Michigan: home to outstanding fishing, more than 3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, 11,000 inland lakes, and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams.

There’s no shortage of recreational opportunities to explore – and what better time to do so than the 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend!

The 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend will be held Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9. As part of these weekends, all fishing license fees are waived for two days with residents and out-of-state visitors invited to enjoy fishing on both inland and Great Lakes’ waters for all species of fish during their respective open seasons. Please note all other regulations still apply during that time.

To encourage involvement in Free Fishing Weekends, activities are offered in communities across the state. These activities are coordinated by non-profit groups, schools, parks (local/state), businesses and others. Will you be joining them and planning a 2019 Summer Free Fishing Weekend event? Read more

By JOANNE FOREMAN
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Thousands of anglers across the state are poised to dip their waders into cold-water Michigan lakes, rivers and streams beginning Saturday, looking to tempt a prize brookie, a colorful rainbow or sleek German brown trout.

As they move from one spot to the next, anglers can unknowingly help spread a devastating invasive species, the New Zealand mudsnail.

“If you are going to fish different streams, be sure to clean your waders and boots,” said Jeff Gerwitz, a member of the Vanguard Chapter of Michigan Trout Unlimited, supporting Oakland County’s Paint Creek. “Some people don’t think it’s a big deal or concern, and they don’t take the time to clean and inspect between sites, but now we’re finding these mudsnails in more and more places.”

New Zealand mudsnails were first discovered in the U.S. in Idaho’s Snake River in 1987. Since then, infestations have spread throughout the western states and into areas of the Great Lakes. Read more

It’s time to put that new fishing license to good use. Saturday, April 27, is the statewide trout opener, as well as the start of the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons. The DNR encourages everyone heading out this weekend to take along someone new and share the fun of Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities.

A few reminders:

• In Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open Wednesday, May 15.
• Michigan’s muskellunge possession season on all Great Lakes, inland waters, the St. Marys River, Lake St. Clair, and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers opens Saturday, June 1 – though catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year.
• Catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is open all year on nearly all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing; check the current Michigan Fishing Guide for specifics).
• The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 25, except for Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair and Detroit rivers, which open Saturday, June 15.

Before hitting the water, be sure to have the new fishing license for the current season, which opened April 1. The 2019 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2020. Read more

Orvis introduces more than 15,000 new people to fly fishing every year through free fly-fishing classes. FF101 classes can be found in 43 U.S. states and include a free annual membership to Trout Unlimited. Additionally, for every student that attends an FF101 class in 2019, Orvis will make a $1 donation to Casting for Recovery®, a unique organization that provides therapeutic fly-fishing retreats to women with breast cancer.

“At Orvis, we believe that fly fishing can have a positive impact on people’s lives, and we want as many folks as possible to have the opportunity to get out on the water and enjoy the sport,” states Tom Rosenbauer, fly-fishing mentor, author, and host of the Orvis Fly Fishing Podcast. “We created FF101 classes to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to come learn to fish. Our hope is that we can help break down the barriers to entry and provide a unique opportunity for families and friends to come together and connect in the outdoors.”

Orvis is an instructional leader within the fly fishing industry, hosting schools in the U.S. since the early 1970s. For the 2019 season, classes will be offered from May through July at Orvis retail stores across the country. Students are guaranteed individualized instruction on all the basics, like how to assemble a rod, how to attach the reel, and how to string line up through the guides. Students learn the differences between the fly line and the leader, as well as basic types of flies and knots needed for a successful day on the water. Read more

Men 20-60 years old least likely to wear life jacket, most likely to drown

With waterways across the state clearing of ice, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anxious boaters that wearing a life jacket is a critical safety necessity during the spring “cold water” season.

While boaters should always wear a life jacket no matter the water temperature or season, public safety officials stress wearing a life jacket – not just having it on the boat – is the one action that significantly increases the chances of surviving a fall into cold water.

“The shock of falling into cold water triggers your gasp reflex, which more than likely means inhaling water,” said Lisa Dugan, DNR boating safety representative. “Wearing a life jacket gives you a fighting chance to get your head above water, stay calm instead of panicking, and call for help before hypothermia sets in.” Read more

Anglers fishing for lake trout in the waters of Grand Traverse Bay this year need to be aware of a new regulation now in effect. At yesterday’s meeting of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission in Lansing, the commission acted to reduce the daily possession limit of lake trout in these waters from two fish to one. Read more

Destin, FL – Wear it and forget it’s there. That’s the overwhelming consensus from anglers who have already slipped a new face-protecting garment under their hats.

Fish Monkey, renowned for the “second skin fit” of its high-grade fishing gloves, recently released its equally comfortable Performance Face Guard. Concepted, crafted and tailored to the same exacting, angler-friendly standards as its popular Guide Series gloves, Fish Monkey’s Face Guard lightly cools the skin, while wrapping your face and neck in total sun-protection. Read more