Researchers head to Superior Maximus to investigate ‘zombie’ fish

June 8, 2026
Contact: Edward Baker, 906-235-6114 or Shawn Sitar, 906-235-1581

The unusually thin siscowet lake trout will be tested by fish pathologists

Department of Natural Resources research vessel Lake Char monitors Michigan’s portion of Lake Superior.This month, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and fish pathologists from Michigan State University will make an expedition aboard the RV Lake Char to Superior Maximus, the deepest point of Lake Superior. The reason for this research vessel’s foray to the deep? To investigate the emaciated siscowet lake trout found in this Great Lake.

These fish, nicknamed “zombies” because of their thin and undernourished bodies, have increased in number in deep waters, sparking concern and interest from the public and scientists alike.

Lake trout in this zombie-like condition were discovered by a DNR fisheries research team during recent Lake Superior deepwater surveys of siscowet lake trout. During the upcoming research expedition, the crew plans to investigate — and, they hope, rule out — the possibility of a fish pathogen causing the highly emaciated appearance of these lake trout. They also plan to collect more of these fish for thorough testing.
An emaciated “zombie” siscowet lake trout captured near the deepest point of Lake Superior compared to a typical siscowet.Unlike the zombies of movies and television, “zombie” fish aren’t thought to have a contagious disease that they are spreading by biting other fish. Rather, their condition is believed to be a natural ecological phenomenon due to a lack of food in the deep waters in which they live. These extreme waters are prone to ecosystem shifts such as low food availability. Read more
Fishing

Stealth Cam’s Next Evolution in Cellular Trail Camera Technology is Now Available Online and at Select Retailers Nationwide

First announced in January, Stealth Cam’s upgraded Deceptor MAX 3.0 Cellular Trail Camera is now available for purchase online and through select retailers nationwide.

The new 3.0 version from Stealth Cam, the leader in cellular trail camera technology for over two decades, introduces a range of advanced technologies that elevate image capture, connectivity, and overall reliability in the field—all seamlessly controlled through the Command app for a simpler, more intuitive user experience.

Now featuring a variety of performance upgrades designed to help hunters and wildlife managers monitor properties more confidently and efficiently, the Deceptor MAX 3.0 delivers onboard camera AI capabilities, including:

    • AI-powered false image detection, a breakthrough onboard system that automatically filters out irrelevant motion events, ensuring hunters only get photos that matter.
    • PIR zone selection, which lets users define exactly how and where motion should trigger a capture in the camera’s frame, dramatically improving precision and reducing unnecessary transmissions.
    • Rack Alert, a tool capable of detecting when a buck enters the frame. When enabled, the camera automatically takes three images of the buck with each trigger and reverts to a 5-second PIR delay and instant upload setting. Only the single best photo of the triggered event is saved; the other two are discarded. Users then receive a “Rack Alert” notification indicating a buck is actively moving through their trail camera location.

Read more

Hunting

Lumenok Introduces New Fish-On Fishing Rod Light

Lumenok has announced the release of its new Fish-On Fishing Pole Light, an innovative bite-activated light designed to help anglers detect strikes day or night.

The Fish-On light activates automatically when a fish bites and the rod tip bends, giving anglers an immediate visual alert without the need for constant rod watching. Designed to work on most fishing poles, the compact and durable light is available in both green and red configurations.

Built for real-world toughness, the Fish-On light is virtually indestructible. During product testing, units were run over by a forklift and even struck with cinder blocks — and continued to function without issue. The light also features a replaceable battery design for long-term use and dependable performance on the water.

“Whether you’re catfishing at night, watching multiple rods, or simply want a better way to detect subtle bites, the Fish-On light gives anglers a reliable visual advantage,” said a company representative for Lumenok. “We designed it to be simple, durable, and tough enough for real fishing conditions.”

The Fish-On Fishing Pole Light is available in convenient 2-packs and carries an MSRP of $29.99.

Key Features

  • Bite-activated illumination
  • Works on most fishing poles
  • Available in green and red
  • Virtually indestructible construction
  • Replaceable battery
  • Easy installation
  • Available in 2-packs
  • MSRP: $29.99

For more information about the Fish-On Fishing Pole Light and other Lumenok products, visit Lumenok Official Website.

Fishing

Conservation officers rescue capsized Ohio kayakers in southern Lake Huron

June 4, 2026
Contact: Acting 1st Lt. Robert Hobkirk, 989-225-8361

Two Ohio vacationers were rescued from Lake Huron after their kayaks capsized approximately 1 mile offshore of southern Sanilac County and northern St. Clair County Thursday around 10:30 a.m.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officers Chris Kravitsky and Mark Siemen were patrolling about a mile offshore when they observed an overturned kayak. Further out, they saw two people clinging to one kayak.

The water was 25 feet deep and 43 degrees Fahrenheit.

The husband, 32 and wife, 36, visitors from Westerville, Ohio, had been kayaking while staying at a lakeside vacation home. Neither was wearing a life jacket.

According to the couple, increasing offshore winds began pushing them farther from shore, causing them to panic. The wife’s kayak overturned first, and when her husband attempted to assist, both kayaks capsized, leaving them stranded.

The husband was suffering from cold exposure and was highly distressed. The wife had sustained a significant cut to her foot and, due to a recent surgery on her right arm, required special care removing her from the water. Officers provided first aid for the wife’s foot while on the patrol boat before returning to shore. The couple refused additional medical treatment.

The officers were able to drain and secure the kayaks on their patrol boat.

The couple estimated they had been in the water for approximately an hour, though rescuers believe the actual time was closer to 20 to 30 minutes. Read more

Fishing

Wish there was a fish cleaning station on Lake St. Clair? You can help make it happen!

Lake St. Clair at sunset from a boat.

The Lake St. Clair Fish Cleaning Foundation is raising funds for the construction and maintenance of a new public fish cleaning station at the Clinton River Cutoff DNR Boating Access Site in Harrison Township. Once the fish cleaning station is complete, it will be donated to the DNR.

The project was recently accepted into a matching grant program to help raise the $90,000 still needed — between now and July 31, donations to the project will be matched!

If you’d like to support the project or learn more, visit patronicity.com/fish. Read more

Fishing

Ruger Safety Bulletin: LCP MAX Manual Safety Models

Ruger has discovered that in some LCP MAX Manual Safety models, the recess that retains the safety lever detent spring may not be machined properly. When this condition is present, the safety lever detent spring can become dislodged under the recoil of firing. If this happens, the manual safety lever will have no resistance and will not remain in the “safe” position. If present, the condition typically will emerge after firing 50-100 rounds through the pistol and the condition will be readily apparent when attempting normal operation.

Note that if this condition occurs, the other safety mechanisms in your pistol, including the trigger safety, are not affected and will still function properly.

Ruger is committed to safety and is warning consumers of the potential for this condition to occur. If you experience the condition described above, please stop using your pistol immediately and arrange for its retrofit by providing your serial number and contact information using the form at Ruger.com/LCPMAXRetrofit.

What Pistols Are Potentially Affected? Read more

Firearms

Hornady Presents More Than $55,000 to Nebraska Cattlemen

Grand Island, Nebr. — Hornady proudly presented a donation of $55,030.56 to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Disaster Relief Fund in support of ranchers impacted by the devastating wildfires that swept across Nebraska ranchland earlier this year.

The donation was presented at Hornady headquarters in Grand Island on Monday, June 1st. It was accepted by Laura Field, Executive Vice President of Nebraska Cattlemen, and Taralee Hudson, Director of Producer Relations for Nebraska Cattlemen.

Funds were raised through the “Nebraska Strong” wildfire relief t-shirt campaign, a generous contribution from Hornady Gear, and a dollar-for-dollar matching donation from Steve Hornady and Jason Hornady. Read more

Wildlife

Rare Lake Sturgeon Made 681-Mile Swim

Blake Logan, a fisheries biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Missouri River Program, holds a rare lake sturgeon after it was captured from the Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam. (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission)

Fisheries biologists for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission were collecting paddlefish for a study this spring when a large and rare fish for Nebraska showed up in the net.

A 70-pound lake sturgeon was pulled from the Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam on April 14.

Blake Logan and his fellow Missouri River Program biologists pulled in the net with the fish, which is listed as threatened in Nebraska. They photographed it, weighed it, and measured it at 59.6 inches in length. Read more

Fishing

FPC Sues Los Angeles, Inglewood Over Unconstitutional Handgun Rationing Laws

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a new federal lawsuit, Lopez v. Los Angeles, challenging local laws in the California cities of Los Angeles and Inglewood that prohibit any person from purchasing more than one handgun in any 30-day period.

The plaintiffs challenging the local laws include FPC, an FPC member, and the California Gun Rights Foundation. The plaintiffs are represented by Chad Flores of Flores Law PLLC and David Bartels of Lawrence Bartels LLP. FPC thanks C.D. Michel, Joshua Robert Dale, and the California Rifle & Pistol Association for their assistance and support.

The complaint was filed on June 3, 2026.

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

The cities continue to enforce local handgun rationing laws that are materially indistinguishable from California’s statewide law, which the Ninth Circuit held unconstitutional.

“The Ninth Circuit already held that handgun rationing laws like these are unconstitutional, but Los Angeles and Inglewood are still enforcing them anyway. FPC and our Grassroots Army filed this lawsuit to end these unconstitutional laws and force these cities to respect the Second Amendment, full stop.” — FPC President Brandon Combs Read more

Gun Control

Michigan Conservation Officers Return Stranded Keweenaw Bay Boaters Safely to Shore

A family of five from L’Anse returned safely to shore Tuesday night after their 31-foot sailboat became stuck on rocks in Keweenaw Bay.

The family was sailing on Lake Superior from the Portage Canal in Houghton County to the L’Anse Marina in Baraga County – about a 15-mile trip across Keweenaw Bay.

They became stuck about halfway into the trip and immediately called 911 for assistance. Negaunee Regional Dispatch operators contacted the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to assist.

Within 30 minutes of receiving the call, Michigan DNR Conservation Officers Brian Lasanen and Cody Smith launched their 18-foot Lund DNR patrol boat from the Baraga County Marina. The officers located the family about 6 miles onto the water, northeast of the Sand Point Lighthouse.

The family was in good condition and was transported safely back to the Baraga County Marina. Aside from being stuck, the boat also was in good condition and did not pose any environmental risks. A salvage company will assist in removing the vessel.

The DNR was assisted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Boating safety

With the summer boating season officially here, the DNR reminds all boaters to keep boating safety in mind. Read more

Fishing
1 … 40 41 42 43 44 … 2,093