$4.

00

JUNE 2015

Woods-N-Water News
Michigans Premier Outdoor Publication

WALLEYE
WISDOM

Small
Stream

TROUT

Rattle
Grunt
Wheeze

DEER TALK

U.P. To Close Deer Season? Walleyes For Warriors Engraving A Legacy

Bear Hunters Short Changed Swim Jigs For Bass -- Work! Harnessing The Bite
Food Plots That Can Compete With Mother Nature Manistee Trout

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SUMMERTIME FUN
AT CHAPMAN'S SPORTS!
CHECK OUT THESE IN STOCK BOATS!
2015 Lund

2015 Lund

Dual side stepped rod storage, aerated livewell, a large bow casting
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2015 Lund

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

2015 Lund

By Tom Campbell ... Field Notes

U.P. Deer Herd?

ention the Upper Peninsula and many

think, deer and deer hunting. The
wilds of the UP has a rich romantic history steeped in deer hunting
adventures and traditional deer camps. So its
unfathomable to believe the UP could be closed to
deer hunting this season. Its one of the six options
presented to the NRC at its monthly May meeting.
The DNR estimated the UP survival rate for adult
females was 38% and 54% the previous two years,
respectively!
According to the MDNR, The deer herd in the
UP has declined to levels comparable to the early
1980s. Preliminary reports indicate that the 2014
deer season success was low. There is a probability
that the 2015 season harvest will be low as well,
due to several severe winters. The Department
and Commission have responded to declining
deer numbers in the UP by implementing highly
conservative 2014-2016 antlerless license quotas,
expanding the period in which supplemental deer
feeding is allowed, and intensifying habitat management efforts. The Wildlife Division is bringing forward for consideration several options for
further reduction of the UP deer harvest as another
means of addressing public concerns regarding low
UP deer numbers.
Heres the options presented for information
only to the NRC in May:
Option 1: Maintain the current season and
license structure in the UP.
Option 2: Close the entire deer hunting
season in the UP.
Option 3: Eliminate the option of using the
combination license when hunting in the UP
(one buck) and eliminate the antlerless option
during archery season when using the single
deer license.
Option 4: Eliminate the antlerless option
during archery season for hunters hunting on

SEASONS
Now-Dec. 31-Michigan Pure Hunt Application period
Now-May 31-Spring wild turkey season(s) special
seasons/permits see rules and regulations
*Open Year Round--Catch and Immediate
Release Bass Season on all waters.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Now-March 15, 2016-L.P. inland waters muskie,

pike, walleye season.
Now-June 1-Elk hunt application period
Now-June 1-Bear hunt application period
Now-March 15, 2016-U.P. inland waters, Great Lakes
and St. Marys River muskie, pike, walleye season.
May 23-Dec. 31--Bass catch-and-keep on all waters,
including Great Lakes (except Lake St. Clair, St.
Clair and Detroit Rivers)
June 20-Dec. 31Bass catch-and-keep on Lake St.
Clair & St. Clair & Detroit Rivers

MJC
ARCHERY
MACOMB

MJC
ARCHERY
OAKLAND

19744 15 Mile Rd
Clinton Twp. 48035

3001 Rochester Rd
Royal Oak, MI 48073

586-791-4600

248-589-2480

90
Years
Young!

Ray Lowry,
90 years old,
of Taylor,
took this 23
pound turkey
with a 9 1/2
inch beard, on
Sunday, May
3. The turkey
was taken in
Jackson Co.
Ray still loves
fishing, deer
hunting with gun and bow and hopes for many more
years of successful hunts! Congratulations Ray!

deer licenses, including the combination license.

Option 5: Eliminate the antlerless option
for archery hunters hunting on deer licenses,
including the combination license, during the
late archery season only.
Option 6: Eliminate the Liberty and Independence Hunts in the UP.
What a no win situation for the DNR and
NRC, no matter what option(s) they lean towards,
somebody or somebodies will be upset. If they
elect to do nothing (option 1), they look like they
just dont care, which is not good. And of course if
they act on option 2 oh, good grief, the 100,000
plus UP hunters would come unglued, and they
would get support from the rest of the 500 thousand plus Michigan deer hunters! It would be devastating to the local economies, not to mention a
big hit to the DNR in lost license
feesaround 3 million!
If the average UP harvest is
30,000-50,000, how many of
those unharvested deer would
survive another severe winter
anyway? Options 5 and 6
would have very little biological
impact on the deer herd. Options
3 and 4 could create a buck
only situation and both create
complications with the type of
licenses and the use of, with
many hunters already purchasing
combo licenses. Certainly the
The Wolfe Family Tags Out! Three generations had a successNRC has no easy task with this
ful spring turkey season; Dad Clarence scored a trophy 22
issue.
Other Great Lakes states
pounder with a 10 inch beard, son Chris and Chris son CJ both
have reduced the antlerless
took nice birds. Congratulations to the Wolfes!
permits allowed for firearm and
muzzleloading seasons. In some
Last Chance For Bear and Elk Permits
northern regions of Minnesota they have bucks
The Department of Natural Resources reminds
only season.
hunters that applications for Michigan elk and bear
Its expected the NRC will make a decision on
hunting licenses are available now through June
UP deer hunting 2015 at its June 11 meeting at the
1. There will be 100 elk licenses and 6,951 bear
Quality Inn in Monroe.
licenses available for the 2015 hunting seasons.n

DNR creates Blue Ribbon Advisory Group to

review, plan future of Michigan state game areas

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources recently announced the formation of a

Blue Ribbon Advisory Group to independently
review state game areas. DNR Director Keith
Creagh made the announcement at May 7 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission in
Lansing.
State game areas are important public land
areas owned by the state of Michigan, providing
residents with broad opportunities to hunt, trap,
fish and engage in other compatible recreational
activities. The DNR is responsible for creating
and maintaining wildlife habitat on these areas
for conservation purposes.
The Blue Ribbon Advisory Group
will examine:
Overall use and intensity on state
game areas.
Funds and agreements used to acquire
these lands.
Current timing and diversity of uses.
Vision for the future of state game areas.
Potential habitat or strategic management

changes that could enhance high-quality hunting,

trapping or angling experiences.
Potential for expanding compatible
recreational uses and management activities.
Group co-chairs are William Demmer, past
president of Boone and Crockett and chief executive officer of Demmer Corporation, and Dan
Eichinger, executive director of Michigan United
Conservation Clubs. Additional members have
been invited and the full membership roster will
be shared shortly.
We are excited to have two great leaders
managing this important review, said Russ Mason, DNR Wildlife Division chief. This type of
review will help us plan our future management
on these areas and be forward thinking as the
individual interests of these areas may
change.
The group will begin with a review of state
game areas in southwest Michigan and then focus
on those in southeast Michigan. See a map and
list of Michigans state game areas on the DNR
website.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

HUNTING
COVER STORY
Rattle, Grunt, Wheeze
DEER TALK
Kenny Darwin page 28
A passion for
pheasant hunting
Betty Sodders page 54
Gun Chat...
Gun of the Porkies
Lee Arten page 56
Take a kid hunting
Tom Lounsbury page 66
Cast and Blast Cajun Style
Jacob VanHouten page 79
Our Kansas bowhunt
John Eberhart page 83

Swim jigs for

bass...work!
Buck Mallory page
24

U.P. MDNR C.O.

writes book
Richard P. Smith page 36

Fishing stocking
creates
opportunities
page 25

June 20-21
Walleyes for Warriors
Mike Veine page 37

Michigan Muskies
Robert Dock Stupp
page 30

Commercial fishing up 5%
page 41
Boat Smart...
Alternative Power Choices
Capt. Fred Davis page 57

CATCH BASS
George Rowe
page 34
Tackling
Thumb-Area
SMALLMOUTHS
Ryan Walker
page 38

FISHING

Lake Trout Fun!

Dave Mull page 40

NEXT BITE...
Playing the spread for
early summer walleyes
Gary Parsons/Keith Kavajecz
page 8

Tips for powering

your sonar/GPS
and video units
Mark Romanack
page 42

WALLEYE WISDOM
3 hooks and done
Mark Romanack page 10

OUTDOOR NEWS

HARNESSING
THE BITE
Mark Martin ...page 48

Manistee Trout
Jim Bedford page 60

When all the planer

boards go back
Mark Sak page 52

Forensic
training
for COs
paying
dividends
...page 32
COVER STORY
Michigan's small
stream trout
Mike Gnatkowski
page 12

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

New vibe walleyes

Kenny Darwin page 20

COVER PHOTO

Walleye...Next Bite
Small Stream Trout...page 12
By Mike Gnatkowski

Deer Talk...page 28
By Kenny Darwin

From hook to table

Tricia Croney page 53
JUNE 2015

$4.00

-Water News

WALLEYE
WISDOM

The U.P.'s
moose population
Bill Ziegler page 18

Detroit River means

MONSTER WALLEYES
Roger Beukema page 64

Teaching "Come Here"

Len Jenkins page 49

PERSPECTIVE

Pet health insurance

Jeff LaHuis page 58

Michigan Meanders...
Old Birds and Their Dogs
Tom Huggler page 22

Plots that can compete

with Mother Nature
Ed Spinazzola page 76

A Gentleman and
Outdoorsman
Randy Jorgensen page 26

DNR Parks win

"Green Leader" Award
page 77

Dreams Derailed
Tom Carney page 46

Sporting Collectibles...
What's in your
old tackle box
Terry McBurney page 80

Dear Fish Diary...

This Big Foot story
is no hoax
Ron St. Germain page 68

Platte River receives

800,000 coho salmon
page 59
Community tree-planting
grants available
page 65
Minnow use regulations
MDNR page 70
Sponsors help Pure
Michigan hunt score big
page 72

BLACK POWDER
Black Powder Shooting...
The "Popsicle Match"
Dennis Neely page 44

OPINIONS
Equestrian trails
Jonathan Schechter page 70
Bear hunters short changed
Richard P. Smith page 71
Sound science prevails
for bass regulations

Lydia Lohrer-Bevier/Patrick Bevier

page 74

DEPARTMENTS . . .

FEATURES

Trophy Page. . . . . . . . 78 Classifieds . . . . . . 86-87

Engraving a Legacy
Darryl Quidort page 15

Letters-Op-Ed . . . . . 70-75 Real Estate . . . . . . . 87-97

Stream

TROUT

Wheeze

DEER TALK

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www.facebook.com/woodsnwaternews

Enjoy Michigans Summer Free Fishing Weekend June 13-14

he Michigan Department of
Natural Resources reminds
everyone that the annual Summer Free Fishing Weekend is set for
Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June
14. That weekend, residents and nonresidents can fish without a license,
though all other fishing regulations
still apply.
Michigan has celebrated the Summer Free Fishing Weekend annually since 1986 as a way to highlight
the states vast water resources and

high-quality fisheries. With more than

3,000 miles of Great Lakes shoreline,
11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands of miles of rivers and streams,
fishing and Michigan go hand in
hand.
Michigan offers some of the
finest freshwater fishing available
anywhere in the world, and the Summer Free Fishing Weekend is an
excellent time to hit the water, said
DNR Director Keith Creagh. Aside
from being one of our states most

time-honored traditions, fishing also is

an inexpensive and easily accessible
outdoor activity for people of all ages.
Theres no better time to get out there
than during one of our Free Fishing
Weekends.
To encourage involvement in Free
Fishing Weekends, organized activities are being scheduled in communities across the state. These activities are coordinated by a variety of
individuals, organizations, constituent
groups, schools, local and state parks,

businesses and others.

Theres still plenty of time for
communities and organizations to
plan their own local Summer Free
Fishing Weekend events or to find
activities close to home. Visit
michigan.gov/freefishing for all
things related to this weekend,
including help with event planning
and promotion, a registration form for
official events, and a chart identifying
activities occurring throughout the
state. n

DNR creel
clerks to
collect angler
information
s this years open-water fishing
season gets under way, the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers that
fisheries personnel will be collecting
data (about anglers fishing trips) at
lakes, rivers and Great Lakes ports.
DNR creel clerks will be stationed
at boat launches and piers, asking
anglers questions as they return from
their fishing trips. Information will be
requested on trip length, target species
and number and type of fish caught.
In some cases, creel clerks may ask
to measure or weigh fish and to take
scale or other bony part samples for
aging. These data are key information in managing the states fisheries
resource.
The DNR appreciates anglers
cooperation with these interviews, and
it will only take a couple of minutes
to answer the questions, said DNR
fisheries biologist Tracy Kolb. This
program helps us gather information
that is critical in managing the states
fisheries and is used in every aspect of
our management efforts.
These efforts are part of the
DNRs Statewide Angler Survey
Program, a long-term monitoring
program designed to track recreational
fisheries and harvest across Michigans waters. This is one of the most
comprehensive angler survey programs in the country, with DNR creel
clerks interviewing upwards of 50,000
anglers in most years.
Anglers interested in seeing the
results from surveys of Great Lakes
ports in previous years can find them
online at dnr.state.mi.us/chartercreel/.
Data on inland waters is also available
online.n

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Playing the spread for early summer

Next Bite: By Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

arly summer for walleyes is

a transition period. Fish are
past the post spawn period
and are moving into more
summer patterns. Traditionally, transition time can mean
tough fishing, but if you go
at it with the strategy of playing the
spread, or in walleye fishing terms,
covering as much water as possible,
then youll up your odds of contacting
and catching more walleyes this time
of year.
Covering water encompasses
spreading lures out both horizontally
as well as vertically. Walleyes can be
tight to the structure, or suspended in
open water. It really depends on the
particular lake youre fishing. This is
a time of the season that its to your
advantage to be well versed in trolling
tactics and have the right gear to get
the job done.
Choosing the right baits is one
step in the process. What is the main
forage in the lake youre fishing?
Knowing this will help you determine the style lure you should at least
start with. Typically we break this
down to one of two shapes; shad-style
and minnow-style. The shad-style
baits like the Berkley Flicker Shad
are great where the fish are feeding
on stuff like shad, perch, crappie and
similar forage. In lakes where the
walleyes are feeding on things like
smelt, cisco and alewives we opt for
a longer bait like Berkley Flicker
Minnows. Early in the year, the forage
size tends to run smaller than later in
the season, so start off with Flicker
Shads in sizes 4 and 5, or Flicker Minnows in size 7. By no means does this
mean you couldnt catch walleyes on
a shad lake using a size 9 Flicker
Minnow, but its probably not the first
lure you should tie on to start the day.
Running the right lures is just one
part of the puzzle. You have to put
those baits at the right depth for them
to get bit. The right depth is what we
call the feeding zone. As you move
around graphing for fish to set up on,
you may mark some fish suspended 25
feet down over 35 feet of water. Your

first instinct might be to run your lures

at 25 feet, but theres a good chance
you wont get bites doing that. Walleyes normally feed up, meaning their
feeding zone is above where they are
positioned. Running your lures at 20
feet, just above the fish, will typically
be a better plan of attack. Fish that
are relating to structure and hanging
tighter to the bottom are another story.
While running lures just above these
fish can trigger a few to bite, many
times these fish are better triggered
by running lures right in front of their
faces.
Knowing exactly how deep your
lures run is one of the most important
keys to being successful at trolling for
any species, especially walleyes. For
years we have relied on the data provided by the gang at Precision Trolling to know how much line to let out
to get certain baits to specific depths.
It was simply a matter of referring to
the depth chart for the particular lure
we were fishing, first in their books
(which are no longer in print), and
then on stickers that can easily be attached to the lid of your crankbait box
for easy reference.
Now, with their convenient Precision Trolling Data App, available for
both Android and iPhone formats,
having this information is right at
your fingertips.
Spreading lures vertically sometimes means using methods that allow
lures to run deeper than they normally
run on their own. This is a common
practice this time of year since we are
typically using smaller sized lures that
are not designed to dive very deep
on their own. In open water it may
mean adding a weight in front of the
lure, like an Off Shore Tackle Guppy
Weight on an OR16 Pro Snap to gain
more depth. Or in situations where we
are trolling structure, we often incorporate lead core line to get the baits to
the desired depth. The Precision Trolling App offers information on weighting systems too, and it offers some
really neat new data with regards to
lead core trolling.
Of course when we hear the term

Running the right lures is just one part of the puzzle to getting walleyes to
bite in early summer.
covering water everyone thinks
about getting those baits out from
the boat and covering a wider swath
of water. In open water, that means
utilizing boards and the best ones out
there are the Off Shore Tackle OR12
Side Planers. These boards are ballasted so they run true in the roughest
conditions, and even sit upright when
still in the water. These boards are
rugged too, built to last you for many
seasons of fishing.
When fishing structure however,
you dont want to get the lures too far
away from the boat as you need more
control to keep the lures on the right
contour. This is where we opt to use
long rods really long rods, to get the

baits just far enough from the boat to

reduce any spooking factor. The Bass
Pro Shops Walleye Angler Series offers both 10 and 12 foot 2 piece trolling rods that are ideal for structure
trolling applications.
Early summer can bring some
unique challenges when it comes to
walleye fishing. But understanding
how to play the spread to cover the
water both horizontally and vertically
will go far in helping you get your
Next Bite.
If you have questions or comments on this or other articles from
Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz,
visit their website
www.thenextbite.com.n

WOODS-N-WATER NEWS PRESENTS...

29th Annual

OUTDOOR
WEEKEND
September 11-13
Friday 5-9 pm
Saturday 9 am-7 pm
Sunday 9 am-5 pm

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kids 12 and under free
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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

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Puppies Gun Auction Wild Animals Much More

WALLEYE WISDOM:
Three Hooks and Done

By Mark Romanack Matzuo Sickle are

Triple Grip and the

his
past
winter at a Michigan sport
show the question of
fish hooks suitable for
walleye fishing came up during a
seminar I was conducting with my
son Captain Jake. Jake and I answered
the question and pretty quick that lead
to another question and another and
another. It soon became obvious to me
that not every angler understands the
proper hooks for the popular walleye
fishing presentations. In this short, but
sweet article were going to solve that
problem and set anglers on a path to
walleye hooking success.
The avid walleye angler who
fishes often is going to have need for
several different kinds and sizes of
hooks. The basic hook types required
for walleye fishing includes treble
hooks, beak hooks and slow death
hooks. All of these hook types are produced in various sizes, but fortunately
the walleye angler will only need a
few different sizes to be successful on
the water.

good examples of
hook types that hook and hold fish
better than traditional round bend
style hooks.
With crankbaits its a good rule
of thumb that you can replace factory
hooks with hooks one size larger. The
larger hooks do a better job of sticking and hooking fish. However, dont
go overboard when replacing factory
hooks. Using a hook thats too large
can destroy the action of the lure.
The most common treble hook
sizes used on crankbaits and spoons
are No. 6, No. 4 and No. 2.
Another common place that treble
hooks are used is when tying open
water spinner rigs. When fishing for
suspended fish I favor a treble hook at
the end of my harness compared to the
single hooks tied on most commercial
rigs. A No. 6 treble is ideal for targeting open water walleye.
A third area that treble hooks shine
is when tying stinger hooks for jig
fishing with minnows. A No. 10 treble
is ideal for tying walleye jig stingers.

TREBLE HOOKS

BEAK HOOKS

Treble hooks are a factory standard on most crankbaits and spoons.

The factory treble hooks that come
on many of these lures are marginal
in quality to say the least. Lots of
anglers replace the factory hooks on
their lures with aftermarket premium
quality hooks. After market hooks
are superior not only in sharpness,
but also in design. For example, wide
bend style hooks like the Mustad

A beak style hook is the workhorse

of walleye fishing. These compact
hooks are used on a wide variety of
live bait rigs designed to be used with
minnows, nightcrawlers and leeches. I
favor a No. 2 beak hook for minnows
and nightcrawlers and a No. 4 beak
hook when fishing leeches.
Bronze hooks are the standard for
live bait rigs, but a growing number
of anglers favor red hooks for bait

Captain Jake Romanack has learned that for walleye fishing three primary
hook types will get the job done day in and day out. Mark Romanack photo
wire that is light enough to allow
the bait freedom of movement in the
water.
No. 2 size slow death hook is
SLOW DEATH HOOKS the A
standard size used by most walleye anglers. Normally about a half
The newest and most unique
a nightcrawler is threaded onto the
hook type on the walleye scene are
hook for bait and this rig is trolled at
known as slow death hooks. These
about 1.0 MPH. Because slow death
thin wire hooks are bent in such a
style hooks are made of thin wire,
way that when baited with a piece of
nightcrawler the hook and bait slowly they bend fairly easily and must be
replaced often. To achieve the ideal
rotates in the water.
rolling action, a slow death hook must
Most often fished on a bottom
be shaped properly. If they get bent
bouncer rig, slow death hooks got
their start with Mustad and now have when unhooking a fish, its usually
expanded to a number of other brands. best to discard them and tie on a new
hook.n
All of these hooks are made of thin

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

fishing. Its hard to say for sure if red

hooks attract walleye, but they certainly dont hurt.

10

Treble hooks play a major role in walleye fishing presentations. Besides

replacing the factory supplied hooks on lures like crankbaits and spoons, the
author uses treble hooks for other purposes like tying stinger hooks while
river jig fishing.

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Michigans

he connotation trophy
fish takes on a different
meaning depending on
where you catch it. A
brown trout in the Great
Lakes doesnt qualify
as a trophy unless its pushing 20
pounds. In one of Michigans premier
trout rivers, a resident brown trout
caught on a fly would have to top 20
inches to be considered a mounter.
But a trout in a small stream might
be considered a trophy if he reaches
12 or 14 inches. A brown trout that
survives to that size in a small stream
is arguably a more worthy quarry than
either one of the trophies mentioned
above. Hes on edge and acutely of his
surroundings and environment. He has
to be to survive in this micro niche.
And catching him takes stealth, patience and perseverance. Thats what
makes a trout of that length a
trophy.
Fishing Michigans small
streams isnt for everyone. In
fact, its kind of a dying art.
You might find some anglers
hitting the small streams
on opening weekend or for
a short time after, but once
summer arrives about the
only pressure small
streams receive are
at road crossings
and culverts. Small streams arent for
everyone. They require work, swatting
bugs, sweating, wiping spider webs
off your face and pulling yourself out
of unseen muck holes. The rewards
are small-stream jewels painted with
as brilliant a pallet of colors that the
Creator ever made. In many ways,
every one is a trophy.
Michigan is blessed with a multitude of great small stream trout
waters. Many are tributaries to larger,
more famous rivers, but they dont see
nearly the pressure. There are times
when some outlandish trout make
their way into these small streams
and creeks either on their spawning
runs or to escape the warmer temperatures of the main river. Many times
these creeks are the first ones to reach
fishable levels in the spring and May
can be prime time in many parts of
the state before bugs and leaf cover
becomes a problem. But small stream
can produce great fishing the entire
season if youre willing to put in the
time.
Before you hit the stream, make
sure you check the fishing guide to
determine the type of trout stream
youre fishing. There are different
limits and regulations depending on
where youre fishing in the system
and in which region.

There are a surprising number of

small trout stream in southwest Michigan. The mains streams are warm
water fisheries, but the tributaries are
cold, said Southern Lake Michigan
Management Unit fisheries supervisor
Jay Wesley. Theres an abundance
of glacial moraines add cold ground
water, which makes them suitable for
trout.
Wesley said there is lots of opportunity for small-stream anglers,
but much of it is on private land. If
an angler is willing to ask permission
he can find some pretty good fishing.
The Dowagiac River, a tributary to the
St. Joe, is a perfect example. Theres
some decent trout fishing in the lower
three miles of the Dowagiac, claimed
Wesley, Youll find resident browns
upstream of the dam. Theres not
much in the way of natural reproduction, but youll find browns
up to 20 inches. The tributaries to the Dowagiac are
all cold-water streams with
good natural reproduction.
Dowagiac Creek is one of the
better ones with good public
access at Russ Forest Park
and at Marcellus Highway,
McKenzie, Dutch Settlement and Kelsey
streets.
Augusta Creek,
a tributary to the Kalamazoo, is a
marginal trout stream, but produces
good fishing at times thanks to regular
stockings and decent numbers of holdover trout. The fishing on Augusta
Creek is cyclic, said Wesley. It
does have good public access though
via Kellogg State Forest lands. The
majority of small stream are going
to be cold-water streams that have
populations of trout from Plainwell to
Marshall. Its just a matter of finding
them and getting permission.
Wesley said the Rogue River,
a tributary to the Grand River, is
a medium-sized stream with good
public access. Youll find several good
tributaries to the Rogue upstream of
Rockford and others between Ionia
and Grand Rapids.
For more information on southwest Michigan trout streams contact
the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit of the MDNR at 269-6856851.
Fishing the small streams is dying art, stated Central Lake Michigan
Management Unit fisheries biologist
Marl Tonello. The small streams tend
to get hit hard opening weekend and
maybe for a couple of weeks after and
then no one fishes them. You can have
them pretty much to yourself, especially if youre willing to walk.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

By Mike Gnatkowski

Mike LeBlanc with a brook trout from the West Branch of the Sturgeon River

12 near Wolverine. Mike Gnatkowski photos

Small Stream Trout

Beaver ponds can be good or bad for trout streams. In some instances they can improve streams that are too cold and nutrient-poor.
Trout Unlimited and conservation
groups are doing a lot of good things
here. This stream is smaller and probably cant afford increased pressure
and attention.
The upper Tittabawassee has
some tributaries that have decent
numbers of trout, shared Schrouder.
Access can be limited, but there
is some public lands along them.
I know during my college days I
caught a number of very nice brown
trout from the Tobacco River, which
is a tributary to the Tittabawassee.
The problem with up-north
streams and rivers is that the main
streams are cooler than the tributaries, claimed Northern Lake Huron
Management Unit (989-732-3541)
fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski.
Most of the smaller streams are
short-lived, have a slow gradient
and flow through a lot of old beaver
ponds, which doesnt make them the
best for habitat.
One exception is the Thunder Bay
River. The Thunder Bay is a fabulous little stream, declared Cwalinski. It can get warm in the summer
and the fish migrate into the smaller
tributaries. It flows through a little
state land, but its big enough to float.
The best time to fish it is typically
May and June. We designated it as a
Type 4 stream so its open to fishing
year round.
Cwalinski said that Brush Creek,
a tributary to the Thunder Bay River,

gives up some pretty good trout to

the persistent angler. Brush Creek
has some good fishing all the way
from Hillman to Atlanta, but has
less ground water the farther east
you go. It probably averages 20 feet
wide and produces some pretty good
brook trout in the 7- to 9-inch range.
Gilchrist and Hunt creeks are two
very high-quality tributaries with predominately brown trout in them. They
traverse mainly private lands, but
there are some road crossings where
you can gain access.
The Black River has a handful of
good tributaries, offered Cwalinski.
Youll find brookies up to 12 inches
in Rattlesnake Creek. Canada Creek
is the main tributary and it gains
ground water after it leaves Canada
Creek Ranch. Youll catch a lot of 7to 9-inch brookies on Canada Creek
and theres quite a bit of state land.
Milligan Creek is about the only other
good tributary to the Black. Cwalinski said that the upper Black has
several branches that are more like
tributaries than individual streams.
The Pigeon River only has two
real good tributaries, said Cwalinski.
Buck Creek, which runs entirely
through private property, and the
Little Pigeon. Both are pretty decent
streams. The main tributary to the
Sturgeon is the West Branch. Theres
quite a bit of state land in the headwaters. The West Branch gets a run
of steelhead and lake-run browns

from Burt Lake so there can be some

outlandish-sized fish in it for a small
stream. Occasionally, youll catch
a brookie and there are some small
tributaries that are good for brookies
that receive little pressure.
One of Michigans premier trout
streams, the AuSable River has
surprisingly few good tributaries.
About the only real good tributaries
to the AuSable are the Big Creek systems, shared Cwalinski. Theres a
North and a South Big Creek. Youll
find more public land along the north
system south of Lewiston. Although it
has high quality ground water, theres
been a problem with beavers so it can
get warm at times. Both are kind of
hit-or-miss for brookies. The other
Big Creek is north of Luzerne. One
other trib worth mentioning is the
South Branch of the Pine in Alcona
County. Its OK for brookies and
there are some tiny tributaries that
have trout in them.
The thing with my streams
that I manage is that most of them
are so small that rather than having
tribs that provide good stream trout
opportunities, many times the fishing in the first few miles of these
main stems is the same experience
as fishing a small tributary stream,
said fisheries management biologist
Heather Hettinger, who works out of
the Traverse City field office. This is

Small stream trout next page

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Tonellos district has some of the

best trout rivers in the state and there
are plenty of tributaries that offer
great fishing. On The Pere Marquette, youve got the Middle Branch,
Baldwin and Little South Branch.
All of them have good numbers of
browns and youre always going to
catch little steelhead. You might find
some brookies still in the very headwaters. The Middle Branch is probably the best of the bunch, offered
Tonello.
The Manistee River has several
high-quality tributaries that produce excellent fishing. Pine, Goose,
Cannon and Hopkins all have good
number s of browns, rainbows and
brookies and the best part is they
run through mainly public land. The
North Branch of the Manistee is more
like a creek and its one of the few
streams where youre going to catch
mainly brook trout, said Tonello.
Some others include Wheeler Creek
near Mesick for brookies and Slagle
Creek. Slagle Creek runs through
mainly private land, but the lower end
runs through national forest and it is
phenomenal for browns.
The Betsie River only has two
streams that are good for trout, offered Tonello. One is Dair Creek.
The MDNR removed a dam from
the stream recently and has done a
lot of habitat improvement that has
increased trout numbers. The state
also just bought 300 acres along the
stream, which will improve public access. The other tributary thats good
for trout is the Little Betsie. Its good
for both browns and brookies. The
Little Manistee only has one really
good tributary and thats Twin Creek
just west of Luther. It traverses a lot
of public land so it has good access.
Good trout streams are lacking
in the east-central part of the state,
but there are some exceptions. The
tributaries produce fish for the entire
Rifle River system, claimed Southern Lake Huron Management Unit
(989-684-9141) fisheries biologist
Katherin Schrouder. Were having
some real issues with beavers though
that has affected their productivity.
High-quality tributaries to the Rifle
River include Gamble, Houghton,
Klacking, Wilkins and Prior creeks.
All give up some quality brown trout
and there are brookies present in
their upper reaches. One issue with
the tribs to the Rifle is the lack of
public lands. Anglers need to respect
landowner rights and be sure to get
permission.
Another stream worth mentioning is the Cedar River in Clare and
Gladwin counties, said Schrouder.

13

Michigans Small stream trout:

from page 13
the case with streams like the Jordan
River and the Boyne River. Both are
nice trout streams throughout their
length, but the higher up stream you
go the smaller the water gets and
you get that small tributary feel. I do
have a few more notable tribs; Spring
Brook (tributary to the Bear River),
Kids Creek (tributary to the Boardman River), Deer Creek (tributary to
the Jordan River), Carp Lake River
(tributary to Lake Michigan), Mitchell Creek (tributary to Lake Michigan), Acme Creek (tributary to Lake
Michigan), etc Streams like the
Rapid River or the Green River are
small and provide good opportunities;
and I have more trout streams than
non-trout streams so it depends on
how adventurous you are, what gear
type you are using, and if you just
want to catch trout or catch trophy
trout. Almost every small feeder
stream or Lake Michigan tributary in
my area holds trout. Its easier to list
the ones that dont rather than do!
Although Tim Cwalinski works
in the Northern Lake Huron Manage-

ment Unit, he spent his college days

at Lake Superior State so he knows
the eastern UP. The East Branch
of the Tahquamenon River is wellknown for brookies and browns. In
Mackinaw County, the headwaters
of the Carp River, and the south and
north branches, are good for brooks
and browns, and its supplemented
with plants. The upper Pine headwaters, between Raco and Rudyard, has
a lot of little streams that run into it
that contribute a lot of cold, ground
water. And you have the Fox, which
might be the best brook trout stream
in the state, and the Little Fox and the
West Branch.
The western UP is Mecca for
small stream fishing. Armed with a
hand-held GPS, a good topo map and
a reliable four-wheel drive truck, an
angler could fish his fish his entire
life and never sample all the streams
the UP has to offer. The best spots
are closely guarded. A Yooper would
rather give up his pasties than tell a
stranger his favorite stretch of brook
trout stream.

The western UP is Mecca for small stream fishing. Armed with a hand-held GPS, a
good topo map and a reliable four-wheel drive truck, an angler could fish his entire
life and never sample all the streams the UP has to offer .
The Paint River, and its tributary Cooks Run, and Fence River are
famous for their good brook trout
fishing. Tributaries to the Escanaba,
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Engraving a Legacy
PART II

This pencil drawing has been transferred to the horn, etched with a pen knife, and colored with India ink.
were a form of self-expression, often showing a
persons individual life story or beliefs. Birds, animals, and hunting hounds often adorn such horns as
well as trees, flowing vines and flowers. Nautical
horns often were decorated with ships at sea under
full sails, ropes, rigging, and sometimes
cannons.
In this column last month we made a
powder horn and prepared it for scrimshaw artwork. Even if artistic talent is
not your strong point, dont assume that
your artistic skills arent up to the job.
If you follow the steps outlined here, I
think youll be pleasantly surprised with
the results.
To scrimshaw your own powder horn, youll first need to gather
the tools needed. A sharp #2 lead
pencil or drafting pencil, black
India ink, wooden toothpicks, a cabinet scraper, and
possibly a drawing compass or a magnifier. The
most important tool needed is the engraving tool.
This may be an X-Acto knife, a carving knife with a
short, stiff blade, or a small pen knife. The engraving tool needs to fit comfortably in your hand and
be very sharp.
Now decide what name or art work you want
to scrimshaw onto your powder horn. Draw your
design out on paper and correct it until you are
satisfied with the size and style. This drawing will
be your pattern for the art work on your horn. If you
use text, remember that most lettering on original
powder horns was done in simple block letters or
old style, scroll letters. Draw your design and let-

By Darryl Quidort

tering directly on your horn with a sharp pencil. If

you cant draw it freehand use carbon paper to trace
your design onto the horn or cut it out and trace the
outline onto the horn. If you make a mistake simply
erase it with the scraper. Once the design is
drawn on the horn you are ready for the important
part of the work.
Cutting the design into the horn is done with the
engraving knife. Sit at a work table and support the
horn with a folded towel or small sand bag. Hold
the horn steady in one hand and hold the engraving
tool like a drawing pencil in the other hand. Keep
the knife blade about 90 degrees to the work to prevent the tip from accidently skating off the curved
surface of the horn. Carefully cut the lines into the
horn by pulling the engraving tool toward you along
the line. Pulling gives better control than pushing
the engraving tool away from you. Scratch out each
individual line of your design with the sharp knife.
To keep from over-running the end point of a line,
start at each end of the line and cut to the middle.
If you do slide past and end point, you may be able
to erase the mistake by scraping away some horn
material with the cabinet scraper. Curved lines may
be easier to follow by turning the horn under the
tool instead of turning the knife around the curve.
Dont rush it! Work slowly and carefully. Take a
break when you begin to feel fatigue and guard
against any feeling of a need to hurry. Scrimshawing is fun once you get a feel for it.
Use India ink to permanently color in the lines
of the scrimshaw design. Dip the tip of a sharpened

Engraving a legacy next page

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

hroughout the history of America the

powder horn, along with the bullet
pouch, hung beside the muzzle loading rifle as it stood ready for action.
A cow horn, containing black gun
powder, was carried daily by all who
used a muzzle loading rifle or smoothbore. Military
soldiers, hunters, civilian militia, and pioneer settlers, including the women, were all familiar with
the powder horn and its use. The cow horn was in
constant use as a gun powder container for several
hundred years, from the earliest days of flintlocks
until the cartridge gun became popular, which no
longer required that powder be carried separately.
Many original powder horns were simple, utilitarian tools, a plain cow horn with the base plugged
and a hole drilled into the tip for a spout. Others
were works of art, complete with intricate artwork,
carved necks, fancy plugs, and colorful, hand
woven shoulder straps. It was during the 1700s that
the powder horn reached an unsurpassed level of
functional art in America. Some original horns were
completely covered with beautiful scrimshaw work.
At the least, it was common for the owner to embellish his personal horn with his name or initials,
often nicely done but sometimes crudely scratched
into the horn. Whether beautifully scrimshawed or
plain, antique powder horns are now sought after as
collectable examples of early Americana. The art
work on original horns left us an interesting history lesson; a legacy in early
American life, war efforts, and folk art.
Some say scrimshaw is actually a
nautical art, done by sailors on ivory or
bone. Perhaps engraving is the proper
term for etching on powder horns. Either
way, cutting designs into the powder horn
with a sharp tool, is one of the few art
forms considered to be native to America.
Daniel Boone was known for making
intricate powder horns. Author,
John Bakeless, recorded that, he
[Boone] scraped powder-horns to
translucent thinness, through which the powder was
visible, in the style the old woodsmen admired carved them, cut his name on them, then gave them
away. Boone made horns throughout his lifetime.
He passed on in 1820, at the age of 85. Visitors
in 1818 reported old Boone scraping on a new
powder horn with a piece of broken glass, preparing
to go on a fall hunt.
During our history several different schools
or classes of powder horns are noted. Military
type horns were often produced by idle soldiers,
while waiting for battle during times of war. They
may portray soldiers in uniform, forts, battles, or
maps of military campaigns, sometimes with names
or dates of historical significance. Folk art horns

15

Engraving a legacy:
from page 15

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

toothpick into the ink and gently touch the cut line
with it. You may see the ink travel down the line on
its own, or you may need to trace each cut with the
toothpick. Ink each line of your work. Dont worry
about excess ink on the design. After all lines are
inked simply lightly scrape the surface clean with
a cabinet scraper or knife blade. This will leave a
smooth surface on the powder horn with cleanly
inked lines. If a line isnt dark enough simply recut and re-ink it. To add depth to your scrimshaw
work you can go back and shade areas by crosshashing them with fine cuts. Add India ink to the
shaded areas and clean them up with the scraper.
Finish your powder horn by cleaning up any
dirty areas, smudges, and fingerprints with a final
scraping of the horn to smooth and clean it. Then,
rub on a coat of Johnson Paste Wax. After the wax
dries, buff it out to achieve a clear, protective finish
on your work.
Whether you hang your finished powder horn
on the wall as a decoration or actually use it for its
intended purpose, by making and scrimshawing
your own horn you have closed another link in the
chain connecting you to our American pioneers,
even Daniel Boone. Your powder horn can now be
a part of your own legacy, and you can say, I made
it myself.n

16

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2 BLOCKS EAST OF LIGHT OFF M-13 IN PINCONNING 7'6"
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CLEAR
BLUE
BAITS
SPIN
CAST
ROD
WIN
705
KAYAK
SPIN$CAST
ROD
DEEP
KAYAK
$ in: ROD
99
Reg.
99 BAITS
Reg.
$ ROD
99 DEE
SPIN CAST
CAST
ROD
Reg.
Available
KAYAK
TROLLING
COUNTER
AND
CUP
40"
Gr
119
FREE
CAST
ROD BALL
*Excludes
Mad
Flash3BU
Lures
COMBO
$6.99
LIFE
JACKET
Specic
Grey
Specic
Pheromones
COMBO
Pheromones
SAVELINE-COUNTER
SAVE SPIN
SAVE
SPIN
SPIN
CAST
KAYAK
CO
PLANER
Boys
Sizes
3-6
BALL
Specic
Specic
Pheromones
REELS
FISHING
VEST
FISHING
VEST
LIME,
Pheromones
Specic
Pheromones
Lightweight,
Speciceasy
Pheromones
VEST
&$
REEL
COMBOS
&PRICE
REEL
ope
#707113
Lightweight,
easy
carrydesign
design
REEL
COMBOS
WALLEYE
to carry design FISHING
$
00FISHING
$ COMBOS
00 FISHING
00
Lightweight,
easy
totocarry
TROLLING
Sizes
5 &Minnow
7 Sizes
only
Bait
Men
7-13
&
REEL
COMBOS
VEST
LINE
PADDLE
Large
or X
Large
Soft
Bait Minnow
BEARING
Soft
HOLDER
OUR
BEARING
ORANGE,
PINK

20
30
30
&
REEL
COMBOS
HUSKY
JERK
&
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COMBOS
MAGDA
15
DX
OR
20
DX

Lightweight,
easy
to
carry
design

Soft
Bait
Minnow
BE

Soft
Bait
Minnow

22
Pockets
Adjustable
22 Pockets
22
9 COMBO
WITH
Soft
Bait Minnow
Adjustable
Soft Bait
Minnow
$24.99
WITH
LINE
HUS
padded
seatback
back
WITH
LINE
padded
seat back
22 Pockets
BOARD
WITH
LINE 99
9
Adjustable
padded
seat
17Pockets
colors
to of
choose from
USCG
Approved
99
6,
8, &
10 LINE
lbs.
Wide
variety
of
COMBO
22
Pockets
WITH
LINE
Wide
variety
W
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
$
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$ PRICE
WITH
LINE
Adjustable
padded
seat
back
SYSTEM
DHJ-12
100%
Wide
variety
of $ PRICE
Reg
$49
OUR
$29
la Rope
#707414
Wide
variety
of
REG. OR PINK
CAMO
Size
20
SB reel,
99
A
1 Reg.
RIDER
TUBE
GERSON
SY
6999 SYSTEM
129
19
100%
Cotton
twill fabric
fabric
DOZEN
Wide
variety
of
ADP27LCB
Wide
variety
of
Recessed
100% Cotton
fabric
Plus
B Line
Counter
$84.99 $52.99
Cotton
twill
drinktwill
holder
Recessed
drink
holder
Available
In
DHJ-1
Recessed
drink
holder
Available
In
colors
& sizes
100% $
Cotton twill
colors
& 15-20
sizes
Available
In
Available
Universal
Fit
Eagle
Claw
7'6"
colors
In Rod sizes 5', 5'6", 7'OUR
99 fabric
Cotton
fabric
colors
&twill
sizes
Available
In
MAGNA
colors
&
sizes
$24.99
Size
DX
Okuma 30
ReelDX
Recessed
drink
holder
W/
WORKING
Nylon
Available
In

Available
In
OUR PRICE 100%
OUR
PRICE
PRICE
colors
&
sizes
&
sizes
E Dry
ZERO
15
Selected
Colors
to Reg.
SP

EZ-CONNECT
CERAMIC
Starre
- 2
piece
rod
NEOPRENE
FREE
Green,
Blue,
&
Orange
79
Green,
Blue,
&
Orange
E
W
Ro
Nylon
coil
zippers
Dry
storage
compartment
Green,
Blue,
&
Orange

coil
zippers
Rod
sizes
5',
5'6",
7'
storage
compartment
SMASH
Nylon
coil
zippers
Dry
storage compartment
6,Green,
810200-200-004-12
& 12 pcs.
6,Rod
8 &Shimano
12
pcs.
99

15
S
sizes
5',
5'6",
7'
Blue,
&
Orange

WHEN
YOU
BUY
A
Green,
Blue,
&
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Nylon
coil
zippers
ck
Rope
#709852
SAVE
SAVE
SHAD

7'
1
Piece
Rod

6,
8
&
12
pcs.
Green,
Blue,
&
Orange
Green,
Blue,
&
Orange

6,
8
&
12
pcs.
Reg
$59
OUR
PRICE
$36

Nylon
coil
zippers

Dry
storage
compartment
choose
from
TOWING HARNESS
E On-board
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE Velcro
SAVE
BOOTFOOT
Line
Counter Reel
$99.99 $57.99
SAVE On-board
SAVE WHILE 4,000
SAVE
SAVE
6, 8 &storage
12 pcs.
6,FIREPOTS
8 & 12AFTER
pcs.
GRAVITY
SAVE
SAVE ADP47LCB
E
SAVE
HO
IN REBATE
storage
w/shock
shock
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
w/ shock
WHILE
4,000
LAST!
choo
SAVE
E
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
LAST!
storage
w/
fasteners
WHILE $
4,000
LAST!
On-board
Velcro fasteners
SP
FLAG
SYSTEM
WHILE
Velcro
fasteners
10200-200-005-12
OUR
PRICE
24.99
#MA
15-20DX,
38,000
LAST!MAIL
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
38,000
LAST!
WHILE
WHILE
4,000
LAST!
MAGDA
45 DX
SAVE
WHILE
4,000
LAST!

Velcro
fasteners
00
$
00

Flash
size
7

Slick
size
7
KING'S
BAY

Snail
7'6"
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
302000-300-001-12

On-board
storage
w/
shock
WHILE
4,000
LAST!
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
WHILE
4,000
LAST!
SAVE

Velcro
fasteners
WHILE
6,000
LAST!
0 Rope
$ $
00
$
$ 00
00 FXCTOMBZ
$ 00 $ $
CHAIR
$ 00
00 cord
$ 00 $
$ Frog
00
00
Specic
Pheromones
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
$
00
$
00
w/ coupon
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
cord
deck
riggingARUBA
ARUBA8SS
8SS
KI
cord deck
rigging ARUBA
8SS
la
#707449
0
deck
rigging
$
00
$
00
$
00
00
0
$
00
00
99
$
$
00
WHILE
King
Sizes
XL
XXL

Sizes
XL
XXL
Sizes
XL$69
XXL
$
00 Reg
$
00 ADP57LCB
$ 00
WADER
Plus Bspools
Line Counter
Reel
$99.99 $74.99
492,
$ 00 &
PRICE $39
Holds
up to 300
22CHEST
colors
to chooseOUR
from
deck592
rigging ARUBA 8SS
Sizes
XL$XXL
Lightweight, easy to carry
design
14
4500lbs.cord
Bird
Sizes
XL XXL
$29.99
(must
purchase
of stren line)
Soft
BaittwoMinnow
LINE
Sizes
10, 11 & 12
Mesh seating,
Ki
Turtle
99 Reg.
Reg.
$$
99
PRO
22 Pockets
2761
REG.
OR
PINK
CAMO
MAGDA
Reg.
$
99
9
WHILE
SUPPLIES
LAST!
Reg.
99
Reg.
$ $39
99
OKUMA
& SHIMANO
Reg.
Fully
adjustable.
9
$$
99
Reg.
$ $
99
Reg.NEON
$ Reg.
99
Re
W
in
Reg.
$ Reg.
99Reg.
$ variety
99 BRIGHT
Reg.
99
Adjustable padded seat back
Re
MESH
RIM
Wide
Frog
6
59
29
69
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
Reg.
99
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
$
99
Reg.
$
99
$
99

of
BRIGHT
NEON
BR
39
199
9
9
39
19
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Bonus
Handwarmer FREE
w/ FULLReg.
$34.99
Reg. $ 99
FREE
COUNTER
FREE
OTHER COLORS
AVAILABLE
$ 9 00
99
Reg.
$ 00
99
Reg
Re
FREE
FULL
THROTTLE
Many colors & styles
6
19
29
THROTTLE
39
SIZE
15-20
$
00
$
$
FREE
E
OUR
PRICE
9
39
19
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
Reg.
$6.99
pocket
included.
FULL
THROTTLE
100%
Cotton
twill
fabric
9
BULK
ROPE
SALE!
199
19
MAGDA
PRO
to
FREE

Recessed
drink
holder
DOWN
30
80
16
tocolors
choose
from
FULL
THROTTLE

A
FIRE
PIT
&
sizes
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
LINE-COUNTER
REELS
PADDLE
DX
LINE
TOW
ROPE
BAGOUR
TOW ROPE
ULTIMATE
TOW ROPE
E
OUR PRICE
PRICE
OUR PRICE
PRICE ADULT
OUR PRICE
OU
WINCHESTER
OUR PRICE
OUR
PRICE SPORTS
OUR
PRICE
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ZIP
SP
TOW
ROPE WORM
ADULT
TROLLING
GEAR
BOAT
SEAT
OUR
PRICE
OUR
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
BOAT
SEAT
OUR
PRICE
PRICE
SPORTS
BAG
ZIP
UP
D-SHOCK
TOW
ROPE
DEEP
SOFT
PLASTIC
ADULT
COUNTER
OUR PRICE
OU
G
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE SOF
OR
Nylon
coil
zippers
ADULT
Dry storage
compartment
BOAT
ADULT
HOLE
SHOT
54"
TUBE EASTER
PLANER
W/ ALL
ALL
HOLE
SHOT
54"
TUBE
STEEL
BOAT
SEAT
W/MAGDA
ALL
6, 8II& 12SEAT
pcs.
OURS
W/
OPEN
6AM-9PM
EVERYDAY!

STORE
CLOSED
SUNDAY
BOAT
SEAT
SERIES
UP
TO
CHAIR
LINE-COUNTER
REELS
MAGDA
15
DX
20
DX
50%
OFF!
HOLE
SHOT
54"
TUBE
W/
ALL
ARUBA
8'
SS
TROLLING
SW
SPINNING
OR
E
TYPE

Shadow
Grass
15
DX
OR
20
DX
TYPE
II
CHAIR

Shadow
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HUSKY
JERK
CH
HOLEReg.
SHOT
54"SAVE
TUBE
ShadowSAVE
Grass
W/&
ALL
ROD
REEL
SAVE Velcro
SWEATSHIRT
WALLEYE
Shadow
Grass
BAITS
TYPE
II
BY
Shadow
Grass
BOARD
TOWABLES
TOWABLES
II
CONSTRUCTION
Shadow
Grass
$
99
TYPE
On-board
storage w/ shock
TOWABLES
SPORTSMAN
Reg. $fasteners
9999
PRO
LINE
WH
COMBO
TYPE
II
Shadow Grass
BAIT
DHJ-12

Available
in:
TOWABLES
WHILE
38,000
LAST!

9/64x200
Nylon
Starter
Rope
#700316
Reg.
$
99

Ins
SPIN
CAST
ROD
99
99
MAGDA
15
DX
OR
20
DX
(#5912-005-158)

Grey
119

Available
in:

Grey
119
TOWABLES
Av
Grey
99 00 LIFE
JACKET LIME,
LIFE
JACKET
99
KAYAK
Available
in:BALL
Specic
Insulated
COMBO
Size
15-20
DX Okuma Reel Reg. $ $
Reg
$49
W/
WORKING
Grey
15
Selected
Colors to
LIFE
Pheromones
CAMO
Grey
119
$COMBOS
00 PRICE
00 Spec
$49
OUR
$29
JACKET
Reg
JACKET
COMBO
Grey $
cord
deck
rigging
ARUBAOUR
119
LIME,
Grey
W/
mesh
rim,
mesh
LIM
LIFE
7' Shimano
1 Piece Rod
choose
from
A8SS
DOZEN
LIME,
&
REEL
99 LIFE
Sizes
XL PRICE
XXL
ORANGE, PINK
Reg
$14.99
PRICE
E
SAVE
FISHING
Large orJACKET
X Large VEST
#MA
Large
or15-20DX,
X Largeeasy
SAVE
SAVE
$4.99
99 to carry design
FLAG
SYSTEM
OUR
BEARING
WHILE
Bait
OUR
PRICE
ORANGE,
PINK
OR
Large
orreel,
XMinnow
Large
cover to protect
against
Reg
$49
OUR
PRICE
MAGNA
30
DX
Lightweight,
Large
or X PINK
Large
ORANGE,
6,000
LAST!
Soft
Soft
Large
or
X
Large
OUR
PRICE
Size
20 SB
MAGNA
30
DX
0
$
00
FXCTOMBZ
Large
or
X Large BOOT
$
00
$ $29
00
A
DOZEN
OUR
PRICE
WITH
LINE
KNEE
492,
592
22
Pockets
USCG
Approved

USCG
Approved
3

10
30
7'6"
5/32x200
Nylon Starter Rope
#768388
SYSTEM
Adjustable
padded seat back
ying
sparks.
Wide
variety
of
#98395GY-UPH
USCG
Approved
Eagle
Claw

USCG
Approved
99

Wide

1
RIDER
TUBE
USCG
Approved
$
99
1 RIDER
TUBE
$
99

1
RIDER
TUBE
MAGNA
30
DX
USCG
Approved
99
99
99
Universal
Fit

Universal
Fit
$
99

1
RIDER
TUBE

WIN
705
3BU

Available
In
Reg
$59
OUR
PRICE
$36
100%
Cotton
twill
fabric

9 Starre
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
colors
&
sizes
Reg.
$
99
#98395CAMO-UPH

Recessed
drink
holder
2
piece
rod
$
99
RIDER
40" X $59
14"
Universal Reg
Fit
colo
6 $6.99
19
29
EZ-CONNECT
Universal
Fit5', 5'6", 7'
$19.99 OUR PRICE
Universal
Fit
Reg
EZ-CONNECT
EZ-CONNECT
Rod TUBE
sizes
1
Fit Sizes 3-6
99 Universal
SAVE
SAVE
Green, Blue, & Orange
99
10200-200-004-12
10200-200-004-12
Boys
EZ-CONNECT
6,
8 & 12
pcs.
E SOFT
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE D-SHOCK
Nylon
coilSAVE
zippers
TOWING
Dry
storage
compartment
SAVE
SAVE
Reg
$59
OUR PRICE
$36
WORM
GEAR
EZ-CONNECT
E
OUR PRICE
PRICE
OUR PRICE
10200-200-004-12
HARNESS
MAGDA 45
45 OUR
DX FREE
TOWING
HARNESS
SAVE
TOWING
10200-200-004-12
HARNESS
10200-200-004-12
MAGDA
DX
E
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
E
PLASTIC
x1000
Poly
Braided
Rope
#707113
10200-200-004-12
E
$SAVE
00
$ SAVE
00 6, 8
While
16,000
TOWING
HARNESS
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
10200-200-005-12
SPINNING
10200-200-005-12
Men
Sizes
7-13Last $SAVE
WHILE
4,000 OR
LAST!
E
ROD
&
REEL
TOWING
HARNESS

On-board
storage
w/
shock
0
$
00
$
00
00
$
00
$
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$
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
$
00
BAITS

Velcro
fasteners
$
00
10200-200-005-12
302000-300-001-12
TOW
ROPE
302000-300-001-12
99
WHILE
302000-300-001-12
10200-200-005-12
$
99
10200-200-005-12
MAGDA 45 DX $ $$$$ 00
00
$
99
SPIN
CAST
99 ROD
99
00
$ PRICE
0
$
00
$ $3900
00
10200-200-005-12
$ 00
0 Specic
0
302000-300-001-12
COMBO
BALL
99
00 Hammered
$ 00
00
$ 00OUR
SAVE
Pheromones
00
Reg $79.99
OUR PRICE
Reg
$69
OUR PRICE$W/
0
$24.99
cord deck rigging
ARUBA 8SS
302000-300-001-12
Reg
$69
&
REEL
COMBOS
Sizes XL XXLBrass w/Silver Plating
99
Soft Bait Minnow
BEARING
ALL
99
$ Unmanila
00
Reg. $
99
Reg.
$ $
99
WITH
LINE
RegCAMO
$69
OUR
PRICE
$39

x600
Twisted
Rope
#707414
Wide variety
of
REG.
OR
PINK
9
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
99
SYSTEM
Re
S
Reg.
$
99
Re
GE
REG.
OR
PINK
REG.
OR
PINK
CAMO
69
129
MESH
RIM
REG.
OR
PINK
CAMO
9
Reg.
$ 19
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$ $
99
Available In
colors & sizes
GERSON
5
Reg.
99 REG.
Reg.
$ 99
99
$ 19999
Reg.
$ PINK
99
$
99
Reg.
99
39
59
39
9
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
99
9
BRIGHT
NEON
REG.
OR
CAMO
TOWABLES
Reg.
$
99
ME

Rod sizes
5',
5'6",
7'
MESH
OKUMA
& SHIMANO
Reg.
$ 39
99
Reg. $ 59Reg.
99
Reg
Reg.
$$
9
Green,
Blue,
& Orange
OR RIM
PINK
CAMO
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
6, 8 & 12
pcs. $79.99 OUR
59
39
9
39
19
59
39
199
Reg
PRICE
$24.99
29
69
39
59
FREE
E
SAVE
SAVE
SAVE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
BULK
ROPE
SALE!
FULL
THROTTLE
ZERO
FIRE
PIT
BULK
ROPE
SALE!

G
BULK
ROPE
SALE!
CE
WHILE
4,000
LAST!
NEOPRENE
Reg.
$
99
WHILE
38,000
LAST!
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
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E
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OU
FIRE
PIT
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OKUMA
&
SHIMANO
OUR
PRICE
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CERAMIC
FIR
E!ADULT
0
$ Truck
$ 29
00
$PRICE
00
WINCHESTER
WASP
&
SPORTS
BAG
WINCHESTER
ZIPPRICE
UP
6
ZIP
UP
BULK
ROPE
SALE!
69
x300 PolyOUR
Twisted
#709852
E
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
TOW
ROPE
PRICE
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
SIZE
15-20
500 Rope
10
15
E
WINCHESTER
OUR
PRICE WINCHESTER
OUR PRICE
OU
E
WINCHESTER
ADU
STEEL
BOAT
SEAT
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
ZIP
UP
ZIP
UP
BOOTFOOT
GRAVITY
Large
or
X Large
ZIP
UP
FI
SERIES
OUR
PRICE
SIZE
15-20
UP
TO
SERIES
E
STEEL
UP
TO
ST
UP
TO
50%
OFF!
50%
OFF!
HOLE
SHOT
54"
TUBE
W/
ALL
FIREPOTS
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
Reg.
$
99
50%
OFF!
ULTIMATE
SWEATSHIRT
OUR
PRICE
SWEATSHIRT
CHAIR
SERIES
BRIGHT
NEON
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
Reg
79.99
OUR
PRICE
DX
LINE
SWEATSHIRT
HORNET
SERIES
9$24.99
39
19
TYPE II
SWEATSHIRT
Shadow
Grass
DOWN
!
TYP
SERIES
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SWEATSHIRT
UP
TO
KING'S
BAY
Sn
PRO
LINE
50%
OFF!
BY
PRO
LINE in: BAG
TOWABLES
USCG
Approved
BY
DX
LINE
CHAIR
9/64x200
9/64x200
Nylon Starter
Starter
Rope
#700316
COUNTER
9/64x200
Nylon Starter
Rope
#700316
Snail
$
SPORTS
CONSTRUCTION
BY
PRO
LINE
CO
Insulated
Insulated
Grey
Nylon
Rope
#700316
BY
Available
OUR
PRICE ULTIMATE
OUR
PRICE
OUR
PRICE
Insulated
ADULT
PRO
LINE
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Twisted
Unmanila
Rope
#707449
SEAT
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BOAT
1
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TUBE
BY
PRO
LINE FitWADER
119 99
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#700316
DEEP
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CHAIR
W/
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rim, mesh
mesh
CAMO
King
Frog
COUNTER
Holds
up
to
300
lbs.

Universal
CAMO
TYPE
II

Shadow
Grass

W/
mesh
TROLLING
W/
Reg
$14.99
OUR
PRICE
Reg
$14.99
OUR
PRICE
Reg
$14.99 OUR PRICE $4.99
$4.99
$4.99
cover to protect against
PLANER
CAMO
ORANGE,
PINK against
Reg
$89.99
OUR
PRICE
CAMO
Available
in:
Bir

Large
or
X
Large
$29.99

Large
cover
to
protect

14
oz.
EZ-CONNECT

Grey
CAMO
OUR PRICE
LIFE
cover
to protect against
Bird JACKET
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10200-200-004-12
Sizes
10, 11 &
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LIME,

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seating,
Reg
$14.99
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PRICE
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$4.99
BOOT
KNEE
BOOT
COMBO
KNEE
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ORANGE,
PINK
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5/32x200
Nylon Starter
Starter Rope
Rope #768388
#768388
5/32x200
SAVE USCG
Large
or
LargeNylon Starter Rope #768388
SAVE KNEE
ying
sparks.
Tu
Nylon
KNEE
Approved
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sparks.
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3/8x600
Truck Rope #732761
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WHILE
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WIN
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Size
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W/
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40"
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14"
insects
SAVE
SAVE
WIN
705
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Reg
$19.99
OUR
PRICE
Reg
$19.99
PRICE $6.99
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$6.99
WIN
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7'
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OTHER
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Boys
Sizes
3-6

Sizes
3-6

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WASP
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PRICE NEOPRENE
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Insulated
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ZERO
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cover to protect against
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PRICE
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BOOTFOOT
D-SHOCK
GRAVITY
GRAVITY
SOFT
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$24.99
FIREPOTS
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OR
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40" X 14"
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3BUROD
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KING'S
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SPIN
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KING'S
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SPIN
CAST
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CONSTRUCTION
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COMBO
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BAY
Snail
Snail
BY
P
UNIVERSAL
CHAIR
E
SAVE SPIN
SAVE
SAVE
Reg
79.99
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PRICE
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$24.99
KING'S
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KING'S
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BY
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Unmanila
Rope
#707449
Pheromones
9/64x200
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#700316
Insulated
In
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KILLER
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Men
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WITH

W/
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mesh
Holds
up
to
300
lbs.
Holds
up
to
300
lbs.
KI
Rope
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BEARING
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up
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30
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150

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14 oz.

King
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&
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CAMO
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Reg
$89.99
OUR
PRICE
Reg
$89.99
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PRICE
Reg
$14.99
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Bird

Bird

King
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Reg
$89.99
OUR
PRICE
$29.99
CHEST
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$4.99

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14
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WITH
LINE
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12
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300
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3/8x600
3/8x600
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Rope
#732761
variety
3/8x600
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Rope #732761
adjustable.
5/32x200
#768388
Available
Available
In
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#732761
Mesh seating,
Turtle
Turtle
SYSTEM
Fully
Kills
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$19.99
WHILE
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Green,
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40"
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WIN
705
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Reg
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49 29

$CHAIR
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99
$
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$
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15
20
60
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3
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15
OPEN
6AM-9PM
EVERYDAY!
STORE
CLOSED
EASTER
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OPEN
EASTER
SU
HOLDER
OPEN
EVERYDAY!
STORE
20
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STORE
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39
19
GERSON
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STORE
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9 $24.99
39
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OUR PRICE $24.99 19
SPORTS
BAG
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E
OUR
PRICE
OUR
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OUR
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ZERO
EADULT
OUR
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OUR
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OUR
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BAG
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BOAT
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OR
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Y
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OUR
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RINGS
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19
CHEST
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BOOTFOOT
OUR
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$29
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$29
Flares
$#732761 99
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99 FI
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3/8x600 Truck Rope

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00

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19
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5

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00

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3
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x300 Twisted Unmanila Rope #707449

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4 $29.99
80
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& SHIMANO
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& SHIMANO
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SIZE
E
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E
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E DX
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E
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9

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OTHER
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STEEL

BEARING
SYSTEM
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1414

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in:
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approved.WADER
CODE?

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Turtle
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insects
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Reaches
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to

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80
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9
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mesh
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W/
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CHAIR
KILLER

King
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King
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King Frog

9
9

39

39

Ma
30
80
to
99
OPEN 6AM-9PM EVERYDAY! STORE CLOSED EA

$ $ 00
00
$ $
00
$ $ 99
30
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& REEL
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OTHER
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B
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99
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SALES
ENDS 4/4/15
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MESH
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EVERYDAY!

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cover to
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cover
ENDS 30
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E
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$
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99
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11 &
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AE
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insects
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MAGDA
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0 10200-200-005-12
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00
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up
Many colors & styles
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00
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up
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99
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to 29 ft.
Also Available: 12x36 & 18x48
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00

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OPEN 6 AM - 9 PM EVERYDAY

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STARTING MAY 22ND OPEN EVERYDAY UNTIL 10PM

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

9
9
0

THRU MAY 31 17

The U.P.s
Population
By Bill Ziegler

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

he 2015 Michigan DNR moose survey

only indicates a moose population
of 323 animals in the Western Upper
Peninsula. In 2013, the DNR winter
moose population estimate based on
aerial survey indicated there were
about 451 moose in the western UP. If this population estimate is correct, it would amount to a 28
percent population drop in the moose population
since 2013. The survey is conducted in Baraga,
Iron, and Marquette Counties.
Dr. Dean Beyer of the Michigan DNR Wildlife
Division monitors the Michigan moose population. He stated from 1997 to 2007 the UP moose
population was growing by 10 percent a year. He
went on to say that from 2009 to 2013 the moose
population only grew by two percent per year. The
population surveys are conducted biennially; this
years air survey was plagued by bad weather and
high winds causing a number of survey flights to be
cancelled for safety reasons. He stated, Despite
the difficult weather conditions DNR staff completed the survey as scheduled. Sighting conditions
were good, with snow covering most of the stumps
and downed logs and there was snow on the conifer
trees for most of the survey. The good snow cover
makes the moose stand out against the background
vegetation and cover.
Dr. Beyer said This years survey only indicates a moose population of 323 animals in the
Western UP. Although at face value this appears to
be a definite decline, due to variability surrounding
the estimates, biologists cant say with statistical
confidence that the population has declined. Beyer
explained the DNRs survey efforts have been
focused on the Western UP moose population, that
was re- introduced in the Moose Lift program.
Beyer explained that the moose herd in the eastern
UP, likely number fewer than 100. The source of

Adult wolf in the Western UP. Steve Dickman photo

18 from Dickinson County

Bull moose browsing on trees along a woods road in northeast Iron County.
the eastern UP moose is not known for certain. It is
possible that a few scattered moose remained from
native moose although it is also likely some moose
immigrated from eastern Ontario or the western UP.
The research biologist expressed concern over a
second population parameter they measure, the ratio
of moose calves to cows in the population. He stated, In recent years, this ratio averaged 59 calves
per 100 cows and was consistent with estimates of
calf production and survival determined by monitoring radio-collared cows from 1999-2005. The
calf to cow ratio dropped to 42 calves per 100 cows
this year and is the best evidence the population has
actually declined. Another indirect indicator is the
number of moose vehicle accidents that had been
increasing through 2012. Moose vehicle collisions
dropped in 2013 and 2014.
Dr. Beyer gave three possible factors that may
have contributed to a possible decline in the West
UP moose population; 1. Back to back severe
winter weather, especially deep snow, may have
negatively affected moose condition, survival
and reproductive success. 2. Year-round climatic
changes, especially warmer weather could have led
to increased parasite loads on moose weakening
their overall condition. 3. Possible increase in wolf
predation on moose calves due to the regions lower
deer population. Future surveys will be necessary to identify any long-term trend for Michigans
moose population.
In 2011, the DNR Moose Hunt Advisory Council, a legislatively created council, investigated the
potential of a moose hunt in Michigan. The council felt a moose hunt was a feasible option provided
the moose surveys indicated that the moose population continued to grow at sustained growth rate of
over three percent per year. Beyer stated given the
populations trend and the most recent estimate, the
DNR will not recommend implementing a harvest
at this time.
In recent years concern has been growing
among wildlife management agencies across the
southern tier of the US moose range. Minnesota
has had a stable moose population with a carefully
regulated hunting season for many years. According to the Minnesota DNR their moose population
has dropped 52 % since 2010. On the southern tier

of the moose range state wildlife conservation agencies like New Hampshire and Montana have also
reported a decline in their moose population.
The Minnesota DNR reports they have two
geographically separate moose populations. The
northwest Minnesota moose population has dropped
dramatically since the 1990s from about 4000 down
to about 100 recently. The northeastern Minnesota
moose population is also dropping from a recent
high of about 8000 as recently as 2006, down to
about 3000 in 2013.
Although a number of factors are likely to have
contributed to Minnesotas moose decline, Minnesota DNR suspended their 2013 moose hunting
season as a precaution. Tom Landwehr, Minnesota
DNR Commissioner said it is now prudent to control every source of mortality we can as we seek to
understand the causes of population decline.
Minnesota DNR wildlife researchers are currently conducting a comprehensive study to determine the factors that have lead to a major decline in
their moose herd.
Early results indicate there are several factors
affecting the Minnesota moose population decline.
Lou Cornicelli, Minnesota DNR Wildlife Research
Manager, said preliminary results indicate the
factors likely causing the decline are complicated.
It appears that a combination of parasites/disease
and wolf predation, are important causes they have
found so far. Their early research indicates that
about half of the moose mortalities are from wolf
predation. Although it is important to note that 1/3
of the wolf predated moose had underlying health
conditions that likely made them more vulnerable to
predation. He went on to say their research indicates that their moose herd would likely still be declining in the absence of wolves due to parasite or
disease factors. Further research will be required
to determine how the complicated parasite (eg. winter tick, liver fluke and brain worm) and or disease
issues appear to have become more of a problem to
moose.
The Minnesota Study is designed to address
many of these complicated interactions like changing summer temperatures affect on moose as well
as parasite/disease loads on the Minnesota moose
population.n

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

MADE IN AMERICA

19

D&R Sports Center

SPRING HAS
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O PE N 7 DAYS A WE EK !

MON-TUE 9-6, WED-FRI 9-8, SAT 9-5, SUN 10-4

(269) 372-2277 WWW.DandRSports.com

Sold By Professionals - Trusted By Professionals

New
WALLEYES

Reg. $5.99

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

SALE $3.99

20

D&R Sports Center inc.

8178 W. MAIN STREET
KALAMAZOO, MI 49009

1-800-992-1520
FAX: 269-372-9072

WWW.DANDRSPORTS.COM
OPEN 7 DAYS: MON. & TUES. 9-6;
WED., THURS. & FRI. 9-8; SAT. 9-5; SUN. 10-4

SUBJECT TO STOCK ON HAND, NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MISPRINTS. SOME PICTURES MAY SHOW OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT OR COLORS.

By Kenny Darwin

here is
nothing
new about catching fish
on lures that vibrate.
Heck, the bassin world
long ago found the deadly presentation of Rat-L-Trap to be productive
at catching largemouth and smallmouth. But there is a new generation
of vibrating lures that not only catch
bass, pike and just about any fish that
swims, but big ole walleyes love em.
Perhaps the most popular is the
Jackall TN60 with loud rattles and fast
sinking ability to make deep water
fishing a breeze. The Jackall has a lip
made from tungsten which gives the
lure a mean minnow look and appeal
and it comes in a variety of hot colors
like chrome/blueback, lime/greenish
perch and crawdad. The Jackall is
very productive when cast but most
fishermen prefer to jig it over deep
water walleye liars and the vibration
and rattle draws savage strikes from
predatory walleyes. Jackalls specially
designed weighted lip system makes
it possible for the lure to stand up
straight on bottom. This creates less
snagging than traditional vibes.
It is also designed for long distance casting from shore, dock or
boat so you can cover more water and
catch more fish. The TN70 is designed
to have the best balance so the lure
swims at the slowest retrieval rate.
Some anglers prefer this lure because
it can be pulled close to bottom with
the lip stirring up sand or sediment
and get the attention of walleyes. This
action mimics baitfish feeding in the
silt and causes walleyes to slam the
offering. The Jackall comes in 16 colors and I recommend the ghost purple
minnow, super crawfish and threadfin
shad.
Last winter I used vibe lures to
land monster walleyes on Saginaw
Bay and Lake Erie. One of my favorites is the new Rapala Rippin Rap Ultra Lite colored blue chrome and gold
chrome. The size #5 is 2 inches long
and works great, but I had my best
luck using the size #4 which is 1
inches long and weighs 3/16 oz. The
Rippin Rap Ultra Lite is perhaps the
hottest vibe bait going. The reason it
is so effective is because it looks like
a live minnow. It has a unique scale
pattern, huge bulging eyes, bright
red nose and the bright chrome body

shines through the

water like no other.
This lure is deadly
on walleyes! Fish love the hard
vibrating cadence on the upstroke
and subtle fluttering movement on
the drop. It comes in 10 fish attracting colors including 3 UV bright and
one glow. The deep belly profile has a
loud BB rattle system
Ive long used vibrating lures to
hammer limit catches of early spring
walleyes near Turtle Island on Lake
Erie. Captain Jays Blade Baits are the
lure of choice and the trick is to motor
into the discolored water at the outlet
of the Maumee River and jerk the lure
near bottom. The hottest color for this
fishing is the white knight and you
simply drop the lure to bottom and
give it a 12-18 inch jerk off bottom.
This causes the lure to vibrate, send
out a sonic blast that gets the attention
of walleyes stacked on reefs and they
locate the lure by sound and smack
it. When Erie waters become clear
Captain Jays lures still catch walleyes
like dynamite but you need to switch
to chrome, purple and metallic colors
that mimic forage fish struggling near
bottom.
Vibe lures are designed to send
out a sonic wave that predator fish
detect with their sensitive lateral line
along their sides. They feel the pulse
of the vibrating lure and hone in on
the motion. Vibe lures have a line
attachment in the center of their back
which makes them ideal for jigging.
In discolored water you can catch fish
directly below the boat in 8-12 ft. of
water but vibe lures are fast sinking
and work like dynamite to pump up
walleyes from bottom in 20-30 ft.
depths.
Last summer I hammered big
walleyes jigging vibe lures near the
reefs surrounding West Sister Island
in Lake Erie and around the Charity Islands in Saginaw Bay. I was
somewhat surprised to find the hottest
bite period was during mid-day when
the sun is penetrating the water and
wary walleyes seek the comfort of the
depths.
Another vibe lure that works like
dynamite is the Northland Tackle Live
Forage Rippin Shad from the Replica
Series of lipless rattle baits which lure
fish like a magnet. They are designed
with a flat head for a tight vibrating action and feature an internal

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Shad or Silver Shad. If your local

tackle shop does not have they try
www.cabelas.com.
Vibe lures are made for action
fish, whether you are jigging, rippin or casting. The idea is to send
vibrations through the water to attract
walleyes. Most lures have a flat head
to provide wide wiggle action and
vibration which attracts predator fish.
The idea is to mimic the vibration of
a frantic school of minnows. The tight
wiggle resembles a panicked minnow
and will key savage strikes. For this
style of fishing the amount of commotion you create determines how
many fish you attract.
If you are ice fishing learn how to
make em dance and send loud sound
vibrations to attract fish. Then learn
how to slow the action and entice
strikes from walleyes that are kissin close. The same action is needed
when jigging from a boat. Pump it,
make it call in fish. The strike is hard,
solid and certain to get your heart
pumping.
Casting is a different challenge
and often the farther you get the lure
from the boat the more walleyes you
will catch. But dont just reel in a
vibe lure, give it a jerk, make certain you rip it, make it vibrate, rattle
and fall on slack line and soon you
will feel the solid slam from a big
walleye.n

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The author displays a dandy walleye that was lured into striking by the loud
vibration given off by Captain Jays Blade Bait. Author photo

weighted rattle chamber to emit sonic

vibrations of distressed baitfish to
lure predator fish from a far radius.
While they were designed for ice fishing jigging or casting over shallow
flats or shorelines is very productive.
These lures ring the dinner bell for
hungry walleyes and were my lure of
choice when casting to rocky shoals
surrounding the Charity Islands and
West Sister gravelly shoals. For limit
catches try rippin them and let them
fall back on slack line. They come in
1 , 2 or 2 -inch sizes and 6 colors
including: Sexy Shad, Golden Perch,
and Silver Shiner.
Dont overlook the new Live
Target Baitball Series Rattlebait. This
is a life-like looking lure that resembles a ball of baitfish. The idea is
a bait ball forms when small minnows
swarm into a tightly packed spherical formation. This is a defensive
measure adopted by small schooling
fish when threatened by predators.
The new Rattlebait looks like a tight
school of live bait. No other lure has
this appeal and multiple baitfish eyes
give it a realistic look that is new to
the world of walleye fishing. The
Rattlebait also offers the benefit of a
loud rattle which causes the baitfish
to cluster into a fleeing baitball. Just
one look at this forage fish replica
and walleyes start snapping. Try the 2
-inch model in 5 colors like Violet

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Old Birds
and

Their Dogs

very hunter who has

ever picked burdock
from his bird dogs
coat knows one day it
will end. But planning
for the inevitable is no
easier than predicting the day you will
put the gun in the cabinet for the last
time. The knees could go first. Or the
heart. Sometimes its your
best friend who quits, or dies,
first.
I know something about
this subject because my own
legs all but gave out last winter while climbing angular
hills of live oak in southeast
Arizona in search of Mearns
quail. The hills seemed higher, the thighs
more painful
than when I was
here a dozen or
so years earlier.
This time I cut what locals call a Moses stick, a walking staff made from
the spire of dead wood that grows
atop a species of agave called desert spoon. Reaming the rough stick
through the sawtooth edges of the
plants bayonet-like spears smoothed
the staff for splinter-free gripping.
When my legs grew so tired I

could hardly lift them, the stick kept

me from falling. For a while though,
I wondered if my bird-hunting days
were over. That night I awoke to
charley horses; the next day my legs
quivered from minor spasms.
We are not alone here, are we?
Maybe you and your friends are also
coming round the big wide bend.
Some of us can recall the
first bird we ever shot so
long ago. Will we remember
the last?
A friend of mine from
Silver City, New Mexico
hunted scaled and Gambel
quail for more than 60 years,
mostly in the company of
good Brittanys. Three,
maybe four
years, Dick
told me one
day. Whenever
Boots cant go
anymore, Ill hang it up, too. I figure
well go out together.
What about another dog? I suggested.
Nope. Boots is the last one.
Dick traded his gun for a camera
on the second day of our hunt. So
did his good friend, Mort, who lost
half a lung and several ribs during
the Second World War. Mort came
to the upland game when he was 65.
Dick corrupted me by training my
dog, Mort said, pointing to Britt, his
male Brittany, who lay in the shade
and panted with the desert heat as we
talked.
Britt and Boots are the same age.
I imagine well all quit together.
I thought about my young dog at
home in his kennel and wondered if
he would be the end of the line for
me (Ill be 70 when you read this).
Another friend of mine, a man about
seventy, put his 13-year-old setter to
sleep last spring. For the first time
that I have known him, he did not
hunt last fall. I had heard him say
many times, If you cant hunt behind
your own dog, why hunt at all?
A good point. The late Dr. Jim
Hall of Traverse City, who was in his
seventies when I met him nearly four
decades ago, rarely missed a day in
grouse-hunting woods behind a long

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Michigan Meanders
By Tom Huggler

22

A drumming male grouse.

Some can recall the first bird they shot so long ago...will we
remember the last? Tom Huggler photos
string of memorable setters. The fall
before we first met, he told me had
hunted 89 days of the then ninety-daylong season.
I took off a day to remarry, he
admitted.
These men dont go to kill birds
anymore although they shoot those
that offer an unusual opportunity or as
an excuse to keep the dogs interested,
even though they know that is nonsense.
They go to see if the owl cover
maple is as brilliantly red as they
remember it.
They wonder if the native brook
trout in the step-across stream are as
splendid in their spawning colors as
last fall.
They want to smell, once more,
the sweep ripeness of fermented wild
currant.
They hope to hear again the pointers tinkling bell and the brrrrrrrrr of
wings
Some quit at a given hour of a
given day, and others ease out over
time. A wildlife artist friend of mine,
after losing a prize partner to old age,
stopped hunting for two years even
though he had another good setter in
the wings. Jim, who died a few years
ago, was seventy at the time. When
he finally picked up his gun again, he
was pleasantly surprised at how well
the younger dog performed.

The late H. G. Tap Tapply, who

wrote Taps Tips for Field & Stream
for many years, also quit the game
at age seventy due to arthritic knees.
Tap never lost his desire to hunt,
however. In a letter to me he wrote:
My idea of hell would be to read
about grouse hunting and watch others
hunt grouseand woodcock, too, of
coursewhile the devil taunted me:
See what youre missing?
While researching for my grouse
hunting book, I came across another
New England gentleman, who at the
time may have been Americas oldest
bird hunter at age 97. A planned
interview, which I was coordinating
through his 74-year-old son, never
materialized because the old fellow
suddenly took ill and passed away.
Legendary Michigan wildlife
biologist Andy Ammann hunted into
his early nineties by carrying a cane in
one hand and cradling his double gun
in the other. Shortly before George
Bird Evans died, I interviewed him by
telephone for my woodcock hunting
book. Evans, 95, was looking forward
to autumn and hunting season number
73.
Each of us has his own cadence.
The metrical patterns we march to are
as personal as the private thoughts
that drive the poetry of walking. Most
bird hunters have lyrical hearts, and
old men are iambic by nature.n

SPORTSMANS DIRECT

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586-741-6052

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

AL AND BOBS SPORTS

23

SWIM JIGS FOR BASS...WORK!

S

You can never be too creative about where to throw

one, and what kind of trailer to put on it...By Buck Mallory

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

urf the Internet to find out

where swim jigs for bass
came from and youll likely
be able to narrow the source
down to two places: The
Mississippi River north of
Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and the Coosa
River, in Alabama. Seems that a
fellow named Tom Monsoor ruled
tournaments in the Lacrosse area
some 30 years ago, and eventually
spilled the beans that swimming a jig
through shallow weeds was his top
presentation. Supporters of the Coosa
River origin claim other folks down in
Alabama started purposely swimming
a jig about the same time.
Most guys fishing with this simple
tactic of swimming a jig for bass these
days probably could not care less if
the technique started in Wisconsin or
Alabama. Wherever it came from, it
flat out works. Not only is it effective,
but its one of those techniques that
pretty much works any time there isnt
ice covering the lakes. Oh, and its
deadly in some river situations, too.
Swim jigs became mainstream for
bass probably about seven years ago
when some big Bassmaster events
started getting won with them. I wish
I would have figured it out a long time
ago. Even as a kid fishing tournaments
with my dad or my Uncle Jim, there
were lots of times that Id be working
a jig back in the traditional, lift, shake,
lift retrieve along the bottom, but the
bass didnt bite until I started cranking the jig in fast to make another
cast. It never occurred to me to start
swimming that jig as soon as it hit the
water.
These days, swimming a jig is a
standard presentation for me, and I
almost always have a swim jig rigged
and ready to go up on the front deck
of my Nitro bass boat.

24

The author shows

a big mama largemouth that attacked
a Pure Poison Swim
Jig from Strike King
in April. Mallory was
casting into weed
clusters on a point
and retrieving it
slowly in the cold
water when the big
one inhaled. Swim
jigs, both bladed and
the originals without the blades, work
year-round.

For anyone who hasnt tried one, or

tried one without success, lets talk
about the basics. The swim jig is one
of those lures that youre best off not
overthinking. Usually, catching fish
on one is a simple matter of casting it
out and winding it back and a steady
pace, much like you would a spinnerbait. Generally, you want it either up
near the surface looking like a baitfish
to the bass below, or coming through
cover into a basss face and causing
a reaction strike. Oh, lets add slowreeling it along the bottom to mimic
a crawfish or goby or other tasty
bottom-dweller puttering along.
Actually, you can never be too creative about where to throw one, and
what kind of trailer to put on it.
For instance, take this river scenario: Its common knowledge that
trout like to hide underneath washedout embankments; not-too-common
knowledge that bass do the same thing
in warmer rivers. One of the best ways
to catch these bass is to position your
boat (or actually wade) downstream of
the undercut, as close to the bank as
possible and cast a swim jig upstream,
parallel to the bank. I like using a
Strike King Hack Attack Heavy Cover
Swim Jig, - to 5/8-ounce size, with a
Rage Tail trailer, which really thumps.
Reels just fast enough to keep the
trailer moving as you come downstream and you might be surprised
at how many bass youll catch out of
a spot like this. Sure, you could use
a crankbait in this situation, but the
swim jig is far less likely to get hung
up as you bring it downstream.
Narrow-nose or bullet-head
swim baits along the lines of the KVD
Swim Jig from Strike King and the
Stealth Jig from Freedom Tackle are
excellent for pulling through weeds.
One of the KVD models has rattles

The articulated Freedom Stealth Jig has a free-swinging hook that adds extra
action. This one has a Texas-rigged Yum Craw to make a weedless presentation with lots of movement.
on it, which cause a nice little commotion that seems to trigger strikes.
The Stealth Jig from Freedom Tackle
is basically a swimbait head with a
skirt and a big offset, wide-gap hook
onto which you Texas Rig a trailer.
Its nice and weedless, and the hook
is actually on a corkscrew sort of
arrangement that allows it to swivel,
which adds some wiggly action with a
swimming plastic trailer.
Most of the time I throw swim
jigs on a heavy-action rod, with the G.
Loomis, 7-foot 6-inch Jig and Worm
Rod (model GLX 904) my favorite.
For the reel, I like the Shimano Curado with a 6.4:1 retrieve ratio. Thats
a fairly fast retrieve, which is important with swim jigs because of how
bass sometimes hit it. They frequently
smoke it from behind, and keep swimming at youall of a sudden you just
feel kind of nothing as you reel.
When this happens, crank like mad

until you catch up with the fish and

then set the hook. If you make a big
swing before your reel picks up the
slack, your rod tip will be behind your
head, and youll have to try and drive
the hook point home with just the reel
handle. This doesnt work real well.
For line with a swim jig, 14-pound
test fluorocarbon is a good compromise between invisibility and durability around the kinds of brush you often
throw this thing into.
As for trailers, some imitate
crawfish and some are just paddle-tail
swimbaits. Both of them work, and
usually, both are imitating baitfish and
not crawfish. Thats because crawfish
dont swim up in the water column
where youre usually pulling these
lures. The exception, of course, is
when youre slow rolling a swim jig
right on bottom, which is where the
crawfish hang.
So when picking your trailerand

lots of things from the Strike King

Rage Lobster to a plain, 3-inch Kalin
Grub make great trailerspick a
color that matches the primary forage. In Michigan, lots of times, thats
going to be bluegills, perch and sunfish. In lakes connected to the Great
Lakes, you might go with a more

Chatterbaits

Swim jigs evolved into the

Chatterbait from Z-Man, which is
a jig with a blade in front of it that
gives the jig body, skirt and trailer
a whole lot of action. Strike Kings
version is called the Pure Poison
Swim Jig. These can be great lures
about any time of year, but especially in cold water, when fish want
something moving slowly, but with
lots of action. Thats what these baits
providea lot of action. Ive fared
well with the black-bladed Chatterbait, and have found that sometimes toning down the flash of the
Pure Poison Swim Jig with a black
magic marker can make that lure
get more hits.
Like the standard swim jig,
theres no big secret to effectively
fishing the bladed swim jig. A standard chunk and wind procedure,
dropping these baits into prime,
mainly shallow bass habitat will get
results.

silver presentation to mimic alewives

and shiners.
Color choice is also important as
to where youre fishing in a specific
lake. If youre pulling your swim
jig through weeds, a darker panfish
color is usually the best way to go.
If youre buzzing it up on top close
to the surface, it often pays to opt for
a lighter color that blends with the
silver, shimmery surface the bass are
looking up into. You dont want that
fish to see your bait all that clearly,
and so a silvery, pearly white bait
works better most of the time.
One of the really great things
about fishing a swimming jig is not
just how well it catches fish, but how
many different combinations of colors and trailers you can put together
to find the one that works best in
any given body of water. Start with
something that matches the hatch of
prey fish and that moves some water
to send out vibrations that feel like
a fleeing meal to a bass. Then tweak
it from there. Stick with a swim jig,
tweak the colors and action, and
odds are good you will find one that
catches fish.
Tournament angler and avid outdoorsman Buck Mallory of Lawton
presents a Michigan-specific topic
about bass fishing in every issue of
Woods-N-Water-News.n

Fish stocking creates

numerous fishing opportunities
throughout the Great Lake States

The Department of Natural

Resources announced it is in the
middle of its new fish-stocking
season. This spring, people are
likely to find DNR fish-stocking
trucks releasing their prized
cargo at hundreds of lakes and
streams throughout the state.
Fish stocking is a valuable
tool used by fisheries managers
to restore, enhance and create new fishing opportunities
in Michigans inland lakes and
streams and in the Great Lakes.
The DNR Fisheries Division accomplishes this task by rearing fish at its
six fish production facilities located throughout the state; cooperatively
managing up to 50 rearing ponds and 12 Great Lakes net pen locations;
and maintaining a fleet of 17 specialized fish-stocking vehicles.
Over the course of a typical year the DNR will stock roughly 20 million to 25 million fish weighing nearly 400 tons, including eight species
of trout and salmon and four cool-water species such as walleye and
muskellunge. DNR fish-stocking vehicles will travel nearly 140,000 miles
to stock between 700 and 1,100 locations.
Michigan anglers have access to four Great lakes, 3,000 miles of Great
Lakes shoreline, more than 11,000 inland lakes and tens of thousands
of miles of rivers and streams. That puts residents and visitors no more
than 10 minutes away from great angling opportunities and world-class
fisheries.
Visit the DNRs fish-stocking website at michigandnr.com/fishstock/
for information on local fish stocking locations.

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

OVER 500 BOWS OVER 500 CROSSBOWS

OVER 100 LEFT HAND

BOWS IN STOCK

25

Gentleman and Outdoorsman

Jeff Erskine was mentor, friend, family man,
cousin, hunting and fishing partner

ears streamed down my face during Jeff

Erskines Memorial Service. (Im not a
tough guy.) To catch the eye of his wife,
one of his daughters or grandchildren
only made it worse. It was a horribly sad
day. We lost a true gentleman and outdoorsman.
Jeff was my mentor, hunting and fishing partner,
friend and cousin. This column is therapy for me
and a tribute to Jeff, a wonderful husband, father,
grandfather and sportsman.
Jeff lost his long fight with a dreadful form of
leukemia. He fought it with incredible strength,
courage and dignity. I think he may have known the
ultimate reality of the disease long ago. He did all
he could.

Jeff, his brother Mike and I
grew up together, spending
time on the family farm near
Cedar Lake. They would come
on the weekends from the
Lansing area.

Being a half dozen years
younger than them made it
tough to keep up with my

By Randy Jorgensen

older cousins but I did my best. And when it came

to rough-housing as boys do of course, I got my fair
share of bumps and bruises.
Still I mimicked their walks, the clothes they
wore and the way they talked...that one got me in
trouble from time to time with my Grandmother.
We hunted grouse and rabbits on the farm.
Bringing back our bounty to see who could pluck
and skin faster. I never won.
Jeff was very particular about his hunting and
fishing equipment. Every gun or every fishing pole
had a place. Guns were always properly cleaned
and stored. And each gun shot straight and accurate.
Each reel cast like it was brand new.
Those were treasured days, spending them with
my cousins and grandparents.
Vietnam came along and things changed. Mike
and Jeff both saw things they couldnt and wouldnt
share with their younger cousin. I remember going
to Grandma Jorgensens house on Sunday nights so
we could hear Aunt Ginnys telephone call telling
us they both were safe. And the hugs we gave each
other after hearing the good word that the ugly war
had not taken them from us.
After returning home and starting his own
family we remained close. Jeff was best man in my Jeff Erskine with his giant woodland caribou taken
wedding and we often talked of hunting and fishwith bow in Newfoundland.

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26

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ing together once again. Life got in the way for a

while.
During family Christmas parties Jeff told me
of his deer hunts and latest deep sea fishing trip for
sailfish, marlin, tuna and dolphin. At home in the
Grand Rapids area he often took friends and clients
fishing on Lake Michigan for salmon and steelhead.
As we settled into our lives, once a year Jeff
and I began going on some hunting or fishing
trips. We hunted everything from moose in British
Columbia to woodland caribou in Newfoundland.
We have hunted bear in Ontario and Manitoba. We
have hunted whitetail all over Michigan.
I remember the excitement in Jeffs voice when
he showed me the record book bow kill woodland
caribou in Newfoundland he had taken. Jeff and I
made two trips to British Columbia moose hunting.
The first trip got cancelled about half way through
when the snowstorm of the century hit, dumping
four feet of snow on us.
It was that trip when we were forced to stay
in our log cabin for days on end. We learned a lot
about each other during that storm, being snowbound creates time for conversation. When not
talking about our family, we played hundreds of
games of cribbage, a game we had enjoyed for
years. And of course he accused me of cheating
when he lost.
After Jeff was diagnosed with leukemia we
continued to talk about our next trip. Jeff remained
positive during his treatments and planning our
next adventure seemed to help.
I learned about life and the outdoors from Jeff.
I admired his deep love for family and a indescribable love for his grandchildren. I remember how
his face would light up when he talked about his
grandchildren and sheer enjoyment he got from be-

TriCountyEquipment.net

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Jeff, on a moose hunt in British Columbia, was the authors mentor, hunting buddy and cousin.
ing around them.
The tears that streamed down my face were for
in part his grandchildren who wont get a chance
to know their Pops a little better. And for Jeff, not
having a chance to tell his many stories to them.
His wife will forever miss him, as will his
children, his grandchildren and friends. He was

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a one-of-a-kind type of guy, one I respected

tremendously.
I treasure the time and feel lucky to have spent
the time I did with him, doing what he loved to do.
Listening to his stories and sharing his fondness for
the outdoors will always be with me.
Ill miss him and will think of him often.n

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27

Bucks often announce their presence

and attract does by making grunt
calls. If other bucks are present they
like to snort, wheeze or bawl-grunt
or growl to vocalize their dominating
status. Author photos

frequently used sound and varying

tone, volume and frequency creates
different meanings. All bucks, doe and
fawn make bleats. The most common is the contact bleat made when
deer communicate with each other
as if to say, Im over here or here I
am. Does often make bleats to keep
in touch with fawn and fawns bleat
regularly to contact does.
The most common buck sound
during the rut is a tending grunt. It
is a relatively short, sharp burp-like
grunt. This grunt is not very loud and
if you hear it while hunting you better be prepared because a buck is in
range. Bucks make the tending grunt
to attract does, while checking different does, to announce their presence
and to communicate with a pre-estrus
or estrus doe. Bucks grunt regularly
when following a trail made by an
estrus doe or when following a doe
during the pre-rut chase phase. Ive
had excellent luck calling bucks to me
using grunt calls.
Ive used a variety of calls to
imitate the grunt call but have best
luck by making the sound by inhaling
and burping. I use my hand to funnel the call the direction of deer and
I can control the volume, pitch and
length of the burp with my mouth.
It is my opinion that guttural sounds
made by burping sound more realistic
and draw more bucks than sounds
made from plastic, wood or rubber
calls. However, Ive used a long more
drawn out louder aggressive grunt or
snort-wheeze to intimidate or challenge adult heavy antlered bucks. The
aggravated grunt, also known as the
growl will get the attention and draw
nderstanding big buck deer use various sounds to communi- and they can quickly determine the
mature bucks. This sound is longer,
cate. So, I often make sounds with the sounds of squirrel, turkeys scratchbehavior and their
louder and somewhat phased like a
ing in leaves and a human walking
intention of drawing deer. Some revocalizations can be
growl and is frequently used before
through the woods. They are experts
sults are disappointing but come fall,
the key to successful
a confrontation between two mature
at hearing other deer at extreme long
especially during the rut, whitetails
hunting. What about
bucks. This is when they walk stiff
distances and slithering through unare the most vocal and making the
you, can you talk the
derbrush to intercept other deer based legged, their ears are turned back
right sound can bring bucks running
talk? Do you understand when to
mule-like, hair is bristled to the max
on sound. When the breeding season
rattle, how to grunt or wheeze to bring like they are on a string.
and they posture side by side trying to
arrives a love sick buck spends most
During the pre-rut chase phase
bucks running? Do you know how
intimidate each other. Battling bucks
of his time searching for receptive
to sound like a deer, draw bucks from bucks are very susceptible to calling
will make the aggravated growl along
does and intercepting other deer to
and making deer sounds can attract
thick cover and stop them in their
with aggressive sharp sniffing-wheeze
them from long distances. In order to check sexual readiness. During peak
tracks for an easy shot?
understand how to use calling to your rut most bucks are desperate and will sounds. As if to say, this is my girl,
Im no biologist but I can guaradvantage you need an understanding respond to just about any sound in the youre on my turf, hit the road Mac!
antee you I have spent a lifetime in
This point is best made by the followof a bucks sense of hearing. Basical- woods. Some sneak up on does like
Michigans great outdoors in search
ly, they are equipped with a panther on the prowl; others prance ing anecdote.
of heavy antlered bucks.
through the woods like a college
It was late into the rut when I spottwo large open ended
More often than not Im
boy headed to the bar and some will
ted a pair of bucks sparring near an
cones that can move any
carrying a telephoto lens
charge or run through the forest like a Ingham Country railroad track. I used
direction and cup sound.
and my goal is to capcharging rhino. It is their primary goal the piled high gravel as a block and
Their ears are far more
ture big bruisers in their
to find does, move into close proxim- slipped within 50 yards of the dueleffective than ours at
natural environment. I
locating sounds, pinpoint- ity and check their scent to see if they ing bucks. The largest was a dandy 8
spend countless hours on
are willing partners.
point with dark antlers, swollen neck
ing exact direction and
stand, in blinds waiting
Deer communicate by making a
and chocolate brown fur and seemed
determining if sounds are
for the opportunity to
variety of sounds like bleats, grunts,
to be the dominate buck. I hid in tall
made by other deer.
photograph big bucks that
canary grass, readied the TenPoint
Keep in mind that bawls, snorts, bellows, wheezes,
I know are in the area.
crossbow and gave the pair a loud
deer live in the woods hisses and more. Bleats are the most
I know for certain that

Rattle, Grunt, Wheeze

Can you call bucks?

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

U
28

By Kenny Darwin

grunt. Both deer suddenly stopped

sparring and the darkest looked my
direction. I waited until he turned his
head and gave em another short but
loud grunt call. His head immediately
swiveled my direction and he was
staring directly at me as he broke off
from the sparring session and began
walking directly my direction. He
slipped into some tall grass and I lost
him for a few seconds but then he
emerged less than 40 yards away with
head down, nose to the ground slowly
slipping toward me through brush and
grass.
Thats when I could hear the approaching buck make a soft tending
grunt as if he was responding to the
strange buck on his turf. I shouldered
my crossbow, flipped the safety off
and centered the Scorpion Illuminated
scope on his front shoulder. The buck
noticed me, came to an abrupt stop
just a few yards away as I touched the
trigger and heard the Spitfire thwack
as it smashed through his broad chest.
The buck whirled around, charged
into the brush and made three big
leaps before the 1 inch Edge broadhead cutting diameter did its work
and he fell face first.
I approached the fallen prize and

into archery range and made calls

;like a rival buck. I thought to myself,
Gotta love it when you can bring a
buck kissin close by making realistic
buck sounds.
Another deer call that you can
best imitate is the breeding bellow,
which is a long sheep-like vocalization. The Baaaaaa basically is used
by does to attract bucks and is sort
of a long, dawn out bleat. There are

Many hunters never hear deer vocalizations because the calls are often soft
and hunters do not know what to listen for. Get a DVD or CD and listen to deer
calls and practice making those calls this coming hunting season.
noticed the crossbow bolt made a
complete pass-through on both sides
and sat down to admire the dandy
buck. His neck was thick, tarsal
glands were bucky smelling and
obviously he was looking for a fight.
Little did he know the grunt calls he
heard were not from a contender but
an old time deer stalker who slipped

a number of other deer sounds that

some hunters like to use like: buck
bawl, buck bleat, alarm or distress
calls or snort. However, based on my
experience you are better off concentrating on the details of grunting and
forget the rest.
If you see a buck slipping through
the brush give him a short grunt. If

he keeps moving, give him another

but increase the volume and frequency until you get his attention,
he stops and looks your way. Do not
try calling when a deer is looking at
you because their hearing is so acute
they will pinpoint you. Calling when
a buck is looking at you will give up
your position and frequently the deer
will spot you and blow out of Dodge.
The idea is to get his attention and get
him to turn and head your direction
in search of the rival buck. Get ready,
knock an arrow and allow the animal to slip into easy bow range. Ive
called zillions of bucks kissin close
by grunting and the science behind
this deadly technique boils down to
making grunts that sound exactly like
a buck.
Now hes coming, you are ready
to draw but the buck keeps walking. Here comes the tricky part,
stop him in his tracks by making an
alarm grunt. Thats right; you pick
the opening and give him a short, but
somewhat loud burp. This my friend
is the point of no return because the
buck will hear the alarm call and
come to an abrupt stop and you have
just a few short seconds to release the
arrow. I guarantee when you grunt
a buck, call him kissin close, draw,
have him in the sights and grunt to
stop him, your heart will be pumping,
pulse racing and you must work to
control your excitement and concentrate on an accurate shot.
Whitetails are very curious
animals; sometimes they respond
to a variety of sounds. Bucks are
constantly sparring and often mature
bucks will come running to rattling
antlers because the dominate buck
frequently breaks up sparring sessions by diving into fights head first.
Sometimes they respond to rattling
to defend their territory. But there is
no magic formula to rattle in bucks.
Some savvy hunters begin a sequence
by loudly crashing antlers together;
others begin soft and increase the

sounds. Ive had limited success with

rattling but my best hunts have begun
when I lightly tickle antlers together
and build the sound and eventually
crash them together. Rattling success
depends on time of year. Bucks spar
throughout the fall but aggressive rattling seems most effective during the
rut. One thing is certain it pays to be
prepared when rattling because bucks
frequently come in with head up, ears
cocked forward, charging directly at
you with red in their eyes.
Dont be afraid to use deer calls
when on stand to attract bucks. Save
aggressive vocalizations until peak
rut but feel free to make contact calls,
bleats and grunts every 15 minutes. Some hunters call once every
hour but if they spot a buck pick up
frequency and volume until the deer
turns and is headed toward the blind.
Learn to go silent if an approaching buck is looking for the source of
calls. Smart hunters soon learn the
trick to whitetail buck hunting success hinges on how well you can call
deer. Savvy hunters quickly learn to
grunt at every buck they spot and a
high percentage will turn and come
looking for the source of the deer
calls.
Some hunters use electronic calls
to attract wildlife. Use of electronic
calls in Michigan is prohibited for
waterfowl and turkeys but can be
used for squirrel, deer, crow and
coyote. Many hunters use e-calls in
Michigan but you should check game
laws because they frequently change.
To perfect your grunt calls
practice year around. Get a CD or
DVD or go on YouTube and listen
to live animal sounds. Next practice
belching or calling and learn how to
exactly imitate deer vocalizations.
Try to exactly imitate deer
grunts. Learn how to decrease or increase volume and how to space calls
to sound like a live buck. The trick to
success hinges on how realistic you
sound.n

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Bucks spar throughout the year.

Hunters can use antler rattling
sessions to mimic sparring or
fighting bucks and call dominate
deer from hiding to check out the
clicking antlers.

29

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Strategy Adjustments

Starting out your day with unpredictable June

weather can be hard on the ego. Just getting over a
eaving a long cast into skinny water
cold front last year, it was a stocking cap day -- on
near a sandy beach area, my fishing
top of my regular baseball cap. We were followpartner gave me the evil eye. However, ing the early season strategy, slowly retrieving a
knowing that shallow sandy areas hold small Rizzo-tail, with no action at all. The morning
the first warming water of the season,
brought little luck but as the afternoon wore on, air
as evidenced by the scattering minnows
temperatures rose from the lower 60s into
my Reef-Hog disturbed, I was pumped up
the high 70s. It was a quiet humid day.
and confident we would at least see a few
A clue to a warming trend was the fact
June muskies.
that I was beginning to sweat it was so
Yes, early season muskies will seek out
hot out there. So I changed tactics from
warmer waters to catch their dinner and
slow-rolling a spinnerbait with an old reel
we also know that a lingering late spring
to a faster retrieve ratio on my Abu-Garcia
will postpone a muskies aggressiveness.
Revo reel. I then switched to a heavy, #9
But if we search for potential locations and
double-bladed Cowgirl.
utilize proven strategies for colder water
With the larger Cowgirl and increased
conditions, we can be successspeed, the first muskie to hit
ful right out of the gate.
was a 47-inch beauty that did,
Smaller Baits -- Water Temindeed, come in like a rocket.
peratures
It was a hunch and it paid off. I saw that fish hit
When the water temperature is in the lower 50s because we were in clear water at the time.
and 60s, muskie hunters want to keep their lure reNow, a strategy that I try to follow up here in
trieves on the slow side. However, if you begin your the U.P. is to fish the rivers early in the season, like
day in the morning, remember that the air tempera- the Paint and the Brule. Rivers, I learned, dont
ture may start out in the 40s but by 3 p.m., usually
seem to be as affected by inclement weather like a
the warmest time of day, water temps will rise. It is cold front. The fish are more consistently active.
at this magical time that the muskies metabolism
On a sunny, bluebird, U.P. day, fishing in
will also rise and its rocket time, as the muskies stained water like the Way Dam area or the confluturn on the jets.
ence of the Paint River and the Brule River, called
June is a magical and transitional time for all
Paint Pond, is usually more productive. It has
anglers and the fish they pursue. But for muskie
proven to be successful because I think that stained
anglers it is a crucial time to rely on their skills and water muskies are just plain more aggressive or less
respond to conditions. On May 15, when you are
wary than clear water muskies.
on the south side of Lower Michigan, the water will
By the way, I save a good clear lake like Chicawarm faster, usually, than northern Michigan and
gon for a rainy or cloudy day. Also, fishing Chicathe U.P. Then timing your retrieve becomes an im- gon Lake by trolling at night isnt a bad idea either.
portant issue as you encounter continuous warming
days. The hunt is on!
Lures to use that is the question. The answer
Observation and your own local knowledge
let the muskies tell you! Starting out with small
are irreplaceable when you are in a search mode.
bucktails is a good way to cover water quickly.
Looking for your favorite emerging green cabbage
The Mepps line of spinners, usually from a #3 to
weeds, combinations of several types of weeds
the #5 Mepps and even the Musky Killer is a good
like cabbage and coontail, and all of the above
choice. No action! Not a bad idea to change speeds with rocks and boulders is an important aspect of
and jerking moves on something slower and erratic your first few muskie hunting trips. And, of course,
like a 7-inch Suick or an 8-inch ReefHog. Maybe a fishing near good weedy cover with proximity to
follow or two? OK, lets throw a thumping, lip-less deeper open water nearby should be a high priority
crankbait in bass-size categories and dont forget to and a big-fish hot spot.
change the hooks and split rings to something a tad
Allow me to tell you a little story about hot
tougher. Remember, you are the magician out there spots. Last year I had the privilege of going along
or the politician looking for loopholes!
with Mark Mylchreest, friend and MDNR SuperviOne dynamite spring muskie lure to try in
sor of Fisheries, Crystal Falls Office, and another
colder water conditions is a bass-sized spinnercrew member to a spot with a dark mud bottom
bait in white, for some reason a good choice in all
and downed trees near shore, with some weeds and
conditions: funky weather or in clear water or in
some rocks. They were checking populations and
darker, coffee-stained water. Add a white or black
growth of different species. Mark checked several

By Robert Dock Stupp

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Emerging Weeds

30

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A smiling Terry Prust, from Presque Isle, WI shows off a Paint River eddy muskie that took several casts to hook.

North Bays and Spawning

When the sun travels along its southern cycle

across the sky it warms the north ends of lakes
faster than the rest of the lake. On a popular muskie
lake in Iron County that I visit, walleyes, perch,
and muskies spawn in this shallow bay. I know for
a fact that many anglers dismiss this bay because it
is too shallow -- 3 and even 2-feet deep and muddy.
Remember that last muddy spot that Mark showed
me? The point is that even though weed growth is
not present early, there is cover along the shorelines
and muskies can sun themselves in a foot of water
or less.

Where are you, Eddy?

(Says Beaver Cleaver, looking for Eddie

Haskell). Well, we are really discussing a

substantial slack water area near a flow of
water or current, which directs baitfish or small
fish to a feeding muskie. The main advantage
of this situation is the fact that a muskie, usually
a large one, does not have to fight the current.
This is a true giant location or a bonafide spot
on a spot. Do the biggest fish usually occupy
the best locations to ambush smaller fish? You
bet they do.
Does wind cause eddies on the downside of an
island or a particular large boulder near a shoreline? You bet and you need to be conscience of it.
In recent articles I have discussed wind and waves
that cause baitfish to tumble and summersault, to
become disoriented due to chaos and turmoil in fast
moving water. Well, I learned to take advantage
of this situation from reading articles by famous
guides such as Joe Bucher, Steve Heiting, and
Dick Pearson. Being aware of slack water
behind the point of an island has accounted for
many large, high 40s (inches) muskies in my
fishing career.
Being patient while casting to eddies is also
important. You may have to reposition your boat
while casting 3 or 4 times to get the big bruiser to
strike.
One last weedy observation: an eddy causes
sediment to collect, creating a soft bottom from
which weeds grow. As I sit here typing away, I can
easily imagine the giant head of a muskie busting
high out of the cabbage weeds with your black
bucktail between her jaws.
May your next strike be bone-rattling ferocious
and memorable!n

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muskie spawning locations and being the boy

genius that I am, I remembered them come opening
day.
One area that Mark was netting was nothing
more than a shallow, west-facing bay out of the
wind. But then I remembered that dark muddy bottoms also hold heat. Well, on a later trip, a couple
of mother muskies were seen and caught out of that
unremarkable bay. Now it is a new, exciting, and
memorable hot spot.
Now for the rest of the story. Further out from
the shore of that bay is a well-known reef. It rises
out of 20 to 25-feet of water and consists of rubble,
rock, boulders and weeds. I was not aware that it
penetrated a good distance into that bay. Not only
that, but I only visited that spot during the fall. It
will now be part of my muskie strategy for May
and June.

31

Forensic training for

COs paying dividends

t 9 a.m. Nov. 18, conservation officer Richard

Cardenas received a
complaint that had been
phoned in to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Report All Poaching Line about a deer
that had been shot.
The caller said she was awakened
by a loud thud against her house at
approximately 3 a.m. When she went
outside to investigate, she discovered
a deer lying near her house between
a woodshed and the back porch. She
then witnessed her neighbor come into
her yard, claim the deer and drag it by
the antlers to his property.
After speaking to the witness,
Cardenas went to the suspects residence next door, where he contacted
the suspect and observed a bait pile in
the backyard, with spotlights from the
house pointed toward it.
Cardenas questioned the suspect
about the deer in the back of his pickup truck, including about what time of

day he shot the deer. The suspect first

told Cardenas that he shot the deer at
6 a.m. After further questioning, the
suspect changed his answer to say he
didnt know what the time was when
he shot the deer.
Cardenas used his Traceable Thermometer, part of the forensic equipment issued to Michigan conservation
officers for crime scene investigations,
to take the internal thigh temperature
of the deer. The thermometer gave a
reading of 91.7 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cardenas also took note of the outside
air temperature and estimated the
weight of the deer. Using this information, Cardenas consulted A Guide
to the Time of Death also part of
his forensics kit. In addition to this
equipment, conservation officers now
have a new computer application to
help them calculate time of death once
all information regarding an incident
is gathered. The information added up
to the deer being dead approximately
nine hours when Cardenas took the in-

BIGFISH

Michigan State University instructor David Stephens works with DNR conservation officer recruits to teach them how to take a body temperature
reading on an illegally killed deer to determine time of death. MDNR photos
ternal thigh temperature at 12:10 p.m.
Approaching the suspect again,
Cardenas asked him what time he
had shot the deer. The suspect replied
7 a.m. -- again changing his story.
Cardenas seized the deer and took it to
a local processor and had it weighed.
It weighed 191pounds. Using this
weight, the officer was able to confirm the findings that the deer had
been dead about nine hours when the
internal thigh temperature was taken,
putting the time of death at approximately 3 a.m.
In other words, the deer had been
shot during the middle of the night,

when hunting is prohibited. During

firearm deer season, hunting only can
occur from one-half hour before sunrise until one-half hour after sunset.
On Nov. 18, hunters could legally
hunt between 6:57 a.m. and 5:38 p.m.
The suspect also was hunting using
artificial lights and violated the safety
zone regulations by hunting so close
to his neighbors house. When the
case proceeded to court, the suspect
entered into a plea deal, saying the
evidence against him was too compelling.
Cardenas is in his first year as
conservation officer. He graduated

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from the DNRs conservation officer

training academy last June. While at
the academy, he received a week of
crime scene investigation and evidence collection training both in the
classroom and in the field from David
Stephens, executive in residence for
Forensic Wildlife and Environmental
Outreach at the School of Criminal
Justice at Michigan State University
and a forensics liaison to the DNR.
Stephens is regarded as a leader in the
field of wildlife forensic science, and
the DNR Law Enforcement Division has a partnership with Stephens
and MSU to develop online training
courses for conservation officers in
forensics.
With violators becoming savvier, it is important that we keep our
officers current and up to date with
the forensic tools available to them,
said DNR Law Enforcement Division
Chief Gary Hagler. This partnership
with MSU and development of the
online courses for our officers will
make them among some of the most
highly trained conservation officers
in the nation, and will aid us tremendously in our investigations.
The online courses are created
and administered by Stephens and
Capt. Wade Hamilton of the DNR
Law Enforcement Division. The first

module, Time of Death Estimation

by Temperature Study of WhiteTailed Deer, provided training that
is valuable to officers investigating
poaching cases.
We are fortunate to have a forensics expert like David Stephens at our
disposal to help develop training that
involves subjects that are relevant
to conservation law enforcement,
Hagler added. He is a valuable asset
to our officers and our agency.
The online modules will allow
conservation officers across Michigan
to access the training and complete it
at a time that is convenient for them.
The modules are from 20 minutes to
an hour in length and include worksheets and quizzes to measure learning comprehension.
Hamilton said the next module
that will be available to officers is one
on the chain of custody for evidence
collection.
When Stephens trained conservation officer recruits last spring
for the DNR, each recruit received
a 40-piece evidence collection and
preservation kit. That training, along
with the training module on time of
death estimation in white-tailed deer,
was invaluable to Officer Cardenas in
the case he made in November.
I am grateful for the training I

Conservation officer recruits were recently trained in crime scene analysis

and investigation techniques as part of their education at the DNR conservation officer academy.
obtained from David Stephens during
the academy, Officer Cardenas said,
summing up his case. Mr. Stephens
training on the time of death was a
key factor that helped in my investi-

gation on this case.

For more information about
Michigan conservation officers, go to
www.michigan.gov/conservationofficersn

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We Fish Michigan/Canadian Waters

33

Catch
BASS
By George Rowe

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

34

he regular bass season will

open on May 23, on the
traditional day and following almost a month of
catch-and-release. You can
keep a bass now, if you care to. Many
bass anglers return all their fish to the
water, convinced that a bass is a lot
better at the end of a fishing line than
at the end of a fork.
The opener was early, if the bass
have anything to say about it. The
water is still cold after a cold winter
and ice that was almost a foot thicker
than usual. The ice on the inland lakes
in the Northwest part of the state went
out almost a week later than usual.
It is my good fortune to live on
a small private lake that has a good
bass population so I catch a lot of
bass, releasing every one of them.
Counting them in a couple of years,
each annual catch was over 800 fish
so fishing almost every day pays off.
Keeping track also means that the best
times for fishing become evident and
the best month, easily, is June. My log
also confirms that June is easily the
best month for top-water fishing. The
bass will remain in fairly shallow water after spawning, well into June, really putting on the feedbag to recover
from the rigors of spawning and the
long winter of generally not eating.
The trick in catching more bass
is to know where they are, at any
particular time of the summer, and
what they are eating. Right now, they
will be concentrating on minnows, the
young of various fish and, when they
can catch them, small bluegills. Since
all of those prey fish are concentrated
in the shallows at this time of year that
is a good place to start your search.
You can catch them in just 18 to 24
inches of water at this time. Being
bass, they will be around something,
not out in plain sight in that skinny
water. Cast to emerging lily pads or
among the reeds. If there is a big rock
or a couple of logs on the bottom, cast
over that cover. This is an excellent
time to pull bass out from under docks
and swim platforms and anything that
is floating on the water or projecting
over the water.

A little later, the dragonflies and

the Dobson flies will be hatching
and that will set off another round of
specialized feeding. The adult flies
lay their eggs on lily pads, reeds and
brush next to the water. When those
flies hatch, many of them flutter down
to the water before they successfully
take wing. When they hit the water,
they are often met by a bass or a big
bluegill and disappear in a splashy
swirl of water. If you cruise the edge
of the cover with a light fly rod in
hand and cast to those feeding fish,
you can have a ball, catching bass
of all sizes and some really nice big
bluegills. This action will take place
in mid-to-late June.
June is also the best month for
top-water fishing and most bass
anglers would agree that top-water
fishing is much more exciting than
dragging anything through the depths.
That blasting strike at the surface
makes all the difference. The weeds
beds are growing fast and the bass
will be on top of the beds in fairly
deep water but close to the surface.
This is the time to cast a floating
minnow-type lure of the general shape
of a Rapala.
A personal favorite is the jointed
Rapala in blue or black and silver,
about four or five inches long. If you
cast this out over the deep weeds and
just let it rest for a moment, you may
get a strike while the lure is motionless. You are more likely to get that
strike if you just give it a little pop or
twitch after a moment or two. Repeat
that action a couple of times and then
start a slow retrieve. You are much
more likely to get a strike while popping the lure than during the retrieve
but, when the fish are pretty aggressive, you can also get them to hit on
the retrieve and that is a blast.
Mid-June is also a good time to
fish a fly rod popper over the deep
weed beds but the bass are more likely
to hit that top-water plug. The plug
simply represents a bigger meal. Fly
rod fishing is more fun, however, so
that is preferred even when other lures
will be more productive. Until the
fish go really deep, you can also have

Smallies are apt to be a little deeper than their cousins but they will hit topwater lures readily. Author photo
a good day casting a spinner bait,
running it fast over deep weeds, just a
foot or two below the surface.
After June, the fish go much
deeper, seeking cooler water and that
begins the time of the deep-running
plug. While there might be a little topwater action early and late in the day,
the deep-running plugs will generally
put more fish in the boat. Try a Hot-NTot in a Fire Tiger or crayfish pattern
or a Rapala marked deep-running,
in a perch finish. Generally, the best
spots in July will be the edge of the
drop-off, where the color changes or
the edges of deep weed beds. Expect
the fish to be down there six or eight
feet and choose your plug accordingly.
This is also a good time to fish
a jig or soft plastics, if you have the
patience to fish one of these baits that

generally must be worked very slowly

to be successful. Even when you
expect the fish to be deep, it is a good
idea to work that deep-running plug
a bit at the surface before you begin
your retrieve. If you pop it a couple
of times and get a strike, you might
want to switch to a top-water plug for
a while.
Bass are moody fish and it is difficult to tell when you are going to have
a good day. There are days when you
have to show your best offering to 20
fish to get one to take it and there are
also those very rare days when every
bass in the lake seems willing to
grab your lure. The only way to
determine what kind of day today
will be is to get in the boat, grab your
rod, tie on something reliable and
have at it.n

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35

Book Review ... By Richard P. Smith

U.P. MDNR C.O. writes book

M

ost Michigan Conservation

Officers lead interesting,
exciting, adventurous lives
that many people, especially those
interested in hunting, fishing and the
outdoors, would enjoy reading about.
Many officers dont take the time to
share their stories with anyone other
than family and friends. Fortunately,
there are some exceptions. Wayne
Coleman is one of those exceptions.
He spent most of his career in the
Upper Peninsulas Menominee County, but he also spent time on commercial fish patrol on the northern Great
Lakes and other duties while stationed
in the northern Lower Peninsula.
Coleman put 31 stories from his years
as a conservation officer in book form
that was published this year under the
title Tales From the Deer Blind. The
238-page book is appropriately subtitled A Game Wardens Memoir.
When I saw the title, I thought
much of the book might be devoted to
deer hunting busts since Menominee
County has always had the highest
deer population in the UP due to its
geographic location and the abundance of farmland. During Colemans

career, the county probably had some

of the best deer hunting in the state.
There certainly were some stories centered around deer hunting, including
an interesting case Wayne solved that
involved the poaching of a piebald
deer, but none in which a deer blind
played a prominent role.
The book contains plenty of stories that revolve around other types
of hunting, fishing and trapping, too,
as would be expected since conservation officers are required to uphold
all of the laws dealing with the use of
renewable natural resources. Wayne
also writes about many of the characters he encountered during the course
of his job, both those he worked with
and those he worked to catch. You
can tell the former officer has a good
sense of humor, because he takes the
opportunity to interject a dose of it
every chance he gets.
After reading through the book, I
realized the reason for the choice of
titles was probably because Coleman
had plenty of time to think about interesting experiences from his career
while spending time in a deer blind
himself. That hunch proved to be cor-

rect.

I wrote most of the chapters

for the book while hunting in a deer
blind, Wayne answered when I
asked him about the title. I had to
stop writing twice last fall to take
time to shoot a couple of deer. That
was the most peaceful place to
write, plus it was out in the element
where I spent most of my career.
Being a conservation officer can be dangerous work for a
variety of reasons. Most officers
probably encounter life-threatening situations some time during their
career. Wayne wrote about three of
those instances in Tales From The
Deer Blind. And its clear there were
other close calls that will be covered
in his next book.
Now that Ive finished reading
Colemans first book, I cant wait to
read his second, No Matter Which
Way You Turn. The last chapters of
Tales From The Deer Blind were
some of the most spell binding in the
book because they dealt with lifethreatening situations he faced. A
carefully placed teaser at the end of
the book that is part of a chapter titled

Close Calls in No Matter Which

Way You Turn, has me wondering
how the story he started ends!
Wayne now lives in Newaygo with
his wife, two cats and a dog and has
more time to hunt and fish than he did
when he was a conservation officer.
Tales From The Deer Blind can
be ordered from Amazon. Any hunter
or fisher is bound to enjoy the tales
Wayne decided to write about, but
Michigan residents will appreciate
them more and those who live in the
UP will be able to relate most closely
with the stories in this book.n

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

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5th Annual Event June 20-21...By Michael Veine

WALLEYES
WARRIORS
A
FOR

a Walleyes for Warriors T-shirt, sack

lunch, buffet dinner, walleye fillets,
door prizes and a goody bag. Everyone is encouraged to attend and thank
our veterans for their service. The
third annual Walleyes for Warriors
veterans charity event is scheduled for
June 20 and 21, 2015.
The 2012 Walleyes for Warriors
event had over 100 volunteer boat
captains that took over 200 Veterans fishing. Well over 1,000 walleye
were caught, measured, weighed,
and cleaned for the Veterans to take
home. In honor of the veterans, U.S.
flags were flying along both sides of
the river and military music played on
the loudspeakers as crowds cheered
the Veterans. Antique military vehicles were on display and motorcycle
groups gave a special honor to the vet
too.
The Ogitchedaw Veterans and
Warriors Society of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe performed a drum ceremo-

ny in honor of the Veterans. Walleyes

for Warriors proved to be a deep and
meaningful event to the veterans and
everybody else that participated.
Volunteers with boats are needed
to take the veterans fishing. The
volunteer boat owners will be providing their bait, tackle, equipment and
knowledge to help the veterans have
a fun day on the water. Sponsors and
monetary donations are also needed to
provide door prizes and much needed
funding for the event. Organizer, and
disabled Vietnam veteran, Nels Larsen
said, Our goal is to make this event
as free as possible for the veterans
that participate. Any residual proceeds
will go to Operation Injured Soldier.
Soaring Eagle Casino and Advanced

Tex Screen Printing are our presenting

sponsors. Soaring Eagle Casino will
be furnishing and catering a pig-roast
for the volunteer Boat owners and
veterans fishing in the event.
For more information, to volunteer, donate or to register, please visit
www.walleyesforwarriors.com or
phone Nels Larsen at 989-928-4368
or 989-837-2681, or Matt at 989-9924175.
The author offers fishing charters for Lake Erie and Saginaw Bay
walleyes along with trips for salmon
and trout at Manistee on Lake Michigan and Rogers City on Lake Huron.
Contact Mike Veine at
www.trophyspecialists.com or
734-475-9146.n

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

s an honor to military
veterans, a weekend of
walleye fishing, celebration and honors will be
held at the Veterans
Memorial Park in Bay City. ALL
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are
encouraged to participate, especially
those who served in overseas conflicts, have service-connected disabilities, Purple Hearts, or were POWs.
The weekend will feature a day of
world class walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay. The Saginaw Bay watershed
provides some of the best walleye
fishing in the world. Last years
Walleyes for Warriors event was a
huge success and produced awesome
catches of fish from both Saginaw
Bay and the Saginaw River too.
A fishing tournament with prizes
will be incorporated into the outing
to add some spice to the affair. Along
with a day of walleye fishing, participating veterans will also receive

37

A Great Place To Take Your Kids Fishing...By Ryan Walker

Tackling Thumb-Area smallmouths

I
can remember with clarity the moment I
became hooked, pun intended, on smallmouth
bass fishing. As a lad of nine years old, any
time spent fishing was special. This trips significance was heightened by the monumental,
at least to a nine year old, angling rite of passage
that was to be initiated on that muggy July morning.
For the first time in my young life, I was going to
operate an open-face spinning reel all on my own.
We slipped the canoe into the Cass River silently as the quiet of the morning created a memorable
experience in itself. As I flung, flipped, bounced,
and skipped the crankbait that resembled a crayfish;
my variety of untrained retrieves managed to hook
two lily pads, a submerged log, and an underwater
boulder.
After what seemed like hours, but was probably 20 minutes, I absent-mindedly launched the
lure into a wide pool near the deadfall laden bank.
The wobbly artificial lure was half way back to the
canoe when a violent eruption of water led to a rod
tip bent over the side of the watercraft. Five tense
minutes later, I held my 16-inch bronzeback prize
for a photograph.
Throughout the years since that first, fateful
encounter; I have been fortunate to ply the waters
in and around the Thumb of Michigan in search of
smallmouth bass. While no professional, my experiences have provided me with valuable information

Dan Rayl of Kingston and his son Nicholas, 6 prior to releasing

a nice smallmouth bass Nicholas caught just outside of Port
Austin.
about the preferred haunts and habits of Thumbarea smallies. These bantam weight prize fighters
of the fish world can be caught in different locales

around the Thumb at different stages of the spring

and summer seasons.
Many Thumb-area bass enthusiasts begin their
seasonal odyssey on the bass season opener which
normally coincides with Memorial Day weekend,
and this years opener is set to fall on May 23rd.
Anglers chasing smallmouths will flock to the
rocky shallows that follow the shoreline along the
tip of the Thumb. Lake Huron can provide hot,
early action from Harbor Beach to Port Austin and
many stops in-between. Smallmouths begin leaving the deeper water of Lake Huron to seek warmer
water near the shore. The plentiful rock outcroppings provide plenty of protection from predators
so spawning smallmouths can safely lay their eggs.
After spawning, these fish bring with them voracious appetites and pent-up energy from sluggishly
swimming the frigid waters of Lake Huron.
Anglers by the scores will take to small watercraft or waders to chase opening day smallies
in shallow water. It is imperative to scout the area
you plan on fishing, not only to increase the odds
of success, but also to ensure angler safety. Submerged rocks and other structures can wreak havoc
on a boat or canoe, not to mention the mangled
mess it leaves for a prop. In addition to underwater
hazards; shelves, drop-offs, and holes add other
potential dangers for anglers wading after eager
smallmouths.

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board easy to see, folds down for easy storage!

TX-22 Special
Planer Board

The most perfectly balanced boards on the

market; set upright in the water at 0 speed.

TX-44
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PLANER

Size: 14 x 4 1/4 x 7/8

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

The TX-44 is the first and the

only in-line planer to pull the
magnum divers, Lead Core, Wire
or Copper Lines and Heavy Weights.
Part# 30580 All Church Tackle planer boards come ready to run right out of the package, no extras to buy.
9 3/8 X 3 1/2
5 different planer board models to choose from!
The Revelator Flasher!
The Shock Wave
No More Toothpicks!
The Flasher for Champions! No fish can resist the Revelator.
Cut-bait Head Flips up to easily to insert herring strip,
The unique body design make each

38

rotation different, 4 attachment

holes will give your flies,
spoons or lure extra action to
catch the big one.
8 & 5 3/4 lengths with many tape and body colors to choose from
Same great design, now also available
in
.
dynamic metallic colors for even more flash.

snaps shut and spike holds cut bait in place

White, green, red or glow

or chrome; plain or with
flashy WTP tape.

NEW for 2015 2 in 1 BOARD CLIP

2 clips in 1 use as a Standard Adj. Flex Clip or in

seconds move the rivet & hardware to the second
hole, turn the top piece around for a Vise Clip
Pads are replaceable when worn

Adjustment holes along side let you

easily adjust line to any length.

Standard Clip
Vise Clip
When using as a Standard Clip, it can be adjusted to release, the Vise Clip will not release

Rivet placement
Standard
Clip
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Please check with your local tackle shop first, if they dont carry our products visit us at www.churchtackle.com
to view all of our great American made fishing gear, or call us at 269-934-8528 to request a catalog.

Hello, this is Charlie Morse.

At 63 years old I don't have a lifetime
to wait! Air pruned containerized
plants, equals RESULTS SOONER!

The authors son Hugh Walker, 11 of Cass City with a

smallmouth bass just before releasing. Author photos
Anglers focusing their attention on post-spawn
smallmouths can find eager participants in the slow
moving, warm water of Saginaw Bay. Many techniques can provide results, but one favorite of local
anglers is working plastic worms around lily pads
and submerged brush piles. Hungry smallmouth
bass will leave the shady, cool structures they frequent to run down what appears to be an easy, lazy
leech lunch.
Its easy to overlook the cuts, channels, and
streams that appear to be too small to house populations of smallmouths. Plastic worms can also
work when fishing the smaller structures and holes
that frequent these bodies of water. Often fish in
these under-pressured environments are eager to

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attack seldom seen artificial baits. Anglers might

be shocked to know the high number of keeper
smallmouths that lie within a quarter of a mile from
Saginaw Bay.
Later in the summer and early fall, the smallmouth action on the rivers of the Thumbs interior
can produce excellent angling adventures. One
river in particular that yields smallmouth catches is
the Cass River. The approximately 60 miles of
river offers a variety of smallmouth habitat and
therefore, a number of different fishing
opportunities.
One common method for taking river smallies
is locating structure such as wed beds, lily pads,
submerged rocks and logs, and overhanging brush.
Plastic worms, crawler harnesses, and live bait
with a slip bobber can provide worthy offerings
to use when attempting to coax hesitant fish from
designated cover. As the days heat intensifies,
large smallmouths may seek deeper pools that will
provide cooler water. Switching to a small spinner,
spoon, or crankbait might be better suited to a fishs
liking.
Reliving my first foray into smallmouth bass
fishing draws me yearly to the smallmouth rich
waters in and around Michigans Thumb. It can be
an excellent location to introduce the next generation of anglers to the fishing fraternity, while
experiencing a variety of smallmouth habitats and
fishing methods. If you plan on visiting the Thumb
this summer, be sure to throw in your smallmouth
gear for a quick jaunt to one of the Thumbs many
angling opportunities.n

Please consider attending an event in your area, or joining a local

FNRA committee to help support this great fundraising program!
CHECK
OUT OUR
MEAT
BUNDLES

Visit

www.friendsofnra.org/mi For more information.

To find a committee near you; to help start a committee; or to request a grant application
and put this money to good work contact your Michigan NRA Field Representative.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Once an angler has done his/her homework and

feels confident in the stretch of water they plan on
fishing, establishing a technique that best ensures
success will increase an anglers odds. One possible option that works for many bass anglers this
time of year is flipping plastic tubes during spawn
and post-spawn periods. Tubes can be retrieved
slowly to bounce along the rocky structures
smallmouths covet in the early portion of the bass
season. The jerky motion can aggregate strikes at
a very fast rate. Also, few artificial baits can be
skipped faster under docks, rocks, stumps, or submerged brush than a plastic tube.
If plastic tubes arent working early, then jigs
could entice a more finicky fish. A plastic jig with a
tail or smaller panfish jigs can mimic an unwanted
minnow intruder and infuriate a strike if smallmouths arent actively on the feed. While slowly
retrieving jigs can produce early season strikes,
targeting a visual source of cover can maximize
the effectiveness of your approach. Once the cover
is located, a jig can be worked vertically around
the submerged structure. Even the most laid back
smallmouth can be provoked into a fight if its territory is constantly invaded.
As the summer months progress in the Thumb,
many anglers change their focus from fishing
smallmouths to the iconic walleye fishing on Saginaw Bay. Often overlooked are the mid-summer
smallmouth opportunities that Saginaw Bay and
its many channels, cuts, and tributaries can offer. Heading west from Caseville to Bay City,
smallmouth anglers can access a number of sites.

39

Mark Davis, host of Penns Bigwater Adventure came up with a system to catch these fish makes them fun and well worth targeting.
reat Lakes trollers in
lakes Michigan and
Huron have to love
lake trout. Seriously,
we have to
love them.
Because
lately, it seems that wonderful char species is dominating our catches.
OK, no hardcore salmon
head gives a hoot about lakers, or at least admits that
he does, but maybe we
need to give these fish
more respect and figure
out ways to catch them
that are more fun. Well talk about a
couple in this column.
My salmon school partner Dan
Keating always questions our students
before he presents a section on lake
trout, asking Who here likes lake
trout? Usually, he might get one guy
to raise his hand. So he continues:
OK, so say youve been trolling
for three hours without a bite and then

you notice the rod tip of a downrigger

rod do that little bob. Who likes that
lake trout then?
Usually, almost all hands in the
crowd go up.
Personally, Ive never
been disappointed when a
lake trout hits. I like them
as table fare, smaller ones
fried right away and bigger
ones smoked or tossed into a
steaming cauldron for a traditional fish boil are pretty
tasty. Some friends and
I agree that now that
lakers are eating fewer
alewives and more
gobies theyre actually tasting better
than ever. And I dont mind that they
dont go on searing runs towards the
horizon. Sure, some of them do come
up with their mouths wide open (giving them the nickname Smiley) and
not putting up any fight at all (giving
them the nickname Bootfish). In a
tournament, chunky lakers are always
welcome aboard.

By Dave Mull

North America
JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Special Cases & Bags

40

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Phone: 734-744-5566 | Fax: 734-744-5568
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www.b-w-international.com

Lake trout present a challenge

when you jig for them, like on the
Niagara Bar, where the river of the
same name dumps into Lake Ontario.
In early May this year, I joined some
other writers for a junket put together
by guide Frank Campbell (716-2848546; www.niagaracharter.com). We
were based in Lewiston, New York,
a touristy sort of town on the Niagara
River, and fished The Bar each day for
three days. The first day we caught
smallmouth right at Fort Niagara, the
main attraction of a Fort Niagara State
Park, jigging Strike King tube jigs. I
was with retired walleye pro Greg LaMere and James McGowan, a marketing guy for Raymarine in Gregs big
Skeeter walleye boat. Frank Campbell
called and told Greg we ought to head
farther out on The Bar and try jigging
the same baits for lake trout, which,
whenever the water is cold enough,
swarm the bar. Water temps were still
in the low 40s, and the lakers were
there in big numbers.
It took awhile to get the feel of

keeping a 3/8-ounce tube jig on the

bottom in 35 to 45 feet of water, but
eventually we all got pretty good of
keeping the small jigs bouncing off
rocks and sand flats as the river current pushed us well into Lake Ontario.
When a laker finally hit my tube jig,
it almost pulled the light spinning rod
out of my hand. Gregs reels were
spooled with 6-pound test Spectrum, a
no-stretch super line, and hed added a
three-foot leader of 12-pound Seaguar
fluorocarbon.
I want to tell you, that lake trout,
which ended up weighing about 12
pounds, put up a VERY respectable
fight on the spinning tackle. It was
downright fun, touch and go especially at the end when the fish kept
surging away every time it got close
to the net.
In my opinion, lake trout are
beautiful fish, well-muscled, with an
almost elegant pattern of green and
white, and such was the specimen
we ultimately landed. After a few
pictures, we let it go and it quickly

Commercial fishing up more than

5% in value from previous year
spots. Im sure a similar lure, such
as the Wordens MagLip would have
worked well, too.
The technique was to fish just
three rods with the lures well behind
the boat. The one-ounce weight was
enough to keep these active lures
tight to the bottomDavis wanted
to see the big wobblers occasionally
ticking.
The speed was just a creep1.2
mph was the best, and for the most
part Davis let the wind push the big
25-foot Blue Wave center console
boat he uses for his TV show. If the
wind had died, he would have used
the bow-mount MotorGuide
trolling motor to move us slowly
over the bar.
To make a long story short, we
caught a bunch of lake trout and one
18-pound king. You might be able to
imagine how fun those fish were on
spinning tackle!
As our Great Lakes become more
and more populous with lake trout,
we might as well learn new techniques that are effective and fun.
I learned two of them on the
Niagara Bar. Stay tuned for more of
them.n

2-DAY
Gun Auction
Friday & Saturday, May 29-30, 2015
Midlands Own Arnold Center Auction House
Midlands
Own Arnold Center Auction House
400 Wexford Ave., Midland, MI 48640
400 Wexford
Ave., Midland,
MI 48640
Gun
Auction
East of Dow Diamond on Bus 10 / M-20 to Bayliss St., south to Wexford Ave., west to auction house
East of Dow Diamond on Bus 10 / M-20 to Bayliss St., south to Wexford Ave., west to auction house (behind Midland Tire & Auto).

After 50 years, Classic Arms, Co. of Lansing has closed its doors. This 2-day inventory liquidation auction will include the following:

(behind Midland Tire & Auto). After 50 years, Classic Arms, Co. of Lansing has closed its doors.
@
SAturday
Friday @Friday
6:00 pm
& Saturday,
May 29-30,
2015
Firearms beginning live and online at 6 PM. Second, live9:00 Am AUCTION
THIS
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LIQUIDATION
2-A
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ring for accessories
beginning at 6:30 PM.
Midlands Own Arnold
CenterliveAuction
Firearms beginning
and online atHouse uction

Ring
(70) *NEW*
LONGINCLUDE
GUNS
WILL
THEAve.,
FOLLOWING:
Second, live-only auction ring for
s Bo
400 Wexford9 AM.
Midland, MI 48640
th
accessories beginning at 10:00 AM.
(80+) *NEW*
HAND
GUNS
DayTire
East of Dow Diamond on Bus 10 / M-20 to Bayliss St., south to Wexford Ave., west to auction house (behind Midland
s! & Auto).
(380+) *NEW* LONG GUNS
(70+) BLACK POWDER GUNS
GUNS & CROSSBOWS
After 50 AIR
Years
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FRIDAY AT 6:00 PM

SATURDAY AT 9:00 AM

Classic Arms,
Company

Second, live only auction ring

SORIES,
HOLSTERS,
for accessories
beginningCLAY
at 6:30SHOOTpm.
ING EQUIPMENT, TARGETS,
(70)
*NEW*
LONG
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CASES,
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& MORE!

Second, live-only auction ring for

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accessories
beginning at 10 am.
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e
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SCOPES,
iddin
g
(380+)
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AIR GUNS
& CROSSBOWS
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This 2-Day Inventory
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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

returned to the depths.

The next day was even more fun
and productive for lake trout as Mark
Davis, host of Penns Big Water
Adventure on The Outdoor Channel, took me and Jake Siembida, who
handles multimedia for Buck Knives
back to the bar, and demonstrated a
slow-trolling system to snatch lake
trout from 50-foot depths. His whole
technique is worth going into detail in
another article here, which I will submit to Woods-N-Water News in the
near future after I see if I can make
it work for lakers on Lake Michigan,
but briefly, heres the overview.
The rods and reels are matching spinning outfits, reels filled with
12-pound test AbrazX fluorocarbon
line, rods 8-1/2-foot Ugly Stik Lites
with medium heavy actions. At the
end of the 12-pound test, he tied a
three-way swivel, one eyelet got a 12inch drop leader with a one-oounce
pencil lead; to the other three-way
eyelet he attached an 8-foot leader
of 15-pound test AbrazX. This had a
snap for a crankbait, and we used big
Kwikfish, a flatfish sort of lure from
Luhr-Jensen. The sizes were 14 and
15, in bright, chartreuse patterns with

The MDNR recently released data from its 2014 state-licensed commercial fishing season. Combined, the state-licensed commercial fishery caught nearly 3,414,000 pounds of fish with an estimated wholesale
dockside value of more than $5.8 million prior to processing, marketing
and retail sales.
While the states total harvest was about 200,000 pounds less than in
2013, the fisherys estimated gross dockside value was up $300,000 (more
than 5 percent). The increase in the fisherys value is almost exclusively
attributed to a more-than-15-percent increase in the wholesale price of
lake whitefish. This species value has gone up more than 50 percent in
the past two years.
Lake whitefish is by far the most important commercial fish species
in the Great Lakes, and a delicious option many consumers will find at
their favorite local Michigan restaurant or retailer, said Tom Goniea,
DNR commercial fisheries biologist. The price of whitefish has been on
the rise since 2010, but the increase in demand has accelerated in the past
couple of years.
Lake whitefish accounted for more than 67 percent of the statelicensed harvest by pounds and 84 percent of the gross value during the
last decade.
Participation in the fishery in 2014 remained constant from the previous year. Of the 51 state licenses issued, 31 were actively fished by 20
separate businesses. Eleven of these businesses fished in Lake Huron, five
in Lake Michigan, three in Lake Superior and one in Lake Erie. Together,
these businesses added an estimated $25 million to the states economy
and approximately 300 fishing and fishing-related jobs.
A full breakdown of the harvest and dockside value of the 2014 statelicensed commercial fishery, including details for each individual lake is
available online.
Also available are an in-depth description of Michigans commercial
fishery, photos of the fishers in action and maps of the Great Lakes with
recent commercial fishing activity, as well as links to recipes and locations where Michigan fish can be purchased.

41

High Definition also Means High Amp Draw...

Tips for Powering Your Sonar/GPS and Video Units

ust about every fisherman
who has invested in a high
definition sonar/GPS or the
newer underwater video units
has come to the conclusion
these fishing aids are invaluable for finding fish, structure and fish
holding cover. The problem with these
units is their oversized screens, rapid
navigation updates, bright backlights,
plot trails and cool graphics chew up
a lot of 12 volt battery amps. To make
sure a dead battery doesnt ruin your
day on the water, a few new wave rigging tips are in order!

Boat Fishing

Most anglers consider a single

cranking battery adequate in their
boat. When you consider all this battery must power, I contend that one
battery isnt enough. Besides starting
the main outboard and maybe a kicker
motor, the cranking battery must
power navigation lights, sonar, GPS,
livewell pumps
and recirculation pumps, bilge
pumps, a VHF
radio, the AM/
FM radio, not to
mention keeping
your cell phone or
tablet charged! In

By Mark Romanack

Large screen high definition sonar units like this one are great fish finding tools, but powering them can be tricky. Units like this
draw a surprising amount of battery amps putting anglers who arent aware at risk of finding themselves stranded with a dead
battery. Mark Romanack photos
short, that cranking battery is the life
blood of a fishing boat and making
sure its large enough for the task is
critical to making everything in a fishing boat run smoothly.

Back in my tournament fishing

days I started rigging my boats with
two cranking batteries in parallel
to double the amp hours, yet keep
the voltage at 12 volts. This step is

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

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Its possible!
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42

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Sears, MI 49679

accomplished by simply connecting

the negative pole of one battery to
the negative pole of the second and
then doing the same with the positive
poles. I use pre-made battery wires
you can purchase at any hardware or
auto-parts store for the job.
Typically I favor two lead acid
750 cold cranking amp batteries for
this work. If the boat Im rigging
doesnt have room for two batteries,
I opt for one 1000 CCA model. The
extra amp hours virtually guarantees
that I will have power not only to start
my boat engine, but to power all my
high end electronics.
Rigging two cranking batteries in
the boat and then adding a battery cut
off switch is also a good option. The
switch allows the batteries to function independently. If one goes dead,
by simply switching a lever a second
fresh battery is activated.
These days you can also purchase
lithium deep cycle batteries designed
to power electric motors and other
high amp draw products. The biggest problem with these products is
cost. Some models sell for as much as
$2500.00 each making them literally
cost prohibitive at this point in time
for most fishermen.

Fly-In Trips

Sunset on Deer Lake, Au Train MI

Every summer I spend a fair

amount of time fishing in remote
wilderness lakes accessible only by

float plane. For fly-in fishing trips Im

using the same high end sonar I typically use in my boats, just mounted
portable in one of the ice bags or
portable boxes. On fly-in trips anglers
are limited to how much weight in
gear and food they can transport.
Because weight is a concern and
its not practical to lug along a full
sized cranking or deep cycle battery
to power electronics. A few years
ago I started using 12 volt/9amp hour
lithium batteries for this work. These

they must also operate in freezing

conditions which zaps the power of
even the best batteries.
The portable sized lead acid
batteries sold with ice fishing machines and ice fishing kits are barely
adequate to boot up one of these
combination units, little lone power
them for long days on the ice. Most
of these OEM standard batteries are
only 7 amp hours which will not
power a high definition sonar unit for
more than a few hours.

On fly-in and other wilderness fishing adventures the author favors smaller screen
sonar/GPS units mounted in portable bags and powered by lithium batteries.

On fly-in and other wilderness fishing situations the author often rigs a high definition sonar unit to a portable box that houses a lithium battery. Pictured here is the
simple set up that has served the author well on countless fishing adventures.

Ice Fishing

Ice fishing is another situation

that screams out for sonar and these
days anglers are lugging some pretty
sophisticated electronics onto the ice.
Powering these high end units with
old school lead acid batteries is a
big mistake. Besides the fact these
large screen sonar/GPS/Video machines require more amps to operate,

Summing It Up

The latest generation of HD

sonar/GPS mapping units and sonar/
GPS/Video combination units require
a significant amount of amp hours
to operate. Ordinary batteries and
rigging options arent going to cut it
when it comes to keeping these units
running properly.
In a word the answer is lithium,
but these batteries arent cheap. In
time the price of lithium batteries
will come down and their amp hour
ratings will go up. In the meantime,
bite the bullet, buy a couple lithium
batteries and fish with confidence.n

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

lithium batteries weight about 1/3 of a

lead acid battery.
I pack two lithium batteries with
me on fly-in trips. Fully charged a
lithium/9amp hour battery will last
about 8-10 hours of continuous use.
I typically carry a spare in the boat
should I fish a long day and need the
extra power.
Every evening the drained lithium
battery must be charged. Its important to note that lithium batteries require a special charging unit to charge
them properly. Its also important to
note that lithium batteries are expensive compared to lead acid batteries.
The ones I am using are produced
by Ice Force and cost about $120.00
each.

Again, I recommend using a

lithium battery that has at least 9
amp hours of life for ice fishing
applications. My experience with
these batteries is they will power
smaller screen size LCD graphs
(3, 4 and 5 inch models) and flasher
units for about two days on one
charge. The larger LCD graphs
(7, 8 and 9 inch models) and
sonar/GPS and Sonar/Video
combination units eat up so much
amps I carry two lithium batteries
and often find it necessary to
switch them out during a long
day of fishing.

43

The Popsicle Match

Black Powder Shooting Sports...

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

hat did you shoot?

Randy MacInnes asked
with a wry smile on his

44

face.
None of your business, David
Maddox barked back, turning quick
so his body blocked his long-time
friends view of the five holes in his
six-bull target.
What did you shoot? MacInnes
pestered, laughing as he pushed back
his cardinal-red baseball cap with O.
C. S. C. Shotgun Club embroidered
on the front, advertising the Oakland
County Sportsmans Club.
Ya, Dave, show him your target, a grinning Dick Thorn taunted as
he tugged at his left earplug.
Okay, I shot a clean 48. There,
are you satisfied? Maddox sniped in
feigned disgust as MacInnes laughed
louder. I dont see the humor in that,
Maddox added with a scowl.
The banter continued and even
escalated a bit on the covered bench
gun line at the 2014 Michigan State
Muzzle Loading Associations State
Championship Shoot in early July,
hosted by the Grand Valley Cap n
Ballers at their home range in Hopkins, Michigan.
In the midst of the mild theatrics,
Joe Valentin, his son and daughter-inlaw walked up to the loading bench.
Valentin, a fellow bench rifle shooter,
said he was showing his guests
around, but from the smile on his face
and the twinkle in his eye, he knew he
was injecting them into the jovial controversy that surrounded the Popsicle
Match.
Wearing his usual checked, flannel
shirt, Maddox paused long enough to
offer chocolate and peanut butter chip
cookies to the guests. Theyre fresh,
Sharon Smith baked them.
So, whos winning? Valentin
asked as he looked over
Maddoxs target.
He is! Maddox said,
pointing an accusing finger
at MacInnes. He shot a 491X, I did a 48 and Dick
got a 47. And the cheap
so-and-so borrowed the gun,
the round balls, the patches
and the powder. He had the
nerve to beat us. He
beat me with my own
gun! Why, hes not a
descent enough guy to
even say Thank You.
Cry, cry, cry, cry, MacInnes
said, rubbing his index finger in tiny
circles on his thumbnail.
Dick Thorn took a long step backwards for effect, looked straight at
Maddox, then spoke in a philosophical

Wayne Lamson (right) talks a youth through the basics of safely handling a black powder rifle. Wild Rivertree photos
tone: In competitive sports everyone
remembers whos number one, but
nobody remembers whos
number two. Sorry, Dave
Any State Championship event elicits thoughts
of a fierce, gut-wrenching,
nail-biting competition, but
that is not the norm with
the black powder shooting
sports. So there is no misunderstanding, the competition
is stiff and the state
shoot, as it is known,
attracts the best
shooters from across
Michigan. There are titles, trophies
and medals at stake, but the primary
emphasis of the MSMLA is on family,
camaraderie and having fun.
The five-day state shoot fosters a
welcoming and relaxed atmosphere
for sharing a common interest in the

By Dennis Neely

muzzleloading arms of our ancestors.

To further the sport, the association
provides a beginners bench and
encourages newcomers of all ages
to join in the black powder shooting
experience. At the beginners bench,
veteran competitors teach the proper
care, handling and loading practices
necessary to safely enjoy a muzzleloading rifle, shotgun or pistol. Plus
they are always willing to field questions from bystanders.
Every three years, a different
Michigan black powder club hosts the
MSMLA State Championship Shoot.
In 2015, competitors will gather from
July 8th to 12th at the Columbiaville
Sportsmans Club, located at 5124
Klam Road, Columbiaville.
The club features immaculate
grounds, sufficient parking, a clean
camping area, on-site food service
and a clubhouse for educational

seminars. The covered offhand and

bench rest lines have loading space
for each shooting position, and the
grassy range has ample target boards
for the 25, 50 and 100 yard matches.
A separate range is devoted to the
primitive events, and there is a rustic
woodswalk area.
The event schedule includes over
75 individual matches and 23 aggregates, which combine the scores
from two or more matches. There are
matches for percussion and flintlock
rifles, pistols and revolvers, military
muskets, smooth-bored trade guns
and bench guns, and there are separate
divisions for men, women, seniors (60
and over) and juniors (15 and under).
The shooting roster includes offhand line matches, pistol and revolver
competitions, buffalo or X-stick
shooting, bench-rest matches, woodswalks, knife and tomahawk throw-

We named it TLO. It stands for

the last one Ken made. Hes out of
New York state, and his bench guns
are prized. Randy and I drove out to
pick it up.
It likes a .542 soft lead round
ball with .020 Wayne Lamson Teflon
coated pillow ticking and a healthy
charge of FFg Goex black powder.
Do you feel up to showing me how
to clean it? Maddox asked, looking
over his bifocals at MacInnes who sat
smiling in a camp chair.
Ive been watching, and youre
doing a fine job, MacInnes said
with a grin. Kenny would be proud
of you. [Ken Bresien passed away
August 23, 2014]
For more information about the
MSMLA State Championship Shoot,
contact David Maddox at 810-6397479 or dmaddox07@centurytel.
net. Spectators are always welcome,
and there is no cost to come out and
watch.
And black powder shotgun enthusiasts should mark their calendars for
the MSMLA State Shotgun Championships scheduled for August 13th
to 17th, 2015, hosted by the Grand
Valley Cap n Ballers, located at
3576 26th Street, Hopkins, Michigan.
For more information on the MSMLA
State Shotgun Championship, contact
David McMurray at 269-370-0095 or
Ron Fernwalt at 616-836-5760.
Give the black powder shooting
sports a try, be safe and may God
bless you.n

Muzzle Loading State Events

June 6-7 - Spring Shoot @ Sciota Range: Lansing
Muzzleloading Gun Club: 517-393-2772

June 12-14 - 2nd Annual Memorial Shoot: Tecumseh:

517-879-3096
June 13 - Youth Day: Grand Valley Cap N Ballers:
269-792-4384
June 13-21 - NMLRA National Championships:
Friendship, IN: 812-667-5131
June 19-21 - Howard City Junee Rendezvous: Howard
City: 616-887-9716
June 19-21 - Bridgeport Family Fun Rendezvous:
Bridgeport: 989-746-0723
June 20 - Sporting Clays (Modern Shotgun): Grand
Valley Cap N Ballers: 616-836-5760
June 27-28 - Shoot Time Manistee: Manistee: 231-723-7475
June 28 - 35th Annual Fun Shoot: Linden: 810-629-0478

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

ing and primitive events that require

period costumes. The entire family
can shoot for a $30 entry fee or single
shooter registration is $20, which
covers all matches. A Novice Aggregate is available for $10 per family or
$5 per single shooter.
This year we are adding a
modern unlimited inline hunter aggregate, David Maddox, the current
MSMLA president, said recently. It
will be four targets for a combined
score. This is a three-year trial match,
so there wont be individual matches
or medals, just a percentage of the $5
entry fee paid out.
We are trying to get new people
involved, and we hope they will take
an interest in the old-style muzzleloaders, too. We want people to come
out to the range and see what we have
to offer, Maddox added.
What we call the popsicle match
is Match 17 on the program, Randy
MacInnes explained. Its the 50 yard
flint-only bench rest, and its named
in honor of David Maddox.
Before the shoot, we try to set a
date when everyone can get together.
This year, Dave said hed have his
flint bench gun out on Friday. Dick
said he didnt care and I said Friday
worked for me. The date always
works out.
The most important thing about
the popsicle match is that we were
trying to get a few more people to
shoot the flint bench rest match,
Match 17, so we came up with the
idea of a popsicle match. It was just
something goofy and fun. Everyone
buys the winner a popsicle or ice
cream bar, if they remember. If they
dont, we dont go looking for them.
We change the rules a little. The
match is shot at 50 yards with a sixbull target. Normally the upper left
target is for practice shots and you
shoot once at each of the other five
targets for score. We do that because
with the accuracy of the bench guns
its possible to put two balls in the
same hole.
But for the popsicle match, we
dont allow any practice shots. We
assume each shooter has zeroed in the
rifle on other targets before he or she
shoots the match. Its five shots, take
it or leave it, MacInnes explained.
Ya, the official Match 17 allows
practice shots, Maddox chimed in,
pointing at MacInnes and Thorn, but
these two masterminds decided it
should be shot without any practice.
An hour after Maddox finished
shooting his target, the banter continued. He removed the lock and started
cleaning the heavy-barreled rifles
bore. This is a Ken Bresien .54
caliber flint bench gun, Maddox said
after a bystander asked about the gun.

Randy MacInnes (left) continues

needling David Maddox (right) as Dick
Thorn (center) looks on. Good-natured
kidding adds to the camaraderie and
fun at the MSMLAs State Championship Shoot.

45

Dreams Derailed
Let The Journey Begin ... By Tom Carney

bout the third day of my

recuperation period, Maureen called as she came
down the stairs.
Tom! Martys here.
I shouted back, OK,
thanks! Ugh! Ow!
Whats wrong?
Nothing. Just those bruised ribs
when I exhale hard.
Behind Maureen, Marty moseyed
down the stairs, across the room, and
onto the couch, all six feet six inches
of him, long, lanky Marty. Double
crosser.
How are you feeling, Tom, he
asked. Can I help you with anything?
Actually, I said, squirming to
exorcise the pain from my twisted
lower back, you could slip that blanket over my feet.
Why are you wearing gym
shorts, anyway?
Less discomfort than having
long pants pressing on my bruised
knees.

I cleared my throat.
Ow! Bruised ribs. Maureen,
can you fetch me my straw please?
A straw? Marty asked.
Yeah. I held up my left hand
and explained, I cant lift my coffee
mug with this sprained wrist.
Maureen returned with the straw.
I reached for it with my sprained right
hand.
Ouch!
Marty continued, So, Tom, I was
sorry to hear about your motorcycle
mishap.
I could no longer contain myself
against such insincerity: You should
be sorry. This is all your fault! Ow!
What?
Perhaps I should back up a bit.
About six years ago, our niece
Lizzy married Marty. By the time we
moved down to the Grand Rapids
area, I had developed all kinds of
grand schemes for him and me to be
hangin around buddies, doin guy
stuff while the girls did whatever
ladies do. We could never seem to

About five minutes before his historic motorcycle ride, at his cabin in northern Michigan Thomas Carney takes time for the First Trip of the Season
photo. Tailfeather Communications, LLC. photo
coordinate our plans, though, mainly
because Marty doesnt hunt or fish
and because hes already got other
sidekicks for his main hobbies, like
rock climbing, Ski Patrol, and drinking beer each Thursday at the Pickwick.
About a year ago, though, I sensed
a shift in the momentum.
Driving us back from the snow
blower repair shop, Marty told me,
Ive got the OK from Liz to get an
adventure motorcycle when I turn
fifty. As long as I remodel the garage
first so she can get her car in there.
Wait! I got excited. How old
are you now?
Forty-five.
Well, Ill raise you by five years.
You hurry up and finish that garage,
get that bike, and Ill get one, too. We
can be riding together by the end of
summer.
Marty nodded his head and kept
his eyes on the road.
With our plan in place, I started to
dream.
Except, as Marty, patiently explained while I straw-sipped my coffee, But I never agreed to that, Tom.

Yeah, I know that, now, I said,

taking short breaths so my ribs didnt
hurt so much, but I thought a nod
while listening indicated agreement.
Ah, ouch! Ow!
Whats wrong?
The laceration. From where the
bike fell on me.
Can I do something for it?
Where is it?
Right there, on my knee.
Where?
There! I pointed.
Move your finger out of the
way.
Here, let me get the flashlight.
See it?
He directed the lights beam to my
knee and leaned in close for a look.
I see a tiny scrape. Like you
skinned your knee. Thats all.
Roughed up the surface of
the skin, man. Thats a laceration.
Can you help me dress my wound,
please?
Anyway, back to our plan. I picked
up my bike near mid-September, just
in time for me to trailer it up to our
cabin where it would spend the winter.
Bird hunting season was upon us,

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in my motocross days. But I cant. I

cant!
Why not? Marty asked.
I wiped a tear from my eye and
continued.
My first ride, and I dumped the
bike. I cant control it. And the thing
is that that
Yes, yes, what is it Tom?
Marty asked, his deep, blue eyes
filled with concern.
The thing is that when I tried to
pick it up and ride away, I couldnt
lift the bike off the ground by myself.
Its too heavy for me.
I thought you were going to
work out all winter to get stronger.
I forgot.
You forgot to work out every single day for the past seven
months? Marty asked.
Well, I didnt forget every day. I
had scheduled some days for rest and
recovery.
But if you couldnt lift the bike
how did you get it back to the cabin?
I had to get Maureen to help
me.
Wow! You were lucky you
had cell service, or who knows how
long you would have been stuck out
there.
Oh, I didnt need the phone.
I just walked over to the cabin and
asked her to help me. She was just
vaccu
Wait! Marty stopped me, confused. Where were you when you
spilled the bike?
On the side of the cabin. You
know, beyond the white pine.
So, you basically tipped over
and fell off your bike onto a soft bed
of pine needles in your grass-covered
side yard.
I didnt tip over. I laid it out!
How fast were you going?
I figured I was somewhere north
of six miles an hour. I was barreling
along in first gear and
What went wrong?
I dont know, I replied. It all
happened so fast.
So you were going as slowly as
possible and you tipped over.

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Yes No, man! I dropped the

bike. Every biker has to be prepared
for this inevitability.
Marty, a former EMT guy,
pressed for other details.
How did you bruise your ribs?
Im not sure, but after I lay there
for awhile watching for a bright light
at the end of a tunnel, I figured Id
move around and see where it hurt.
Just in case I had work to finish in
this life, you know? I felt my elbow
jammed into my chest. Must have
been the force of the crash landing.
The crash from tipping over
about three feet above the soft landing spot.
Correct.
How do you know you have
bruised ribs?
Oh, thats because Ow!
when I diagnosed myself for Doctor
he nodded his head.
So it must be
true. And thats the end of the story.
Uh not so fast, Tom, Maureen helpfully intervened. Tell him
about the drive back to the garage.
What about it? I asked.
Marty, he didnt want to take
any more chances with the bike so he
drove it in first gear all the way back.
But he put the brakes on so much the
thing kept stalling. He had to restart
the bike six times to travel the fifty

feet back to the garage.

Fifty feet! said Marty. Thats
it?
No, thats not it. That was just
one way. The entire journey was
closer to a hundred.
Tom, I think for a trip to count
as a journey you have to travel far
enough away so you cant see your
house.
Oh.
Ow!n

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you see. Besides, by then Marty was

preparing for skiing season, and his
garage project remained in limbo.
So, I spent the winter dreaming
of how Marty and I would enjoy our
bikes, come spring: first the shake
down cruises around the Lower Peninsula. A few weekend camping trips
together, then perhaps a big road trip
to Portland, Oregon, to see his sister,
her husband and their children. Then
we could cruise through Canada.
During Martys work weeks, I
could zip around Southwest Michigan, getting to know it on my own
terms and finding places we buds
could visit together on weekends.
Both near and far from home, we
would drive our bikes down paths
along rivers, searching for the ultimate, get-away-from-everyone trout
fishing hotspots. We could transport
ourselves to hidden gems of bass
lakes. We could drive trails near the
cabin together, in search of bird hunting spots far from the crowds. Never
mind that he doesnt hunt or fish.
Wed become inseparable. Brothers of the vroom-vrooms! Wed get
matching gremlin bells for the bikes.
Key rings, too, perhaps.
That was then, though. This is
now. After the fall.
This is the end of my biking career, Marty, I told him as he finished
wrapping the elastic bandage over the
gauze pad that covered my laceration.
I hated to disappoint him but felt he
needed to know as soon as Maureen
had made up my mind for me. I
gotta sell the bike.
Why?
Maureen says its time I realize
what shes known all along, and reminded me of what Raymond Massey
said in that one movie.
What was that? Marty asked?
Maureen chimed in, Men of our
years dont have any business playing
around with any adventures they can
avoid.
But he was talking about chasing
pretty, younger women, I protested.
I was just trying to have the same
kind of fun I had forty-five years ago

47

Harnessing the Bite

The one lure I have used to catch more
walleyes than any other during my lifetime?
Bar none, the crawler harness...By Mark Martin

hen I ponder over my

fishing career, as well
reminisce about the
years of catching fish
throughout my childhood, I realize the lure I
have used to catch more walleyes than
any other during my lifetime is the
crawler harness.
A simple rig, to say the least, the
crawler harnessalso known in the
fishing industry as a spinnerhas
the flash and vibration to get noticed
from a far; yet, without overdoing it.
At the time, spinners have the finesse
needed to get even the most fickly fish
to bite.
Another reason I use them so
much, you ask? Their versatility... By
choosing a particular blade, I can either pull them quickly, or, at a snails
pace. And with the right amount of
weight, I can troll them through any
section of the water column fish may
be.
Oh, and they catch fish, too... lots
of fish.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

In The Beginning

48

Before choosing the size and

shape of blade, as well the appropriate amount of weight and how much
line to let out, I need to know where,
exactly, the walleyes are. And this is
where sonar comes into play.
In my days of youth, my father
and grandfather were the duo that
would take me fishing. We didnt have
sonar. Overall, it was more trial and
error when we caught fish; as well
it was the decades of knowledge of
those two dyed-in-the-wool anglers.
To tell you the truth, I feel that had
those two been allowed the same data
that modern-day sonar and GPS give
us today, there wouldnt be as many
fish roaming the waterways we fished
within the state of Michigan.
Conversely, at present, if you
were to look at both the dash and
bow of my Lund Pro-V, youd see a
Lowrance HDS-12 Gen3 Touchscreen
Fishfinder/Chartplotter on each. Their
large, 12-inch screens allows me to
be anywhere in my boat and see the
display, even in broad daylight. And
within the card readers of those units
is a SD card filled with Navionics
mapping.
But, its not to say you must have
these largest of Lowrance units on
your vessel. The company makes
many models for every walk of life
who loves to fish. And every Lowrance sonar/GPS combo, no matter its

make, will show you everything you

need to know whats going on under
the surface and help you catch more
fish. And the majority of units will
allow you to insert that all-important
Navionics card for pin-point accuracy
when trolling breaklines and the like.

Seeing Is Believing

First thing is first, however, and

I study the screen of my Lowrance
before deploying a spinner, watching
where the bait is located in the water
column, as well looking for fish.
Because of the way sonar works, I
may not always see fish if they are up
high in the water column. If I see bait
up high, howeverwhether its pods
of shad, shiners or insectsthen it is
within that same realm where I will
place my baits.
In short, if I see forage on my
sonar, I am assured there will be fish
in the mix at the same depths. On the
other hand, if I am marking fish near
or on bottom, then that is where I will
place my baits.
And once I know where the fish
and/or forage is, its time to decipher
the best blades and weight to use.

High And Mighty

First, Ill start off fishing for walleyes that are high in the water column.
Again, I am confident they are here if
I am marking forage within the top 15
feet, whether I am seeing fish or not.
Take, for example, a trip I took
with several colleges to the waters of
Green Bay just last year, very near the
town of Oconto, Wisconsin. From the
port of Ludington, Michigan, we rode
upon the passenger ferry S.S. Badger
with our vehicles and boats to the
port of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and
then drove the short distance north to
Oconto.
Once on the water of this large
Lake Michigan bay, I saw very few
fish near bottom via sonar, yet, lots of
bait near the top; thus I let out about
20 to 30 feet of line (10-pound-test
Berkley Trilene XT, to be exact), and
then clipped on my Church Tackle inline planer boards and set my rods in
my Big Jon rod holders.
Just ahead of the spinners I used
a 1-ounce in-line weight. In general,
when trolling at 1 mile-per-hour with
1-ounce weights, I can estimate my
spinner dropping down approximately
half the amount of line out behind my
Church planer board. For example,
this means with 20 feet of line out, the
spinner will run about 10 feet down. If

The author, Mark Martin, holds a nice walleye caught on a crawler harness
fished high in the water column. David A. Rose photo
I troll faster the spinner will rise, and
if I go slower it will fall.
Whatever I do, I always make sure
my spinners are riding higher than
where I think the walleyes are swimming. This is because fish eat forage
that is not only swimming at the same
depth they are, but will almost always
rise up and gobble up food. Rarely
will they dive down to eat.

Spin To Win

Once I have deciphered the depth

the fish are at, its then time to choose
the proper size and shape of crawler
harness blade.
Right off the bat, I will deploy a
Northland Pro-Walleye Crawler Harness. Their size-3 deep-cup Colorado
blade is the perfect size to start out
with. Also, their optically brightened
UV blades and Super-Glo beads really
stand out, whether fished in clear water or stained. And they have a Northland Speed Clevis for a quick change
of blades if needed.
And the changing of blades is an
important thing when trolling as you
never know day to day (hour to hour,
for that matter) what size or shape
blades will attract the most bites. And
different blade types do matter at
times.
Colorado blades, for example, spin
nicely at medium speed of .08 to 1.5
miles-per-hour, their design allowing
them to give off a lot of thump and
vibration. Indiana blades, on the other
hand, whirl easier than Colorados,
thus are a great choice for trolling at
speeds slower than 1 mile-per-hour.
Willow-leaf blades, however, work
best at speeds greater than 1.5 milesper-hour, or, due to their thin shape,
will work wonders for getting a

crawler to fish in deeper water.

And speaking of crawlers, I always use the freshest, plumpest live
night crawlers when pulling spinners.
And I keep them cool and lively in a
Frabill Crawler Cabin filled with Fat
N Sassy Pre-Mixed Worm Bedding.
And the crawlers not used up during
my fishing trip will stay in great shape
for future trips, to boot.
Any time small fish such as perch
are nipping the tails off my live night
crawlers, Ill switch over to Berkley
Gulp! Night Crawlers. These softbaits
give off a lot of scent, even more than
real crawler after being waterlogged,
and there are several different colors
to choose from.

Long Story Short

When it comes to pulling crawler

harnesses for walleyes, an entire book
could be filled with detailed information. But overall, heres what you need
to remember...
First, find the fish or their forage on your sonar, and then get your
crawler harness in the strike zone.
Switch out blade sized and shapes until you find the one that gets bit most,
as well pay attention to your speed.
And once both are discovered, stick
with it. Use only the liveliest of live
bait, or, softbaits impregnated with
scent.
Do all this, and youll catch more
walleyes on crawler harnesses than
ever before.
Mark Martin is a touring walleye
tournament angler, as well an instructor with the Ice-Fishing Vacation/
School, who lives in the southwest
corner of Michigans Lower Peninsula. Check out the web at
markmartins.net for more info.n

Dog Training With Len Jenkins

Teaching Come Here

T
his command means come
here now! If you see your
puppy running toward you
in order to get attention,
take advantage of the situation and tell him to Come, doing
so with enthusiasm. While doing this,
introduce the first whistle command,
a single loud continuous blast on your
whistle. While hes coming to you
by his own choice at this point, your
pup will learn that he is to come to
you when told Come and/or when
he hears the whistle. As you proceed
with training, call your pup by saying
Come or Come Here followed by
your whistle signal. Encourage him to
come in.
If he doesnt come, quit telling
him to do so. You dont want your
dog to think he can ignore you. Its
now time for a different method. Attach a check cord to his collar. You
could then use your whoa stake again,
reviewing Whoa. Drop the cord and
entice the pup to come in by calling come, followed by the whistle
signal.
If youre lucky enough to have
an assistant, ask that person to hold

one hand on the dogs chest and one

on his rump. The assistant must not
talk to the dog or in any way distract
him. You should then come up to the
dog, look him right in the eye, command Whoa and walk away to the
end of your 50 foot check cord. Then
command the dog to Come, followed by the whistle command. As
you do this the assistant is to push the
dog off toward you as you simultaneously pull him in by the check cord.
Keep blowing your whistle the entire
time, creating one long, continuous,
obnoxious, steady blast until the dog
comes in. Then reward and praise him
lavishly. Repeat this procedure a few
more times. In the future, you can use
your whoa stake if your assistant is
unavailable.
At this point your dog will heel,
whoa, and come by following both
a voice and whistle command. Its
now time to advance beyond basic
yard training. But while were at this
stage, lets introduce bird contact,
starting first with a bird wing on the
end of a fishing line.
Flip the wing (bird) onto the
ground, teasing and enticing the pup

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Teaching to come on command with a check cord.

with it. Keep moving the bird around,
saying bird, bird, bird so the dog
learns the meaning of bird. Never
let the dog catch the bird. However,
when the dog points, leave the wing
still, allowing the dog to savor the
hypnotic ecstasy while on point. As
you do this, reinforce whoa, styling
the dog by stroking his tail or adjusting his stance. You can then, after
a few minutes, flip the wing up and
around saying bird and making a
lot of noise as you do this. Be sure
to keep the puppy excited. Drop the
wing back to the ground and soothingly, yet commandingly, say whoa.
Style the dog up. Repeat the process a
few more times.
Just be sure to keep the pup happy.
At this stage in the training you may

want to introduce a pigeon just for the

sake of building interest and excitement. Say Whoa! Style the pup.
Let the pigeon fly up by snapping the
restraint harness to release the bird.
Make lots of noise. Keep the dog
excited. Review calling him in. End
by making him heel. Release him just
before quitting so he can romp around
and enjoy his experience and then put
him away to think about the great time
hes had.
Boy if this is work hell be eager
for more! What a life! Lets go to
the field next so that we can build on
our well-established foundation. At
this time you should stop using the
wing on the fishing rod since we dont
want to make the pup dependent on
sight pointing.n

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

50
51

By Mark Sak

When all the planer boards go back

t doesnt happen to us often.

When every planer board in the
water drops back with a scrappy
walleye on it! The heart starts
pumping and adrenaline starts
flowing. We recently took a spring
trip to Lake Erie and had some of the
best walleye fishing Ive ever had.
The high point of the trip came when
all six of my Offshore Planer boards
went back at the same time, we landed
all six fish and every fish was over 7
pounds. We live for days like that.
June is one of the months that we
often get into that kind of action. Its
good to know how to handle such a
fire drill. Here is what I do when the
fish are cooperating more than usual.
For many, many years I have kept
more than one net in the boat. I have
a big expandable net that I use 90
percent of the time, and I keep a four
foot short net in the boat for those
moments when I either need a second
net or I need a short net to use when
I dont want to flag a heads up to
other anglers that I am into the fish. I
learned that during the tourney days
when anglers were actually waving
nets in the air to get attention even

when they werent catching fish. We

anglers always look for nets flying.
But when we think back to all of the
problems involved in netting fish, the
net tangled in a pedestal tightener, or
stuck on a screw in the gunwhale, or
sitting on the bottom of the lake, its
always a good practice to bring an extra net. It really comes through when
the fish are in a feeding frenzy. More
than a few times I have had two walleyes sitting on the deck and had to net
another fish with a walleye already in
the net because we couldnt get one of
the fish out quick enough.
Another aspect of dealing with
actively feeding fish is planer board
spacing. I have heard a lot of folks
in my boat say they like to run them
close to create a school effect. I really
prefer to run mine with at least 20 feet
between boards. Not only does this
allow me to cover more water, it also
allows for that one fish that is going to
start swimming towards the other line
to clear so the other line and lure can
slip through and I can keep that line in
the water. The pressure from the boat
moving forward will naturally make
most fish move up towards the surface

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Brian LaRue with a nice Lake Erie walleye.

so good spacing can help you keep
your other lures in the water fishing
and not in a tangle. I also will utilize
S curves constantly while trolling
and keeping a good spread will minimize tangles while turning too.
A few other important points to
remember that some of my own fishing buddies didnt know. Continuing
to fish with a limit of fish in the boat
is illegal. Once you have your limit
of what ever you are after you must
cease fishing for that species. I usually leave room for a couple fish so in
case I do get a double I can get a fish

released before we net the next one.

That allows me to keep fishing while
the bite is hot and hopefully hang that
big trophy I drove so far to find. If the
bite shuts down that is still fine. I still
had a tremendous day on the water
and I was always on the right side of
the regulations.
Here is hoping you have all of
your planer boards go back at the
same time this year and you dont
have one tangle. Get out there and
enjoy some of the best walleye fishing
ever seen in Michigan. Ill see you on
the water.n

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By Tricia Croney

From Hook to Table

o I hope that some moms out

there stop on this page and
read this little snippet! And
if you are not a busy mom, I
hope you will still appreciate
the perspective I hope to give you.
The day begins early, start the
laundry, pack the lunches, get the
tribe fed, dressed and off to school.
Of course there are about 3-5 other
little things along the way moms try to
tackle. Kids are at school, so whats
next? Some might beeline for Target,
maybe meet a couple girlfriends for
coffee or book club. Then there
are those who have scheduled a
charter fishing trip with a few girlfriends!
Now I know where your thoughts
have probably traveled to; why would
you book a charter when all you need
to do is grab your own tackle, rods
and hit a local honey holeright?
Well I will share with you why a
charter trip is a really easy, fun way to
fish.

I have done a handful of charters with

Medicine Man Charters (Captain Ed
ROCKS!) out of Lake St. Clair. I have
reeled in several different species of
fish, with my kids, girlfriends and
family.
My most recent charter was a
walleye trip on the Detroit River,
which offered one of my girlfriends
a surprise at the end of her rod, a
muskie! We brought in some nice
sized walleye, took them in, cleaned
them up and headed right over to
Sinbads, a restaurant that will cook
up your fillets and serve some fries
and yummy coleslaw on the side. I
was hoping for hush puppies, they
didnt have them, but were absolutely
willing to make them with an hours
notice.
By booking a charter, we did not
have to worry about tackle, rods, gas,
boating and all that comes with that,
Booking a Michigan charter boat is a terrific way to enjoy our state fishing.
or where the fish were. We simply got
Stay Pretty and Angle On! As
some great times! Doing a charter
to FISH, learned a few things new
with kids is a blast as well! I hope all always I invite your comments,
about fishing, had fun and shared
feedback and if you have a story
of you anglers out there have a good
you would like to share, feel free
time and success out on the water.
to email it to me Take in all that our Great Lake state
tricia@prettyhunter.comn
has to offer.

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53

A Well-Rounded Sportsman...

A passion for pheasant hunting

ryan Gross, from the

small community of
New Lathrup, has been
an active member of the
Shiawassee Chapter of
Pheasants Forever for
over 24 years; the last ten serving as
president.
Bryan, during a recent conversation, advised; Hunting is in my
blood. My father started
me out at a young age with
squirrel hunting; after that
I was hooked. At age 15, I
obtained my first beagle. I
fell in love with hunting over
dogs. Later I got a bird dog
and started pheasant hunting.
Deer hunting at a young age
was not very successful; when you dont
see action you lost
interest. However, I
took down my first buck at age 16. I
probably seriously started deer hunting again in my late 40s. By then I
had more patience so the sport was
truly enjoyable. And last deer season
I downed a really nice 8point buck
near my rural home.
Dad was never an avid deer
hunter and whenever we hunted
together it was on state land; we were
dressed inadequately thus we were
often beyond cold; and with no tree
stand usage, you merely sat with your
back to a tree or old stump offering
little outdoors comfort.
Actually, Bryan did not start to
pheasant hunt until after he married
his wife Janet when she bought him
a Brittany spaniel for his birthday. It
remains a fact that more women than
men think encourage their husbands to
hunt. Years ago, I personally trained
our German shepherd to hunt pheasants. Like Bryan Gross, my husband
Bills birthday was fast approaching,
but I did not have ready money to
buy a bird dog so I did the next best
thing. He was most surprised when I
told him what I had done and that first
hunt afield, filled his bag limit.
I learned that Bryan has a seven
run kennel accommodating six dogs;
three Brittanys; one named Belle who
is 11 years old. Her kennel mates are
four-year-old Ruby and a pup called
Ginger. His three beagles are Casper
at seven years of age, Maverick who
is four and Ranger is Bryans beagle
pup.
Tipper, an aging 13 years, was put
down at this writing; Bryan strongly
felt she was the finest beagle he ever
owned. She will be deeply missed. He
named Casper after Casper the Ghost
as the dog sports an all white face;

something Bryan had never before

witnessed in a beagle. Basically the
dogs remain outside except during the
2014 brutal Michigan winter, when
Bryan brought the pups inside and
they enjoyed the freedom of the basement.
I asked Bryan what he expects
from his dogs; Ive always trained
my own Brittanys and beagles. I am
very particular on how I want
them to work. The hunt is
all about the dogs training
highlighting their natural
abilityshooting the bird
or bunny is second. I garner
great satisfaction in training my dogs and watching
their performance afield. I
fully expect my bird
dogs to hold a point
until I release the bird.
Watching young dogs
grow up, train, and work the field cannot be put into words. It is surprising
how smart hunting dogs can be.
Gross advised that while his Brittanys hunt pheasants, the beagles are
bunny hunters. He strongly feels as
though this sport has waned somewhat
during the passing years, which he
claims can be attributed to the fact
that the deer hunting seasons may be
just too extensive. Also it is difficult
for a rabbit hunter to receive permission to hunt on private land. In a
previous article on rabbit hunter Basil
Minor, we learned that the Michigan
DNR has made some positive moves
in restoring rabbit habitat throughout
the state. That information can be
drawn up from their website;
www.michigan.gov under small game
habitat.
So in my estimation, Bryan is
more or less a dedicated small game
hunter between spring wild turkeys,
fall pheasants and winter rabbits.
He agreed and added that when his
six-year-old grandson comes to visit
from Minnesota, he takes him squirrel
huntingspending time with the next
generation is a high priority.
Not only is Bryan an avid hunter,
he also enjoys the sport of fishing;
hoping someday to hook a monster
musky. He favorite species of fish are
walleye and pike and he will fish them
wherever they may be. Several fishing
trips are annually made to Sugar Island, where his sister Pat and husband
Tom Green reside.
We talked about what in Bryans
estimation may have been the peak
pheasant population years in his area
of Shiawassee County and he traced
that success rate back to the national
Conservation Reserve Enhancement

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

By Betty Sodders

54

Bryan after a successful pheasant hunt and his Brittany. Bob Gwidz photo
Program (CREP) put in place by the
Federal Government in the l980s and
l990s. Always thinking of pheasants, Bryan recently closed a real
estate transaction on a 20-acre parcel
adjacent to his rural home. A conservationist at heart, plans are in progress
to put all the land into grasses for ring
neck nesting, cover and food plots.

I asked Gross what he thought
Michigans pheasant hunting future
might be?

Pheasants Forever, Michigan United

Conservation Clubs, U. S. fish and
Wildlife Service, Michigan Department of Agriculture, local Conservation Districts and other conservation
organizations to facilitate a revitalization of Michigan pheasants. This
initiative has the potential to change
small game hunting opportunities,
increase wildlife populations, improve
hunter satisfaction and help Michigans economy.
The Michigan DNR has some
We are giving greater focus to
programs in place such as pheassmall game hunting opportunities in
ant restoration on state ground and Michigan, said Wildlife Division
public assess to private lands which chief Russ Mason. We believe by
is a sign-up form to hunt farm
restoring our high-quality pheasant
lands as public hunts. Understand- hunting tradition there will be the
ably its been an uphill battle with
creation of new hunters and the return
high crop prices keeping the states of hunters who have left the sport.
set-a-side and CREP programs goThree priority Pheasant Recover
ing. Some farmers use every avail- Areas have been identified for this
able field space to plant cash crops initiative: 1) Huron, Sanilac and Tusof soybeans or corn.
cola counties; 2) Hillsdale, Lenawee
About the Pheasant Restoration
and Monroe counties; and 3) Gratiot,
Initiative, I brought up the following
Saginaw and Clinton counties. To parinformation from the Michigan DNRs ticipate in this cooperative initiative, a
website:
group of property owners must agree
The DNR is partnering with
to work together to improve pheasant

buckwheat and sorghums into food

plots. Some banquet-raised funds pay
for seeds given to farmers for planting; they furnish fertilizer.
Additionally, our members work
with youths on gun safety and provide pheasant hunts at game farms.
Pheasants Forever work with national
and state legislators to improve farm
bills regarding upland bird habitat.
Our Chapter maintains its own
bank account. Annually our Pheasants Forever Banquet, held during
February, continues to be our prime
fundraiser. Last February 21st we
raffled off over 2100 items and sold
thousands of raffle tickets. Bill Brake,
PF State Council Vice-president, was
recently named volunteer of the Year
(2014). For our 2015 Banquet, Bill attended 16 outdoors shows selling our
Pheasants Forever Raffle Tickets.

A.G. Baumgartel of Holland, Michigan is credited with the

first Michigan pheasant release. Under the auspices of the Holland Rod
and Gun Club, he released several pheasants March 27, 1895, at Harlem in
Ottawa County. That summer, the first pheasant brood was observed.
That was the start of the Michigan pheasant, but records were vague
from that point on. Clubs and individuals released birds, but it remained
doubtful that many pheasants survived in the wild until the state set up a
game farm near Mason in 1917 and began releasing pheasants regularly
each year afterwards. Pheasants became plentiful enough for Michigan to
hold its first hunting season for the birds in 1925.
Populations had ups and downs, but by the mid-1930s pheasants were
established throughout their range in the northern United States and southern Canada. For the next 10 years, pheasants multiplied phenomenally.
This was perhaps the most spectacular eruption of game ever witnessed. By
the middle l940s, stories of clouds of pheasants getting up before the gun
were legend in the Dakotas, on the Canadian plains and in the Great Lakes
region.
Then the population crashed. From Maine to Oregon, pheasant numbers fell dramatically until by 1947 the figures were nearly where they stood
a decade previously. By 1953, however, the birds had made considerable
recovery. The great pheasant slump followed an unprecedented high, and
researchers believed the birds to be governed by natural cycles. A Michigan
Department of Conservation study indicated that over a 15-year period,
pheasant numbers built up, crashed, and rebuilt. Such cycles existed in the
cases of grouse, rabbits and foxes, so researchers said, Why not pheasants?
During those earlier times, Michigans best pheasant range and 98
percent of the hunting were south of a line from Muskegon to Bay City.
Michigans pheasant population continued to have ups and downs through
the l960s and 1970s, but the overall trend has been downward with a brief
upswing in the early 1990s.

Bryans South African trip was truly the hunt of a lifetime!

Some of the items raffled at the
February banquet included hunting
and fishing trips such as a Manistee
River Fishing Trip with Mike Tilmann of ManisteeA Lake Erie
Walleye Fishing Excursion with Paul
Fox of Byron who has over 20 years
experiencea Maine Bear Hunt
proved popularand a South African
Safari/Hunt was presented by Trophies Africa.
Our 2015 banquet added $62,000
free and clear to our chapters bank
account.
During a conversation with Bryans wife, Janet, I learned that while
he was attending to event business,
(during the 2014 banquet) she talked
with the African safari/hunt outfit-

ter and booked a trip to South Africa

for her husbands birthday. Next she
made arrangements to accompany
him as an observer. I found her generous act remarkable. I was later told
that she always wanted to visit Africa.
And somewhat later, Bryans sister
Patty and brother-in-law Tom Green
(Sugar Island), joined the couple in
their African adventure.
Bryan said, it was a trip of a
lifetime, much more than I could ever
have imagined. I cannot thank Janet
enough for that remarkable trip.
I asked Bryan to share some
memories of the South African hunt
with our readers:
We made the trip in March of
2014. We were their first hunt of the

year. We flew into Johannesburg then

traveled to KWA-ZULU Natal and
then to Orange Free State. We were
in Africa a week. The trip itself was
not that expensive but it tended to add
up quickly with each animal taken
down and mounted. We all felt that
the accommodations were great. We
were surprised to find hot and cold
running water plus a wide variety of
South African dishes served daily.
Janet and I would definitely go back
again.
I shot a kudu, gemsbuck, zebra
and an impala. Tom took a gemsbuck
and an impala. We chose to have the
taxidermy work done there. I had
head mounts for the kudu, gemsbuck
and Impala along with the zebra made
into a rug. We were very pleased with
their work. The taxidermists used
fiberglass forms instead of Styrofoam
that more or less showed off every
ripple of the animals hide in a lifelike manner. Also the horns on these
mounts were made removable which
was done for shipping purposes. They
were simple to reattach.
We ate meat from all the animals
harvested including the zebra that
was served breaded; but it was our
least favorite. Personally, I savored
the Kudu best. All were prepared over
an open flame and each in its own
right proved excellent. A taste treat,
for sure!
You might say that the South
African trip was the climax to all the
work, as president, I annually put into
the Pheasants Forever banquets. A
surprise fashioned by my wife. And
the opportunity came about due to the
Shiawassee Chapter of Pheasants Forever auctioning off those hunting and
fishing trips. An unexpected chance
of a lifetime!n

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

and small game habitat on their collective acreages.

We believe that habitat restoration must be done in large landscape
blocks to achieve meaningful recovery, Mason continued. We are focusing on working with coalitions of
private landowners to restore pheasant habitat of 15-30 percent of the
landscape within Pheasant Recovery
Areas.
For participating coalitions,
DNR staff will provide advice and
assistance on habitat prescriptions;
project partners will aid in securing
seed for grass plantings; and federal
resources may be leveraged to provide financial incentives for participating landowners. Also, for land that
meets habitat restoration objectives,
the DNR may provide seed and/or
materials for plantings, the use of
equipment, and in some cases, the
release of wild pheasants to initiate
population response.
To get involved in the Pheasant
Restoration Initiative, landowners
may contact DNR Upland Game Bird
Specialist Al Stewart, at
stewarta1@michigan.gov
My next question for Bryan was if
he basically pheasant hunted Michigan or did he additionally hunt prime
pheasant states such as the Dakotas
and Iowa?
He remarked, I have hunted
Iowa for 28 years; never the Dakotas.
I do not employ an outfitter. I rent
a motel and hunt private acreage.
Twenty years ago, motels provided
kennels for our dogs; now they have
discontinued that practice. Most farmers are super friendly and allow us to
hunt their land at no charge.
Bryan was one of the original
founders of the Shiawassee Chapter
of Pheasants Forever and not only
has maintained membership in this
organization for over 24 years; he has
served the last ten years as Chapter
President
I assumed that the Shiawassee
Pheasants Forever Chapter 399 was a
thriving organization as it is located
in the heart of pheasant country. I
was told that the chapter has approximately 260 supporting and active
members.
President Gross commented; we
have a great deal of support, but we
need more active members to get the
job done properly. Our chapter works
with farmers to improve pheasant
habitat and food plots by planting
warm and cool season switch grass
along with putting in a clover mix
to supply a green buffer zone so that
when switch grass dries out, green is
still evident in case of fire. We also
put round-up-ready corn, soybeans,

The pheasants topsy-turvy history

55

By Lee Arten

Gun Chat: Guns of the Porkies

ts been years since I hunted in the

Porcupine Mountains Wilderness
State Park.
When I lived just a few miles
from it, however, I chased grouse
there often. My wife and I got a Springer Spaniel from the pound in Ewen. We
named him Hog. He was good on grouse
and excellent on woodcock. I hunted
with him first in Ontonagon County, in
the Porkies.
The first time I hunted the park with
Hog he jumped eight grouse from a
patch of tall brush just 100 yards from
the trail head parking lot. I hadnt got
used to hunting with a dog, misread the
signs, and kept putting the gun down
after each grouse flushed. After I really
learned how springers work I did better.
Ive written about Hog, and other
springers Ive known, elsewhere. This
is about the guns I used while hunting
in the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness
State Park.
The gun I carried most there was a
Winchester Model 12 in 16 gauge. It had
a Poly Choke installed sometime after
leaving the factory. Id been impressed
by a Mossberg 500 20 gauge, with
factory-installed Poly Choke, owned by
my dads cousin in Wisconsin, so was
glad to have one on my Model 12. I still
like the Poly Choke, and the look of the

Cutts Compensator, although I dont

have any other guns with either.
I had a Weaver Quik Point red dot
sight put on the Winchester by a gunsmith in Ontonagon in the 1970s. A
friend then started calling the combination, The Ray Gun. I shot a little better
with the red dot sight, but practice on
clay targets would have helped more, I
think.
My father got me the Winchester
as a high school graduation present.
The former owner told dad hed used it
mostly for deer hunting. It didnt have
much finish left on the metal, and the
stock had scratches here and there. After
several years as my main grouse gun it
had less finish and more scratches. (I
was harder on my guns back then.) The
old 16 gauge is still one of my favorite
shotguns. I took nothing but grouse with
it in the Porkies. Elsewhere the 16 gauge
accounted for squirrels, geese and a
three-point buck.
I had an old 1911 and bought a .22
Colt Conversion Unit for it while living
in Ontonagon County. I used to carry the
1911, with the conversion installed, in a
throw in Hunter holster while grouse
hunting. I never shot it at game. If hunting was slow, and I could find a good
backstop, Id sometimes plink with it.
An Old Model Ruger Blackhawk

in .357 Magnum showed up at the

gun store in town one day. I put it on
layaway and paid it off in a couple of
months. It came with a throw in Hunter holster too. I stuck it in that scarred
piece of leather and sometimes carried it
while grouse hunting. I probably carried
it in the Porkies but dont recall a trip
where I fired it there. The Blackhawk
got me into reloading and into NRA
Hunters Pistol Silhouette matches. I
still have it, and may carry it while trout
fishing this year.
I also bought a bolt-action rifle at the
gun shop in Ontonagon. It was a Swedish Mauser Carbine in 6.5 X 55. Someone had sporterized it, cut the stock
down and added a peep sight. The rifle
was light and handy but shot poorly till
I scrubbed many years of copper fouling
out of the bore. After the scrubbing it
shot groups of an inch and a half at 100
yards. Before that it shot patterns and
some bullets keyholed at 80 yards.
I hunted deer with it in the Porkies
for a couple seasons. One afternoon I
slithered my way up to a trail head in
four inches of heavy, wet snow. I went
into the woods and sat for a while. Then,
I found a set of big tracks and followed
them farther into the woods. I went
slowly, looking ahead, to the sides, and
to the back but saw no deer. The tracks

Hunt Hard

Taking a break while hunting with

The Ray Gun the 16 gauge Model 12.
were old and no new ones crossed them.
The day got cloudier and I thought it
was getting late. (I wasnt wearing a
watch.) When I got to the truck I was
surprised to find that it was only a little
after three. Expecting to slide all over
the road on the way out I was also
surprised that all the snow had melted
while I was hunting. It had run off the
road, or down into Lake Superior. I did
not slide around at all on the way home.
Old tracks and no deer was the
theme of my season that year. Even outside the park, where trees had been more
recently cut, things were slow. Later, I
killed a snowshoe hare with the Swedish
Mauser in a cedar swamp in Menominee
County. I never took anything else with
it.
I may get a chance to hunt grouse
in the Porkies this fall. Ill probably use
my current grouse gun, a 20 gauge over
and under, but might take the 16 gauge
Model 12 for old times sake.n
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Part 1 -- Boat Smart...By Captain Fred Davis

Alternative Power Choices

he roar of power draws

crowds to boat races where
speeds are so fast boats
sometime disintegrate.
The size of fishing boats
grew so they could fish larger bodies
of water and they needed big powerful
engines. As these boats visited smaller
lakes; their emissions caused property
owners to enact laws requiring cleaner
operations. Those who lived on the
restricted inland waters and wanted to
use a boat turned to alternative power.
Electric inboards were introduced
at the Chicago Worlds Fair in 1893, so
we are back to the future. Excessive
weight and slow speeds held back development for years. As demand continues for greener options, many new
power systems are being developed.
Boats are being re-powered with
electric using standard mounts that fit
in the same footprint. They may be set
up with solar or wind power options, a
genset or shore chargers.
Alternative power is expanding at
warp speed because funding is available via government grants and competition is fierce.
Elco A.C. Electric Inboard Engines
A completely green system; leaves

no exhaust, operates silently and may

be installed to standard mounts. It can
be fitted for common shaft connection
or sail drive. Zero carbon footprint
if charged by solar or wind power
options. The encased system is water
resistant, with only one moving part,
needs no tune-ups or winterizing. The
motor runs cool and will not heat up
the cabin.
Elco produces six models for use
in sailboats, launches and catamarans
15 to 75 foot. Variable battery installations can be conveniently placed to use
as ballast. Throttle and gauge ignition
key, power indicator and a push button
starter are included. Elco provides
more than twice the cruising range of
an equivalent diesel engine in a hybrid
system.
www.elcomotoryachts.com, info@
elcomotoryachts.com
Lehr, Inc Propane Outboards
Lehrs first patent was granted in
2008 and the small engines propane
fuel is recognized as a green energy
source that reduces emissions, protects
the environment and reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The company
currently produces four 4-stroke outboards from 2.5 to a 15 hp that debuted

at the 2014 Miami Boat Show.

Capt. Bernardo J. Herzer, founder
and CEO of LEHR states his 9.9 and
15 hp engines have the first internal
electric start batteries weighing less
than two pounds. Engines come in
eight, 15 or 20 shaft models using
a typical 5 gal, BBQ propane tank.
Propane has no ethanol and does not
degrade over time. It is a powerful 110
octane fuel. Eco-friendly, it was listed
as an approved alternative fuel in the
Clean Air Act of 1990 and the National
Energy Policy act of 1992. Propane
engines are 50X cleaner than gasoline
engines.
www.LEHRMARINE.COM, bernardo@golehr.com
Thoosa Electric Inboard Motors
The five electric inboard drive
systems made by Thoosa are
48V using a LMC permanent magnet motor set up in a gearing console
made from stainless steel regulated
by a 4-quadrant motor controller. The
motors can be used on boats from 15 to
48 feet. A combustion engine idles at
700-800 rpm and rotates at 1500-2000
rpm to gain enough torque to move
forward. Thoosas electric system
does not idle, provides full torque

The author with Capt. Bernardo Herzer

for acceleration to gain desired speed
after which power consumption drops
significantly.
Advantages of electric vs gas or
diesel are; reliability, they start immediately (no pre-warm up) every time.
The drive system is lightweight and
batteries can be distributed for ballast.
The only maintenance parts are brushes
and a gearbelt with lifetimes of over
3000 hours, easy to replace. Installation is simple, without use of heavy
tools, due to weight of the motor, gearing and controller.
www.c-e-marineamericas.com,
info@c-e=marineamericas.com
I will preview a few more motors
next month, stay tuned.n

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57

Dr. Jeff LaHuis DVM

Pet health insurance

Y

ou cant turn on the

news nor open a
paper (how 20th century!) without seeing
something about health insurance. People are familiar with
insurance to cover their health
costs, but dont realize that there
is also insurance available for
their pets as well. Pet health
insurance has been around for as
long as I have been a veterinarian, twenty years (Wow! I have
been doing this a long time!).
Back then, the plans tended to be
somewhat expensive and did not
cover very much. Also, many
of the advanced procedures that
are commonly performed today
were relatively unheard of back
then.
Fast forward twenty years,
medical advances in veterinary
medicine have brought advanced
care to the level of the private
vet clinic. For example, when I was
a young vet, chemotherapy was rarely
used and if then, was only done at

Michigan State University. Compare

that to today, where chemotherapy is
routinely done in local hospitals.
Pet health insurance has a some-

deal. They either were slow

pay, no pay, or only paid according to a payment schedule,
similar to Medicare/Medicaid
today. So back then, we didnt
really recommend them to clients nor fill out a lot of claims.
Jump forward 20 years, companies have greatly improved their
client service and have gone to
a reimbursement plan, based on
actual receipts, not a schedule.
Also, the claim forms have become much more user friendly,
often only requiring a single
page and a copy of the charges!
Plans can vary, depending
on the level of coverage that
you want. They range from full
coverage, including vaccines,
heartworm and parasite prevention, and prescriptions (including food!) to just accident and
illness coverage. Of course,
your premium will vary as well
what checkered past. These plans
have been around for as long as I have depending on age, breed, sex, and
other factors. Just for example, I got
been a vet, about 20 years, but back
a quote for my two dogs, Roxie and
then they were not always a great

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Platte River to receive nearly 800,000

coho salmon stocked this spring
Ada. Roxie is a two-year old pitbull,
spayed, with no history of illness.
Roxies premium for accident and illness came to about $25 a month, with
a 20% co-pay and an annual limit of
$8,000! One accident or significant
illness can rack up bills from $1500
-$2500 pretty quick, that is a lot of
premium payments! Adas (12 year
old, spayed, German Shepherd Dog)
premium came in at $35 a month.
Still pretty good! (Ironically, I also
met with the Blue Cross rep that day
as well. I wish I could get on the pet
plan!)
However, with all insurances,
there is the specter of the pre-existing
condition. The best course of action
is to get the insurance BEFORE you
need it! The different companies
have varying restrictions regarding
pre-existing conditions, so I would
recommend that you ask them about
it. I did ask the company I got my
example quote from about this. The
company, Embrace, splits pre-existing
into two categories: curable and noncurable. For the non-curable conditions, they wont cover (again, the
key is to get the insurance BEFORE
you need it!), BUT for the curable
category, as long as there has not
been any treatment needed for a year,
they will cover going forward. An
example of this would be recurrent
skin infections. Again, check with
the company regarding this.
There are many companies that
provide pet health insurance: Embrace, Trupanion, 24 hour pet health,
and AKC plans. A good place to
compare the companies and get real
client feedback is the website www.
petinsurancereview.com. Here you
can read about real world experiences
clients have had with the companies
and compare. Whatever company
you decide to go with, make sure
that you fully understand what is
covered and how to go about filing
a claim. Some companies, such as
Embrace, can do payments directly to

Porch
The

the veterinary hospital. For example,

suppose your dog gets hit by a car
and fractures a leg, requiring a bone
plate. The total charges might climb
to about $1800-$2000. Now suppose
that you have Embrace with a 90%
reimbursement policy. On discharge,
you would pay your part: 10% (or
$200) and Embrace would pay the
rest directly to the hospital: $1800.
Pet insurance is not the same
as it was 20 years ago. Plans today
offer better payouts with reasonable
premiums. Make sure to do your
homework and fully understand the
policy before purchasing one. (Some
companies offer free trials- Embrace
is one.) These plans are not for everyone, but they can ease the financial
burden on the pet owner as well as
make more advanced procedures and
treatments available. The one caveat
is to purchase the plan BEFORE you
need it!
Dr. Jeff LaHuis is the owner of
Sault Animal Hospital in Sault Sainte
Marie. He works on all animals,
including horses and farm animals,
wildlife, and hunting dogs. If you
have any questions or suggestions
for topics, please feel free to email at
saultanimalhospital@yahoo.com.n

Mid Thumb
Game Ranch

Rams Hogs Goats

Fallow Bucks Red Deer

The DNR recently stocked

coho salmon in the Platte River
near the Platte River State Fish
Hatchery in Beulah (Benzie
County), Michigan.
The Platte River is the
birthplace of coho salmon in
the Great Lakes, following the
species' experimental introduction there in 1966 to control the alewife population and to create a sport
fishery. Today, nearly 50 years later, the Platte River State Fish Hatchery is
the only hatchery in Michigan that rears coho salmon. The hatchery also
serves as the primary egg source for the Great Lakes.
Each year more than 1.5 million coho salmon are reared at the Platte
River State Fish Hatchery. Approximately half of those fish are stocked
each spring directly into the Platte River, which flows through the hatcherys grounds. For eight days over the course of the first two weeks in
April, 100,000 fish are stocked each day. Prior to that, the coho salmon
are intensively cared for at the hatchery for 18 months, the most critical
life stage for the fish. When stocked, these fish are typically between 5
and 7 inches long and are just beginning to smolt.
The smolting process causes physiological changes in juvenile salmon,
resulting in imprinting to their home stream. Following the smolting
process, the juvenile coho salmon will migrate to Lake Michigan to spend
the next 18 months growing and maturing. Once mature, usually by the
fall of the following year, they will migrate back to their home stream,
spawn and complete the life cycle.
To learn more about coho salmon and the other fish species reared
at the Platte River State Fish Hatchery, Atlantic and Chinook salmon
consider planning a visit. The hatchery grounds, located at 15210
U.S. Highway 31 in Beulah, are open to the public from dawn to dusk.
The hatchery itself is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday
through Friday. Visitors will see whats new and learn about the history of
Michigans first and largest salmon hatchery.

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59

a Blue Ribbon trout stream down to

its confluence with its North Branch
near Sharon. It ends there not so
much because of the quality of fishing
but because the river becomes large
and difficult to wade. Access
is good throughout the upper
Manistee via road crossings
and campgrounds. Most of
this reach flows through public land so you can also hike
in to it. The North Branch of
the Manistee itself provides
blue ribbon fishing for brook
trout in its lower reaches.
Fishing is limited to
artificial flies and lures
from County Road 612
in Crawford County down to M-72
and then becomes just flies only
down to the CCC Bridge in eastern Kalkaska County. All the major
hatches occur on the Manistee with an
especially good Hexagenia hatch ocThe Blue Ribbon water on the
curring in late June through early July.
Manistee begins near Deward in
This reach is very wadeable but as
the northeastern corner of Crawford
County. Brook trout predominate here noted above, floating becomes a better
option below Sharon. As happens in
but there are also plenty of browns.
The Manistee keeps its designation as many Michigan streams the brown
hen it comes to trout
fishing in Michigan,
the Manistee River
Watershed certainly
has it all. While there
are a few
more miles
of designated Blue-Ribbon
trout water in the Au Sable
Drainage (179 vs. 143),
the trout fishing opportunities are more diverse in the
Manistee System and usually
the catching is better too.
We will start with the mainstream and then switch
to the tributaries focusing on the Blue-Ribbon
water but lots of information on other
good Manistee trout fishing will also
be shared here.

By Jim Bedford

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Lynda Hayslette with a brown on a minnow plug. Author photos

60

Early June morning below Tippy Dam

trout numbers tend to increase as we

go downstream while the brookies become less numerous. Many tributaries join the Manistee as move downstream into its middle reach and help
keep the mainstream cold enough for
the trout. Big Cannon, Hopkins, Manton, and Silver are the best of these
cold creeks and retired biologist Tom
Rozich described the trout fishing in
them as wonderful. They are great
back up streams when the mainstream
is too high and dirty because they fish
best when they are up some.
There are two impoundments on
the lower Manistee but trout fisheries
continue to exist below both of them.
The Hodenpyl Dam is located southwest of Mesick and the river below it
is planted with browns and rainbows.
While trout numbers are not high,
floating the reach below the dam and
casting streamers or lures will give
you a good chance at some very large
trout. Slagle Creek is a good sized

cold tributary to this reach and fishing

below it can be a good plan when the
weather turns hot. The water below
Tippy Dam near Wellston is heavily
planted with brown trout and high
numbers of trout are possible in a
days outing. The water temperature
rises into the 70s below both dams
during warm weather and hampers
both survival and growth of the trout.
Neither hydro dam has a bottom draw
but diffusers have been installed to
up well water from the depths to the
turbine intake but they have been
somewhat disappointing in cooling the
water. DNR biologist Mark Tonello
believes we could have a very good
tail water fishery below both dams
with cooler water.
Warm water temperatures are
never a problem on the Pine River.

Manistee Trout page 62

Woods-N-Water News
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61

Manistee Trout:
from page 60
This large free flowing tributary joins
the mainstream in the Tippy Dam
impoundment and is one of Michigans coldest trout streams. A special
feature of the Pine is its wild resident
rainbow trout population. These fish
look like and fight like miniature
steelhead. The reason is that they
are most likely descendants of young
steelhead that became trapped above
Tippy Dam when it was completed in
1918.
As a testament to the Pines
trout fishing, the entire river from
the merging of the North and East
Branches in the northwest corner
of Osceola County to Tippy Dam
Pond is classified as a blue ribbon

Pine River rainbow on a spinner. Author photos

the water can get muddy. Even in
low water there will be some clay
turbidity in the lower end of the river.
Picking a reach with just the right
amount of mystery to the water will

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Author with a large brown caught on a crayfish jig.

62

trout stream. Brook trout are most

common in the upper river with the
browns and rainbows increasing in
numbers as you go downstream. If
you would like to catch all three
species on your outing, concentrating your efforts in the middle reach
between Lincoln and Edgetts Bridges
is a good plan. Other bridges provide
additional access and, like the upper
mainstream, there is lots of public
land along the Pine.
There is quite a bit of clay in the
Pine River drainage and when it rains

enhance your success. This fast river

is also heavily canoed so timing and
locating your fishing to dodge the
main aluminum flotilla will also be
helpful, although I think the canoes
bother the psyche of the angler more
than they do the fish. The strong current and frequent clay substrate make
a wading staff an important accessory
when wading the river.
Bear Creek joins the Manistee
about half way between Tippy Dam

and Lake Michigan. It is also a free

flowing stream and starts near the
town of Copemish in northern Manistee County. It is classified a blue
ribbon stream once Third Creek joins
it and carries the designation down to
Nine Mile Bridge. The trout fishing
remains very good for another ten river miles and I think Coates Highway
would be a better choice for the lower
limit on its blue ribbon status. Most
of the land along Bear Creek is in
private ownership but lots of bridges
provide access. Going from bridge to
bridge fishing lures or streamers is a
great way to find good fishing.
Following a familiar theme, brook
trout are most numerous in the upper
river and tend to give way to brown
trout as we move downstream. Large
brown trout are found in Bear Creek
and one in the mid 20s is always a
possibility. There are good brown
drake and Hexagenia hatches here
and the heavy chinook salmon run
puts more food on the table in the
form of eggs in the fall and baby
salmon in the spring. The chinook
smolt in June so imitating these one
to three inch silver fish now with
streamers or minnow plugs can be a
good plan.
The Little River completes our
set of special blue ribbon tributaries to the Manistee River. It begins
south of Luther in Lake County and
attains blue ribbon status at County
Road 633. It alternates between
slow meandering sandy stretches and
very quick gravel reaches with the
blue ribbon status remaining until it
crosses into Manistee County. Like
Bear Creek, I strongly think that
the water quality and fishing merit
extending the blue ribbon water another 12 or so miles downstream. Of
course, the label doesnt matter, just
the fishing and the non-blue ribbon
reach between 6 and 9 Mile Road
offers some great trout fishing. There

are a number of public access sites

on the Little Manistee, including
ones at 6 and 9 Mile road crossings
on the river. Public and private lands
intertwine on the Little River so you
will have to pay attention to signs and
your county maps.
Brook trout are relatively scarce,
even in the upper river. Brown trout
predominate with the ever present
small rainbows that are destined
to become steelhead, keeping you
busy when the browns arent hitting. Some rainbows dont migrate
so dont be too surprised if you hook
a good sized bow. The Little Manistee is a very clear river so a stealthy
upstream approach will help you
fool the browns that can reach sizes
greater than 20 inches. There is a
reach managed for flies only fishing
in Lake County between Spencers
Bridge and Johnsons Bridge. All
major hatches occur here and, like in
Bear Creek, the browns are not bashful about eating baby rainbows and
chinook salmon.
In June you may encounter summer steelhead below Tippy Dam on
the Manistee and summer run chinook salmon in the Little Manistee
when trout fishing. Beefing up your
tackle a bit will help you land one of
these big guys.
DNR biologist Mark Tonello
manages these streams and is also
very avid trout angler. Calling him
or other fisheries personnel at (231)
775-9727 for more information on
these rivers along with current conditions will be very helpful to you. If
they get a little quiet about a particular stream or reach, you should make
special note of it because youve
likely hit on one of their favorites.
There are a number of local
chambers of commerce for the Manistee River watershed. If you need
information on motels, tackle shops,
restaurants, etc., you can get the local
numbers at (517) 371-2100 or on the
web at www.michamber.comn

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63

Success Is All About Boat Control...

Detroit River means

MONSTER WALLEYES

his year, fishing the Detroit

River was attractive for a
couple of reasons. First,
the numbers and size of
walleye being caught and
second, pre-fishing for three fishing
tournaments that included the AIM
Weekend Walleye Series,
Michigan Walleye Trail and
The Masters Walleye Circuit.
Todd Spink, Brandon
Stanton and Bob Luellen have been fishing pals
for a long time. This year
they shared Luellens boat
while pre-fishing the river in
preparation for the upcoming tournaments that
took place over ten
days.
To be successful on the Detroit
River, an angler must be in control. If
you cant control your boat in current

and wind and keep your line straight

up and down youll be snagged every
few seconds, tournament angler
Luellen said.
Instead of netting fish, those snags
turn into lost tackle, boat repositioning and time spent re-tying and trying
to gain back that all important boat. Successful fishing
on the river doesnt come
accidentally. You can have
all the latest tackle and at the
end of the day still have that
skunk in the box.
Ive fished the river for
four or five years but this
year I fished with people
who knew how to
fish it, Stanton said.
Stanton is a fishing guide on Saginaw Bay, guiding
trips for ice fishing, and in warmer
months, on the Bay for walleye. I

By Roger Buekema

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64

(lt-rt) Todd Spink, Bob Luellen, Brandon Stanton holding a nice bunch of Detroit
River walleyes. Author photo
call the guys I was fishing with, River
Rats, Stanton said. Thats probably
in reference to all of the years Luellen and Spink have spent fishing the
Detroit River.
Im not an expert on the Detroit
River but there are a lot of walleye.
When you can walk from boat to boat
for a mile and see guys gunnel
to gunnel catching walleyes in the
12-13-pound range, its very impressive. Stanton added, Its very
exciting (to me) to be vertical jigging
and have a walleye smack your bait
then bring it up and out of that green

water. If that dont get your blood going nothing will. I have always been
a troller. We dont get a lot of vertical jigging on the big lakes. Its more
casting and trolling.
Just how busy was the river? One
launch operator said 4500 boats went
out of his launch in one day, Stanton
said.
Spink has fished the river for 15
years and thought this year was good.
But so was last year. We were down
there for three weeks. The smallest
fish we caught was 23-inches. Everything was four to 12-pounds, he said.

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Community tree-planting grants available

through DNR, DTE Energy Foundation partnership
Spink and Luellen were pre-fishing for three tournaments; the Michigan Walleye Tournament (MWC),
Michigan Walleye Circuit (MWC)
and the AIM tournament.
We won big fish, good for $800
in the MWC, Spink said.
Luellen has fished as co-angler
in many professional tournaments.
He has some water under the keel of
his boat on the Detroit River. This is
usually a good system. Water temperature and winds can make it hard
to fish, he said.
The Saturday of the MWT for
mile long in the area we planned to
fish, there were 400 boats on our spot
when we got there. The DNR told us
there were 10,000 boats on the river
that day, he said.
Fish wont bite with that kind
of pressure. One of the unique things
about the Detroit River is you can
also fish the Canadian side. (Youll
need a Canadian license to fish Canadian waters.)
In Canadian waters, usually you
are fishing fish that havent been as
pressured as they have in the Detroit
River, he said.
The fishing technique was jig-

ging. You have to understand how

important boat control is. Youve
got to stay dead vertical or youll be
snagged. The wind and current play
a large part in controlling your boat,
Luellen said.
Luellen feels colors did matter. A
Wyandotte brown worm with a brown
jig head worked the best.
We used two rods with different
colored jigs on each one, he said.
Chartreuse worked well on a round
jig head, plain or colored.
Successful catches were made
by fishing slow and close to the bottom. When big fish hit, they didnt
nibble. They slammed it taking three
to four inches in the mouth, Luellen
said.
Walleye tournaments are just
about universally known for the bad
weather that seems to raise its head
come tournament time. Why subject
yourself to a wet, windy, boat-rocking
day on the water?
I fish tournaments because I like
the competitive edge of it. I want to
be as competitive as I can be. I have a
good time, Luellen said.
Email Roger Beukema at
dutchbeuk12@gmail.com.n

The DTE Energy Foundation and the Michigan Department of Natural

Resources are partnering once again to fund tree-planting projects across
Michigan. A total of $175,000 is available in matching grants of up to $4,000
each, to be awarded on a competitive basis.
This marks the 18th year of the DTE Energy Foundation partnership with
the DNR, which has resulted in more than 38,000 trees and seedlings being
planted in 472 Michigan communities. The program, paid for by the foundation, is administered by the DNRs Urban and Community Forestry program.
The 2015 DTE Tree Planting grant application period opened Friday, April 24,
in honor of Arbor Day.
Launching our annual tree-planting initiative around Arbor Day is a
natural fit for DTE Energy, said Faye Nelson, vice president, public affairs,
DTE Energy and president, DTE Energy Foundation. Arbor Day symbolizes
a concern for future generations, and DTE has a long history of preserving,
protecting and sustaining our environment in the communities where we live
and serve.
Eligible applicants include local units of government, nonprofit organizations, tribes and schools and must be located within the service territory of
DTE Energy. Tree-planting projects must occur on public property such as
parks, street rights-of-way and school grounds. All grants require a 1-to-1
match, which can be made up of cash contributions or in-kind services, but
may not include federal funds.
Trees are an important part of every community, providing multiple
values and benefits that enrich our lives and improve the environment,
said Kevin Sayers, DNR Urban Community Forestry program coordinator.
Through this ongoing partnership with the DTE Energy Foundation, communities and partners can request funding to help improve their community
through tree planting.
Grant applications must be postmarked by June 5, 2015, at the address
below. Award announcements are anticipated in August for projects that must
be completed by May 31, 2016.
For more information, or to get a grant application, visit the DNRs Urban
Community Forestry website at www.michigan.gov/ucf, or contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898, via email at sayersk@michigan.gov or by mail at P.O. Box
30452 Lansing, MI 48909.

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In Good Cover

YOU

65

Take a kid hunting

The Future To It All Is There...

here is no question that

the future of hunting
relies on introducing
(and mentoring preferably one on one) kids to
this wonderful outdoor
pastime. It is the key reason I am a
Hunter Education Instructor. Ive always believed if you are going to talk
the talk, you better be able to walk the
walk.
This also relates to why I fully
support the special youth hunts as
well as lowering (actually removing)
the age requirement. I truly appreciate the Mentor Hunting license that
allows kids age nine and under to go
hunting (per adult supervision) and
the Apprentice License (for age ten
and older- also per proper supervision) as well.
My three sons are grown now and
with families of their own. All three
are avid hunters, and it is a pastime
that I never forced upon them (although taking a Hunter Education
class was a mandatory requirement
under my roof, whether
or not they ever went
hunting). To actually go
hunting was a decision
that they had to make for
themselves and I would
have been supportive
either way. Before I ever
mentored them in the
field, I needed to see an
actual desire on their
part to be there and
participate. It is what
I call having the right
attitude.
I tend to be by nature a loner,
especially when it comes to deer hunting, a pastime Im quite passionate
about, and Im a bit picky about who
I share the field with. Half-hearted attitudes dont bode well with me at all,
and admittedly, Im set in my ways.
That is why when 14 year old
Kyle Schneeberger of Cass City
approached me at a church picnic,
looked me in the eye and let me know
he wanted to go deer hunting, it was a
no-brainer on my part. I shook Kyles
hand and told him it was a done deal
and we would for a fact go deer hunting together during the Liberty Hunt.
Kyle would put in some shooting
practice with me beforehand which
entailed a whole bunch of plinking
with a Daisy BB Gun, followed by
more plinking with my scoped Gamo
air rifle. He would then be introduced
to the hunting arm hed be using. My
son Jake had loaned Kyle the use of
his scoped H&R Ultra Slug 20 ga.

(rifled barrel) shotgun that is clearly

an ideal and very effective deer hunting piece with a minimum of recoil,
especially since it has even been
ported (by Mag-Na-Port) to further
control recoil. Kyle enjoyed shooting
the H&R (with Lightfield slugs) on
my shooting range and I could sense
he felt confident and comfortable with
it, which says a lot towards success in
the field. We were ready to go.
Since last year the Liberty Hunt
also combines the early antlerless season at the same time. I wont hesitate
to put a plump doe in the freezer, but
when I have a kid under my wing during this early hunt, I leave my hunting arm behind and the only things I
carry in the field are a binocular, deer
call and a field-dressing kit. My entire
focus is on the kid and my main role
is to be a guide, the spotter for shots
to be taken, and muscle to get the deer
out of the field if one is harvested.
The opening morning last offered
a beautiful sunrise, but due to the
balmy temperature, I didnt expect
much deer action, which
there wasnt with the deer
in my neck of the woods
lying low relatively early.
Kyle and I did have a doe
move in close to us, but
a bush blocked any clear
shot and the deer finally
sensed our presence and
made good her escape.
Then I saw a wall of rain
featuring lightning
bolts coming our
way from the south
and I let Kyle know that we needed to
back off and rest up for the evening
hunt.
That evening found us in another
location that I felt just might work if
we watched our approach to the old
wooden deer blind we were going to
use. I also selected this blind because
I was pretty sure we were going to
have to weather out a nasty rainstorm
I sensed was imminent. Not long after
we were in position, the storm hit with
a vengeance and I became aware that
the blinds roof needed some repairs,
but leaky roof aside, it was better than
sitting out in the open and Kyle was
clearly game for patiently waiting
everything out.
When the storm subsided and the
wind died down, I let out a social deer
bleat and immediately got a response.
I whispered to Kyle that the noise
wasnt coming from a frog, and that
is when I saw an antlered bucks head
about 80 yards away through a hole
in the brush, moving its head around

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

By Tom Lounsbury

66

Fourteen year old Kyle Schneeberger of Cass City and his (DNR aged 2 1/2
year old) 8-point buck he bagged in the Thumb during the Youth Deer Hunt last
September. Kyle used a scoped H&R Ultra Slug 20ga and a Lightfield slug to
drop the buck in its tracks with a well placed shoulder-shot.
and gazing about. I then switched to
social (hello buddy Im over here)
subtle buck grunts, then quit calling
and whispered to Kyle to be ready. At
the beginning I had told him he could
shoot any deer he wished, so when
matters happened, touching the trigger
was entirely up to him, and the limit
was only one deer during this special
season.
Not one, but two bucks suddenly
materialized out of the cover and were
headed our way, and on an angle that
would offer a good shot. The deer
were walking in tandem with a 6-point
in the rear and a dandy 8-point in the
lead and I let Kyle know the lead deer
was a real nice one. Kyle immediately
braced his gun on the window sill and
got ready. The lead buck reached an
open spot about 35 yards away and
I let out a subtle deer bleat from my
throat that caused the buck to stop and
offer a perfectly broadside shot, and I
whispered shoot to Kyle.
I was looking at the buck directly over Kyles shoulder when he

fired and I could tell it was a beautiful shoulder hit. The 8-point reared
slightly at the slugs impact and
dropped from sight. The 6-point stood
stock still in utter confusion, and then
moved forward to see what was up
with his buddy, the 8-point.
After sniffing a bit and still
confused, the 6-point finally
boogied out of there.
I high-fived Kyle and let him
know he had just put a nice buck
down in its tracks, but that we would
have to play it safe for a few minutes
and just sit still. Im pretty sure I was
languishing just as much as Kyle,
because I was a bit excited myself, but
I hate pressing matters, even though
I was certain the deer was down for
the count. Whitetails can be tenacious
critters.
We then went out and located
Kyles buck, which was lying dead
right where we expected. There is
little doubt Kyle Schneeberger is now
an avid deer hunter, and that works for
me.n

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67

Dear Fish Diary...By Ron St.Germain

This Big Foot story is no hoax

hroughout our history weve

seen some things havent
we? From little green men to
10-foot tall half man, half ape.
Alien space craft and little
troll dudes. Ghosts leading
to poltergeists. A dinosaur peacefully
living in Loch Ness. Whales that eat
entire ships that normally only eat tiny
plankton. Ever wonder why weve
never seen little green women or little
troll dudettes?
Weve been raised by gorillas.
Weve been overtaken by ghostly
spirits. Weve been abducted by little
green men, but never abducted by
little green women.
Since early time the legend of Big
Foot has been passed down through
generations. You know, probably since
we evolved from apes. Im guessing the Big Foot legend started as we
began to lose our body hair through
evolution and there was just one guy
in the tribe who didnt. Just one guy in
the tribe who refused to wear clothes,
mainly because he didnt have to.
My guess is he quickly became an
outcast and was forced to roam the
forests. And have you wondered how

Big Foot has reproduced through all

of these years when nobody has ever
claimed to have seen a female Big
Foot?
Of all the odd happenings I have
never heard of a Big Foot abduction until now. And quite honestly,
it changes everything for those of us
who like our backcountry angling
experiences.
This abduction took place in
Oregon in October of 2013. Jeff
McDonald, a resident of Manning,
Oregon was on a routine deer hunt,
something the 58-year old had been
doing most of his life. Instead of seeing a deer that morning, McDonald
located a man dressed in tan clothing
meandering through the forest carrying a hand saw. As the man walked
closer to McDonalds position, the tan
colored clothing soon became, well
not clothes at all. Yes, this person was
walking naked though the Oregon wilderness carrying a hand saw. Hunting
rules specifically say that if you are
walking naked through the wilderness
with a weapon during deer season you
still have to wear an orange vest.
Soon there was a confrontation as

the nude man was obviously seeking McDonald out. When McDonald
asked the man his name, he responded
by saying that he was a Sasquatch
from a family of Sasquatches. I cant
imagine being in McDonalds hunting boots right about now. I can only
imagine what was going through his
mind, high powered rifle vs. hand saw,
middle of nowhere, naked man seeking him out claiming to be Sasquatch.
Are there any witnesses? Are there
more naked Sasquatches surrounding
him?
The kindhearted McDonald offered to guide Sasquatch out of the
woods to a nearby trail. As he turned
away to lead him out, Sasquatch
blasted McDonald on the back of the
head with a rock and knocked him out
cold. When McDonald regained consciousness, Sasquatch was on top of
him trying to strangle him and gauge
his eyes out. With a dislocated shoulder from the fall, and barely able to
breathe, somehow McDonald fought
back and overtook the Sasquatch.
Thats when Sasquatch mysteriously
passed out and McDonald regained
control of his rifle.

McDonald had only one question

for Sasquatch, Why were you trying
to kill me? Sasquatch replied, Sasquatch kills the hunter. Wheeeew,
thank goodness Sasquatch doesnt
kill the fishermen. Can you imagine a
naked Sasquatch approaching you on
a remote stream and you are armed
with nothing but a fly rod? Should we
only be fishing in remote areas that
are posted No Sasquatch areas?
As of now, a search must be going
on for the rest of Sasquatchs family,
or if you sit long enough with a rifle,
they might find you. But for now it
appears Sasquatch is officially extinct,
at least in the Oregon backcountry. A
Circuit Judge sentenced Sasquatch,
who was identified as 22-year-old,
Linus Norgren, to ten years in prison
for the attack on McDonald. In the
year 2025, Sasquatch could possibly
go back on the endangered species
list and that isnt good for Oregon
hunters. With a little luck, just before
Sasquatchs release, maybe they could
give him an extra year for walking naked in the woods during deer
season with a weapon and not wearing
a hunter orange vest. That would at

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least give Oregon hunters one extra

year of reprieve.
We painstakingly prepare for
many things on our backcountry outings but naked men claiming to be
Sasquatch trying to kill us normally
isnt one of those things. Now maybe
it should be. To any of my fellow
Michigan anglers who might have a
naked Sasquatch experience, please
contact me right away so I can warn
others. If you are abducted by little
green women, I dont want to know
about it, I already know how these
things end.
Perhaps the biggest mystery to
this story is What happened to the
hand saw?
Something really dumb
happen to you while fishing?
I Need Your Fishing Stories
Send a short description of your
blundered fishing-related adventure to
me. You dont have to write the entire
story, just a brief outline of what happened. If it has some humor to it Ill
be getting in touch with you and well
work on the completed story together.
Fishing isnt always fun you know.
Have a fun or interesting fishing
related story? Woods-n-Water News
columnist Ron St. Germain can be

reached by calling (517) 626-2814,

e-mailing DaPhotoDude@aol.com.
Visit the authors online photo gallery
at DaPhotoDude.com.n

The Department of Natural Resources and

the Arbor Day Foundation announced that 117
Michigan communities from Marquette to
Muskegon and Taylor to Traverse City have
been certified as a Tree City USA" for their promotion of community forestry in 2014. (A full
list of communities certified is available in the
PDF file available for download below.)
Communities are certified for work accomplished in 2014 and were presented with their
awards materials earlier this month to coincide
with Arbor Day and spring tree-planting projects.
The Tree City USA program promotes proper tree care and management in
urban areas and calls attention to the economic, health and aesthetic benefits
trees offer.
To be eligible to participate in the Tree City USA program, a community
must have:
A designated board or department responsible for tree-care issues.
A local tree ordinance.
A budget for public tree care of at least $2 per capita.
An annual Arbor Day celebration and official Arbor Day proclamation.
This designation signifies a communitys commitment to caring for trees as
valuable assets in the places we live, said DNR Urban Forestry program coordinator Kevin Sayers.
Along with the Tree City USA program, the DNR recertified one Michigan
utility International Transmission Company through the Tree Line USA
program.
Three college campuses the University of Michigan, Western Michigan
University and Calvin College were also certified through the Tree Campus
USA program.
These programs encourage utility companies and universities to offer
tree-care education programs and sponsor tree-planting events as part of their
commitment to maintaining healthy urban forests and trees. To find out more
about the Arbor Day Foundations Tree USA programs, visit www.arborday.org/
programs.
For more information about the DNRs Urban and Community Forestry program, contact Kevin Sayers at 517-284-5898 or sayersk@michigan.gov or visit
the programs website at www.michigan.gov/ucf.

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My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions And Hot Topics...

Equestrian trails
S
pring at last...turkeys gobbling, fawns
wobbling, coyotes
carousing and on a few
rural trails in Oakland
County hikers stop and stare at
hot pink rubber buckets with
matching pink rakes hanging
from specially designed hitching
posts. This is a win-win trail
tale of multi-use in
populous Oakland
County, a mecca for
outdoor recreationists including equestrians.
Michigan is known as a state that
welcomes and promotes equine trail
recreation. Trailheads and camping
facilities are dispersed throughout the
state in such a manner that from any
point with the state, there will be day
riding opportunities within a two hour
drive, overnight equestrian opportunities within a four hour drive, and
Signature Equestrian Centers (SEC)
within an 8 hour drive.
MDNR State Wide
Trail Network Plan
In March of 2010 the Parks and
Recreation Division (PRD) of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
(MDNR) initiated an internal assessment
of the equestrian opportunities and needs
for use of PRD lands in State Recreation
Areas in southern Michigan. Equestrians were biting at the bit for more access
in southeast Lower Michigan. And that
was not surprising with the large number
of horse owning residents, especially in
Oakland County with over 7,000 horses
and adjacent Lapeer County with nearly
5,000 horses.
The U.S. Forest Service (U.S.F.S)
is the primary federal land owner in the
State of Michigan. On USFS lands, horse
and pack animals are allowed on lands,
trails and campgrounds unless designated
as closed to equines. Lands administered
by the National Park Service prohibit,
The use of horses and pack animals
outside of trails, routes or other areas
designated for their use such as the Alligator Hill Trail located within Sleeping
Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in lower
Michigan.
In southern Lower Michigan, where
Federal forest lands do not exist, county
and regional parks systems add to the
equestrian trail opportunities. A key
example is Oakland County Parks, a
progressive park agency headquartered
in Waterford that administers 7,000 acres
and is the proud home of trailside pink
muck buckets.
Sharon Greene is the Executive
Director of Public Relations for Oakland
Countys Highland Equestrian Conservancy, an outspoken woman with strong
land conservation ethics and equine
interests. When asked about the new
equestrian trails created by Oakland
County Parks she did not hesitate in her
response, a response of great significance
as suburban sprawl spreads and outdoor
recreationists including hunters feel
locked out.
Horses and horse pastures are the
last line of defense against sprawl. Once

small farms are pushed out,

development takes over and the
green spaces that we cherish
are lost. But we are blessed
here in Oakland County to have
county park management that
understands how to protect and
conserve natural areas and they
incorporate awesome trails for
all user groups to appreciate
beauty right in our
own backyards.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

By Jonathan Schechter

70

Horse Friendly Oakland

Highland was recognized as Michigans first horse-friendly community by
both the State of Michigan and Oakland
County. And the Highland Downtown
Development Authority became the firsthorse-friendly main street in Michigan.
But trails to ride were limited in scope,
access and all important connectivity.
Much has changed and today Oakland
County Parks have well-maintained trails
designated for equestrians, trail that also
allow other non-motorized uses. And
those user groups including birders, hikers, casual walkers and bow hunters.

In The Beginning
The horse industry in Oakland
County was overlooked for many years
until a small band of about 15 equestrians, trail riders and conservationists presented ides about preserving green space,
creating a network of non-motorized
interconnected trails and shared informa-

tion about the local horse industry to the

Highland Township officials in November of 2002 Merle Richmond, Oakland
Equestrian Coordinator.
The following spring Ralph Richards, then Director of Oakland County
Parks was approached about the county
purchasing a 216 acre parcel of land in
horse-friendly Highland Township. In
September 2007 the property was formally dedicated as Highland Oaks County
Park, one of the 13 parks now managed
by Oakland County Parks. Fast forward
to Spring, 2015.
Oakland County Parks has just over
17 miles of equestrian trails that are in a
word: Beautiful. 5.3 miles at Rose Oaks
County Park, 2.6 miles at Highland Oaks
and 9.4 miles at ever popular Addison
Oaks County Park. Libby Dwyer is an
active member of the Addison Oaks
Trail Riders, a friends group that works
to promote park use by equestrians,
performs on-going trail maintenance and
organizes special event including the first
ever equestrian campouts offered within
Oakland County Parks. Dwyer stated,
After being involved in trailbuilding with other government entities
for almost 30 years, my experience with
Oakland County Parks is an example of
how successful a partnership between
special interests users and parks should
be.
The trails at Rose Oaks and Highland
Oaks are increasingly rapidly in popularity while maintain their rural character

Hot Pink Muck Buckets hang from hitching posts at Oakland Countys Rose Oaks County Park equestrian trail.
and winning support from industry,
government and friends groups. ITC
(International Transmission Company)
is funding colorful trailside interpretive
signs and universally accessible boardwalks, fishing docks and wildlife viewing
platforms along the trails were funded in
part by a Natural Resources Trust Fund
Grant from the Michigan Department of
Natural Resources
This project is significant because
both Highland and Rose are bisected
by significant wetland complexes and
now allows trail accessibility to areas
not previously opened to the public
and especially those with disabilities,
Executive Officer Dan Stencil said. Our
vision is that someday, a hiker, bike rider
or equestrian could make their way from

Equestrian trails page 72

Anglers and bait dealers reminded

of minnow use regulations

he Department of Natural
Resources reminds anglers
and retail minnow dealers
of the baitfish regulations
that need to be followed in
Michigan. Although the requirement for
state licensed bait retailers to provide
customers with receipts upon purchasing
live minnows no longer exists, all other
regulations with respect to minnow use
continue to be enforced.
Baitfish regulations were enacted in
2006 to reduce the potential for baitfish to
move fish diseases as the state saw multiple fish die-offs in lakes Erie and Huron
from viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus
(VHSv).
While fish kills from VHSv have become less common, we do not want this
fish pathogen to spread across Michigan,
said Tom Goniea, DNR fisheries biologist.
Our regulations are designed to prevent
this from occurring.
The following are some of the key requirements anglers and retail bait dealers
should be aware of when selling and using
live minnows as bait in Michigan:
1) Fathead minnows and golden
shiners are the most common minnows
imported and sold in Michigan and they

are not on the VHS susceptible species list

so the VHS regulations do not apply to
these species.
2) Spottail shiners (blues), emerald

shiner (greys), and white suckers (sucker

or pike minnows) are the most common minnows sold in Michigan that
are susceptible to VHS and the baitfish
regulations apply to these species. They
are commonly harvested from Michigan
waters for use as bait.
3) Bait retailers must verbally inform
their customers where they can use the
bait.
a) Minnows not on the VHSv susceptible species list as well as those that
have been certified as disease free can
be used anywhere in the state.

b) Uncertified minnows harvested

in Michigan from VHSv free-waters can
be used anywhere. Waters currently classified as VHS-free include Lake Superior
and its tributaries and all Lake Michigan
tributary streams above the first fish barrier and all inland lakes in the Michigan
and Superior basins.
c) Uncertified minnows harvested
in Michigan from VHSv surveillance waters can only be used in waters designated
as surveillance or positive. Water classified as VHS surveillance waters include
Lake Michigan and its tributaries up to
the first fish barrier and all Lake Huron, St. Clair and Erie tributary streams
(including the St. Marys, St. Clair and
Detroit rivers) above the first fish barrier.
All inland lakes in the Huron and Erie
basins.
d) Uncertified minnows harvested
in Michigan from VHSv positive waters
can only be used in waters designated as
positive. VHSv positive waters include
lakes Huron, St. Clair and Erie and their
tributary streams (including the St.
Marys, St. Clair and Detroit rivers) to the
first fish barrier.

Minnow regulations page 72

My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinion

Bear hunters
short changed

bout 4,000 fewer bear

tags will be issued for
the Upper Peninsula
this year than there
should be.
The reason
for that is license quotas were
set based on DNR estimates
of the UP bear population as
of Sep 1, 2013, which was
8,686 bears at least one year
old. By using a population
estimate that was two years
old, it was easy for
the DNR to justify
issuing fewer bear
licenses than they should have.
The DNR claims they dont know
how many bears there are in the UP
during 2015, but I figured it out based
on their data. We have a minimum of
13,500 bears at least a year old in the
UP this year. Its too late to do anything about the shortfall in licenses
this year, but Im sure hunters who
applied for a license and didnt get
one would like to know why. Heres
the story.

quota. Only 4,191 bear licenses were

issued in Michigan for all BMUs during 1990, but bear numbers quickly
increased and so did interest in bear
hunting, license quotas and
the bear harvest. The positive
trend continued through 2011
when a total of 11,745 bear
tags were available in the
state, 10,357 of which were
allocated for the UP.
Hunters who harvest
bears are required to register them within
72 hours at a DNR
office or designated
registration station. A total of 2,013
bruins were registered in the state
during 2011. That was the eleventh
year in a row that hunters registered
more than 2,000 bears. The highest
kills of 2,641 and 2,478 were recorded during 2006 and 2008.
Then during 2012, the DNR suddenly announced that the UP bear
population was declining and the
number of hunting licenses would
have to be reduced to allow the
population to rebound. Everyone
agreed that it was important to reduce
hunting pressure in view of the new
information. So UP bear licenses
were reduced by 33% in 2012, going
from 10,357 to 6,975, a difference of
3,314. UP bear license quotas remained at that level through 2014.

By Richard P. Smith

A little history about the bear

licensing system currently employed
in Michigan is important to paint the
whole picture. Starting in 1990, due
to concerns about the bear population
when bear licenses were unlimited,
there was a cap put on the number of
bear tags available in the state. The
area open to bear hunting was divided
into bear management units (BMUs)
and a license quota was established
for each BMU.
The UP was divided into seven
BMUs and there was only one BMU
in the Lower Peninsula, but two more
have been added since then. Because
more people wanted to hunt bear than
the number of licenses available, annual drawings are held to determine
who gets to hunt. To begin with, bear
permits for the six major UP BMUs
were available for two separate starting dates (September 10 and 15).
A third hunt in those six UP BMUs
starting September 25 was added later
on to maximize the number of hunters
who could obtain bear licenses each
year.
Since success is lowest for the
third hunt, more licenses are available
for that hunt than the first and second.
The total number of licenses issued
for each BMU equals the annual

Tetracycline Baits

What wasnt known then, but is

known now is the method used to
obtain the population estimate that
the DNR was basing its concern on is
subject to error. That method employs the use of tetracycline capsules
wrapped in bacon and hung from
trees as bait for bears to eat. The antibiotic stains bones and teeth of bears
that eat it.
The older bears get, the less
likely they are to have stained teeth
from tetracycline, Minnesota bear
biologist Dave Garshelis explained.
They dont lay down the cementum
like young bears. But the older bears
will still have stains in their rib bones.
About 10% of the bears that take
tetracycline baits dont end up with
stains on their teeth.
Garshelis helped develop the use
of tetracycline baits for estimating
bear populations. Because not all of
the bears that eat tetracycline baits
end up with stained teeth, Minnesota
requires hunters who harvest bears to
turn in a rib bone in addition to teeth

these sources. Bears marked by baits

in Michigan or Wisconsin are sometimes harvested in a different state,
too, creating more complications.

A New Method

These types of errors were

responsible for inaccurate estimates
of the Michigan bear population in
2012. So a new method of estimating
the states bears was developed during 2014 by DNR research specialist Sarah Mayhew called population
reconstruction. Sex and age data from
harvested bears from 1992 through
2013 were plugged into a computer
along with information about hunter
numbers and effort to come up with
estimates of bear numbers for the UP
and northern Lower Peninsula.
Based on the data, the bear
population in the UP has been stable
for about the last 20 years, Mayhew
said at a bear symposium held in
Roscommon last December. Those
figures only include bears that are at
least a year old before bear season
begins. They do not include cubs.
Since females with cubs are
protected during hunting season,
there has been a gradual increase in
the number of reproductive females
in the population and there has also
been a gradual increase in the average
number of cubs per female, Mayhew
commented. Females of reproductive age only have cubs every other
year. If you average out the number

Bear hunters short changed page 73

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

History Of Bear
License Allocation

and Wisconsin does the same.

Since Michigan has only looked
for tetracycline stains in the teeth of
bears shot by hunters, some marked
bears have been missed, resulting in
inaccurate estimates.
Whether you examine rib bones
or teeth for tetracycline stains depends on how accurate of a bear population estimate you want, Garshelis
said. If you are only interested in
the population trend, examining teeth
should give you that. Examining rib
bones will give you the most accurate
estimate.
There are other problems associated with the use of tetracycline baits
for estimating bear numbers. It is
important to be able to determine how
many of the baits were consumed by
bears, for instance, versus other scavengers such as raccoons and fishers.
If baits eaten by raccoon or fisher are
listed as having been taken by bears,
it can throw calculations off.
Due to a change in how bacon is
made compared to when the use of
tetracycline baits were started has
created new problems. Bacon now
contains more moisture than it used
to. That moisture can dissolve tetracycline capsules before baits are eaten,
reducing the chances they will be
eaten by bears even if they pull them
down. Wisconsin now puts capsules
in peanut butter and marshmallows
instead of bacon. Minnesota wraps
capsules in small pieces of wax paper.
Cattle ranchers and beekeepers
also use tetracycline and bears sometimes consume the antibiotic from

71

Opinions And Hot Topics...

Equestrian trails... from page 70

Highland Oaks to Rose Oaks to Springfield Oaks in Davisburg and beyond.
This is an important step to creating trail connectivity within Oakland
County. And the dream continues to
gain support. The Highland Equestrian
Conservancy purchased a four acre,
mile long linear parcels to start the trail
connection between Highland Oaks and
Rose Oaks and has committed funds to
Oakland County Parks for the installation
of water pumps at those two parks.

Hot Pink Muck Buckets

Aesthetics and good housekeeping

are important in maintaining natures
beauty and trail comfort for all user
groups. Aunna Lippert of Clarkston
and her husband, Craig Riggs, ride the
trails and are members of the Rose Oaks
Equine Adventurers. The couple donated

eight sets of hot pink muck buckets and

manure forks to Oakland County Parks
for boardwalks at Addison Oaks, Highland Oaks and Rose Oaks to encourage
riders to remove horse gifts plopped
onto the boardwalks and relocated the
manure in the adjacent uplands.

Heaven On Earth

Its all about partnerships and friends

when it comes to managing a successful
trail system that embraces multiple use.
As these words go to press Springfield
Oaks County Park is galloping ahead
with preparation for this summers Oakland County Fair that includes equestrian
events and the Addison Oaks Trail Riders
are planning for the third trial equestrian
campout this autumn at Addison Oaks
County Park. The new trails of Addison
included an eight foot wide, 2.4 mile con-

Minnow regulations from page 70

4) Certified disease free minnows can be
used for up to 14 days after purchase.
5) Uncertified minnows can be used
for up to three days after purchase.
6) Anglers can catch their own
minnows but must follow the same use
restrictions that are outlined in point
number three above and can use them for
up to three days after harvest.
It is very important that anglers and

bait dealers remain vigilant in their efforts to follow the regulations involving
bait use in order to prevent the spread of
VHSv to additional waters in Michigan.
Please visit michigan.gov/vhs for more
information on VHSv, including the full
list of susceptible fish species as well as
descriptions of the positive, surveillance,
free waters in
Michigan.n

Superior Game Ranch

Route 3 Box 163 Cornell, MI 49818

Incredible U.P. of Michigan

Hunting Opportunities
Over 4,200 acres of private farmland
in south Marquette County
Michigan, (2,000 acres) fully
guided bow and firearm hunts in
hunting preserve for: Elk,
Large Russian Boar
Whitetail Deer, Buffalo, Wild
Hunts Available!
Boar, Red Stag & Fallow Deer.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Trophy Elk,
Trophy Red Stag &
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72

Lodging available for

groups of up to 12 people.
Still Booking Hunts!

(906) 238-4482
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nector trail that links to nearby Cranberry

Lake Preserve and takes riders over two
wetland spanning boardwalks with a total
footage of almost 1,300 feet. Equestrian
Sharon Greene, said it best, If heaven on
earth was blessed with horses, it might
look like the 1,140 acres of Addison

Oaks County Park.

Jonathan Schechter is a naturalist/
paramedic in Brandon Township. Reach
him at oaknature@aol.com For more
on Oakland County Parks and their trail
systems and special events visit DestinationOakland.comn

Sponsors help Pure Michigan Hunters

Three lucky
winners will get
an incredible Pure
Michigan Hunt
prize package once
again, thanks to the
support of many
Michigan businesses and organizations.
This years Pure
Michigan Hunt,
now entering its
seventh year, is
sponsored by:
Michigan Ducks
Unlimited Darton
The 2015 Pure Michigan Hunt winners (lt-rt) Jason Eurich, Michael
Archery Hale
Sikkenga and Mike DiLorenzo.
Michigan Outdoor
News Lake Orion
Dick Williams Gun Shop Saginaw Carhartt Dearborn Ameristep Grand
Prairie, Texas The Trophy Room Taxidermy Studio with R.J. Meyer Clare and
Allendale
East Lake Outfitters Essexville National Wild Turkey Federation Michigan Chapter Bear Creek Hunt Club Saline Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Michigan Chapter Harmon Scents Williamsburg
Kwikkee Kwiver Williamsburg Michigan Hearing Lake Orion
Ruffed Grouse Society Michigan Chapter Quality Deer Management
Michigan Chapter Saginaw Field and Stream Club Camp Camo Rogers
City Michigan Trappers and Predators Callers Association St. Johns Michigan United Conservation Clubs Lansing Safari Club International National
and Mid-Michigan Chapter 9&10 News Cadillac Bohning Archery Lake
City Clair Flats Waterfowlers Waterfowl USA Erie
"We have a phenomenal hunting industry and sportspersons' groups right
here in Michigan," said Department of Natural Resources wildlife outreach
technician Jordyn Richardson. "It's great that we can work together to help the
resource, as well as making the dreams of three lucky hunters come true."
Every year, three winners are chosen by random drawing to win hunting
licenses and gear. Each winner is awarded an elk, bear, spring and fall turkey,
and antlerless deer license, as well as first pick opening morning at any managed
waterfowl area.
In addition to the licenses, winners receive prize packages, donated by
sportspersons' groups and the hunting industry, that have totaled more than
$4,000 in value each. Shotguns, rifles, crossbows, camouflage clothing and memberships to natural resources groups are just some of the prizes.
The most recent Pure Michigan Hunt winners Mike DiLorenzo of Rochester, Jason Eurich of Saginaw and Mike Sikkenga of Whitehall are currently
getting ready for their spring turkey hunt. As Pure Michigan Hunt winners, they
can hunt in any open turkey unit in the state, any day turkey hunting is allowed
in that unit. Each winner also will be able to take advantage of a guided, two-day
and two-night turkey hunt that includes food and lodging, donated by East Lake
Outfitters in Essexville. Look for highlights of the winners 2015 hunting adventures in the coming months.
All dollars generated from the Pure Michigan Hunt fund wildlife and habitat
management work in Michigan.
"The Pure Michigan Hunt is an exciting way to showcase everything Michigan has to offer," said Richardson. "This is a wonderful opportunity for hunters
to show their support and to also have a shot at the hunt of a lifetime."
Hunters who would like to be in the drawing for the next Pure Michigan
Hunt can purchase unlimited $5 applications anywhere hunting licenses are sold
or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com. Applicants can enter as many times as
they would like until Dec. 31. Winners will be drawn in January 2016.
Visit www.michigan.gov/puremichiganhunt for more information.

My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinion Bear hunters short changed continued from page 71

Bear User Group

That didnt happen. The DNR put

together a bear user group called the
Bear Forum composed primarily of
representatives of state bear hunting organizations, but also including
some unaffiliated hunters and a representative of Michigan United Conservation Clubs. This group of people
was assembled to provide advice to
the DNR about bear management
in Michigan. A meeting of the Bear
Forum was held at Roscommon last
December immediately after the Bear
Symposium. The forum was open to
the public, but the public was not allowed to participate in discussions.
Kevin Swanson from Marquette,
who is the DNRs new bear program
leader, asked one question of Bear
Forum members. That question was,
Do you want to see more bears or
fewer bears in the future?
Its no surprise that all forum
members said they would like to
see more bears. Taking this valuable
stakeholder input to heart, the DNR
recommended reducing UP bear
licenses by an additional 1,100 for
2015 and 2016 to allow bear numbers
to increase further. When making
these recommendations to the Natural
Resources Commission, however,
the closest bear population estimate
the DNR provided were the figures
as of September 1, 2013, making no
effort to project what the population
would be on September 1, 2015, even

though it would not have been difficult to do so.

2015 Up Bear Population

Sarah Mayhew told me that the

UP bear population of bruins that
were at least a year old estimated
at 8,686 on September 1, 2013 was
composed of 2,445 yearlings. That
means 6,241 of those bruins were
adults. Sarah explained that 60% of
those adults were females, which
comes out to 3,745. Since she said the
number of cubs produced each year
averages out to 1.2 per female, those
females would have had 4,494 cubs
during 2013.
Seventy-five percent of UP cubs
produced by females survive to become yearlings, based on recent findings from a fawn survival study thats
underway in Iron County. Although
cub survival is higher in some areas
of the UP, lets use the 75% survival
rate. That means 3,370 yearlings were
added to the UP bear population during 2014.
UP hunters registered 1,323 bears
in the region during 2013, so that has
to be subtracted from 8,686 to give
us a posthunt population of 7,363.
By adding the number of yearlings
recruited to the population in 2014,
you get the population estimation on
September 1, 2014 of 10,733.
The number of adult females in
the population during 2014 was 4,418
and they gave birth to an estimated
5,301 cubs. So the number of yearlings added to the population in 2015
would be 3,976. But before adding
those, the UP bear harvest for 2014
(1,240) must be subtracted from the
population. That yields a posthunt
population of 9,493 during 2014.
So by September 1, 2015, there
will be an estimated 13,469 bears
that are at least a year old in the UP.
Thats 4,783 more bruins than the
two-year-old figures that were provided to the NRC! The DNR certainly
could have come up with a similar
number for 2015, if they wanted to.

there was no need to further reduce

bear hunting licenses for 2015 in the
UP and some of them contacted the
NRC to let them know. In response
to input from the public, the NRC
increased the bear license quotas by
about 100 each for the Baraga and
Bergland BMUs over what was recommended by the DNR. That was not
enough to make much of a difference,
however.
Overall, there will still be a net
loss of 900 bear licenses in the UP
from 2014 totals. When 900 is added
to the 3,314 licenses eliminated per
year starting in 2012, 4,214 fewer
bear licenses will be available to
hunters this year than there could be!

End Results

With reduced bear licenses, it

means that it will take longer for
some hunters to obtain tags, especially those applying for the first hunt
in UP BMUs. Fewer licenses is good
news for hunters who are successful in the drawing, however, because
there will be plenty of bears and less
competition. That means higher hunting success.
Most bear hunters are already satisfied with bear hunting in the state.
Fifty-three percent of the bear hunters
surveyed by the DNR during 2013
had a satisfying hunt. The satisfaction

rate was 55% during 2012. An amazing 42% of the hunters hunting with
hounds during 2013 were successful
while 27% of bait hunters met with
success.
Hunting success is already high in
the UP. Average bear hunting success
in the Amasa BMU for all hunts during 2013 was 44%. During the first
hunt in the Amasa BMU during 2014,
hunters had more than a 70% success.
Average hunting success for all
hunts in the Newberry and Bergland
BMUs was 33 and 32% respectively,
which is excellent. The Carney BMU
had the lowest average hunting success for all hunts at 21%, but that
isnt because of low bear numbers,
but the abundance of cornfields in
Menominee County. Bears love corn
and corn ripens about the time bear
season opens in the UP, so most bears
are in cornfields where they are not
accessible to many hunters during
most of bear season.
The presence of more bears will
mean more crop damage for farmers
along with other negative bear/human
encounters during the course of the
year. More bears means fewer deer,
too, since bears prey on fawns. There
has been an average of one bear attack per year on people during recent
years. With more bears, that could go
up.n

What NRC Did

Plenty of people realized that

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of cubs produced per year for all

females, it is 1.2. If you only consider
reproductive females, meaning those
that had cubs that year, the number of
cubs per female is about 2.5.
According to Mayhews calculations using the new method of
estimating Michigan bears, there
were approximately 11,000 bears
more than a year old in the state on
September 1, 2013. Nine thousand of
those were in the UP and 2,000 in the
LP. With the reduced bear harvests
from 2012 through 2014, bear numbers have been increasing.
Hunters in the state registered
only 1,525 bears during 2014 compared to 1,615 for 2013 and 1,684 in
2012. Keeping in mind that the annual bear harvest had exceeded 2,000
each year for 11 years through 2011,
the reduced harvest the last three
years has saved a minimum of 1,176
bears and some of those bruins had to
be adult females that had cubs. More
on that later.
It was obviously good news to
find out that bears have been stable
to increasing instead of declining.
That information made it clear that
the bear license reductions that took
place between 2012 and 2014 were
not necessary. With more bears now
present due to reduced harvests for
three years, it might make sense to
most bear hunters to return to 2011
license quotas for 2015.

73

Hot Topic -- Our Thoughts, Our Views, Our Opinion

Sound science prevails for bass regulations

By Lydia Lohrer-Bevier and Patrick W. C. Bevier

bassionate battle
recently broke out
over a recommendation by MDNR Fisheries Chief, Jim Dexter,
which included provisions for an extended bass season for
tournament fishing for 4 weeks on all
lakes and 7 weeks on the worlds best
smallmouth fishery, Lake St. Clair.
The highly controversial and
little-publicized proposal elicited an
unexpected public response. Over 50
speakers gave feedback in the over
three hour comment session, including
bass anglers, special interest groups,
and individuals, at the Ralph A. MacMullen (R.A.M.) Center in Roscommon at the public hearing on April 9.
The majority of speakers expressed
opposition to proposed changes.
The major rub was that bass taken
off beds wouldnt be able to guard
their eggs and fry from extensive
predation, including round gobies,
bluegill, walleye, salamanders and virtually any other hungry critter. Studies
and underwater video from Lake Erie

in Ohio documented that gobies can

eat 50% of eggs in a bass nest in minutes. With the proposed changes, this
scenario would be visited time and
time again when some of the worlds
best bass anglers caught fish from
spawning beds and removed them for
as long as 9 hours during tournaments.
Several speakers noted there were
no long-term study demonstrating the
effects removing bass from their beds
in northern climates under high fishing pressure and the duress of invasive
species. Dexter had once commented,
that would take 30 years and who
wants to wait that long? Lets just do
it and see what happens.
This lets see what happens
approach would have risked the
states four billion dollar sport fishery. Michigans bass fishery was just
ranked number 2 in the nation by InFisherman Magazine, just a fish scale
below Floridas prolific bass factory.
Therefore, when regulation changes
are considered many question why, if
it isnt broken, why fix it?
In fact, a study 20-year study pub-

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Michigan will have year round catch and immediately release bass fishing.
lished by the state of Illinois in October 2014 by Jeff Stein does demonstrate population level effects on bass
populations after removing spawning
bass from their beds while spawning.
Other studies show that bass caught
at the beginning of the spawn are the
larger, stronger fish, and that culling
them during the early season actually
changes the fish genetically, resulting
in smaller, less aggressive bass.
Letters from Ohio and Indiana
tournament anglers confirmed that
their fisheries had been detrimentally affected by opening up the bass

Northern
Ontario

FALL BLACK BEAR

season to tournament angling earlier

as well, and that the Lake Erie fishery
was still in recovery.
Also pointed out was a fallacy
which had been repeated within the
fisheries order, MUCCs presentation
to its clubs and testified as truth before
congress; the allegation that Michigan
was only one of four states with some
form of protection for spawning bass.
In fact, there are ten states within a
similar climate region to Michigan
which protect their bass, as well as
Ontario, which opens a week after.
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My Thoughts, My Views, My OpinionBy Jeff Pendergraff

learned Conservation Officers from Special Investigations after their year-long investigation apprehended
a man on several charges in Houghton Co. According to Detective Lt. Jason Haines, supervisor of Special
Investigations the charges included; selling bear meat,
bear gallbladders and operating a fishing charter business
without a license, with a boat that failed inspected, operating a taxidermist business without a license and using a
computer during a crime. I thought great job and figured
this guy was going to get slammed pretty hard in court.
My knowledge of the charges would be 90 day
misdemeanors, except using a computer during the commission of a crime, an offense that could get you a year
in jail. According to Detective Lt. Jason Haines, the COs
had a good case with audio and video evidence. A six
count warrant was issued.
Normally a case such as this, a prosecutor would
make a plea deal with the subject where they could
plead to three or four of the charges and the remaining charge(s) would be dismissed. Or, if there was no
deal worked out, then they would go to trial. When the
prosecutor gets a report from a law enforcement officer,
they review the case and make a decision on what if any
charges would be issued against a subject. They dont
issues charges if there isnt enough evidence to support
them and be successful in court if the case went to trial.
However when a plea deal was made in this case,
with no input received from the COs from Special
Investigations. The subject pleaded guilty to charges of
advertising an illegal charter fishing business, operating a
taxidermist business without a license and the illegal sale
of wildlife. The real kicker, he was given a one year de-

looking forward to the results of data

monitoring of CIR, especially on
lakes with high fishing pressure.
The new regulations are currently
in effect and can be found online. The
NRC tuned in to the latest scientific
studies and considered the need of the
resource in the long view instead of
just looking at a short term gain at the
possible detriment of the fishery. We
give a boisterous BRAVO to all who
spoke up for protecting this precious
resource. In addition, hats off to the
eager anglers who wanted to extend
the season. Theres nothing wrong
with wishing for more fishing. Fortunately with CIR year-round it seems
like everyones needs have been met,
unless the data shows otherwise.n

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layed sentenced, which means after one year, if he stays

out of trouble, the charges are dismissedlike it never
happened. He was given three months of probation and
ordered to pay $750 in probation oversight fees.
The restitution on the 50 pounds of bear meat that
was allegedly sold and for each of the gallbladders sold
should have been $1500 for each, a total of $9,000. Each
of those counts carries a loss of hunting privileges for
the year convicted and the next three years, plus a fine
between $250 and $1000. That doesnt include the fines
and cost on the other charges. But, he was only ordered
to pay $750 in probation oversight fees!
The judge scheduled a restitution hearing requesting
to determine what if any restitution would have to pay to
the state. At the hearing an order to a pay back the state
$1000 (covert funds) that was pay for the sale of the bear
meat and gall bladders and another $1500 in restitution
for the one count of illegal sale of wildlife that was plead
guilty to. No loss of any hunting privileges.
Its my opinion that people who buy and sell wildlife
are involved in the commercialization of wildlife. They
are making money conducting illegal fishing charters,
conducting an unlicensed taxidermist business and selling bear meat and gall bladders! I think a prosecutor
should take these charges more serious; five gallbladders
figures into five bears!
Prosecutors are considered the Chief Law Enforcement Officer of the county. Its their decision who gets
prosecuted and who doesnt. They make the decision if
the case is going to trial or not.
Author is Jeff Pendergraff, a retired Captain with the
Law Enforcement Division of the DNR.

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of our fishery, both recreationally and

economically. We dont want to risk
it. We have requested the DNR to do
some long term studies on different
lakes in various climate zones with
tournament fishing pressure and other
conditions before we decide to do
this for our entire state, stated John
Matonich.
Michigander, and multiple world
champion bass angler, Kevin VanDam stated, Lake St. Clair is the No.
1 bass fishery in the world! Despite
being a tournament angler I was not
in favor of opening St. Clair, or a
lot of other more fragile fisheries in
northern Michigan, to early tournaments.
The Order does, however, provide for legal Catch-and-Immediate
Release (CIR) angling for bass year
round. Those in favor of this change
hope it will give more opportunities
for anglers to target bass and bring
more anglers and revenue to the state.
Not all anglers, however, are in
favor of the year round CIR provision. Lake St. Clair charter captain,
Joel Piatek, said, The fish will be
beat up. Ive already noticed that
the fish are getting beat up with the
increased fishing pressure since Lake
St. Clair was named the No. 1 Lake
for Bass fishing.
Jerry Hinton of the Downriver
Walleye Association just shook his
head, Its not a good idea.
Four of the worst year classes
of fish ever in Anchor Bay trawler
surveys have occurred since prior
last expansion of CIR. We cant say
that its caused by CIR, commented
former DNR biologist Gary Towns,
but we cant say it isnt, either. We
did have one great year class, but that
was during the warmest spring in 19
years and there were lots of storms
during early season. It takes years to
see the effects of our choices.
NRC Commissioner Rex Schlaybaugh commented, Naturally we
expect that DNR will be monitoring
the effects of CIR. Anglers will be

Prosecutors office drops the ball in poaching case

I

75

What I See For Deer Season 2015...By Mr. Food Plots - Ed Spinazzola

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Plots that can compete with Mother Nature

O

76

nce upon a time there

was gloom in many deer
camps throughout the
state of Michigan. It was
epidemic during the late
1940s and early 1950s. The deer were
smaller, it was rare to see a buck and
if you did he was probably barely
legal with three inch spikes. Then in
1952 our beat up DNR took their
magic wand and destroyed half of
our deer herd. Oh, there was mutiny
arising in every sensible deer camp.
How dare they kill our precious
does? Dont they know when you
shoot a doe you are shooting three
deer. How stupid can anybody be?
Well, I reckon its probably due to
their education. Its well known that
all college professors are biased and
strongly against any hunter interests.
This new harvest of does began
an intermittent on and off program.
Over time yearly doe harvests was
the norm. Our conservation leaders
now went from a shotgun approach
to a measured number of doe harvests
based on research data per area unit.
We deer hunters then experienced an
up and then down deer numbers sighting seasons. Some seasons we saw a
fair number of deer, even a few young
bucks sporting more than spikes. Of
course we never see enough deer, but
maybe our experts in Lansing were
onto something. But why cant they
get it right every year?
The 2014 deer season was dead
for most deer hunters. Many Michigan
deer hunters dont expect much of
an improvement if any this 2015 fall
seasons.
Its my nature to be observant in
the woods and Ill attempt to explain
my educated guess why 2014 was
only fair. I mentioned the following
before, yet it serves a point. Starting
in 1974 I was a member of the 18,000
acre Mid Forest Lodge in Roscommon County for 20 years. Our buck
harvest average was 125 bucks yearly
and it didnt vary much the 20 years I
was a member. In the years 1979 and
1980 we had serious acorn crops. You
could not walk in the woods normally.
Those acorns were like ball bearings
throwing you off balance. In 1981 we
had a bump never repeated. We took
331 bucks that year and some good
racked bucks.
There was more to observe, the
fawn crop of 1980 took a good jump.
There was a bigger boost in our fawn
crop in 1981. In 1982 we took 225
bucks, thats 100 more than average.
Then that was all she wrote from then
on. Back to the average of seeing 125
bucks harvested or less per year. In
1999 only 59 bucks were taken. What

the devil happened? That experience of 1999 caused some serious

soul searching by the nearly 400 Mid
Forest Lodge Club members. Much
was learned about good land and deer
management. They worked with the
best and knowledgeable experts in
land and deer management put the
best advice to action along with accepting the guidelines of Quality Deer
Management.
We owned 650 acres in the
Gladwin, Clare County area with 400
acres farmed. That left us some pretty
good stuff to hunt starting in 1994 to
this day. Now I can do some serious observation and I did. Without a
doubt depending on the crop, acorns
can influence the fawn birth numbers,
health, and their survival through their
first winter. Without a doubt a good
acorn crop can affect a deer hunters
fall experience big time. Deer will bed
as close to their preferred forage as
possible and this can be mighty close.
We all know the value of acorns as
first choice for deer. They know when
you are approaching and will move on
accordingly, stay put until you leave.
When the danger is least the deer
feast.
Today there is much less stalking,
still hunting and driving and obviously less daylight deer movement.
Throughout the lower and much of the
upper for the 2014 deer seasons we
had lots of acorns, thus I believe one
major reason for the low deer sightings.
What about the 2015 deer seasons?
We can only guess due to lack of
this years acorn crop information.
If a low crop expect a big change in
deer movement or Happy Days are
Here Again. Enforcing this thought
is the mild winter of 2014-2015. Yet
it didnt start mild in the U.P. with
the blizzard of November. We experienced a winter arriving in mid-January, followed by a brutal February a
normal March then spring has sprung.
All things being normal expect a better than average deer hunting experience in 2015 along with viewing more
healthy fawns and more bucks than
you expected to see plus sporting better gear. Thats my prediction and Im
sticking to it.
Another bumper crop of acorns
will not help to lower deer movement
but it will certainly not hurt in the big
picture. In fact it could very well be a
major source of a most unusual deer
hunting experience of the right kind in
2016. My experience of back to back
good crops of acorns is great results.
Options of action to help guarantee a fine 2015 deer hunting season

A food plot concept that can compete with a bumper acorn crop.
There are conditions now in place to
almost guarantee a fine 2015 season,
but Mother Nature has a mind of her
own and we have to live with it. A
warm bow season is not a good thing,
a strung out rut due to extremes in
weather during the bow season is
frustrating. Having a firearm opening
day of 30 miles an hour winds will
shut down deer movement to almost
zero, etc.
So what are your options to remedy setbacks? As the godfather, Marlon Brando said to his son who was
having difficulty with a client, Give
him an offer he cannot refuse.
Lets start with the bow season.
Yes, acorns are the first choice for all
deer and they munch on it year round
if available, but there is forage that
deer will find equally inviting and will
leave acorns temporarily for, its like
dessert. The magic soybeans that is
still growing green with new leaves
during the early bow season. My
experience shows that nothing beats
soys when they are young and growing only new leaves and new stems.
When the soys start to flower and
grow pods things change, (sometime
in early August). Deer will visit and
graze but less so. Come early September, new leaves are not growing. The
nutrients that the soy leaves are producing due to the suns rays and the
minerals adsorbed by the root system
now goes to the soybeans within the
pod not to creating new leaves. Yes,
deer will still eat the stuff but much
less. Their preference is young and
growing green leaves.
So, heres the secret formula.
Broadcast a blend of 30-40 pounds

of Round up soybeans around July

5-10 with 1 pound of Round up sugar
beets and add no more than 8 pounds
of Round up field corn, (primarily for
cover) for one acre. Till them no more
than 2-1/2 inches deep. Follow with
a slow cultipacking then spray three
weeks later with Round Up. That
same day broadcast no more than 2
pounds per acre of a brassica blend.
Get on our web page (deerattration.
com) and check out the article sweetening thing and follow it. No need to
call me about your experience, I know
what happens!
For the firearm season pretty much
the same thing except for the following. You will now seed the above
around mid-May. Of course first
fertilize by broadcasting 300 pounds
of 19-19-19 per acre then till 4 inches
deep. Then broadcast the above seed
and till 2-1/2 inches. Spray Round
Up three weeks later and again spray
Round Up three weeks later. In late
July to early August broadcast no
more than 2 pounds of a brassica
blend per acre. In early September
broadcast no more than 30 pounds
of a grain blend per acre. Now if you
are into perfection do the sweetening thing where you want the deer to
stand.
Keep the fun in hunting!
Ed Spinazzola is an Associate for
Tony LaPratts Ultimate Land Management. For more information see
their web sites, www.tonysulm.com
or www.deerattraction.com or call
586-784-8090. You can get detailed
information from their new DVD,
Ultimate Corn Based Deer Kill Plots
along with more options.n

Bay City
State
Recreation
Area
installed
a solarcharging
station for
phones and
other mobile devices,
allowing
people to
charge up
without
relying on
electricity.

DNR Parks and Recreation Division; public

sector Green Leader of the year award
laptops and tablets.
Green Building Initiative Several
Parks and Recreation Division units
have installed eco-friendly facilities
such as LEED-certified buildings, wind
turbines and permeable paving.
Invasive species control The
divisions Stewardship Unit provides
guidance and support on the identification, prevention and control of invasive
species. This includes hosting volunteer
stewardship workdays in Michigan state
parks to remove invasive species.

All Detroit Free Press green leaders including the DNR Parks and
Recreation Division will be recognized at an upcoming awards ceremony.
Learn more about the divisions commitment to green initiatives at www.
michigan.gov/greeninitiatives.
The Parks and Recreation Division
is responsible for the management of
Michigan state parks, state forest campgrounds, harbors, boating access sites,
trails and historic sites.
Inside Michigans Great Outdoors

subscribers are always the first to know

about reservation opportunities, state
park events and other outdoor happenings. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr to
subscribe now.n

ED 'S NEW DVD

ULTIMATE
CORN-BASED
DEER KILL PLOTS
Takes you to a new concept of deer attraction.
Deer will freely enter your kill plot during daylight due
to the security and endless variety of forage deer prefer

ORDER
YOUR
COPY
TODAY!

Send Check or Money Order

Made Out to:

Edward Spinazzola
815 Sleeth Rd.
Commerce, MI 48382

New DVD ~ $25 includes shipping

Name
Address
City

State

Zip

Phone #

ULTIMATE LAND MANAGEMENT FORAGE & COVER SEED FOR MICHIGAN PLOTS
Tony Lapratt and associate Chris Pierson
with new associate Ed Spinazzola
WEBSITE -- tonysulm.com

ULTIMATE DEER FOOD PLOTS

BOOK & DVD

ORDER YOUR
COPY TODAY
Send Check or Money Order
Made Out to:

Book $25
DVD $20
Includes

Check the Following:

DEER ATTRACTION
then mail to:

Deer Attraction
815 Sleeth Rd.
Commerce, MI 48382

Book @ $25 each

DVD @ $20 each

Name

Phone #

OR CALL ED AT 586-784-8090 FOR MORE INFORMATION

Seed

Cost

# Bags

(6lbs)

$25

Michigan's Ultimate Blend

(6lbs)

$35

Wildlife Cover and

Forage Blend (6lbs)

$50

Shipping and handling

Lower Peninsula Michigan

$11.00 first bag $7.00

each additional bag

Shipping and handling

Upper Peninsula and the
rest of the Continental US

$12.00 first bag $8.00

each additional bag

TOTAL
REMIT BY CHECK OR MONEY ORDER
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

Ed Spinazzola 24150 31 Mile Road, Ray Twp, MI 48096

WEBSITE: deerattraction.com

Address
State

Zip

Total

Michigan Brassica Blend

Name

Address
City

The Brassica Blend provides both summer feed and winter forage. The Ultimate Blend is
an excellent mix that includes both annual and perennials. The Wildlife Cover and Forage Blend
is designed to keep deer on your property by providing them a bedding area and food in close
proximity. Go to deerattraction.com for a full list of ingredients and detailed planting instructions.

City
Phone #

State

Zip

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

n independent panel of judges

recently named the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division among this years Detroit Free
Press Green Leaders organizations,
schools, businesses, nonprofits and
individuals that are working to make
our state a cleaner place to live. The
DNR division captured top honors in
the public sector category.
The DNRs mission of protecting
natural resources inherently supports
environmental sustainability. The Parks
and Recreation Division has implemented several green initiatives to pursue
that goal and to educate the 22 million
annual state park visitors on how they
can do the same in their homes and
communities.
Our division is honored to receive
the Detroit Free Press Green Leader
award in recognition of our green initiatives, said DNR Parks and Recreation
Chief Ron Olson. It highlights our
commitment to and investment in
environmentally friendly practices at
Michigan state parks.
We are committed to serving as
responsible stewards of our natural resources, and we look forward to further
improvements and expansion of green
initiatives at Michigan state parks.
Since 2006, the annual Chiefs
Energy Challenge has encouraged Parks
and Recreation Division staff to submit
grant proposals for projects focused on
environmental sustainability. Through
this program, approximately $600,000
has been allocated to green initiatives,
resulting in more than $1 million in
reduced utility costs.
The division also has an employee
Green Initiatives Team that pioneers
sustainability efforts, implements pilot
programs, shares best practices and
provides resources for field staff. The
Green Initiatives Team has created such
programs as:
Growing, not Mowing Designated grassy areas are left unmowed
during the warmer months to reduce
fossil fuel reliance and emissions and
enhance natural habitats.
Recycling Recycling centers are
offered at many state parks, harbors and
other facilities, as well as in the Lansing
Parks and Recreation office. Recycling
efforts in Michigan state parks were
recently acknowledged by Gov. Rick
Snyder at the Governors Recycling
Summit.
Clean Marina Program All
staffed, state-operated harbors implement guidelines from DEQs Clean
Marina Program, managing boat sewage
disposal, litter and fish waste disposal,
engine servicing and more to protect the
Great Lakes.
Eco-friendly charging stations
Several parks have implemented charging stations to help people stay powered
up on the go, in an energy-efficient way.
This includes electric vehicle charging
stations and solar-powered charging
stations for mobile devices like phones,

77

TROPHY PAGES

Father and Son Brian and Luke Champnella had a great

turkey season in Calhoun Co. Luke took this first turkey
a fine jake. Brian noted thanks to the land owners for
allowing them to pursue their passion.
Olivia Walker, 14 of North
Branch took her first turkey, this
jake with her bow at 22 yards
during the spring season.
Lilly
Young, 8
took her
first turkey
on her first
day ever
turkey
hunting.
She took
this trophy
tom with a
9 in. beard
hunting
with her
dad.

Sisters Success: Nicole (lt) and Katelyn Hellebuyck of Boyne City both took their first
turkeys on back-to-back days.

Mason Crane, 14,

of Manitou Beach,
took his first turkey
on April 26, in
Lenawee Co. with
an 11 inch beard.

Steve
Kastel
took this
busted
up 6-pt.
Nov. 15

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Nine-year-old Trevor Franks of Paw

Paw took this monster trophy tom.

78

Mike Ary fishing Lake Erie

in April with his brother Pat
and good friend Phil. They
limited out by noon. This is
one of their ten pounders.

Sarah Ellithorpe of Haslett,

on her first trip to Saginaw
Bay in January caught this
27 inch walleye.

Geoff Garavaglia caught

this huge master angler gill
ice fishing Antrim Co. in
mid-January.

Tim
Parker
took this
amazing
smoky
gray
trophy
jake
hunting
Hillsdale
Co. on
opening
day of
the early
turkey
season.

Amelia
Smith, 8
hunting
with her
dad
Gordon
April 20
on state
land in
Otsego
Co. took
this 20
lb. tom
with an
11 inch
beard and
1 inch
spurs.

Scott Marshall of Decker and his 11 year old

son Tayler performed a simultaneous double
on dandy Thumb gobblers during the opening day of the early spring turkey season.
Tayler called the two gobblers in to 15 yards
with a box call. He shot first, quickly followed
by his dad.

Luke Miller, 11 caught these two, 8 lb. plus, Detroit River Walleye, while jigging a black Wyandotte Worm, on the Detroit River in April.

Tony
Edwards
of Smith
Creek
took
his first
buck!
This very
nice
8-pt. in
Sept. in
St. Clair
Co.

Destination...By Jacob VanHouten

Cast and blast Cajun style

southwest Louisiana. After that, it
was the oil spill with some tar balls
and sheet oil making an appearance.
So this area knows how to take a
punch or two, or three. But they
come back strong.
So there I was, hunkerin down
in the ground (literally), waiting for
the next action to take place and I
didnt have to long to wait. Speckle
belly and snow geese were working
the area quite regularly, many in large
sky-high flocks. These and other
waterfowl spend the winter here, with
huge flocks resting and feeding in the
grain fields, lakes and estuaries found
throughout the area. I had never
even seen a speckle belly goose until
that morning.
The birds came in nicely, with a
group of six speckle bellies working
well and locking up. Erik used the

Author with
a nice redfish
caught on
Calcasieu
Lake.

end of the barrel. I still got off two

shots without touching a feather while
Erik and Richie Koonce our hunting
partner and dog handler managed to
take a drake and a hen.
What happened there? Erik
asked with a smile.
Weeds happen was my weak
response. I guess I did have a couple
good excuses on that first round (dont
we all?) there was that weed on
my barrel and after all, it was my first
use of the shotgun. It was December
27th, only two days after Christmas
I was sitting in a partially flooded
grain field near Lake Charles, Louisiana hunting speckle belly geese and
ducks.
I had visited the area in 2006, right
after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita had
made their visit. Most people around
the country knew about Katrinas
impact on New Orleans, but not many
knew as much about Rita and the
devastation it caused in central and

same hand signals for me I wasnt

used to that! This time I rose up on
cue, pow, pow, and pow three shots
to bring down my first speck and it
was awesome! Richie gave the go
get em to our dog Tebeaux (NOT
to be confused with the somewhat
infamous human with the same sounding name!), making an excellent
retrieve. I finished up on the next
group of specks Shoot one bird
only one bird Erik repeated as the
birds worked their way in. One shot
and my last speck was down hard in
the field.
We had begun the day at 5 a.m.
but were done by 8:30 a.m. and
would have been done sooner if someone from up north could have shot
better. We were back at the beautiful
and comfortable Calcasieu Lodge by
10 a.m. Walking in, we could smell
the chicken and sausage jambalaya
cooking for lunch!
After eating, relaxing and chatting

Author and his new buddy with first speckle belly

with Erik, Richie and other hunters
in camp, I met my fishing guide Jake
and off we went on our boat ride to
attack the redfish. Calcasieu Lodge
sits within easy access to Calcasieu
Lake (known to locals as Big Lake)
which is a nationally known speckled
trout (not our brook trout, but sea
trout) and redfish producing estuaries. This shallow (averages six to
eight feet deep), twelve mile-long
lake provides some of the best fishing
along the Gulf Coast. With a subtropical climate, year-round fishing is
excellent. Fishing action on Calcasieu
Lake can really heat-up when temperatures drop during the fall season
as flounder run, redfish school up and
speckled trout feed heavily to make it
through the winter.
Jake and I went right to it and
started casting large fluorescent-green
jigs near the shoreline and weed beds.
Second cast and Jake caught a nice
redfish. I followed suit with a bigger
(I would say much bigger, but hey,
fishermen only lie a little) redfish.
These fish are all muscle when you
see them and they are a powerful fish.
The late season fish we caught had a

blue tone compared to their normal orange/gold color seen in summer, with
the characteristic eye-spot on the tail.
Being tasty fish, I like to cook them
as the locals do so-called redfish
on the half shell. Leave one side of
skin and scales on when fileting and
grill em in aluminum foil (season to
taste)delicious!
I was really sorry to pack up and
leave but I had to get home for the
next holiday to keep peace in the family. Cast and blast, blast and cast
doesnt matter what you call it, just
come down and do it. Did I mention the food? The food wow
seafood, crawfish, gumbo, jambalaya,
boudin (you have to try it) yum!
Go on down, shoot, fish, eat, enjoy!
Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana are back they never left!
For more information on the area,
contact: Southwest Louisiana/Lake
Charles CVB at (337)-436-9588;
(800) 456-7952 or
www.visitlakecharles.org For hunting and fishing contact: Captain Erik
Rue, Calcasieu Charter Service, Lake
Charles, LA; (337) 598-4700 or
www.calcasieucharters.comn

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JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

ere they come hold

it until I say take
em my outfitter/
guide Captain Erik
Rue whispered as we sat in our pit
blind (or tank blind as locals call
them). He gestured with his left hand
pointing to his left, or towards my end
of the blind, indicating direction the
three mallards were working and locking on our small goose decoy set up.
Hold it hold it kill those
birds! rising as he spoke, Eric said
urgently.
I didnt need much encouragement as I stood up, with only my head
protruding above the weeds and grass
used to cover the blind. Shouldering
my borrowed 12 gauge semi-auto,
my sight-line was a bit impaired as
I managed to attach a piece (that
would be a nicely forked shrub) to the

79

Sporting Collectibles...By Terry McBurney

Whats in your old tackle box?

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

friend of mine taught me

a good lesson about ten
years ago. He had been
out trolling through garage
sales on the southeast side
of Grand Rapids early one
Friday morning, looking
for old tackle - something interesting to add to his collection of antique
fishing gear. At his second stop, he
found a well-used metal tackle box
filled with old fishing equipment that
got his heart pumping faster. There
was a surprising amount of lures from
the 1920s through the 1930s, most in
good to very good condition, and he
set aside several baits intending to buy
them.
The large bottom compartment
packed with the accumulation of years
contained the usual - old casting reels
filled with black line, metal tins full of
shear pins, assorted sinkers and hooks,
grime covered bobbers, a bottle of
oily insect repellent, and a jumble of
rope and metal stringers hopelessly
woven together. He slowly unloaded
every bit of tackle placing it neatly
next to the tackle box. He straightened
some tangles out, rewound some old
spools of line and picked up each
reel inspecting it for the manufacturers name and model number. He
inspected everything working his way
towards the bottom where he could
see some printed paper.
Finally, he lifted the pile out and
carefully started pulling each piece
apart from the next. There were
old fishing licenses, several printed
leaflets, and one folded piece of paper
sandwiched between two Michigan

80

fishing regulation pamphlets. He

unfolded the paper and discovered
that it was a printed insert from a
very rare fishing lure made in Grand
Rapids about 1914, the Nixon Aristocrat Underwater Minnow. Nixon lures
are rare. The box even more so, but he
had found the paper insert - something
that had not been seen before and a
piece of fishing history that somehow
had survived at the bottom of that old
tackle box!
Here are several more fishing
tackle finds that were recently uncovered at the bottom of old tackle boxes.
Some are valuable and others are just
interesting and worth saving. I hope
that they will be of interest to my
readers and keep you digging through
old tackle boxes until you hit the very
bottom. Your hands will get dirty, but
you may find something surprising!
Ed Hilbert bought an old Falls
City metal tackle box at an estate auction in his home state of Montana. It
contained only a few interesting metal
spinners, but he had not paid much for
it. Besides, he liked the early tackle
box. It was a nice addition to his
tackle displays. Later, he discovered a
black and silver two-piece cardboard
box at the bottom of the main compartment. It was mostly split apart, but
all five sides of the top half of the box
had survived. The bottom half was
in better condition with the original
paperwork wedged inside. What he
had found was a very early cardboard
box for a Shakespeare Revolution
Bait made in Kalamazoo, most likely
between 1901 and 1902!
The Shakespeare Company began

A Shakespeare Revolution Bait cardboard box probably from 1901-1902, the first year of production. Note
the misspelled label - Shakespare instead of Shakespeare. Ed Hilbert collection. (Below) This is a near
mint example of the 3-inch baby Shakespeare Revolution that would have gone inside of the black and
silver Shakespeare lure box. Jack Bright collection.

when William Shakespeare Jr. started

manufacturing bait casting reels in
1897. The new tackle company was
first located in a four-story storage
building on Water Street in Kalamazoo that once housed the Hanselman
Candy Company. Shakespeare had
been renting it since 1889 for his main
business, which was for the manufacture of camera shutters. He and Wil-

liam Locher, a well-known Kalamazoo sporting goods retailer, applied for

their first lure patent on July 5, 1900
receiving it on February 5, 1901. Patent #667257 was for the wood-bodied
Revolution Bait, which they started
selling in the Kalamazoo area in 1900
before advertising it later that year. A
letter he wrote extolling the virtues of
his new lure was published in the July

(Rt-Lt)This G-H Products Company Split Shot Pliers from Grand Haven, came with a swing-out can opener. These Medco split shot pliers with the swing-out
hook disgorger were from Muskegon. Both Alan Slater collection. Two fishing accessories from Grand Rapids - HMF Mfg. Companys split shot pliers and a
Vans Fish Hook Extractor made by the Dodge Tool & Mfg. Company. Herms Split Shot Pliers were made in Alameda, California and held split shot inside the
hollow handle. Both author photos

2, 1900 issue of the Sporting Goods

Dealer. It stated: while the supply was not equal to the demand, you
would understand how this, together
with the fact that this bait is the beginning of a revolution in fishing, has
so enthused me that I do not know
how to tell you about it. Over 1,200
baits have been sold in this city alone,
and the demand is increasing.
Only twenty weeks after Shakespeare and Locher filed for their first
lure patent, they filed for a second on
November 26, 1900. Patent #671613,
granted on April 9, 1901, was for a
Revolution Bait made out of watertight aluminum floats. The last magazine ad found for the wood revolution
was published in the February 1901
issue of Recreation magazine with the
aluminum model appearing in several
magazines starting in April 1901.
Shakespeare enthusiastically
promoted all of its fishing tackle with
heavy advertising, free booklets and
catalogs mailed out to anglers, casting
contests, and dealer promotions...
and they were not afraid of a little
exaggeration. The copy promoting
the Revolution Bait from their free
booklet, How to Catch Bass, stated:
Last season tons of fish were caught
with the new Shakespeare Baits. 100
bass in one day was not [an] uncommon report, and hundreds of anglers
who never before experienced the
pleasure of catching a good string of
fish were able to land scores of bass
and pickerel. Produced through
1921, the Revolution aluminum baits
were available in three sizes: 3-inch,
4-inch and 6-inch with three colors
added in 1907. The four available
colors were bright aluminum, solid

A catalog page from

Go-Ite Manufacturings
catalog from Flint,
Michigan dating from
about 1937 showing
their full line of silk
casting lines (courtesy of Tony Nedela).

yellow with gold spots, red head with

a white body and red head with a yellow body.
Ed Hilberts early Shakespeare
Revolution box was designed to hold
the smallest of the aluminum Revolutions, the 3-inch baby size. He found
it in rough condition, but a good
cardboard box conservator would be
able to carefully rebuild the split corners and repair the torn side and end
labels. The original insert was also
found stuffed in the box and was in
good shape. The label states: Patent
Applied For, which helps date it as
a very early box. The most interesting thing about the box was that the
printer misspelled Shakespeare on
the bottom of the side label. It reads:
Made by William Shakespare Kalamazoo, Mich.!
I commonly find different split
shot pliers in the bottom of old tackle
boxes here in West Michigan, certainly one of the essential tools of a
steelheader. I still use mine all the
time to quickly pinch on or pinch off
split shot as conditions change while
I am fishing. My pliers were made by
Riley Specialty in Grand Rapids. The
other common set of split shot pliers
that I often find were made by HMF
Manufacturing Company, also from
Grand Rapids.
Alan Slater from Grand Haven
brought in two unusual split shot
pliers to two different sport shows I
was exhibiting at this spring. He had
found them packed away in the bottom of two old tackle boxes. The first
one was made by the G-H Products
Company in Grand Haven, Michigan.
It is similar in size and function to
both the Riley and the HMF pliers

except that it has an added feature.

The G-H Products pliers have a swing
out can opener built into it, so the
angler could open a can of beans or a
can of beer! The second set of pliers
I photographed was made by Medco,
a company located in Muskegon,
Michigan. It too is similar to the other
pliers. It too has a special feature, a
swing out hook disgorger made out of
some kind of flexible plastic material.
The fourth pictured split shot pliers is my favorite, the Herms Split
Shot Pliers. My wife found this pair
of pliers in an old tackle box and gave
them to me for my birthday several
years ago. Made in Alameda, California, the Herms pliers are unusual
because the larger handle is hollow
and will hold split shot inside of it.
The handle is stopped up with a small
cork that is chained to the handle so
the cork cannot be laid down and
misplaced.
I have also pictured another
interesting fishing tool that I recently
found in an old tackle box - a zincplated steel hook disgorger stamped
Vans Fish Hook Extractor, Made by
Dodge Tool & Mfg. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich. All of the pliers and hook
disgorger are fun things to find and
collect and nice additions to a fishing
tackle collection.
This last item, a spool of Go-Ite
Manufacturings braided silk casting
line, is something I have been chasing
after for four or five years for my collection of Go-Ite Indiana-style reels,
lures, rods and casting lines. I had
almost given up finding an example
until this spool of line and a Go-Ite
reel appeared on eBay in early March.
Ron Kotch, a fishing tackle collector
from Akron, Ohio, had found the reel
along with the spool of line in the
bottom of an old tackle box. The reel,
which was in nice shape, was clearly
marked Made in Kokomo, Ind.
and is worth about $75. The wooden
spool of line was in terrible shape the front label was only 75% complete, the rear label was missing, and
there was no indication where it was
manufactured. The other big problem
was the line that was wound on the
spool was fly line and not the original
black casting line. Normally, a spool

of line in this bad of shape with all its

issues would have been thrown away!
Ron recognized that the reel and the
spool of line probably dated about the
same time and most likely were from
Kokomo, so he sold them together in
his eBay auction - a great decision.
Go-Ite Manufacturing began in
Kokomo, Indiana in 1922 where they
offered Indiana-style reels, several
variations of the Go-Ite Water-Plane
metal spinner, as well as silk casting
line. The company manufactured the
reels and the spinners but contracted
with a line manufacturer to produce
a private label casting line for them.
The company moved to Detroit in
1924 where they advertised the same
small selection of tackle. Two years
later, Go-Ite moved to Flint, where
they eventually expanded their product lineup. They cataloged a number
of different reels, the metal lures, a
wooden lure similar to South Bends
Bass Oreno called the Fish Fooler,
bamboo bait casting and fly rods,
a metal rod holder and three qualities of braided silk casting lines, the
Aristocrat, the Marvel, and the Big
Chief. However, to my knowledge
no examples of Go-Ites casting line
have ever turned up.
Ron started the auction at $49.99,
which climbed to $460 at the end of
seven days. Unfortunately, I did not
win the much coveted spool of line
and still am searching for a spool of
Go-Ite line.
I would like to thank the following people for their help putting
together the information and photos
for this article: Ed Hilbert for relating his story about the Shakespeare
Revolution cardboard box; Alan
Slater for allowing me to photograph
his two unique split shot pliers; and
Ron Kotch for his story about the
Go-Ite spool of line. I would also like
to acknowledge Tony Nedela, Craig
Sorensen and the late Jack Bright for
their help.
Feel free to contact the author
at antiquefishing@comcast.net with
your questions. Photographs are
important, so please send them. They
help me with identification and give
me an idea of the condition of the
item.n

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

The only known example of Go-Ite Manufacturings silk line, probably from the
early 1920s. Courtesy of Ron Kotch.

81

Reader Trail Cam Photos

Send your Reader Trail-Cam Photos to:
wnw@pageone-inc.com
Chuck Jeffery
sent in this trail
cam photo of a
bobcat on a deer
carcass.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Eddy Charron captured this

Nkandu Hansen sent us this
wide rack 7-pointer in Van Bu- photo of a coyote taken with his
ren County.
trail cam in Walhalla, Michigan.

82

Kraig Staples sent us this trio of trail cam photos

all taken in the same spot near MIllersburg. The
buck was taken on March 31 and Kraig was surprised to see it still had antlers. The coyote and
the black bear prove this is an all-season location.

Russ Videan of Tustin caught this young one coming down a well
used deer trail to a well placed trail camera.

OUR
KANSAS
BOWHUNT
Michiganders Head West...
By John Eberhart

is very high since many states dont

have whitetails.
So due to the poor hunting situation in Michigan, over the past 15 or
so years many hunters I know have
reacted by giving up on bowhunting
in Michigan and only hunting out of
state and several of them hunt multiple states each fall.
Lets take the passing of full
inclusion crossbow hunting during
bow season. Many hunters I know
had always expressed how passionate
they were about deer hunting with a
vertical bow, yet it didnt take them
long to convert over to a crossbow
which in my opinion is no more than
a 50 yard gun. The two main advantages converting to a crossbow gave
them was to shoot deer at farther
distances and like a gun, never having
to practice. Basically a crossbow just
made it easier so they took advantage
of the situation. It had nothing to do
with having a passion for crossbow
hunting.
I guess where Im going with this
is that many hunters take full advantage of situations and opportunities
that make things simpler and easier.
My question has always been, just
how personally gratifying is it to accomplish something when you know
you took the simple and easy way to
do so?
While I hunt my butt off in Michigan for a month and a half in hopes of
taking a decent buck, since 1997 Ive
been just as guilty as the next guy
in taking the simple and easy route
to kill a mature buck. No, I dont
own or lease property, never hunted
over a food plot or bait, and dont
use a crossbow and never will until I
become so feeble I cant practice with
at least a 40 pound draw vertical bow.
My simple and easy route is leaving
Michigan during our gun season to

Like his previous four trips to Kansas, the author was the last to take his buck. He
feels it stinks being last because the pressure mounts and its a struggle to maintain
the same kill criteria because nobody likes eating $450 tag soup.

continue bowhunting in a big buck

state.
For the past several years along
with my son Jon and Bryan Schupbach weve been going to western
Kansas and in 2014 we did the same.
The free permission and state
walk-on properties we hunt are farther
west in Kansas than where most TV
and video hunters go. They typically
hunt eastern to central Kansas where
theres more; deer, rainfall, timber,
higher crop yields per acre, and on
average larger antlered bucks per
same age bracket. In western Kansas
theres, plains, cactus, sagebrush,
minimal timer, and its so arid and
dry that crops that need moisture like
corn and soybeans are rarely planted.
In our area in 2014, we never saw a
cornfield.
Ill never forget the first time
Bryan and I laid eyes on western
Kansas. Our thoughts were; what
are we going to do in this vast, flat,
dry, dusty wasteland? After all, the
only timber seemed to be in the occasional thousands of years old flood
plains draws that meandered through
the landscape. It was different than
any land Id seen, but it only took a
couple days to learn how to hunt it

and eventually embrace it.

On our first hunt, while driving
around and scouting we saw so many
mature bucks and literally no sign of
other hunters that we knew that once
we even somewhat figured out how to
hunt here, it would be easy pickings.
Other than a sweeping epidemic like
EHD occurring, or setting your kill
criteria too high, the odds of tagging
a P&Y buck on a short term hunt out
west are high. Typically things that
give so much gratification in such a
short time frame are illegal.
Its easy to understand why nearly
every TV and video so-called hunting expert films their hunts in these
types of areas or micro-managed
areas where hunting skill has little to
do with success. I dont for a moment
relate my or any hunters success in
such areas to being an expert hunter,
but rather a fortunate one.
But make no mistake, its refreshing to hunt an area where there are
lots of P&Y class bucks, they move
regularly during daylight hours,
they respond to just about any tactic
whether done properly or not, you can
seemingly get away with murder be-

Out-of-state bowhunt next page

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

ow different hunters
react to situations and or
opportunities laid out in
front of them that make
things easier has always
intrigued me.
Lets take mature bucks 3
years old or older for instance. A few
Michigan hunters have the luxury of
owning or leasing large chunks of
property where they can plant food
plots, have kill criterion, minimal
competition and can therefore somewhat manage the quantity and quality
of the whitetails on their property.
The odds of taking a mature buck in
such managed areas are obviously
much higher than the norm due to the
sheer numbers.
Most Michigan bowhunters
however hunt in heavily pressured
areas where most hunters target any
legal antlered buck. In such areas its
extremely difficult to take a 3 year
or older buck because there are few if
any that survive to reach that age.
If Michigan enacted a single buck
per deer season law and a 24 hour
mandatory call-in period after every
kill, it would significantly change
our buck age structure composition.
Indiana went from two bucks to one
per season eight years ago and has
moved from the number 15 state to
number six in Pope & Young entries
per licensed bowhunter ratio.
Most big buck states are one buck
per season and the big buck states that
arent have very low general populations and hunter numbers. Nebraska
for instance annually has around
20,000 bowhunters whereas Michigan
has in excess of 300,000.
By the way, prior to full inclusion
crossbow, Michigan on average was
about state number 35 in the P&Y entry per licensed bowhunter ratio and
keep in mind that being number 35

Out of state bowhunt:

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

from page 83

84

cause human intrusions have minimal

effect on deer movements, and if you
normally hunt a heavily pressured
area you can let your typical walking
on eggshells caution guard down and
still get the job done!
Pretty much as normal, last fall
I drove alone as my son Jon drove
or rode with Bryan in his big decked
out Ford 350 diesel, 4X4 truck. We
left at 1 p.m. (noon Kansas time) on
November 16 and other than to get
petrol our only stop was a Wal-Mart
in Nebraska to get groceries for the
week.
As planned we arrived at our
rental house about an hour before
daybreak and by the time we unloaded and re-arranged my scouting
and prep gear into Bryans truck,
it was cracking daylight. This was
our eighth trip to this area and we
drove around looking for deer and
reminiscing a bit until around 9:30 at
which time we started scouting and
preparing locations we had hunted
previous years.
Our first two days were spent
scouting, preparing locations and
driving around in the early mornings and late evenings looking for
deer and potential new areas to ask
for permission. Every scrape area
we hunted in 2013 was again lit up
with active scrapes and rubs and by
evenings end on Nov. 18 we had 11
locations prepared and had motion
cameras at nine of them that were
active scrape areas. The other two
locations were at pinch-points along
draws.
Four scrape area locations had
Lone Wolf hang-on stands for Bryan
and the other seven locations were
set up for Jons and my hybrid sling/
saddle harnesses. We began with
about 150 inch kill criteria that would
sway according to sightings, motion
pictures, and antler uniqueness.
The weather forecast looked
perfect. Highs for the first several
hunting days would be in the low 40s
with high teens as lows and of course
it was Kansas so theres usually wind
to contend with. Right out of the
blocks we started seeing quite a few
bucks in the 125 to 140 inch range,
but nothing in the 150s.
Jon and I each had a unique location. Defined dense bedding areas are
extremely rare as far west as we were
and we each had a location where a
primary scrape area bordered three to
four acre dense bedding areas.

Jons location was in a tight

pinch-point along a draw with a several acre plum thicket on one side.
My location was where a long
draw narrowed down and dumped
into a dense grove of conifers with a
cattle watering pond in the middle.
In 2013 there were scrapes next
to the conifers but there were two
humongous breeding bulls pasturing
the area which included the conifers
so I set-up on a smaller scrape area
outside the pasture fence. This year
the pasture was empty and deer were
bedding in the conifers.
We were mixing up our hunts
at different locations but when we
hunted our bedding area spots we
were both hearing what we presumed
to be the areas dominant buck grunting and chasing does within them.
In Jons first two hunts at his
location he saw the same two P&Y
class bucks and each time they would
come into the scrapes then skirt
the plum thicket, stare into it, but
wouldnt enter it, eventually going
back up the draw from where they
came.
I was only 12 feet up one of the
perimeter conifers that overlooked
the scrape area. On my first morning
a huge bodied 8 point and a massive
but small racked 6 x 4 ten point came
in and worked scrapes and although
there were two runways that entered
the bedding area, each buck walked
down the conifer tree line until out of
Trail cameras played a major role in the groups hunting tactics, as the ausight.
During each of our hunts at those thors son Jon took this beautiful buck after relocating a few cameras in the
locations lone does would pass in and morning, seeing the result he hunted that evening.
out of the bedding areas and chaswere lots of rubs but no scrapes, I
8s, and 10s are pretty common and
ing was heard. No doubt, something
had a 6 point pass at 18 yards with
many hunters have them on their
big was in each and although we
a hot doe. I rarely mention the small
walls, but 20 plus inch wide typical
had cameras at each scrape area, we
stuff and when someone mentions a
6 points with brows, now they are
never had a picture of them.
six point it is assumed hes a small
unique and rare and I just let one
Bryan has a location that over
subordinate buck. Not this time!
walk.
the past few years has become his go
Im still kicking myself for
I sat that location two more times
to spot. His location is also unique
questioning and not releasing my
Jon once and one evening had him
as its a primary scrape area located
arrow at that at least 4 year old,
pass within range while chasing a
where two draws converge and leave huge bodied, 20 plus inch inside
140 inch nine point from the area. He
as a single draw.
spread, heavy mass, nothing broken,
dwarfed the nine point in body size
Bryan was the first to score by
six point. His brows were only about and while at full draw I tried stopping
taking a near perfectly symmetrical
two inches long, his G-2s maybe 9,
him, but no such luck. I didnt demid 140s typical 10 point during
and his main beams around 25 inches serve a second opportunity anyway.
an evening hunt. The shot was 35
each. Being a scorer I did the proverOn the same evening Jon and I
yards and Bryan perfectly double
bial stupid thing and began scoring
each saw the dominant bucks from
lunged the big bodied buck at his go
him from the moment I saw him and
the two bedding area locations. It was
to location. Although the area was
had him in the low 120s, so I let up.
as though all the matriarch does that
scraped up and laced with rubs the 10 Stupid!
had gone into the bedding areas to
point he took had not been caught on
He was the most unique and
have the areas dominant buck breed
camera.
impressive six point I had ever seen
them, were now bred and it was
On an evening hunt in one of the
in the field and would have been an
time for the bucks to go search for a
pinch point locations where there
awesome addition to the wall. Clean
receptive doe.

thest apart cameras being two miles.

On a morning hunt in the conifer,
just as dawn was breaking a perfectly
clean 10 point, which I had not seen
before, came in from the draw and
worked a scrape and licking branch
and once finished he abruptly turned
and went right back up the draw.
At a mere 10 yards distance he
never offered me anything other than
a straight frontal or straight away
shot, which I wont and didnt take.
I dont know how he got there as
I could see anything within nearly
half a mile to the east and west, but
around 8:30 the same 10 point came
in from along the conifer tree line.
This time he offered a 10 yard broadside shot and I opened my fingers to
release a Maxima Hunter 250 arrow
tipped with a Rocket Sidewinder
head from my 58 pound Mathews
Conquest bow. The arrow and head
combo pierced through the exact
location my pin was on.
I watched as this big animal ran
flat out for forty yards before literally plowing through two barbed
wire fences about four yards apart
which were used to funnel cattle
through. His force popped the top
three strands of wire from eleven of
the fence posts they were strung to on
either side. It sounded like an out of
tune banjo.
He never broke stride and ran
south down the outside edge of the
draw and went at least 200 yards
before going over a hill and out of
sight. I knew the hit was perfect
and by the way he ran full throttle
through the fences instead of jumping
them, I also was 90% sure he was on
his dying run. You know its always
that dam 10% of being unsure that
mentally wins out over the 90%.
I took my time removing the
steps, Ts, and hangers from the tree
and taking off some layers and about
half an hour after the shot the search
began. I went directly to the downed
fence and while there was ample
blood to follow I continued to where
I last saw him go over the hill.
I expected to see him just over
the hill, but didnt. There was a narrow valley and then another hill and
when I popped over it, there he was
laying all sprawled out. He was a
clean mid-140s ten-point.
Although my inch and a half cut,
three blade head passed through both
lungs he traveled over 300 yards.
It was the farthest Ive ever seen a
double lung shot buck go because
typically I watch or hear them fall
within 80 yards.
The farmer was immediately
called to let him know about the
downed fences and then Bryan and
Jon to let them know that all our lo-

Bryan Schupbach, owner of Schupbachs Sporting Goods in Jackson, has a location that over the past few years has become his go to spot. His location is
also unique as its a primary scrape area located where two draws converge
and leave as a single draw.
cations were now open for a full out
assault on does.
After filling our three doe tags
that afternoon we skinned and
quartered them and gave them to the
property owners that gave us permission.
If looking at beginning to hunt
out of state, gravitate your attention
to Nebraska first because its an over
the counter license for non-residents,
half the cost for a tag, a state with
very few resident bowhunters making
acquiring permission easier, similar
to Kansas in terrain and agriculture
features, and the same large bodied
and antlered subspecies of whitetails.
The Dakotas are also an excellent choice for the same reasons but
are farther away. Southern Ohio and
Indiana are also excellent choices but
much harder to get permission.
If youve never hunted some of

these outstanding whitetail areas, you

need to save your money and do it.
With a good friend to aid in the initial
research of acquiring permission and
to split gas and food costs, its not
that expensive. Also keep in mind,
the more times you go, the more familiar and successful youll become,
and the higher your kill criteria will
get.
Good hunting!
John Eberhart is an accomplished
Michigan hunter that specializes in
heavy consequential hunting pressure
areas. John has produced a 3 volume instructional DVD series titled
Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails
and co-authored the books Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails, Precision Bowhunting and Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way.
They are available at:
www.deer-john.netn

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

The buck at Jons location came

out of the plum thicket and walked
downwind of the scrapes offering
a 13 yard shot. He was about a 20
inch spread 6 point that should have
been a 150 plus inch 10 point had he
not busted off 4 points nearly flush
with the main beams. Jon passed and
pulled the steps when he left.
At my location the monster buck
moved in from behind me. When he
passed through a narrow gap in the
conifers I couldnt help but notice
how wide he was. Without hesitation he came out of the conifers
and moved to the downwind side of
the scrapes and stopped perfectly
quartering away at 12 yards to scent
check them for previous doe activity.
Similar to Jons buck this buck
had 8 points and if he would have
had the other 4 tines that were busted
off flush with his main beams, he
would have been at least a 12 point.
I rarely take my cell phone but had it
on this hunt and took a wobbly picture as he walked away to show the
boys, otherwise they may not have
believed the spread.
Its always a major issue after the
full blown rut in big buck country
to locate a buck that isnt all busted
up. He was left for a gun hunter or
another year.
During the trip a farmer mentioned seeing some does regularly
crossing the road near his home and
Bryan and Jon checked out the draw
they would have come from. There
were scrapes and rubs everywhere
and we went back and prepared a
sling/saddle set-up at the tightest
pinch point and set-up a camera.
The next day we had pictures
from the first evening of what looked
to be a tall tined 12 and an 8 point.
Jon was all over it and with a 28 yard
shot took the bigger buck just before
dark that evening. Jon wasnt positive of the hit and although we were
concerned about coyotes, we decided
to wait until the next day to look.
Less than 100 yards out into a
bordering picked wheat field was the
big 12 point and he had a busted off
forked brow tine which would have
made him around a mid-150s, 13
point.
Like the previous four trips to
Kansas, I was bringing up the rear. It
stinks being last because the pressure
mounts and its a struggle to maintain
the same kill criteria because nobody
likes eating $450 tag soup.
Although I passed on the wide
busted up buck, the huge clean 8
point I had passed on at the same location was now on my target list. He
was a roamer and while Bryan and
Jon hadnt seen him, we had pictures
of him on 4 cameras with the two far-

85

Woods-N-WaterNews Classified Section

MISC.

MISC.

FOR SALE

AUCTIONS

HUNTING

HUNTING

NEED
METAL,
STEEL,
ALUMINUM, STAINLESS,
COPPER DELIVERED TO
YOUR DOOR? ANGLE, SHEET,
TUBE, PIPE, ETC. 24 HOUR
ONLINE ORDERING WWW.
INDUSTRIALMETALSALES.COM
PHONE (586) 783-2238 Michigan
based sportsman owned. M-5-4
................................................
A TEMPUR-PEDIC MEMORY
FOAM MATTRESS SET.
Clean. Never used. As seen on TV.
Cost $1700. Sell for $695. 989-8322401. M-4-14-TFN
................................................
LOG BUNK BEDS. $495. Amish
lodge furniture. Call Dan 989-8321866. M-4-14-TFN

AN
AMISH
LOG
HEADBOARD AND QUEEN
pillowtop mattress set. New. Sell all
for $275. 989-923-1278.
M-4-14-TFN
................................................
AMISH LOG BEDS, ANY
SIZE $199. 5 drawer log chest
$199. Good quality. Lowest prices in
Michigan. 989-839-4846. M-4-14TFN

BUCKEYE
HUNTING
CLUB MEMBERSHIP IN
GLADWIN COUNTY. 655
acres with 21 members. Club
house, 2 blinds and each membership includes a camping spot
with power. Asking 18,000 Call
989-513-5621. FS-6-1

RODNEY, MI, 49342:

RING NECK HAVEN HUNTING
PRESERVE LIQUIDATION
AUCTION, Sat., June 6, at 9
a.m. sharp! Auction to include
farm, construction, shop, pheasant, pen & incubators, very
good auction! Vsit www.
sykoraauctions.com for full list!
AUC-6-1

ALBERTS BEAR GUIDE

SERVICE. Bergland and Baraga
units. Federal license, 23 years
experience. Cell 906-231-9136,
Home 906-827-3731. H-6-4
................................................

BEAR HUNTS: Cameron &

Sons years of experience and
licensed with the State offer
baited hunts in Newberry area.
We have acres of private and
public tracks to hunt for your
pleasure 1st and 2nd season
only. Limited hunts available.
Guaranteed active baits. Many
references available upon
request. www.ccameron.biz or
visit us on our Facebook! Call
Kevin at 906-293-8550 or 906630-1034 or Clarence at 407414-7622.
H-5-4

Classifieds
Work!

FOR SALE
FANTASTIC 213 WOODED
ACRES, with frontage on two great
fishing lakes, just 30 minutes from
G.R. Call Gary 616-901-5473.
FS-5-2

(810) 724-0254

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FISHING
POND SUPPLIES: Live gamefish for stocking. Large selection of
lake, pond and watergarden supplies. Free catalog! Stoney Creek,
Inc., Grant, MI 800-448-3873. www.
stoneycreekequip.com F-4-7
................................................
FISH FOR STOCKING:
MOST VARIETIES POND
LAKES.
LAGGIS' FISH
FARM (269) 628-2056 DAYS,
(269) 624-6215 EVENINGS
F-5-2
LAKE ERIE WALLEYE AND
PERCH CHARTERS Captain
Bruce 517 740 5295 or
www.payableguideservice.com
Call now for Spring and
Summer booking. F-3-4
................................................

HUNTING
CAMERONS LITTLE TWO
HEART
BEAR
GUIDE
SERVICE We provide both bait
and dog hunts in the Newberry Unit
only. 40 plus years of guiding experience and we hunt in the area we live.
References available on request.
Call Kip at 906-293-5650. H-6-3
ATTENTION U.P. BEAR
HUNTERS: Top of the Line
Guide Service offers excellent
hunting opportunity for black
bear hunters in Newberry management area. Fully licensed
guide offers unlimited day hunting. Lodging available. High
success rate. For information
or references call Bruce at 906477-6983 or 616-566-0183.
H-5-5
2015 BARGAGA UNIT, guided
bear hunts limited openings available. Jam's LLC. 23 years experience, high success rates active baits.
5 day hunts. Guided with Iron Nickel
for 15 years. Call Matt 1-989-9415696. H-6-4
HUNT
WITH
BEAR
MOUNTAIN LLC this fall for
your 2015 Bear Hunt. We look
forward to hunting on an
expanded area of private property this fall that is in the heart of
prime bear territory. Baraga
BMU, Private land only hunts,
check out our website www.
mibearhunt.com. Give us a call
at 800 676 9821 or call Derek at
906 458 3754. H-6-1

2015 MICHIGAN BEAR

HUNTS: Newberry/Gwinn.
Just outside of Seney Wlidlife
Refuge. High success rate.
31 years. State and Federal licensed and experienced. Guaranteed active baits. 6 nights, 5
day hunt includes lodging and
meals. Start at $750. Bow and
rifle deer hunts. $125 per day.
906-439-5242. www.buckspportinglodge.com. H-5-5
GONZO BEAR CAMP - Bear
Specialist - We had 80% success.
Baraga, Gwen and Amasa Units Modular hunts start at $895. 7 days
lodging included. Write for more
information on how to apply for bear
permits on May 1st - 2730 S. Dort
Hwy., Flint, MI 48507 or call Dale at
(810) 814-8936 days 9-4 or evenings
(810) 874-9018 for more information
www.gonzobearcamp.com Like us
on Facebook. H-5-4
................................................
ROOSTER RANCH, LLC
- Since 1986. Ringneck pheasants, mallard ducks, chukar
partridge. Field and European
Hunts - lodging and meals
available. Your dogs or ours,
pointers or flushers. Wobble
Trap. Single family or corporate outings. Fundraiser hunts.
Check us out online:
roosterranchllc.com Call Nick
at 989-658-2332 to book your
hunt. H-4-6
BERGLAND UNIT. Guided bear
hunts over bait. State and federal
licensed bear guide. Call Rich 715663-0459 or www.upbearhunt.com
H-5-4
................................................

FALL MICHIGAN BEAR

HUNTS 2015: Newberry and
Gwinn Bear Management Units.
7 days hunting. 36 years in business. Includes lodging, tree
stands and ground blinds. Walkin cooler. Skinning. On location
bear check station. Located
on year-around resort. Fishing
lakes. Great ATV trails. Grouse
hunting. State and Federally licensed. Friend us on Facebook.
Contact: Tom Losiewski
1-269-330-0480
North
Country Hunting Adventures, Inc. H-5-4

ILLINOIS BOW HUNTS

RIVER BOTTOM, oak
bluffs and ag. All on 1200 continuous acres prices start at
$1100 is guided with food and
lodging. Call American Heritage
Outfitters Larry at 989-9064381 H-6-5

FULL 40 ACRES of great

deer and bear hunting in Posen,
MI in Presque Isle County.
Includes deer blinds, trails, and
food plot field. $52,000 989879-5967. H-6-2
RAY'S U.P. HUNTING - 25
years experience guiding for deer
and bear. Baited stands in Amasa,
Baraga, and Bergland Units. Lodging
Available. Call Ray at 906-265-9420
or cell (906) 284-2216. H-5-4
................................................
ALCONA COUNTY /
HUBBARD LAKE, MI. 5
day Bow Camp, 5 day Rifle
Camp, 5 day Black Powder
Camp, 5 day Lake House [with
family]. $2000 for all 20 days.
260 Acre Camp plus Lake
House. Modify plan to suit your
needs. CALL for details: 586260-0719 EMAIL:
vacation@hubbardlakehuntfishcamp.com
WWW.hubbardlakehuntfishcamp.com
H-6-6
TWO BUCK LIMIT: On
November Muzzleloader and
December Rifle hunts. Fair Chase.
Affordable hunts. Trail Camera
Photos. Thousands of acres of
Private Western Kentucky Farms and
Tennessee farms near the Kentucky
border. Hunters are welcome to visit
me and my farms before deer season. FREE BROCHURE. 270498-3374. H-6-5
................................................
HUNT IOWA WHITETAIL
in Zone 8 with American
Heritage Outfitters. Bow success rate good, with one nonresident preference point. 1200
acres of rich farm land, with
over 600 acres of timber and
deep ravines, lots of edge. Pricing starts at $1100 for October
bow hunts. 5 days guided with
food and lodging. NR Application period ends June 7th. Call
now to book your dates Larry
989-906-4381. H-6-1
BEAR HUNTS: Baraga
Unit. Be our guest at AA
LODGE. All inclusive. 5 day
hunts. $1000 - $1500. Call Roy
810-691-3373. H-5-5

Woods-N-Water News Classified Section

HUNTING

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

REAL ESTATE

DOGS

NORTHERN
ONTARIO
BEAR HUNTS: Booking now for
fall of 2015. Includes comfortable
cabin, boat and motor, baited stands.
Very experienced guides. High success rate. 3 hours from the Soo.
References on request. $960 U.S.
705-869-3272 www.texasandsons.
com H-10-12-14

COLORADO ELK HUNTING PROPERTY. 40.1

acres in Costilla County CO.
Elk, Mule deer, Lion, Bear,
Grouse, Turkey, Bobcat on the
property and Big Horn sheep in
the nearby San Isabel National
Forest. Beautiful Ponderosa
Pines and rock outcroppings.
Mt. Blanca is the fourth highest
peak in the continental U.S.
gives great views. This 40 acre
parcel is part of an 18,000 acre
ranch that allows owners to
hunt on the majority of the
ranch. $60k land contract possible. Call Cell 313-929-0623.
RE-5-2

40
SQUARE
WOODED
ACRES, Excellent Hunting, a
Creek. & 2 Rd. Frontages 1320 x
1320 90% Wooded Burnside Twp,
Lapeer County $119,000 Just Land
Sales, 586-419-6716, JustLandSales.
com RE-6-1
................................................
18 ACRES, Great Little Piece of
Farmland 573 x 928 (60 Easement)
10 % Wooded (tree-lined) Berlin
Twp., St. Clair County, $54,000 Just
Land
Sales,
586-419-6716,
JustLandSales.com
RE-6-1
................................................

BUYING OR SELLING?
Farms, vacant land or recreational
parcels throughout Michigan. Call
Doug Beasley at Faust Real Estate,
LLC Adrian, 517-423-7056. RE-6-1
................................................

OWN YOUR OWN LAKE

EXCEPTIONAL 45 ACRE
RECREATIONAL PARCEL:
3 separate lakes/ponds comprising
22 acres. Boating, jet skiing and
excellent fishing. Spectacular waterfowl hunting! Scenic building site for
permanent residence or weekend
campsite getaway surrounded by
water. Located in southern Tuscola
County, Vassar, mile from Krystal
Lake Campground. Asking $168,000
with available land contract terms.
Call Owner/Broker (989) 660-9033.
RE-6-1
................................................
SEBEWAING, MI. Waterfront
property, boat dock, private launch,
dead end road, very private. Great
hunting, fishing and relaxing. $25,900
or best offer. 810-985-3374 or 810841-3612. Will deal! RE-6-1
................................................

BEAGLE PUPS FOR SALE

also started dogs. Red Pine
Kennel 989-736-3486 or cell
989-254-2777 D-6-1
................................................

LUTHER, LAKE COUNTY

AREA. Great location for ORV,
snowmobilers, hunters and fisherman. Fully furnished, remodeled
cabin that sits just across the road
from the Little Manistee ORV
Trailhead and mile from the Little
Manistee River. Also close to hundreds of acres of state land. Is available for nightly and weekly rentals.
Also nearby are the Pine River, the
Pere Marquette River and the Tippy
Dam. Call 231-429-8624. RE-6-3
................................................
RICE LAKE, ONTARIO
CANADA Lake front cottages
from $400 US per week.
Excellent fishing & boat rentals.
www.tambircottages.com email:
tambir@eagle.ca call 1-800661-5491 R/R-5-2
50 ACRES totally private lake in
Western Lake County near Branch
on 2000 acre family preserve. 3
bedroom cottage with boats, beach,
large dock, swim raft, swings, fire pit,
etc. Excellent fishing for bass, pike,
trout and panfish. Miles of streams
and hiking trails. Caretaker lives on
property 1 mile away. $950 week.
248-559-7744. R/R-5-2
ALL SEASONAL, full
hookup, riverside RV resort.
Make Coho Bend, on the Big
Manistee River, your own hideaway! Large wooded sites-Boat
docks available.
www.cohobend.com
(231)-723-7321. R/R-4-8

PICKEREL
LAKESIDE
CAMPGROUND
and
COTTAGES - Baldwin Area 1425' all sport lake, frontage, 45
semi-rustic sites, 4 clean modern
cottages. www.lakecamp-cottages.
com 231-745-7268. R/R-4-7
TRAILS END RESORT on
Big Manistique Lake. 2 bedroom modern housekeeping
cabins. Knotty pine interiors.
Boats - motors and pontoon
rentals. Good fishing, hunting,
birding. Central UP - Curtis, MI.
Call 906-586-3515. RE-6-3

FOR RENT
MODERN CABIN FOR RENT
on Bear Creek. Sleeps 5. A/C, Sat
TV, full kitchen. 10 minutes from
Manistee River. 1.3 miles from state
snowmobile trails. Now booking for
steelhead. 231-590-1136. FR-3-5

SELLERS, It Is time, To Put Your

Hunting Land, On The Market, We
Are Here To Help You. Just Land
Sales, 586-419-6716, JustLandSales.
com RE-6-1
................................................
50 WOODED ACRES, all
Cedar River frontage, nice
cabin with 3 out buildings.
Gladwin County. A MUST SEE
at $209,900 call 989-798-8775
or 989-513-5621. RE-5-2
139 ACRES, Amazing Large
Piece. With an X-Large Pond for
Fishing 90% Wooded - Irregular
Shaped. Kimball Twp. - St. Clair
County $278,000 Just Land Sales,
586-419-6716, JustLandSales.com
RE-6-1
................................................
BUSINESS FOR SALE:
Party store on Black River in
Tower, MI. The only store in
town. Beer, wine, lotto, DNR,
licenses, live bait. Village post
office rents rooms in the building. Located in the heart of the
Pidgeon River State Forest.
Excellent hunting and fishing in
area. Store has been in operation for 30 years on high traffic
M68/33 Hwy. 450K Gross in
2014. Asking 200K plus inventory. Owners retiring. 989-7332480. RE-5-3
123 ACRES Wooded Deer
Camp, 4 miles of Groomed RV Trails,
& Bunk House, 95% Wooded,
1329x4043 Possible Split, Paris Twp.
Huron County, $330,000 Just Land
Sales, 586-419-6716, JustLandSales.
com RE-6-1
................................................
53 ACRES, Variety, Farmland,
Hard Woods, Meadow Grasses, &
River/Creek, 624 x 2615 irregular N.
Branch Twp., Lapeer County,
$145,000 Just Land Sales, 586-4196716, JustLandSales.com
RE-6-1
................................................
44.44 ACRES Unique Riverfront
Scenic Trails, with, Mill Creeks edge
as, S/W Property Lines.530 x irregular Brockway Twp, St. Clair County,
Reduced! $136,000 Just Land Sales,
586-419-6716, JustLandSales.com
RE-6-1
................................................

120 ACRES - Chippewa

County, 2000 foot water frontage on St. Mary's River.
Secluded, wooded, deer, bear,
rabbit, quail, prime fishing.
Artesian Well. $300,000 810455-3581. RE-6-1
160 + ACRES, PRIME
HUNTING LAND, OTSEGO
COUNTY. 880 sf cabin, food plots,
blinds, trails throughout and fence
line. Adjoins state land with water.
Great deer, grouse, turkey.
Snowmobile trailhead minutes away.
$230,000 OBO Matt at 313-7701611. RE-6-2
................................................
PRIVATE RETREAT ON THE
LINCOLN
RIVER,
SCOTTVILLE MI. Over 28 acres
with 3,000 feet of frontage. Cross
your covered bridge to the four BR,
three BA 4,600 sq ft home with
attached two car garage. Second
40x60 garage has heated floors and
a 1/2 bath. The garage also has a
shop room and reloading room, and
a heated, lighted with video custom
shooting range with 100 and 200 yd
targets. $740,000 Century 21
Ludington (231) 845-0363 Kevin
Leavitt. RE-6-2
................................................
10 ACRES WOODED LAND
ON PRIVATE ROAD IN
LINCOLN TWP, Clare County,
MI. Outhouse & converted construction trailer included. $25,000 Call
John - 810-217-7854.
RE-6-1
................................................
U.P.
SPORTSMAN'S
RETREAT - Near Engadine on
well-maintained gravel road, 1/2 mile
off blacktop, adjoins 120 acres State
land, deep drilled well (flowing), new
steel roof, new double pane windows, indoor plumbing and electric.
Great bear hunting, good deer hunting, 1/4 mile from groomed snowmobile trails, lakes nearby. Only serious
inquiries. Great bargain at $73,000.
All offers will be considered.
989.533.9590. RE-6-1
................................................
HURON
COUNTY
LAKEFRONT HOME NEAR
HURON CITY. Great goose &
duck area 3 bedrooms, fireplace,
garage, new siding & roof 2011.
Beach area, fishing, kayaking.
Possession at close. Qualified buyers only. Reduced to $159,000.
989-476-0196 Leave message, calls
returned. RE-6-1
................................................

GREAT 38.6+/- ACRE BLDG.

SITE located in Southwestern
Lenawee County. 35.05 tillable, three
acre woods. Approx. 675 of road
frontage, Morenci Schools. High spot
for a home overlooking the pond.
Pole Bldg. Close proximity to state
highway and Ohio. Call Diana at
Faust Real Estate, LLC 517-2703646. RE-6-1
................................................
2.6 ACRES ON SUGAR
ISLAND, waterfront with 167 feet
of shoreline. Off blacktop road but
very secluded. Asking $25,000 or
best offer. Call 906-253-1572.
RE-6-1
................................................
KALKASKA COUNTY: 10.01
beautifully wooded acres on year
round county gravel road. Only 7
miles to a Manistee River access.
ideal hunting, camping spot, home
site or recreational base. Driveway
and cleared site. $29,900, $1,000
down, $370/mo, 11% L/C. www.
northernlandco.com Northern Land
Co. 231-258-5100. RE-6-1
................................................
DRUMMOND ISLAND, 2500
feet on Whitney Bay, 3 boulder
points, 2 sandy coves, sheltered
deep draft docking, 33 lot plan,
$995,000. 586-463-0114. RE-6-2
................................................
UNIQUE, PRIVATE, AND
GORGEOUS: Eleven wooded acres, with small home,
bunkhouse/garage, 400+ feet
frontage on Manistee River in
Kalkaska County. Hunting and
fishing heaven. Three miles
into forest, off grid with Generac
system. Absolutely one of a
kind. For detailed info email
abymanistee@yahoo.com.
RE-6-2
ULTIMATE SECLUSION ON
DEAD-END ROAD 44
ACRE HUNTING HAVEN:
Established trails, food plots and
scent-sealed blinds on prime parcel
offering exceptional deer hunting as
well as rabbit and turkey hunting
opportunities. Features include
mature 8 acre pine stand, creek as
well as bordering waterway with balance consisting of superior deer
cover. Additional 26 acre lease available, if desired. Hunting privacy such
as this is few and far between. Asking
$109,500 with available land contract
terms of $5,000 down, $810/month,
7% interest, no balloon payment, no
prepayment penalties. Located in
Northern Lapeer Co., Rich Twp. Call
Owner/Broker (989) 660-9033.
RE-6-1

AMAZING 44 ACRES near

Rose City, Ogemaw County.
Hunt where Fred Bear and Ted
Nugent hunted. High and dry,
very private, 1,000 ft. frontage
on Houghton Creek, 30 ft. travel
trailer w/electric. Property surveyed $88,000 firm. Call 248249-6794 for details. RE-3-4
159.1/2 ACRES: Secluded
Canadian Wilderness. Hunt bear,
moose, wolf and small game. 20
miles NE of Timmins Ontario. 6 hours
from Sault Sainte Marie. $35,000. US
Dollars. Includes 2 outpost cabins.
Argo, 2 trailers. Contact 226-9755142. email huntershaven@cdpwise.
net. RE-5-4
................................................
20 ACRES+CABIN-5 BR/1BA
w/ outbuildings, Irons, MI. Abuts 600
acres Federal. 86K Rose: 517-2907517 BaseCampIrons@gmail.com
RE-5-3
................................................
235 ACRES, Petoskey, a skier's
mountain, 500 foot vertical, 8 miles of
two track roads, $550,000, 70 acres
more available. 586-463-0114.
RE-5-2
................................................
ACRES GOULD CITY Mi, back
40 with bought-in easement. Fully
wooded with parking / camping area,
gated entrance with new driveway.
Land is not swampy, adjoining state
land two miles from town. Great hunting, bear, deer and birds. Trimmed
trails with blinds and feeders.
Snowmobile trail head minutes away.
Asking $45,000.00 any more questions call or e-mail Debbie Severn.
1-989-624-4670 or ddsesuntan@aol.
com RE-11-12-14
................................................

DOGS
FOR
SALE:
GERMAN
DRAHTHAAR PUPS. Born the
first week of June PHONE: 517-5420162. D-6-1
................................................
LLEWELLIN SETTER PUPS:
F.D.S.B. registered, excellent
bloodline. Check us out at: www.
gouldgundogs.com or phone Tara at
989-550-8595. D-6-1

GERMAN SHORTHAIR
POINTER PUPS: Males
and females available. Excellent hunting dogs and superb
family pets. Close working dogs
with strong point and retrieve
instincts. Reasonably priced for
the sporting family. Money back
guarantee. Eulenhof Kennels,
Gladwin, MI.
http://www.eulenhof.com
989-426-4884 D-5-2
TWO 1 YEAR OLD MALES
AND One 2 year old female black
and tan. Started on coon and bear
breeding outstanding hounds over 50
years, treed over 60 bears in last 3
years. One 4 compartment dog trailer
for sale. Granola bear bait for sale.
616-240-1557. D-5-2
................................................
RABBIT DOG STARTING
PEN. 10 acres tall grass and wooded area. 989-670-4336. D-5-6
................................................
GUNDOG TRAINING AT ITS
BEST! by Paul Rheaume. Over 30
years experience with pointing and
flushing breeds. All inclusive 4 week
class that is customized to meet your
dog's needs. Excellent for young
dogs starting out, for experienced
dogs tuning up, or for dogs with
issues. $600. Find us on Facebook
or online http://gundogtraining.webs.
com. Rheaume's Kennel. (989) 8648606. D-4-3
................................................
DOGWOOD
KENNEL:
Complete training obedience and
field work. Working with dog and
owners to create a complete hunting
dog. If you want to hunt with your
dog, not for your dog, we can help
you. Training for AKC and F.D.S.B.
tests and trials. All hunting breeds
welcome. Brittany and Pointer pups
and started dogs available. 989-7610234 Merritt, MI.
www.dogwood-kennel.com
D-4-6
................................................
ENGLISH POINTER LITER due in May. Champion
sired. Kentucky Gambler. Mother sired by National Champion
Lester's Snowatch. $500 either
sex. $50 deposit. Kalamazoo
area. Call Andy 269-279-7599.
D-5-2

Classifieds
work!
(810) 724-0254

MondayFriday
9am-5pm
or try our
website
woods-n-waternews.com

email: wnw@pageone-inc.com website: www.woods-n-waternews.com

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

RESORTS/RENT

95 ACRES - Rogers City, MI

area secluded deer and bear
country $95,000 or make offer.
Call Paul 989-848-8000 or Joe
989-826-1998. RE-6-1

87

Offices Serving Lower &

Upper Michigan
Bringing people and places together since 1945

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY!

statewiderealestate.net

Houghton
Marquette

Curtis
Manistique

Escanaba

Powers
Menominee
Marinette

Newberry

Fife Lake

88-97

Onaway
Hawks
Hillman
Alpena

Atlanta
Harrisville
Mio
Oscoda

Skidway Lake

Clare

Almont
Linden

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS
PIECE OF PROPERTY

Howell

Your perfect getaway from the real world. 5 ponds, 1 behind

house (largest & stocked with panfish) & windmill that bubbles
the water. Immaculate log cabin. MB with master bath-jetted tub
on upper floor. 6 basement with sump pump, 28x36 garage has
1000 sq. ft. man cave, heated, full bath, wet bar. 30x50 pole barn,
24x24 workshp, both have electric. 12x12 pump house-electric &
water, used to service heavy equip. Ideal for hunters, several 5&10
acre scattered food plots. Backs up to Huron Natl Forest. 4800
airplane landing strip, equipped with gas. Airport identifier is 6
delta 9. Paved driveway. Very secluded Yet Within a couple miles
fo town & beautiful Lake Huron. Snowmobile & ORV Trails. Sale
includes parcels 031-011-200-001-00 and 031-002-300-01-00 totaling 500 acres. Motivated Seller! Make An Offer! $1,100,000

Colleen Strader

Contact Your Nearest State Wide Real

Estate Office To Buy or Sell In Michigan
HAWKS
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743
email: rita8383@yahoo.com
989-734-4846

ALMONT
844 Van Dyke Road
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com
810-798-8591 Fax: 810-798-8079

HILLMAN
14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746
email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com
989-742-4523 800-228-7856
Fax: 989-742-3931

CLARE
308 E. 5th Street, 48617
email: statewideclare@voyager.net
989-386-3396 Fax: 989-386-3800

HOUGHTON
500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 800-676-6323
Fax: 906-482-7699

CURTIS/NEWBERRY
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net
906-586-9606 Fax: 906-586-9607

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

ESCANABA
2209 Ludington Street, 49829
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
906-786-1308 800-900-0777
Fax: 906-786-1388

88

FIFE LAKE
127 State Street, P.O. Box 190, 49633
email: swfife@charterinternet.com
231-879-4471 Fax: 231-879-4362
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740
email: sold@anjstatewide.com
989-724-5711 800-655-5735
Fax: 989-724-6833

HOWELL/LINDEN
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843
email: statewid@earthlink.net
517-546-9060 800-531-4449
Fax: 517-546-9148
IRON MOUNTAIN - KINGSFORD
112 S. Carpenter Ave., Kingsford, 49802
906-828-9079
MANISTIQUE
10 N. State Highway M-149
Cooks, MI 49817
906-644-2304
email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
1460 Marinette Ave., 54143
email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com
715-735-9964 Fax: 715-732-1107
MARQUETTE
856 W. Washington, 49855
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org
906-228-9312 Fax: 906-228-8069

MENOMINEE
3631 10th Street, 49858
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com
906-863-9905
Fax: 906-863-7935
MIO
102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: info@statewidemio.com
989-826-3292
Fax: 989-826-2108
ONAWAY
M-33 & M-68,
P.O. Box 478, 49765
email: bigdan@frontier.com
989-733-6522
Fax: 989-733-2427
OSCODA
335 South State St., 48750
email: lakehuronsw@chartermi.net
989-739-2050
Fax: 989-739-2280
POWERS
W3776 US2 & 41, 49874
906-497-4190
Fax: 906-497-5328
holly@statewiderealestate.net
SKIDWAY LAKE
2228 Greenwood Rd.,
Prescott, 48756
email: atlas@m33access.com
989-873-3601
Fax: 989-873-6914

ALPENA
1100 W. Chisholm, 49707
email: alpswre@speednetllc.com
989-356-2142 Fax: 989-356-2144

248-840-9624

IG RIVER

PROPERTIES

BIG BASS LAKE HOME 6598 NA-TAH-KI DRIVE IRONS

Stunning views of Big Bass Lake with 76 feet of prime sandy frontage
on this 290 acre all sports lake. The home features 3 bedrooms, 2 bath,
with an ideal entertaining floor plan with a formal dining area adjoining
the living room, gas fireplace with a built in unit next to it. Kitchen has
cherry cabinets, coffee bar, breakfast area and the perfect sitting area
overlooking the lake and a laundry room. The 24x36 barn style garage
has a loft upstairs with extra room. $299,900 (HAR)
LITTLE MANISTEE RIVER 7929 E POMEROY SPRINGS ROAD
This 20+ acre parcel has over 600' of frontage on the famous Little
Manistee River sitting back off the beaten path and adjoining Federal
Land on three sides. The fishing cabin has 1 bedroom on the main floor,
1 bath, kitchen, dining area, living room and a great rec room between
the cabin and the 2 car garage. There is a large loft above the garage
with two more sleeping areas and a bathroom. $249,900 (POR)
BEAR CREEK FRONTAGE 9087 PARCEL C RIVER ROAD
MANISTEE - Spectacular view of Bear Creek flowing into the Big
Manistee River. Parcel C has approximately 200 frontage on Bear
Creek and 750 of road frontage on River Rd. Part of a larger parcel, a
high ridge separating it from the remaining acreage. A mixture of wetland, woods and highlands. Fishing and hunting can t possibly get any
better than this, not to mention the beautiful view you would enjoy from
a home built on the ridge. $145,000 (MAZ)
HARPER LAKE COTTAGE 9808 W HARPER DRIVE IRONS
Cottage or cabin nestled in a nicely wooded lot with 85 frontage on
all-sports Harper Lake. Cottage features half-log siding, 2 bedrooms,
opening living area, kitchen and family room overlooking the lake. Nice
patio to enjoy the view and entertain guests during those warm summer
months. Large 2-stall detached garage, plus a storage shed perfect for
storing all of your lake toys! $137,500 (IRO)
NICE HOME ON 5+/- ACRES 22016 HOXEYVILLE ROAD This is
a beautifully maintained 2 bedroom with 1 full bathroom on almost 5
acres with a park-like setting. The home features an open floor plan.
There is an enclosed front porch for those cooler nights and a rear deck
for those warm summer days. There is a 4 ft high cement crawl space
under the entire living area. Large pole barn with 2 separate lockable
lean-to sheds. Also 1 free standing shed. $99,900 (QUI)
CABIN ON 10+/- ACRES 88 W. 4 MILE ROAD LUTHER Enjoy
this fully furnished barn style cabin situated on 10 acres of land. The
cabin features 1,100 sq ft. of living space, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, living
room with double sliders out to the back yard, wood burning stove to
keep you cozy, kitchen with farm house sink, knotty pine and wood
detail throughout. $67,000 (KLO)

Hunters Call for our Acreage Parcels

5963 W. 10-1/2 Mile Rd. Irons, Michigan
231-266-8288 877-88-NORTH
www.BigRiverVentures.com Info@BigRiverVentures.com

231-652-7000
- or -

231-250-8200

WE NEED LISTINGS 40+ ACRES AND LARGER

NG

LD

I
ND
E
P

Allegan County, 71+/- Acres. Good Trail

System, Excellent Deer & Turkey Hunting
$114,900

Arenac County, 70 Acres 3,500+/- ft. Lake

Huron Frontage, Duck & Deer Hunters Dream
$280,000

Arenac County, 146 Acres Rifle River &

Saginaw Bay Access, Tri-Level House
$399,999

Arenac County, 349 Acres

2 Ponds, Blinds, Trails
SOLD -$523,500 - SOLD

Calhoun County, 88 Acres

45 Tillable, Balance Wooded
$299,900

Calhoun County, 336 Acres Caretaker House,

Lodge, Pole Barn, River & Lake Front
PENDING - $1,150,000 - PENDING

Chippewa County, 1684 Acres 8,500 sq. ft. Log Lodge,

Guest House, Dock on St. Marys River, Private Lake
$2,490,000

Clare County, 155 Acres

Rolling Hardwoods, Pond, Trails
$224,900

Clare County, 136.76 Acres, Private Lake

5,000 ft. Muskegon River Frontage, Adjacent to National Forest
$350,000

Crawford County, 20+/- Acres. Nice Woods,

Cabin, Adjacent to State & Federal Land
$84,900

Delta County, 75+/- Acres

3,000 ft Lake Michigan Frontage, Cabin
$294,000

Delta County, 40+/- Acres

1,200 ft. Lake Michigan Frontage
$109,000

LD

Jackson County, 53.5+/- Acres

2,000 ft. Grand River Frontage, Trail System
$212,000

Jackson County, 60 Acres Custom Log

Home, Pole Barn, Too Much To List
SOLD - $379,000 - SOLD

Jackson County, 69 Acres, 2,800 ft Grand

River Frontage, House & Pole Barn
$349,900

Kalkaska County, 480 Acres

Great Trail, Nice Hardwoods
$899,000

Lake County, 320 Acres, 4,700 sq ft Lodge,

Outbuildings, Sm. Creek, Pond, Elevated Blinds
SOLD - $599,000 - SOLD

I
ND
E
P

Lenawee County, 34 Acres

2,000+/- ft. Raisin River, Big Buck Cover
$61,200

Mecosta co 28 ac
1320 Chippewa River, Nice Cabin
165,900

Mecosta County, 80 Acres, Significant

Timber Value, Adjacent to State Land
PENDING - $139,000- PENDING

LD

Mecosta co 160 ac
Private Lake, 5000 sq ft House
749,000

Midland co 80 ac
Pond, 25 ac Tillable, Nice House
349,900

LD

Missaukee County, 75 Acres Pond, Creek,

Guest Cabin & 2 Bedroom House
$199,000

Mecosta co 80 ac
5 Ponds, Food Plots, Shed
129,000

LD

Missaukee County, 200 Acres

Cabin, Pond, 8 Enclosed Blinds
$329,000

Montcalm County, 40 Acres Church Creek

Frontage, Rustic Cabin, Excellent Hunting
SOLD - $129,900 - SOLD

Newaygo County, 40 Acres Surrounded by

National Forest, Trails, Elevated Blinds
SOLD - $85,000 - SOLD

Otsego County, 200 Acres

Rolling Terrain, Food Plots, Cabin
$399,000

Presque Isle Co, 10 ac

Deeded Lake Access, Pole Barn
$58,000

Schoolcraft County, 2282 Acres

Fox River Frontage
$499,000

LD

Jackson County, 162 Acres CRP Program, 6 Elevated

Blinds, 115 Ac. Tillable, Pond, Big Buck Country
$599,000

NG

LD

Jackson County, 125 Acres

Big Buck Country, Small Creek
SOLD - $187,500 - SOLD

Newaygo County, 140 Acres, Pond

Trout Stream, 40 Ac. Tillable, Food Plots
SOLD - $325,000 - SOLD

Ogemaw County, 40 Acres House, Pond,

Abundant Wildlife, Great Hunting
SOLD - $139,000- SOLD

Otsego County, 160 Acres

Private 15 Ac Lake, 6,000 sq. ft. House
$1,749,000

WildLifeRealty.com

www.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

Jackson County, 43 Acres

I-94 & M-99 Exit, Tillable
$299,000

LD

89

WWW.

MICHIGANWHITETAILPROPERTIES.COM

Bitely, MI Partially wooded 105 acres of excellent hunting property in Newaygo County. Excellent deer, turkey
hunting within walking distance to Big South Branch of the Pere Marquette River and Manistee National Forest. Mix
of hardwoods, pine, open fields, large pond and large pole barn. Existing older 2BD home needs work, being sold
as vacant land. $189,000
Grant, MI 50 wooded acres with approx. 300 frontage on Sand Creek. Private with several building sites. Property has 24 x 36 insulated pole barn with 11 ceilings, 10x10 garage door, wood stove and kitchen area. Excellent
deer, turkey hunting. $139,900
Brohman, MI Well-kept 2 BD home/cottage with 25+ wooded acres. Private setting, adjoins 1000s of acres of
Manistee National Forest. Features fireplace, open kitchen, newer windows, roof replaced 2012, 5 inch well, newer
hot water heater, large storage shed, several hunting blinds and more. Excellent deer, turkey hunting. Close to several Lakes and Rivers including the S. BR of the Pere Marquette. $74,900
Mears, MI Partially wooded lot with absolutely fantastic views of Silver Lake and the Sand Dunes. 60 private
frontage on the Lake. Ready to build your new home. $169,900
Howard City, MI 3 Bedroom with 88ft of prime frontage on the Little Muskegon River. Enjoy fishing, swimming,
tubing or kayaking right outside your front door. Home features include large deck, open kitchen, stone fireplace,
sliders out to deck, vaulted ceilings, loft, basement, 10 x 12 storage barn artesian well and much more. Easy access
to 131. $129,900
Howard City, MI 2-1/2 acre lot with approx. 200 frontage on the Little Muskegon River.
Excellent building site with easy access to US 131. Property has well, septic, electric and slab
already in. Great trout fishing and close to thousands of acres of Manistee Forest. $40,000

Brad Alexander 231-740-1806

COVERING ALL OF MICHIGAN

150 Acres - GENESSEE COUNTY

Not far from Flint, Lapeer, or Saginaw This 150 acre farm has
what it takes to be made into a fantastic hunting property! It
begins with an old farm house, that needs some TLC but it
structurally sound and would make a very good cabin. Leaving the front part of the property and heading north across the
nearly one mile deep property to the north, there is corn on the
left (west) and drops down into a grassy low area to the east, then back up again into more
corn and CRP grasses. Mature woods line an Oak ridge along the east side about halfway
back and then down into a thick bottom area while the west side of the property is high and
broken up into different fields and more CRP grasses and tree lines. The north end of the
property is completely wooded and very rolling and hilly. With the addition of some quality
food plots planted in strategic locations, this property would be one of the best in the area
without any doubt. AG fields border to the west. Call me if you would like to see this great
piece in Genesee County. $429,900

398 ACRES - INGHAM COUNTY

Land for sale in Michigan, Farm Land for sale in Michigan,

Hunting Land for sale in Michigan. 398 acres in Ingham
County. Where in southern Michigan will you find nearly 400
acres contiguous land? Here is where! This fantastic property
is three parcels with different owners and can be purchased as
one, or separately. Nearly 200 acres of tillable ground and the
balance is wooded and great whitetail deer and turkey habitat. Thick heavy bedding areas,
mature timber and some open areas to plant food plots.There simply isnt another one like
this in this part of our state. Included with this is a very nice fairly new three bedroom three
bathroom home that sits back in the woods about 1000 off the road. **This home can also
be purchased on 107 acres that is half wooded and half tillable for $579,000** These properties can be purchased as one parcel or separately as 233 acres for $1,000,000, the 107 acres
with the home for $579,000 and 58 acres mostly wooded for $179,000. $1,780,000

Jerry Slade BROKER

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

(517) 437-2946

Christie Plemmons

Assoc. Broker (517) 398-0268

Scott Coe

(517) 398-4436

Ben Oliverio

(734) 564-7985

LAND SALES HUNTING FARM RANCHES

WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT!

10 % DISCOUNT IF
DEAL FINALIZED
BY JULY 15, 2015
(on all properties except LIGHTHOUSE
POINT,EXCLUSIVE LAKE HURON
WATERFRONT & WATERVIEW ESTATE LOTS)!

CANADIAN RECREATIONAL
PROPERTY CLOSE TO
SAULT STE. MARIE,
MICHIGAN BORDER

*LAND CONTRACTS
AVAILABLE O.A.C.*
OTHER PROPERTIES
AVAILABLE, CONTACT
US FOR DETAILS!

ALL PROPERTIES ARE IN

TROPHY DEER & BEAR AREA
WITH GREAT FISHING!!!
NO GUIDE OR OUTFITTER
REQUIRED IF YOU BUY
PROPERTY IN ONTARIO!

LAJAMBE
ENTERPRISESINC.
120 Huron Street

(across Street from Canadian Customs)

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 1P8

TELEPHONE:

(705) 248-9663
FAX:

(705) 248-1110
CONTACT:

Frank Lajambe
EMAIL:

flajambe@lajambe.com
WEBSITE:

www.lajambe.com

WATERFALLS PROPERTY: 160 acre parcel 45 min from

International Bridge. Waterfalls & river running across property.
Rugged, well treed, hunting, and recreational property with
government land on 3 sides. Only 1.5 miles off a year round
maintained road. This won't be on the market for long so act
now. Dont delay, asking $69,900.00 as is or make an offer.
MACDONALD PROPERTY: 759 acres with hunting camp,
25 miles east of Sault St. Marie Ontario, property is gated, isolated and wooded, with a four bedroom, two-story pole barn.
20-acre lake and 2 streams. Great Bear Hunting! Two Deer
plots! Five deeds, no guide required, underpriced at $274,000.
($361 per acre) Terms available, excellent buy!
EXECUTIVE WATER FRONT HOME FOR SALE: This four
bedroom home is situated less than 30 miles from the US/
Canadian border in a private country setting, in a quiet bay. The
lot is 200x750. Lots on either side also available. This property
has unequaled sunsets facing southwest with deep water for
pleasure craft boating on Lake Huron in the North Channel.
$899,900.00.
PRINCE PROPERTY: 287 acres of hardwood and softwood
forest with a creek flowing through the property. Year round
access. This property comes with a wind mill that generates
approximately $5,500.00 dollars per year. There are deer, bear,
as well as small game on the property and it is located 30 minutes from the International Bridge. Asking price is $94,900.00
OBO.
400 ACRES OF ROLLING HARD-AND SOFTWOOD HILLS:
Large beaver pond and creek runs thru property, next to above
property if more acreage is required. Property is great for bear
hunting, white tail and grouse. Four miles off year-round maintained road. $124,900
EXCLUSIVE LAKE HURON WATERFRONT & WATER-VIEW
ESTATE LOTS LOCATED IN THESSALON, ONTARIO 50
MILES EAST OF SAULT STE. MARIE, ONTARIO ON
HIGHWAY 17 EAST: Lighthouse Point serviced with hydro,
telephone, sewer, water, gas, cable on paved street. Airport,
marina and hospital in area. No time limit for building.
Waterfront lots 100 478 frontage, waterview lots 80 frontage.
Prices from $20,000.00 and up.
REILLY NORTH PROPERTY: 80 acre parcel with beaver
pond, hardwood and softwood mixed forestland 30 minutes
from International Bridge. Priced to sell at $26,900.00.
TWO 10 ACRE SAND BEACH LOTS (these lots have it all):
60 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie each lot has 300 frontage on
Bright Lake near highway 17 East (lake area approx. 24 square
miles), year round access with power to property. This inland
lake has perch, bass, walleye and northern pike. Priced to sell
at $119,000.00 (lot #2) and $134,900.00 (lot #3).
REILLY SOUTH PROPERTY: 80 acre parcel with beaver
pond, hardwood and softwood mixed forestland 30 minutes
from International Bridge. Priced to sell at $21,900.00.
FINN'S BAY PROPERTY: Two Waterfront Lots on Lake
Huron's North Channel 141' X 600' $124,900.00 and 150' X
600' $129,900.00, year round access, deep water for boating
and fishing, 25 minutes east of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.
Financing available. (705) 248-2002

Other Properties
Available Upon Request.
Don't Be Shy, Make An Offer.
All Properties Must Be Sold!

WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT!

WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT!

Property is off a country road a couple of miles east of Rose

City, about 20 miles north of West Branch and turns into
the private drive over a mile along a winding private road,
through the forest, you will come to a locked gate that leads
you directly into this fantastic property. An extensive road
system runs throughout this property, each trail is groomed,
big enough for a car and has its own name marked by trail
signs. The main trail leads you into roughly 10 acres that is planted with high protein clovers
(which is one of many food plots planted here) out in front of a gorgeous log cabin lodge.
Continuing on, there is a stocked pond as you drive up to the lodge. Lodge has wrap around
porch and fantastic views that anyone would enjoy. Deer and Turkeys will be feeding in the
clover at anytime of the day. On the southern end of the property there is a fire pit behind
the Log cabin next to Houghton Creek. This could be a year round home. Knotty pine walls,
stone fireplace, wrap around kitchen, laundry room, full bathroom, and two bedrooms. a loft
that is large enough to hold 6 beds! A full finished walkout basement! A family room with
a pool table, another full bath and a Hunting Locker room. Outside you will find a log built
garage that matches the cabin as well as a pole barn to store all of your toys and equipment.
$999,900

WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT! WOW! CHECK THIS OUT!

455 acres with Lodge - OGEMAW COUNTY

1331 W. MAIN STREET, FREMONT, MI 49412

$1,100,000

4751 Johnson Road | Gowen, MI 49326

Luxury, Hunting, and Country!

Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2 Full
3,660 sq. ft. on 245 acres
Year Built: 1979
It's not about the house. Is it the location or the
property? Let me introduce you to a unique
opportunity where it may not be about the house.
Almost 245 acres on Flat river, with rolling hills,
ponds, trails lined with trees, hunting shacks, and
plenty of wildlife. Multiple barns and storage
sheds including the Sugar Shack setup just for
making maple sugar! The ranch style home is
just as unique as the land. A builder owned
home with vaulted ceilings, tempered glass
windows, kitchen with honey oak cabinets, and
formal dining room overlooking the Flat River.

Jason Lash
Luxury Collection Specialist
Team Lead
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Michigan
Real Estate

616-447-7045
jason.lash@grhomes.net
http://www.GRHomes.Net

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

For a showing go to Http://www.GRHomes.Net.

91

The Real Estate

Market is finally
bouncing back in
Michigan.

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

We are attracting
buyers from across
the United States
because of our
partnership with
Sports Afield Trophy
Properties. Learn how
our connection with Sports Afield,
Americas oldest outdoor
magazine, benefits you when
listing your property with
Trophy Class Real Estate.
Call or visit us online today.

92

877-843-0910
www.TrophyClassRealEstate.com

WEST BRANCH
M-33/M-55 OFFICE
1953 S. M-33
West Branch, MI 48661

HALE
OFFICE

ALE
S
R
O

3160 North M-65

Hale, MI48739

10 miles north of I-75 exit 202

Local: 989-345-2662
Toll Free: 800-535-6520

WEST BRANCH
LOOP OFFICE

ALE
S
R
O

2575 S. I-75 Business Loop,

West Branch, MI 48661

Gateway to Huron National Forest

www.CAHANES.com

Local: 989-728-2540
Toll Free: 800-495-2540

1 mile north of I-75 Exit 212

www.CAHANES.com

Local: 989-345-0315
Toll Free: 866-345-0315

HOMES AND PROPERTY W/WATERFRONT AND ACREAGE

1797440

1776325

1790635

1794766

16+ ACRES
ON HENDERSON
LAKE!!

80 ACRES
ON RIFLE
RIVER!!

2.1 ACRES
W/NESTER
CREEK
FRONTAGE!!

Spacious 2-bdrm,garage, wooded, beautiful

views, 640+ feet on Creek, mature trees, deck,
pond & nice year round!!

519' of canal frontage, 2-bdrm, 16x34 deck,

pole barn, sunroom, partial bsmt, most furnishings to stay!!

Cozy 2-bdrm getaway, FP, shed, excellent hunting property, great canoeing and
fishing at your doorstep!!

3-bdrm home w/large garage & many

great features like AC, newer carpet, FP,
full bsmt, fence yard, deck and covered
porch!!

40 ACRES
ON JOHNSON
CREEK!!

Spacious 3-bdrm, Michigan bsmt, covered porch, garden areas, mostly wooded and gorgeous country setting!!

$140,000

$180,000

$249,900

$134,900

$138,000

1797007

8+ ACRES
ON DEDRICH
CREEK!!

1782802

1789290

10 ACRES
ON RIFLE
RIVER!!

ALL SPORTS
172 ACRE
HARDWOOD
LAKE!!

1798751

1799195

1796893

SECLUDED
RIVERFRONT
LIVING!!

PICTURE
PERFECT
SETTING!!

80 ACRES
ON LITTLE
CRANBERRY
LAKE!!

Stunning log home, 3-bdrm, over 4700 sq feet,

FP, full bsmt, balcony, porch, deck and a must see
spectacular setting!!

1.37 partly wooded acres, 50 water frontage, potential building site for dream home/
getaway & gorgeous views!!

Gorgeous custom built, 3 bdrm Saltbox, 4.1

ACRES & 240 feet of frontage on Rifle River,
pole barn, deck, pristine inside & more!!

Fantastic updated 3-bdrm, 3.8 ACRES and 349' of

frontage on Eddy Creek!! Tons of convenient comforts, barn style shed, spring fed pond, FP, great
rear deck, near ORV/snowmobile trails & more!

Rolling and wooded, mature trees, 30x34

cabin w/generator, storage bldg & ole
bldg, 9 blinds, trails & more!!

$595,000

$39,900

$189,900

$96,500

$199,900

WATERFRONT HOMES
1797610

1795962

ALL
SPORTS
LAKE
OGEMAW!!
3 bdrm, 2 bath Saltbox, full bsmt, wood stove,
custom oak paneling, 152' sandy frontage, wrap
around Trex deck, dock & more!!

$274,900

PRIVATE
FAWN
LAKE!!
Pristine 4-bdrm, 4 bath, garage w/upstairs,

1797782

1796275

1791552

SPACIOUS
4 BEDROOM
YEAR
ROUND!!

SOOTHING
NO WAKE
LAKE!!

INCLUDES
FISHING
& PADDLE
BOATS!!

large workshop, wood floors, 2 FPs, full finished bsmt, and much more!!

55 feet of frontage on all sports West

Londo Lake, deep lot, fruit trees, garage,
workshop, decks w/beautiful views!

Spacious 3-bdrm on large lot, covered

porch, 330 feet shared frontage on Laird
Lake, seawall, boat dock & updates!!

123 frontage on Big Williams Lake with

nice 3-bdrm year round home that is a
must see with tons of great amenities!!

$229,750

$159,000

$129,900

$129,900

1796687

1780107

1796461

1791169

1798229

WATERFRONT
CHALET!!

UP
NORTH
LAKEFRONT
GETAWAY!!

PERFECT
LAKEFRONT
GETAWAY!!

SMALL
FISHING
LAKE!!

LAKEFRONT
JUST
ACROSS
ROAD!!

2-bdrm, 1.5 story home on Muleshoe

Lake w/bath on every level, full bsmt,
garage w/bsmt, updates, boat dock &
more!

Cozy 2-bdrm cottage w/64 water frnt on all

sports Little Long Lake, two garages, encl
porch, sandy beach & more!!

Cozy 2/3-bdrm on all sports Cranberry Lake,

some furnishings, boat dock, lakeside patio
and beautiful views!!

Spacious 3-bdrm, 1.5 bath home with garage & pole bldg, fantastic 12x50 porch in
great subd w/nice fishing!!

Well-maintained 3-bdrm cottage, 3 lots,

all sports Hardwood Lake, knotty pine,
encl porch, furnishings & garage w/elec!!

$ 126,900

$119,900

$69,000

$59,900

$65,900

AFFORDABLE UP NORTH GETAWAYS

WALK
TO LAKE
ELNI!!

FANTASTIC
AREA!!

1782831

1783267

1784418

WEEKEND
RETREAT!!

NEAR
RIFLE RIVER
RECREATIONAL
PARK!!

ACROSS
FROM ALL
SPORTS LAKE
OGEMAW!!

Cozy 2-bdrm, knotty pine, newer furnace & well

pump, shed, deck, pond, over an acre of property
and near it all!

Neat and clean 2-bdrm cabin, 20x30 garage, just down road from access to popular, all sports Clear Lake & near trails!!

2-bdrm, deck, appliances, newer furnace,

hunt camp or getaway, on 10 wooded
acres and near lakes and State lands!!

Cozy 2-bdrm on 5 wooded acres, garage,

rear deck with beautiful views, fire pit for
lazy nights and a nice pond!!

4-bdrm, 2-story home, full walkout basement, 1500 square feet of living space,
private lake access and priced for quick
sale!!

$49,900

$49,500

$49,500

$47,900

$35,900

1794941

1784601

1792450

1787467

A HALF
ACRE OF
PROPERTY!!

WALK TO
POPULAR
CLEAR LAKE!!

DESIRABLE
LOCATION!!

BORDERS
GOLF
COURSE!!

Well-maintained 2-bdrm, garage & pole barn,

front deck for enjoying the outdoors, nice year
round home or getaway!!

Newly remodeled 2-bdrm, steel roof, family

room, FP, appliances, two garages, in heart
of fishing, hunting & trails!!

3-bdrm home needs your TLC on 5.4 wooded

acres with 36x40 pole barn, newer well, covered porch and semi-secluded!!

2-bdrm needs some work on 1.77 acres,

blacktop drive, large shed, completed
fenced backyard and great location!!

$42,900

$39,900

$39,900

$35,900

FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

1797668

NEAR
RIFLE
RIVER!!
3-bdrm home, family room, on 6 lots, totaling 1.6 acres, nicely treed, large storage shed w/electric, porch for relaxing!!

WWW.CAHANES.COM

$22,900

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

1790413

1790741

93

HUNTERS PARADISE
Secluded Private
Road Setting
On 10.2 Acres
Attica Mi.
Abundance of Wildlife
4 Bedroom 3 Bath
3500 Sq Ft Home
3 Car 30x40
Detached Insulated
W/ Electrical Pole Barn
Newly Remodeled Kitchen
New Carpet New Paint
$275,000
L

CAL

810-820-0955

Ask for . . . JERRY

OF CLARE

166,900

308 E. 5th Street Clare, MI 48617

RECREATIONAL PROPERTY
Harrison-62 A parcel w/6000 river frontage on Muskegon River. Hunt, camp and canoe. You can do some great
things on this beautiful piece of property. L/C terms available. Great Price - $149,900!
Farwell-79 A wooded and open hunting property w/clean,
well maintained 2 BR cabin & pole barn. Located on
paved road. Great recreation area. Reduced $178,000.
Lake-PRICE REDUCED To $565,000! 255 acres, prime
piece of recreational/agricultural property. Includes 2
homes and many barns/outbuildings. Doc & Tom Creek

Beautiful Lake Front Home

$

FORSBERG
Office: 989-386-2631
runs through the property. Also has a fishing pond. Many
possible uses. Call office for details.
Osceola Co., Orient Township. 295 acres for deer, ducks,
partridge and woodcocks. Good road frontage. New survey. Several blinds included. $377,000
Lake: Clare County. Crooked Lake. 4 bedroom, 1 bath,
waterfront. $125,000
Many smaller, affordable Up North getaway parcels;
We have several hunting properties that would work well
for multiple ownership. See us for land.

ONLINE WOODED
LAND AUCTION
(989)
823.8835

VASSAR, MI (TUSCOLA CO)

at www.BidNow.com

Bidding Open 6/9 Thru Tuesday, June 16, 2015 at 5:00 PM

80 +/- WOODED ACRES - VASSAR, MI (TUSCOLA COUNTY)

2 Bedroom, 1 1/2 Bath, 1350 Sq. Ft Cottage on Wixom Lake (N. of Midland).
Best Spot On The Lake. New Seawall And Roof In 2014. Central Air, Natural Gas Heat

CALL 770-335-2327

989.823.8835

YOUR TOTAL
REAL ESTATE COMPANY.

PROFESSIONALS

67395 Main St.

Richmond, MI 48062

586-727-2741

ST. CLAIR COUNTY LISTINGS

11.68 ACRES

THE OLD HOUSE HAS BEEN REMOVED AND THE PROPERTY IS

READY TO BUILD ON. DRIVEWAY, ELECTRIC, WELL, 2 CAR GARAGE, POLE BARN ARE DONE. YOU WILL SAVE THOUSANDS
BUILDING A NEW HOUSE HERE. The property has a 40 ft. X
80 ft. newer pole barn with electric. Also a newer 2 car garage
with electric. Two other old buildings on the property as well.
Could be restored. There is a good well on the property. Build
your dream house here and bring horses or any other livestock.
Ready to build. Driveways are in and the well is there ready to be
hooked up, and NATURAL GAS. Perk test is done and approved.
Partially Wooded. Call Mark 810-240-3331. $89,900

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

CUSTOM
BUILT
NEWER
RANCH
HOME

94

ONCE
IN A
LIFETIME
CHANCE

NATURAL
GAS!
LOCATED
AT 11852
HILL RD.

On over 62 acres at 7783 Mason in Yale. This home is 1900 sq ft on a

paved road with a large master bed with walkin closets, private bath
with shower and tub. Kitchen has high ceilings and granite throughout.
Property is set up for hunting or recreation. Trails go around property
that has a pond, food plots, tree blinds and borders the north branch of
Mill Creek. Property is over 80% wooded with plenty of oak trees and
enough ash firewood to heat outdoor woodburner. Deer hunters paradise as Quality Deer Management is in place here and the surrounding
properties as well. 30 x 40 pole barn used as a garage with 2 large rollup doors and enough storage for all the toys. Other wildlife include
turkeys, waterfowl and other game. Call Jim 810-531-1286. $320,000

To own your hunting, fishing and recreational land. 73 acres of

river bottom and farmland on Norman Rd. in Grant Twp. This piece
has 1900+ feet of Black River still in its natural state. Large mature
timber is mixed in with oak ravines, pine thickets and cliffs overlooking the Black River. Approx. 10+ acres is still farmland. Food
plots are still in place with some tower blinds remaining. This is
the last piece of private land in the Black River bottoms. It will
be hard to find anything in southern lower Michigan to compare
this to. The amount of wildlife including deer and turkey is amazing. The river frontage has natural rapids with runs of steelhead in
the spring and salmon in the fall. Call Jim 810-531-1286. $300,000

LUCE COUNTY
80
ACRES,
LAND
CONTRACT
TERMS.
County Rd, 415 North of
McMillan in Luce County. $35,000

Call Mark Farquhar 810-240-3331

More Listings Available!

80 Acres +/- Vacant Wooded Land on the Corner of Hanes and Caine
Road. This Parcel Offers Excellent Hunting as it Surrounded by Sections of Wooded Land in all directions and is bordered on the West
Boundary by Farm Land. The Property has a creek running through it
and trails have already been cut to keep an eye on your hunting blinds.
Feel Free to Walk the Property at any time! You can pull in the drive on
Caine Road on the NE Corner of the Property. Location: Approx. Address for GPS: 6512 Caine Road, Vassar, MI. Directions: 2 Miles South
of Vassar on M-15 to Hanes Road, then 2 Miles East to Corner of Hanes
and Caine Road. Selling for the Edna E. Frank Revocable Living Trust

CALL 586-727-2741 FOR DETAILS!

Albrecht Auction Service

www.BidNow.us

Land and Lakes Real Estate Co.

"Serving the NorthCentral Upper Peninsula"

Phone: (906) 387-5100

www.landandlakesrealestate.com
Land And Lakes Real Estate Is Proud To Announce Our Exclusive Partnership With LANDLEADER
E4410 M-28, AuTrain, MI 49806. VW-228 /10884838
This is an interesting piece of property on Lake Superior that packs a lot of usage into a small
piece! It offers 72 of frontage on Beautiful Lake Superior. There is a bright, comfortable
gazebo and a firepit at the waters edge. Cross a wetland on a bridge to get to the private RV
site with electricity and a storage shed. The site is close to snowmobile and ATV trails, 1/4 mile
from a public boat launch. What more could you want? Oh, theres also a VERY reasonable
price! Priced at $ 64,900
N8969 Deerton Road Deerton, MI 49822. WH-221/1086532
This lovely 2832 sq ft, 4-BD, 4-BA home sits on the bank of the Laughing Whitefish River &
features park-like grounds., a 32X56 3-5 car garage, a log sauna bldg. & a wood boiler &
woodshed. The home focuses its attention on the river to the west and contains TWO selfsufficient living quarters with two complete heating systems that heat the hot water AND the
in-floor heat. The property includes 1/4 mile on both sides of the Laughing Whitefish River, a
trout stream. Imagine fishing on your front lawn (and having success!) or hunting from your
back door in the woods, lowlands, old orchard site- & trails. The formal snowmobile trail runs
along the southern boundary. The amenities are multitude, the atmosphere warm & comfortable, the 35 acres quiet (except for the rushing water)
& filled with woods & wildlife, peace & privacy. Priced at $384,900
N937 Sunset Dr., Wetmore, MI 49895. RC-162 / 1086734
This Rustic camp needs some TLC, but there is both Lake Stella AND River frontage. The acreage is
low down by the lake but the sandy access site for swimming, boat launching or relaxing is a short
walk down the two track. There is some timber value on the 34 acre parcel, which is mostly low.
Priced at $64,000
N8569 M-94, Shingleton, MI 49884. WH-212/1082313
This 1236 sq ft cabin sits on 235' of Boot Lake frontage. Not just any water frontage...this is at the
water level & has the most beautiful sandy swimming beach! Boot Lake is an all sports lake with a
good fishery, the west side of which is largely Fed Gov't land. GORGEOUS! The cabin has 2 BDs
down & a sleeping loft up, an eat-in kitchen, an enclosed 3-season front porch overlooking the lake.
The 30X40 pole barn has cement floors & electric door openers. Used as a wonderful recreational
property now, this could also be a comfortable year round home. Price Now REDUCED to $179,900
TBD Pellow RD, Trenary, MI 49891. AC-322/ 1083644
This is fantastic hunting and brook trout fishing property, only 1/2 mi off US 41. Thousands of acres of
CFR and State of Michigan lands are adjacent to the west, accessed by walking off the back line. While
taking photos, woodcock and ruffed grouse were flushing nearby. You can walk the top of the Beaver
Dam to access more high ground to the north or drive to it on a woods road just south of the Whitefish
River. This property contains about 55-60 acres of high ground and 20-25 acres of beaver pond, creek
and marsh. A nice building site contains an old camp of no apparent value. Priced at $74,000

ALCONA COUNTY

FEATURED RESIDENTIAL
Be a member of Lost Lake
Woods. Awesome Hunting,
Hiking & Fishing! Golf course,
rifle range and archery range.

ENJOY OVER
11,000 ACRES

ENJOY 5 LAKES AND

WATER ACTIVITIES!

RANDY MINTO

JUNE SPECIAL

Always Working Hard for You!

MONTCALM COUNTY

REALTOR

Hidden Horns Licensed Game

Ranch in Howard City. Awesome
Opportunity! Turn Your Dream
Property and Passion into Your
Dream Job. Dont Miss Your
Chance of a Lifetime!

Direct:

810.449.1286
- OR Office:

$
195,000 810.653.4500
499,950
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
DEER

&

NATURE

149-ACRE
GAME RANCH

LOVERS

DREAM

PROPERTIES

OCEANA COUNTY

480 ACRES

LAKE MICHIGAN

80 ACRES

1 1/2 Mile from one of the Best Public Beaches on Lake Michigan. Deer Hunter & Nature Lovers
Dream Property. 90 % Wooded. Hunt Hike Fish or just Chill at the Beach. $349,000

PRIME HUNTING!

KALKASKA COUNTY

Beautiful views at Camp Langlois, 2 cabins, Main and Guest, garage, 2 pole barns, 12+
blinds, 5 miles of trails and Grass Airstrip! Amazing property, very private, rolling with
nice hardwoods, Caboose bunkhouse, 20 miles SE of Traverse City. $899,000

128 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY
Newly Renovated, 41 tillable acres, 3 ponds, 65% Wooded. Great
Development & Commercial Possibilities. A Rare Gem! $599,900

LICENSED DEER RANCH

$1,350,000
34 ACRES
GENESEE COUNTY

80-100 DEER
20-25 TROPHY BUCKS

Licensed Deer Ranch in Davison. 6-car garage, pond, 5 blinds, 3 lg feeders,

Lg polebarn. 4BD, 3BA, walkout & up basement $849,000

ALPENA COUNTY
AMAZING

HURON COUNTY

1492 sq ft Lakefront home. Guest house over 900 sq ft, 2BR, canal frontage, garage, and
nice pole barn. Great fishing and bird hunts. Beautiful sunsets! $209,000

840 ACRES

4 Cabins and 2 hunting camps, 2 pole barns, Duck Marsh, Trout

pond, 05 Tractor w/equip., 3 ATVs, stocked toolshed, 16 heated
blinds/feeders/food plots, miles of trail systems on Wolf River and
Widner River. 5-mile private entrance. Hardwoods, pines and 150
acres of cedar swamp. Fantastic wildlife; Trophy Whitetail Deer,
Black Bear, Bobcat, Coyote, and Wild Turkeys abound.

80 ACRES

LAKE FRONT

121 ACRES ON THE

MUSKEGON RIVER

Great Hunting Hiking Fishing. Over 1 mile on the river.

90% wooded, 2 mobile homes, 2 cabins, 2 sheds, 3 trailers.

$339,800

SANILAC
COUNTY

Awesome Deer Hunting. 60% Wooded. Over 1 Mile of Trail system 5 Nice Deer Blinds. Well, Septic and Electricity. $299,900

CLARE COUNTY

OGEMAW COUNTY 9 ACRES

1,300 sq ft Custom-Built Home w/ 26 x 32 Heated Garage

$165,000

GENESEE COUNTY 110 ACRES

GREAT DEVELOPMENT POSSIBILITIES
Davison,approx. 80-90 tillable acres, Wooded, ponds,
Historical home and 3 barns. $449,900

50.5 ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY

40 ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY

Great Hunting 50% Wooded,

active Oil Well

Great Hunting, 17 Tillable

acres, the rest Nicely Wooded.

$162,500

$120,000

SOLD

NEWAYGO COUNTY
120 ACRES

OAKLAND COUNTY

OGEMAW COUNTY
162 ACRES

120 ACRES

CLARE COUNTY

78 acres, 3,000 sq ft home, 5 pole

barns w/heat, electric, water. 2 ponds.

MOTIVATED SELLER! 3,000 sq ft home, 4-car Garage,

2 lg Pole Barns. Over 1,000 ft on White River.

Abundant wildlife, 80% wooded.

1/2 mile from Augres river.

Prime Hunting & Nature Lovers Dream Property. 90% wooded, hardwoods,
pines & cedars. Nice hunting cabin built 2001. 2BD & 1BA. 5 Deer Blinds.

$499,500

$299,900

$278,900

$299,900

CEDAR LAKE

10+ ACRES
OAKLAND COUNTY

15+ ACRES
GENESEE
COUNTY
COMMERCIAL

Great building site, Brandon Schools

Davison, (3) 5-acre parcels. Close to I-69.

$99,800

$379,900

ALCONA
COUNTY
COMMERCIAL

157 ACRES
COMMERCIAL
US 10
MARINE

Cedar Lake Marine, multiple outbuildings, and Waterfront

Home $585,000

MIDLAND COUNTY

Great opportunity for Commercial Business. Near Sanford Lake. 10 miles NW of

Midland Twp. Great location, off of US 10 on M-30, by McDonalds, Subway, Shell gas
station. 118.75 acres zoned commercial, 38.36 acres recreational. $1,150,000

GARROW & ASSOCIATES Call Randy Minto Or Visit: www.MIDreamProperties.com

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

*McDonalds

95

NORTHERN MICHIGAN
RETREATS FOR SALE

MARINA FOR SALE

3009 RIFLE RIVER TRAIL WEST BRANCH, MI 48661

COMMERCIAL
OPPORTUNITY
THRIVING TURNKEY BUSINESS

LAKE OGEMAW MARINA

Includes AVALON
PONTOON DEALERSHIP
and MARINA STORE

7
1277
TEXT 9564
to 7 ediate
m
s
For ImAnd Photo
g
Pricin

225 Lake Ogemaw Frontage

Boat Launch 8 (4 x 30) aluminum
roll-in docks 16 Boat Slips
Store, Repair Shop
Garage with 3,210 sq ft
Two Pole Barns, 7,200 sq ft and 6,240 sq ft
3 Ford F150s and 4 Crank-up trailers
4.6 Acres on three parcels
Excellent location, fantastic Bass
Fishing, walk across street for scenic
Rifle River and Trout Fishing
All Sports Lake, Extensive Shoreline
Year-round activities

889,000

PLUS INVENTORY

Owner Ready To Retire!

CALL FOR DETAILS

989-709-0761

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

THOUSANDS OF
ACRES AVAILABLE
FROM $5500 TO $526,000.

Never lived-in model homes tucked away

on 172 acre, all-sports Hardwood Lake.
See wildlife everywhere, enjoy great hunting & fishing
or just relax in the beauty and quiet. Option to buy ten
acre hunting parcel(s) just walking distance from home.
Randy Miller Homes (248) 346-4806
www.randymillerhomes.com

Cabin For Sale On Pigeon River

Near Indian River, Michigan
REMODELED TWO BEDROOM, 1 BATH ROCK CABIN WITH
NEW ROOF AND FLOORS. 57 TOTAL ACRES THAT BORDERS
200 ACRE CONSERVANCY. ACCESS TO BOTH SIDES OF
PIGEON RIVER, GREAT TROUT FISHING.
Contact
TERRIFIC HUNTING (DEER, ELK, BEAR AND
Ron at
TURKEY). TWO FOOD PLOTS, THREE
TREESTANDS, TWO BOX BLINDS.
231.649.2897

3 Bdrm, 2.5 bth home/cottage. Unique Aframe

on private Lk, peaceful. Must see! Manistique.

2 Bdrm, 1.5 bth Ranch on Whitefish River

and Bay. Enjoy year around. Garth Point.

3 Bdrm, 2 bth home.

10 Acres. 140 ft frtg on Jug Lk.
Pole barn. Wetmore.

$154,900 1083871

$129,900 1084993

$159,995 1080446

3 Bdrm, 2 bth Riverfront Lodge

40 Acres, secluded hunting and fishing.
Corp land surrounds. Watson.

271 Feet of Ford River Frontage

with Power. Small Camp has Power.
Completely Furnished. Cornell

2 Bdrm, 1 bth ranch. Sandy shores of Gra-al

Shores. Swimming and fishing. Rapid River

$159,900 1084088

$49,900 1086257

$139,000 1085491

3 Bdrm, 1 bth home. 80 Acres. 1/2 open, 1/2

wooded. Pond. Completely redone. All new. Carney

3 Bdrm, 2 bth home. 40 Acres.

All new in 2003. 2 Garages. Rock.

3 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. 40 wooded acres, secluded, private, wildlife abounds. Hermansville.

$329,000 1080794

$156,500 1084571

$87,500 1085338

4 Bdrm, 2 bth log home on shores of Green

Bay. Fireplace, 3 season room. Cedar River.

2 bdrm 1 bath camp on 280 acres,

food plots, pole bldg, & more. Perkins

2 Bdrm, 1 bth home or camp.

48 Acres, everything included.
Borders state land. Nicely wooded. Rock.

$179,900 1084651

$425,000 1075830

$65,000 1070425

6935 FRITH ROAD, SAINT CLAIR 48079

40 Gorgeous Acres!

Country Family home with lots of room to Grow, Some Newer Windows, 4 bedrooms, Huge
Great Room with Beautiful Hardwood Floors, Open concept Kitchen Dining Room, Basement has
Daylight Windows could be a Walk Out. Two Car Garage, and Shed. Home needs some TLC,
Possible Splits, Wild Life Galore! Hunt, Farm enjoy your peace of Paradise! Price: $230,000

Your Total Real Estate Company.

1122 South Lapeer Road
Suite D Lapeer, Michigan

PROFESSIONALS

888-664-8524

TUSCOLA COUNTY

Nature lovers paradise! Three bedroom, 2 bath home

with two decks on 60 acres. 30x40 heated pole barn.
1.5 acre stocked pond. $299,900.
CALL JEFF ANDERSON (989) 385-0595

340

Contact Maurer Real Estate

at (269) 673-3800
www.maurerrealestate.com

OSCODA COUNTY

Very nice two bedroom, 2 bath Cape Cod built in 2000 on 50 wooded
acres. Back ten acres borders State land. Home has a loft overlooking the
living room with woodburner. Storage shed. $199,900. Owners anxious!
CALL GARY ANDERSON (989) 385-0600

ALPENA COUNTY

200 acre hunting camp. Includes a 2,224 sq. ft.

lodge with newer siding, windows and fireplace.
Sleeps 15-20 comfortably. $299,900.
CALL JEFF ANDERSON 989-385-0595

415 S. Euclid Ave Bay City, MI 48706

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

989-667-0000

97

DAN DAN

LOG CABIN
FURNITURE

THEMATTRESSMAN.COM

WHOLESALE TO THE PUBLIC

Queen Log Bed $19999

Queen Size Log Headboard

CHECK
US OUT
ON THE
WEB!

7500

5 Drawer Chest Only

$

199

4 Drawer Chest
$

189

2 Drawer Night Stand

$

149

Finished Cedar Log Bed

ONLY

29999

BUNK BEDS Solid Wood Complete with Mattresses $29999

Rocker Recliners
From

19999

Rustic End Tables

JUNE 2015 - WNW NEWS

from

98

14999

Log
Futons

39999

MORE SIZES,
SOLID WOOD,
AMERICAN MADE!

Mini
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starting at

1999

99

N
A
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ANYTIME
(989)-832-1866
D
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THEMATTRESSMAN.COM 802 ASHMAN ST., MIDLAND

e
m
i
t
It's o...
to g

FISHING in

MICHIGAN

Check out these great

AND WE
CAN HELP!

fishing boat packages...

2014 POLAR KRAFT KODIAK 190 WT

2015 POLAR KRAFT OUTLANDER 186 CC

$34,995.00

$26,900.00

2015 POLAR KRAFT DAKOTA

MODIFIED VEE 1448 LW

with a 2 bank charger, upgrade steering wheel, 70PD trolling motor, mooring cover, tilt
steering, fishfinder, centric seat upgrade, Yamaha F115LB (115 HP), and Trailmaster trailer

with a new Mercury 9.9M 4S Tiller motor (9.9 HP) and a 2015 Yacht Club trailer.

2015 POLAR KRAFT FRONTIER 166WT

2015 POLAR KRAFT FRONTIER 179 WT

2015 POLAR KRAFT FRONTIER 189 WT

$20,995.00

$27,995.00

$29,995.00

with Sea Star Hydraulic steering, fuel pickup kicker, canopy, side curtain, aft curtain,
tonneau, mooring cover, Yamaha F150XA motor (150 HP), and Trailmaster trailer.

with a mooring cover, 55PD trolling motor, elite 4 fishfinder/gps combo,

Yamaha F70 motor (70 HP), and 2015 Trailmaster trailer.

2015 POLAR KRAFT FRONTIER 179 SC

with a 2 bank charger, Minnkota 70pd, mooring cover, steering wheel upgrade, fish
head graphics, a Yamaha F115 motor (115 HP), and a new Trailmaster trailer.

$26,999.00

with an edge trolling motor, gunmetal interior, mooring cover, x4 Pro Fish Finder,
Yamaha F115 motor (115 HP), and Trailmaster trailer.

$5,395.00

with a 2 bank charger, mooring cover, 70pd trolling motor,

transom saver, Evinrude E115DPXIN motor (115 HP), and Trailmaster trailer.

2015 POLAR KRAFT OLV 2010 CC

2015 POLAR KRAFT KODIAK 200 PRO WT

$29,900.00

$44,995.00

includes hydraulic steering, shadowgrass (interior & exterior), mooring cover, fishfinder, trolling
motor 70 PD 54", a new Yamaha F115LB motor (115 HP), and a 2015 Trailmaster trailer.

*plus tax, title & freight

with a 2 bank charger, bow panel upgrade, fish head graphics, mooring cover,
transom saver, Yamaha F200XB motor (200 HP), and Trailmaster trailer.

CLEARANCE
SALE ON ALL
YAMAHA
OUTBOARD
MOTORS FOR
A LIMITED
TIME ONLY!!

Visit us at www.freeway-sports.com for a complete listing of boats!

FULL SERVICE PARTS & ACCESSORIES

Service Department Indoor & Outdoor Storage

(810) 629-2291

Exit 84 on US-23

FLINT
EXIT 84
59

FREEWAY
SPORTS CENTER

FENTON

23

3241 Thompson Rd.

Fenton, MI 48430

Hours:
Mon.-Fri. 9am - 6pm
Sat. 9am - 5pm;
Sunday's12noon-5pm

PONTIAC

96
ANN ARBOR

DETROIT

SPORTS
CENTER
website:
w w w. f r e e w a y - s p o r t s . c o m
email:
sales@freeway-sports.com

Stoeger Airguns
combine excellent quality,
accuracy & power at
a fair price.

31516 Harper Avenue

St. Clair Shores, MI 48082

Phone (586) 296-2360

Fax (586) 264-8307
STORE HOURS:
Mon. - Fri: 10am-7pm;
Sat: 10am-4pm; Closed Sunday

Together with a superb

warranty, you can't go wrong.
You'll enjoy shooting
Stoeger Airguns rifles for years!

Michi-GUN
Available at:

Layaways Welcome

www.michigunandtackle.com