Category: Fishing

Up North Again

By Glen Wunderlich

Every time one of those “Pure Michigan” spots would come over the radio waves and into my ears, it was as if Tim Allen was speaking directly to me. I simply couldn’t take it anymore and planned that get-away to parts “Up North.” Kneff Lake rustic campground in Crawford County would be the destination and outpost for a few days of exploration, discovery, and fishing.

Kneff Lake is a mere 20 acres, but it is stocked with trout. Some 25 or more years ago, I fished the lake with some friends and once we figured out the technique for catching those cold-water trout, we hauled them in. It was those memories that I sought to relive.

The campground offers dozens of spacious, private sites sprinkled high atop the small lake. However, even with my lightweight, 10-foot jon boat, I gave up on the idea of lifting and carrying the boat and gear up and down the steep and lengthy incline. It was primarily the “up” part of the equation that I did not want to attempt by myself.

Who needs a stair climber?

Either that mountain-like trek was more than I recall or Father Time’s whispering in my ear, “Forget it” changed my plans; it was time to explore other possibilities.

My need for an easier way to launch the boat prompted me to ask a local convenience store worker for a lake more suitable for my plan. Somehow, the convoluted directions brought me to tiny Glory Lake in Hartwick Pines State Park. The launch site was perfect with not one other person on the water. I pulled in a few pan fish including one sizeable rock bass. It was as if I had my own private lake.

Back at camp I searched the county map for other nearby lake access and found K.P. Lake only about 10 miles north. It appeared to be a straight-forward drive and after a camp breakfast, it was time to explore. Stephan Bridge Road was the shortest distance but that seasonal road of sand along the eastern boundary of Camp Grayling made it seem much longer than it was. At first, when I noticed a large tract of cleared land behind a short fence, I wondered who would have removed all the timber. It became patently obvious when I read a prominent sign posted on the endless fence:

At no more than 20 mph it took some time but I located the well-hidden K.P. Lake – another perfect launch site; a Michigan Recreation Passport was all that was required and I had one. Interestingly, a sign was posted with the following:

As I rowed into the stiff north wind, I could see the unmistakable outline of one of the magnificent water birds in the distance. I skirted the rare bird from a safe distance for a better look and did my best to capture the moment on video.  Obligingly, the lone loon belted out its spooky call and dove below lake level for a meal of fresh fish. The sight and sound made my day!

As part of my trip home, one more stop was on the agenda: The Au Sable River in Oscoda County. Just east of the Parmalee Bridge was a public access point for canoes, which doubled as a stream-side place to fish from the banks. Having caught plenty of trout there years ago, it was worth a look. I rigged a red wiggler worm onto a hook and caught a keeper brook trout on the second cast.

Small Brook Trout from the Au Sable River

After catching another one, I continued on my path home well satisfied with the sights and sounds of the North.

It was a trip to test some camping gear and a chance to return to my past. The sound of coyotes howling in the night along with a solitary whippoorwill added some icing on the cake. It was good to be back “Up North.”

Fishing, General, Wildlife , ,

Michigan: citizen tips lead to Gladwin man with more than 1,400 illegal panfish

After receiving multiple tips from local anglers about possible over-fishing on Gladwin County’s Lake Lancer, Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers spoke with the suspected man twice in one day while he was at the lake. The second contact of the day led to a voluntary search of the 67-year-old Gladwin man’s garage freezers, where officers discovered a significant number of panfish – ultimately issuing a ticket for illegally taking more than 1,400 panfish.

Conservation Officer Mark Papineau said he had received many reports about a fisherman who frequented the lake.

“The angler’s vehicle often was spotted in the parking lot of a private boat launch and the angler himself was witnessed fishing Lake Lancer several times per day,” Papineau said. Based on the leads, Papineau and Conservation Officer Joshua Wright conducted a marine patrol at the lake the morning of Aug. 14.

When the officers arrived at the boat launch, they saw a vehicle with a boat trailer that matched the reported vehicle description. During their patrol, the officers contacted an angler . The angler presented a fishing license and was found to have 13 panfish in his possession – he was within the daily limit of 25 panfish.

When the officers returned to the boat launch later that morning, the suspect’s vehicle and boat trailer were gone. Checking the area later in the day, Papineau and Wright noticed the angler’s vehicle and boat trailer had returned. After about an hour, the man returned to the dock. Spotting the officers, the Gladwin man immediately said, “I’m not over my limit.” Wright asked him how many fish he had, and he repeated that he was not over his limit.

The conservation officers continued talking with the man and learned that he was in possession of 24 panfish. The angler confessed to the 13 panfish he caught earlier in the day, too, and invited the officers to follow him to his residence to obtain those fish as evidence.

At his Gladwin residence, the man consented to let Papineau and Wright search his garage chest freezers, which held the 19 panfish caught earlier in the day – six additional fish to what the man had originally claimed. Additionally, the officers found more than 70 bags of filleted panfish. The legal panfish daily limit includes 25 per day, in addition to two days’ worth of processed fish. In total, the man exceeded the limit by more than 1,400 fish.

Papineau and Wright confiscated the fish and issued the angler a ticket. Once the fish is no longer needed as evidence, it will be donated to a local food bank or church. Read more

Fishing, Poachers

Rock reef fish spawning habitat restoration underway in Saginaw Bay

It’s been more than 20 years in the making, but this month a fish spawning habitat restoration dream becomes a reality for Saginaw Bay. The DNR and Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy have built a coalition to restore a 2-acre rock reef at the Coreyon Reef site, about 11 miles northeast of the mouth of the Saginaw River.

The restoration project focuses on the trailing edge of a historic rock reef complex that existed naturally in the bay until it was heavily degraded by sand and sedimentation from long-standing erosion in the watershed.

Restoration efforts began this month and should be completed by early fall. Once done, the restored reef will be roughly 2 acres and reach a peak of about 5 feet off the bottom in 18 feet of water. The rock, placed by Great Lakes Dock and Materials, LLC from Muskegon, is crushed limestone and glacial cobble. In all, approximately 22,500 tons of rock will be used to build the reef, carefully placed in precise positions and dimensions by barges and cranes. Read more

Fishing

Hobie Accessories Prove a Solid Complement to Any Kayak Fishing Rig

OCEANSIDE, Calif. – Whether you like to keep your kayak fishing simple or prefer to outfit with all the bells and whistles, there’s no doubt that some level of accessorizing can make for better days on the water. From live bait and tackle management solutions to products improving onboard ergonomics and boat transport, Hobie offers a complete range of highly practical accessories for today’s kayak angler.

Livewell V2

Looking for a better way to keep live bait frisky? Look no further than Hobie’s eight-gallon Livewell V2. The Livewell V2 is built from heavy-duty molded plastic, making it lightweight and strong. It features a sturdy, eight-inch Twist and Seal hatch lid for quick access and secure bait containment. A high-quality sealed marine switch controls a high-output pump that circulates oxygenated water in the tank, keeping fish alive and healthy. An adjustable drain tube allows for easy water-level management, and removable tank partitions keep bait accessible in a rounded environment. A pump cap is included for filling the tank with non-circulating water, while a threaded drain plug allows the tank to be completely emptied after each use. Hobie’s Livewell V2 comes factory-equipped with three rod holders, and up to eight rod holders can be added, depending on the kayak model. Read more

Fishing

Michigan: over 450,000 walleye fingerlings stocked in Bays de Noc

The Bays de Noc recently received a much-needed boost – 464,800 walleye fingerlings – through collaborative stocking efforts by the DNR, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen.

After Little Bay de Noc’s spring ice-out (when all the surface ice broke up), DNR crews conducted an egg take on adult walleye. Those eggs were transferred to the Thompson State Fish Hatchery in Manistique. A portion of that egg batch later was moved to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe hatchery.

After hatching, the larval walleye were moved to ponds operated by the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe and the Bay de Noc Great Lakes Sport Fishermen.

The Sport Fishermen ponds yielded 329,600 fingerlings that were stocked July 1-9 in northern Little Bay de Noc near the mouth of the Whitefish River and Kipling.

The Sault Tribe pond produced 135,200 fish that were stocked July 3 near Gladstone, Kipling and the lower Escanaba River. Read more

Fishing

Michigan: UV system in place, Oden hatchery readies for Arctic grayling

Michigan is one step closer to bringing Arctic grayling back to state waters. The ultraviolet water disinfection system at Oden State Fish Hatchery in Emmet County has been installed, meaning the facility is ready to welcome juvenile Arctic grayling.

“With the completion of this project, we can protect the fish populations in the inland waterway – the series of rivers and inland lakes that the rearing water flows into – from any pathogens that may inadvertently arrive with these fish,” said Ed Eisch, the DNR’s fish production manager. “We don’t anticipate any issues, but we definitely want to err on the conservative side when it comes to the possibility of introducing new pathogens.”

The UV system is critical for the long-term process of cultivating Michigan’s Arctic grayling broodstock (mature fish used for breeding), a goal of the Michigan Arctic Grayling Initiative.

This project was generously supported through grants and donations by private donors. More than $350,000 was raised to upgrade Oden’s isolated rearing facility, including engineering and construction costs. Read more

Fishing

Hewes Lake, Dansville, Michigan State Recreation Area

By Glen Wunderlich, July 27, 2019

Heard this lake has some good fish, but without a small boat, this is all there is to see. Lots of deer flies late summer. A head net would be a good item to pack.

I was able to drive right up to this dock. Hokey, for sure so bring some rubber boots and wade in for the launch, if desired.

Fishing

New RB200 Expands Ranger’s Line of Inshore Aluminum Rigs

The sportsman’s new best friend

FLIPPIN, Ark. — With the introduction of the all-new RB200, Ranger’s RB Series adds a bigger brother to the acclaimed RB190. The RB200 features everything sportsmen could want in an expertly outfitted package that is designed to excel in any environment or season. With saltwater-savvy touches throughout, an optional all-camo version, anglers and hunters alike will find much to love about this new rig.

“This boat is bound to be a hit with guys who hunt, fish, and just love being outdoors,” says Jimmy Wallace, Ranger New Product Development Engineer. “It’s bigger, stronger and has everything you’d need for a day on the lake, in the marsh or on the flats. We’ve integrated key features specifically for outdoorsmen along with ample power and performance.” Read more

Fishing

Petition Seeks to Remove Snail Darter From Endangered Species List, Marking Conservation Success

WASHINGTON— The Center for Biological Diversity, former federal biologist Jim Williams and law professor Zygmunt Plater petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today to lift Endangered Species Act protection from snail darters.

Thanks to government and citizen efforts, the little fish has now successfully achieved recovery and is no longer in danger of extinction.

The 3-inch-long fish gained fame in the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case Tennessee Valley Authority vs. Hill. The court upheld the newly passed Endangered Species Act at the request of conservationists and others who sought to protect the fish and its free-flowing habitat, along with 300 family farms, from the construction of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s highly controversial Tellico Dam on the Little Tennessee River. Read more

Fishing

All-New Ranger FS PRO Series Heralds Next Generation of Multispecies Boat

FLIPPIN, Ark. — Ranger’s highly acclaimed FS line of Deep V multispecies boats has been expanded to include new models with all-new designs, upgrades and greater capability.

“The all-new FS PRO Series of boats are the direct result of us listening to the needs and wants of dealers, pros, customers and guides who use these boats to their absolute limit,” says Kody Bradbury, Ranger Product Development Manager. “We pride ourselves in producing not only the highest quality boats on the water, but also the most forward-thinking and angler-friendly models to be found.”

Three new hulls within five new models define the FS PRO Series, including the largest Ranger FS Series boat ever, the 622FS PRO, a 22’ 10” behemoth with greater strength, power and comfort. The 622FS PRO is joined by the 621cFS PRO, 621FS PRO, 620cFS PRO and 620FS PRO to round out the new 2020 model year offerings. The two cFS boats feature Ranger’s all-new Total Command Cockpit™, which has a more spacious cockpit thanks to the deletion of the rear storage boxes along the gunnel. Read more

Fishing
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