Family-Outdoors

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Hunter Education program will offer two hunter education field days in the Upper Peninsula the weekend of  Oct. 12-13 . The field days are for hunter education students who have completed the online or home study course, and are a requirement to receive a hunter education safety certificate. On  Saturday, Oct. 12 , the DNR, along with Gogebic Community College, will host a field day from  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at the Lindquist Student Center, located at E 4946 Jackson in Ironwood. On  Sunday, Oct. 13 , the DNR, along with the Negaunee Rod and Gun Club, will host a field day from  10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  at the club, located at 341 North Rd. in Negaunee. A parent or guardian must accompany any participant 10 years old or younger. In order to attend either of these field days, participants must pre-register with Corporal Ryan Rademacher of the DNR's Law Enforcement Division at  231-5...

The 14th Annual FestiFall will run from  1 – 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 5  at Newton Hills State Park where visitors can participate in activities like pumpkin catapulting, carving and seed guessing. The event will feature family activities including arts and crafts, kids’ games and bluegrass music. Kids of all ages can participate in “make and take” craft activities such as old fashion rope, wooden necklaces, tin punching, trick-or-treat bags and more. The arts and craft show will host over 30 craft vendors displaying unique crafts, home decor and other gift ideas. Food vendors will be on site throughout the afternoon. The pumpkin will take center stage as it has in years past with pumpkin carving demonstrations, decorated pumpkin contests and pumpkin catapulting. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own decorated or carved pumpkins for judging. Following the afternoon FestiFall celebration, the Candlelight Walk will lead visitors along 2.2 miles of candle-lit tr...

The Manistee River (Photo credit: Wikipedia) There’s no doubt Michigan offers some of the best salmon and steelhead fishing in the country, but did you know autumn can be the best time of year to target them here? Whether you’re looking for the various salmon species or steelhead (rainbow trout that are stocked in a river) you’re sure to find plenty of opportunities this month and beyond! Atlantic Salmon Fishing for Atlantic salmon is huge on the St. Marys River; in fact this spot is considered the best recreational Atlantic salmon fishery west of the East Coast. Most anglers troll for this species using downriggers but another popular method is fly fishing for them with wet flies. Chinook Salmon These fish are often called “kings” and with good reason! Popular spots to target them in the fall include Great Lakes piers, streams along the Lake Michigan coast, or inland streams such as the Manistee (Tippy Dam), Pere Marquette and St. Joseph rivers. Many anglers use artificial ba...

English: crop of File:Bgforhunting.jpg Taken by Dr. F Eugene Hester. Picture supplied by Fish and Wildlife Service Website. http://www.fws.gov/hunting/ (Photo credit: Wikipedia) Canada goose hunters are reminded the daily and possession limits in the Missouri River Zone differ from the rest of the state. The daily bag limit for Canada geese in the Missouri River Zone is five, with 15 in possession. The remainder of the state has a daily bag of eight Canada geese, with 24 in possession. A hunter may take up to eight Canada geese in a day, provided no more than five come from the Missouri River Zone. Subsequently, a hunter may possess up to 24 Canada geese, provided not more than 15 come from the Missouri River Zone. Opening day for North Dakota residents is Sept. 21 for ducks, geese, coots and mergansers. Nonresidents may begin hunting waterfowl in North Dakota Sept. 28. Resident hunters must possess a general game and habitat license and a fishing, hunting and furbeare...

CENTRAL Arcadia : September 24. Elevation below normal, water 78 and murky. Crappie and white bass good on jigs, nibbles and worms at 14 ft. around open docks, brush piles, rocks and points. All other fishing fair. Report submitted by Sheila Hutton, gate attendant. Hefner : September 23. Elevation normal, water 76-81 and clear. Largemouth bass good on spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the south side. Smallmouth bass fair on jigs along rocky shorelines. White bass and striped bass hybrids excellent on grubs and gay blades at 3-6 ft. in shallow areas. Channel and blue catfish good on cut bait and live bait at 8-15 along the dam. Crappie good on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. along the dam. Walleye good on grubs and gay blades at 3-6 ft. in shallow areas. Sunfish and bluegill good. Report submitted by Lucky Lure Tackle. Overholser : September 23. Elevation normal, water 78 and murky. Catfish fair on stinkbait and cut bait behind the dam early and late. Report submitted by...

Great Lakes Temperature Map Windy conditions have kept anglers in the harbors, rivers or on the inland lakes.  With fewer anglers heading out, this is a great time of year for anglers to get out there and fish the inland lakes because overcrowding is not an issue this time of year.     Click on the links below to jump to the report section that interests you most. Southeast Lower Peninsula Southwest Lower Peninsula Northeast Lower Peninsula Northwest Lower Peninsula Upper Peninsula Southeast Lower Peninsula Lake Erie:   Perch fishing was good.  The better numbers came from the Michigan-Ohio line and between Stoney Point and the River Raisin buoys.  A couple boats did well in 18 feet of water out from the River Raisin channel.  A couple walleye were caught in shallow water along the beach at Sterling State Park.  Detroit River:   Catch rates for walleye were slow in the lower river however perch anglers picked u...

For lake locations, maps and other information, go to  www.iowadnr.gov/Fishing/ FishingReports.aspx The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For current information, contact the district fisheries office at the phone number listed at the end of each district report. NORTHWEST Crawford Creek Impoundment Fishing has been slow at Crawford Creek. Moorhead Park Pond Fishing has been slow at Moorehead. Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake) The dredge machine on Storm Lake is in operation.  Stay clear of the dredge, booster pump and pipeline that runs from the dredge to the east shore.  Fishing remains the same as last week at Storm.  Channel Catfish - Good: Anglers drift fishing with ni...