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The DNR Outdoor Skills Academy offers expert instruction, gear and hands-on learning for a variety of outdoor activities – from fly fishing to food plots to photography – at classes and clinics around the state this spring.
Additional classes will be posted throughout the year, so check back often at Michigan.gov/OutdoorSkills.
Upcoming classes include:
Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, starting at 10 a.m.
Covering various strategies and techniques for chasing Michigan’s “chrome torpedoes,” the clinic includes a classroom session Saturday, followed by Sunday morning on the Manistee River, where you'll learn how to fish and what to look for. Cost is $40, which includes lunch, some tackle and instruction.
Register for Steelhead Fishing Clinic.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This introduction to turkey hunting will cover law, habitat, gear, calling and much more. Students will walk away with the knowledge they need to hunt turkeys on their own. Cost is $30, which includes lunch and door prizes.
Register for Turkey Hunting Clinic.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This class will cover how Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staffers Steve Berry, Matt Peterson and representatives from Fishbone Custom Lures spend their days chasing trophy walleye – everything from which rod and reel to use to how to use your electronics. Cost is $20.
Register for Walleye Fishing Clinic.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This clinic will cover a wide range of techniques for pursuing both smallmouth and largemouth bass, but will focus on the use of various plastic presentations, including Texas rigging, Carolina rigging, tube jigs, etc. Cost is $25.
Register for Bass Fishing for Beginners Clinic.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Covering the basics of fly fishing, including demonstrations and instruction for various fly casts and instruction on fly selection based on target species. Cost is $25.
Register for Beginners' Fly-Fishing Clinic.
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Bay City State Park; Tuesday, May 7, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, May 8, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
This two-day course will include a session covering equipment, techniques and tips for catching Saginaw Bay walleye, led by Walleye Trail World Champion Captain Mark Martin and Captain Brandon Stanton of Team Gunsmoke Sportfishing and Guide Service, and hands-on, one-on-one time with Martin’s pro-staff fishing from charter boats on Saginaw Bay. Cost is $250, which includes lunch both days and charter boat trips.
Register for Saginaw Bay Walleye Clinic.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, starting at 10 a.m.
Come learn how to shoot better photos from world-renowned photographer Tom Haxby. This two-day class will include both classroom instruction and field experience taking photos of wildflowers and wildlife. Cost is $120.
Register for Wildflower Photography Workshop by Tom Haxby.
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Mitchell State Park in Cadillac, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Join the Outdoor Skills Academy and Killer Food Plots to learn how to put in food plots, whether you have equipment or not, and better manage your property for white-tailed deer. The class will take place both in the classroom and in the field for hands-on experience. Cost is $30, which includes lunch, a soil kit, training and materials.
Register for Whitetail Food Plot and Habitat Management Clinic.
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Bay City State Park, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
This class will help build basic skills, such as knot-tying, setting up equipment, angler etiquette, casting and fly-tying, and will cover access points for trout fishing. Cost is $20. This includes all materials and equipment, lunch and a free one-year membership to Trout Unlimited ($35 value) for participants who have never belonged to the organization.
Register for Women 'n Waders.
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Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This class will cover the basics of butterfly identification, butterfly life cycles, butterfly habitat needs, the advantages of using native plants in the home landscape and how to start your own butterfly/pollinator garden. Cost is $50, which includes all materials and lunch. All participants will receive a field guide and other native plant gardening materials.
Register for Attracting Butterflies with Native Plants.
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