Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan signed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Illinois to cosponsor the construction of the Brandon Road Interbasin Project. This milestone agreement with the Biden Administration unlocks $274 million in federal and $114 million in state funding for the first of three phases of the $1.15 billion project that will prevent invasive carp and aquatic nuisance species from entering the Great Lakes.

“Today’s agreement will help us get shovels in the ground as soon as possible on the critical Brandon Road project,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “The Great Lakes are the beating heart of Michigan’s economy, and Brandon Road will help us protect local communities and key industries, including fishing and boating, that support tens of thousands of good-paying jobs. I am grateful to Governor Pritzker in Illinois, the Army Corps of Engineers, and our champions in Congress for their long-term partnership on this monumental task. Together, we will get the job done so we can protect our lakes and power economic growth for generations to come.” Read more

“Chevron” case highlights real example of the threat to fishing and hunting in America

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of a group of fishermen fighting against government overreach. The fishermen asked the courts to overturn the Chevron doctrine to stop a National Marine Fisheries Service rule that requires the herring industry to pay for the costs of observers on fishing boats.

“This case is the perfect example of a threat to our fishing and hunting heritage in the real world, and we are thankful that the Supreme Court rightly overturned these unnecessarily burdensome regulations,” said International Order of T. Roosevelt Executive Director Luke Hilgemann. “Government overreach is a serious threat to anglers and hunters. We must continue to remain vigilant against these threats by being active in courtrooms and legislatures around the country. IOTR will always fight on the side of your right to fish and hunt.” Read more

Seeing a ferocious strike from a giant largemouth bass as it blows up on a topwater frog is one of the most thrilling moments in fishing. To witness the power and aggressiveness on full display sends a collective shiver down the spine of any passionate angler; it’s also one of the most consistent ways to catch big bass throughout the hot summer months. But to consistently get those bites—and convert them into releases—you need to understand the methodology behind the technique.

Breaking Down the Bite

Sometimes getting a trophy bass to hit the frog is the easy part. Hooking the fish means also having an understanding of how they eat and why. Read more

Bass fishing tournaments are very popular in Michigan, and for the past nine years the state Department of Natural Resources has been collecting and tracking data from them in its online Fishing Tournament Information System.

By law, fishing tournaments targeting bass and walleye – as well as any competitive fishing event, regardless of structure, that targets muskellunge – are required to register their events with the DNR and report results after the tournament has ended. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission put these requirements in place for bass tournaments in 2016, with walleye and muskie requirements added in 2019.

The idea was to gain a better understanding of how much fishing tournament activity occurs in Michigan annually. In particular, the commission sought to identify which bodies of water are used and how many anglers participate in tournament fishing, as well as collect catch and biological data on the fish that are caught to supplement the DNR’s own fish survey capabilities.

These requirements and the development of the Fishing Tournament Information System have resulted in a successful program and an information-gathering tool that have helped the DNR better understand a valuable angler group while providing large quantities of social and biological data for use in future fisheries management discussions.

Most fishing tournaments in Michigan follow the same basic setup and must comply with all state recreational fishing regulations, including licensing requirements, seasons, size limits and daily angler possession limits. Read more

Dryshod, the new benchmark in performance waterproof boots and shoes, has expanded its outdoor and occupational footwear offerings with the introduction of the new Slipnot deck boot. Developed to keep feet dry and footing solid on wet and slippery boat decks, the new Slipnot is an ankle-high slip-on boot that delivers all-day comfort and support for those who work or play on the water.

Designed and manufactured to Dryshod’s industry-leading standards, the Slipnot begins with a non-marring, rubber outsole with SULFADEX™ grip enhancer in combination with the exclusive micro-etched CROSSTAR™ tread pattern. The combination of materials and tread configuration offers exceptional grip on wet or dry surfaces—including wood, fiberglass, or carpet—with the ability to displace and squeegee away water for omni-directional grip performance.

The Slipnot is ideal for warm weather wear thanks to the WIXIT Cool-Clad wicking air mesh lining. By promoting ample air flow through the lining’s integrated micro-dot perforations, the Slipnot keeps feet cooler and drier than conventional waterproof deck boots. Further aiding comfort is the Slipnot’s 9-inch high upper that delivers lower ankle, upper instep, and Achilles tendon protection with an easy on, easy off rocker-style topline and rigid heel kick. Read more

Beaver Lake in Northwest Arkansas has a strong reputation for clear water and excellent bass, crappie and striper fishing, but a string of state records for paddlefish is beginning to put Beaver on the big fish map in regard to another species. Garfield resident and striped bass angler Mike Schleeper inked his name in the record books Saturday morning with a 127-pound, 6-ounce behemoth, squashing the previous state record of 118 pounds, caught by James Johnson in 2020.

Schleeper was trolling brooder minnows around 30 feet deep near Point 6 with his good friend and fishing partner Tom Mayberry when the catch occurred.

“I’ve been fishing for stripers up here for about 13 years, and I’ve had the chance to catch some stripers over 30 pounds, but this was different,” Schleeper said. “It didn’t strip line and stop in surges like big stripers do, he just sort of pulled the rod down and kept going. I couldn’t turn him so we had to follow him with the trolling motor for about the first 20 minutes.”

Once Schleeper did manage to sway the fish in his direction, the fight ensued for nearly another half-hour.

“It was a 45-minute fight altogether,” Schleeper said. “I’d thought maybe it was a really big striper, but then we could finally see it a little bit. It looked like a giant catfish at first, but as we got it closer to the boat we realized what it was.” Read more

Leader in premium hunting and sportsman clothing and gear, Ball and Buck proudly announces the limited edition Abel Fly Reel and Scott Centric fly rod collaborations.

The Abel X Ball and Buck Special Edition Rove Deep Green and Rove Slate Grey Fly Reel, is crafted for the extreme angler. The Rove reel is precision-engineered by Abel, and boasts a caged frame, and large quick-change arbor spool, with aerospace-grade durability to withstand the toughest battles. The Ball and Buck collaboration design offers the option of Deep Green or Slate Grey stealth camo engraving with blaze-orange accents, reflecting an adventurous spirit. Featuring double pawn engagement for universal fit and the reliable rove system with a cork drag, this proven design enhances the fishing experience in a package that will last a lifetime.

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