As anglers, swimmers and other water recreation fans flock to Michigan lakes and streams this summer, some may catch a glimpse of a common, though rarely seen invertebrate known as the freshwater jellyfish. Don’t be concerned though — these jellyfish are not harmful to humans and are believed to have negligible adverse effects on the aquatic environment.

Freshwater jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbyi) are related to the various marine species of jellyfish, but in essence are not true jellyfish since they have a membrane called a velum that the marine species do not. Despite this difference, the appearance and movement of freshwater jellyfish mimic those of a true jellyfish. They are not native to Michigan or even North America and are believed to be native to China and Asia. However, this species has been found throughout most of North America for well over a century and is considered to be a nonharmful member of our aquatic communities, and certainly an intriguing one. Read more

Riverton, WY (August 15, 2023 ) — Fish, while a popular and a healthy meal choice, can be delicate and can easily dry out if over cooked. Using one of Hi Mountain Seasonings carefully crafted brines before baking, smoking or grilling can alleviate that problem. These brines not only add great flavor to the fish, but add moisture making them easier to cook and not stick to the pan or grill.

Hi Mountain Seasonings offers three easy to use, uniquely different fish brines that can be used to brine any species of fresh or saltwater fish: Alaskan Salmon Brine with Pure Maple Sugar, Wild River Trout with Natural Honey and Gourmet Fish Brine. The company also offers a Game & Poultry Brine and a Brown Sugar Brine. Each brine has its own unique flavor and contains two packets of mix that make one gallon of brine each. Each has suggested retail price of $9.99.

So, go grab your pole or head to your closest fish market and prepare some mouthwatering, tender gourmet fish for yourself, friends and family. It is easy with Hi Mountain Seasonings brines. The Mayonnaise-Grilled Fish Fillets recipe below is taken directly off the Hi Mountain Seasonings’ website, www.himtnjerky.com, where you can find dozens of other free recipes for wild game, fish, weekend meals, quick and easy weekday dinners, breakfasts and side dishes, as well as tips and techniques for smoking and brining, sausage and jerky making, and much more. Hi Mountain Seasonings Gourmet Fish Western Style Seasoning and Wild River Trout Brine can be purchased directly from the website, as well as retailers nationwide.

Mayonnaise-Grilled Fish Fillets

Makes 4-6 servings Read more

In this the 50th anniversary year of the Endangered Species Act, it is worth noting that Rio Grande cutthroat a decade ago were considered for listing—and potential restricted angling. Thanks to fishery management endeavors already underway, that didn’t happen. A conservation strategy backed with much data guides work today and into the future.

Anglers are the archetypal optimists and there is much to look forward to in Colorado and New Mexico if you like to catch Rio Grande cutthroat trout. That’s thanks to conservation endeavors by biologists with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, and their diligent work funded by federal excise taxes paid by tackle manufacturers. Sport Fish Restoration (Dingell-Johnson) dollars partly pay the way to conserve this gem with fins with a natural distribution that lies over the artificial state line in the upper Rio Grande and Canadian River drainages. Read more

It was a bad weekend for boaters.

An angler in a 12’ jon boat was found far at sea two days after he pushed off from a St. Augustine, Florida, boat ramp and headed out the inlet to fish at 4 a.m.

An explosion at a gas dock in California killed two women and injured several others.

And head of the N.Y. branch of the publishing group that owns the rights to Harry Potter died off Italy’s Amalfi coast when a motorboat her family had chartered crashed into a 100’ white sailboat in broad daylight.

All of these events could easily have been avoided—but hindsight is always more accurate than oversight, of course.

The Florida Rescue

The search for the Florida boater came to a dramatic end when the U.S. Coast Guard found him drifting 12 miles off Jacksonville Beach — in a boat that was largely underwater, as shown in Coast Guard video.

Charles Gregory, 25, was rescued Saturday, nearly two days after he launched from the Lighthouse Park Boat Ramp late Thursday to go fishing for bull reds at the inlet—something he had done frequently in the past. Read more

Anyone wanting to get a close-up look at lake sturgeon or learn more about what goes into rearing this unique fish species is encouraged to take advantage of free hatchery tours at the Black River facility Saturday, Aug. 26. Tours will run from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the facility, located northwest of Onaway.

“Visitors will see 3-month-old lake sturgeon currently in the hatchery and learn about early life history, as well as how we can all play a role to keep this species healthy in our waters,” said Tim Cwalinski, Northern Lake Huron Unit supervisor with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Researchers from the DNR and Michigan State University will be on hand to talk about lake sturgeon biology, early life history and current research. Sturgeon for Tomorrow representatives will discuss restoration work to improve sturgeon spawning habitat, sturgeon conservation and outreach programming.

The hatchery is located in Cheboygan County on the Upper Black River adjacent to the Kleber Dam. From M-68 2 miles west of Onaway, take Black River Road (F-05) north to Twin School Road, then west a little over 3 miles to the hatchery which is on the north side of the road just before the dam. Read more

Nebraska Game and Parks biologists are investigating the extent of a fish die-off along the Platte and Loup rivers near Columbus and downstream, as well as along the Loup Power Canal.

Multiple species of dead fish were documented along the waterways July 28, but more are expected to perish as hot and dry conditions persist and water levels decline.

Extreme heat has led to water temperatures measuring over 90 degrees in shallow stretches of these rivers in recent days and is the likely cause of the die-offs.

It is hoped cooler temperatures in the forecast will reduce additional effects.

The “Next Big Thing” in recreational powerboats is apparently the Scandinavian or Nordic style, sort of a modern Viking longboat, with high freeboard, vertical or reversed bow, sharp deadrise or “V” at the transom and lots of power based on the new class of jumbo outboards. Most also have a double-stepped bottom and a relatively narrow beam, tapered in more of linear shape than the typical broad-beamed USA design.

The boats are distinguished by lots of speed for a given amount of horsepower, great fuel economy and also by an impressive ability to zip smoothly through waves that would knock your teeth out in a conventional hull.

Most also have “modular” design, which means you can opt for anything from no seats at all to enough seats to turn the boat into a commuter bus. And most have bunks for at least two tucked into the console, as well as some sort of head arrangement. Pilothouse designs, with air conditioning, are also typical on the larger models, 25’ and up.

The boats were mostly a thing in Europe until the last couple of years, but now at least two U.S. firms are building models in the genre. Wellcraft’s 355 and Mastercraft’s Aviara line are both in this playbook—you’d never know they are U.S.A. built had the companies not ‘fessed up. Read more