Michigan Fishing Report – February 18, 2026
Michigan DNR
February 18, 2026
Anglers here reported large schools of smelt in the bay. Popular baits were wax worms and minnows.
Michigan
Commentary: Why Illinois SB 2924, Indiana HB 1003, and Michigan HB 4445 threaten conservation
Russ Mason
February 18, 2026
Across the Midwest, conservation has long rested on a careful balance between public oversight, science-based wildlife management, and the principle that fish and wildlife are held in trust for all citizens.
Illinois Senate Bill
Ice fishing for smelt is a Michigan winter tradition
Mike Gnatkowski
February 14, 2026
Michigan winters can be long, drawn-out affairs if you don’t find something to keep you busy. One experience Michiganders look forward to is ice fishing for smelt. It’s a winter tradition that many families and
A collaborative effort to protect Michigan’s bat species
Aileen Kemme / Michigan DNR
February 13, 2026
Entire colonies can be lost within a few years because the fungus spreads from cave to cave and from bat to bat through social grooming and close contact.
Mike Schoonveld: Some good news on contaminants in Great Lakes fish – imagine that
Mike Schoonveld
February 13, 2026
Shortly after salmon were stocked in the Great Lakes to take advantage of the overabundance of invasive alewives, health experts warned, “Don’t eat the fish. They are contaminated with DDT, Toxaphene, Chlordane and other chlorinated
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula bear harvest exceeds predicted kill for fifth year
Richard P. Smith
February 12, 2026
For at least the fifth year in a row, bear registrations in the Upper Peninsula have exceeded the Michigan DNR’s predicted harvest. This time, the difference between the two numbers is the second highest it
Michigan partnerships help turn donated hides into deerskin gloves for those in need
Staff Report
February 12, 2026
The DNR’s Hunters Feeding Michigan program recently yielded another deer-related benefit: In early February, five dozen pairs of insulated deerskin gloves were delivered to the Shelter of Flint, a provider of emergency shelter and transitional
Michigan Fishing Report – February 11, 2026
Michigan DNR
February 11, 2026
Walleye fishing picked up this week and perch anglers reported catching some large fish.
Michigan DNR confirms 31 cougar sightings in the state in 2025
Staff Report
February 11, 2026
Michigan DNR reported there were a total of 31 confirmed cougar sightings across the state in 2025, the largest number of sightings since 2008.
The increase comes with a significant caveat: DNR pointed out
