UPDATE 5/31/2026: At least 6 Michigan State Representatives have removed their sponsorship from HB 5801 and 5802. Your actions are having an impact! Thank you! There was discussion at the May 20 House Committee, but the bills remain in committee.
The poorly written, damaging to Michigan Sport Fishing commercial fishing bills have been introduced again. State House Bills 5801 and 5802, introduced by Rep. Dave Prestin and Rep. Jason Morgan, have been assigned to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism.
This is a tale of two lakes. Intertwined lakes, in Barry County, Michigan. Where somehow the water has gone away. Upper and Lower Crooked Lakes, both near and dear to me, are suffering from the lowest water levels I’ve seen in the 35+ years I’ve been fishing them.
81st Ultimate Sport Show – Grand Rapids with over 4 Acres of Fishing and Hunting Gear, Outdoor Travel, Fishing Boats, Seminars, Displays and Features, March 12-15, 2026.
If you enjoy the outdoors – hunting, fishing, boating, camping etc. – then Vibe Credit Union Showplace, Novi is the place for you and your family Feb. 19-22 when the 53rd Annual Outdoorama returns to town.
Hundreds of new fishing boats, the largest ice fishing display in Michigan, and a star-studded seminar lineup featuring some of the world’s top anglers will headline the 43rd annual Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit, Jan. 8–11 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
I’m not trying to rush winter. I’m sure some semblance of winter is on the way. That means we are approaching the 2026 Ultimate Sport Show Tour – the three biggest fishing and outdoor sport shows in Michigan!
Yesterday at the Natural Resources Commission meeting in Lansing, science prevailed thanks to many, many persons who took the time to write in, and especially those who showed up to speak before the Commission on Commissioner Walters’ amendment to close bass fishing on the Inland Waterway and Black Lake from May 1 until the third Saturday in June.
Just before the October Natural Resources Committee meeting on Thursday, October 9, Commissioner John Walters added an amendment to Fisheries Order 206 – “Bass – Closed bass CIR season from May 1 – Friday before the third Saturday in June for Burt, Mullet, Crooked, Pickerel, and Black Lakes and their connecting waters.”
Now is the best time to be a bass angler on Lake St. Clair in at least the last 50 years according to a recent long-term MDNR fisheries research study.
Over 4 Acres of Fishing and Hunting Gear, Fishing Boats, Seminars and more available starting Thursday, March 13 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Many great seminars featuring Kevin VanDam and Mark Zona.
If you enjoy your time in the outdoors – hunting, fishing, boating, camping etc. – then Suburban Collection Showplace is the place for you and your family Feb. 20-23 when the 52nd Annual Outdoorama returns to town.
Hundreds of New Fishing Boats, the largest Ice Fishing Display in the state, and a Star-Studded Lineup of Seminars by some of the best anglers in the world combine to make the 42nd annual Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit the largest and best Pure Fishing Show in the country.
Ready or not, they’re coming! The 2025 Ultimate Sport Show Tour is on the calendar and steadily approaching with the 3 best outdoor shows before the season really gets going!
The Michigan DNR is conducting an acoustic tagging study on Lake St. Clair Smallmouth Bass to better understand their distribution through the lake and habitat use.
The 79th Annual Ultimate Sport Show – Grand Rapids is March 7 – March 10, 2024 at DeVos Place. Over 4 acres of fishing and hunting gear, outdoor travel, fishing boats and seminars!
Michigan’s original sportsmen’s show – Outdoorama 2024 up next! February 22 – 25 at Suburban Collection Showplace.
Kevin VanDam headlines a Star-Studded lineup of Seminar Speakers when the largest freshwater fishing show in the country, the Ultimate Fishing Show–Detroit, drops anchor January 11-14, 2024
