Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?

Here are some steps you can follow:

Wet your hands before you handle the fish; that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (or slime) that coats the fish’s body.

Remember fish can’t breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.

Take the photo with the fish fairly close to the water, so if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water and not on a hard surface.

While holding the fish, don’t pinch or squeeze it and don’t stick your fingers in its gills.

Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.

From the Michigan DNR

Did you know simple mistakes can make or break your fishing adventures? Check out these basic things to avoid if you want to have better success on the water:

Make sure your reel is filled with line. Don’t wait until it gets to half-empty and risk losing a great catch due to an inadequate amount of line.

Check your knots. Monitor their strength and durability after each fish. If the strength gets compromised, cut the line down a few feet and start again.

Set the hook. Don’t forget to do this each time you even think you’ve got a bite. Why waste a great catch just because you forgot to set the hook?

Want more tips for fishing in Michigan? Visit Michigan.gov/Fishing.

From the Michigan DNR

Some of the best bass fishing this time of year occurs during the first hour or so after dark. You still can find fish at dusk and dawn, but that first hour or two after dark can be exceptional.

After dark, bass tend to move shallow in search of an easy meal. Target them near the same areas you would during other times of the day while also casting and targeting the shallows.

You’ll want to change your technique, though. Since after dark you can’t see the weed line or other underwater structures, fishing subsurface lures is not recommended. It is time for surface presentations. After the cast, work them aggressively with a jerking motion, making sure they pop and gurgle across the surface of the water during your retrieve. Pay close attention during the retrieve, watching and listening for the strike, which can be explosive.

From the Michigan DNR

One tactic that can be particularly useful when targeting Chinook is fishing with glow lures. This species often can be caught near the surface in low-light conditions, and glow lures make that opportunity even more appealing.

In particular, glow lures work well in the early morning hours before the sun comes up or at night. Many believe this type of lure attracts salmon because it can be seen in the dark from longer distances and encourages them to strike.

From the Michigan DNR

Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?

Here are some steps you can follow:

• Wet your hands before you handle the fish; that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (or slime) that coats the fish’s body.
• Remember fish can’t breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.
• Take the photo with the fish fairly close to the water, so if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water and not on a hard surface.
• While holding the fish, don’t pinch or squeeze it and don’t stick your fingers in its gills.
• Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.

From the Michigan DNR

As Michigan’s inland lakes warm up in mid to late summer, knowledge of a water body’s temperature stratification becomes helpful for fishing. Seasonal temperature influences in lakes form different zones, and as a result, different temperature ranges and oxygen levels are associated with these layers. Knowledge of these layers or zones can lead to increased angling success.

The warm surface zone is called the epilimnion and has an abundance of oxygen. The bottom zone is called the hypolimnion and is typically cold and depleted of oxygen. The middle zone is the thermocline and the point at which warm oxygen rich top water is separated from the cold, oxygen depleted water below. The thermocline may prove to be a great depth at which to fish due to the abundance of oxygen and temperature found “in between” very warm and very cold. This ideal zone in most Michigan inland lakes typically will be between 10 to 30 feet, depending on lake size and depth. Just like us humans, fish need oxygen to breathe, and many don’t particularly like to be too warm or too cold.

If fishing in shallow water bodies, look for shaded areas provided by large floating vegetation, overhanging vegetation, submerged logs, or other woody debris which provides water that is a little cooler and cover, where many fish species prefer to spend their time. Also don’t forget to try fishing at night during the summer “doldrums” when water temperatures reach seasonal highs. Many fish species become active at night with relief from the daytime sun and heat.

Avoid these mistakes to experience great fishing

Did you know simple mistakes can make or break your fishing adventures? Check out these basic things to avoid if you want to have better success on the water:

Make sure your reel is filled with line – don’t wait until it gets to half-empty and risk losing a great catch due to an inadequate amount of line.

Check your knots – monitor their strength and durability after each fish. If the strength gets compromised, cut the line down a few feet and start again.

Set the hook – don’t forget to do this each time you even think you’ve got a bite. Why waste a great catch just because you forgot to set the hook?

Are you an avid catch-and-release angler? Do you like to take photos of the fish you catch, prior to returning them to the water? Do you know the safest way to take these photos so you ensure the fish can live to be caught another day?

Here are some steps you can follow:

• Wet your hands before you handle the fish; that way you won’t remove any of the protective mucus (or slime) that coats the fish’s body.

• Remember fish can’t breathe out of water, so they will become uncomfortable rather quickly. Keep the fish in the water until your camera is ready to take the shot.

• Take the photo with the fish fairly close to the water, so if it squirms out of your hands it will land in the water and not on a hard surface.

• While holding the fish, don’t pinch or squeeze it and don’t stick your fingers in its gills.

• Be mindful of the different kinds of fish that have teeth and/or spines that could stick you.

Several season openers Saturday, April 30

Put your 2022 fishing license to good use next weekend during the trout opener and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye and northern pike seasons, all of which open Saturday, April 30. Enjoy Michigan’s world-class fishing opportunities on your own or bring your family and friends along for the fun.

Anglers are reminded that in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye and northern pike possession seasons open Sunday, 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 4. Remember that catch-and-release fishing for muskellunge is open all year. 

The 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 28, except for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 18. The Lake Erie, Detroit River, Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River daily possession limit for walleye will remain at six fish through April 30, 2023.

The new license season began April 1, so anglers need to be sure they have purchased a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2022 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2023. To purchase a fishing license, visit Michigan.gov/DNRLicenses.

Anglers can make a real difference in helping to prevent the spread of invasive species by taking the time to clean, drain and dry waders and gear before heading to a new location.

Two invasive species, New Zealand mudsnail and didymo (rock snot), have been detected in Michigan. Both thrive in high-quality waters and can have harmful effects on stream ecosystems.

The NZMS Collaborative offers these simple steps for cleaning boots and waders:

• Stomp and inspect as soon as you leave the water to remove attached debris.
• Brush waders, soles and laces to loosen remaining debris and mud.
• Spray boots and waders thoroughly with a disinfecting agent.
• Rinse after 20 minutes.
• Dry waders thoroughly before next use.

The 2022 Michigan Fishing Guide and Inland Trout & Salmon Maps are available online along with a lot of other helpful fishing information. Visit Michigan.gov/Fishing for the most up-to-date information. You can view the complete guide online or download it to your device for later use.

From the Michigan DNR

Crappie are among the most difficult pan fish to pattern because of their tendency to suspend in the water column, except in the spring. During this time, crappie move to shallow water – sometimes in water only a couple feet deep – to spawn, so there isn’t a lot of water column to suspend in.

Crappies like both minnows and jigs. The easiest way to fish for them is to suspend the bait under a bobber, halfway between the surface and the bottom, around any sort of cover – weeds, brush, dock pilings … whatever.

Anglers who prefer a more active approach can cast with jigs and swim them back or fly fish with minnow-imitating streamers. Just think shallow in spring.

From the Michigan DNR

You may want to think about getting ready to store your ice fishing equipment. The key is doing it properly, so you’ll be ready to hit the ice next winter. Here is a checklist of things to do:

• If you have an auger, check for any damage and dry all the blades before storing it. You may want to consult your power auger’s manual to know how to appropriately handle any leftover gas and how to protect the engine.
• Remove batteries from any electronics to prevent any potential damage from leaking batteries.
• Make sure your portable shelter is completely clean and dry before storing. You may want to put some moth balls in it or hang it to keep pests at bay.
• Take a full inventory of your rods, reels and tackle to see what you might need/want next year. Also remove all bait or line from your hooks and lures for storage and make sure everything is dry.

By the time everything is properly stored, you’ll be itching to get out on your favorite stream, river or lake for some spring fishing!

From the Michigan DNR

With the colder months quickly approaching, many anglers may be getting ready to store their gear for the season. Below are a few maintenance tips you should follow so your gear is cared for and ready to be used next season.

*Make sure your gear is clean and completely dry before storing it. Start by cleaning everything (rods, reels, and line) in fresh water with soap, or with the manufacturer’s recommended solution, to remove any materials that may have become attached or embedded.

*Inspect your gear for any damage and make any repairs or prepare for replacements.

*Don’t store any of your gear in direct sunlight or in a place where heat and/or moisture might build up.

*Air your waders out completely, and don’t forget to hang them upside-down for the months they are out of use.