Louie Talks License Fees, Wake Boats and other Political Moves

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Published: 19 February 2026

By Louie Stout

License Increase

You can bet your most expensive glide bait that Michigan fishing and hunting licenses will be going up next year. There’s a bill moving through the state legislature to boost fees although the specifics are up in the air.

But Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer – the same person who didn’t want you fishing during covid – has other plans. She wants to increase all fees, bumping resident fishing licenses from $25 to $30 and non-resident from $75 to $90.

Resident deer tags would go from $20 to $25.

We haven’t heard any specifics of increases to senior licenses, or boating registration fees, but you can bet those will be included too.

Natural Resources Commission Ban?

There’s also a bill in the Indiana Legislature that would abolish the Indiana Natural Resources Commission. The NRC sets hunting fishing seasons and oversees parks. Typically, the NRC is politically appointed but oftentimes includes conservation minded people. This bill sounds like a bad idea.

Wake Boat Legislation

I don’t know an angler who likes fishing around wake boats. Those tsunami wave makers are not only a nuisance, but their wakes are dangerous for small boats.

There’s a bill in the Indiana Legislature that prohibits wake surfing on lakes 300 acres or less after sunset.

They also destroy shorelines and cause problems for docked boats, which is why Kentucky is trying to pass a law to prevent them from operating within 200 feet of shore on some of its lakes.

No idea if either of these will pass into law, but at least it’s an attempt to control the out-of-control wake boarding on lakes. I’d like to see a law that restricts the distance that a wave maker can come to a fishing boat.

Fishing Provides This Blind Angler with a Vision of Hope

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Published: 13 February 2026

Hometown: Kalamazoo
Occupation: Stay-at-home dad
Favorite species and biggest fish of that species: Muskie and pike. Biggest tiger muskie, 47 inches.
Favorite Michiana lake: Austin Lake.
Hobbies when not fishing: Spend time with family and tying muskie and pike flies (with big magnifying glass).
If you only had one lure and why: Rapala Original F11, hands down. It catches a variety of fish everywhere.
Favorite rod and reel: G. Loomis 902 and Daiwa SS 1600 spinning reel for bass; 10 wt. fly rod with triple density fly line or flipping stick with 59-pound braid for muskie.
Best tip to give a new Michiana angler: Pick a lure you have confidence in and keep casting.

Sportsman Spotlight

By Louie Stout

The next time you feel bad because you must work and can’t go fishing, think of Sky Baker.

The next time you struggle to tie a knot, think of Sky Baker.

He has the same passion for fishing that you do. In fact, not long ago he was fishing a lot of team tournaments and doing well.

That all changed in 2018 when he started losing his vision due to an auto immune disorder.

The former millwright and RV Company plant manager is now legally blind, isn’t able to drive and will likely lose complete vision in the coming years.

Read more …