Fishing 80 - ThinkingAfield.org

Michigan: NRC to Consider Higher Brook Trout Possession Limits on Some U.P. Streams

Contact: Phil Schneeberger, 906-249-1611, ext. 311

Natural Resources Commission to consider higher brook trout possession limits on some U.P. streams

At next month’s meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, Department of Natural Resources fish managers will recommend a small number of Upper Peninsula stream segments for inclusion under a 10-brook trout possession limit. The regulation was put in place earlier this year for 33 U.P. streams, while the current brook trout possession limit for all other inland streams in Michigan is five or fewer. Read more

Bass Pro Shops Files Suit against Former Cabela’s Execs over Non-Compete Agreements

GW: All I can say is good luck with that. Hard to prevent people from making a living.

Bass Pro Shops has filed suit against two former Cabela’s employees who started outdoor stores of their own following its 2017 acquisition of its former rival. The suits allege that both operators are in breach of non-compete agreements and are using stolen, proprietary information.

According to the Delaware Court of Chancery, Bass Pro Shops has filed suit against NexGen Outfitters, a Sidney-based outdoor retailer that acquired four acres of a local industrial park to build a facility on in June.

NexGen is led by four former Cabela’s employees: Ryan Wellman, Trent Santero, Mike Riddle, and Jeremy Nesbitt. Their roles varied from merchandising management to business development, and inventory planning.

Meanwhile, in the U.S. District Court of Delaware, a separate suit from Bass Pro Shops is targeting Matthew and Molly Highby, of Highby Outdoors. Both are former managers at Cabela’s. Matthew is the son of Dennis Highby, who served as Cabela’s president from 2003 to 2009; and served on the company’s board before its acquisition in 2017.

Both suits are seeking damages and the return of severance pay and profits from stock they received from Cabela’s. Both suits allege that individuals violated a 18-month non-compete clause upon leaving the company. Read more

Michigan: ‘Smart ship’ technology making waves in Michigan waters

In case you missed it, “Showcasing the DNR” dived into the topic of “smart ship” technologies with a recent story about the new Marine Autonomy Research Site in Lake Superior. The site, near Michigan Technological University in Houghton and managed by the university, will serve as the world’s first freshwater location for testing unmanned (autonomous) surface and underwater vessels for operation in Great Lakes and U.S. coastal waters.

The Michigan Office of the Great Lakes – an office within the DNR – assisted with development of the testing site, a hub for the development of futuristic, state-of-the-art smart ship technologies.

University researchers envision unmanned surface and underwater vessels being used to augment manned research ships to transport remote-sensing technology, collect sonar and video imagery, deploy under frozen Great Lakes waters to gather winter samples and venture to sites unsafe for humans.

Other testing could involve autonomous underwater vehicles monitoring structures such as pipelines for their integrity, identifying shipwrecks or recovering evidence when working with the Michigan State Police. Read more

NMMA Members Urge Action on Florida’s Toxic Algae Blooms

Late last month, NMMA – in conjunction with the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA) – asked Florida members to add their company’s name to a letter requesting assistance with toxic algae blooms in the state’s waters. Nearly 200 businesses signed the letter, which was sent to several federal and state officials on September 12 – including President Donald Trump, Governor Rick Scott, and Florida’s Congressional Delegation. Read more

Preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in Michigan

Many aquatic invasive species – non-native plants and animals that can disrupt the natural ecosystem, tourism and the economy – are easily spread by boaters and anglers who use their equipment in multiple bodies of water without properly cleaning it.

As part of efforts to manage aquatic invasive species, a habitat enhancement project at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta, Michigan, recently kicked off. The DNR is working with Kieser & Associates, an environmental science and engineering firm in Kalamazoo, on a plan to enhance the recreation area’s habitat by managing aquatic invasive species in its lakes. The project is funded through the Natural Resource Damage Assessment as part of the settlement levied against Enbridge Energy in connection with the July 2010 oil release on Line 6B into the Kalamazoo River.

In addition to aquatic plant surveys, which have found invasive species in all of Fort Custer’s lakes, the three-year project will include several different treatments to control these species. This will help determine the best long-term, cost-effective options for invasive species management in the lakes. The project also involves a public outreach and educational component to help park visitors understand their role in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.

You can help by following these simple steps:

Clean boats, trailers and equipment.
Drain live wells, bilges and all water from boats.
Dry boats and equipment.
Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Learn more about preventing the spread of invasive species at michigan.gov/invasives.

Enjoy free weir tours in northern Michigan during fall fish egg-take efforts

September 11, 2018 Glen Wunderlich

Don’t miss the chance to see big Great Lakes fish up close during free fall tours at the Boardman River Weir in downtown Traverse City, the Little Manistee River Weir in Manistee County and the Upper Platte River Weir in Benzie County. The tours, running through the end of September and throughout October, are a great opportunity for the public and school groups to get a firsthand look at important fish management work.

Weirs are structures that block upstream fish passage on a river. DNR staff use a weir on the Boardman River each fall to collect surplus chinook and coho salmon. On the Little Manistee River, a weir is used to harvest chinook salmon in order to collect fertilized eggs, a key part of managing fish production for this species. It’s a critical time for collection of fertilized coho salmon at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery, too, for the continued production of this species in the DNR hatchery system.

Staff from the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center and Carl T. Johnson Hunt and Fish Center will conduct the tours, which will cover salmon biology, how weirs and fish ladders work, invasive species, state fish hatcheries, and the DNR’s annual egg collection efforts. The programs tie in components of history, ecology, biology and stewardship. Read more

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MasterCraft to Acquire Crest Marine Pontoons

September 11, 2018 Glen Wunderlich

Deal Provides Access to the Fast-Growing Pontoon Boating Segment

VONORE, Tenn. (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MCBC Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCFT), the parent entity of MasterCraft Boat Company, LLC (“MasterCraft”), and NauticStar, LLC (“NauticStar”), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Crest Marine, LLC (“Crest”), a leading vertically integrated manufacturer of high-quality pontoon boats in the United States, for approximately $80 million. MasterCraft also expects that approximately $10 million net present value of future net tax benefits will accrue to the combined company. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of calendar 2018, subject to customary closing conditions, and is anticipated to be immediately accretive to adjusted earnings per share.

Highlights:

MasterCraft gains leadership position and additional growth avenue in the large, fast-growing pontoon segment
Crest is a premium brand with a differentiated vertically integrated business model
Further establishes MasterCraft as a key player in the outboard propulsion category – the largest category in the powerboat industry
With the acquisitions of Crest and NauticStar, MasterCraft is the only boat manufacturer with three complementary, dedicated brands serving the three fastest-growing segments of the powerboat industry
MasterCraft’s operational excellence, product development and distribution footprint provide opportunity to further drive growth and margin expansion

Founded in 1957, Crest is privately owned and operated out of a 150,000 square-foot manufacturing facility located in Owosso, Michigan. With more than 60 years of boat manufacturing experience, Crest has a reputation for innovation and quality, with a growing, loyal network of dealers and customers. Read more

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Michigan: Adventure Paddling on Beaver Island Water Trail

September 5, 2018 Glen Wunderlich

With more than 1,000 miles of the national North Country Scenic Trail, continuing development along the Detroit-to-Ironwood Iron Belle Trail, and a 12,500-mile system of state-designated trails enjoyed by outdoor enthusiasts of all types, Michigan is cementing its reputation as the nation’s Trails State.

We’re boosting our trails resumé on the water, too, as stand-up paddle boarding and other paddlesports, including kayaking, are among the fastest growing forms of outdoor recreation. A newly opened water trail – the Beaver Island water trail in northern Michigan – offers the unique experience of paddling around an island. The water trail wraps 42 miles around the island in Lake Michigan, sitting about 30 miles off the coast near Charlevoix.

“The island contains an extensive system of hiking, biking and birding trails, making it a great destination for adventurous visitors,” said Jon Allan, Office of the Great Lakes director. Read more

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Sportsmen and Women Contribute Over $93 Billion to Fuel the Nation’s Economy

September 4, 2018 Glen Wunderlich

September 4, 2018 (Washington, DC) – With countless places to roam and enjoy the great outdoors, Americans are taking advantage of these opportunities, and as they go, spending significant dollars. New economic reports by Southwick Associates reveals more than 53 million Americans consider themselves sportsmen and women, spending more than $93.5 billion in 2016 on gear, licenses, travel, clothing, gas and more.

In a series of reports released today by the American Sportfishing Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), expenditures made for hunting, target shooting and sportfishing gear and services in 2016 supported 1.6 million jobs and provided $72 billion in salaries and wages. These monies also generated nearly $20 billion in local, state and federal taxes, much of which benefits vital conservation and educational programs that improve our outdoor areas for all who enjoy them and make hunting and shooting safer activities.

Fishing, Hunting

NMMA Applauds NAFTA Breakthrough, Calls For Bringing Canada Back To The Table

August 30, 2018 Glen Wunderlich

On Monday, President Trump announced that the U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement to revise the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Free trade between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada is a top priority for the recreational boating industry, and NMMA is encouraged by this development.

In response to the breakthrough, NMMA’s President, Thom Dammrich, stated, “President Trump’s announcement on a tangible NAFTA agreement with Mexico is welcome news and an important step toward modernizing and preserving the trade pact. Maintaining the trilateral agreement is critical for the continued health and success of American manufacturing, including the recreational boating industry. To that end, we urge the administration to capitalize on this momentum and immediately bring Canada – our industry’s largest export market – back into the fold, finalize the deal, and send it to Congress for approval. Read more

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