It’s simple math really: Zero eggs equals zero fish for future stocking programs.
So, the spring walleye and steelhead egg collections by the Michigan DNR are critical components of the strategy for maintaining world-class fishing opportunities in the Great Lakes State.
Nearly fifty years have now passed since the first paddletail swimbaits splashed down in U.S. waters, the earliest designs having likely originated in France. Today, paddletails have almost singlehandedly rewritten the rules of soft plastics engagement. Fans of catching bass, crappie, walleye and inshore slams nearly always cast these ingenious tail-driven baits, each version capable of different retrieve speeds, actions and the almighty thump.
Gamakatsu has announced a proprietary new finish for their most popular hook styles.
Dania Beach, FL – Kevin VanDam has won yet another honor.
The Michigan pro, who recently retired from professional bass competition, was among five angling greats named to the 2024 class of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
This year’s inductees into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame represent angling luminaries who have made significant contributions to the sport. In addition to VanDam, they include James A. Henshall, a pioneer in bass fishing who revolutionized angling techniques and fish culture; Tom Pfleger, whose four-decade career is marked by 24 IGFA World Records and pioneering environmental research; Nick Smith, whose billfishing prowess and conservation efforts have set global standards; and Ralph ‘Agie’ Vicente, whose half-century commitment to marine conservation and ethical angling practices has left a lasting impact on Latin American fisheries.
Elected unanimously by the IGFA Board of Trustees, the 2024 class will join 146 legendary anglers, scientists, conservationists, writers, and fishing industry leaders whose contributions to sport fishing are forever enshrined and celebrated in the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame.
“As we welcome these distinguished individuals into the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame, we celebrate not just their remarkable achievements but their enduring legacy in shaping the very fabric of recreational angling,” said IGFA President, Jason Schratwieser. “Their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and conservation serves as a beacon of inspiration for anglers worldwide. In honoring their contributions, we reaffirm our commitment to preserving the rich heritage of our sport for generations to come.”
By Louie Stout
If you’re like me, trying to discern differences in fishing lines is not only overwhelming at times, but also very confusing.
That’s why I called Brian Evans, marketing manager at Seaguar, a guy with whom I have known and shared a boat while bass fishing on the Niagara River a few years ago.
The big question in my mind, and probably in the mind of other weekend anglers, is what is the difference between 4 strand and 8 strand braid?
Evans says you should think of 8 strand, such as Seaguar’s Smackdown, as a performance braid that is smooth, casts well and is thin. It’s ideal for finesse applications.
The four-strand braid, on the other hand, can be equated to the forerunners to performance braids. It’s very strong, sensitive and more textured than 8 strand. It’s best suited for pitching into grass or wood and for frogging.
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