New Hope, Minn. – “They’re like a cult,” one grizzled fisherman uttered at a local boat ramp when dozens of kayak anglers flooded in for a tournament weigh-in.

Well, maybe not a “cult” but quite literally a new movement…

Anglers of all levels are getting onto the water in droves via personal watercraft priced anywhere from $250 at big-box retailers to $5000 for the most tricked out, pedal-drive or motorized models on the market.

No doubt, kayaks have had a huge impact on sportfishing—a step between flinging baits from a pier or the bank—and investing in a multi-species boat—a kayak can get you to where the fish are affordably and efficiently. Plus, they don’t take up an entire garage, don’t necessarily require a trailer to transport, and best of all, can get you on fish-filled waters more difficult to reach by anglers in larger boats.

Not to mention, kayak fishing is just plain fun…

Here at NORSK Lithium we’ve embraced the growing kayak fishing culture and offer power solutions designed specifically for kayak anglers – a group that is at no disadvantage given typical 10- to 14-foot boat lengths, many outfitting their ‘yaks with sophisticated fish-finders, trolling motors, electronic anchoring, third-party lighting, and more.

Yes, at the top-end of the kayak fishing spectrum, some kayaks are practically mini-bass boats with all the bells and whistles of boats two to three times their size.

Of course, all these accessories require juice—and for tournament kayak anglers like Minnesota-based Elvis Lee, lots of it… Read more

8th Annual Fin-Finder WreckFest Online Bowfishing Contest Returns

Mount Joy, PA — Fin-Finder is inviting all bowfishing enthusiasts to enter the 8th annual Fin-Finder WreckFest23 Online Bowfishing Tournament.

Fin-Finder’s WreckFest allows you to bowfish your waters, on your time — from the bank or the boat for a chance to win big.

WreckFest23 will run from Wednesday, June 14th until Sunday, July 16th, 2023.

This year, Fin-Finder is offering bowfishing enthusiasts two ways to participate. Participants can choose from a free or $25 paid entry option. Each pricing tier comes with its own benefits and prizes.

By registering for Tier 1 of WreckFest23, participants will earn entries to win the following awesome prizes. Read more

By Frank Sargeant

We used to think of “wetlands” as just plain swamp, useless for producing much but mosquitoes, snakes and frogs. That’s not the case now for conservation-minded anglers and hunters, who realize that these areas are at the heart of producing everything from waterfowl to the clean water that lets fisheries thrive—and they’re also the source of much of the nation’s drinking water.

We note this because the U.S. Supreme Court last month issued a ruling sharply curtailing Clean Water Act protections for wetlands that could be problematic in these days when so many wild lands are being turned into suburbs and shopping malls.

Ruling in Sackett v. EPA, the court limited Clean Water Act protection for wetlands to those with a “continuous surface connection” to other “Waters of the United States,” which will remove federal protections for vast areas of the nation’s wetlands.

Earlier rulings had protected any wetlands with a “significant nexus” to Waters of the U.S., and for decades the Clean Water Act has covered wetlands that are “adjacent” to those waters. In the case in question, the court found that a landowner did not need a federal Clean Water Act permit to fill in a wetland lacking a “continuous surface connection” to a water body flowing into Idaho’s popular Priest Lake, which provides important cutthroat trout habitat. Read more

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is currently accepting applications the fill a social scientist position.

The Social Scientist will develop proposed fishery management actions and be responsible for the social aspects of fishery management plan (FMP) and amendment development such as social impact assessments, environmental impact statements, environmental justice analyses, and other documents. Primary responsibilities of this position include conducting, contributing to, and reviewing analyses of fishery data in support of fishery management in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The complete announcement can be found at: https://gulfcouncil.org/about/employment/

Application Deadline: Applications will be accepted through Friday, July 14, 2023 or until filled. Read more

After a winter of record-breaking snowfall, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing higher than normal flows at waters throughout the state. After years of ongoing drought, it’s great to see water levels rising at our reservoirs and lakes.

Utahns are used to seeing our snowpack vary from year to year. These variations lead to fluctuations in water levels in our reservoirs, lakes, rivers and streams, which in turn impact the quality of fishing. Here’s a summary of how we anticipate water levels — both high and low — impact fishing in Utah in the coming months and beyond.
This year’s high water may mean slower fishing in lakes and reservoirs

Reservoir and lake water levels are higher this year than in past years, and this increased volume provides fish with more water to occupy. And, it provides more habitat for prey foods that fish rely on, like zooplankton and insects.

As a result of the current conditions, our prediction is that at some waterbodies fishing may be slower this year than in past years. That is because higher water levels allow fish to disperse more, making them more difficult for anglers to locate. Also, lots of natural prey and an abundance of other food sources may mean that fish bellies will be more full this year, making fish less inclined to take bait and lures.  But high water now means great fishing in the future at our lakes and reservoirs.

There is a silver lining to this. The high water levels provide conditions that are prime for fish growth. This is because the high water levels provide more habitat for various fish prey items such as zooplankton and insects to grow. Also, the high flows bring in nutrients that help these prey items flourish.

This means that anglers should see larger fish, probably starting next year.

Also, conditions are great for high survival of fish populations. In addition to bumping up the availability of food sources, high water generally provides fish with more habitat. For example, higher water levels submerge brush that has grown along shorelines during drought years. For species like yellow perch, crappie, bluegill and bass, this submerged brush provides great spawning habitat and cover for newly hatched fish. Also, the sunken vegetation adds nutrients to the water as it decomposes, in turn increasing the production of zooplankton and invertebrates — favored food sources for many species of fish.

As a result of these conditions, we expect strong growth of many fish species in the years to come. Anglers may expect to see larger numbers of trout starting next year, and more yellow perch, crappie, bluegill and bass in two to four years. Also, the fish that anglers see should be a little larger than in recent years.

Randy Oplinger
DWR Sportfish Coordinator