Whitewater Fishing unveils the updated Basin Deck Boot, featuring advanced vulcanized construction, slip-resistant sole technology, and a new Vintage Camo colorway. Priced at $99.99, the boot combines waterproof performance with athletic mobility and odor-management features, launching early 2027.

Sgt. Steve Griebel of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources received the Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement's Officer of the Year award for Iowa. Griebel serves as field training officer, mentors conservation officers, and provides expertise on hunting regulations, curriculum development, and timber enforcement.

Iowa DNR Fish Culture Research Biologist Alan Johnson received the Midwest Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (MAFWA) Fisheries Biologist of the Year award for his decades of research advancing fish culture science and conservation. Based at Rathbun Fish Hatchery, Johnson's technical breakthroughs in walleye culture have shaped modern warm and coolwater fish culture practices.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ashley National Forest, and Red Canyon Lodge are hosting a free hummingbird banding demonstration on July 18 in Dutch John. Participants can observe biologists band hummingbirds and learn about migration patterns and conservation efforts for these fascinating birds.

A section of the Flathead River will close to all watercraft from July 8-9 for steel girder installation on the Sportsman's Bridge project on Montana Highway 82 northwest of Bigfork. The closure extends approximately 20 feet upstream and 500 feet downstream of the bridge.

Beretta will return to the 2026 SASP and SCTP Nationals at Cardinal Shooting Center in Marengo, Ohio, July 11-18, featuring expanded product demonstrations, early access previews of new models, and on-site gunsmithing services. The company will showcase APX A1, 90 series, and 80X Cheetah pistols at SASP and latest shotgun innovations at SCTP.

Steve Foster of Team Ruger won High Overall and first place in the Open division at the Michigan State Rimfire Challenge Championship, competing with a Ruger Mark IV pistol and 10/22 Carbon Fiber rifle across 10 stages. Sturm, Ruger & Company congratulated Foster on his exceptional performance and commitment to rimfire competition.

Over 5,500 Wyoming students participated in Trout in the Classroom, a partnership between the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Trout Unlimited. Students raised rainbow trout in classrooms and released fingerlings into 24 community fisheries, learning ecology, water quality, and conservation while gaining hands-on STEM experience.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Firearms Policy Coalition filed a petition for Supreme Court review in Calce v. City of New York, challenging New York City's ban on electronic arms. SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut and founder Alan M. Gottlieb argue the prohibition violates the Second Amendment and that residents should have access to non-lethal self-defense options.

The Maine Warden Service located 70-year-old Michael Labreck of Limestone after he spent the night lost in woods near Trafton Lake when his boat experienced mechanical issues. Wardens Kayle Hamilton, Ed Christie, and others, assisted by Forest Rangers and K-9 Ash, found Labreck alive. He was treated for early-stage hypothermia by Caribou EMS.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department will host Junior Warden Weekend at Kehoe Green Mountain Conservation Camp in Castleton on August 1-2 for teens ages 15-17. The program features K-9 demos, mock crime scene investigations, game processing, and camp activities, with Lieutenant Wes Butler and Hannah Lafont coordinating the experience. Registration costs $150 and includes all meals.

Wildlife for Tomorrow announces the 28th Annual Arizona Outdoor Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on August 22, 2026, at The Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park. The event honors inductees including Leland "Bill" Brake, Mark Hullinger, James Marquardt (posthumously), John Millican, and the Southeastern Arizona Bird Observatory. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available.

SLG2, Inc. will bring its Shoot Like A Girl experience to Cabela's in Hamburg, Pennsylvania on July 11-12, followed by Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg on July 18-19. The free event features hands-on firearm and archery experiences, product demonstrations, and outdoor education for women, families, and enthusiasts of all skill levels.

A substantial fish kill affecting all species occurred at Timber Point Wildlife Management Area in Butler County, Nebraska. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists confirmed extremely low dissolved oxygen levels caused by an algal bloom die-off. The Lower Platte South Natural Resources District manages the WMA.

Payette Lake's kokanee population is experiencing lower abundance this year, but the fish are larger than usual. Idaho Fish and Game's lake trout suppression program and renewed kokanee stocking efforts since 2018 have successfully rebuilt the fishery from near-total collapse, with managers now evaluating stocking strategies and natural reproduction to maintain long-term sustainability.

Georgia angler Caroline Langdale caught a 30.5-inch brown trout on Idaho's South Fork Snake River with guide Ed Emory of South Fork Lodge, setting a new state catch-and-release record. Fish and Game's Sportfish Coordinator verified the record, noting that brown trout exceeding 30 inches in this river are exceptionally rare.

Michigan's Department of Natural Resources launched an interactive story map showcasing the state's 10 Forest Legacy projects, which protect over 238,000 acres across the northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula. The program, including the recent Michigamme Highlands conservation easement, preserves ecologically important forests while providing public recreational access and supporting sustainable forest management.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP) advisory council will meet July 14-15 in Helena to rank and review grant proposals. The public can view the meetings via Zoom. WHIP coordinator Andrew Amidon is available for more information.

The Michigan DNR is accepting applications for off-road vehicle safety education grants to fund certified instructors and ORV safety courses. County and local government agencies, school districts, and colleges and universities may apply by August 1st. Grant funding supports safety classes required for ORV operators under 16 years old.

Nebraska's Deer Exchange program, available annually from September 1 through March 1, connects hunters with surplus deer to recipients seeking venison. Participants can register for free on OutdoorNebraska.gov to find local parties and arrange transfers, with recipients able to pay for processing services.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has restored the 116-acre Rosenow Timber in Shelby County by removing invasive honeysuckle and using controlled burns to promote oak forest growth. Wildlife biologist Doug Chafa reports that woodland plants like wild ginger and Virginia water leaf have returned, providing habitat for turkeys, deer, and migrating birds.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) is hiring a Regional Director for western South Dakota and western Nebraska to manage volunteer chapters, organize fundraising events, and oversee grant programs. The remote position requires frequent travel and a bachelor's degree with five years of professional experience.

Zanders announced the addition of Infitac Thermal Pistol Sights to its optics lineup. The Infitac Fast Mini Series includes the FML 19 and FMP 13 models, featuring advanced thermal imaging technology optimized for handgun applications with multiple reticle options and 60 Hz refresh rates.

The Boone and Crockett Club reached a $5 million endowment milestone for its wildlife conservation program at Clemson University, renamed the John P. Evans '75 Boone and Crockett Wildlife Conservation Program in recognition of Johnny Evans' leadership. The program supports science-based wildlife management research across the Southeast, including studies on black bears, invasive species, and predator-prey dynamics.

The Dallas Safari Club Foundation is supporting Retrieving Freedom, Inc. at its Summer Expo Gala on July 25, featuring a limited-edition Henry rifle in the live auction. Retrieving Freedom trains and places service dogs for veterans with disabilities and children with autism, with partners including Boyt Harness Company, Brownell's, Federal, Hornady, and others.

The Safari Club International Foundation Bell Family Blue Bag Program combined conservation and humanitarianism in Botswana, where Claude Howard, Antonio of Iber Hunting, and Zander Osmers Safaris conducted an ethical elephant hunt and donated the meat to feed 1,500 community members. The team also delivered supplies to a local school, demonstrating sustainable-use conservation principles.

Whitetails Unlimited announced its 2026-2027 Program Service Initiatives including the Deer Poster & Target initiative, Clean Optics Hunt Safely initiative, Donate a Deer Initiative, and Kids on Target shooting team program. Members attending WTU events will receive educational materials, lens cleaning cloths, and resources supporting hunting safety, conservation, and youth shooting sports engagement.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announces the release of the Bodyguard 2.0 with an installed Viridian RFX1 green dot reflex optic. The .380 Auto micro-pistol features enhanced ergonomic design, weighs twelve ounces, and ships with tritium-insert front sight and Viridian's INSTANT-ON technology for rapid target acquisition.

ALPS Mountaineering has released the Micro Air portable air pump, a compact device powered by external power banks that inflates and deflates sleeping pads and other inflatables. Weighing just 1 ounce with multiple nozzle options and a carry bag, the pump will launch in summer 2026.

XS Sights has launched R3D 2.0 night sights for Palmetto State Armory's Dagger Micro Pistol, featuring dual tritium illumination with a Glow Dot ring available in green or orange. The sights are priced at $128.12 and backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty plus 12-year illumination warranty.

WOOX, an Italian-American gunstock manufacturer, announces the Elegante Hybrid bolt action rifle stock designed for hunters seeking precision without sacrificing traditional handling. Crafted from hand-selected Claro American walnut with an integrated aluminum mini-chassis, the stock weighs 35 ounces and is priced from $549 to $879.

Wilson Combat introduces the America 250th Limited Edition 1911 Series, commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence. The first 25 pistols feature hand engraving by master engraver Wayne D'Angelo, with subsequent models using precision laser engraving. Orders remain open through December 31, 2026.

Tamarack Armory in Meadville, PA is highlighted as a new C&H Precision dealer. The store offers retail, gunsmithing, and restoration services with over 60 years of combined industry experience, providing C&H optics, plates, and firearm refurbishment.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders appointed Steve Kueter of Paragould to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission for a seven-year term. Kueter, a lifelong outdoorsman and third-generation aquaculture farmer, owns Kueter's Fish Company, Inc. and brings decades of conservation and agriculture experience to the role.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department's Commercial Fishing Boat Advisory Board will meet July 15 via Zoom livestream. The board will discuss two recommendations for the interim Joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee: creating an independent Fishing Outfitters Board or joining the Wyoming State Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources Natural Resource Commission will hold its monthly meeting on July 9 at 9:30 a.m. in Des Moines. The public may attend in person or participate remotely via video conference or phone. The agenda includes deer season quota changes, construction projects, and a contract with Insight Public Sector Inc for body cameras.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks is seeking public comment on multiple environmental assessments including General Custer Fishing Access Site repairs, private pond licenses for rainbow and cutthroat trout stocking, Boulder Forks Fishing Access Site bridge replacement, westslope cutthroat trout restoration in Harley Creek, and the Roosters for Recruitment pheasant release program through July 29.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Commission will meet July 14-15 in Sheridan at the Ramada Plaza, with in-person and virtual Zoom options available. The meeting will include presentations, discussions, and approval of proposed revisions to Regulation Chapters 35 and 44, with public comment opportunities.

The Cianciarulo family's 26th season of The Choice premieres on Pursuit Channel, featuring Ralph, Vicki, RJ, and Aubrey hunting boars at Cree River Lodge in Saskatchewan while enjoying fishing opportunities in this action-packed episode.

World Fishing Network launches "Reel Tips Tuesdays" educational programming block starting at 6 p.m. ET, featuring shows like Let's Fish TV, Arkansas Great Outdoors with Carlton Wing and Leigh, Fishing the Midwest with Mike Frisch, Angling Edge Adventures with the Lindner team, Facts of Fishing with Dave Mercer, Fishing 411 with Mark and Jake Romanack, Hook the Future with Captain Don Dingman, and National Walleye Tour presented by Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's.

Pursuit Media announced a renewed 5-year distribution agreement with DIRECTV, extending their 18-year partnership. The enhanced deal makes Pursuit Channel content available in full HD across DIRECTV Satellite, DIRECTV Stream, U-Verse, and MyFree by DIRECTV, reaching millions of subscribers.

Shooting USA features GAP Grind 2025, the largest Precision Rifle match of the season created by George Gardner of GA-Precision to welcome new competitors. The event takes place at a new sporting facility in Rapid City, South Dakota designed as a marksmanship destination.

Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region has responded to numerous raccoon calls in Pocatello and Chubbuck over three weeks, with reports of sick or lethargic animals. One raccoon tested positive for canine distemper, a highly contagious disease caused by a paramyxovirus. Dr. Nicole Walrath notes the disease is not transmissible to humans but is almost 100% fatal to raccoons and skunks.

For anyone who fishes the Gulf of America—few sights inspire more confidence than the silhouette of an offshore oil or gas platform rising from blue water. Pulling up-current of a rig can turn a long, expensive run into a cooler full of snapper, amberjack, grouper, and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you’re fishing a place that holds life.

But more anglers are now experiencing the opposite. They run 30 or 40 miles to a waypoint that’s produced fish for decades, only to find an empty horizon and a flat screen on the sonar. No legs. No crossbeams. Just mud and sand. That scene is playing out with increasing frequency across the Gulf.

Thanks to Chris Horton who is the Senior Director of Fisheries Policy for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), this issue is front and center this month after his editorial in the billfish magazine, In the Bite.

Since the late 1940s, roughly 7,000 offshore platforms have been installed in Gulf waters. Built to extract oil and gas, they were never intended as fish habitat. Yet it didn’t take long for anglers, divers, and scientists to notice that these steel structures functioned like underwater skyscrapers, creating vertical relief in an otherwise featureless seafloor. Over time, they became some of the most productive marine habitats anywhere in the region.

They not only attract bottom fish and bait, they also draw pelagic giants in—white and blue marlin, sails, wahoo, yellowfin tuna and other high-value targets cruise steadily around the rigs.

What began as incidental structure evolved into essential habitat. Algae, corals, sponges, and barnacles colonized the steel. Baitfish followed. Predators weren’t far behind. For generations of Gulf anglers, rigs became reliable producers—and in many cases, the only meaningful structure for miles.

That reality has fueled a long-running debate: do artificial structures merely attract fish from surrounding areas, or do they actually increase overall fish production? While some aggregation is inevitable, a growing body of research points to the latter.

A 2020 study by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management found that as much as 48 percent of the Gulf’s greater amberjack stock is associated with offshore oil and gas infrastructure. The authors warned that large-scale removals were likely to have “significant adverse impacts on local fisheries,” particularly off Louisiana and Mississippi.

Even more striking findings came earlier. A 2014 paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reported that oil and gas platforms off California produced more secondary fish biomass per unit area of seafloor than any other marine habitat studied. In plain terms, these structures don’t just gather fish—they help make more of them.

Despite that, federal habitat policy offers little protection for these accidental reefs. The NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation focuses primarily on natural habitats, with limited emphasis on the biological value of aging offshore platforms. Today, about 1,050 platforms remain in the Gulf, and roughly half sit on terminated leases. By law, most are slated for removal in the coming years.

That’s where Rigs-to-Reefs enters the picture.

Under approved Rigs-to-Reefs programs, states can partner with platform owners to convert obsolete structures into permanent artificial reefs. The wells must be permanently sealed, just as they would be for full removal, but instead of hauling the structure to shore for scrap, it’s left in place or reefed nearby under state management.

The concept works. It saves money, preserves habitat, and keeps productive fishing grounds intact. But in practice, it’s an uphill climb. With as many as five federal agencies involved in permitting and approvals, the process can take two to four years per platform. As a result, far more structures are removed than reefed, even as hundreds more line up for decommissioning.

Location complicates things further. If a platform isn’t already within a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers–approved reef planning area, it must be towed to one. That added expense discourages participation and often destroys the very corals and encrusting organisms that took decades to develop.

Recognizing the problem, the CSF worked with members of Congress to introduce the Marine Fisheries Habitat Protection Act (H.R. 5745). Sponsored by Reps. Mike Ezell of Mississippi, Marc Veasey of Texas, and Troy Carter of Louisiana, the bill would provide more time to transition decommissioned platforms into state reef programs and allow qualifying structures to be reefed in place.

For anglers and conservationists alike, that last provision matters. Reefing in place preserves habitat, reduces costs, and avoids turning living reefs into scrap piles. The window, however, is closing quickly. Platforms are being removed now, and once they’re gone, so are the ecosystems they supported.

To help illustrate what’s at stake, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation partnered with Arena Energy on the documentary Steel to Sanctuary: The Rigs-to-Reef Story. The film makes the case that these structures represent one of the most successful large-scale habitat experiments ever conducted—albeit by accident—and that losing them wholesale would be a self-inflicted wound for Gulf fisheries.

For anglers, the issue is simple. Today’s hot spots shouldn’t become tomorrow’s ghost spots. With thoughtful policy and timely action, the rigs that built Gulf fisheries can continue doing so long after their last barrel of oil is pumped.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor of The Water Wire
Frankmako1@gmail.com