In the Current

• August 3: 2019 Take an Adult Fishing Day! Invite your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or other adult to go fishing with you! Share your photos on social media with #TakeAnAdultFishing.
• Have you check out our Stamp & Go Guide yet? For just $5 you can get an official Stamp & Go Guide and then collect stamps from all Michigan state parks and our six state fish hatcheries! For more information, check out the Stamp & Go Guide website.
• Start planning now for a fall trip to one of Michigan’s state fish hatcheries. The autumn months are a great time to visit these facilities as they’re very busy with lots to see! Check out Michigan.gov/Hatcheries for location information. 

Fishing & Water Safety

Fishing is fun, but there is always the potential for accidents. Follow these easy rules to keep everyone healthy and happy:

1. When you are casting, make sure there’s no one too close to you or behind you; remember fish hooks are sharp and can catch your skin or an eye – just like they can a fish!
2. If your line gets hung up, don’t pull it straight back toward you, but rather pull out toward the side. You could get hit by a sinker or stuck with a hook if you pull it toward you.
3. Handle fish carefully so you don’t get cut by sharp fins or spines.
4. Never stand up in a canoe or kayak.
5. Always stay seated whenever a boat is in motion. If you’re in a small boat, move very carefully when you stand up or change seats.
6. Whenever you’re near deep water – either on a dock or pier or in a boat – do not engage in horseplay.
7. It’s recommended you wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or life jacket when you are on or near the water, even if you know how to swim. Children less than six years of age are required by law to wear a PFD when on a boat.

Four Fun Fishy Facts

1. Scientists can tell how old a fish is by reading the growth rings on their scales – almost just like growth rings are used to tell how old a tree is.
2. A person who studies fish is called an ichthyologist (pronounced: ick-thee-all-o-just).
3. Salmon have teeth on the roof of their mouth, tongue, jaws and throat. These small teeth help prevent prey from escaping once they’ve been captured.
4. A female Chinook salmon can lay up to 7,000 eggs.

Fun Fish Activity

Fishing Ad-Libs
Create your own funny fishing story with this ad-libs activity.

Name that Fish!

Lake whitefish are part of the trout/salmon family! These fish have a blunt nose, fins clear or nearly so, a greenish-brown back, and silver sides.

These fish are a very popular species caught by commercial anglers – which means they catch large numbers of these fish and sell them for profit. Many folks love lake whitefish because they taste delicious!

Lake whitefish usually swim in a school, and usually they can be found up to 200 feet down in the Great Lakes. They may go deeper as the summer weather heats up.

Foods they like to eat include insects, freshwater shrimp, small fish and fish eggs, and critters that live on the bottom.

Lake whitefish can reach a size of more than 20 pounds and an age of more than 25 years, although that’s rare.