I’m standing knee deep in the cold crystalline waters of a narrowgravelly stream in the highest headwaters of the White Mountains of southeast Arizona.  Apache trout live here.

A spindly 2-weight fly rod and a barbless hook ornamented with fur and feather are the ligaments to the object of my affections.  Fresh lime-green fronds of streamside grasses arc over the water pooled behind a downed ponderosa, its cooling shade make a lair for the pretty trout.  A short cast lands an Elk-hair Caddis along a seam of flow. The fly wafts downstream toward trout who face upstream waiting for the groceries to come to them.  A darting flash and a splash and the trout is transmogrified in the tug I feel in my forearm through the bent rod.

It’s exhilarating. An eight-inch lemony-yellow Apache troutpeppered with haloed black spots lying in my net is really something to witness. It’s a trophy, but not for its size. Catching an Apache trout on a fly rod is a testament to the diligence of a good many people who cared about this rare trout over the span of decades. If not for their conservation work, this experience would not be possible.

?????____________

On August 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal to delist the Apache trout at an event with the White Mountain Apache Tribe, the U.S. Forest Service, the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Trout Unlimited at Williams Creek National Fish Hatchery. The Apache trout stands to be the first sport fish species to be recovered and removed from the federal list of threatened and endangered species. Read more

Plus, a deep dive into choosing your winter boat cover from the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation

SPRINGFIELD, Va. — For some boaters, fall is the best time for boating. Summer’s steamy days have surrendered to more comfortable temperatures, angling improves, and winds are stronger for sailing. It’s also time to embrace extra boating safety efforts for the season and look ahead to how you’re going to store your boat this winter. The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has three boating safety tips to consider, as well as some test results on the four main types of winter boat covers.

1. Take safety seriously. If you ask the U.S. Coast Guard about boating safety and drowning, they’ll tell you that three of every four boaters who drowned in 2022 were using vessels less than 21 feet in length at the time (when boat length was known in the accident statistics). The BoatUS Foundation says Read more

Project preproposals are due Oct. 20

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is offering more than $1.5 million in funding for a variety of activities tied to improving state fisheries and aquatic resources, including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and public access to recreation opportunities.

Distributed through three themes – aquatic habitat conservation, dam management, and aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river watersheds – Fisheries Habitat Grant funding is available through an open, competitive process to local, state, federal and tribal governments and nonprofit groups.

“Recreation and local economies throughout Michigan rely on healthy rivers, lakes, and wetlands to support fishing, boating and other enjoyment of our natural resources,” said Joe Nohner, a resource analyst with the DNR Fisheries Division. “These grants help our partners protect and rehabilitate fisheries and aquatic ecosystems in a state that relies heavily on those resources. In cases where we remove, repair or renovate dams, we also can improve public safety for residents and visitors.” Read more

Routine environmental DNA (eDNA) surveillance for invasive bighead and silver carp, conducted annually by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, turned up a single positive sample in the St. Joseph River near the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area, according to data provided to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources on Aug. 28.

Of 220 water samples collected in June 2023 from stretches of the river between Lake Michigan and Berrien Springs, only one, taken near Marina Island, showed evidence of genetic material from silver carp. Read more

Perfectly engineered, the TM133 revolutionizes the marine battery landscape, tailored specifically for kayak fishermen seeking unmatched performance and awe-inspiring features. With its exceptional capabilities, the TM133 propels kayak fishermen towards uncharted realms of excitement and exploration. Set sail with the TM133 and enter a world where adventure knows no bounds!

Catering to the needs of kayak fishermen, the TM133 offers an impressive range of product features. This battery is designed for use with 12V trolling motors and marine electronics and is crafted to deliver peak performance in marine environments. Surpassing typical U1 lead acid batteries, the TM133 extends run time by 30%, providing kayak fishermen with more valuable time on the water.

With 65 reserve minutes, the TM133 ensures an extra layer of reliability, guaranteeing ample power even in challenging circumstances. Invaluable for kayak fishermen who rely on their trolling motors and marine electronics during prolonged fishing sessions, the TM133 knows no competition. Seamlessly integrating with 12V AGM battery chargers, the TM133 offers effortless and efficient power replenishment without needing special chargers. Read more

MIAMI, FL — The demand for boats remained strong during the first half of the year as inventory levels continue to recover from the pandemic-era buying surge, according to the latest market report from Boats Group. The global leader in online boating marketplaces analyzed data from its top sites, Boat Trader, YachtWorld and boats.com, from the first half of the year through 2019.

“Early indicators like days on the market, number of listings and overall boat value are contributing factors to understanding the health of the boating industry, and what we are seeing is a very positive trajectory,” said Courtney Chalmers, vice president of marketing at Boats Group. “Consumers have continued to show a high level of interest in boating, creating a favorable position for brokers and dealers as inventory levels ramp up.”

The industry continued to overcome inventory shortages, specifically in the larger boat segments, as the total volume of boats sold was down 9.8% compared to 2019. On the other hand, recovery is well underway as Boat Trader, YachtWorld and boats.com have collectively seen a growth of 56% in listings compared to the first half of 2022. Read more

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to help enhance fish populations in Lake Michigan and Lake Superior through its 2023 stocking efforts.

“The fisheries of the Great Lakes provide world-class fishing opportunities for our stakeholders,” said Brad Eggold, DNR Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor. “We continue to assess the fish populations of the Great Lakes and stock appropriate numbers and species of fish to build on the success that started over five decades ago.”

Stocking efforts will continue throughout the year, including stocking 50,000 brook trout, 44,468 brown trout and 258,228 coho salmon into the Great Lakes, to ensure the 2023 stocking quotas are fulfilled.

Since the start of 2023, DNR fisheries staff have stocked the following fish into the Great Lakes:

LAKE MICHIGAN

• • 405,532 brown trout
  • 1,386,492 Chinook salmon
  • 241,772 coho salmon
  • 7,681 muskellunge
  • 522,852 rainbow trout

LAKE SUPERIOR

• 174,906 brown trout
• 58,300 lake trout
• 40,816 splake
• 100,000 walleye

During this year’s data entry, DNR staff discovered that approximately 4,200 additional steelhead yearlings stocked into Lake Michigan in 2022 had not been recorded in the database. The database has since been updated to reflect this addition to the fishery.

Read more fast facts about our Great Lakes stocking efforts on this DNR publication.

You can find previous years’ fish stocking information for Lake Michigan and Lake Superior on the DNR fisheries webpage.