From Frank Sargeant

Lithium batteries have seen amazing growth in the fishing/boating biz over the last decade despite prices that are as much as 10 times higher than the conventional lead-acid batteries most of us are familiar with in our cars, trucks and boats.

Lithium-based batteries have a couple of huge advantages when they’re built right, which is why many serious boaters have invested in them despite the very high prices.

The most obvious is the extremely light weight, about 1/3 of what a lead-acid battery of similar output weighs, or even less in the case of the 36 volt models that can replace three lead-acid 12-volt batteries. Less weight is particularly important in smaller boats like flats boats, bass boats and kayaks, allowing them to float in less water and also deliver better performance.

Norsk is Among lithium batteries that can be monitored via bluetooth on any smartphone (Norse photo, with permission.

In the case of a flats boat with a 36-volt troller, the difference can be whether or not you can get up on a 12” deep flat or not. In bass boats, all that extra weight at the transom can mean water over the aft deck when you drop off plane quickly, and the weight also cuts top speed and reduces fuel economy.

The fact that one 36-volt battery takes the physical space of one 12-volt battery can also be huge in boats where space is limited. Read more

PHOENIX — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Aug. 10 announcement proposing that Apache trout be removed from the federal list of Endangered and Threatened Species is a huge win for fish and wildlife conservation. If delisted, it would be the first native trout species and gamefish to be removed from the list due to conservation efforts. (See short video clip from the Aug. 10 Apache Trout Recovery Partner Recognition event near Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery, east of McNary in eastern Arizona).

The Apache trout is Arizona’s state fish and is native exclusively to the streams in and around the White Mountains in the eastern part of the state on Tribal and public lands. It gained protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 1973, 50 years ago. The current status of Apache trout is a result of the collaborative conservation and threat reduction actions implemented by many entities, including Tribes, federal and state agencies, conservation organizations and private citizens.

“The recovery of Apache trout is a culmination of decades of hard work and the cooperation of many partners, and is truly a success story,” said Ty Gray, Director of the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Read more

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