the bait Read more

Few features in a boat are more appreciated after a long day on the lake than a fantastic seat. The new boat seats from Millennium Marine will make anglers and boaters wonder why they haven’t always had such comfortable seats with so many great features.

Exclusive to Millennium Marine boat seats is a patented ComfortMax

Few features in a boat are more appreciated after a long day on the lake than a fantastic seat. The new boat seats from Millennium Marine will make anglers and boaters wonder why they haven’t always had such comfortable seats with so many great features.Exclusive to Millennium Marine boat seats is a patented ComfortMax design. ComfortMax seats feature all aluminum construction that will last through years of rugged use. Millennium Marine boat seats are constructed with a breathable fabric that is UV-resistant for protection from all elements that take a toll on equipment, including the sun, wind and rain. Unlike other seats made of wet foam or rubber that will break down or rot, the ComfortMax seat holds up in all temperatures and weather conditions. The fabric design also prevents unwanted mold, mildew and dry rot that are such a source of frustration for boat owners. Read more

Following the completion of an accident investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued an arrest warrant for a Sunny Isles man on a vessel homicide charge. Felipe Escobar (DOB 03/03/69) turned himself in when notified.

If convicted of the charge, he could face up to 15 years in prison.

“The reckless or careless operation of a vessel will not be tolerated,” said Maj. Alfredo Escanio, FWC regional commander. “And when it results in a death, it is our top priority to hold the responsible party accountable and to keep Florida’s waterways as safe as possible.”

On May 26, 2014, Escobar was operating a 23-foot boat when he struck an anchored boat near Elliot Key in Miami-Dade County. As a result of the crash, a passenger on board Escobar’s vessel, Giovanna Santos (02/05/77), died. Escobar and another passenger, Jason Carvalho, sustained serious injuries. The occupants on board the other vessel were uninjured. An investigation into the incident revealed that Escobar was operating his vessel in a reckless manner which resulted in a homicide.

“Deaths caused by boating accidents that involve reckless vessel operation, alcohol or drugs are preventable,” Escanio said, “Boating safety is a top priority for the FWC and we will continue working to avoid similar incidents in the future.”