Whitewater Fishing and Fish Monkey have launched the Pro365 Guide Glove, featuring Griptanite Non-Slip Grip Technology, reinforced cut-resistant pads, and UPF 50+ sun protection with LongHaul Life-of-the-Glove technology. The glove is designed for durability and comfort during extended fishing trips.

TUO has launched the Vista Pant, a lightweight technical hunting pant featuring an 85% nylon/15% polyester blend with two-way mechanical stretch. The pant incorporates Polygiene StayFresh™ and OdorCrunch™ odor-control technologies, articulated knees, inner thigh gussets, and eight pockets for enhanced functionality and comfort in the field.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) held its 2026 Coordinator Conference in Helena, Montana, bringing together representatives from 33 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Hosted by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, the event focused on expanding student participation, supporting instructors, and sharing successful strategies to benefit approximately 1.3 million students.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®) introduced its inaugural Grand Champion Award at the NASP® Championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, recognizing student archers demonstrating consistent excellence across four premier events. Isabella Caplinger and Callan Hignight earned the inaugural titles in the girls and boys divisions, respectively.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, partnering with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and Lucas County Conservation Board, is restoring the newly acquired 356-acre Rathbun Wildlife Area in southeastern Lucas County through invasive species removal, prescribed fire, and wetland restoration to enhance habitat quality.

The Second Amendment Foundation filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore, challenging Maryland's Senate Bill 334 banning Glock handguns. SAF is joined by Atlantic Guns, the National Rifle Association, Firearms Policy Coalition, and two private citizens in arguing the ban is unconstitutional.

Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), alongside the National Rifle Association of America and Second Amendment Foundation, filed a motion for preliminary injunction in Bathras v. Moore challenging Maryland's ban on semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars, which affects nearly all Glock and Glock-style pistols.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources hosts the 31st annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl & Outdoor Festival August 1-2 at Bay City State Park, featuring free family activities, over 50 vendors, hunting clinics, and the Michigan Duck Stamp competition. The festival celebrates waterfowl heritage and wetland conservation with support from Ducks Unlimited, Michigan Duck Hunters Association, and other sponsors.

The Gulf Council is requesting feedback from active fishermen about red snapper trends in the Gulf through its Fisherman Feedback Tool. Responses are due by August 21, 2026, and will inform scientists and managers conducting a stock assessment on red snapper.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks confirmed non-native brown trout in Ashley Lake and Church Slough, urging anglers to kill and report catches to FWP Region 1 at 406-752-5501. Fisheries biologist Kenny Breidinger emphasized the threat to Flathead fisheries and the importance of angler reporting for rapid response.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission approved modifications to the 2026 fall Chinook salmon fishing season across multiple Snake River and Clearwater River fisheries. The daily bag limit remains three adult fall Chinook, but anglers may now keep only one unclipped adult per day due to lower forecasted wild Chinook numbers. Fall Chinook seasons open August 18.

Timothy Hicks of Post Falls set a new Idaho catch-and-release record by landing a 49.75-inch Northern pike on Lake Pend Oreille on June 13, surpassing Scott Blahnik's previous 2020 record by 3/4 of an inch.

Idaho Fish and Game's Angler Incentive Program rewards anglers and spearfishers for catching lake trout and walleye on Lake Pend Oreille. Tagged walleye are worth $1,000 each, while every lake trout head earns $15. The program, funded by the Clark Fork Settlement Agreement through Avista, helps manage the lake's fisheries and protect kokanee populations.

RETAY USA launched the "Dog Days of Summer" Giveaway featuring a black lab puppy from Southern Pine Kennels, dog training gear from Avery Sporting Dog, a Lucky Duck kennel, MIGRA 20-gauge ammo, Sportsman's Pride dog food, and a RETAY ACE R 20 gauge shotgun for hunters preparing for fall season.

Whitetails Unlimited awarded 2,312 grants totaling $4,059,605 for mission-related projects during their 2025-2026 fiscal year. The grants support four pillar programs including habitat enhancement, education, and preservation of hunting traditions for future generations.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting Watchable Wildlife Grant proposals funded through the Wildlife Conservation Fund to enhance wildlife viewing opportunities. The application period runs August 3 to October 2, 2026, with a maximum award of $6,000 per proposal and a required 25% project match.

The Idaho Fish and Game Commission awarded $100,000 to organizations statewide including the Idaho Trappers Association, Mule Deer Foundation, Cast Hope, and Idaho Wildlife Federation for projects enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, education, and recreational opportunities in hunting, fishing, and trapping.

Nearly 500 leftover permits for special deer hunts at Arkansas wildlife management areas will be available for purchase beginning July 22 at 9 a.m. through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website. Permits cover modern gun, alternative firearms, youth, and mobility-impaired hunts at $5 each on a first-come, first-served basis.

North Dakota's Game and Fish is offering 95 antlerless whitetail deer licenses in unit 3F2 on a first-come, first-served basis beginning August 12 at 10 a.m. Central time. Eligible residents and nonresidents can apply online at gf.nd.gov.

The Magic Valley Region is offering an instructor-led hunter education class in Rupert on August 14-15 at the Rupert Outdoor Shooting Complex. The class runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days and costs $8. Pre-registration is required at register-ed.com.

Fall licenses for turkey, deer, bobcat, and trapping seasons are now available for purchase through GoOutdoorsIN.com, mail, in-person retailers, and the new free GoOutdoorsIN mobile app for Android and iOS. The app allows hunters and anglers to view licenses, purchase new ones, and check in harvests from their smartphones.

Orchid announced a new integration between Orchid POS and Chattanooga Shooting Supplies' live inventory of over 45,000 shooting and hunting SKUs, featuring real-time stock levels and pricing. The integration will be showcased at the Annual Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show on July 27–28, 2026, at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

Outdoor Mentors announced its expansion into Pennsylvania and hired Tyler Coleman as the organization's first Pennsylvania Program Coordinator. Coleman, an award-winning taxidermist and Penn State graduate who owns Full Circle Waterfowl LLC, will lead the nonprofit's youth mentorship efforts across the state.

Hilary Hutcheson, renowned fly fisher and owner of Lary's Fly & Supply in Columbia Falls, Montana, was featured on episode #34 of the Fly Fisherman Loop to Loop podcast hosted by Ross Purnell. Hutcheson discussed her conservation work, the Flathead River's pristine cutthroat trout fishery, and her film The Tengu Club exploring Japanese American fishing heritage.

HeadHunters NW Podcast host Shaylene Keiner interviews Jack Jameson of BSF Barrels about his 20-year firearms industry career. The episode covers BSF Barrels' patented carbon fiber barrel process, OEM partnerships with Weatherby, Savage, and Henry, and a new distribution partnership with Sports South.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announces the M&P15 AXE SBR chambered in 300 Blackout, featuring Gemtech's GVAC suppressor-optimized gas system. The rifle includes an 8-inch barrel, Midwest Industries Combat M-LOK handguard, Magpul CTR stock, and Radian Raptor charging handle, optimized for suppressed operation.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. announced the launch of the M&P15 AXE Pistol, featuring Gemtech's GVAC direct impingement gas system designed for suppressed shooting. The .300 Blackout pistol includes an 8-inch barrel, Midwest Industries Combat M-LOK handguard, Radian Raptor charging handle, and Magpul BTR arm brace.

GRITR Sports, a Federally Licensed Firearms Dealer in North Richland Hills, Texas, confirmed it will continue shipping firearms to Virginia customers in compliance with enforceable laws. The company will not restrict access based on blocked legislation and will only change policies if required by court order.

Texas Trophy Hunters Association (TTHA) announced tickets are now on sale for the 50th Annual Hunters Extravaganza, making stops in Houston, San Antonio, and Fort Worth throughout August 2026. The premier hunting and outdoor expo will feature hundreds of exhibitors, educational seminars, live demonstrations, and special anniversary celebrations honoring five decades of Texas hunting heritage.

Blaser Group will exhibit at the Dallas Safari Club Summer Expo July 23-26, 2026 in Grapevine, TX, showcasing premium firearms from Blaser, Mauser, J.P. Sauer & Sohn, and John Rigby & Co., including the Blaser R8 Professional 2.0, Mauser 98 Das Original, and Sauer 505 rifles.

TriStar Arms will exhibit at the 2026 Chattanooga Shooting Supplies Dealer Show on July 27-28, showcasing new firearms including the APOC PRO 9mm pistol, Upland Hunter Thumbhole Stock shotgun, and KR22 rifle in new finishes at Booth #514.

MOJO Outdoors invites hunters to visit Booth #629 at the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo in Des Moines, IA (July 24-26) to preview advanced motion decoys and speak with staff about new and existing products.

T/C Arms will exhibit at the Chattanooga Shooting Dealer Show (7/27 & 7/28) at Booth #611, showcasing its revolutionary ENCORE Federal FireStick muzzleloading platform. The encapsulated powder system delivers improved consistency, easier cleanup, and streamlined shooting experience. CEO Gregg Ritz highlights the platform's momentum and upcoming product launches.

Fish and Game's Magic Valley Region will host its 4th annual blood drive on August 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Magic Valley Regional Office in Jerome. The goal is to collect 30 units of blood for the American Red Cross. Appointments are required and can be scheduled at www.redcrossblood.org using sponsor code FishGame or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Lewis and Clark State Park in Onawa, Iowa reopened July 17 for day-use and camping after completing the first phase of hazardous tree removal. The park removed hundreds of dead cottonwood trees, though shaded campsites remain limited. The Visitor Center and Keel Boat Exhibit remain closed for HVAC renovations.

Shooting USA features the tenth anniversary of the Civilian Marksmanship Program's Talladega Marksmanship Park and the tenth year of the CMP Talladega 600 series, including the Congressional 30 service rifle match on Range One. The show airs Wednesday at 9:00 PM ET/PT on Outdoor Channel.

South Central Public Health District confirmed rabies in a bat on July 14 in Blaine County, south of Stanley, marking the first confirmed rabid bat in South Central Idaho this year. Officials urge residents to avoid handling bats and contact local public health districts if exposure occurs, as the rabies virus is fatal and spread through saliva.

Idaho Fish and Game euthanized a food-conditioned black bear after it broke into a Swan Valley home in July, ransacking the kitchen and obtaining human food rewards on multiple occasions. Wildlife Manager Eric Freeman emphasized that human safety is the agency's priority and relocation was not an option for the bear that entered an occupied residence.

Idaho Fish and Game, with assistance from the Cassia County Sheriff's Office, safely tranquilized and relocated a yearling bull moose found in a gated area behind a Burley business to suitable habitat in the Magic Valley Region's southern portion.

God should just admit He made a mistake in creating no-see-ums and wipe them out, in my opinion, along with black flies, buffalo gnats and time-share salesmen.

No-see-ums are one of the few creatures on Earth that can make a hard-core angler cry “Uncle!”

Actually, what we really cry can’t be printed here due to Internet protocols.

They are so small you can’t see them coming, yet somehow they arrive by the thousands, locate the one square inch of exposed skin between your glove and shirt cuff, and make you question every life decision that brought you to that mangrove shoreline.

The name itself sounds harmless. “No-see-um.” How bad can something you can’t see hurt you?

The reality is a flying grain of sand armed with a hypodermic needle and a personal grudge against fishermen.

And they never travel alone. Coordinated attacks can involve numbers that seem destined to peel away every inch of exposed skin. They can slip through ordinary window screens and find the one exposed spot you forgot to cover.

Right now is prime time. No-see-ums are at their worst through late summer and early fall along much of the Gulf Coast, Florida and up into the Carolinas. In South Florida, especially around mangroves, backcountry flats and estuaries, there is really no true off-season.

The places where anglers find paradise are the same places no-see-ums call home: The Everglades. Florida Bay. The Ten Thousand Islands. The Indian River Lagoon. Gulf Coast bays. Atlantic mangrove creeks.

You get redfish, snook, tarpon and endless sunshine.

You also get clouds of tiny insects that apparently believe human beings were placed on Earth primarily as a buffet.

The frustrating thing is how many of them there are. A boat drifting quietly along a mangrove edge can suddenly become surrounded by a swarm that seems to appear from nowhere. If you cast your lure into the mangroves and try to go in there after it, you take your life in your hands. The no-see-ums and the mosquitoes form a coalition of the willing to drain you like a thousand tiny vampires.

But mosquito at least has the courtesy to announce itself. That high-pitched whine gives you warning. A no-see-um is a silent assassin. It attacks with a stinging bite, disappears and leaves behind an itch that can last for days.

Scientists call them biting midges. Anglers call them much worse things.

They are weak fliers, which is why wind is your friend. A stiff breeze can make a miserable day tolerable because these tiny insects struggle in moving air. But when conditions are calm, humid and windless—especially early morning, late afternoon or around dusk—they can be relentless.

They breed in moist organic areas such as marsh edges, mangrove mud and wet shorelines—the same environments that produce some of the South’s best fishing.

The good news is that you don’t have to surrender your boat keys and become an indoor person until winter.

A little preparation goes a long way.

Dress Like You’re Going to War

Long sleeve shirts are a must—many light, stretchy fabrics are cool but protective, and they also prevent sunburn, so are doubly useful.

A hat with a brim helps protect your face, and a neck gaiter pulled up around the collar leaves fewer attack points. (If you’re fishing the Glades in the dead of summer, you may actually need a fine mesh headnet—believe me, they get every bit that bad!)

Gloves are another overlooked defense. Many anglers spend thousands on rods, reels and electronics but leave their hands uncovered—the exact place no-see-ums love to find. Lightweight fishing gloves also protect your hands from the usual cuts and scratches of fishing.

Repellents Really Help

The most effective repellents contain ingredients such as DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Use them according to label directions. Where there are no-see-ums there are always tons of mosquitoes, too, and the DEET definitely helps with them, though not always with the no-see-ums.

Many anglers also swear by permethrin-treated clothing. Unlike sprays applied to skin, permethrin bonds to fabric and can provide longer-lasting protection when used properly.

And then there is the legendary Florida solution:

Skin-So-Soft.

For generations, boaters have carried bottles of Avon Skin-So-Soft in tackle boxes, coolers and console compartments. Whether its reputation exceeds the science is still debated around marina docks, but thousands of outdoorsmen swear it helps. (Guys, don’t slather up with this stuff and then walk into an Everglades City bar on a Friday night. Just sayin . . . .)

Portable bug-control devices such as Thermacell units can really help create a more comfortable space around a boat or campsite, more effective than any wearable potion, in my experience. But for no-see-ums, stronger formulas and careful placement matter because these insects are more persistent and often more abundant than mosquitoes.

Timing and Location Matter

No-see-ums are not equally bad everywhere or all the time.

Wind is your ally. Fishing an exposed shoreline on a breezy day can be far more pleasant than sitting in a calm mangrove creek.

Early morning and evening are often the worst periods. If conditions allow, planning your fishing around times when insects are less active can make a big difference.

Remember, though, that the best fishing spots are often the places no-see-ums love too. Mangrove shorelines, backcountry creeks and shallow flats hold both fish and insects.

Go prepared and you’ll find them bearable, so long as the fishing is good.

– Frank Sargeant, Editor of The Water Wire