Michigan: Nearly 100 Parcels of State-Managed Land in Online Auctions in August and September

Surplus land sales are a regular part of the DNR’s public land strategy

Lake frontage, trail access, small lots to extend a neighborhood lot – these types of acreage and more are available in the next round of surplus land auctions from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. After careful consideration of properties it manages on behalf of Michigan residents, the DNR has selected 97 that are much better suited for private ownership and is preparing those for sale via online auctions in August and early September.

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Land is available mainly in central/northern Lower Michigan and the Upper Peninsula in the following counties: Alcona, Allegan, Benzie, Berrien, Chippewa, Clare, Genesee, Huron, Kalkaska, Kent, Lake, Mackinac, Mason, Mecosta, Menominee, Midland, Newaygo, Roscommon and Saginaw. Several of the largest parcels are in Clare, Lake and Menominee counties.

Fourteen online auctions, featuring available land parcels by county, are scheduled:

    • Aug. 2 – Benzie
    • Aug. 3 – Chippewa and Mackinac
    • Aug. 4 – Menominee
    • Aug. 6 – Kalkaska and Roscommon
    • Aug. 12 – Alcona
    • Aug. 16 – Mason
    • Aug. 17 – Clare, Lake and Newaygo
    • Aug. 24 – Berrien
    • Aug. 25 – Mecosta
    • Aug. 26 – Allegan and Kent
    • Aug. 27 – Midland
    • Aug. 31 – Huron
    • Sept. 2 – Saginaw
    • Sept. 3 – Genesee

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Hobie to Light-Up ICAST with Mirage Lynx

Low-profile watercraft teams Hobie’s famous MirageDrive® 180 propulsion system with a versatile featherweight fishing and touring platform that turns on a dime.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Anglers and outdoors enthusiasts who relish a grab-and-go lifestyle are going to absolutely love Hobie’s new Mirage Lynx. A sleek, lightweight, stable and rugged platform, it’s intelligently designed to provide the flexibility and versatility necessary to load and launch with minimal effort at a moment’s notice. Coupled with the power of Hobie’s one of a kind, patented MirageDrive propulsion system, its low-profile, flat-bottom design really drives to the heart of the matter with powerful performance, superior speed, amazing maneuverability and ease of transport unmatched in its class.

Hobie, the leading manufacturer of premium kayaks and watersport products, aimed to minimize weight while maximizing transport and fishing efficiency with the Lynx’s unique design…and they nailed the bullseye. With a hull weight of just 45 pounds, the 11-foot long by 36-inch-wide Lynx boasts a 350-pound capacity and is light enough to easily take anywhere. A hard-shell evolution of Hobie’s proven and popular inflatable 11 design, it features Hobie’s ACE-TEC construction for rigidity and durability, a removeable rudder system for optimal steering control, and a premium MirageDrive 180 propulsion system with Kick-Up Fin technology that affords maximum control with forward and reverse pedaling, even in shallow water. A V-hull entry, wide bow, and innovative waterflow tunnel system combine to ensure a smooth ride, ultimate maneuverability, and stability that allows kayakers to push back into lilies, stick-ups, reeds, mangroves and shallow pockets inaccessible to others, all while keeping hands free to execute that perfect cast or frame the ideal photograph.

The new Mirage Lynx platform also includes molded-in tracks for mounting accessories, EVA standing traction pads, and ample bow and cargo room with bungee tie downs that can be utilized for a variety of applications. The Hobie H-Bar standing support can easily be added for maximum stability. For the ultimate package, effortlessly position more accessories by upgrading to a Hobie H-Rail mounting platform with integrated, patented RAM® Hand-Track™. Hobie’s optional Sail Kit and Bimini Sunshade can also be added using the accessory mount. Aside from its feathery weight, additional features like ergonomic handles and loading pads make transporting the Lynx hassle free. It even comes with a two-piece paddle for back-up propulsion or squeezing in a little upper body exercise.

“Lynx owners enjoy the versatility and flexibility of this addition to the Hobie fleet,” says Morgan Promnitz, Hobie’s Director of Fishing Development. “Whether you want to portage it between remote fishing and touring waters or simply drop it in a lake or river close to home, you can just grab it and go. From a fishing perspective, it’s an exceptional choice for pursuing smallmouth bass or trout in river conditions where maneuverability is key to success, on backwaters where poking silently onto the flats reveals tailing fish, and bays, harbors or even the open ocean due to its impressive ability to stay on schools of feeding lunkers despite wind and current. I also love the transducer cavity included on the Lynx that allows for quick installation of a fish-finder despite the low-profile design. This really is a fun and practical watercraft.”

For a lightweight platform, the Lynx features some serious technology and is easily accessorized. It’s ACE-TEC construction, for example, sees a foam core coated in fiberglass and then finished in plastic, which makes it super tough, nearly unsinkable and easy to repair if necessary. Intelligently designed for both user comfort and battling the elements, its elevated and breathable mono-mesh fabric seat improves visibility while keeping kayakers cool, comfortable and above the spray in a moderate chop. A seatback storage pouch makes it easy to stash items such as sunscreen or a jacket so they’re always within reach.

“This kayak is like a stand-up paddle board with a MirageDrive and a seat that you can customize to fit your specific fishing needs,” says professional kayak angler Kristine Fischer. “It’s super stable, lightweight and at home anywhere from small creeks to big water. Just throw it in the back of your truck or secure it to your car roof and head off to fish a remote river, take it down to the coast, or hit your favorite reservoir. I love that for anglers it’s a blank canvas you can really make your own. Rig it however you want and head on out. Hobie couldn’t have done this any better.” Read more

Michigan: second year-class of Arctic grayling eggs arrives from Alaska

A striking fish with a sail-like dorsal fin and slate-blue coloration, the Arctic grayling was virtually the only native stream salmonid (a fish of the salmon family) in the northern Lower Peninsula until the population died off nearly a century ago. Three factors contributed to the grayling’s demise in Michigan: habitat destruction, unregulated harvest and predation/competition from nonnative fish species.

Since 2016, the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative – comprised of the Michigan DNR, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and more than 40 other partners – has worked to bring this locally extinct species back to Michigan.

Late this past spring, the DNR received the 2021 year-class of brood eggs from Alaska. A year-class is a group of fish raised from the same year’s egg-take – in other words, fish that are the same age. The eggs from this year-class will help establish a brood population in Michigan.

How do fish eggs get from Alaska to Michigan? Very carefully. They were transported to Michigan by plane as the carry-on luggage of a Michigan State University researcher. Upon arrival, they were kept at the MSU lab in East Lansing before the final leg of their journey to Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County. The fish are growing well after hatching, and mortalities in this group have been remarkably low.

The 2021 year-class is not the first to make the trip from Alaska to Michigan. In 2019, the DNR received another class of Arctic grayling, and they continue to thrive at Marquette State Fish Hatchery. The fish are growing well with very few mortalities. The next class is planned for May 2022, when the DNR and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game will collect eggs from Alaska’s Chena River.

The initiative to return Arctic grayling to Michigan waters could not have been possible without help from local and state partners. The DNR has received incredible support from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game; even though the agency temporarily paused its Arctic graying rearing program, staff there organized and executed the 2021 egg take, collecting eggs from wild stock in the Chena River specifically for Michigan’s reintroduction efforts.

When will you see Arctic grayling in Michigan waters? The first fish from Michigan’s Arctic grayling broodstock are expected to be available for reintroduction in 2024 or 2025. Read more

Remember the 3 R’s when boating on a river

LITTLE ROCK – The heat of summer often leads anglers to large rivers and the promise of large catfish and an extended period of fish activity thanks to current keeping surface water moving and slightly cooler than in backwaters and reservoirs. But traveling on a river like the Arkansas can be a daunting task for people who don’t know what all those buoys and channel markers mean. How do you know which side of the buoys to stay on when traveling up or down a river?

Remember the 3 R’s of boating: “Red right returning.” It applies in Arkansas and all over the nation.

Whether you are paddling a canoe, chugging along in a john boat, zipping by in a bass boat or cruising on a houseboat, this simple rule will keep you in the right place – in the channel where it’s safe.

Returning means coming upstream from the ocean or the mouth of the stream. Keep the red buoys on your right as you travel upstream. That means the green buoys will be on your left.

If you are going downstream, just reverse this. The red buoys will be on your left, green buoys on your right.

Buoys are found in many sizes and shapes. Just the red and green ones mark channels. Others are white and are for information. This may be directions to a facility, for controlled areas like no-wake zones, and to identify underwater dangers like rocks or dams. A buoy with black and white vertical stripes marks an obstruction; don’t travel between it and the shore or bank.

Michigan: New DNR Land Strategy Sets Priorities, Guidelines for 4.6 Million Acres of Public Lands

The title – “The Power of Public Lands: Your resources. Our commitment. Michigan’s legacy.” – says it all.

A new strategy for the 4.6 million acres of state forests, parks, trails, game and wildlife areas, and other public lands the Michigan Department of Natural Resources takes care of has been submitted to the Legislature and is now available at Michigan.gov/PublicLands.

The strategy was developed over the past 18 months through a collaborative process that included multiple opportunities for the public and stakeholders statewide to get involved and help shape the final document. The new land strategy will be implemented between 2021 and 2027, following consideration and approval by the Legislature, and sets priorities and guides actions for the best use of this large DNR-managed public land base to benefit Michigan residents and visitors and the state’s natural resources.

Goals outlined in the public land strategy include: Read more

Michigan DNR approves nearly $4 million in grants for recreational boating improvements and development

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Tuesday announced that more than $4 million in grant funding will be awarded to 23 communities throughout the state to boost recreational boating.

The funding is made possible through the DNR Parks and Recreation Division’s waterways grant program, which began in 1949 with the goal of expanding the harbor system along the Great Lakes and boating access sites throughout the state. Today, the system includes more than 1,300 state-sponsored boating access sites, 19 state-managed harbors and 63 local state-sponsored harbors of refuge along the Great Lakes.

“Water and boating are at the heart of Michigan,” said Ron Olson, DNR Parks and Recreation Division chief. “We have residents who live on the water, those who travel all over the state to boat and visitors who come here from around the world because it’s the Great Lakes State. Michigan offers outdoor recreational opportunities and picturesque views not found anywhere else, and so it’s of utmost importance that the DNR helps invest and fund Michigan’s harbors and boating access sites for the benefit of all.”

Local units of government and state colleges and universities are eligible to apply for grant assistance for recreational boating improvements and development at grant-in-aid harbors and public boating access sites. The grant-in-aid program provides matching funding to help support quality recreational boating infrastructure. Communities are asked to match 50% of required funds. Read more

Michigan: invasive European frog-bit found in Novi ponds

Oakland County CISMA offers free invasive species surveys in ponds and wetlands

European frog-bit, an invasive aquatic plant, has been found in 17 stormwater ponds, wetlands and drains in the Novi area. While the plant is established along Michigan’s east coast, it has only been found in a small number of inland bodies of water, making this Oakland County detection a significant discovery.

The plant, which resembles miniature water lilies, can be moved from one body of water to another when its small seeds or plant fragments attach to wildlife, boats or recreational gear. To prevent widespread infestation, it is important to identify and manage infested areas.

Invasive species are those that are not native and can cause harm to the environment, economy or human health.

Free surveys offered in Novi area

The Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area is leading European frog-bit management efforts in the Novi area and is seeking permission from people to survey waters on their properties.

A map of the cities, villages and townships in Oakland County, highlighting the survey area in the southwest corner with a dashed red line.“We are hoping to reach homeowner associations, businesses and individual residents with ponds, detention basins or wetlands on their properties,” said Erica Clites, Oakland County CISMA director. “The survey focuses on the plants in the water and usually takes about 15 to 45 minutes.”

Through support from the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program, these surveys are free to landowners in the project area, which includes Farmington, Farmington Hills, Lyon Township, Novi, South Lyon, Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake, and parts of Commerce, Milford and West Bloomfield townships. Read more

College Angler Struck by Lightning While Practicing for Incoming Event

SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 23, 2021) – Late Monday afternoon, while practicing for an upcoming collegiate bass fishing event on Lay Lake in Alabama, McKendree University angler Trevor McKinney was struck by lightning out on the water. McKinney and fellow teammate Blake Jackson were running back to the boat ramp ahead of an incoming storm when their boat was struck by lightning. The anglers made it back to the ramp safely, and McKinney was fully checked out by EMS and given the all-clear before leaving the lake.

Association of Collegiate Anglers staff had the opportunity to speak with both anglers, as well as McKendree University Head Bass Fishing Coach Jon Rinderer, to get the full details of what occurred.

“It was kind of getting dark, and we kind of wanted to run down a little closer to the boat ramp. We knew storms were kind of in the area, but not close,” noted Blake Jackson, McKendree University angler. “It starts raining and we start taking off down the lake. We’re running about 55-60(MPH), something like that. And then it just starts raining, so I duck down in the bottom of the boat and kind of just turn around a little bit so it’s not pelting me in the face. Next thing I know, he’s running, and I just see this bolt of lightning right in my face. It had to either hit Trevor’s shoulder, Trevor’s seat, maybe the pole in the back of the boat…but it was just right there in your face.”

Both Trevor and Coach Rinderer reported that the shock went through McKinney’s body and exited via his pant seat and out through the driver’s chair in the boat.

“I was just kind of stunned you know. It was something that you’d never expect just driving down the lake. Honestly, it felt like somebody shot me with a taser. My body just kind of froze up. For an hour afterwards I was just kind of shaking,” explained Trevor McKinney, McKendree University angler.

Wildlife Forever Reminds Anglers to Trash Unused Bait

White Bear Lake, MN- Wildlife Forever’s coalition of partners and bait shops across the Midwest are reminding anglers how to properly handle live bait after a day on the water. Releasing leftover bait into the environment can pose risk of spreading diseases and aquatic invasive species, which can have devastating effects. New custom bait bags and posters with the message “Don’t Let it Loose” are now available for distribution. The bags give instructions about how to properly dispose of the bait in the trash or how to keep it if planning to reuse it on the next trip.

Parasites, bacteria and viruses are of top concern, especially, VHS (viral hermorrhagic septicemia), which is a deadly fish virus first detected in the U.S. in 1988. Another concern is the water used to transport live bait from one waterbody to another. Anglers need to replace the water in their bait buckets with bottle or tap water when changing waterbodies. This is crucial because invasive species like spiny waterfea and zebra mussel larvae are very small and can unknowingly be transported in bait buckets.

Earthworms are no exception. Many earthworms are non-native to the U.S. and are causing serious damage to our woodland habitats. Once invaded, they alter soils and create conditions suitable for invasive plants. Dispose of unused worms in the trash, not on land.

“As an angler, I was frustrated by the lack of communication teaching anglers about the bait issue,” said Dane Huinker, Conservation Program Manager of Wildlife Forever. “By working directly with local governments and bait dealers, we’re directly reaching anglers with conservation best practices, which is the first step in changing behavior,” Dane said. Read more

Michigan: streams and lakes statewide will benefit from 17 Fisheries Habitat Grant projects

Seventeen fish habitat conservation projects in streams and lakes across the state will share more than $2.1 million in Fisheries Habitat Grants administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The projects, supported by an additional $616,000 in matching partner contributions, will rehabilitate and protect valuable fish habitat that provides the foundation for Michigan’s world-class fisheries. Eleven of the funded projects are priority habitat conservation projects as identified by the DNR.

The Fisheries Habitat Grant program provides funding for a variety of activities including fish habitat conservation, dam removal and repair, resource assessment studies and access to recreation opportunities like fishing. Funding from fishing license sales, State of Michigan general funds and a settlement with Consumers Energy is distributed through three grant areas: aquatic habitat conservation, dam management, and aquatic habitat and recreation in the Au Sable, Manistee and Muskegon river watersheds.

Joe Nohner, a resource analyst with the DNR Fisheries Division, said the funded projects will protect and rehabilitate fish habitats across the state, while in many cases improving public safety by removing dams.

“When completed, these projects will reconnect fish passage on over 250 miles of streams, including coldwater habitats that provide greater resilience to warming on some of the state’s premier trout and salmon rivers such as the Au Sable, Boardman, Pere Marquette and Muskegon,” Nohner said. “We’ll also be able to get valuable new information about inland lake aquatic vegetation, mussel populations and northern Michigan trout streams, which means even more effective resource management.”

Projects funded by the Fisheries Habitat Grant program include: Read more

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