Outdoor commentary and legislative issues.
Idaho’s South Fork Snake River is no stranger when it comes to productive brown trout fishing. This trophy river — one of Idaho’s most legendary — is known to regularly hold brownies, known for their yellowish bodies and long, angular faces.
Although not native to Idaho’s waters, brown trout offer some of the most exciting fishing opportunities you can get from a fly rig.
On May 30, Georgia angler Caroline Langdale got to experience this firsthand.
“I never dreamed when I started my day of fishing with Ed Emory of South Fork Lodge that God was going to bless me with a fish of a lifetime,” Langdale said.
During a multiday fishing trip along the South Fork, Caroline was drifting her rubber legs fly down a massive hole when she noticed her indicator dip below the surface. At first, she thought she might’ve snagged a root ball along the bottom. But after a nearly 10-minute fight with what she knew must be a lunker of a trout, her wildest dreams soon meandered its way to the surface. Read more
The DNR will improve the South Unit of Houghton Lake Flats this summer. Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
This summer, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources will rehabilitate the South Unit at Houghton Lakes Flats, a popular spot for wildlife viewing and fishing just off U.S. 127 in Roscommon County.
Once completed, the rehabilitated South Unit dike system will allow the DNR to control water levels in the 350-acre wetland and improve wildlife habitat.
The South Unit dike system was built in the 1960s to mitigate the environmental impact of building U.S. 127. Houghton Lake Flats is sourced by nearby Houghton Lake, the largest inland lake in Michigan.
“The current dike system, which includes several miles of dikes and a dam, provides impounded water for many species of wildlife,” said Mark Boersen, a DNR wildlife biologist based in Roscommon. “However, several years ago the water pump failed, taking away the DNR’s ability to manipulate water levels to improve the wildlife habitat. Additionally, time has taken a toll on the South Unit dam so that it can no longer safely and efficiently hold water.”
Crews will replace the South Unit’s concrete dam, pumphouse, underground pipes and related structures with modern equipment. Construction is expected to begin this summer, once high-water levels drop to an appropriate level, and be completed in the fall.
The gazebo at Houghton Lake Flats is popular for wildlife viewing and can be seen from U.S. 127 in Roscommon County. Photo courtesy of Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Public access to the South Unit gazebo and fishing platform will be closed during the project. However, the North Unit of the flats — a 335-acre wetland north of County Road 300 — will remain open during construction. Read more
Photo courtesy of Idaho Fish and Game
Walleye are typically a bad match for Idaho because they are native to large Midwestern lakes that have nearly unlimited schools of minnows, shiners and other baitfish that walleye live on. Those large baitfish populations are unavailable in most Idaho waters, which means walleye consume game fish to survive, and most Idaho anglers prefer to catch those other game fish.
That’s why Idaho Fish and Game is extremely selective where it manages for walleye fishing, which is limited to: Salmon Falls Creek Reservoir, Onieda Reservoir, and Oakley Reservoir.
Fish and Game biologists ask anglers to keep, kill and consume all walleye they catch outside of those waters. People should also never move walleye between bodies of water, and they should report anyone who does. It’s not only illegal, it can be very harmful to other fish populations. Read more
Contact: Jim Francis, 517-242-3593
If you were out on the water last year, you might have noticed something interesting: crews with nets and measuring boards, catching and documenting fish. In 2025, Michigan Department of Natural Resources fisheries management units completed more than 350 fisheries surveys across the state. Staff completed 225 surveys of inland lakes and 127 surveys of streams.
“The fisheries management units performed inland fisheries surveys to evaluate if management actions, like fish stocking or habitat improvement projects, had the desired effect,” said Jim Francis, DNR Fisheries Division Lake Erie basin coordinator. “Survey data helps us understand whether our management actions resulted in better recreational fishing in certain areas or improved the overall health of a lake or stream.”
These surveys help track inland fisheries populations, evaluate stocking efforts to increase angler opportunities or address concerns from the public, all of which is critical for effectively managing the state’s diverse fisheries. Read more
Drawdown of Big Creek Dam (Crawford County) prior to culvert and outlet renovation in 2016. The riser structure visible here was not renovated in 2016. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNBR
A grant project by Michigan Trout Unlimited will inform the removal process
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is pursuing removal of Big Creek Dam (Crawford County), a 62-year-old dam with significant structural issues. To that end, the DNR recently awarded a $75,000 grant to Michigan Trout Unlimited for a study of engineering, design and construction costs that will inform the removal process for the dam.
Big Creek Dam, which impounds Middle Branch Big Creek, is managed by the DNR and is surrounded by DNR-managed lands. The dam was constructed in 1964, with the goal of providing fishing opportunities and benefits to the trout fishery downstream — the impoundment is located on a tributary of the North Branch Au Sable River, which is known for its high-profile trout fishing. The dam, however, did not meet these goals; it negatively affected trout habitat, was not shown to help maintain coldwater conditions downstream and did not provide unique fishing opportunities not found in natural lakes in the area.
The dam was drawn down in 2025 after inspections found significant damage to the concrete riser structure and headwall. The timing of the drawdown was fortunate, as this spring’s high water levels and flooding would have posed a serious risk of dam failure for the compromised structure. Such a failure would have destructive effects on the downstream ecology of Middle Branch Big Creek and the North Branch Au Sable River.
Given the current condition of the structure, repairing Big Creek Dam is not feasible. Read more
Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie – Following the Supervisory Board meeting of June 11, 2026, the Groupe Beneteau announces a targeted adaptation of certain US operations in a market affected by the Middle East conflict. On May 4th, upon publication of its quarterly revenue, the Groupe Beneteau already reported a slowdown in order intake since the beginning of the conflict and announced the implementation of measures aimed at restoring operating margins. In a geopolitical context that remains uncertain and continues to fuel customer caution in the boating markets, the Group today initiates production halt at its Cadillac facility as well as the planned divestiture of this site and the Four Winns, Glastron and Scarab Jet brands.
Refocusing US Activities with Planned Divestiture of Cadillac Shipyard and Four Winns, Scarab Jet and Glastron Brands
The Group announces the production halt at one of its 16 production facilities, the Cadillac (Michigan) facility in the United States, during Q3 2026, as well as the planned divestiture of this facility and its Four Winns, Scarab Jet and Glastron brands. A search for potential buyers is underway. Read more
June 8, 2026
Contact: Edward Baker, 906-235-6114 or Shawn Sitar, 906-235-1581
The unusually thin siscowet lake trout will be tested by fish pathologists
 This month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and fish pathologists from Michigan State University will make an expedition aboard the RV Lake Char to Superior Maximus, the deepest point of Lake Superior. The reason for this research vessel’s foray to the deep? To investigate the emaciated siscowet lake trout found in this Great Lake.
These fish, nicknamed “zombies” because of their thin and undernourished bodies, have increased in number in deep waters, sparking concern and interest from the public and scientists alike. Lake trout in this zombie-like condition were discovered by a DNR fisheries research team during recent Lake Superior deepwater surveys of siscowet lake trout. During the upcoming research expedition, the crew plans to investigate — and, they hope, rule out — the possibility of a fish pathogen causing the highly emaciated appearance of these lake trout. They also plan to collect more of these fish for thorough testing. |
 Unlike the zombies of movies and television, “zombie” fish aren’t thought to have a contagious disease that they are spreading by biting other fish. Rather, their condition is believed to be a natural ecological phenomenon due to a lack of food in the deep waters in which they live. These extreme waters are prone to ecosystem shifts such as low food availability. Read more |
Lumenok has announced the release of its new Fish-On Fishing Pole Light, an innovative bite-activated light designed to help anglers detect strikes day or night.
The Fish-On light activates automatically when a fish bites and the rod tip bends, giving anglers an immediate visual alert without the need for constant rod watching. Designed to work on most fishing poles, the compact and durable light is available in both green and red configurations.
Built for real-world toughness, the Fish-On light is virtually indestructible. During product testing, units were run over by a forklift and even struck with cinder blocks — and continued to function without issue. The light also features a replaceable battery design for long-term use and dependable performance on the water.
“Whether you’re catfishing at night, watching multiple rods, or simply want a better way to detect subtle bites, the Fish-On light gives anglers a reliable visual advantage,” said a company representative for Lumenok. “We designed it to be simple, durable, and tough enough for real fishing conditions.”
The Fish-On Fishing Pole Light is available in convenient 2-packs and carries an MSRP of $29.99.
Key Features
For more information about the Fish-On Fishing Pole Light and other Lumenok products, visit Lumenok Official Website.
June 4, 2026
Contact: Acting 1st Lt. Robert Hobkirk, 989-225-8361
Two Ohio vacationers were rescued from Lake Huron after their kayaks capsized approximately 1 mile offshore of southern Sanilac County and northern St. Clair County Thursday around 10:30 a.m.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers Chris Kravitsky and Mark Siemen were patrolling about a mile offshore when they observed an overturned kayak. Further out, they saw two people clinging to one kayak.
The water was 25 feet deep and 43 degrees Fahrenheit.
The husband, 32 and wife, 36, visitors from Westerville, Ohio, had been kayaking while staying at a lakeside vacation home. Neither was wearing a life jacket.
According to the couple, increasing offshore winds began pushing them farther from shore, causing them to panic. The wife’s kayak overturned first, and when her husband attempted to assist, both kayaks capsized, leaving them stranded.
The husband was suffering from cold exposure and was highly distressed. The wife had sustained a significant cut to her foot and, due to a recent surgery on her right arm, required special care removing her from the water. Officers provided first aid for the wife’s foot while on the patrol boat before returning to shore. The couple refused additional medical treatment.
The officers were able to drain and secure the kayaks on their patrol boat.
The couple estimated they had been in the water for approximately an hour, though rescuers believe the actual time was closer to 20 to 30 minutes. Read more
The Lake St. Clair Fish Cleaning Foundation is raising funds for the construction and maintenance of a new public fish cleaning station at the Clinton River Cutoff DNR Boating Access Site in Harrison Township. Once the fish cleaning station is complete, it will be donated to the DNR.
The project was recently accepted into a matching grant program to help raise the $90,000 still needed — between now and July 31, donations to the project will be matched!
If you’d like to support the project or learn more, visit patronicity.com/fish. Read more