FISHING

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mitigation Action and Waterman Support (MAWS) Act and the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2025. The MAWS Act establishes a pilot program to create a market for Chesapeake Bay blue catfish in pet food, while the second bill prohibits lead ammunition bans on federal lands unless supported by science and state law.

Lake John State Wildlife Area in Jackson County offers excellent fishing for rainbow trout, cutbows, and Snake River cutthroats. Aquatic biologist Mark Sandersen with Colorado Parks and Wildlife highlights the lake's thriving ecosystem, abundant vegetation, and diverse invertebrate hatches that support healthy fish populations year-round.

New York's recreational striped bass fishing season opens with specific regulations for Hudson River and marine waters, including slot sizes, possession limits, and required handling practices to reduce release mortality and conserve the population.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission invites residents and visitors to enjoy license-free freshwater fishing on April 4-5. Family events at Tenoroc Fish Management Area and Florida Bass Conservation Center feature casting contests, free meals from Publix Supermarkets and Vital Fleet Services, and loaner equipment for youth.

Wisconsin's 2026-2027 inland trout harvest season will open one month earlier on April 4 and run through October 15, 2026. The earlier opening provides expanded fishing opportunities on inland streams, springs, and spring ponds when trout populations are strong and other seasons are closed.

Idaho Fish and Game's Hagerman Wildlife Management Area opened for fishing on March 1, featuring a dozen stocked ponds and lakes with rainbow trout, including the area's legendary yellow-colored "banana trout" variant. The facility offers family-friendly amenities and benefits from its mild climate and Fish and Game's Hagerman Hatchery operations.

Bailey Bleser and his father Rich won the US Anglers Choice National Championship on Pickwick Lake with 49.01 pounds, earning nearly $80,000 and qualification for the 2026 Bassmaster Team Championship. The victory highlights how grassroots tournament trails like US Anglers Choice and B.A.S.S. Nation provide pathways for competitive anglers to reach the highest levels of professional bass fishing.

Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources reports abundant walleye fishing opportunities expected in 2026 through collaborative hatchery efforts. DWR fisheries biologists and hatchery staff at Vic Thomas, Front Royal, King and Queen, and Buller Fish Cultural Stations propagate walleye fingerlings stocked across Commonwealth waters.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife awarded 10,127 Fish Ohio pins to anglers in 2025 across 26 species. Lake Erie led with 3,867 qualifying catches, while popular inland destinations included Mosquito Creek Lake, Buckeye Lake, and Alum Creek Lake. The program celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026.

As spring arrives in the Northeast, striped bass anglers are embracing large glide baits as an exciting alternative to traditional techniques. Experts Anthony DeiCicchi from On the Water and Capt. Robert Taylor of Newport Sport Fishing Charters discuss why these oversized lures are gaining popularity and the specialized gear needed for success.

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) will stock over 50,000 golden rainbow trout at 69 lakes and streams from March 30 to April 11. Anglers catching tagged fish can win prizes including a lifetime fishing license and state park stays, with West Virginia State Parks offering 15% discounts at select locations.

Outdoors Radio features National Deer Association president and CEO Nick Pinizzotto, Wisconsin underwater archaeologist Tamara Thomsen, and Dan Small presenting a fly-fishing seminar at the Muskies Inc. Muskie School in Waunakee.

The Virginia Trout Slam challenges anglers to catch Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Brown Trout in the same day. Participants can submit their catches to the DWR Trophy Fish Program via Go Outdoors VA to receive a sticker. The Massanutten Chapter of Trout Unlimited supports this initiative, offering pre-planned fishing trips across Virginia regions.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources approved new 2026 striped bass regulations that open April for catch-and-release fishing and close August to protect fish during hot water temperatures. The seasonal shift simplifies regulations while maintaining conservation protections and increasing recreational fishing opportunities.

EGO Fishing releases operational directives for mastering landing net technique with the EGO S2 Slider, covering critical protocols including extension reach, head-first entry, proper angles, and angler-netman coordination to ensure successful fish extraction.

Darren Nunley caught a 15.75-pound largemouth bass on Nickajack Lake using a Z-Man/EverGreen ChatterBait JackHammer, pending DNA testing for Tennessee state record certification. Guide Hensley Powell directed Nunley to the spot where the fish, which had never been caught in 15 years, was landed on a single cast.

The Missouri Department of Conservation reminds anglers that paddlefish snagging season begins March 15 at Lake of the Ozarks, Harry S. Truman Reservoir, and Table Rock Lake through April 30. MDC is tagging paddlefish for monitoring and offering rewards for tagged fish reports, with daily limits of two paddlefish and a 32-inch minimum length requirement.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife will release more than 80,000 rainbow trout at 93 locations beginning March 11, including six new sites across the state. Trout stocking events run through May with special youth-only fishing opportunities at select locations, and anglers should note the daily limit is five rainbow trout per angler.

MDWFP invites anglers 15 and younger to free youth fishing rodeos across Mississippi. Events feature well-stocked catfish ponds, educational activities, and instruction from Fisheries Technical staff, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science biologists, and volunteer anglers. Contact Sherry Hazelwood or Ryan Jones at (601) 432-2208 for details.

More than 2,000 anglers participated in the catch-and-keep trout season opening at Montauk State Park, where the Missouri Department of Conservation stocked 7,500 rainbow trout. MDC Fisheries Section Chief Bruce Drecktrah highlighted the significance of opening day, while honored guests James and Jean Morton, longtime park neighbors with deep family roots dating to 1926, fired the starter gun.