Baseball leagues are winding down, and practice for fall sports seasons will be starting soon.
Summer’s over? Nope, not by a long shot, even though back-to-school shopping sales are already being advertised.
A full moon finale to the last days of July and a nice start to the new month on Saturday should have anglers out in good numbers. Many of them will be seeking fish for the frying pan, and there are a lot of options.
Panfish like bluegills and crappies are suspended over deeper weeds inland, while stocked and wild trout are hanging out in the coolest water they can find on area creeks and rivers.
Other bay options include pike, walleyes, trout and even salmon, if you have the right equipment and knowledge to catch them.
Meanwhile, Lake Michigan continues to produce amazing catches this summer. While Chinooks and rainbow trout (steelhead) dominate most coolers, there have been some trophy brown and lake trout caught as well, including a 28.6-pound laker this week and a pair of 25s over the weekend on Algoma charter boats.
The annual Shanty Days Fishing Contest, with youth inland and youth and adult Lake Michigan categories, is coming up in two weeks at Algoma. Tickets will be available next weekend at Algoma Citgo and Graf’s Mobil. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for youths.
Hunters, bird watchers, stamp collectors and anyone who wants to save wetlands are encouraged to purchase the 2026-2027 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp.
Commonly known as the Duck Stamp, sales since 1934 have raised more than $1.3 billion to conserve more than six million acres of wetlands habitat on national wildlife refuges around the nation.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik was among the first to purchase the Federal and Junior duck stamps.
“For generations, waterfowl hunters have been instrumental in protecting vast stretches of wetlands, including on national wildlife refuges,” Nesvik said. “These areas offer outdoor recreational opportunities, support migratory waterfowl — including thousands of ducks and geese, provide habitat for numerous other wildlife species, help manage flooding and strengthen the economies of rural communities.”
Waterfowl aren’t the only species that benefit from wetland habitat conservation. Countless shorebirds, herons, raptors and songbirds, along with mammals, fish, native plants, reptiles and amphibians rely on the same habitats.
Duck stamps are sold at sporting goods and retail stores, some post offices and national wildlife refuges, or online at https://duckstamp.com/products/ or https://www.fws.gov/service/buy-duck-stamp-or-electronic-duck-stamp-e-stamp.
Meanwhile, the 2026-2027 Junior Duck Stamp raises funds to support youth conservation education. This year’s stamp features a pair of blue-winged teal. The winning artwork is made into a stamp the Service sells for $5 to conservationists, educators, students, collectors and the public. Proceeds support conservation education at the state and local level.
Since the first Junior Duck Stamps went on sale in 1993, nearly $1.5 million has been raised, which is re-invested in this unique conservation arts and science education program across the country.
Anyone hoping to secure an upriver lakes sturgeon spearing tag for the Lake Winnebago system must apply for the lottery system or purchase a preference point by Aug. 1.
The upriver lakes — Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts — are shallower, with a high success rate. To ensure lake sturgeon are not overharvested in this area, only 500 license holders are selected annually to spear on those waters.
Applicants selected will be notified by Oct. 1. Any license holder not selected during this drawing will be awarded a preference point toward future drawings and can purchase a Lake Winnebago spearing license, which must be purchased by Oct. 31.
A total of 363 anglers registered 643 fish in the 45th Marinette & Menominee Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Brown Trout Derby, including a 21.08-pound brown caught by Jake Hart and a 22.09-pound salmon by Ethan Laird.
There were 20 browns larger than 15 pounds weighed, and the 30th place fish was still a solid 13.85. Meanwhile, the top rainbow was hooked by Rich Seaberg (10.90), and the heaviest walleye a pair of 9.87s for Mark McDougal and Justin Oberdorfer.
The 10th place salmon was 18.73 pounds. There were two others larger than 20 pounds.
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