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If you’re boating on Black Lake next month, you may notice some survey equipment in the water. Please take care to avoid any nets or buoys you see. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and Michigan State University will survey the juvenile lake sturgeon population of Black Lake in July. This is the first survey to track juvenile lake sturgeon in Black Lake since 2013.

From July 10 to July 27, gill nets made specifically for capturing sturgeon will be set and marked with buoys Monday through Thursday of each week. Staff will check the nets every 1-2 hours during the day. Nets will be set each day and marked with staff buoys. Nets will be removed at the end of the day and will not be left in the lake overnight. Once captured, lake sturgeon will be measured and tagged with a Passive Integrated Transponder tag if they are not already tagged. The PIT tag allows staff to uniquely identify individual fish when they are recaptured and provides data needed to calculate a population estimate. Some lake sturgeon under 40” will have a small portion of a fin removed so the age of the fish can be determined. This will allow staff to evaluate growth of both stocked and naturally produced lake sturgeon in Black Lake.

The DNR asks the public to be on the lookout for these buoys and avoid them while boating on Black Lake during this survey. Read more

CHEYENNE — You never know what you may be reeling in sometimes, and that was the case for angler Owen Schaad when he caught his first glimpse of the new state record tiger trout. The Cheyenne resident was spending the day visiting family and fishing on Viva Naughton Reservoir near Kemmerer as he normally does every summer. They fish there often and don’t usually catch much, so he was surprised when he caught more than 20 fish, including a few tiger trout. Then, he landed the big one.

RACINE, Wis. – Since 1934 Minn Kota has been known for developing real, fishable features that help anglers explore new water, go further, and put more fish in the boat. The best trolling motors available just got even better with a complete restage of Minn Kota’s bow-mount motor lineup and the introduction of QUEST technology. New and upgraded Ultrex™, Ulterra®, Instinct, Terrova®, Riptide Terrova®, PowerDrive™, and Riptide PowerDrive™ bow mount trolling motors are being reintroduced with a brand new look and updated technology suite full of angler-friendly enhancements.

In addition to all the GPS navigational features anglers have come to expect from Minn Kota like Spot-Lock and Follow-the-Contour, all of these new additions to the motor lineup will feature enhanced boat control tools for anglers – no matter their preferred species. Whether fresh or saltwater and regardless of skill level or pursuit, Minn Kota’s redesigned line of trolling motors has an option for any angler looking for bulletproof reliability and unmatched performance on the water.

New Features for All Bow-Mount Models:

NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control Read more

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Lakes, launch ramps and harbors will again be crowded on the boating season’s traditional peak holiday period surrounding the July Fourth holiday. As the number of boats, personal watercraft and paddlecraft goes up, boaters should no look further than recently released annual U.S. Coast Guard statistics for some lessons on how to keep everyone aboard safe during this busy time of the year, especially for on-water fireworks shows.

According to data from the recently released 2022 Recreational Boating Statistics, the top five primary contributing factors in boating accidents last year were operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed and machinery failure.

“Nearly all of these factors will come into play on the water around Independence Day, and especially on the evenings with fireworks shows when boaters congregate to view them,” said Chris Edmonston, BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water president.

“After the show ends, as boating spectators pull anchor and head for home en masse, is really when a boat operator will experience the significant difference from operating during the daytime.” Edmonston explains that it is much more difficult to distinguish boat speed, direction or angle, and distance to other moving vessels at night. “Double check to ensure your navigation lights are working properly to ensure others see you,” he said.

Compounding the problem is the race to get home. “Many simply travel too fast for the conditions,” he said. “Everyone is leaving at the same time, and you’ll will really need to focus on safety. Use others on your boat as extra lookouts, and keep your eyes focused ahead while scanning around you.”

Additionally, a long day on the water means stressors such sun, wind and wave action degrade a boat operator’s ability, and adding alcohol to the mix only makes the situation worse. It’s much better to celebrate America’s birthday and imbibe when you are at the dock or safely ashore.

Because everyone wants to see the show, overloading is also a real issue this time of year. Small vessels are prone to swamping in the wake action that follows the close of a show. Weight and balance should be top of mind for small boat operators.

Paddlecraft will also add to the on-water congestion this time of year. Paddlers may not have the full set of safety skills and may not be easy to see, or they might be paddling on highly trafficked waters, so keep an eye out for them.

Finally, before you head out at night, know how to dim the brightness on your chartplotter or GPS, check your running lights, and ensure your visual distress signals are available if you find yourself in need of assistance.