Tuesday, August 4th, 2026

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Tuesday, August 4th, 2026

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Mike Gnatkowski

Michigan’s Dathon Skelton: A decoy carver extraordinaire

Dathon Skelton says working gunning decoys tend to have simpler paint schemes and less detail. He has branched out from carving duck decoys to carving more songbirds. Regardless, he says carving is essential, but painting is often the most challenging part of creating any decoy.

Michigan’s Dathon Skelton: A decoy carver extraordinaire Read More »

September means smallmouths on a binge in these Michigan waters

Fishing for smallmouth bass in Michigan is exceptional during the summer months.
Still, anglers know that cooler nights and the resulting drop in water temperatures spur bass to an enhanced level of activity in September. Bass sense more challenging times ahead, so they go on a fall feeding binge that produces the best fishing of the year.

September means smallmouths on a binge in these Michigan waters Read More »

August is prime time for salmon on Lake Michigan; here’s where to target them

August is prime time for salmon on the Great Lakes. Both kings and cohos begin homing in on ports where they were stocked years earlier or staging off river mouths where they were naturally reproduced.
Between the plants made at Ludington, Manistee, and Frankfort and the salmon produced in the Pere Marquette, Little and Big Manistee, and Betsie rivers, these three ports are the top ports on Lake Michigan, if not in the entire Great Lakes.

August is prime time for salmon on Lake Michigan; here’s where to target them Read More »

Fishing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in July offers anglers a great mixed bag

“I think Portage and Touch lakes are two of the best lakes for anglers from downstate to try,” advised veteran angler and walleye professional Mark Martin. “Both lakes have outstanding angling for walleye, pike, smallmouth, and muskie. They’re both potential trophy fisheries, but you’ll catch enough fish for dinner most days, too.

Fishing Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in July offers anglers a great mixed bag Read More »

Walleye rearing ponds boost fisheries across Michigan

Walleye fishing in Michigan would suffer without rearing ponds. Rearing ponds outproduce all of Michigan’s hatchery production by far, and it’s possible that they even produce a better product.
“There’s no question that walleye fishing in Michigan would not be as good, nor as widespread, were it not for rearing ponds,” admitted Michigan DNR Fisheries Biologist Jason Gostiaux, who serves as co-chair of the state’s walleye committee.

Walleye rearing ponds boost fisheries across Michigan Read More »

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has some brook trout gems in June

If there’s a prettier fish than a native brook trout, I’d like to see it. The worm-like markings (aka “vermiculations”) on the olive back provide the perfect back drop for the red spots and blue-edged halos and white and black-stripped orange fins.
It’s easy to see why Yoopers guard their favorite brook trout streams with such zeal. If you’re going to make a trip across the Big Mac to search for small stream jewels, be prepared to put in some hard work.

Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has some brook trout gems in June Read More »

May fishing in Michigan is a fun time of year for all

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning novella “The Old Man and the Sea,” legendary novelist and short story writer Ernest Hemingway wrote: “Anyone can be a fisherman in May.”
He implied that the fishing is dang good in May, and Papa likely learned that fact during his adolescent summers at Walloon Lake south of Petoskey. Good fishing in May might not be true everywhere, but it certainly is in Michigan.

May fishing in Michigan is a fun time of year for all Read More »

Michigan’s Sturgeon River steelhead make for decades worth of opener memories

We’ve lost track over the years, but this spring is between our 35th and 40th year that our close-knit group of high school buddies will have spent the trout opener on the Sturgeon River near Wolverine, Mich.
With the trout opener just a couple weeks away (April 26), memories and nostalgia have awakened. The cabin we stay at, affectionately referred to as the Shady Rest, has been in the Morley family for generations.

Michigan’s Sturgeon River steelhead make for decades worth of opener memories Read More »

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