By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

Inland trout season has begun, as well as another season of high hopes.  One year ago I was introduced to the majesty of the Rifle River State Recreation Area and its superb fishery.  The park is located on the upper reaches of the Rifle River within the Au Sable State Forest in Ogemaw County – a relatively short jaunt from Mid-Michigan.  The camper is packed, the reservation has been made, and hopefully the brown trout will find a way to the cast-iron skillet’s sizzling, melted butter.

Eating Like a King

Yeah, butter.  Over the years many of us have been led to believe that butter’s fat content is bad for one’s health.  However, if a person buys into the logic of the Ketogenic diet, it’s the kind of food that can be substituted for cooking oils – many of which are inherently detrimental to health.  Oh, and that wily and wild brown trout?  They are rich in healthy oils and B vitamins and are at the top of my list of tasty consumables.

Never have I seen brown trout alongside fish options at any local market.  There’s the phony crab meat engineered by mad scientists, and plenty of fish sourced from places untrusted for reasons of pollution and handling.  Reading and understanding labels are important and necessary, but the highly sought-after trout in our rivers and streams has no label.

Fresh Michigan Brown Trout

No doubt, Michigan has its own precautionary warnings about fish consumption.  The Au Sable River Watershed – downstream of the Foote Dam in Iosco County has a “Do Not Eat” advisory, for example.  To find out if there is risk from chemical contamination in fish, check out the Eat Safe Fish in Michigan brochure online for specifics.  Like most things in life, moderation is key.

*  A study conducted in year 2020 found that brown trout contained more healthy fish oils (EPA and DHA) than salmon – another Michigan fish rich in nutrients.  Brown trout also contains selenium, iron, iodine, calcium, vitamin A, D and B12, as well as high amounts of protein.

*  Omega-3 fatty acids present in fish are helpful for human development – particularly for brain and eye function.

Eliminating sugar in our diets is a difficult challenge, but worthy of any effort to minimize its detrimental effects on the body – especially when it’s a main source of energy in so many foods.  The Keto diet switches the burning of sugar to burning fat to sustain ourselves.

There’s always a struggle between what our tongues have to say about what we put in our mouths; in fact, it is “the” struggle so many of us face.  However, when we can find solace in good blood pressure readings that reflect dietary intake, it’s reason enough to carry on.  Plus, catching your own healthy food can be exciting, as well.

Alexandria, VA- On April 18, 2023, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act (S. 1185). If enacted, this legislation would prohibit federal land management agencies, namely the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management, from banning the use of traditional tackle and ammunition on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state fish and wildlife agencies. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year, led by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.).

The bill ensures that sportsmen and women’s access is not unjustly prohibited and that anglers throughout the United States can depend on the performance and affordability of lead. Protecting traditional tackle is crucial for ensuring that anglers can continue to enjoy the sport.

The bill was introduced in response to a recent FWS rule that would ban traditional tackle on some National Wildlife Refuges.

“The sportfishing industry is grateful to Senators Daines for introducing the Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act of 2023,” said ASA President Glenn Hughes. “Decisions about the tackle anglers are allowed to use must be based on science, not emotion. This bill will uphold state fish and wildlife agencies as the proper authorities to make science-based determinations around lead fishing tackle.” Read more

14-year-old John Amico takes a top award in CCA Florida STAR saltwater tournament

Martin County, FL (April 18, 2023) – For 14-year-old angler John Amico of Palm City, Florida, persistence finally paid off, to the tune of a $25,000 scholarship presented by the CCA Florida STAR Tournament and Realtree Fishing.

Eleven different species of saltwater fish are eligible for entry during the youth portion of the tournament. Amico won the scholarship after submitting more than 90 entries during the 2022 event. The Florida STAR is the crown jewel of Florida’s Coastal Conservation Association, and it lasts from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Amico joins thousands of other kids each spring in competition for the scholarship. “I’ve been trying to win for four years now,” he said. For each catch and submission, an angler earns another chance at winning a scholarship prize. The more entries, the better the chance. Amico fished with his parents, Rhett and Alicia, and his mentor, Bob Pelosi, nearly every day of the summer tournament in a quest to submit the maximum number of entries. Read more

After ice and snow cover melt on Michigan lakes this spring, it may be more likely for people to discover dead fish or other aquatic animals. While such sights can be startling, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that it is normal, since winter conditions can cause fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish to die.

“Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill,” said Gary Whelan, DNR Fisheries Division research manager. “As the season changes, it can be particularly common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals. These kills are localized and typically do not affect the overall health of the fish populations or fishing quality.” Read more

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the agency’s Boating Infrastructure Grant (BIG) program will provide more than $20 million in grant funding for 19 states to construct, renovate and maintain marinas and other boating facilities for outdoor recreation.

Under the BIG program, more than $2.8 million will fund projects in 19 states under the BIG Tier 1 subprogram, and $17 million in grants will be awarded competitively for projects in 10 states under the BIG Tier 2 subprogram. Since its inception in 2000, the BIG program has awarded over $283 million to projects for large transient recreational boats, including funding the construction of more than 6,800 berths and other amenities benefiting boaters across most states and U.S. territories.

States receiving BIG grants include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and U.S. Virgin Islands. Read more

Changes at Zebco, but the “bomb company” keeps on ticking

Zebco-Europe, the continental arm of one of the most venerable names in the tackle industry worldwide, has announced the closing next year of their long-time operation in Tostedt, Germany.

The company says the measure is a streamlining of European operations. Per North Data (northdata.com) Zebco-Europe GmbH had negative earnings from 2015 to 2020, though it had a boom year in 2021.

Zebco (then a part of Brunswick) bought the operation in 2011, and then was itself acquired by Rather Outdoors in 2021. Rather Outdoors has also acquired multiple other companies in the fishing industry in recent years, including Lew’s, Strike King, Fox, Matrix, Preston, Salmo and Fox Rage.

Rather is consolidating their European operation and moving the business to Belgium. The German operation will be closed and about 80 employees will lose their jobs in 2024, according to a recent letter from Paul Reeves, president of Zebco-Europe.

“Unfortunately, the operation of several locations in several countries does not make economic sense due to the significantly higher costs. We have decided that the best way for Rather Outdoors to do business is to consolidate our operations in mainland Europe,” Reeves said in the letter.

A Brief History

Zebco was founded in 1932 as the Zero Hour Bomb Co. with a patent on cylindrical electric time bombs used in the oil-drilling business. In 1942, with that patent set to expire, they began making a then-revolutionary fishing reel designed by Texas watchmaker H.D. Hull—a casting reel that could not backlash. The closed-face spinning reel was born.

The reel was an instant hit, and by the middle 1950’s it was the most popular fishing reel in the nation. The company was acquired by Brunswick, parent of Mercury Marine and other outdoors businesses, in 1961. It moved into the Tulsa headquarters in 1966. By 1975, some 70 million of the reels had been sold. Today, the count is in excess of 250 million reels. Read more

One of Michigan’s best-kept vacation secrets is the 80-plus state-sponsored harbors that circle the Great Lakes State.

Many harbors offer seasonal slips and all harbors offer “transient” slips, available for boats more than 11 feet and open to those staying two weeks or less. On average, rates run around $1.60 per foot, which means a 20-foot pontoon is about $32 a night. Transient slips offer a great way to experience Michigan’s bigger waters and the marina lifestyle with modern restrooms, showers, grilling areas and other waterfront amenities. You’ll also have easy access to fishing runs, ferry watching, and sunrises and sunsets from your boat.

If you don’t want to bunk on your boat, find a harbor close to home so you can sleep in your own bed. Or take your boat along for your next Michigan beach town trip and make a slip reservation at a harbor nearby.

Reservations can be made at MiDNRReservations.com; select the Harbor tab. Some harbors take reservations directly (view map).

By Glen Wunderlich

Charter Member Professional Outdoor Media Association (POMA)

With trout fishing season around the corner, it was time for me to walk softly and to carry a tired flashlight.  The particularly heavy rains of spring were impetus enough for me to get out in the dark and collect some bait:  nightcrawlers.

My innate cheapness led me back to my childhood, when best friend, Jack Shepherd, and I would hunt for nightcrawlers ahead of some lake fishing for whatever was hungry.  Back in the 50s, I never heard of buying bait and never had two nickels to rub together anyway.   Wasting a week’s allowance on something that a little time and skill could produce was out of the question.

Fortunately, Jack’s father was wise in the ways of do-it-yourself projects.  He taught us how to build kites, make rubber band guns, whistles from tin can lids and blades of quack grass and hand-crafted shingle rockets that were “shot” into space.  Finding nightcrawlers was as easy as a stalk in the dark; catching them was another skillful matter.

The best time was after a rain, when the big crawlers would naturally surface in the dark.  Here’s where the challenge begins.  Nightcrawlers will typically come out, but not usually all the way.  Half of the worm will remain firmly planted in the ground, while the other half protrudes while looking for friends to cozy up to.

That “tired” flashlight would locate – but, not spook – the critters, before we got into position to make our play.  We’d see where the crawler was attached to terra firma and quickly pinch it to the ground.  Then, with a steady and somewhat gentle pull on the head of the worm, we’d persuade them to give up – usually after their muscles tired.  About half of them routinely out-quicked us. 

Here are a few tips for wannabe worm getters.  Headlamps work great to free both hands, but modern LED units are too bright and will send worms into the earth in the blink of an eye; their recoil mechanism is that quick!  A dim light or red lens is best. A hand-held flashlight can work, but two hands free are better.

Commercially produced worm bedding made of recycled newspapers, when moistened, makes for good storage in commercially available worm boxes.  Garden soil, coffee grounds or decomposed leaves in a container with holes for air will also provide a means of storage.  However, worms must remain cool, so hide them in the refrigerator when women aren’t looking.  You might want to use that spare refrigerator in the garage or basement, because ambitious worms seem to want to explore their surroundings at times.

Oh, there are other methods to get worms such as electrocuting them, grunting them (look it up) or, irritating their skin with dish soap or bleach, but worms will not withstand much punishment before expiring.  Dead worms are bad in storage; find them and eliminate them from any collection.

There is a certain satisfaction derived from this do-it-yourself worm hunting that cannot be matched by purchasing bait.  If you are sneaky enough, you can enjoy a night out like never before.

Volunteers are needed in Cheboygan County now through early June to stand guard as mature lake sturgeon head upstream to their spawning sites along the Black River.

The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow is working in partnership with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and various tribes to protect the fish from being illegally harvested during the six-week spawning season.

Sgt. Mark DePew, who leads DNR Law Enforcement Division’s efforts on the river, said, “This program, that protects this iconic species when they are most vulnerable, is a model of how agencies and the public can cooperate to get needed work accomplished.”

The lake sturgeon, which can weigh up to 200 pounds and live to be 100 years old, is listed as a threatened species in Michigan, with any sport fishing being closely regulated.

Black Lake Sturgeon

“For over 20 years, the annual Sturgeon Guarding Program has proven that people serving as sturgeon guards watching over the river have virtually eliminated poaching, while helping to ensure the protection and reproductive success of the species,” said, Mary Paulson the program’s volunteer coordinator. “It’s a unique and rewarding experience to witness these majestic fish swimming up the Black River, and to be a key player in safeguarding one of Michigan’s most valuable natural resources.” Read more