Restored reef in Saginaw Bay diversifies spawning habitat and promotes resilience

By JEFFREY JOLLEY, PhD., Southern Lake Huron unit manager
Fisheries Division, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and MARCEE WARDELL, communications specialist, Fisheries Division, Michigan DNR

Imagine a reef: sunlight streaming through the azure water reveals a vibrant underwater community, where fish, large and small, dart into holes and crevices or swim around the reef’s edges while other aquatic creatures make their homes or search for food.Did you think of a coral reef, covered in pink anemones and surrounded by brightly colored tropical fish like blue tang and clownfish?Now imagine a reef, with dappled sunlight and teeming with fish, in Lake Huron, in Saginaw Bay.Surprised?Maybe you shouldn’t be.Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail.

Reefs used to be common in Saginaw Bay, and organizations like the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and others are working to restore reef habitat for the benefit of fish like lake whitefish and walleye, as well as many other aquatic species. The disappearance of rocky reefs Though corals did once thrive in the northern Lower Peninsula about 350 million years ago (the remains of which are now Petoskey stones), the reefs that existed in Saginaw Bay were rock reefs. Read more

Discover world-class fishing and the stunning beauty of a Michigan winter during Free Fishing Weekend! Feb. 14-15, residents and visitors can enjoy fishing without a license. All other fishing regulations apply.

Want to explore more? We are also waiving the Recreation Passport fee, and granting free vehicle entry to all 103 state parks and more than 1,000 DNR-managed boating access sites (where plowed).

Before you head out, please visit Michigan.gov/IceSafety for essential tips to ensure your on-ice activities are safe and enjoyable.

Feb. 9, 2026
Contact: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621 or Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276

This year’s sturgeon season on Black Lake (in Cheboygan and Presque Isle counties of Michigan) ended at 8:48 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. The season, which included spearing and hook-and-line fishing, was scheduled to run Feb. 7-11, or until the harvest limit of six lake sturgeon had been reached – but just 48 minutes turned out to be enough time.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources set the harvest limit for the season at six fish, though anglers were allocated a season quota of seven sturgeon by agreement with tribal governments. This limit was placed to accommodate the expected number of anglers and anticipate the possibility of near simultaneous harvest of more than one fish, as occurred in 2025.

There were 679 registered anglers this year. The harvested sturgeon ranged in size from 52.9 inches to 67.2 inches long and weighed 40.4 pounds to 79.4 pounds.

• The first fish was a 61.5-inch male that weighed 50 pounds.
• Fish number two was a 64.1-inch female that weighed 78.4 pounds.
• Fish three was a 52.9-inch male that weighed 46.6 pounds.
• Fish four was a 67.2-inch female that weighed 79.4 pounds.
• The fifth fish was a 58.1-inch sturgeon that weighed 40.4 pounds.
• The sixth fish was a 62.5-inch female that weighed 58.4 pounds.

Only one of the harvested fish had not been captured before by Michigan State University and the DNR during spring spawning runs in the Black River or during past surveys of Black Lake. The sex of the fifth fish, which was not previously tagged, will be determined using DNA from fin clips collected when the fish was registered. Read more

Feb. 3, 2026
Five individuals received awards Monday at a Michigan Department of Natural Resources meeting at the Sagola Township Sportsmen’s Club in Dickinson County.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers Jennifer Lehto (Hanson) and Zach Painter, Michigan State Police Trooper Paul Maxinoski, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission Capt. Steve Amsler and Susan Barrette, of Bergland, were recognized for their quick and effective actions that saved an angler’s life when he broke through the ice of Lake Gogebic in March 2024. Read more

Contact: Jeremiah Blaauw, 906-235-7679 or Aaron Switzer, 231-383-2565

More than 648,000 fish were added to 76 locations statewide

This past fall, the Department of Natural Resources worked hard to stock fish in waters across Michigan — fish that will provide angling opportunities in seasons to come. The fall 2025 effort saw DNR crews stock seven different species at 76 locations throughout the state: 648,557 fish, weighing in at a total of 8.6 tons. “This was another exceptional fall fish stocking season, enhancing fishing opportunities throughout Michigan,” said DNR fish production manager Aaron Switzer. “Combined with successful spring and summer stocking efforts, the 2025 total reached nearly 19.5 million fish stocked in Michigan’s waters.” The number and type of fish stocked vary by hatchery, as each facility’s ability to rear fish differs due to water supply and temperature. In Michigan, there are six state and three cooperative fish hatcheries that work together to produce the species, strains and sizes of fish needed by fisheries managers. These fish must then be delivered at specific times and locations for stocking to ensure that they thrive. In general, fish are reared in Michigan’s state fish hatcheries anywhere from one month to 1.5 years before they are stocked. Most fish in Michigan are stocked in the spring, but some fish are stocked in the fall because they require less time and fewer resources to rear in hatcheries. Fall-stocked fish also may adjust better to new environments as they are younger and more adaptable to change.

Seven species were stocked this fall: Atlantic salmon, brook trout, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout (Eagle Lake and steelhead strains), walleye and muskellunge.  Where they were stocked below:

• Marquette State Fish Hatchery (near Marquette) stocked 27,915 fall fingerling and 250 adult brook trout that weighed a combined 3,022 pounds. These fish were stocked at a total of 27 locations in the Upper Peninsula.
• Oden State Fish Hatchery (near Petoskey) stocked 140,366 fall fingerling rainbow trout that combined weighed 7,508 pounds and were stocked at four locations in the Upper and Lower peninsulas.
• Thompson State Fish Hatchery (near Manistique) stocked 3,008 Great Lakes strain muskellunge that weighed 304 pounds in Lake Hudson and Thornapple Lake. Thompson also stocked 329,085 fall fingerling steelhead weighing 2,413 total pounds in six locations.
• Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery (west of Kalamazoo) stocked 64,532 fall fingerling steelhead weighing a combined 917 pounds in Crystal Lake.
• Harrietta State Fish Hatchery (near Cadillac) stocked 17,548 fall fingerling brown trout and 24,520 fall fingerling rainbow trout. These fish were stocked in four locations with a combined weight of 1,573 pounds.

DNR fisheries management units also stocked fall fingerling walleye this year.

• Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit stocked 33,580 Muskegon strain fall fingerlings weighing 1,373 total pounds in 20 locations.
• Central Lake Michigan Management Unit stocked 2,507 Muskegon strain fall fingerlings weighing 160 pounds total in three locations.
• Northern Lake Michigan Management Unit stocked Little Bay de Noc with 5,211 fall fingerlings (Little Bay de Noc strain) weighing a combined 88 pounds in five locations; 2,815 of these walleye fingerlings were raised in a co-op partner pond tended by the Bay De Noc Great Lakes Sportfishermen.

Skeeter, a leader in high-performance fishing boats, introduced today the WXR1910F, a new model in its WXR bass boat lineup. Designed to deliver big-water confidence in a more compact platform, the WXR1910F combines a refined tackle management layout, responsive handling and the ride and fishability synonymous with Skeeter’s deep-V design. The model will be available through authorized Skeeter dealerships.

“The WXR1910F brings proven Skeeter performance into a compact footprint without sacrificing capability,” said John Clark, General Manager, Skeeter Boats. “From its reimagined storage layout to its confident handling in rough water, every element of this model is purpose-built to enhance experiences on the water while maintaining space, control and fishability.

Powered by a Yamaha V MAX SHO^® 200, the WXR1910F is engineered for deep water and big waves while maintaining agile, responsive performance. The helm features a Cockpit Command Center with integrated instrumentation and an XPLORE™ 9-inch MSI display at the dash. The rear deck offers generous storage capacity, paired with a layout that streamlines tackle and gear storage. Two rear deck jump seats add versatility for accommodating family and friends.

Standard features on the WXR1910F include a Minn Kota^®112-pound-thrust Terrova^® trolling motor with i-Pilot, a Fusion® Bluetooth^® stereo with four speakers, EVA cockpit flooring, a Minn Kota^® 10-amp four-bank battery charger, Hamby’s Keel Protector, and a center rod storage box with Mega Rod Tubes. Read more

Contact: Neal Godby, 231-340-2621 or Tim Cwalinski, 231-340-0276

The 2026 lake sturgeon fishing season on Black Lake in Cheboygan County, Michigan, will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7. All anglers must register online to participate in the fishing season, and those age 17 or older must have a valid Michigan fishing license.

The harvest limit for the 2026 season on Black Lake is six lake sturgeon. Officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs:

• The sixth fish is harvested.
• Five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will end either at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified via text message and on the ice by Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.

Anyone who wants to participate must register online by close of business Friday, Feb. 6. Get more registration and season information at Michigan.gov/Sturgeon. Read more

Irving, TX – Cuda Fishing has celebrated a big year for the brand’s growth. New additions to the Mark Zona line of tools as well as a new net are a few of 2025’s highlights.

Cuda has teamed up with Mark Zona to introduce a line of titanium tools that are built for durability, performance, and comfort. The Mark Zona Series 8.75″ Ti Needle Nose Split Ring Pliers feature stainless steel construction as well as a ring splitter and integrated crimper.

The Mark Zona Series 5.25″ Ti Mini Snip cuts mono, fluorocarbon, and braided line with ease and features a safety lock and non-slip grip. The Zona Series 3″ Ti Micro Scissor is a smaller offering with oversized handles that cuts both mono and braid. The 5.25″ Ti Mini Snip can be found HERE, while the 3″ Ti Micro Scissor can be found HERE.

The Zona Series 5.5″ Ti Bonded Large Braid Shear is designed to handle the toughest, heaviest braid, thanks in large part to its dual serrated blades that grip and cut with ease. Featuring non-slip scale pattern grips, the 5.5″ Ti Bonded Large Braid Shear can be found at Baits.com or ask your local retailer.

Stay up to date with all the new baits and brand announcements on Facebook as well as other GSM Fishing social media platforms. Read more

Each year, as the open-water fishing season winds down, ice-fishing fanatics eagerly await the lakes to freeze. No matter what date it’s finally safe to go, Wisconsin guides Jesse Quale of Green Water Walleyes Guide Service and Captain Troy Peterson of Mr. Bluegill Guide Service will be there immediately, as they both agree that early-season ice is generally the best ice fishing of the year.
Why Go Early?
The early bird gets the worm in many instances, and both guides say that can be the case for ice fishing. While it can be good all winter, both say there is something unique about early ice.

CLICK TO READ MORE //

The Idaho Department of Fish and Game stocks an eye-popping total of more than 30-million hatchery fish into Idaho waters each year. Stocking by the Department has been ongoing in one form or another for over a century. The number of species and strains can vary from year to year, but generally, stocking is primarily made up of 16 different species of trout and salmon. The Department uses all kinds of transportation to get fish to their final destination – including bikes, planes, and llamas.

Typically, fish are stocked from hatchery vehicles ranging in size from pick-up trucks outfitted with small fish tanks all the way up to semi-trucks capable of transporting millions of fish at a time. Staff take into consideration road and trail access, trail use restrictions, past stocking records, the species, size, and number of fish planning to be stocked, time of year, weather conditions, personnel availability, and cost before deciding how and when to stock fish in each location. At locations where staff are unable to access the waterbody with a hatchery truck, we have a variety of alternative fish-stocking methods available.

Since the 1940s, the Department has utilized fixed-wing aircraft to stock alpine lakes. As the pilot flies over the lake, a passenger in the plane releases fish with water out of the bottom of the plane. For remote lakes that are surrounded by challenging terrain including mountain ranges and trees, helicopters can be used. These helicopters are equipped with a specialized bucket that hangs below the helicopter from a cable, enabling the pilot to open and close the bottom of the bucket. This set-up allows the pilot to lower the bucket into the lake to collect water, fly to a landing site where staff can load the bucket with fish, and then return to the lake to release the fish by opening the bucket just above the water’s surface.

In certain situations, ATVs, bikes, backpacks, or even pack animals are used. Read more