Some Great Lakes fishermen share their catch and the fishing experience with others. Many also enjoy the thrill of trying for a possible money-winner in a fishing tournament. If that’s you, your time is coming up fast.
One contest — the Ultimate Salmon Derby on lakes Michigan and Huron — is already underway. Another, the Blue Door Tournament Series Offshore Challenge at Kewaunee, is scheduled for this weekend.
The Ultimate Salmon Derby is in its second season. The 10-week tournament runs June 14-Aug. 24, with bi-weekly prizes including $15,000 for the heaviest salmon every two weeks. Entry tickets are $100 a person, or $850 for a boat ticket. There are prizes for the biggest trout, too. Howie’s and Yacht Works are both weigh-in sites for this multi-lake tourney. More info at https://theultimatesalmonderby.com/.
Next up is the 50th annual Northeastern Wisconsin Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Salmon Derby, July 4-6 in Manitowoc, including prizes for the top five fish in each division, daily prizes, and a Super Derby boat tournament. Adult tickets start at $30. Get the details at https://www.newglsf.org/new-page.
The most anticipated event in our area is the Kewaunee/Door County Salmon Tournament. This year’s runs July 11-20. A year ago, a record 3,891 people tried their luck. Fourteen 30-pound-plus “kings” were caught, and more than 170 anglers shared in the $100,000-plus payout.
Tickets for the 43rd annual “K/D” are available at Algoma Citgo and Algoma BP, and Yacht Works and Center Court BP in Kewaunee. Cost is $30 for most, with a new $10 age 10 & under ticket also available. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/kdsalmon2025/.
Meanwhile, Racine’s annual lakewide Salmon-A-Rama runs July 12-20. Ticket options include youth ($20); adult boat, shore and kayak ($50 each); group boat ($375); and charter ($500). There are prizes for salmon, trout and perch in multiple divisions. More info at https://www.salmon-a-rama.com/.
Finally, the 46th annual Two Rivers Kiwanis Fish Derby runs July 19-20, and the 45th annual Marinette & Menominee Brown Trout Derby is July 26-27. More info: https://www.exploretworivers.com/explore/page/46th-annual-kiwanis-fish-derby-festival. Check the M&M Great Lakes Sport Fishermen Facebook page for more on the trout derby.
Organizations from across the Great Lakes will work to educate the public about aquatic invasive species (AIS) during the 7th annual AIS Landing Blitz June 30-July 13. The Green Bay Metro site, Sawyer Park in Sturgeon Bay and Carmody County Park in Little Sturgeon will be among the launches with volunteers.
The Great Lakes Commission has awarded more than $105,000 in grants to conduct outreach to boaters this summer. Two grants were given in Wisconsin. Glacierland Resource Conservation and Development Council of Green Bay got one of them for $9,979, and will be using it to support strategic education efforts at a half-dozen inland lakes in Manitowoc and Kewaunee counties, including Krohn’s, East Alaska and Heidmann lakes in KC.
Funding for the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz is provided by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative through a grant agreement between the Great Lakes Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information on the Great Lakes AIS Landing Blitz, including educational materials, location, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.glc.org/blitz.
Managers of shooting ranges that meet public access requirements or individuals interested in building a new shooting range are encouraged to apply for the state’s Shooting Range Grant Program by July 15. New this year, before submitting an application, anyone interested is required to contact DNR grant program manager Sarah Brenner (715-894-8666) or DNR public shooting range manager Brett Johanen (608-772-4928) to discuss their interest in applying.
Previous projects awarded grant funding include renovating or constructing backstops, shooting benches, restrooms and indoor ranges. Learn more at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/aid/ShootingRange.html.
All eight of Wisconsin’s bat species consume vast quantities of night-flying insects. Biologists estimate that a single bat can devour hundreds to thousands of insects in just an hour. Many of those are mosquitoes, but agricultural pests like corn earworm moths, potato beetles, and cutworm moths are also consumed, helping farmers and gardeners see reduced damage.
Want to help bats? Buy and install bat houses, or build your own.
For tips, visit https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/BatHouse.html. For a list of answers to frequently asked questions about bats, visit
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