BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Michigan’s massive Saginaw Bay will host three regular-season events this June, B.A.S.S. officials announced today. College bass anglers will head north for the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, which will be held June 16-17. Meanwhile young anglers will get their opportunity to weigh in a giant Saginaw smallmouth during the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Mossy Oak Fishing Junior Series tournaments, both on June 19.

“We’re excited to give young anglers an opportunity to compete on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay,” said College and High School Series Senior Manager Hank Weldon. “B.A.S.S. is always looking for opportunities to let college and high school anglers compete on a diverse range of water. Many of these teams might be experiencing a northern fishery for the first time, but it also gives teams who can’t travel to events in other parts of the country a chance to qualify for 2021 National Championship tournaments.”

Weldon credits local host Bangor Charter Township along with strong partners from the Michigan B.A.S.S. Nation and Great Lakes Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau with bringing these large tournaments — and their boost to the local economy — to Saginaw Bay. Due to overwhelming interest in the series, B.A.S.S. will once more cap the College and High School Series field sizes at 250 boats. Each high school event will also include a field of up to 50 boats for competitors ranging from second to eighth grade as part of the Junior Series.

At more than 1,100 square miles, Saginaw is not only the largest of Lake Huron’s bays but is also the largest freshwater coastal wetland in the United States. While the fishery hosts healthy populations of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, the area has been known traditionally for walleye fishing. Read more

BoatUS Foundation and Berkley Recast & Recycle Contest seeks new ideas, concepts

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – You’ve likely seen the fishing line recycling bins in many marinas and boatyards, but what really happens after that line is collected? Recycling it into new products is labor-intensive, requiring a series of workers to comb through, sort, clean, remove hooks and weights, and separate out encrusted debris from miles of entangled fishing line. There also aren’t any recycling programs for fishing-related materials like soft baits.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water and Berkley have teamed up with the Recast and Recycle Contest to offer $30,000 in prize money ($15,000 first place, $10,000 second place, and $5,000 third place) for new and innovative ideas that could improve the process, increase the amount of fishing line and soft baits that can be recycled, create new recycled products, or offer a technology breakthrough in the way line is recycled and reused. Read more

Minnetonka, Minnesota – Rain, rain, go away? Nah. Let it rain!

When the sprinkles start, zip into the new Rapala RAIN suit and hit the water without worry of getting wet. Both waterproof and breathable, Rapala RAIN outwear is exceptionally crafted, using premium materials, and is fitted for comfort.

“When your drive to work is a highway of water, you need outerwear you can count on day after day, week after week, year after year,” says Tony Roach, an in-demand fishing guide on Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake. “With superior gear, from a legendary name you can trust, you can weather the storm, be it rain, boat spray, wind and – if you’re unlucky enough – even snow.”

Roach is among a cohort of high-profile anglers across the Upper Midwest who will fish comfortably in inclement weather this season outfitted in Rapala RAIN gear, including outdoor-television hosts James Holst, Travis Frank and Kurt Walbeck, from In-Depth Outdoors, Minnesota Bound and Outdoor Bound, respectively. Each is accustomed to hitting the water in unforgiving conditions. Read more

KENNESAW, Ga.– Yamaha Marine announced today a video series designed to give novice boaters basic tips while emphasizing the importance of safety on the water. Hosted by Yamaha Pro and social media influencer Tyler Anderson, Yamaha’s Boating Academy aims to help educate new boaters on a wide variety of useful topics including boating etiquette, driving 101 and proper boat ramp procedures.

The new Yamaha Boating Academy video series, hosted by Yamaha Pro and social media influencer Tyler Anderson, gives new boaters basic tips and information that will help keep them safe on the water. (Photo: Business Wire)

“Interest in recreational boating and fishing increased substantially in 2020 as people looked for new ways to enjoy time with family and friends outdoors,” said Dale Barnes, Marketing Division Manager, Yamaha Marine Engine Systems. “As a result, there are many new boaters on the water. Now is the perfect time to provide them with basic tips and safety information that will keep everyone safe during the high season.” Read more

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is reminding anglers to remove ice shanties from Upper Peninsula bodies of water by midnight Wednesday, March 31.

The deadline for removing ice shanties from Michigan-Wisconsin boundary waters was March 15. All other bodies of water in the Upper Peninsula must have ice shanties removed by midnight Wednesday, March 31.

Shanty owners whose structures fall through the ice are subject to penalties of up to 30 days in jail, fines up to $500, or both. If a shanty is removed by a government agency, the court can require the owner to reimburse that agency for up to three times the cost of removal.

Daily use of ice shanties is permitted anywhere in Michigan if ice conditions permit and if the shanties are removed from the ice at the end of each day. Read more

Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. Electrofishing boats will be on the water this week, starting Thursday, March 25, and work should conclude by April 16. People who want to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream.

The DNR asks the public to use caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. Anyone wading nearby when boats approach will be asked to exit the water to ensure everyone’s safety.

To maintain effective social distancing and allow fisheries staff to safely, efficiently collect eggs, the DNR also asks people not to gather at egg collection sites.

“The annual Muskegon River egg take is a critical operation for statewide walleye management,” said Jim Dexter, DNR Fisheries Division chief. “We’re planning to collect about 32 million walleye eggs during this effort.”

That collective egg take will result in fry (fish that have just hatched) for transfer to rearing ponds and direct fry plants throughout the Lower Peninsula. Walleye fry transferred to ponds will be raised to fingerling size (approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocked in late spring or early summer in lakes and rivers throughout the state. Read more