Michigan’s woods are beginning to stir this spring — and so is the science behind wild turkey management. This year, wildlife science in the state is getting a major boost. For the first time in Michigan history, researchers are launching a long-term, large-scale study of wild turkey populations.
There’s something about early spring tournaments in Northern Indiana as you never quite know what you’re going to get. Between the weather, water conditions, and how fast things can change this time of year, every decision feels magnified.
When every cast matters, line performance makes all the difference. Enter Berkley GinClear, Berkley’s premium fluorocarbon, delivering a super smooth feel, unmatched flexibility, and ultra-low memory in a high-performance package built for serious anglers. Designed to maximize casting performance and eliminate the frustrations of traditional fluorocarbon lines, GinClear makes every cast feel like the first one out of the box.
Phil Duracz with record-setting burbot
The avid Chesterton angler, who currently owns the Indiana whitefish record, has added the burbot to his list of fishing accomplishments.
Duracz was fishing Lake Michigan near Gary with his 14-year-old son Hunter Jan. 10 when he hooked the state record around 7:30 that evening.
“We caught six other burbot prior to that, including a few that might have been close to the record,” Duracz said. “But when Hunter netted this one, he said we might want to get it weighed since it was bigger than the others.”
It weighed 11.4 pounds, breaking the former record that was set in December in Porter County Lake Michigan waters at 10.2 pounds.
Burbot, also called eelpout or lawyer, are the only native cod species of fish in Lake Michigan. They are good to eat and often called “poor man’s lobster.”
By Louie Stout
Team Captain Carrie Balk with Kale Parr (left) and Collin Balk
Three Rivers High School Principal/Three Rivers Bass Fishing Team Captain Carrie Balk poses with Kale Parr (left) and team partner Collin Balk after they won the Michigan TBF Junior State Championship.
It was the school's first year as a bass fishing team.
Not all kids want to sit around and play video games, says Carrie Balk, Three Rivers High School principal.
She found out first hand. When her son Collin approached her last year about starting a Three Rivers High School fishing club, she decided to investigate the possibilities.
“I sent out a survey to gauge students’ interest and heard back from more than 90 kids,” said Balk. “That’s three times as many that are on our football team so I decided I better look into it.”
Not only was the Three Rivers Wildcats Bass Fishing Team formed, but 40-some kids stayed active throughout the summer.
If that weren’t enough, son Collin and buddy Kale Parr won The Bass Federation Junior Division State Championship at Wampler’s Lake. That earned them a spot in The Bass Federation Junior World championship at Kentucky Lake where they finished fourth.
Page 47 of 282
Connect With Us