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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 3
 FIELD COVER STORY ’SHROOM HOUND
NOTES Rob Miller of Linden purchased
Sargent from Jeff Richardson of Illi-
nois. He is a Slovakian Kopov which is
the national breed dog of Slovakia. His
By Tom Campbell purpose is to be their family pet with the
hopes of using him for wounded deer
The NRC is looking at changing the recovery for hunters that can’t find their
Liberty Hunt (better known as the youth deer. He is currently three years old and
hunt) to the second weekend in Septem- has recovered 56 deer. Rob’s passion is
ber (September 14-15) to avoid possible searching for the elusive morel mush-
conflicts with bear hunters if it was to room. He even went to Ohio this year
open later. searching for morels and followed the
Also in the works with the NRC is a season all the way up to his in-laws in
plan to implement a 4-point Antler Point Frankfort. This picture of Sargent and
Restriction on the Deer License and the the morels he located was taken in the
Deer Combination License for Mecosta, Manistee National Forest.
Montcalm, and Ionia Counties. According
Rob did a few training sessions of
to the NRC, “At the August 2018 NRC
Meeting, the NRC passed a resolution that scent identification with morels this
stated “The NRC in cooperation with the spring and his trip north on June 1 was
Department shall appropriately establish a simply a getaway to enjoy the hunt up
CWD assessment area, within the 5-coun- north and allow Sargent to run around
ty Core CWD Area, for experimentally and burn some energy. Rob started locat-
evaluating the effectiveness of regulations, ing morels very early in the morning and
such as antler point restrictions (APRs), he kept having Sargent smell them and
on the prevalence and spread of CWD, telling him to go find them. He would
increasing antlerless harvest, and decreas- dash off and search and come back to
ing deer populations, to be in place for the Rob. Rob honestly wasn’t paying that
2019 hunting season.” The Department, in much attention to Sargent because he
collaboration with the Quantitative Wild- was searching for his target trees that
life Center at Michigan State University, morels grow around. That’s when Rob
designed a study to determine the effects saw him smelling around a giant ash tree
of APRs on deer in portions of lonia, and as he approached him he sees him
Kent, Mecosta, Montcalm, and Newaygo smelling the morels. Rob hollered out
counties. The proposed study would look good boy, good boy!
at the effects of APRs on deer numbers, He then posed for this epic photo and
antlerless harvest, and the sex and age he continued to impress Rob through-
composition of the deer herd. The data out the day locating two more trees that
gathered from this study will better inform
management and regulation decisions in
hosted morels. When a dog loves his/
CWD management. her master they will always do their best
For the study, the Department proposes to please them. This off season they will
to divide the 5-county Core CWD Area in be training to recover wounded deer and
half and enforce APRs in one area (APR searching for morels. If you would like
Area) and maintain the current regulations to follow Sargent’s adventures like their-
in the other area (Control Area). In the Facebook page. https://www.facebook.
APR Area, only bucks with at least four com/Syprisandsargentdeertracking/
points on one antler could be taken. People
that are currently exempt from APRs (for 2022 unless clear and negative impacts are age ratio changes, factors that are likely and the historic slow spread of the disease
example, hunters in the Liberty and Inde- seen prior to the completion of the study. to contribute to overall CWD spread. Ad- on the landscape, the proposed study
pendence hunts and people hunting under In order to remove the APR prior to March ditionally, deer harvest, hunter numbers, cannot provide estimates on prevalence
a Mentored Youth license) would continue 1, 2022, the Department will need to bring and hunter perceptions of APRs will be as- and spread of CWD. For more detailed
to be exempt in the APR Area. In the Con- forward an order to remove the sunset for sessed. However, due to the relatively low information on the proposed study, please
trol Area, any buck with an antler greater NRC consideration. CWD prevalence rates currently observed visit www.michigan.gov/cwd.n
than three inches in length could be taken The NRC requested that the De-
with a valid license. In order to conduct partment evaluate the impact of APRs
this proposed study, the NRC would need
to approve a 4-point APR on the deer
within the 5-county Core CWD Area on
prevalence and spread of CWD, increas- Charter fishing a great option for
novice and experienced anglers
license and the regular and restricted tag ing antlerless harvest, and decreasing deer
on the deer combination license for Me- populations beginning with the 2019 sea-
costa, Montcalm, and Ionia Counties. It is son. The data collected will be able to pro-
proposed that the APR sunset on March 1, vide estimates on deer abundance and sex/ Charter fishing is an ideal way to experience Michigan’s world-class fish-
ing. Licensed charter captains, who provide the boat, the equipment and the
knowledge needed to pursue fish, can make a full or half day of fishing easy
SEASONS and enjoyable. Charter businesses around the state help children and adults
make great Michigan memories – from reeling in that first fish to targeting a
Open All Year – Pike and walleye season on Lower Peninsula Great Lakes, Lake St. brand-new species.
Clair & St. Clair & Detroit Rivers “Within Michigan’s waters last year, nearly 80,000 people participated in
Open All Year – Salmon and trout season on Great Lakes, St. Marys River, Lake St.
Clair & St. Clair & Detroit Rivers
more than 19,700 charter fishing trips on Great Lakes and specific navi-
Open All Year – Catch-and-immediate-release bass season on all Michigan waters gable waters,” said Donna Wesander, a DNR fisheries technician who tracks
open to fishing charter fishing data. “Different waters and areas of the state provide diverse
Now - December 31 – 2020 Pure Michigan Hunt application period fishing experiences. In 2018, charter anglers caught more than 284,000 fish,
Now - March 15 – Walleye, pike season on Lower Peninsula inland waters. including salmon, trout, walleye, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, muskel-
Now - Sept. 30 – Salmon and trout Inland type 1 and 2 streams and type A and D lakes lunge, whitefish, cisco and lake sturgeon.”
Now - March 15 – Walleye, pike season on Upper Peninsula Great Lakes, inland For catch-and-keep fishing, the fun doesn’t have to end when you arrive
waters and St. Marys River. back at dock. Some charter businesses provide “catch and cook” options.
Now - Dec. 31 – Bass catch and keep season on all waters, including Great Lakes Upon returning from a fishing trip, customers take their cleaned, fresh fish
including Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and Detroit River. to a participating local restaurant that will prepare and serve the catch. Ask
Now - March 15 – Muskie season on all Great Lakes, inland waters and St. Marys in advance whether charter businesses offer this option.
River. When hiring a professional charter to fish the Great Lakes, Lake St. Clair,
Now - Dec. 31 – Muskie season on Lake St. Clair, St. Clair River and Detroit River. a large river or a small lake or stream, customers need only provide personal
July 16 - March 15 – Otsego Lake sturgeon hook and line season. supplies and fishing licenses, which can be purchased online or through a
July 16 - March 15 – Detroit River sturgeon catch and immediately release. DNR customer service center or license agent.
July 16 - Sept. 30 – Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River sturgeon hook and line season Explore your options by searching online for charter operators and re-
*Consult the Michigan Hunting and Trapping Digests, Fishing Digest, or other species- gional charter fishing organizations, contacting area chambers of commerce
specific hunting digests for a more complete list of dates and regulations regarding each
season or hunt period. or tourism offices, or visiting MichiganCharterBoats.com.
4 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 5

Next
Bite...
Time of
Transition
Parsons/Kavajecz...page 42
HUNTING
Carry a compass...
It could save your life
Richard P. Smith page 15
Four Tips To...
Film your hunt like a pro
Adam Lewis page 20
Ladies, Thumb area gobblers
and small bore shotguns
Tom Lounsbury page 78
Dog Training...
Locating and retrieving dead birds
Len Jenkins page 79
FISHING
SUMMER SLAB GILLS
Kenny Darwin page 8
Revitalizing Michigan’s Civilian
More walleyes year-round
Mark Martin page 18
Getting the most
from trolling lines
Mark Romanack page 24
Exploring Fish Possibilities
Robert Kennedy page 28
Feely Fish Theories
and Swimbaits
Dave Mull page 32
COVER STORY...
Mixing it up with LEAD CORE
Mark Romanack page 40
COVER PHOTOS
Doe & Fawns...Larry Piotrowski
Morel Hound...Rob Miller
Trolling...Mark Romanack
6 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
Workin’ the weeds for bass Michigan’s Cultural Treasures: By the Campfire
Mike Gnatkowski page 44 Preserved, protected, cared for Mike Simcik page 74
and shared by the DNR
BEST KING EVER Susanne Fischer page 65 They are interesting little people
Kenny Darwin page 46 Fishing with my grandson!
Bert Winnie’s Stump Dodger... Bob Vogel page 76
Summer Crappie...
The Monarch of All Baits
Great fishing, good eating Terry McBurney page 72
George Rowe page 53
Proper walleye stocking OPINIONS
strategy can result in a NEWS
WALLEYE BUSTING
good walleye fishery
Scholars honored in Myths abound...My thoughts
Bill Ziegler page 60
MOWA/Toyota Program Mike Veine page 55
Early summer hot spots Tom Carney page 66
John Bergsma page 62 New NRC bear
FEATURE
Dr. Howard Tanner, Michigan
Outdoor Hall of Fame inductee
regulations are just wrong
Jeff Pendergraff page 68
Mark Sak page 67
COVER STORY...
Compensatory newborn
fawn mortality
John Ozoga page 12
Albino Deer Photos
Guest Matt Rumpl page 27
Treestand Setup
Darin Potter...page 16
‘Lawn Lobsters!’ One million in Wildlife Dear Fish Diary...
Jonathan Schechter...page 36
Habitat Grants available Thank you State Park System
page 70 Ron St. Germain page 69
Conservation Corps Museum
Hillary Pine-MDNR page 30 PERSPECTIVE
GUNS/AMMO
Michigan Outside... Michigan Meanders...
Training for the unexpected How do you create Black Powder Hunting...
Drew YoungeDyke page 34 5,000 new anglers? Walking toward the rising moon
Tom Huggler page 22 Dennis Neely page 50
TRAIL CAM PHOTOS
page 64 Sharing a good day on the water Gun Chat...M1 Garand
Darryl Quidort page 38 Lee Arten page 52
JUNE 2019
JULY 2019 $4.00
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Keweenaw's STEALTH
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PROTECTING
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• Michigan's
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SMALLMOUTH
Moves for KINGS • Treestand
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Top-Water Bass
RESOURCES
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Standing
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Day • Trail
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 7
 SUMMER SLAB GILLS
Catching big panfish during the dog days
of summer can be a cake walk if you
understand the species and use savvy
fishing strategies. By Kenny Darwin

I
felt my rod tip jiggle as
out of the weeds came a
solid rod bending strike
and I set the hook. For
an instant the rod bent
double and drag clicked
as a slab gill turned broadside us-
ing its thick body to resist. That’s
when it slammed into a weed tower,
wrapped the line around a stalk
and yanked hard enough to jerk the
hook free. I lip hooked another wax
worm to the tiny jig and lowered
the offering into the open pocket
surrounded by weeds and let the
offering sink deep. I closed the bail
on the spinning outfit, let the jig
settle, hold in a horizontal position
and gave it a few minor jigs to get
the bait dancing. POW! I was into
another slab and soon brought to the
boat another 10-inch monster gill.
Catching big panfish during the dog
days of summer can be a cake walk
if you understand the species and
use savvy fishing strategies.
I’ve got to hand it to those slab
bluegills that disappear when warm
weather drives ’em deep. At light-
ning speed they dive out of sight,
vacate the shallows and disappear
into the black abyss of Michigan
lakes. Most anglers hang up their
fishing gear and forget panfish as
soon as skinny water warms and
they disappear. Truth is they are still
present, actively feeding, getting fat
and sassy. You can have loads of fun
still catching them if you know a
few secrets and use specialized fish-
ing tactics.
Put simply, deep water is where
big panfish go during summer. I’ve
found large crappie holding on
sunken trees and stumps in 25 feet
depths and gills schooled around
sunken islands and patrolling weed
lined drop-offs on otherwise blank
bottom structure.
I’m a weed edge angler for slab
crappie and huge gills during sum-
mer. The trick is to locate schools on
the deep side of drop-offs when wa-
ter depths are at least 18-25 feet and
water temperature ideal for panfish
metabolism. My main focus is on
post spawn gills using deep edges
of vegetation from June through
August. The deep shift comes when
plant growth is peak and takes place
when surface water temperatures
hit the upper 70s in Michigan lakes.
This is when panfish leave the
shallows and migrate to drop-offs

Michigan fisherman, Kenny Darwin, keys on structure, deep weeds

and water thermocline to find big summer gills.
adjacent to deep water. I concentrate
on areas literally within casting
distance of where they were located
in the spring.
The trick is to use electronics
and a bow mounted electric motor to
slowly cruise drop-offs, edges and
adjacent deep flats. Look for schools
that frequently concentrate along
the edges of the deepest weeds in
the lake. Usually big humpback
gills gather near small inside curves
Try tungsten jigs tipped with live bait or plastics like this Little Atom found in the deep vegetation. When
super soft Micro Nuggie. Use a pumping action to make jigs dance, I say small I’m looking for a spot
pulsate and draw panfish from shadowy hideouts. the size of your kitchen table, say
8 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
4-10 foot wide with deep, shadowy
areas attracting and holding gills.
Big bulls like to suspend just a
couple feet off bottom near the tall-
est plant life where there are pockets
acting like a magnet to attract fish.
At times fish can be difficult to
mark on electronics but pockets are
visible and if you cast into enough
protected locations you will eventu-
ally hit the mother lode. Once you
find them, drop offerings straight
down and begin vertically probing
Summer Slabs page 10
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 9
Summer Gills:
from page 8
for big gills.
The big tuna fish gills bite
first in every honey hole. They are
somewhat protective of their home
turf and when schooled are very
aggressive and eager to snap a hook.
You will almost always get slammed
on the first drop and their strike
will jolt your rod. Once hooked,
gills charge for the cover of nearby
weeds, frequently wrapping the line
around the vegetation in an effort
to shake the hook. Few thrills in
panfish angling compete with the
solid pull of a 10-inch plus bull gill
turned broadside in thick weeds.
They fight like a big bass and fre-
quently pull the hook.
But what terminal tackle is best
for summer gills? I’ve got to admit
my strategies deviate from the norm,
forget floats, bobbers and fishing
with worms. Step up to new age
bluegill tackle and your catch rates
will soar. I basically recommend
using two deadly tactics: drop shot
rigs, and tungsten jigs.
My deadliest strategy is tung-
sten jigs, and to sweeten the pie I
tip the hook with a large wax worm.
Tungsten jigs are difficult to find
and designed for ice fishing. They
are heavy and you can feel them on
your rod tip. The idea is to use a jig
with a 45 degree angle for best ac-
tion. The heavy tungsten helps you
to get down to fish in deep water,
provides great action and helps you
feel more strikes. I use Fiskas Wol-
fram jigs sold right here in Michi-
gan by Your Bobbers Down, Inc.
at www.YourBobbersDown.com or
call (734) 316-7476. Usually I use
the 3mm size body when ice fish-
ing and if water conditions are calm
you can use the same jig in summer.
More often I step up to a bigger 6 or
7mm body in size 10 and 8 hook.
I prefer glow colors in stained
water. Firetiger will hammer sum-
mer gills, crappie and perch; Pinky
is hot for crappie and don’t overlook
metallic silver or glow, especially
with the itsy glow bead on the hook
shank.
Another trick is to use the tail
off a night crawler, garden or leaf
worm or leech for bait. Sometimes
big gills prefer a large presentation
in summer. If water conditions are
super clear I’ll use small wax worms
or spikes. One trick is to use two at
a time. Simply pin them through the
nose, let the tail hang in the water
and use the double tail action to key
savage strikes. My all-time largest
11-inch, 2 pound slab summer gill
came on a 7mm Fiskas Glow Spot
10 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
It takes small jigs longer to get down there but once in the strike zone they attract panfish because
of the natural presentation. Using electric motor or anchor and try to hover over fish you mark deep.
Drop it right to them and let it sit, then begin working the jig.
tipped with two wax worms.
I prefer a long rod for summer
gills and use my Dick Swam custom
11 foot light action steelhead rod
made for 2 pound test. I position the
boat over fish and drop the pre-
sentation vertical, probing pockets
directly down to the hot spot, let
the rig sink, close the spinning reel
bail and hold the jig stationary in
the strike zone. Then, give it slight
upward twitches to make the double
waxies jiggle, wiggle and drive big
gills bonkers. This style of fishing
with 11-14 foot rods is a takeoff
of diddling or doodling, a fishing
technique used for tempting crap-
pie in brush. But the secret to limit
catches of huge gills rests on the
violent jigging action making the jig
come to life, swim, dance, errati-
cally pulse in the water and grab the
attention of huge bull gills eager to
slam aquatic insects. There are a lot
of midges, mayfly larvae, stone fly
larvae and invertebrates swimming
in the water and fast jigging mim-
ics live food. It’s important to draw
attention to your lure and pounding
the jig will get aggressive fish in a
biting mood.
Another deadly strategy is to tip
the tungsten jig with plastics. There
are several panfish plastics available
on the market driving big gills crazy.
My all-time favorite is the Micro
Nuggies sold by Your Bobbers
Down. The 3/16-inch size is ideal
and hot colors include glow green,
hot pink, black sparkle and many
more. I hate to spill the beans but
there is a new plastic on the mar-
ket working like dynamite to fool
summer gills. I’m just telling you
if you use this plastic your catches
will skyrocket and you will give up
using live bait. My gilling pals are
going to hate me for this but the hot-
test panfish soft plastic in the world
is Crazy Critter by Eurotackle.
The trick with plastics is to
make them swim by pumping the
rod. When big gills see the tail
swimming, feel the vibrations of
the legs wiggling they key in on the
action and bite like they are pissed.
They smash the offering, inhale the
soft plastic and chomp down like
they mean business. Some days I
catch many more panfish on soft
plastics than live crickets, worms,
waxies, all live bait combined.
This deadly strategy is a hot
tactic for big summer crappies too.
However, crappie tend to hold in the
thermocline which is a layer of high
oxygenated water with warm water
above and colder water below. You
can frequently mark the thermocline
on your electronics and crappies
tend to hold just above the cold
water. This can occur 12-16 feet
down and as summer progresses
look for crappie to hold 18-30 feet
below the surface. Creek mouths,
stream intersections and channels
with current are magnets for sum-
mer crappie.
Don’t overlook the gill catch-
ing power of a drop shot rig. Use
a 1/8-1/4 oz. weight on the bottom
and tie two hooks suspended above
the weight. Try an Eagle Claw 181
baitholder hook tipped with a wax
worm or worm on top and use a size
#8 or 10 crappie or perch fly on bot-
tom tipped with spikes. Again you
cast to the hot spot, let the offering
sink and jiggle your rod tip to make
the hooks wiggle, dance and mimic
invertebrates swimming.
In summer, panfish frequently
suspend around deep rock piles,
stumps, fallen trees, brush piles or
bottom humps. During early morn-
ing and late evening they will move
up in the water column looking
for suspended food. When the sun
is high they move back down and
spend most of the day in deep shad-
owy lairs hiding from predators and
fishermen. During midday get your
offering in hiding locations, around
trees, under stumps, far below weed
beds and excite gills lingering deep
in the shade.
I begin each outing searching for
fish by slow motoring around drop-
offs looking for schools and casting
to likely summer hideouts in deep
water. Once I catch a fish or two
I hit Minn Kota Spot-Lock which
hovers my boat in exact position for
limit catches. Other times I slowly,
silently lower an anchor and stay in
position for easy casting. If the wind
is howling, silently move upwind,
drop anchor and let out enough rope
to position the boat within easy cast-
ing range of target fish.
Once you get ’em going, catch-
ing hand-size big gills in summer
becomes an exciting fishing sport.
This is a time to locate and land
monster fish. Let bigger bluegills go
unharmed to spawn in spring and
keep eater fish under 9 inches for
the fry pan or oven. This style of
fishing is fun for family and friends
and once you start boating fish you
will be back for more, guaranteed.
But your kids will be sad come end
of summer vacation when they have
to leave hot fishing and go back to
the classroom.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 11
 Compensatory Newborn
Fawn Mortality...
The forgotten role of maternal care

N
orthern white-
tailed deer
populations
have historically
demonstrated
patterns of boom
and bust, increasing during a series
of mild winters only to crash follow-
ing a tough one. Most recently this
roller coaster population pattern has
been characterized by lower highs
as well as lower lows, resulting in
steadily declining deer numbers.
Although reasons for this decline
vary regionally, and a variety of
factors are involved, the primary
reason for fewer deer is annual deer
recruitment rates fail to keep pace
with deer mortality rates. On an
annual basis, this simply means that
not enough newborn fawns survive
to replace deer that die.
My Concerns
Researchers have identified a
multitude of factors for excessive
newborn fawn mortality, however,
predation (by coyotes, black bears,
bobcats and wolves) is commonly
singled out as the primary cause.
Granted, some studies in the Maternal nutrition plays a key role in mother-fawn bond formation and outright fawn rejection at bir th. Larry
South have demonstrated signifi- Piotrowski’s photo of triplet fawns was taken in Oakland County.
cant increases in newborn survival
rates following coyote eradication. words, it’s my contention that a high The article by Smith primarily produced by the pituitary gland, in-
However, I’m not aware of any such percentage of fawns born to food- addressed the question of defense. duces milk production and promotes
documentation in the North. stressed does die shortly after birth That is, if a predator threatens her the maternal instinct.
If fact, research conducted in anyway – predators merely take fawns, should she defend her fawns According to University of Rich-
Delaware, where there were no advantage of an easy (abandoned) or cut-and-run to save herself? Ob- mond researchers Craig Kinsley and
effective natural deer predators, re- food source. viously, it all depends – depending Kelly Lambert, who specialize in
cently reported 45 percent newborn Furthermore, research conducted upon the mother’s and fawn’s health behavioral neuroscience and psy-
fawn mortality due to natural causes in northern Michigan, which is status. chology, dramatic hormonal changes
other than predation. largely ignored by many of today’s My article not only considered associated with pregnancy, birth
At least on northern deer range, researchers, clearly supports my the question of fawn defense, but and lactation “…remodel the female
I argue that excessive newborn views. As a result, poor science also considered a breakdown in brain, increasing the size of neu-
fawn mortality credited to preda- is currently finding its way into mother-fawn bond formation and rons in some regions and producing
tion is more often “compensatory” technical literature without adequate detailed the significance of outright structural changes in others.”
in nature. That is, the combination critical review and detracts from the fawn rejection at birth. In either Some of these changes, which
of tough winters and poor qual- urgent need to better manage north- case, maternal nutrition plays a key occur in all female mammals, func-
ity deer wintering habitat are more ern deer wintering habitat. role. tion to regulate maternal behavior,
important, because resultant nutri- Maternal Defense Given the potential importance
of this phenomenon, and the fact
such as protecting their young from
tional stress sets the stage for birth Some years back, I came across predators. However, other changes
of under-sized that many researchers ignore some influence memory, learning, and
weak fawns,
an interesting article by Oregon very significant relationships, I feel
State University researcher Winston responses to fear and stress which
a breakdown it’s time to revisit this intriguing
Smith, titled “Maternal Defense can have long-lasting effects.
in maternal aspect of whitetail motherhood.
in Columbian White-tailed Deer: Kinsley and Lambert concluded
care traits and When is it worth it?” The Maternal Brain the following: “…hormone­induced
exaggerated Given my research experience There’s good physiological alterations of the female brain may
estimates of concerning aspects of newborn fawn evidence for the newborn fawn re- make mothers more vigilant, nurtur-
fawn loss due mortality, that particular article re- jection/abandonment phenomenon, ing and atoned to the needs of their
to predation. ally piqued my interest. As a result, since abnormal maternal behavior young, as well as improve their
In other I published an article by that same among malnourished does probably spatial memory and learning.”
stems from insufficient production
By John Ozoga
general title in the June 2010 issue Therefore, the available evi-
of Deer & Deer Hunting. of prolactin. This hormone, which is dence indicates that physiological
12 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
changes, associated with maternal
nutrition and experience, can have
profound effects upon newborn sur-
vival prospects. If the interrelation-
ship of these factors is not consid-
ered, then determining the primary
reason for excessive newborn fawn
mortality in any given area is dif-
ficult, if not possible.
Fetal Development
Investigations conducted by
Louis Verme at Michigan’s Cusino
Wildlife Research Station revealed
that the doe’s nutrition during the
final one-third of pregnancy (April-
early June) is by far the most crucial
factor determining the newborn
fawn’s fate.
Based on penned deer studies,
Verme found 95 percent of fawns
survived if their mothers were
well-fed throughout pregnancy. In
contrast, 92 percent of fawns born
to does malnourished throughout
pregnancy died within 48 hours of
birth. Some were born dead or died
at birth.
Even when does were food-
restricted only January through
March, 35 percent of the fawns
died, all from nutritive failure. That
is, most were small and weak, the
mothers did not produce milk, or
the doe abandoned them and they
starved.
Fawn birth weights in Verme’s
studies ranged from 2 to 10-pounds.
Survivors on average weighed
about three-pounds at birth, while
those that died weighed about four-
pounds. Five-pounds seemed to be
the cut-off point.
Using data from his research,
and examination of about 1,000
road-killed pregnant does, Verme
predicted that newborn fawn mortal-
ity attributed only to nutritive failure
could be as high as 68 percent, aver-
aging 34 percent, annually during a
5-year period.
Likewise, in a more recent pred-
ator-prey study, 7 of 19 (37 percent)
fawns dropped by does with vaginal
implant transmitters were found
dead at the birth site and not one of
50 radio-collared newborn fawns
survived longer than 10 months.
It’s interesting to note newborn
fawn mortality rates have been
equally variable in the arid South-
west, where drought can reduce the
quality and quantity of deer foods
and fawn hiding cover. In one study,
annual fawn losses ranged from 10
percent during years of heavy rain-
fall to as much as 90 percent during
years of drought.
Maternal Rejection
Researchers Ed Langenau and
John Lerg conducted a series of sim-
ilar studies at the Lower Michigan’s
Houghton Lake facility. However,
they placed greater emphasis on
determining how winter nutritional
stress influenced maternal and neo-
natal behavior – as well as the con-
sequences thereof. They varied doe
nutrition only during the primary
winter season (January-March).
During a two-year study, 11 of
89 fawns born alive died within 72
hours. All but one of these that died
were from does on restricted winter
diets. Abandonment, caused by a
“maternal rejection syndrome,” was
the primary cause of death; 27 per-
cent of the fawns born to food-re-
stricted does were abandoned, never
nursed and died from starvation.
They offered the following
observations: “Does that failed to
nurse or care for their young dis-
played fear and aggressive postures
toward fawns, birth fluids and after-
birth. This lack of an initial mother-
young bond caused the fawns to
increase the amount of care-solic-
iting behaviors such as bleating,
running at the doe, and time out of
their beds.”
Interestingly, researchers in the
Southeast reported similar observa-
tions of young fawns wandering
about aimlessly and bawling.
Obviously, in the wild, such
behavior by distressed fawns would
attract predators and invariably lead
to the fawn’s death due to predation
– a good example of compensatory
mortality, because in the absence of
predators the fawn would starve and
die anyway.
It’s important to note that the
Michigan studies produced similar
mortality results (35 percent and
27 percent) during a relatively brief
winter period (about 90 days) prior
to the critical last trimester of preg-
nancy.
Keep in mind, deer in this north-
ern region are frequently restricted
to winter shelter and a negative
energy balance for as long as 150
days or more. So annual newborn
fawn mortality rates of 40 percent
to 60 percent (or more), due strictly
to maternal nutritional hardship, are
probably quite common, especially
in poor quality deer wintering habi-
tat – just as Verme had predicted.
Is Fawn Defense
“Worth It?”
Smith studied the maternal
defense behavior of free-ranging
whitetails in Oregon. He captured
newborn fawns with the aid of
a dog. While handling fawns he
recorded in detail the response of
mothers to the bleating cry of the
fawns.
Smith found that does varied the
type and intensity of maternal de-
fense according to their own physi-
cal condition, as well as that of their
offspring, and the likelihood that
the fawns would survive to weaning
age. That is, does in poor physical
condition were less likely to demon-
On nor thern range, the severity of winter weather and quality of conifer-
ous deer wintering habitat – not predators – governs the productivity of
female whitetails and determines annual fluctuations in deer abundance.
Fifty percent of fawns born in this nor thern region likely die within a few
days following a typical winter.
strate agonistic behavior in response
to their bleating fawns.
Smith also observed that does
with twins sometimes defended the
larger one more aggressively than
the smaller one.
Likewise, he found the highest
fawn mortality rate and the least
intense maternal defense behavior
when the local deer herd suffered
most from malnutrition.
Smith concluded that variations
in degree of maternal defense by
whitetails is an important behavioral
adaptation. It allows reproductive
females to invest the greatest time
and energy when the probability of
success is highest.
Sometimes a doe’s defense of
her fawns is “worth it,” and some-
times it isn’t. It all depends upon the
physical condition of the doe and
her fawns.
Troy Grovenburg and his col-
leagues from South Dakota State
University reported similar findings
while investigating maternal behav-
ior of whitetails in an area dominat-
ed by agriculture and pasture-grass-
land. They reported that defended
fawns were significantly older,
heavier and more likely to be males
than those not defended.
Lactation
Energy Demands
Whitetail fawns are totally
dependent upon their mother’s milk
for sustenance during their first 30
days. Canadian researchers empha-
size that the doe’s immense resource
needs during this period may no
longer be sufficient to cope with
energy demands of lactation, growth
and replenishment of body reserves
following a tough winter. This could
cause does to decrease nursing
activities and increase time foraging.
Using captive deer, the research-
ers tested this theory by manipulat-
ing food availability only May-
August to simulate nursing doe food
shortage. One-half of them were
fed full rations but the other food-
restricted group was fed 20 percent
less.
Fawns from the food-restricted
group spent more time suckling
and soliciting attention from their
mothers and tried harder to get milk.
Even so, fawns from the food-
restricted group grew slower and
suffered higher mortality.
As a result, a mere 20 percent
food shortage resulted in the death
of 88 percent of the fawns; 14 of
16 died after 16 days of age, long
after formation of the mother-young
bond. By comparison, well-fed
mothers lost only 13 percent of their
fawns.
Hence, the Canadian research-
ers suggest lactating does will adopt
a “conservative strategy” when
food resources are limited, ensuring
their own future reproduction and
survival at the expense of their cur-
rent newborn survival. If so, these
neglected fawns would become easy
prey for predators.
The Mother
Age Factor
In my studies, conducted in
Cusino’s square-mile enclosure,
older, maternally experienced does
not only conceived more fawns,
they successfully reared a higher
percent of them, as compared to
first- and second-time mothers.
Even when threatened by black
bears, these older does rarely lost an
entire litter. While black bears killed
about 20 percent of the annual fawn
crop, the mortality was dispro-
portionately heavy among fawns
dropped by younger does. When
black bears were present, first-time
mothers lost 32 percent of their
fawns and second-time mothers lost
58 percent, compared to only 17
Newborn fawn page 14
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 13
Newborn Fawn Mortallity:
from page 13
percent mortality among older does.
Since this herd was maintained
at only moderate density and was
supplementally-fed an unlimited
diet of nutritious pelleted feed, year-
round, the differences noted
in fawn-rearing success must
be attributed to better defense
of fawns by older, maternally
experienced does.
In fact, since first-time mothers
established fawning areas adjacent
to that of their mothers, it’s also pos-
sible these younger does received
some predator defense assistance
from older does.
Dave Mech and Robert McRob-
erts came to similar conclusions
after examining 13 years of data for
radio-tracked deer subjected to wolf
predation in Minnesota: “…older
does are better able to protect their
fawns from predation.”
My point here is simple. If
predator-prey researchers do not
know the age (and physical condi-
tion) of the does involved in their
opportunistic fawn tagging studies,
then they run the risk of obtaining
biased data that does not represent
the deer population being studied.
Among the maternal care strate-
gies employed by whitetail does,
I’m convinced outright defense of
14 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
their young fawns against predators
may be as important as any single
factor influencing fawn survival.
However, such behavior is more
commonly displayed by healthy,
maternally experienced does. Given
a serious predator threat, a mal-
nourished or young mother is more
likely to abandon the young and flee
from the scene.
Implications
On northern range, the severity
of winter weather and quality of co-
niferous deer wintering habitat – not
predators – governs the productivity
of female whitetails and determines
annual fluctuations in deer abun-
dance. Fifty percent of fawns born
in this northern region likely die
within a few days following a typi-
cal winter because pregnant does are
malnourished. Predators probably
kill most of these abandoned fawns,
but they would die anyway, even in
the absence of predators.
In addition, one study reported
that about 30 percent of the surviv-
ing fawns die from malnutrition and
predation during their first winter.
Unfortunately, deer wintering
habitat is changing across north-
ern range. More and more historic
deer wintering areas are becoming
overgrown, browsed-out, or other-
wise fragmented and degraded due
to poor forest management. Hence,
many of these areas have lost their
capacity to support viable deer
populations during tough winters.
In fact, there are probably fewer
deer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
today than there were before the
white man arrived despite 100 years
of deer management.
To curb the downward trend
in deer numbers throughout the
species’ northern range, we must in-
crease overwinter deer survival rates
while simultaneously improving ma-
ternal nutrition to assure maximum
newborn fawn survival. The only
way to do this is by implementing
an extensive program to improve the
shelter quality and food availability
for wintering whitetails.
Two Michigan DNR wildlife bi-
ologists, Robert Doepker and Steve
Carson, recently completed a two-
year project wherein they identified,
mapped, determined ownership
boundaries, and completed detailed
forest management plans for 50
important deer wintering complexes
across the U.P.
Specific management strategies
vary somewhat among wintering
complexes. However, the primary
goal is to maintain 50 percent in
high quality shelter and 50 percent
in abundant food sources, distrib-
uted throughout each complex, to
satisfy the metabolic needs and
sedentary (energy-conserving)
nature of wintering whitetails, while
simultaneously providing the safety
from predators. Logging will be
restricted to the winter months to
provide maximum availability of
felled browse.
These plans are unique and
scientifically sound. In my opinion,
the proposed region-wide program
designed to improve deer wintering
habitat will provide a productive
course of action to rectify decades
of deer winter habitat management
neglect that should have been imple-
mented long ago.
Unfortunately, this entire project
is currently bogged down with
internal administrative bickering.
Meanwhile costly long-term (10-
plus years) predator-prey studies
continue, without providing any
useful information for deer manage-
ment purposes.
(Appendium: In 2019, the
consequences of winter weather and
poor quality deer wintering habitat
will play-out again, just as I’ve laid
out here. Many deer across the up-
per Great Lakes region migrated to
winter range in November 2018 and
in all likelihood have had to endure
more than 120 consecutive days
on a negative energy balance. Two
whitetail age classes will crash, and
hunters will face two years of poor
hunting.)n
 Carry a compass...it could save your life
C
arrying something so simple goal is to return to the road or trail that started hollering and honking the horn
and basic as a compass with you started on and then you can go left on my vehicle to give him something
you every time you head into or right to get to your vehicle. to home in on, if he was close to the
the woods, but especially Another experience involving my road.
when entering unfamiliar country, can brother Bruce last fall also prompted That didn’t produce any results ei-
potentially save your life. At the very me to write this article. One evening, ther. The later it got, the more worried
least, such a habit can save time and I dropped Bruce off in a new area that I became. By 8:00 p.m., which was
eliminate the frustration and anxiety he wanted to scout for deer sign. When an hour after dark, I was considering
that goes with getting turned around he left the vehicle about 5:00 p.m., I calling for help from search and rescue
or lost. assumed he had a compass with him. to locate my brother. If he indeed did
I’m not being overdramatic when He didn’t. As a result, he got turned break a leg or injure himself in some
stating that carrying a compass could around and ended up miles away on a other way that would prevent him
save your life. The death of a Northern different road. from getting out of the woods, the
Michigan University student who went Bruce told me he would probably sooner he could be located the better.
for a hike in Marquette County during only be gone for about an hour. When Before declaring an emergency,
extremely cold weather in late Janu- it got dark two hours later and he still however, I decided to start checking My brother also told me that he
ary, and then got lost, prompted me to hadn’t returned, I started to worry. other roads that connected with the fired several signal shots from his
write this. The young man wouldn’t The area he was scouting was rugged one he started on. There was a chance shotgun to let me know where he was
have become lost and terrain with lots of hills and that he ended up walking farther than after he decided to go in the opposite
wouldn’t have lost his life if rock bluffs. Bruce and I have he originally intended and came out direction. I never heard those shots.
he would have had a com- hunted rugged terrain in the on another road. It’s a good thing I I may have been in the vehicle when
pass. His body was found U.P. most of our lives, in- decided to do that. I found Bruce wet he fired them. Even if I were outside
100 yards from a paved road cluding wilderness areas with and very tired at the intersection of the the vehicle and listening, it’s doubt-
that he parked his vehicle on. few roads. So the country my first road I came to. ful I would have heard them because
When going for a hike in brother was in was nothing It was a relief to find out that he of the distance between us and the
the snow, you don’t an- new, but I started thinking wasn’t injured. And I was surprised terrain. There were a number of ridges
ticipate needing a compass, about the possibility that he to learn from him that the fact he between us that would have blocked
right? When there’s snow on might have fallen and hurt failed to have a compass with him was the sound from reaching my ears.
the ground, you himself. Since I’m sure Bruce was as glad to see
By Richard P. Smith
responsible for him not returning to
can always back- I thought he where I dropped him off. He normally me as I was him. Due to the lack of a
track yourself. had a compass carries a compass in the fanny pack he compass, he walked many more miles
Wrong! Heavy snow started falling with him for navigation purposes, the took with him, but the directional de- than he would have otherwise. Once
during the student’s hike. Enough idea that he might have gotten turned vice had been removed and he forgot he reached the road along the lake, he
snow fell to cover his tracks and con- around didn’t cross my mind. to put it back. walked several miles to get to the in-
fuse him about the route back to his Realizing Bruce might have come Bruce told me he made a number tersection where I found him. It would
vehicle. out to the road that I dropped him of attempts to return to the road where have been even more miles to get to
I’ve gotten turned around my- off on some distance from where he I dropped him off, but he was unable where I dropped him off.
self in familiar terrain during heavy started, I began looking for him by to. Once he realized he couldn’t make Besides the added distance, he got
snowfall where typical landmarks driving several miles in each direction. it back to the starting point, He set his wet crossing a swamp as it was getting
are blocked from view. It’s easy to I figured that would save time and sights for a lake in the opposite direc- dark to reach the road along the lake.
do. Because I had a compass with me reduce the distance he would have to tion that he could see from a ridge. He Needless to say, Bruce had a compass
during those times, however, I wasn’t walk. When that didn’t work, I went knew there was a road that paralleled with him on other forays he made in
confused for long. back to where I dropped him off and the lake’s shore. the area the rest of the fall.n
Many hunters and hikers now
carry global positioning system (GPS)
units with them for navigation pur-
poses, and that’s great, as long as they
work properly. The problem with GPS
units is they run on batteries. If the
batteries are weak or die, which can
happen quickly in cold weather, you’re
out of luck if you don’t have spare bat-
teries. You should always carry spare
batteries with you if you rely on a GPS
device for navigation.
There’s another problem with GPS
units. They have to be able to link
with satellites to work properly. When
there’s a thick forest canopy overhead
or heavy snow falling, GPS units may
not work properly. So always carry
a compass to fall back on even when
you have a GPS device with you.
Compasses will always tell you
which direction to go to get back to
where you started, as long as you
know which direction that is. You will
know that information, of course, if
you take a few seconds to determine
which direction you plan on heading
when leaving your vehicle or a road.
Get in the habit of taking a compass
reading when you start out, unless you
already know which direction you’re
going. All you have to do is reverse
directions when it’s time to return.
You may not come out in exactly
the same spot where you started. The
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 15
 T Choose the type of treestand
R
E
E
S
T
A
N
D SETUP
I
f I had to choose one
place where my wor-
ries disappear, bills
can’t reach me, and
the hustle and bustle
of our fast paced
world stops, it would
have to be in one of
my treestands during the fall archery
season. This is where the majority of
the 300,000-plus bowhunters spend
their time across the state beginning
in October. It isn’t hard to figure out
why so many archers choose to hunt
from an elevated stand. Besides its
ability to provide a place of refuge
against modern day stress are the
numerous benefits that they provide
the bowhunter against the extraordi-
nary senses of a mature buck. These
include; concealment, longer range
of visibility, and scent dispersal.
I have spent the last twenty-nine
years hunting from an elevated
treestand, since the age of twelve,
which was the first season I could
hunt during the fall archery season
here in Michigan. I remember the
first treestand that I hunted out of.
It was a home-
made stand that
my dad and I
built from 2x4s
and a sheet
of plywood.
Treestands have
come a long
way since then.
By Darin Potter
16 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
Numerous treestand manufactur-
ers have created a variety of dif-
ferent styles, which include fixed-
positon stands, ladder stands and
climbers that offer the bowhunter
many options to choose from. The
important thing is to feel safe and
confident in the treestand(s) that you
purchase so that you can maximize
your hunt.
Before attaching your stands
this summer, there are some im-
portant considerations to keep in
mind. These include location, tree
selection, stand height, timing and
treestand accessories.
With that said here are some tips
that will help you safely and ef-
ficiently set up your stands so that
you are more successful this fall in
the deer woods.
Location
Long before you even started
thinking about hanging your stands,
hopefully you did some scouting
after last season so you could figure
out areas that hold mature bucks. If
you’re unfamiliar with the layout
of the land a great place to start is
the 3-D mapping program, Google
Earth. This program utilizes aerial
photography, which will help you
gather information about the lay of
the land and allow you to have a
game plan before you enter an area.
This app is especially helpful in
locating funnels, water sources, and
pockets of thick cover that could be
potential deer bedding areas.
Trail cameras are also another
that you’re the most comfor table
hunting from to help increase
your time on stand. Author photos
excellent scouting tool that will
allow you to gain knowledge of
the deer activity in areas that you
are interested in hunting. Once the
archery season starts, they will also
help you determine which stand
sites are being visited most fre-
quently by mature bucks so you are
spending time in the most produc-
tive stand.
Although the above scouting
tools are helpful, nothing beats put-
ting in some leg work so that you
can see these areas for yourself.
Dress scent free and take a GPS or
notepad with you and mark areas
where you find old rubs, deer trails,
bedding and feeding areas, funnels,
and scrapes.
Tree Selection
There are numerous things to
consider before attaching your stand
to a tree. The most important being
wind direction. Select trees that are
located downwind of deer travel
routes, food sources, bedding areas,
and active scrapes based on the pre-
vailing wind direction in that area.
Keep in mind that during the fall
the prevailing wind can be entirely
different than during the spring and
summer months.
Also, if you are unfamiliar
with the location it might be dif-
ficult to determine which direction
the prevailing wind comes from.
Therefore, setting up two stands in
the same area may be necessary to
allow for a sudden shift in wind di-
rection. There is nothing worse than
having intentions of hunting from a
particular stand only to find out that
the wind is unfavorable. This could
cause you to miss out on the small
window of opportunity during the
pre-rut and rut phases.
Another important thing to con-
sider is the kind of tree that is in the
area. Evergreen (coniferous) trees,
which include white pine and hem-
lock, are my favorite types of trees
to place a stand if available. These
types of trees provide great cover
throughout the entire archery season
and generally have plenty of limbs,
which will help conceal you. This is
an excellent tree to consider because
you don’t have to worry about los-
ing cover and exposing yourself like
you would while hunting from a
deciduous tree where the leaves all
drop later in the fall. If this type of
tree is the only option, cut tree limbs
from other sources and tie them on
the tree or place a camouflage skirt
around your treestand to break up
your profile. The only exception
to this is oak trees. Generally, they
don’t lose all of their leaves right
away like other deciduous trees and
depending on the year can provide
deer with acorns to feed on.
Besides the wind direction and
type of tree; diameter is also ex-
tremely important. The diameter of
the tree should be wider than your
shoulders so that your body isn’t sky
lined. However, if you plan on using
a hang-on style stand make sure that
the straps are long enough to wrap
around the entire tree.
Stand Height
One of the most talked about
topics when it comes to treestands
is, “How high should I place my
stand?” Like most other things
involving bowhunting accessories,
it depends on your personal prefer-
ence. If you are going to spend more
time thinking about how high you
are while on stand then the hunt
itself you should probably stick to
hunting from a lower height. It’s ex-
tremely important to be comfortable
and confident with your treestand
setup. Every location that you hunt
varies and the selection of trees may
only allow you to either attach a
ladder stand or choose another place
to hunt.
With ladder stands you are obvi-
ously limited to a certain height
based on the treestand manufac-
turer’s design. This can range
anywhere from twelve to twenty
feet. Many bowhunters have been
successful taking mature bucks from
a ladder stand. In 2009 I was able
to take my largest buck to date with
a bow, which scored just over 107
inches while hunting from a fifteen
foot ladder stand.
If you’re not afraid to take a nose
My Setup Equipment
bleed seat then go for it. I know of The following is a list of equip-
many bowhunters who place stands ment that I take with me while
at over twenty feet high and are also preparing a stand site and attach-
very successful. The advantages ing a treestand, followed by a brief
of hunting higher in the tree are an description.
increase in scent dispersal, visibility, • Backpack: A small backpack
and concealment. There are certain will allow you to transport most of
areas that I hunt where if I didn’t the gear necessary to hang a stand
go up above the twenty foot mark I and free your hands up for carrying
would compromise my location. other equipment. When I am prepar-
ing to put up my treestands I use a
Timing different backpack then the one that
Choosing the best time to enter I use while hunting. Before heading
into a whitetail’s environment and afield I spray it down with a scent
begin the task of trimming and set- eliminating spray.
ting up your stand is essential if you • Full-Body Harness: It is
want to increase your chances at essential to wear a full-body har- Whether you’re hunting or hanging your treestands, wearing a full-
taking a mature buck. Care must be ness at all times while ascending or body harness could save your life.
taken to avoid contaminating an area descending your treestands. When ing stands I use a rope to safely pull stand stolen, which I had failed to
that you worked hard to find and attaching my climbing sticks and up my fixed-position stands. After attach a cable to. With all of your
contains all of the right ingredients hang-on stands, a full-body harness the stand is attached I then tie a rope hard earned money that you spend
for a potentially successful archery allows me to safely use both of my (haul-line) to either a branch or my on your treestands it is worth a few
season. If you were unable to set hands without having to worry about stand, which will be used to raise extra dollars to go out and buy one
up your treestand several months in holding onto something for support. and lower my bow. for each of your stands.
advance of the season you need to • Folding Saw/Pole Saw: Fold- • Ratchet Straps: Some may • Other Accessories: As I
take extra caution. Treat your pre- ing saws are great for cutting any say that my ratchet strap collection discussed above in the “Treestand
season trip into the woods like you branches or trees with a diameter is out of control, but they come in Accessories” section, attach your
are heading out on a bowhunt. Take ranging up to eight inches. I’ve very handy when securing both my hooks, bow hanger, saddle bags,
a shower in scent-eliminating soap, probably pushed the envelope a few climbing sticks and ladder stands. and quick connect strap (for your
wear scent-absorbing clothing and times with mine, but they are a lot Even though manufactured stands harness) after securing your stands.
rubber boots. Also, spray yourself safer to use than a chainsaw when come with the appropriate straps This will save you some time and
down along with all of your trim- you’re twenty feet high. Without a I still like to add ratchet straps to will help lighten the load when it
ming tools, treestands, and acces- pole saw it would almost be impos- reinforce them. It increases my con- comes time to hunt.
sories. sible to cut those branches that are fidence when climbing them. There is no doubt about it. If you
The best weather condition to out of our reach. However, it is im- • Cables and Locks: Unfor- scout prior to the season and take
put your stands up is during a steady portant to only remove those limbs tunately, there are people out there the time to properly prepare all of
rainfall. Precipitation decreases that are necessary for a clear shot that will steal your treestands when your treestands, you stand a good
a whitetail’s sense of smell. Any without compromising your cover. given the opportunity. About ten chance at taking a mature buck this
human odor that you leave behind • Rope (haul-line): When hang- years ago I had a fixed-position fall.n
will be quickly dissipated from the
rain and help keep you from dis-
turbing your hunting area. Windy
days are also a great time to secure
a treestand because deer will have a
difficult time hearing.
As for the time, the middle part
of the day is a safe time to enter
the woods. I usually like to set my
stands up between around 10 a.m.
and 1 p.m By then deer should be
hunkered down in their bedding
areas until later in the day.
Treestand
Accessories
After your stand is secured, take
the extra time to attach accessories
that will help keep your gear orga-
nized while on stand. Add screw in
hooks, saddle bags, and bow hang-
ers to allow you to easily access
your antlers for rattling, your bow,
quiver, backpack and other equip-
ment as needed during your time on
stand.
Two other important pieces of
safety equipment to include on
QUESTIONS? PLEASE CALL
your tree is a long rope, to raise and
THE BAY CITY STATE PARK
lower your bow and an approved
(989) 667-0717 OR EMAIL
strap, which will allow you to safely
MASSUNGJ@MICHIGAN.GOV
connect your full-body harness
OR
tether. SAGINAWBAYWATERFOWL@GMAIL.COM

WNW NEWS JULY 2019 17

More Walleyes
Year-Round
By Mark Martin
C
onning a big ol’ brute
walleye into biting
any time after the
spawn can be a diffi-
cult endeavor. It can,
however, be done;
even in rivers.
While one of the best tactics for
catching these finicky fish at opener
is to break out the trolling gear and
cover as much water as you can
muster with crankbaits in open wa-
ter, there’s another tactic that’s over-
looked no matter what time of year,
and that’s pulling baits upstream in a
river behind leadcore line.
The fact? A leadcore and crank-
bait duo is the perfect combo during
any open water season.
The Spread
Back in early April, when the
water temperatures were in the low
40s and a full moon shown over-
head, hordes of walleye gathered
within rivers for the process of
procreation; it was the best time of
the year to find both eater-size males
and huge hens congregated together.
But the big females only spent a
short amount of time on the spawn-
ing grounds—sometimes literally
only a few hours—before turning
tail and meandering towards the
waters they will linger in throughout
the upcoming summer months. The
smaller males, on the other hand,
hung out and waited for late-spawn-
ing hens to make their move.
But now the spawn’s well more
than over and the big hens—drasti-
cally fewer in numbers than males—
tend to spread throughout a body of
water. Truth be told it’s not easy for
anglers, myself included, to locate
these fish now recluse from the rest
of the race.
Come to find out, however,
many of the big girls that took to the
rivers never moved far downstream.
What’s really going on is many
of the females left the spawning
sites and scattered over a river
mouth’s bottom, and what few of
the big girls left tend to belly up on
bottom to recuperate from the rigors
of spawning. And even a couple
months out, they often won’t move
far off their resting spot to eat.
Get the Lead Out
Months after post-spawn is
when I’ll reach into the rod locker
of my Lund and pull out the trolling
rods and reels spooled with leadcore
line; it’s by far the most productive
trolling equipment to get crankbaits
18 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
near bottom; one of two places
where those big fish tend to linger
all year long… the other being
suspended high in the water column.
(For an article another day.)
If you’re not familiar with
leadcore line, it’s exactly what its
name implies: it’s a hollow, braided
line with a solid core of lead run-
ning through it. Because of its lead
core with a skin of woven material
around it, the line has a larger diam-
eter than just about all other types of
line, thus it needs to be spooled onto
a reel that can hold a lot of line, as
well trolled at slower speeds.
Leadcore comes multi-colored,
changing hues every 30 feet. This
allows anglers the ultimate in preci-
sion when getting just the right
amount of line out to put a lure
where it needs to be - not on bot-
tom, but within a couple feet. It’s
also great for making sure you get
the same amount of line back out
after reeling in a fish. And I use
Sufix’s 832 Advanced Lead Core in
18-pound test as it’s the minimum
size line with the maximum amount
of lead in it and will be just as heavy
in weight as leadcore of higher tests.
I use an ABU Garcia Ambas-
sador Linecounter reel as it’ll hold
a hundred yards of 20-pound-test
Trilene XT—which I use as back-
ing—and to that, I attach a whole
spool (10 colors) of leadcore. For
trolling walleyes with crankbaits, I
attach a leader—which I use only
about six feet—of 17-pound-test
Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon
line. Overall, fluorocarbon is nearly
invisible underwater, is denser than
monofilament and has less stretch.
And the heavier-pound-test works
wonders as a leader as it wards off
snipped line from striking zebra and
quagga mussels.
I also use a Berkley Cross-Lok
snap (not snap-swivel), which I tie
onto the leader with a Trilene knot.
This small snap allows crankbaits
to keep their action and makes it a
synch to change out lures.
As for lures themselves, you’ll
never go wrong with a Rapala.
There are so many shapes, sizes,
and colors to choose from. And each
lure’s been tank-tested and runs true
the moment you take them out of
the box. My favorite Rapala crank-
baits to use with leadcore are Shad
Raps, Shad Dancers and Scatter Rap
Shads. Berkley Flicker Shads and
Flicker Minnows are another great
option.
Pulling crankbaits upstream near the mouth of a river will catch the
big walleyes you may not have even known were there.
The Nitty Gritty
The first rule of thumb when
fishing with leadcore is watch your
speed. Troll too fast and, because of
its thicker diameter, the line will ac-
tually rise in the water column and
pull your lure out of the walleye’s
strike zone.
Working best at slow speeds
is what makes leadcore a great
tool any time of year. Leadcore is
unsurpassable when pulled from
1- to 1.5 MPH in open water. In
rivers, however, I don’t always look
at my Lowrance’s GPS for speed,
rather, watch vibration of the tips
of my ABU Garcia trolling rods.
Also, when trolling upstream in a
river, I like to use my main Mercury
outboard—tilted up–over my kicker
as I can run my lures at a creep,
yet have the gumption to power up
when the bottom suddenly comes
up or a gust of wind pushes the bow
one way or another.
I also keep it simple and only
use four rods, two 10-plus-footers
and two 7-footers, and place the
two shorter rods my Cisco Fish-
ing Systems rod holder in the rear,
pointed back, and the longer ones
out the side in the rod holders about
mid-ship.
Walleye...
Where are Thou?
Where do the big girls go this
time of year? As I mentioned before,
they can be found spread out and
bellied up to bottom most anywhere
in a lake. You can pinpoint a few
areas in rivers where you stand a
better chance at hooking up, and
that’s within a half-mile of a river’s
mouth, however.
Your best odds of finding a behe-
moth this time of year is along steep
drop-offs, where shipping channels
meet the shallows. And this is where
a Navionics mapping program,
which runs in the background of the
screen of my Lowrance HDS-8 and
HDS-12 comes in handy as I can see
precisely not only where I’m at, but
what the bottom contour is under
me. Navionics mapping programs
also allow me to know well before-
hand which way I will have to turn
to keep in a specific depth of water.
I Repeat: Tickle,
Don’t Scratch
The real key to success when
trolling crankbaits with leadcore
is to pull the lure at bottom, not on
bottom.
Just watch the tip of your rod to
control this. When you see your lure
whacking bottom being telegraphed
through your rod tip, just spin the
reel’s handle a few cranks to shorten
the amount of line out.
In The End
There’s no doubt in my mind
that any time of year is the right
time of year to pull leadcore and
crankbaits for big walleye, especial-
ly in rivers. Use the right equipment,
clip on a crankbait and slow-troll
upstream. You’ll be pleasantly sur-
prised at the results.
Mark Martin is a walleye tour-
nament pro (markmartins.net) and
Fishing Vacation/School instructor
(fishing vacation/school.com) who
lives in Michigan’s southwestern
Lower Peninsula.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 19
Film your hunt like a pro
Four tips to rival a TV-quality production...By Adam Lewis
T
hese days anyone can
get a cheap camera
and film pretty much
anything they want.
Even smartphones can
take relatively good
video clips for personal use or social
media sharing. But taking video in
the field, and getting a top-notch
production are two very different
things. So what needs to be
done to get great video, and
make your production rival
TV quality?
Although I do not
claim to be an expert by
any means, there are a few
simple things I’ve learned
over the years (from experi-
ence as well as from
real pros like Jimmy
Sites, and the guys
By Adam Lewis
at Heartland Bowhunter) that have
really helped me make pro-level
productions.
Here are 4 of the biggies:
1) Quality
Gear Matters
Good quality gear does not cost
an arm and a leg anymore. Many
people ask though, “What is good
enough?” First, a 1080 HD camera
High quality equipment can be
very small, and fit the budget of
most hunters interested in HD
video productions.
20 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
is plenty good for quality shots, al-
though 4K is becoming much more
affordable. I’d go with a prosumer
over a consumer model. These are
slightly better than your standard
handicams, but aren’t too expensive
compared to the higher-end profes-
sional models. I use a Canon Vixia
HF G10 which was around $1000
at the time I bought it, and a good
bang for your buck invest-
ment (though discontinued
there are similar models
out there like the Canon
Vixia HF G50 UHD which
has 4K definition). DSLR
cameras are another op-
tion, but more expensive
and somewhat limiting
and bulky in my
opinion. Explore
options though, as
a good DSLR takes great video and
pictures, allowing you to effectively
kill two birds with one stone. Addi-
tional lenses can be very expensive,
however, which is a downside to
DSLRs and why I stuck to a cam-
corder.
Accessories are important too. A
good mic is critical to both set-
ups, and I’d suggest some sort of
shotgun microphone. These allow
focused sound collection (like a
shotgun pattern), or the option of
360 degree sound recording. Even
without a shotgun mic, the internal
mic on many cameras is pretty good
and you may get away with that in
certain situations.
Also, try a good camera arm
with a fluid head. There are a lot
of good camera arms out there for
mounting your camera while in the
stand or blind (Muddy and 4th Ar-
row to name a few), but a good fluid
head is key to getting steady shots
(try Manfroto brand heads). There’s
nothing that screams amateur more
than a jerky pan, and a fluid head
makes it very smooth and easy to
watch as you pan.
A varizoom attachment works on
most cameras, and makes it quick
and easy to adjust your focus as well
as zoom with only the movement of
your thumb. When game is close,
this is critical. When selecting a
camera, pay attention to optical vs.
digital zoom too. You want a camera
with a lot of optical zoom. This
won’t degrade and pixelate your
image, which will happen once you
get into digital zoom. A good point
of view camera can really help you
get cool shots easily (like a GoPro
or Tactacam) and offer extra angles
Having the right gear, and knowing how to use it, is essential to a
top-level video production. Adam Lewis photos
for your shots. This will add variety
to your video that you can add in
editing later. With my GoPro, I can
also take some slow motion shots
that I cannot with my main camera,
and put together some cool time
lapse scenes. These can add a lot of
dynamics and professional touch to
your production.
2) Super Stealth
is Essential
When carrying extra gear, there
is greater chance to make noise, be
picked off visually, and possibly
be scented, so extra precaution is
necessary. “Hang ’em High” is not
just a Clint Eastwood classic, but a
must when hanging treestands. Seek
to find trees with extra limbs to help
breakup your form and disguise add-
ed motion you will make when film-
ing. And yes, go higher than usual to
make sure to stay out of a whitetail’s
normal line of sight. Twenty feet
with some good breakup cover is
my desired height and a minimum in
most cases.
Extra gear also means more
chance of noise. Let me say, you
WILL make more noise as it’s
unavoidable. Make sure to silence
this new gear or you will bust many
hunts and ruin many opportunities.
Good products like Buck Bumper
by Sound Barrier solve this problem
and allow for dead silence. I use it
on all my stands, climbing sticks,
and camera gear to avoid fatal mis-
takes.
Scent you create will also
increase. Whether due to an extra
person (camera man), or if solo
filming just from lugging around
more weighty gear, perspiration
will increase along with unwanted
body odors. This can ruin a hunt
quickly. I carry some scentless wet
wipes in my truck and hunting pack
at all times. I wipe off regularly to
keep scent at a minimum, which I’m
convinced has saved more than one
hunt.
3) Video Savvy
is Crucial
There’s only so much you can
fix in post editing. Much of the
quality of the end product relates
directly to the quality of the original
video recorded. As a rule of thumb,
I use an auto white balance to make
sure colors recorded are as close as
possible to the actual. Unless the
colors look completely unnatural in
the viewfinder, I personally do not
mess with manual white balance as
this can get tricky. Try to get wide,
medium zoom, and tight zoom shots
of your hunting area.
Film as many things as possible,
at as many interesting angles as pos-
sible before the action starts. Shots
of your weapon, hunting area, trees,
birds, and any magical moment you
can capture is your goal. This is
called B roll, and you want as much
of this as possible. This way, when
editing later you will have a lot of
options and won’t be wishing you
had more to choose from.
A great technique to try is a rack
focus. This is where you focus on
one object in the shot, and then shift
the focus to another object in front
or behind of it. Get creative with
this to make your videos stand out
from the pack. Also, think about and
even write down the shots you want hunt where I shoot a nice buck”).
to capture ahead of time, so you Make sure to avoid this amateur
can focus on this when in the field pitfall. Let the viewer experience
and won’t forget anything. It takes the hunt as you build anticipation
effort, but will be well worth it in through a beginning, middle, and
the end. satisfying end to your story, im-
4) Post Production pressing your audience with your
is an Art Form
top-notch video production.
There are many things that can
Getting good video is half make a great video, but starting with
the battle, the other half is edit- these few simple tips will get you
ing. There are many good editing well on your way to having a pro- Camera arms allow you to have a steady shot and quickly switch
programs out there, but I use Final level production!n from filming to firing your weapon.
Cut Pro X and many in the hunting
industry use Adobe Premiere Pro.
Both are good, but do some research
on what will best fit your budget
and needs. When it comes to these
programs, put in the effort and get
tutorials online (many on YouTube)
to help learn tricks and effects to
make your videos pop. Don’t get too
crazy though, as the point is to tell
the story not show how many cool
effects you can add to your video. A
pinch here and there will add to the
story, too much is just a distraction
though, so beware.
You can choose to narrate over
the video by recording your voice
in the studio, do narration from the
stand (that you recorded in the field
while hunting), or possibly do an
interview style recording in a studio

Accessories like this VariZoom

controller keep movements to
a minimum, which is vital when
filming nearby game. ROSY BROTHERS INC.
setting to help construct your story 5727 DRYDEN ROAD
from all the film you’ve collected.
I suggest having this well scripted DRYDEN, MICHIGAN 48428
out and refined to ensure you look
and sound professional. This
means putting it on paper first.
810-796-3770
Make sure the way you tell your rosybros@yahoo.com
story has a good flow that is easy
to follow.
A huge mistake which I’ve seen
on way too many outdoor shows,
is telling what happens before it is
shown (i.e. “let’s watch my fall rut
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 21
 How do you create
5,000 new anglers?
Ron Martin says, “Teach them how to fish!”
D
o you remember
the first time
you went fish-
ing? Ron Martin,
age 79, does.
“I was 10 years
old when my dad took me,” says
Martin, a retired school teacher
from Woodland, Michigan in Barry
County. “I’ve been hooked ever
since.”
For the past 16 years
Martin, aka “The Fish-
ing Instructor,” has taught
fourth- and fifth-grade kids
how to fish while visiting
their classrooms for an
hour each month during the
school year. The children
learn why Michigan is such
a great place
for sport fish- Michigan Meanders
ing and why it
is so popular By Tom Huggler
with so many people. Martin shows
the youngsters how to find fish,
catch fish, hold fish and release
fish. Safety and sportsmanship are
messages he delivers as part of his
Fisherman’s Code that teaches why
honest anglers don’t litter, always
ask permission before entering
private property, and adhere to laws
meant to protect the resource.
His enthusiasm is boundless for
a man who taught high school for 35
years before retiring more than two
decades ago.
Martin’s fishing classes are also
hands-on. The kids learn how to
make a fishing pole and rig it, bait
a hook, create their own flies, tie
knots and cast lures and bait. His
22 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
class covers the fishing spectrum,
and no angling question goes unan-
swered. So, is there a test after eight
months and eight hours of instruc-
tion?
“Well, not a written test,” Martin
laughs. “I talk so much I don’t have
time to test the kids on paper. The
real proof occurs when they go fish-
ing.”
On an appointed day in late
May, with the school year
winding down, the students
happily vacate their class-
room and board the school
bus to a private gravel pit
that teems with bluegills,
pumpkinseed sunfish and
largemouth bass. The pit
has also yielded northern
pike, crappies
and yellow
perch.
“That’s
where they learn how much fun fish-
ing really is,” admits Martin, who
meets them with a force of adult
volunteers at the fishing spot.
Since 2003 he has taught 4,548
children to fish. “The goal I have
for this program is to show kids an
alternative to the electronic age,”
Martin explains. “I hope to get them
out of the house and away from
video games to take advantage of
what nature offers.”
Teachers and parents are highly
supportive. Many of them, including
a long-retired school superintendent,
volunteer to assist Martin during the Above; Ron Mar tin unhooks a panfish for one of his students. Below
fishing outing. left: Donations and grants help The Fishing Instructor teach thou-
After retiring as a public school sands of mid-Michigan kids to fish.
teacher, Martin had time on his hands. In 2001 he signed up for a after-hours busing program. That’s
course taught by Mark Stephens, when Martin convinced principals
coordinator of Michigan State Uni- and teachers at two of Lakewood’s
versity’s Project F.I.S.H. (Friends elementary schools to fold his class
Involved in Sportfishing Heritage), into the daytime curriculum. Soon
a program that trains adult volun- the program spread to all four
teers and leaders in methods to teach schools.
young people how to fish. Martin is Success prompted Martin to
one of more than 2,200 volunteers expand to nearby Maple Valley
trained by Project F.I.S.H. which be- Schools for three years until the dis-
gan in 1996. A survey of only 110 of trict ran out of money. Then it was
those volunteers shows they worked on to Hastings Area School District
with 98,000 kids. for six years until extra-curricular
A couple years after taking programs ended, again due to lack
Stephens’ course, Martin started an of funds.
after-school fishing class to try out Lakewood, where Martin spent
the new activities and lessons for his working career teaching social
five students in one of Lakewood studies and physical education,
Public School’s elementary classes. continues to support his program.
The program was cut a couple Also, he currently teaches fishing
years later when the school lost its at a Hasting elementary, a group
of home-schoolers and St. Rose
Catholic and Barry County Christian
schools, both in Hastings.
Donations and grants make the
classes possible. Early in the
program the Future Fisherman
Foundation donated rods, reels
and tackle. Recently, the Future
Angler Foundation sent Martin 75
rods and reels. For ten years he
has received an annual grant from
the Hal & Jean Glassen Memorial
Foundation as well as local support
from businesses, the Lions Club,
Fraternal Order of Eagles, VFW,
Masons, Elks Club and individual
donors.
Some of the Parent-Teacher
Organizations at the schools where
Martin has taught have held fun-
draisers for him. So has an orga-
nization of Hastings high school
students called the Youth Advisory
Committee.
“Raising money is the hard
part,” Martin says, “but it’s also fun
because of the goodwill that comes
with it. The schools have been fan-
tastic with their support.”
Martin has no set salary. If
there’s money left over after pay-
ing for field trips, bait and equip-
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Located at Ellens Equipment • 5297 W. Stoney Corners Rd., McBain, MI 49657
ment (every kid gets fishing gear:
a rod and reel, bobbers, sinkers,
hooks and sometimes tackle boxes),
Martin buys gas for his car and pays
himself back for expenses.
He said he can’t go into a lo-
cal Walmart without running into
former students eager to show him
cellphone photos of the fish they
caught recently. Several men, now
in their 30s and 40s, that Martin
taught as kids have become profes-
sional anglers.
“It’s really gratifying,” The
Fishing Instructor said.
So was the letter he received
from the mother of a fourth grader,
thanking him for giving her son a
rod and reel to replace the one he
had made from a stick because he
had none. On a wall in his home,
Martin has a picture of the boy and
his homemade pole with its string
for fishing line and paper clip for a
hook.
“Feedback like that is what
makes the program so worthwhile.”
By this time next year, The
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 Getting the most
from trolling lines
T
o say our team at Fishing 411 TV
does a lot of seminars during the
course of the year would be an
understatement. Some of the most
common questions tossed our
direction deal with the many types
of fishing lines. More specifically, avid Great
Lakes trollers what to know what lines are best
for specific trolling applications.
The simple answer is it depends. Sound like
a cop out? It isn’t. To get the most from fishing
lines anglers must take a close look at each pre-
sentation and then decide what line type is best
suited to the challenge. No single line type can
be recommended for all trolling situations, unless
compromise is a part of the equation.
Part of the confusion over fishing lines stems
from the different kinds of lines introduced in
recent years. Currently anglers can pick from
nylon monofilament, co-polymer monofila-
ments, fluorocarbon, fluorocarbon/monofilament
blends, spectra braids, fused fiber lines, stranded
steel line, solid steel line, stranded copper line,
weighted stainless steel wire and lead core line.
See what I mean about confusing options?
The questions becomes where do you start
and at what point do you draw the line? Obvi-
ously it’s not practical to own and use every one
of these line types. Allow me to shed a little light
onto this gloomy subject.
OVERVIEW OF FISHING LINES Monster walleye like this one caught by Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 TV are routinely
It’s important to note that despite the many taken by anglers who use traditional fishing lines such as monofilament. Monofilament
technological advances fishing line has made in is affordable, has good knot strength, abrasion resistance and works nicely with the line
recent years, garden variety nylon monofilament releases commonly used for Great Lakes walleye trolling. Mark Romanack photos
is still one of the most versatile products avail-
able. What makes ordinary monofilament useful lines and fused lines. Spectra is a super strong tive uses by application. Downrigger fishing for
are its combined properties. Monofilament line and thin fiber that when wrapped into a braided example requires a line that is abrasion resistant,
is relatively thin and strong for it’s diameter, it line creates an exceptionally strong line with functions well with various line releases, has
holds knots well, is abrasion resistant enough to super thin diameter and nearly no stretch. The good knot strength and a controlled amount of
hold up to hard fishing, comes in a wide variety primary disadvantage of this line type is the poor stretch. Hands down, nylon monofilament is the
of colors, contains a satisfactory level of stretch knot strength. Because Spectra is a slick material, top choice among serious downrigger fishermen.
and the cost involved with filling multiple trolling ordinary knots tend to slip and fail with this line. Because line diameter plays a minor roll in
reels is reasonable. Special purpose knots like the polamar, work well this deep water fishing style, select a line that’s
Line manufacturers are fond of promoting when fishing spectra braids. plenty heavy for the job. For most downrigger
their newer products as if they were the best thing Fused lines are made from a different, but fishing a quality 17 or 20 pound test line works
to hit fishing since hooks! In reality the degrees similar fiber known as Microdyneema. Instead of best. While this line is heavier than necessary for
of improvement in these lines compared to ordi- the fibers being braided, they are fused together. many species, there is practical value in using
nary monofilament is in some cases marginal. Fused lines have a little less body than Spectra one heavier line for a multitude of species.
Co-polymer lines are a good example of this. braids and they can be produced in somewhat Fluorocarbon line is a second option for
These highly toted fishing lines are similar to smaller break strengths. Fused lines have nearly downrigger fishing worth exploring. As the Great
nylon monofilament but produced using slightly zero stretch and are thin in diameter, but they Lakes get clearer and clearer, the invisible prop-
different chemical formulations that enable the tend to fuss up and abrade fairly quickly. Like erties of fluorocarbon line become more interest-
line to be thinner in diameter for the rated break Spectra braids, fused lines require the use of ing and useful. Fluorocarbon, while expensive,
strength and/or to produce a little less stretch. special knots. does work well with most line releases making it
These are good properties, but the increased cost The cost of both Spectra braids and fused a good second option for downrigger fishing.
of these lines may or may not justify these lines lines is nearly triple that of monofilament lines. DUAL BOARD PLANER FISHING
for all anglers. This alone is the biggest disadvantage to using Anglers who fish dual planer boards routinely
Marketing campaigns, slick these lines. Loading four, six or eight high capac-
advertising and high dollar fish with three, four, five or even six lines per
ity trolling reels can cost a small fortune. side! The shear cost of loading all these reels with
personal endorsements are Stainless wire, copper wire, weighted stain- fresh line almost mandates the use of monofila-
what fuel the popularity of less wire and lead core are specialty lines that
these new products, not nec- ment line. Despite the cost benefits of monofila-
have their place in trolling. While these line types ment, this line type is the obvious choice for
essarily the greatly improved are useful, the majority of trolling chores can be fishing planer boards because it offers controlled
performance on the water. handled with either monofilament or one of the stretch, it functions well with most line releases,
A lot of confusion also exists low stretch braided or fused lines.
between Spectra braided is relatively thin in diameter, knot strength is
DOWNRIGGERS excellent and monofilament can stand up to the
By Mark Romanack The best way to get the maximum value
out of fishing lines is to break down the respec-
abrasion issues of using line releases over and
over again.
24 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
 For smaller species like walleye or brown
trout a quality 10 to 12 pound test line is ideal.
For larger species like trout and salmon, bumping
up to 17 to 20 pound test is recommended.
IN-LINE BOARD TROLLING
Like dual boards, in-line board fishing is an-
other job for nylon monofilaments. Most in-line
boards on the market are factory equipped with
line releases and clips designed to function with
monofilament. Smaller species are easily handled
with 10 to 12 pound test and 17 to 20 pound test
is the best choice for steelhead, salmon or trout
fishing. pound test monofilament respectively! This extra
A growing number of anglers are using Spec-
tra braid or fused lines in combination with in-
line boards. The primary reason these ultra thin
lines are selected is to allow crankbaits and other
lures to achieve maximum depth. As a result the
smaller break strength lines such as 10, 15 and 20
pound test are the most popular with anglers who
troll in-line boards.
When these low stretch lines are used on in-
line boards, special line clips must be employed
that are designed to hold the these thin and slick
lines. The Off Shore Tackle Snapper (OR-18) has
emerged as a popular clip for fishing these lines.
The cam style jaw can be adjusted to hold these
thin lines securely, eliminating the problem of the
line slipping in the release pads or popping free
from the board.
For those anglers who want to use super
braids and fused lines and also rig their boards
to release, a new product made by Silver Horde
known as the Sam’s Release is in order. This
plunger style line release features a set screw
tension adjustment that allows anglers to set the
release tension as light or heavy as trolling condi-
tions dictate.
In this image the author is trolling both downrigger and diver lines. These two common
trolling presentations require vastly different line types. For downriggers the author rec-
ommends monofilament line and for diver fishing he favors Spectra super braids.
TROLLING DIVERS
Full sized diving planers like the popular
Dipsy or the Slide-Diver can be fished on a num-
ber of lines effectively. Monofilament in the 25-
30 pound test range has always been the standard
for diver fishing, but the stretch in monofilament 1916 - 2019
makes it difficult to trip a diver when a long lead A CANADIAN
is deployed. CLASSIC WITH
More and more anglers are discovering that
WORLD WIDE
the Spectra braids are the ideal line for fishing
divers. A 30, 40 or 50 pound test Spectra braid RECOGNITION
has a diameter equal to about eight, 10 and 14
FT
thin diameter allows divers to reach substantially Firetiger
deeper depths, increasing their versatility.
Fused lines can be used for diver fishing
as well, but Spectra braids are more abrasion
resistant and stand up better with hard use. Both
super braids and fused lines function best on
divers when the reel is first loaded with a couple
hundred yards of monofilament line as a backer.
This step helps to keep the super lines from bind-
ing on the spool and the reel drag functioning as
intended.
Stranded stainless steel wire can also be used
to deploy divers. Wire runs slightly deeper than
spectra braids because the cumulative weight of
the line helps to add a modest amount of extra
depth. Unfortunately fishing stainless line re-
quires rods equipped with roller guides and tip
tops. A second option is to remove the tip top
from a downrigger or diver rod and install a spe-
cial tip known as a Twili-Tip. This rather unique
tip top allows wire to flow without damaging the
guides.
Another caution, stainless wire line must also
Trolling Lines page 26
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24k gold &
copper finishes
The original Williams
lure that started it all
over 100 years ago.
• Multispecies
• Stabilising ridge
• 7 sizes, 29 colours
/williamslures
www.williams.ca
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 25
Trolling Lines:
from page 25
be let out carefully to avoid back-
lashes that are nearly impossible to
pick out.
MINI DIVERS
Mini divers have become very
popular for anglers who troll spoons
or harnesses for walleye. Like their
bigger brothers designed for deep
water trout and salmon fishing, mini
divers can be used to fish a wide
range of depths.
Because mini divers are most of-
ten used in combination with planer
boards, monofilament line is the top
choice for fishing these trolling aids.
For walleye and other smaller spe-
cies 10 to 12 pound test is the top
choice and for trout and salmon 17
to 20 pound test works well.
Super braids and fused lines
have a place among mini divers as
well. The advantage of using a super
line when fishing mini disks is the
ability to fish deeper while using
shorter trolling leads. The most
popular super line sizes for trolling
with mini divers range from 15 to
30 pound test.
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BOTTOM BOUNCERS
Walleye anglers spend a lot of
time slow trolling bottom bouncers
along sprawling flats. This timeless
angling technique functions best
with monofilament lines when fish-
ing in water from 10 to 40 feet deep.
A quality 10 or 12 pound test is the
top choice of most serious walleye
anglers.
When fishing bottom bouncers
in deeper water, super thin Spectra
braids may be necessary. The ultra
thin diameter of these lines makes it
easier to maintain occasional contact
with the bottom. A 15 pound test
spectra braid has a diameter of about
six pound test monofilament.
LEADERS
Fluorocarbon is the best possible
line for most leader chores. Tough
as nails and virtually invisible in
water, fluorocarbon is the top choice
for tying walleye rigs, diver leaders,
trout/salmon flies and other in-line
leaders. Because fluorocarbon lines
are so difficult to see in the water, it
makes sense to use a slightly heavier
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line when tying leaders than would
ordinarily be used.
A spool of 17 pound test fluoro-
carbon leader material is ideal for
fishing walleye, brown trout and
other small to medium sized species.
For targeting larger species like king
salmon and lake trout, a fluorocar-
bon leader in the 20 to 25 pound test
range is ideal.
Fluorocarbon line is expensive
and the best value comes not in buy-
ing leader spools, but rather larger
filler spools. Because fluorocarbon
line is not destroyed by UV rays, this
line lasts much longer than monofil-
ament line, further justifying buying
this line in larger spools.
SPECIAL TROLLING
Both lead core and copper wire
are special purpose trolling lines
designed to reach deep water fish.
Both are fished the same way, es-
sentially letting out large amounts
of these sinking lines to achieve the
desired depth. A leader is used at
the terminal end with a backing of
monofilament or Sprectra braid used
at the back end.
Lead core line is somewhat less
expensive and a little easier to work
with in terms of loading it onto reels
and letting out line while fishing.
Copper is heavier and fishes deeper
with less line out making it more
practical for fishing at greater
depths. However, copper must be
handled carefully to insure the line
doesn’t get kinked or backlash. Once
the line has been kinked or snarled
it’s almost impossible to salvage the
line.
The most popular size of lead
core is 27 pound test and for copper
wire trolling the 45 pound is consid-
ered the most popular.
A third sinking line option has
recently surfaced. Known as Weight-
ed Stainless Wire, this new line is
similar in weight to stranded copper
line and fishes at about the same
depths. The advantage of Weighted
Stainless Steel comes in the handling
characteristics. Produced by Torpedo
Divers this unique sinking line does
not kink, unravel or backlash. To say
this line is user friendly compared to
copper line is an understatement.
SUMMING IT UP
Hopefully this helps clear up the
murky waters surrounding fishing
lines. Monofilament is still the best
choice for a multitude of trolling
chores, but some of the special
purpose lines are carving out more
important niches every year. The key
is to be versatile and use each line
for the purpose it functions best.n
Albino
Several weeks ago while watch-
ing the evening news, I saw a story
about an albino deer that had been
seen at Kensington Metro Park. My
brother and I go to the park several
times a year to photograph the wide
variety of birds seen there.
On our second visit, we were
just inside the park when I spotted
the deer. You really couldn’t miss it.
It stood there like a neon sign! I got
out of the car with my camera and
slowly approached the deer, taking
several photographs while getting
very close to this rare beautiful ani-
mal. I feel so lucky to have seen this!
By Matt Rumpl of Macomb

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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 27
 Exploring Fishing Possibilities
It all begins with research...Guest Column By Robert Kennedy Jr.
A
s I stood overlooking
the fast moving water
of the river, I could
feel the warmth of
the fire on my back
as I watched the sun
set below the evergreens and then
dip beneath the dark water. The
pheasant, red potatoes and onions
cooked over the fire had left me
feeling full and complete during the
natural spectacle of the earth’s rota-
tion. I was alone with nothing but
The author with his steelhead!
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28 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
the sounds and smells of nature all
around me.
Though extremely beautiful and
majestic, it was slightly intimidat-
ing knowing I had no way to contact
civilization as cell service was not
available. My goal was to catch
some fish on a couple streams I
had never explored before, but my
expectations were surpassed as the
experience of nature in its pure bril-
liance drowned out all my worries
and frustrations from back home.
The overnight trip left me feel-
ing like a frontiersman and Ernest
It all boils down to research–researching the fisheries, researching the
Hemingway all at the same time. lands around the fisheries for access, camping sites, fishing repor ts,
I was exploring wilderness new to historical stocking records and regulations.
myself, and it was all so poetic.
Even though the first day only my confidence in my methodology DNR records of the fisheries and
resulted in a full stomach with no of exploring new waters and wilder- stocking records. Most states have
fish, the second day I was able to nesses. an easily accessible web page that
stumble upon a hundred or more It all boils down to research–re- will break down fishing waters by
fresh steelhead with no other fisher- searching the fisheries, research- county. In these county breakdowns
men to be found. I struggled to land ing the lands around the fisheries you can filter by species, the year
any in the beginning, but managed for access, camping sites, fishing fish were planted and the number of
one fresh eighteen inch steelhead to reports, historical stocking records fish planted. At the very least this
take home for the smoker before I and regulations. Nothing is more will give you an idea if the species
had to pack up and head home. The important than the research before of fish you are chasing have been
sense of accomplishment, even with you reach your fishing site, and the stocked in the stream or lake you’re
only landing one fish, strengthened research generally begins with the thinking of fishing.
www.WINADEERFARM.com
 Generally, when I look at the
stocking records I begin to filter by
species, deciphering what streams
and lakes have been stocked across
the state. I then look at the years and
numbers of fish being stocked into
the bodies of water. It can be impor-
tant to note whether or not a body
of water has had consistent stocking
records, for if it has been consistent
for a number of years and the efforts
have been stopped in the last few
years it can mean a couple of things.
It could either mean the stocking
was so successful that it’s no longer
needed as natural reproduction has
taken a strong hold or the body of
water is not suitable for the efforts
of stocking.
To further figure out if stocking
assumptions of a body of water are
correct, I then begin to filter through
local fishing reports. These can be
difficult to find and in some cases
there can be no report if the body of
water is very small. A general search
on Google or any other search
engine can usually provide you with
some information. The searches
generally start with “Trout Fishing
on the (insert body of water)” or
“Bass fishing in (insert county)”.
Very basic searches can lead you
down a rabbit hole of information,
but the more information you gather
the better for you. The bit of infor-
mation you’re trying to deduce is
whether or not the species of fish
you are after is in the body of water
you plan on fishing. Just because
stocking records show one thing and
assumptions are made doesn’t mean
they were the correct assumptions.
So, cross referencing stocking re-
cords and fishing reports may clarify
whether to make a trip to try to fish.
If I find enough evidence that the
fish species is present I move onto
how I’m going to access the body of
water.
Access on lakes is usually the
most simple to find as there tends to
be a road leading right up to them,
though there are times a remote
lake back in the wilderness can be
difficult to get to. The difficulty
rises even more when trying to
find access points on rivers. This is
where it’s important to know private
property lines and approach points
around these bodies of water. The
application that has grown in popu-
larity over the last couple of years
is Onx, which can be used on your
smartphone or computer. You do
have to pay for a yearly subscription
after a seven day free trial so it may
not be the choice for you. It gained
popularity through the hunting
community for checking the topog-
raphy of the land, marking stand
locations, tracking, knowing where
property lines are and the like. The
most noticeable and useful aspect of
Access on lakes is usually the most simple to find as there tends to be a
road leading right up to them, though, there are times a remote lake back
in the wilderness can be difficult to get to.
the app is the mobility of it. Being some National Forest grounds, but it
able to have it on your phone walk- is not very reliable and downloading
ing through the wilderness while maps ahead of time is not an option.
it directs you to a pin you dropped The problem with these options is
from your computer at home can be they aren’t very mobile or not mo-
priceless. You can even download bile at all and they won’t show your
maps before your adventure so when current location when attempting to
you have no service you still have use it on your smartphone.
all the information downloaded on Scouting a new fishing spot can
your phone helping you stay clear begin as boring, but it also opens up
of trespassing while getting to your new possibilities that could drasti-
fishing destination. cally improve upon previous fishing
There are other options for deci- ventures. Some of the best places
phering access points through public to find your own fishing adventure
and private grounds that cost you could be just down the road, or it
next to nothing. Many counties have could be a hundred miles away
public GIS (geographic information hidden back in the wilderness
systems) available online where it requiring you to hike through a
shows public and private lands. Plat massive cedar swamp to find it.
books are another option for some- Wherever it is located, expect a
one that is seeking a more mobile little research to find it and a little
option or for those that love the hard knowledge of the surrounding area
copies. Even Google Maps do show to get there.n

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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 29
 Revitalizing Michigan’s Civilian
Conservation Corps Museum
By Hillary Pine - MDNR
H
ave you ever driven
down a Michigan road
and noticed all those
trees growing in per-
fectly straight lines?
Trees don’t grow
that way naturally, so how did they
get there?
Eighty-six years ago, a “tree
army” 100,000 strong invaded
Michigan, and the landscape was
changed forever.
Today, nestled within North Hig-
gins Lake State Park in Roscommon
County is a museum commemorat-
ing the work of those hard-working
men.
This army was run by the United
States military, but the soldiers
weren’t military men. They were the
malnourished boys of the Great De-
pression and enrollees of the Civil-
ian Conservation Corps, or the CCC.
Part of President Franklin Delano
Roosevelt’s New Deal program, the
CCC was a federal works program
focused on conservation projects.
It gave work to unemployed young
men and veterans from 1933-1942.
In 1933, young men throughout
Michigan clambered to CCC offices
around the state. In exchange for six
months of labor in one of 128 Mich-
igan CCC camps, the men received
food, clothing and, best of all, $30
a month. Of this $30, enrollees kept
$5 while the rest was sent directly
to their families. In a time of great
economic woe, $25 was a savior
for many Michigan families. Many
Above: Two Civilian Conser vation
Corps enrollees from Camp Hig-
gins Lake planting seeds at the
Higgins Lake Nursery in Roscom-
mon Co. Right: Seedlings growing
in beds at the Higgins Lake Nurs-
ery in Roscommon Co. (Archives
of Michigan photo)
30 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
CCC boys were proud of the help
they provided to their families.
“Once you got into camp, you
wanted to get home, but after receiv-
ing a letter from your family who
received $25 and told you what they
had been able to purchase with that
money – a coat, food, and wood for
the stove – you felt for the first time
that you were helping your family
and nothing could induce you to
leave the CCC,” recalled Michael
Rataj, a former Michigan CCC
enrollee.
Spearheaded by CCC alumni,
the museum was built in 1985. It
resembles a barracks that the alumni
lived in and commemorates all
the work these young men accom-
plished.
In addition to planting tens of
thousands of trees, the CCC boys
built water control structures – like
those at the Seney Wildlife Refuge
in Schoolcraft County – and worked
to prevent forest fires, soil erosion
and flooding on state and federally
managed lands across Michigan.
Unlike the still-evident work of
the CCC, museum exhibits aren’t
meant to last much longer than 20
years. So, with great enthusiasm,
staff at the Michigan History Center
began a redesign of the Civilian
Conservation Corps Museum in
Roscommon County in 2018.
“This exhibit redesign gives
museum staff the opportunity to
highlight different artifacts and
Above: A group of seven men
from Civilian Conser vation Corps
Camp Harrison, Company 1613
in Clare Co., stand ankle deep in
a river while building a bridge.
The temperature was 20 degrees
below zero. Left: Enrollees at
Civilian Conser vation Corps Camp
Bitely in Mason Co. socialize out-
side their barracks. (Archives of
Michigan photo)
showcase the importance of the
CCC from a 21st-century perspec-
tive,” said Suzanne Fischer, museum
director at the Michigan History
Center.
Highlights of the new exhibits
include a never-before-displayed
shovel whose tip is worn down
from repetitive and backbreaking
CCC work, an interactive barracks
display that includes a trunk full of
CCC gear that visitors can try on,
and redesigned flip panels.
A favorite of museum visitors,
the updated flip panels give an in-
depth look at all the Michigan CCC
camps, A to Z. The panels include
camp photos, locations and work
projects.
Using the real stories of diverse
CCC enrollees, the new exhibits
– which include a redesigned map
of Michigan CCC camp locations –
highlight the impact the CCC had on
Michigan’s landscape, local commu-
nities and the 100,000 young men
who enrolled in the program. Visi-
tors typically come to the museum
specifically to find out more about a
loved one who was a CCC enrollee.
“Many visitors enjoy finding the
location of their dad’s or grandpa’s
camp on the map and then finding
more information about that camp in
the flip panels, while their kids and
grandkids explore the try-on trunk,”
said Josh Rademacher, a summer
interpreter at the museum.
The Michigan History Center
invites these repeat visitors and
others to come to experience the
redesigned museum.
Phase two of the museum rede-
sign project, focusing on the back
room of the building, will take place
throughout the winter of 2019-
2020. Currently open to the public,
this room is used to show videos
and for small programs. It will be
Signage on the trail will show
how this area, once divested by the
white-pine logging era, was home
to Michigan’s first state forest and
nursery and a pioneer in forest fire
fighting.
Find visitor information about
the CCC Museum and Higgins
Lake Nursery at Michigan.gov/ Michigan Cares for Tourism volunteers work on painting the Civilian Con-
CCCMuseum.n ser vation Corps Museum in Roscommon County in September 2017.

THE ULTIMATE WOOD HEAT

transformed into a multi-use space
for videos, programs, projects and
research. Highlights will include
information on how to begin your
own CCC research, the education
and vocational training efforts of the
CCC, and an updated viewing area
for the CCC documentary “Camp
Forgotten,” by Bill Jamerson.
Although the museum was con-
structed in the 1980s, it is located
on the site of a former CCC camp.
However, the location’s significance
goes back much further in Michigan
history.
The site is the location of Michi-
gan’s first tree nursery. Opened
in 1903, the Higgins Lake State
Nursery was one of the largest pine
nurseries in the world and home
to Michigan’s very first fire tower.
The grounds of the nursery, which
shipped up to 20 million seedlings
a year at its peak in the 1920s, are
extensive.
Today, the site includes several
red wooden buildings used in the
nursery’s heyday, including during
the CCC era. Most of the grounds
are covered by shrubs and trees. A
timber sale, slated to be completed
in the next two years, will open the
nursery grounds for the first time
since it closed in 1965.
Josh Pellow, North Higgins Lake
State Park supervisor, said he is ex-
cited to open this space for viewing.
“Once full of seedbeds, the
cleared areas will show visitors just
how massive this operation was,”
Pellow said.
Harkening back to its early
days as a hotbed of U.S. forestry
research, the Higgins Lake Nursery
will once again be home to forestry
science and discovery in 2021. In
collaboration with the Michigan
Department of Natural Resources,
Michigan State University will
begin progeny testing there, planting
red pine seedlings and testing the
genetics of these trees for 20 years.
In the coming years, visitors also
will notice improvements along the
trail system that begins in the mu-
seum and nursery parking lot. This
trail, dubbed the “Cradle of For-
estry” section of the Iron Belle Trail,
eventually will make its way north
to Hartwick Pines State Park.
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 31
 Feely fish
theories and
swimbaits
Here’s a stupid fish
theory for you: The
“feel” of a lure can
be just as important
as its “look...”
By Dave Mull
W
e came up
with this
stupid fish
theory long
ago while
trolling for
salmon. Stupid fish theories, by the
way, are things that anglers think up
usually while waiting for fish to bite.
There’s no way for mere anglers
or maybe even serious scientists to
prove them. But we anglers create
them to explain certain observations
about fish behavior.
In the case of trolling for
salmon, the “feely theory” explained
why a spoon that fish had smacked
so often that almost all of its paint
was gone, still caught fish. It still
continued to outperform all the
nicely painted, new spoons of the
same size and brand in your box.
The theory goes on to say that all
that red meat extending out from the
salmon’s lateral line is nerve tis-
sue, making the side of the salmon
one great big vibrational receptor.
A salmon’s side is like a radar dish,
Top to bottom, a 3-inch MinnowZ
adorns the back of a Strike King
Bitsy Bug to create a go-anywhere
swim-jig. A 3-inch MinnowZ on a
1/6-ounce Z-Man NedlockZ head, a
3-inch Slim SwimZ on a 1/20-ounce
Z-Man ShroomZ head and a Kei-
tech 4-inch Swing Impact on a
1/10-ounce Z-Man NedlockZ head.
32 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
except it picks up vibrations from
baitfish swimming. When you have
that one odd spoon on a leadcore
line out on a planer board speed-
ing up and slowing down, at some
point it emits a certain vibration that
“feels” like what a salmon or steel-
head has been eating and therefore
provokes that fish to strike.
Does this theory hold water?
Only the fish know for sure, and
until we perfect the Vulcan mind
meld, we’ll never get our finned
quarry to tell us.
But this “feely” theory seems
applicable when casting to inland
gamefish, too. Many hardcore bass
anglers have that special flat tackle
tray with a handful of crankbaits
that ought to have their own armed
guard. For some reason, that one
plastic diving lure always gets
strikes when others of the same
make, size and color simply don’t
work as well. The effectiveness of
spinnerbaits seems to support this
feely theory, too. Those things with
wavy tails of chartreuse, white and
other colors and revolving, flash-
ing blades don’t look like anything
that a fish normally eats, yet there
are times when a spinnerbait works
better than anything else. Perhaps
fish hit it despite what it looks like
because it feels so much like some-
thing the fish have eaten before.
The Finesse
Connection
The question was on the Finesse
News Network Facebook page: “If
you were limited to one finesse bait,
what would it be?”
The winner was the Z-Man 2
3/4-inch T.R.D. Those three letters
officially stand for The Real Deal,
but the story goes that the folks at
Z-Man were calling the bait a turd.
Place a green pumpkin T.R.D. next
to goose poop and you’ll see why.
No matter what it looks like, the
T.R.D. is a great lure, but, it ranks
second favorite as a finesse bait. My
top choice is a small swimbait, and
they are, in my opinion, the most in-
dispensable soft plastic lure around.
In the finesse world of lighter tackle
and line, three swimbaits rank at the
top: A 3-inch MinnowZ, a 3-inch
Slim SwimZ and a Keitech 4-inch
Swing Impact. The first two are
Z-Man Products, made of the nearly
indestructible Elaztech plastic;
the Keitech is an import made by
Keitech.
Author shows an 18-inch largemouth that hit a 2 1/2-inch Slim
SwimZ last fall on Morrow Pond near Kalamazoo.
All three of these swimbaits
have boot tails, and each of them
can catch fish in a wide variety of
situations—I firmly believe the
action of the tail appeals to a fish’s
sense of feel. The MinnowZ and
Slim SwimZ baits look more like
natural baitfish, while the Keitech
apparently gets bites thanks to its
ringed body and the kind of vibra-
tion it gives off.
Small swimbaits are, arguably,
the most versatile bait made. On
an open-hook jighead, these baits
can be hopped or dragged along
the bottom like a Texas-rig worm,
slow-rolled just above bottom like
a spinnerbait or burned right on
the surface like a buzzbait. Rig one
weedless and drag it right through
weeds. Put it as a trailer on a rubber-
skirt jig and you create a swim jig
that can be as effective when you
drag it through lily pads as it is
when you cast it to bass firing on
minnows over deep, open water.
I’ve gathered a lot of anecdotal
evidence to support the notion that
bass anglers really ought to have a
small swimnbait tied on one of their
rods all the time.
I’m a slow learner, so it took me
awhile to realize that in almost ev-
ery kayak bass tournament in which
I didn’t embarrass myself, I caught
at least one fish on a swimbait.
Sometimes a swimbait caught all of
my keepers.
And we’re not just talking
about bass. For some fun this fall,
try a Keitech 4-inch Swing Impact
on a 1/6-ounce ShroomZ head
from Z-Man. This combo is heavy
enough to throw on a medium-
heavy baitcast combo and 10-pound
test flurocarbon. Last October on
Morrow Pond near Kalamazoo, I
won a kayak pike tournament with
a red ShroomZ and pearl-colored
Keitech 4-inch Swing Impact. I
measured pike of 25, 29 and 33
inches, and was the only contestant
to catch three pike. The same lure
also caught a 17 1/2-inch large-
mouth, which tied for big bass and
won more cash. (Qualifier: Only six
guys showed up to fish the Inaugural
Mainstream Tackle & Outdoors Ga-
tor Grab. But I still won it and obvi-
ously still want to brag about it).
Anyway, that day it was a slow-
roll kind of retrieve that scored with
all those fish. I anchored my Old
Town Predator PDL along the drop-
off above the dam and just cast into
about 16 feet of water, letting the
lure sink all the way to the bottom,
and then reeled just fast enough to
stay above bottom. The pike and
bass jumped all over it.
Both of these little swimbaits are
great for snapping through weeds,
too. In a late April tournament a
couple of years ago on Kent Lake
near Brighton I got 6th among 60-
some anglers doing just that. I had
a Bluegill Flash pattern Keitech on
a 1/10-ounce ShroomZ head and
set up on the shallow edge of a big
weed bed. I could cast all the way
across it into deeper water, and just
swam the lure back fast enough to
stay right at the top of the weeds,
which weren’t yet fully developed.
When the lure snagged, I just
popped it free—and several strikes
occurred as the lure tore free from
the green stuff.
Like many finesse-type lures,
small swimbaits are no-brainer
fish-catchers. You don’t need to do
anything fancy—just cast and reel
or even cast out and troll them. One
September evening while heading
back to the ramp on Morrow Pond,
I cast the smallest swimbait in my
arsenal, a 2 1/2-inch Slim SwimZ on
a 1/16-ounce tin-bismuth head from
Jade’s Jigs behind my Bonafide
kayak and lazily paddled while
chatting with my buddies. In
about 10 minutes I caught an 11-
inch crappie and an 18-inch large-
mouth.
If you’re a fan of finesse but
haven’t spent much time with swim-
baits, give them a try. You won’t be
disappointed.n
 R I NG
HI ERS
W EL D

WNW NEWS JULY 2019 33

 Michigan Outside - Finding fitness in the outdoors
Training for
the Unexpected
by Drew YoungeDyke
C
hris saw the bear
first, a sow stand-
ing near the base
of a pine, separated
from us by about
50 yards of under-
brush. Then we spotted the move-
ment up in the tree and could make
out two cubs. And she definitely
saw us, starting to make an arc away
from the tree and towards our posi-
tion on the trail. Being perceived as
a threat by a black bear sow with
cubs is probably the most dangerous
situation you can find yourself in the
Pigeon River Country State Forest,
but we had another problem: The
bears were right where we planned
to access the Pigeon River, where
the Shingle Mill Pathway we’d
run with our waders in backpacks
veered closest to the river.
Chris Engle, a fellow outdoor
writer, and I have fished a few
times around Gaylord since we
met in 2012 through local fish-
ing and conservation legend Dave
Smethurst while travelling together
to a town hall meeting in Alpena
to speak against the Land Cap Bill.
The author and fishing par tner
ran up the trail with waders and
four-piece rods in their back-
packs to fish the river back.
34 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
A marsh provided a challenging hike to the river.
On a mid-May weekend, I was up
from Ann Arbor for my son’s baby
shower the day before at my parents’
house in Gaylord, and I had a short
window to fish early that Sunday
morning before I was expected for
a family brunch, so I invited Chris.
He and I have ice fished on Manuka
Lake, fished for walleye with Sarah
Topp of Huron Pines on Otsego
Lake, and fly fished a different
stretch of the Pigeon, but this was
the first time we made it a flyathlon,
running up the trail to fish the river
upstream back to his car.
We had already changed from
our running shoes to our chest wad-
ers and assembled our fly rods, but
we wisely backed away and made
our own off-trail wide arc away
from and around the bears – which
took us directly uphill through thick
cover, not the easiest path in cheap
boot-foot waders and a rigged eight-
foot fly rod. And while the uphill
slog was difficult, the wetland we
had to traverse to get back to the
river was even tougher, and wading
the river impossible in spots due to a
high flow and beaver damming.
I stripped a streamer through
pools without a bite while Chris
fished a spinning rod. We leap-
frogged the river down the trail
back closer to the car when the rain
started pouring, with thunderstorms
expected later in the forecast. I
trappers to stay in decent physical
condition or work to get in bet-
ter physical condition. One of the
simplest ways to train your body for
unexpected uphill or cross-wetland
hikes, though, is simply to hike with
a weighted backpack.
Gear needed for this is simple:
hiking boots or shoes and a back-
pack capable of comfortably sup-
porting whatever weight you’ll put
in it. Personally, I use Altra Lone
Peak trail-running shoes, Prana
Stretch Zion pants, and the Tenz-
ing TZ3000 internal frame pack,
which is the same one I use for
deer hunting. Be honest about your
current conditioning level and don’t
overload your pack – just pack
the equivalent weight of what you
would carry in the field. I often just
load it up with my actual overnight
backpacking kit. Find a public land
trail – Michigan has 12,500 miles
of them – and go for a hike, it can
be that simple. A 200-pound person
tried a bead-head nymph and Chris (my approximate weight) can burn
finally landed a rainbow trout with 550 calories per hour according to
his Panther Martin. While the fish- LiveStrong.org.
ing wasn’t great, it was a classic
Pigeon River Country foray during
which we spooked a deer, flushed
two grouse, did some wayward
bushwacking, saw some trilliums on
the forest floor, waded beaver pools
in the river, and, of course, saw a
mama bear and cubs.
While we expected a little
workout from trail-running the
couple miles up the trail to where
we planned to enter the river, what
surprised me – but shouldn’t have
– about our morning of fishing is
how hard my legs worked to climb
uphill through brush, to slog through
wetlands, to climb out of the high-
flowing river to the bank where
beaver dams created pools deeper
than my waders, and sinking thigh-
deep in thick muck and struggling to
escape it.
There have been several work-
outs I’ve done through CrossFit
and Train To Hunt which engaged
similar muscles and worked my legs
the same which helped push through
those unexpected situations in the
woods, like weighted box step-ups,
lunges, and squats. Unexpected The backpack is made for fast
situations – like navigating uphill packing and held chest waders,
wide around a black bear sow and fly boxes, a net, and a four-piece
cubs - are why I think it’s often most rod securely while running the
important for hunters, anglers, and trail.

The Pigeon River is wor th the hike in, with or without fish. Chris Engle photo
If you want to support conserva-
tion efforts while you train, you
can also sign up for the Hike To
Hunt Challenge from Backcountry
Hunters & Anglers. This is a fun-
draising challenge which supports
the organization’s efforts to protect
wild public lands and access to wild
public waters by signing up and
getting friends and family to pledge
donations based on how many miles
you hike. At the same time, you
could win prizes from outdoor gear
companies like Under Armour and
Vortex. The 2019 Challenge started
on June 1 but it runs until July 31,
so there’s still time to enter. Sign
up at www.backcountryhunters.org/
hike_to_hunt_2019 and join the
Michigan Chapter of Backcountry
Hunters & Anglers Facebook Group
for local events.
Whether you enter the Hike To
Hunt Challenge or just strap on a
pack and hike a few miles to burn
some calories and increase your
leg strength, you’ll be better pre-
pared for the obstacles that we all
encounter from time to time in the
outdoors. Whether it’s dragging a
deer out of a valley in November or
circumventing a mama bear and her
cubs on your way to a trout stream
in May, your legs will thank you for
the preparation when the unexpected
inevitably happens afield.n
Help improve fish
and wildlife habitat
MUCC's On The Ground Program
Hunters, anglers, trappers and
other outdoor enthusiasts can help
improve habitat for fish and wildlife
on public lands as part of a volunteer
program called On the Ground.
Administered by Michigan
United Conservation Clubs through
funding from the DNR, On the
Ground has made a positive differ-
ence on more than 1,600 acres of
public land throughout Michigan
since the program began in 2013.
Volunteers improve fish and
game habitat through weekend
projects like building brush piles
and removing invasive trees, install-
ing fish spawning structures, hinge-
cutting trees for deer and snowshoe
hare, installing wood duck boxes,
regenerating aspen stands and planting a variety of trees for wildlife food
and cover.
On the Ground has projects planned throughout the summer months,
ranging from river cleanups to tree plantings. Upcoming events include:
• June 21: Backus Creek State Game Area in Roscommon County.
• July 6: Clinton River cleanup.
• July 20: Manistee River cleanup.
• July 20: Gladwin State Game Area in Clare County.
• Aug. 4: Rose Lake State Wildlife Area in Clinton County.
For more information or to register for an On the Ground event, visit
MUCC.org/On-the-Ground.

Chuck Pedrotte Lifetime Collection of Trophy Mounts

Online Auction @ www.BidNow.us
Bidding Begins Closing Wednesday, July 24th
The entire collection will be sold by Online Auction.
Auction is located at Chuck’s home museum at 72868 Solanus Dr., Bruce Twp, MI (Macomb Co).

Message from the owner: “My name is Chuck Pedrotte and I’m
81 years old. I started hunting out of Michigan in 1966. I joined
Safari Club Detroit in 1979 and I became a life member of Safari
Club International in 2002. I have hunted in North America
in Alabama and most Western states. I have also hunted in
Canada, Europe, South America and 6 trips to Africa – the last
one in 2008. Most of my trophies are record book animals with
some in the top 10. All mounts have been treated and are in
excellent shape. All taxidermy work was done by professionals.
I hope all buyers enjoy these trophies as much as I have.”
Auctioneer’s Note: “We have never seen a collection like this
before and probably never will again! Come to the preview, you
won’t be disappointed.” – Dave Albrecht
Online Auction w/Live Preview
on July 18-24 from 10 am to 4 pm or
by Appointment – Closed on Sunday!
Call Chuck with Questions @ 586.752.5036

Albrecht Auction Service

989.823.8835
www.BidNow.us
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 35
Return of the Lawn Lobsters!
Devil Crayfish, also known as mudbugs or crawdads; are the most widely spread crayfish of Michigan...

M
ysterious minia- point of debate but crayfish must
ture “chimneys” dig a burrow to reach the water
are emerging in table. I would love to interview
moist meadows and a crayfish to ask why they build
lawns as well as chimneys. Their answers might be
along stream banks amazing! There are no shortages
across most of Michigan; just as of theories as to why they are built,
they do every spring and well into and as is often the case in the world
summer. These mysterious of nature, the simplest pos-
chimneys are not gateways sibilities are probably the
to a secret underground correct ones.
world, but rather the The crawfish has to dig
homes of several species a burrow if it wants to be
of crayfish, collectively able to submerge in water
known as Chimney Cray- beneath the water table,
fish with most of the work and then something must
being done by Cambarus be done with the excavated
Diogenes, mud. What
a species
commonly By Jonathan Schechter is known
is they use
known as their legs
the Devil Crayfish. Devil Crayfish, and mouth parts as tiny shovels
also known as mudbugs or craw- and backhoes to dig up mud and
dads; are the most widely spread make it into a squishy balls known
crayfish of Michigan. as pellets. If they were to scurry
Why our common “lawn lob- across a lawn to deposit the pellets
sters” build chimneys remains a they would be extremely vulnerable
In the world of nature all things are interconnected, and crayfish
(lawn lobsters) are more than bait, or something to toss in the
campfire stew pot. But they are tasty. Jonathan Schechter photos
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to night predators which would in- back down into its underworld of
clude raccoons, opossums, skunks tunnels. Some of the chimneys are
and even owls. But if the pellets extremely well crafted structures
Solid Logs with Perma Chink between are used to build a chimney around that might be over six inches tall,
Cedar or Pine
• Fully Insulated
the hole they do not have to wan-
der and the safety of the burrow
while others lean a bit and look like
the work of an apprentice chimney
entrance is always present as an builder working without much
• Front Porch or Side Porch Styles Available
• Custom Built to Your Ideas! immediate escape hatch. The work guidance or sleep.
• Stained & Preserved goes on under the cover of darkness A human observer may notice
• Delivered to Surrounding States and each pellet is taken topside and that some of the colors and textures
• Sizes from 8’ to 36’ Long!! placed on the surface in a circular of the chimney vary slightly in the
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might work. The work continues county by county. That is easily ex-
most of the night layer by layer and plained for as the crawfish burrows
by the time the first rays of sunlight down, it brings up soil from dif-
illuminate the newly constructed ferent layers of soil with different
chimney the crayfish has scurried textures and colors. “Grayish mud”

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remains the most common color of
the “smoke-stack” looking things,
as some people refer to the chim-
neys, and “squishy” remains the
common texture. Once completed
they chimneys serve as the entrance
to the tunnels that may descend two
or three feet down and then branch
out to side tunnels and burrows.
Some scientist think the chimney
assists in airflow down the burrow
and that would increase the amount
of oxygen being absorbed by the
subterranean water within the tun-
nels. During times of drought and
extreme heat the chimney would
certainly shade the tunnels and
perhaps keep life more comfortable
for the crayfish.
It goes without debate that
their handiwork is impressive and
draws attention from humans who
are puzzled when an early morn-
ing walk across their lawn reveals
the freshly constructed chimneys.
More than a month has slipped by
since I first noticed comments on
a community Facebook page with
photos of crayfish chimneys in a
suburban lawn that were captioned
rather dramatically, and incorrectly
in bold letters this way: “OMG!
SNAKE HOLES!!!! ” I jumped
into the fray and identified them as
the tunnel entrances of the chimney
crayfish and shared the fact that
snakes are not equipped to dig. I
intentionally left one fact out about
what might be down the holes.
Crayfish are an important
component of and perhaps unsung
heroes of some ecosystems because
those tunnels are critical habitat
for other species. Crayfish are in
fact considered keystone species.
Wikipedia defines keystone species
in an easy to understand way, “A
keystone species is a plant or ani-
mal that plays a unique and crucial
role in the way an ecosystem func-
tions. Without keystone species, the
ecosystem would be dramatically
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Why our common “lawn lobsters” build chimneys remains a point of
debate but crayfish must dig a burrow to reach the water table.
different or cease to exist alto-
gether. ... The role that a keystone
species plays in its ecosystem is
analogous to the role of a keystone
in an arch.”
What I did not share online in
the Facebook debates to avoid an
endless follow up of fearful ques-
tions is that for about five months
of the year, especially in southeast
Michigan, the tunnels beneath the
chimneys serve as the winter quar-
ters for the only venomous reptile
of Michigan, the federally protected
Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake.
Our rather reclusive “swamp rat-
tlers” will sometimes seek out
the burrows of crayfish for winter
hibernation. Once safely below the
frost line, the rattlesnakes submerge
themselves in the groundwater and
stay in the burrow from late Octo-
ber until mid-April when the rising
temperatures of the soil and air lure
them back to the surface.
Rattlesnakes are not the only
species that take advantage of the
tunnels. Researchers have probed
the hidden recesses of the burrows
with endoscopic cameras and have
even spotted frogs hibernating in
the same hibernacula as our rattle-
snakes. It’s almost as if the tunnels
of the crayfish are the place to
meet, mingle and survive for it’s
also been discovered that the Hines
Emerald Dragonfly, one the most
endangered insects in Michigan,
deposits her eggs in the subterra-
nean waters of the burrows during
times of drought, a testament to the
fact that nothing in nature lives in
isolation.
Now that you know some of the
secrets of the “lawn lobsters” and
the amazing chimneys they build,
let that serve as another reminder
that in the world of nature all things
are interconnected, and crayfish are
more than bait, or something to toss
in the campfire stew pot. But they
are tasty.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 37
 Sharing a Good
Day on the Water
F
ish line whizzed from
the reel as the frog lure
arched through the air
toward an open spot in
the floating lily pads. It
landed with an audible
splash, right on target. The words
“good cast” had barely cleared my
lips when a largemouth bass en-
gulfed the motionless lure
with a big splash.
“One thousand one,”
Chance counted before
setting the hook hard.
Without that pause the lure
is often jerked out of the
fish’s mouth without hook-
ing him. That hesitation
allowed the fish to squeeze
By Darryl Quidort
the plastic
frog down so
that the hooks
were exposed. This fish was hooked
solidly. Lily pads were jerked under
water by the fish line as the bass
bulldozed through them. As he
38 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
played the fish, I turned the canoe
and moved Chance into a more open
area where he soon lifted a nice bass
from the water with a thumb grip on
a big lower jaw.
“Another nice one,” he ex-
claimed as he unhooked and re-
leased the fish. “Aww! He bit a leg
right off my froggy. This lure is
about shot. But, that is the
seventh bass in a row,” he
grinned.
We were fishing
a very special lake about
ten miles east of Grayling.
Wakeley Lake is a large
body of water where an
angler can enjoy a quality
fishing experience in quiet
solitude.
There is no
boat launch,
no noisy motors, and no jet skis. The
completely wild shoreline has no
houses or cabins to mar the natural
beauty.
Chance hoists a nice largemouth bass from the front seat of the canoe.
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That morning I had portaged
my 14-foot canoe nearly half a
mile from the trailhead to the lake
while Chance struggled along with
our rods, tackle boxes, life jackets,
and our lunch in a small cooler.
We weren’t sure who had the worst
load.
After reaching the lake we
pushed the canoe out onto the glass
smooth, clear water. There was just
enough breeze to move the canoe
along slowly while we cast our
lures into openings in the weedbeds.
Chance caught the first fish on a
spinning lure, a 14-inch largemouth
bass. As the light breeze picked up
we drifted along at a faster speed.
By the time we neared the far shore
we had landed several bass and a
couple of decent sized northern
pike.
We had to paddle against the
wind to get back across the lake and
position ourselves for another drift
across the lake to a cove covered
with floating lily pads. In fact, we
did that several times that morning
and we caught fish on every drift.
There are trophy sized bass, pike,
and bluegills in that lake because it
is managed with that goal in mind.
Wakeley Lake is located in a
2,100 acre tract of land in Crawford
County that is within the Huron Na-
lake. There is a vault toilet but no
potable water source. Camping is
also allowed anywhere on National
Forest land as long as you stay
more than 200 feet from any lake or
stream.
Special fishing regulations apply
on Wakeley Lake. Open season is
less than three months long, from
June 15 to August 31. The lake is
catch and immediate release only,
using artificial lures only. No live
bait, dead bait, or organic bait is al-
lowed.
After lunch and a nap the warm
sun woke us up. So we went fish-
ing again. The wind had picked up
a little and it took hard paddling
when going against the wind to get
in position for a good drift. We soon
ters outside of the canoe.
Later that afternoon I quit fish-
ing and just paddled the canoe to
position Chance for fishing his frog
lure in a protected cove full of lily
pads. It was fun watching him fish
and seeing the explosion when a
largemouth blew-up on the float-
ing frog lure. He was pretty good at
fishing it too.
That evening, as the sun low-
ered in the sky, we paddled to the
take out spot. A pair of loons were
calling with that haunting, wilder-
ness sound. We quietly gathered
our gear, then took one last look at
the lake before leaving. It was glass
smooth again. The ripples made
by the swimming loons were lit up
An angler
can enjoy
a qual-
ity fishing
experience
in solitude
on Wakeley
Lake.
by the low angle of the sun. As we
stood there in silence, I thought of a
line from an old John Denver song,
“If I had a day that I could give to
you, I’d give to you a day just like
today.”
This time Chance shouldered the
canoe and I followed with my arms
full of our fishing gear. I was proud
of that strong young man carrying
the canoe down the trail ahead of
me. I don’t remember how many
fish we caught and released that day,
but I guess it doesn’t really matter.
I hope my grandson always remem-
bers that fine day with the same
fondness that I do.
We sure had a good day on the
water.n

Premium Wildlife
tional Forest. The area is managed learned how to paddle together to
by the United States Forest Service. keep the canoe running straight and

A daily, weekly, or annual
permit from the USFS is required
to hike, fish, or camp. There are
self-pay envelopes located at the
trail head parking area off M-72.
The area is limited to walk-in ac-
cess only. Along with 8 1/2 miles
of marked hiking trails there are
numerous old logging trails for run-
ning, hiking, snowshoeing, or cross
country skiing. Marked trails circle
the lake and provide areas of beaver
Habitat Creation
powerfully into the wind. In addi-
tion to the ducks we saw on the lake
while canoeing, an adult bald eagle
frequently flew around the area. YOUR PROPERTY IS OUR PRIORITY
That afternoon we were pleased to • Food Plots
spot the eagle nest high in a large
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white pine at the far end of the lake.
We caught both bass and north- • Trail Creation
ern pike on spinning lures. Many • Hinge Cutting Michigan
bass were taken on various plastics • Soil Testing
and surface lures. An old red and
• Free Quotes
white Daredevil that I found in the

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ponds, marshes, and forest openings
for wildlife and bird watching or
just for enjoying the fresh air of a
wilderness-like area.
A few rustic campsites with fire
pits and a table are located near the
bottom of my tackle box proved
that it could still catch pike just as
well as it did 20 years ago. Then
we would laugh, “Oh no! Another
pike!” We hadn’t brought a net so
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 39
 Mixing it up with LEADCORE
By Mark Romanack

W
hen filming

COVER
episodes for
Fishing 411
TV, leadcore

STORY
line is one of
the presenta-
tions we use often for trolling up
trout, salmon, steelhead and even
walleye. Deadly effective at getting
gear to depth, by fishing various
pre-determined segments of lead-
core these sinking lines can easily
be married to other popular trolling
aids such as in-line planer boards.
The results are trolling lines that
fish deep and also get presented
out away from the boat. Our staff
at Fishing 411 TV often refers to
leadcore trolling as “stealth trolling”
because it presents lures to fish that
have no clue we are in the neighbor-
hood.
The down side to leadcore line
is it fishes well with some trolling
lures and not so well with others.
Most anglers who use leadcore are
fishing with Great Lakes style troll-
ing spoons. The beauty of a trolling
spoon is these lures do not have a
“dive curve” of their own. Effec-
tively a spoon fished in combination
with leadcore line is running at the
same depth as the leadcore line is
fishing. This fact makes it possible
to stack different segments of lead
core line (3, 5, 7, 10 colors etc.) per
side of the boat using in-line planer
boards.
This rigging is made possible
by stacking the shallowest running
setups on the outside boards and
progressively deeper fishing rigs on Leadcore line is typically thought of as a trolling tool for dredging up deep water trout and salmon.
subsequent boards. For example, The author uses leadcore often for targeting warm water species like this walleye taken in Lake Erie
when a fish is hooked on an outside pulling spinners.
board running a three color lead-
core set up with a spoon, that line side of the boat without fear that a are combined with leadcore line the board line as that fish struggles to
is running high enough in the water hooked fish will tangle with other crankbait is actually diving deeper escape. As a result it is not nearly as
column that it can be reeled in with- lines. than the leadcore is fishing. This practical to fish a full spread of lead-
out having to clear deeper running Crawler harnesses trolled on dynamic makes it impractical to core when sinking lines are teamed
5, 7 or 10 colors rigs fished on other leadcore line are very effective on stack multiple leadcore lines fishing up with diving crankbaits.
board lines. This modern trolling walleye. Another option is to use a crankbaits per each side of the boat.
set up is slick to say the least and traditional in-line spinner such as a Because the crankbait is diving A Solution
a great way to saturate the water Yakima Bait Rooster Tail or Mepps
column with trolling spoons. Spinner on leadcore line. Trolling
deeper than the leadcore, an outside for Crankbaits
leadcore board line can’t be pulled The only practical solution for
in-line spinners is a little known but
What About Spinners? very effective means of targeting
over top of the middle or inside running crankbaits in combina-
When fishing leadcore a spinner board lines without tangling lines. tion with leadcore line is to fish the
brown trout, Atlantic salmon, steel- This poses a significant problem
rig (nightcrawler harness) can be crankbaits on the inside and deep-
head, lake trout, chinook and coho. because switching out lures on these
substituted for the spoon with the est board lines. On the middle and
same results. Like trolling spoons, Crankbaits/Leadcore leadcore lines requires reeling in outside board lines either spinners
spinner rigs have no “dive curve” Leadcore line fishes so well with the middle and inside board lines to or spoons must be fished to allow
and therefore run the same depth the spoons and spinners a lot of an- check an outside board line. hooked fish to be reeled in right over
lead core line is fishing. This is good glers try to apply this logic to other Even if a fish is hooked on the the top of other leadcore lines.
news for walleye anglers because it popular lures like diving crankbaits. outside board line, the fish is deep Running leadcore lines with
allows an avid angler to stack two, Unfortunately, crankbaits do have a enough in the water column that it is crankbaits as the inside board line
three or even four leadcore lines per natural “dive curve” and when they likely to catch the middle or inside works well, but it also makes it
40 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
nearly impossible to run other gear problem of releasing the board, tional spring tension setting holes column. This is why when manufac-
such as diving planers in that niche. when the board eventually slides so the tension can be increased to turers of lead core line make blan-
The problem is that a leadcore line down the line it ends up a few feet allow for trolling with sinking line ket statements referencing running
is likely going to catch on the diver in front of the fish. setups. While the “Tattle Flag” depth, those numbers are inherently
line both when a fish is hooked or Now we have a problem because first became popular with walleye misleading. Trolling speed has a
even if the angler is just trying to the fish can easily pull the board trollers, it also has an important profound impact on how deep sink-
switch out lures. under water at this point, creating niche among salmon and trout fish- ing lines fish.
Board Rigging an almost impossible situation for
fighting a fish effectively. Known
ermen.
It is very common while trolling
How Deep Does
Requirements as the “release and slide method” for salmon or trout to hook a small This Stuff Run?
To get the most from fishing this strategy was once popular, fish often called a “jack or skipper” To determine accurate trolling
segments of leadcore it’s important but has become obsolete as in-line that is not big enough to make it depths with leadcore line requires
to marry these rigs up with in-line planer board trolling technology has obvious a fish has been hooked. The not only controlling how much lead-
boards that have the ability to trip evolved over the years. new Tattle Flag systems with the ad- core is used, but the trolling speed
when a fish bites, yet remain pegged and lures that are being used. Fortu-
to the fishing line. Tripping or re- Articulating Flags ditional spring tension settings allow
anglers to troll with virtually any nately, the Precision Trolling Data
leasing the board prevents the board Walleye fishermen love to set up phone app covers a wide variety of
sinking line set up while still having
from planing to the side and makes their in-line boards with articulating
the advantage of the articulating flag leadcore trolling setups, making it
it easier to reel in hooked fish. A flags that tip down when a fish is
hooked. Off Shore Tackle, based out for detecting when small fish have easier to determine how deep your
tripped board will quickly drop out been hooked. gear is fishing.
of Port Austin, Michigan was the
of formation and sag to the back of Using articulating flag setups for
the boat where no other lines are first to introduce this technology, but
trolling sinking lines is no joke. This Summing It Up
in danger of getting tangled. This now all the brands of in-line boards Leadcore line is an old school
set up makes it possible to detect
makes it easy to reel the fish in with- have their own version.
when small fish have been hooked trolling method that in recent years
out having to clear any other trolling When it comes to using articu- is enjoying a resurgence in popular-
lating flag systems in combination even when trolling in rough seas.
lines. ity. Combining pre-determined seg-
Boards set up not to release cre- with leadcore line some issues oc- Speed Matters ments of leadcore line with modern
ate a major problem because when cur. Most leadcore set ups are heavy Trolling speed is another im- trolling boards and tactics allows
a fish is hooked, the board is still and generate enough drag that they portant consideration when fishing anglers to literally have their cake
trying to plane out to the side of the simply pull the flag down negating leadcore lines. Leadcore is speed and eat it too. Effective on both cold
boat. Not only does this create more the value of an articulating flag in dependent or another way to explain water and warm water species, seg-
resistance for the angler, the fish is the first place. this is that the slower an angler mented leadcore is rapidly becom-
pulling against the resistance of the Off Shore Tackle solved this trolls the deeper this line fishes and ing one of the most effective trolling
board and often uses this resistance problem by introducing new flags the faster one trolls, leadcore line tactics for getting the job done in
to tear free and escape. for their boards that feature addi- doesn’t run as deep in the water open water.n
To allow an in-line planer to
release when a fish is hooked,
the tow arm of the board must be
equipped with a traditional pinch
pad style line release. On the back
of the board a line clip such as the
Off Shore Tackle Snap Weight Clip
is required because it doesn’t release
and holds the tripped board, pegged
in place on the line.
The OR12 Side-Planer board
comes factory supplied with an
OR19 heavy tension line release
on the tow arm and an OR16 Snap
Weight Clip mounted to the back of
the board. This setup works flaw-
lessly with segmented leadcore rigs
that are spooled up featuring mono-
filament or fluorocarbon backing
lines.
For anglers who wish to use
super braids as backing line, the
OR19 release needs to be replaced
with the OR39 Sam’s Release. The
Sam’s Release is a tension adjust-
able plunger style release designed
to hold and also release when using
braided lines.
The Release
and Slide Method
Some in-line boards are set up
to allow the line to trip from the tow
arm then allow the board to slide
down the line via a pin mechanism
and slit cut in the back of the board
or a snap swivel added to the back This impressive double header of kings from Lake Michigan were taken by running Mag Lip plugs on
of the board. While this solves the the author’s inside lead core lines. Diving plugs like the Mag Lip dive below the lead core making them
useful for gaining extra depth when targeting summer salmon.
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 41
 Next Bite...

TIME OF
TRANSITION
By Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz

T
he summer peak is ex-
actly that— walleyes
will bite anything.
Jigs, live bait, crank-
baits, spinners, you
name it. Every lake
has a change that signals the end of
the easy days. It could be rising wa-
ter temperatures, shad spawn, shiner
and perch fingerlings, mayflies, or
all of these at once spreading out the
fish and giving them more than their
fair share of natural sustenance.
The peak starts when water tem-
peratures hit 60° F. At this tempera-
ture walleyes need to feed multiple
times a day due to higher metabo-
lism. Plus, many of the food sources
mentioned above are not quite es-
tablished so the lake’s grocery store
happens to be a bit bare. The fish
love to be in shallow warming water
and eat anything moving at a medi-
um speed. Jigs with a swimbait like
the Berkley Power Swimmer (on a
horizontal retrieve) or a fluke-style
bait like the new Power Jerk Shad This time of year big fish will star t to mix with the smaller fish mak-
(on a jigging retrieve) are obvious ing your trophies even more impressive.

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42 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
choices. When the wind picks up, a
crankbait keeps tension on the line
and can lead to more hook-ups. We
have been using the Flicker Shad
Shallow quite a bit lately.
That inevitable temperature rise
to 70° F stops the party. Smaller
fish take over where larger fish once
roamed, and the numbers of bites
drops off dramatically, signaling
changes for fishermen. The lake
may seem daunting but walleyes
are completely predictable. They
will head towards deeper structure,
basins, and will chase suspended
bait. In some ways this makes it
simpler—we put away the live bait
and focus on two fishing methods
the rest of the year—high-action
Shiver Minnows and deep trolling
crankbaits.
These lures work best to target
fish hanging on, or suspending off
of structure. With the fish inhabiting
all of these areas (plus a few in shal-
low weeds and wind-blown points)
the missing link for success quickly
becomes the skill to interpret sonar
readings from the Lowrance HDS.
An angler who can locate fish and
determine the layout of the area
using C-maps and Genesis Live
mapping will make the right presen-
tation choice.
A point with localized rock piles,
inside turns, and boulders leads to
a Shiver Minnow jigging approach.
Trolling these areas would take too
much time letting out line and the
lures might not actually contact
the structure. Jigging can be done
vertically to specific fish, casting
and working shallow-to-deep with a
snap retrieve, or even strolling at 0.7
mph popping the lures off the bot-
tom. All of these options keep the
lure in the strike zone for bottom-
hugging walleyes and the erratic
jumping motion of the lure triggers
strikes all the way until late October.
The first sign for the trolling
rods to exit the rod storage is empty
structure. After scanning three or
four deeper points, rock ledges,
boulder fields, plus your favorite flat
do not push the issue. The fish have
moved. This will take some seri-
ous work but will be worth it. Two
things also help the situation. First,
the parking lots at the boat ramps
will slowly empty out as anglers not
willing to put in the time to locate
the fish will find something else to
do. Second, big fish will start to mix
with the smaller fish making your
trophies even more impressive.
Some anglers are not willing to put in the time to locate the fish.
Firmly focused on the Low-
rance screen, we start in the area of
the structure we just reviewed. We
fan out into the basin looking for
loosely separated fish hanging near
the bottom. With the right condi-
tions these fish move up onto the
point, but spend most of the time
waiting for twilight, wind, or some
other trigger. While other boats
keep jigging shallower, a quick run
through these fish with crankbaits
on lead core or snap weights will
put fish into the boat.
If the walleyes completely va-
cated the area, it is time to look for
bait over deeper water. Downwind
basins are a good place to start. In
some bodies of water, the walleyes
will be visible. In others, we simply
assume the walleyes will be near the
bait. Put GPS waypoints over single
bait balls or even huge masses of
marks. Fishing literally becomes
a game of connect-the-dots. Troll-
ing details have been covered in
previous articles. Basically, we
use the Precision Trolling app and
Off Shore Tackle planer boards to
confidently troll crankbaits above
the bait.
The one-two punch of jigging
Shiver Minnows and trolling crank-
baits goes on for months. Find one
pattern and it will be consistent for
the long haul. It takes some work,
but it’s worth it to find the Next
Bite.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 43
Workin’ The Weeds for Bass
Weeds provide everything a bass needs...By Mike Gnatkowski

A
t one time, I all but
gave up on bass
fishing during the
summer. It seemed
futile. Most lakes
are a buzz of activity
as water skiers, personal watercraft
and go-fast powerboats make fishing
almost impossible during the day.
Like most anglers, I was sure
that all the commotion probably
sent bass into hiding or had them
in such a state of panic that they
were impossible to catch. I was also
convinced that the blazing sun and
warm summer temperatures heated
the shallows to uncomfortable levels
for bass, especially largemouths.
By the middle of summer, weeds
also made fishing difficult, if not
impossible, I theorized. The shal-
lows become choked with emergent
vegetation. Bass anglers commonly
referred to the aquatic jungle as
slop, junk or salad. The weeds can
be anything from common water
lily to coontail to cattails or more
commonly, a combination of several
types of weeds that form a nearly
impenetrable jungle.
But over the years, I’ve dis-
covered that this is exactly where
you should begin your search for
summer bass. It’s the kind of place
anglers and others tend to avoid and
summer bass search out.
Weeds provide everything a
bass needs. Thick aquatic vegetation
wards off jet skis and powerboats
and provides a safe, quiet haven. It’s
a natural refuge bass seek out when
summer arrives and water enthusi-
asts descend on the lake. The thicker
You want to find a lake with a few secluded coves, bays or areas that boaters avoid and that concentrate bass.
and the nastier the weeds and cover,
the more likely bass will gravitate Other creatures, both aquatic and with a few secluded coves, bays or where the biggest bass reside.
toward them. terrestrial, venture out onto or under areas that boaters avoid and that Not only do the flies look real to
While shallows exposed to the the vegetation or arrive by accident, concentrate bass. When you find a a bass, but they also feel and act like
direct rays of the intense summer and they all become dinner for hun- hotspot, it’s not uncommon to catch the real thing. You can swim them
sun will heat to the temperature gry, weed-loving bass. Frogs, toads, a half-dozen bass without moving and twitch them and jiggle them so
of bath water, the water under the snakes, crayfish, mice, and even the boat. It gets even better if these they look incredibly lifelike. And
shade of a dense mat of vegetation ducklings provide a summer buf- isolated bass have ready access to anyone who has had a big bucket-
will stay relatively cool and nearly fet for bass tucked into the weeds. deep water. Throw in a little flooded mouth explode on a hair mouse or
ideal for warm water-loving large- There’s really no reason for bass to timber, a duck blind or two, or lay- popper will attest that few forms of
mouths. leave thick summer weeds. downs and you have the makings of angling are more thrilling.
Weeds provide a smorgasbord Once I discovered this bass cor- bass nirvana. When fly fishing for bass, don’t
of entrées for summer bass. Baitfish nucopia, I looked to summer as one A number of tactics will take spare the rod. The rod should be
retreat to the cover of the weeds of the most predictable and exciting bass in the weeds, but one of my in the 8 1/2- to 9-foot range and
to find sanctuary from the sun and times of the year to fish for large- favorites is with a fly rod. Fish- capable of throwing a 7-, 8-, or
predators. When they do, they often mouths. The best lakes are those ing for bass in the weeds is ideally 9-weight line. Rods need to have
become one of the main items on with a good population of bass and suited to using fly tackle. New-wave some backbone so when it’s time to
the menu of Mr. Bass. A host of a limited amount of thick, impen- bass flies are incredibly realistic and go toe-to-toe with a big largemouth
mayflies, caddis flies, damselflies, etrable vegetation, which concen- imitate everything from frogs to and horse him out of heavy cover, a
dragonflies, and other insects call trates the fish. If the lake has a lot of crayfish to damselflies. When tied little muscle helps. Weight-forward
the weeds home. The insects attract daytime activity, so much the better. with the monofilament weed guard, or bass-bug-tapered fly lines are
baitfish and panfish; bass feed on It will only force the bass to use the flies are virtually weedless and can needed to turn over bulky, air-resis-
the smaller fish and on the insects safety and security of vegetation. be cast into the thickest, nastiest tant bass flies and facilitate hitting
themselves. Ideally, you want to find a lake vegetation without getting snagged productive-looking pockets in the
44 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
weeds. Leaders need not be any-
thing fancy. Short leaders, stretching
5 to 7 1/2 feet, will turn over better
when flinging bulky hair bugs and
poppers. Bass are not line shy, like
trout. A 12- or 14-pound test tippet
or heavier will work just fine and
will come in handy when you have
to muscle a big hawg out of the
junk.
Flies for bass come in surface,
divers, and subsurface versions.
Surface models imitate mice, frogs,
moths or nothing in particular, just
something a bass can eat. They can
be slithered, skipped, quivered or
hopped across the vegetation where
waiting bass will explode on them.
Poppers, made from buoyant cork or
foam, feature a cupped–shaped head
that can be made to gurgle, sput-
ter and pop to call bass from heavy
cover.
Divers are kind of the fly fisher’s
crankbait. Their cone-shaped heads
fashioned from deer hair and a stiff,
rigid collar acts like the lip on a
crankbait. When pulled with short,
sharp strips, the fly dives and then
swims back to the surface. Where
openings occur in the weeds, divers
can be dynamite.
Long, slender serpentine flies,
like the Eelworm Streamer, Hare
Water Pup and Rabbit Leech
represent everything from worms,
to snakes and are the fly rodder’s
answer to the rubber worm. Slightly
weighted and dressed weedless,
these flies can be worked slowly
across the top of the weeds and
allowed to sink to the bottom
when you have an opening,
where they can be crawled and
hopped along.
One of my favorite ways to fly
fish the thick weeds for bass during
the summer is from a float tube or
pontoon. In the tube, you are eye-
level with the bass, you can sneak
up quietly and ambush them, and
you can reach some spots you
just can’t get to any other way.
Floating around in a tube can be a
refreshing way to spend a summer
day, too.
Bass anglers have a multitude of
lures that are ideally suited to work-
ing the weeds. They run the gamut
from rubber or plastic frogs and
poppers to weedless spoons, buzz-
baits, topwater baits and worms.
Picking a lure depends on how thick
the cover is, how quickly you want
to cover water and how you like to
catch bass.
Once popular weedless spoons,
like the classic Johnson Silver Min-
now and Johnny O’Neil’s Weed
Wing, have fallen out of favor with
modern-day bass anglers, but they
still catch plenty of fish. One reason
is they are very versatile. Spoons
can be skittered across the top of
the thickest weeds and then can be
allowed to flutter down tantalizingly
when you hit an opening. Adding
a pork trailer gives the spoon some
added bulk, color, and allure.
Baits designed strictly for fish-
ing the weeds include lures like the
Scum Frog, Moss Master Frog, and
other “rat” type baits. Because of
their weedless nature and concealed
hooks, you can throw them in the
thickest junk without worrying
about getting snagged. Pop, twitch,
and jiggle them across the top of lily
pads or a dense weed mat and hold
on.
Texas-rigged worms and Slug-
Go-type lures are good choices for
fishing the weeds, too. Their hidden
hooks make them almost totally
weedless and there’s no doubt about
their bass appeal. The only problem
with plastic baits is that you have
to fish them relatively slow. Most
savvy weed wizards use a bait that
they can fish fast, like a buzzbait,
and then if they miss a strike, use
plastic to finesse the fish. It’s a
deadly combination.
Top water lures may be the most
exciting way to fish for bass in the
weeds. They work best where pock-
ets or small openings exist rather
than a solid, impenetrable mat.
Lures like Heddon’s old standbys
such as the Crazy Crawler, Torpedo
and Zara Spook have taken count-
less bass over the years. Hula Pop-
pers, Jitter Bugs, Sputterbuzz and
Rebel’s Pop-R produce a lot of noise
and commotion that attract bass, too.
If you’re more the laid-back
type and prefer the less strenuous
types of fishing, live bait will work
for summer bass, too. Hook a lively
shiner minnow through the lips
with a weedless hook and then cast
it close to the edge of the thickest
weeds. The shiner will naturally
head for the security of the cover–
and often into the waiting jaws
of a bass. Florida guides use bal-
loons for bobbers because they slip
through the vegetation easily, they
are inexpensive to use, and by using
different colors they can keep track
of multiple rods.
You can tell when a bass is zero-
ing in on your shiner. Your balloon
will start bouncing and dancing like
crazy as the shiner tries to escape
from the bass. That’s a cue to reel
up the slack, plant your feet and set
the hook– hard. You need to get the
bass coming before he realizes he
is hooked and buries himself in the
weeds. It’s a big-bass technique that
works wherever bass are holed up in
heavy weeds.
Weeds definitely have a way of
concentrating summer bass. Learn
to identify locations where bass hole
up and you’ll come to look forward
to those sultry summer days.n

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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 45
 BEST KING EVER
Once you fight and land a monster king salmon the
experience is burned into your heart and soul for a lifetime.
You become a king catching addict and spend countless hours
dreamin’ about the exciting encounters with a monster fish.
There is something powerfully addictive about a big chinook
up close in your face with mammoth black jawed maw, over
40 inches in length and teeth like a junkyard dog...
By Kenny Darwin
I
was daydreaming’ about how chinook
salmon are exceptional sportfish, when
the rod bent double from a violent strike
and I was hooked up with a monster fish.
At first the rod throbbed from violent
head shakes of a super-size trophy salmon
munching on a Silver Horde Lucky
Charms glow plug. It was crazy as the behemoth
turned and sprinted in the opposite direction melt-
ing line off the Daiwa line counter reel. The drag
was screamin’ as I cleared lines and prepared to
turn the boat to regain line. Just as I got rod con-
trol the brute turned and burned another 120 feet
of line off the reel. That’s when he made a magic
move, turned around and swam directly at my boat.
I frantically reeled slack line and eventually caught
up with the big fish as he stopped under the shadow
of my Lund, then made another all-out sprint in the
opposite direction. But this time his run was shorter,
less dynamic and I coaxed him to a stop by leaning
back on the rod. He paralleled the boat for several
minutes as I kept rod tip high providing steady line
pressure, and then he slowly moved closer until he
was tired. Soon I could see color, the huge silvery
sides of a monster Great Lakes Chinook salmon
with over 40-inch length and girth twice the size of
an MSU football. At the last minute I pulled off a
perfect maneuver and coaxed him to the surface and
slid him into the net. WOW! This king was special.
Huge by any standard and I could hardly lift him
into the boat. His tuna fish rotund profile and huge
gaping black maw were highlighted by his large
dark eye. I scrambled to get him on the Berkley
Digital scale and he pushed the digital numbers past
30-pounds 8-ounces. Finally, after years of chasing
kings, I managed to put a 30-pound monster in the
boat.
Michigan’s Great Lakes warp your perspec-
tives on the size of fish. On the big lake the length
and weight criteria get stretched somewhat out of
proportion. German brown trout become absolutely
huge with sagging beer bellies, steelies grow over
15 pounds and king salmon, those silvery monsters
from the deep, can strain the scales to 30 pounds. If
you want in on this bounty, I’ve outlined some top
locations and fishing tips guaranteed to fill the box.
Don’t overlook the growing opportunity for
trophy kings from Lake Michigan which is blessed
with numerous top-notch chinook ports. The hot
fishing begins in May and builds to a heated cre-
46 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
scendo come mid-July through August as some of
the biggest fish in North America go on a feeding
spree.
I’ve been on the hunt for monster fish since the
Michigan DNR first planted Chinook salmon. I’ve
caught them in Lake Superior, Lake Huron and all
around the state. I’ll never forget an outing with
John Lievense aboard the boat Reel Easy at the Big
Sable Point on Lake Michigan where steep drop-
offs and sweeping currents provided my largest
catch of over a dozen Chinook and all were over
30-pounds. One fish was almost 40-pounds and
probably was a state record but that was back in the
day when Michigan’s king fishery was off the hook
unbelievable, world class. With fond memories I
recall a trolling adventure with the late Dick Swan
aboard the Lite Liner when we hosted the Mercury/
Mariner Outboard Midwest Supervisor. He fought
and landed a 38-pound 6-ounce pig-faced, huge
Chinook salmon using a Swan custom rod and only
4-pound Trilene monofilament line.
After catching salmon since 1966, I’m here to
tell you once you fight and land a monster king
salmon the experience is burned into your heart
and soul for a lifetime. You become a king catching
addict and spend countless hours dreamin’ about the
exciting encounters with a monster fish. There is
something powerfully addictive about a big Chi-
nook up close in your face with mammoth black
jawed maw, over 40 inches in length and teeth
like a junkyard dog. No fish in the entire state of
Michigan can match the brute strength and power-
ful line breaking, hook bending power of a runaway M ission accomplished after years of chasing kings the author finally boats a 30 lb . 8 oz . hog that smacked a brown / glow goby plug trolled close to bottom .
king. Unlike the dead weight fight of a Laker or
spectacular leaping ability of a steelie, kings strip slightly over 28-pounds. Last year was the best first and in spring when St. Joe is on fire few kings nel is highlighted by Little Sable Point which jets highlighted with a severe drop-off that pools warm
line off the reel drag like you’ve latched onto a salmon fishing in many years and I finally put a 30- are coming from northern ports. As warm weather out into Lake Michigan and traps ideal salmon water and attracts massive schools of baitfish. Just
runaway freight train. And they don’t just make one plus monster in the boat. What surprised me about arrives more Chinook show up along ports from holding water. Deep drop-offs highlighted by un- south of the point there is a long area where the bot-
line screamin’ run but rip line from the reel several the salmon fishery last year is how area specific Grand Haven to Manistee. derwater currents attract massive schools of baitfish tom is covered with huge boulders. This provides
times and each bout gives you the feeling of help- it was and how you had to be in the right place at If I had to pick just one port for a monster along the coast and this region doesn’t suffer from a ideal habitat for perch, brown trout and a variety of
lessness and you get an empty sensation in your gut the right time to whack those big Chinook. Gone Chinook in summer when fish have maxed out their monster kings crisis. More summer salmon tourna- baitfish. Old time commercial tugs from Muskegon
thinking you will lose the fight with a spectacular are the days of relentless easy Chinook fishing and weight and are still putting on the feed bag daily, ments have been won here than anywhere on Lake would set their nets in the fish-rich environment
prize fish. The same uncontrollable, heart pounding limit catches for weeks on end. If your goal is to it would be the sleepy little town of Pentwater. I Michigan. Once kings move into the region they re- found slightly south of the point. Here Chinook
fight from Michigan’s salmon heydays holds true catch more and bigger Chinook salmon I’ve got cut my teeth catching Coho by launching at Coho main for several weeks providing some of the hot- reign as king of the waterways and many 30-pound-
today. Like many Great Lakes State fishermen, my some hot tips. Bob’s but those days are ancient history and today test trolling along the entire Michigan gold coast. ers have been caught from this target rich environ-
inner soul is still passionate about catching monster Take a peek at the Michigan DNR Master most fishermen launch at the DNR ramp off E. Lake Little Sable Point is easy to identify from the ment.
kings and I deliberately seek opportunities to do Angler salmon for the past few years and you will Rd. The main reason Pentwater is a hot salmon port water because of the huge sandy bluffs border- When it comes to locating summer salmon you
battle with the king of the Great Lakes. My goal is quickly notice the really big kings are from the has nothing to do with the city, accommodations or ing the shore. Savvy anglers run six-miles south need to find ideal water temperatures. Persistent
to land a 30-pounder. Lake Michigan gold coast. I’m talking about the spectacular public beach. It has to do with fish- of Pentwater to the sandy bluffs, turn and go due south or southwest winds push ideal temperatures
Two years ago was a good salmon year for ports from Benton Harbor/St. Joseph to Frankfort. attracting structure. west until they hit the drop off and set lines trolling
me but the biggest fish I caught tipped the scales The southern ports get a crack at the big salmon The coast from Pentwater south to Stony Chan- downwind at the depth they prefer. Little Sable is B e s t K i n g E v e r P a g e 48
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 47
 BEST KING EVER
Once you fight and land a monster king salmon the
experience is burned into your heart and soul for a lifetime.
You become a king catching addict and spend countless hours
dreamin’ about the exciting encounters with a monster fish.
There is something powerfully addictive about a big chinook
up close in your face with mammoth black jawed maw, over
40 inches in length and teeth like a junkyard dog...
By Kenny Darwin
I
was daydreaming’ about how chinook
salmon are exceptional sportfish, when
the rod bent double from a violent strike
and I was hooked up with a monster fish.
At first the rod throbbed from violent
head shakes of a super-size trophy salmon
munching on a Silver Horde Lucky
Charms glow plug. It was crazy as the behemoth
turned and sprinted in the opposite direction melt-
ing line off the Daiwa line counter reel. The drag
was screamin’ as I cleared lines and prepared to
turn the boat to regain line. Just as I got rod con-
trol the brute turned and burned another 120 feet
of line off the reel. That’s when he made a magic
move, turned around and swam directly at my boat.
I frantically reeled slack line and eventually caught
up with the big fish as he stopped under the shadow
of my Lund, then made another all-out sprint in the
opposite direction. But this time his run was shorter,
less dynamic and I coaxed him to a stop by leaning
back on the rod. He paralleled the boat for several
minutes as I kept rod tip high providing steady line
pressure, and then he slowly moved closer until he
was tired. Soon I could see color, the huge silvery
sides of a monster Great Lakes Chinook salmon
with over 40-inch length and girth twice the size of
an MSU football. At the last minute I pulled off a
perfect maneuver and coaxed him to the surface and
slid him into the net. WOW! This king was special.
Huge by any standard and I could hardly lift him
into the boat. His tuna fish rotund profile and huge
gaping black maw were highlighted by his large
dark eye. I scrambled to get him on the Berkley
Digital scale and he pushed the digital numbers past
30-pounds 8-ounces. Finally, after years of chasing
kings, I managed to put a 30-pound monster in the
boat.
Michigan’s Great Lakes warp your perspec-
tives on the size of fish. On the big lake the length
and weight criteria get stretched somewhat out of
proportion. German brown trout become absolutely
huge with sagging beer bellies, steelies grow over
15 pounds and king salmon, those silvery monsters
from the deep, can strain the scales to 30 pounds. If
you want in on this bounty, I’ve outlined some top
locations and fishing tips guaranteed to fill the box.
Don’t overlook the growing opportunity for
trophy kings from Lake Michigan which is blessed
with numerous top-notch chinook ports. The hot
fishing begins in May and builds to a heated cre-
46 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
scendo come mid-July through August as some of
the biggest fish in North America go on a feeding
spree.
I’ve been on the hunt for monster fish since the
Michigan DNR first planted Chinook salmon. I’ve
caught them in Lake Superior, Lake Huron and all
around the state. I’ll never forget an outing with
John Lievense aboard the boat Reel Easy at the Big
Sable Point on Lake Michigan where steep drop-
offs and sweeping currents provided my largest
catch of over a dozen Chinook and all were over
30-pounds. One fish was almost 40-pounds and
probably was a state record but that was back in the
day when Michigan’s king fishery was off the hook
unbelievable, world class. With fond memories I
recall a trolling adventure with the late Dick Swan
aboard the Lite Liner when we hosted the Mercury/
Mariner Outboard Midwest Supervisor. He fought
and landed a 38-pound 6-ounce pig-faced, huge
Chinook salmon using a Swan custom rod and only
4-pound Trilene monofilament line.
After catching salmon since 1966, I’m here to
tell you once you fight and land a monster king
salmon the experience is burned into your heart
and soul for a lifetime. You become a king catching
addict and spend countless hours dreamin’ about the
exciting encounters with a monster fish. There is
something powerfully addictive about a big Chi-
nook up close in your face with mammoth black
jawed maw, over 40 inches in length and teeth
like a junkyard dog. No fish in the entire state of
Michigan can match the brute strength and power-
ful line breaking, hook bending power of a runaway M ission accomplished after years of chasing kings the author finally boats a 30 lb . 8 oz . hog that smacked a brown / glow goby plug trolled close to bottom .
king. Unlike the dead weight fight of a Laker or
spectacular leaping ability of a steelie, kings strip slightly over 28-pounds. Last year was the best first and in spring when St. Joe is on fire few kings nel is highlighted by Little Sable Point which jets highlighted with a severe drop-off that pools warm
line off the reel drag like you’ve latched onto a salmon fishing in many years and I finally put a 30- are coming from northern ports. As warm weather out into Lake Michigan and traps ideal salmon water and attracts massive schools of baitfish. Just
runaway freight train. And they don’t just make one plus monster in the boat. What surprised me about arrives more Chinook show up along ports from holding water. Deep drop-offs highlighted by un- south of the point there is a long area where the bot-
line screamin’ run but rip line from the reel several the salmon fishery last year is how area specific Grand Haven to Manistee. derwater currents attract massive schools of baitfish tom is covered with huge boulders. This provides
times and each bout gives you the feeling of help- it was and how you had to be in the right place at If I had to pick just one port for a monster along the coast and this region doesn’t suffer from a ideal habitat for perch, brown trout and a variety of
lessness and you get an empty sensation in your gut the right time to whack those big Chinook. Gone Chinook in summer when fish have maxed out their monster kings crisis. More summer salmon tourna- baitfish. Old time commercial tugs from Muskegon
thinking you will lose the fight with a spectacular are the days of relentless easy Chinook fishing and weight and are still putting on the feed bag daily, ments have been won here than anywhere on Lake would set their nets in the fish-rich environment
prize fish. The same uncontrollable, heart pounding limit catches for weeks on end. If your goal is to it would be the sleepy little town of Pentwater. I Michigan. Once kings move into the region they re- found slightly south of the point. Here Chinook
fight from Michigan’s salmon heydays holds true catch more and bigger Chinook salmon I’ve got cut my teeth catching Coho by launching at Coho main for several weeks providing some of the hot- reign as king of the waterways and many 30-pound-
today. Like many Great Lakes State fishermen, my some hot tips. Bob’s but those days are ancient history and today test trolling along the entire Michigan gold coast. ers have been caught from this target rich environ-
inner soul is still passionate about catching monster Take a peek at the Michigan DNR Master most fishermen launch at the DNR ramp off E. Lake Little Sable Point is easy to identify from the ment.
kings and I deliberately seek opportunities to do Angler salmon for the past few years and you will Rd. The main reason Pentwater is a hot salmon port water because of the huge sandy bluffs border- When it comes to locating summer salmon you
battle with the king of the Great Lakes. My goal is quickly notice the really big kings are from the has nothing to do with the city, accommodations or ing the shore. Savvy anglers run six-miles south need to find ideal water temperatures. Persistent
to land a 30-pounder. Lake Michigan gold coast. I’m talking about the spectacular public beach. It has to do with fish- of Pentwater to the sandy bluffs, turn and go due south or southwest winds push ideal temperatures
Two years ago was a good salmon year for ports from Benton Harbor/St. Joseph to Frankfort. attracting structure. west until they hit the drop off and set lines trolling
me but the biggest fish I caught tipped the scales The southern ports get a crack at the big salmon The coast from Pentwater south to Stony Chan- downwind at the depth they prefer. Little Sable is B e s t K i n g E v e r P a g e 48
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 47
Best King Ever
from page 47
against the point and soon a ther-
mocline develops with cold water
on bottom and warm water on top.
Ideally in the middle is an oxygen
rich thermocline that attracts and
holds alewife and other baitfish.
The presence of massive schools of
alewife draws kings and soon the
fishing gets productive. Sometimes
you have to search for ideal water
temperatures found north or south of
the point. North winds can cause an
upwelling of cold water and shove
kings near the surface or the major
salmon schools will move into the
calm bay slightly north of Pentwater
or south of Little Sable Point.
After decades of chasing salmon
I’ve found Pentwater has a good
month or more of limit catches
before major runs show up at Lud-
ington or Manistee. But for every
rule in fishing there is at least one
exception and one port offering
great salmon trolling is found much
farther north at Frankfort. Frankfort
is bordered by Betsie Bay where the
world renowned Betsie River flows
into Lake Michigan. The Betsie
has become a popular steelhead/
salmon destination and fast gained
a reputation for massive Chinook
runs starting in July through Sep-
tember. Frankfort has a large public
boat launch and fish cleaning station
at the Frankfort Municipal Marina
found off 9th Street.
Local fishermen swear the
naturally reproducing, self-sustain-
ing huge run of Chinook migrate
north rather than south and grow
up feeding and living in the habitat
rich waters found from the Mani-
tou islands to Beaver Island. Here
baitfish populations are booming
and the rocky structures are home
to johnny darters, gobies and a vast
variety of baitfish including alewife.
Over the years when Lake Michigan
experienced an alewife decline the
forage base remained solid around
the islands and kings grew to im-
48 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
pressive sizes. Come early fall the
Betsie is packed with Chinook when
other streams have few.
While Frankfort has the dynam-
ics to grow lunker salmon, most
trolling is done from the Point
Betsie Lighthouse to Herring Creek
Hole. Here the lake reaches depths
over 200 feet bordered by steep
sand drop-offs and rushing currents
attracting loads of kings in the 24-32
pound range. The boat run from
Frankfort to Point Betsie is relative-
ly short and soon trollers can be ply-
ing the clear water depths in search
of salmon. Herring Creek Hole is
a tad farther south and features a
very deep hole surrounded by steep
drop-offs that pool warm water and
hold massive numbers of baitfish
and salmon.
But what about declining ale-
wife populations and the salmon
fishery going tube city?
It is my opinion the USFWS
is not supporting its goal to cre-
ate jobs and provide outdoor rec-
reation through fishing. They are
not serving the American people
and strengthening our sport fish-
ing industry. The Michigan’s DNR
played into the federal scheme that
planting salmon would ruin alewife
populations. Meanwhile behind the
back of sport fishermen the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
built lake trout hatcheries and began
an over-stocking program designed
to destroy the Great Lakes sport
fishery. Last year they stocked more
than three-million lakers in Michi-
gan waters and this year 2.8 million
were released to grow, eat alewife
all day, every day and night, plus
lakers live forever. The agenda of
the Feds seems they want to elimi-
nate all non-native species including
alewife, rainbow smelt, Chinook
salmon, Coho salmon, brown trout,
steelhead and Atlantic salmon. They
are over-stocking lakers and de-
stroying alewife populations which
Fish attractors like the Dreamweaver Spin Doctor are used with bright
flies to attract aggressive large salmon. A lime green fly with glow beads
fooled this beautiful specimen with beautiful purple colored flanks.
is well documented on Lake Huron.
But to their surprise Mother Nature
provided a fantastic alewife repro-
duction spawn in Lake Michigan
and salmon are growing huge.
My question is who owns the
Great Lakes, the states or the Feds?
Who manages the Great Lakes for
the benefit of sportsmen, the states
or federal government? Are Great
Lakes restoration monies used to de-
stroy the sport fishery? Truth is the
future of salmon fishing in the Great
Lakes is in a precarious position
and unless sportsmen take a stand
against ruination of water quality
and support salmon stocking efforts
the day may come when Michigan
fishermen no longer have kings to
catch.
No matter which port you
choose today lunker king salmon in
Lake Michigan are waiting for your
hook. Throughout summer big fish
will be smashing lures and hefty
catches can be expected from dawn
until dusk. In recent years as water
has cleared captains have discovered
the best fishing comes during the
low light conditions of early morn-
ing and late evening. Glow lures set
in the pre-dawn darkness have pro-
duced outstanding results and come
sunrise the bite slows and eventually
disappears. Savvy captains know
when the sun hits the horizon and
daylight melts into darkness in the
evening the glow lure bite goes bon-
kers again for about an hour.
Pre-spawn period is the best
time to catch tremendous double
digit big kings. The trick is to find
them during summer when they are
eating three times a day, packing on
the pounds before they enter spawn-
ing streams and shut down feed-
ing mode. You can tell when you
hit it right because fish you catch
will have freshly devoured baitfish
in their stomach and often hungry
kings will have silvery alewife in
their gullet with tails sticking out
their mouth.
From early July through August
and even into early September your
chances of catching a monster is
very good. If we get a sudden north
or northwest blow that pushes 50
degree water near pier heads you
can expect huge schools of alewife
choking river outlets at many Great
Lakes tributaries and monster kings
will not be far away. But if water is
warm along beaches you will need
to venture offshore until you find
ideal water temperatures hold-
ing baitfish and salmon. At times
you will need to spend more time
searching for active schools,
moving several miles to test new
waters than actually catching fish.
But when you find them and hit on
a hot trolling pattern your chances
of hooking a monster fish skyrock-
ets and the next bite could be a
30-pounder.n
 For more than 25 years Mike Avery has
informed and entertained hunters and
anglers across Michigan. His experience
and common sense philosophy have made
Outdoor Magazine the Number One
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 49
Walking Toward the Rising Moon…
By Dennis Neely

B
eautiful crane mu-
sic tempered frigid
air. Cold twitched a
drippy nose. A notice-
able white dusting
blanketed the ground.
Leafless bushes grayed the spaces
between cedar trees, spawning con-
cerns for the death sphere’s course.
Four sandhill cranes chortled over-
head, winging west toward the River
Raisin. A new year, 1796, awaited
eighteen days distant.
Buffalo-hide moccasins, lined
with layered wool, crept over the
ridge crest, then still-hunted down
the west face to a tangle of cedar
trees, felled by ice two winters
before. Upwind, three earthen rib-
bons meandered through the snow.
Muddy hoof prints, frozen solid,
recorded the woodland highway’s
importance. Six sandhills passed
above as the sun drifted lower. Above: In early March, Msko-waagosh discovered a heavy
A moccasin scuffed away the winter snow collapsed his wigwam. For traditional black pow-
snow and brittle oak leaves. The der hunters, such failures represent a valuable lesson in the
returned white captive known as wilderness classroom. Right: On a warm morning, Msko-waa-
Msko-waagosh pulled the red trade gosh returned to the wigwam and began cutting the canvas
from the damaged framework. All but the bent saplings were
blanket snug about his body. After salvaged for a future camp. Wild River tree photos
surveying the hillside, he sat cross-
legged amongst the dead branches an owl hooted as the doe slipped to see in the ebbing day-
with the Northwest gun’s lock over the ridge crest. “Just whooo are light, followed the same
nestled under a blanket fold, safe yoouuu?” the owl asked, deep and path uphill. This deer
from unwanted moisture. Eleven crisp in tone. walked faster with less
cranes flew over. “Urrr-ggooou-aaa, A large flock of 37 cranes, hesitation or caution.
Urrr-ggooou-aaa,” they called. spread out, three rows deep, singing Unseen sandhill cranes
In due time, a single, antlerless with great abandon, headed in the chortled to the south.
deer plodded up the rise, ninety or direction of the River Raisin. Not When the second
so paces to the north. The deer’s five minutes later, 44 cranes, much deer disappeared, the
body was larger than most, a can- higher than the last flock, angled forest hushed. Cold
didate for the pot, but beyond the to the southwest. “They will be chills drifted down the
smooth-bored trade gun’s effective heading to their winter home soon,” slope like the waves of
distance. Uncounted cranes chortled Msko-waagosh whispered with sandhill cranes. Then,
above, followed by a second wave. foggy puffs. a few minutes before
The doe’s proximity dictated at- Not long after, the western sky dark, geese spoke on the vas shelter.
tention as the backcountry hunter turned lavender and orange with an Raisin: “Kee-honk, kee-honk, yonk, The hired hunter for a backcoun-
glanced from side-to-side. occasional hint of yellow. Another yonk…Kee-honk, yonk, yonk…” try trading post was homeless, too.
“Hoo, Hoo…Hoo, Hooooo,” doe, smaller than the first and harder With great trepidation, the day’s On a clear day, a powder-keg-sized
hunt came to an end. Msko-waagosh oak limb hurtled earthward. The

Muzzle Loading State Events

scrambled to his feet, shook snow
from the wool blanket and retraced
his stalk to the ridge crest. The dim-
July 6-7 - 57th Annual 4th of July Shoot: Beaverton: 301-256-7784 ming that precedes night’s abyss
July 6 - Trade Gun Event @ Shotgun Range: Grand Valley Cap n embraced the forest tenant. He stood
in silence, gazed at the emerging
Ballers™: 616-307-7728 or 616-836-5760
stars, then walked toward the rising
July 10-14 - MSMLA State Championship Matches: Grand Valley moon...
Cap n Ballers™: 989-746-0723, 810-639-7479 or 616-836-5760 In truth, Msko-waagosh, “Red
Fox,” had no wigwam to return to at
July 14 - Woods Walk: Clinton River Muzzle Loaders the end of that December sojourn.
Detroit Sportsman Congress: 586-292-6821 The weight of a deep, wet snow,
coupled with a stiff north wind dam-
July 19-21 - White River Rendezvous Shoot: Rothbury: 231-861-5265 aged his forest home beyond repair.
July 20 - Sporting Clays (Modern Shotgun): Grand Valley Cap n Life’s trials and tribulations afforded
Ballers™: 616-307-7728 or 616-836-5760 his alter ego, the modern me, no
time to reconstruct the domed, can-
50 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
branch broke the brush-covered
camp’s stout ridge pole and landed
square across where that hunter’s
hips rested a couple days prior.
Providence shined upon that humble
woodsman.
And poor Mi-ki-naak, a new
companion who resided in 1763,
camped beside fallen oak trees
or took refuge in someone else’s
abandoned abode. He, too, had no
lodging to call his own.
Traditional black powder hunters
forsake “what is” for “what was.”
The goal of any history-based fair
chase is to experience the texture of
a bygone era, to seek answers to the
question: “What was it really like
to live, hunt and survive during a
chosen time period?”
Wandering through a long-
forgotten hunter-hero’s journal is
an eye-opening experience. Life in
the wilderness was harsh. Now and
again, a precious passage touches
on “encamping,” spending a night,
week or longer, in the backcountry.
If the reader is lucky, a few scant
words might describe the shelter.
Such nuggets tweak a living histo-
rian’s curiosity to the point he or
she constructs the dwelling as close
to the description as possible in an
effort to “live as they did.”
The trading post hunter and the
retired voyageur persona before him
have inhabited many camps based
on 18th-century writings. Each peri-
od-correct shelter produced learn-
ing opportunities in the wilderness
classroom—some positive and some
negative. For example, the narrative
of Meshach Browning inspired the
cedar-bough camp destroyed by the
oak limb.
A severe outbreak of epizootic
hemorrhagic disease (EHD) in the
local deer herd in 2012 led to a
second persona, Msko-waagosh.
At first, this new character used
hand-me-down clothing and accou-
trements. As his wardrobe evolved,
so did the need for a camp that
reflected the influence of his adop-
tive Ojibwe family. The Red Fox’s
domed wigwam took shape in Octo-
ber of 2015.
Historical accuracy necessitated
a third persona. A close friend and
fellow traditional black powder
hunter, Lt. Darrel Lang, time trav-
eled to the fall of 1763. However,
the chosen time period of the British
ranger’s portrayal conflicted with
that of Msko-waagosh’s beloved
1790s. Enter Mi-ki-naak, also a
returned white captive, adopted and
raised by the Ojibwe, who frolics
in the fall of 1763. Problem solved.
Well, not quite…
At first, the simple pursuits
that followed the birth of Snapping
Turtle in 2017 produced mind-bog-
gling questions. Portrayals became
jumbled, in part due to shared items
of material culture: the same shirt
here, the same knife there. “Oh,
whose tomahawk is this? Is that
your shot pouch or mine? Is this
your powder horn?”
In time, careful research and
attention to authenticity resulted
in the realization that each persona
was a distinct individual and should
be treated as such. The search for
answers to the “What was it really
like…” question helped sift through
the conflicts.
It is amazing how soothing
sandhill crane music is. One August
afternoon, the cranes’ woodland
symphony nurtured a produc-
tive problem solving session. The
historical record offered a number
of possibilities for the trading post
hunter’s camp. That was never the
issue. The big obstacle was two
returned white captives, influenced
by Ojibwe upbringing, traversing
the glade thirty years apart.
Eighteenth-century ethnology,
coupled with primary documenta-
tion and period paintings and illus-
trations present solid evidence that
the Ojibwe used two styles of wig-
wam, one domed and one peaked.
In addition, the solution, separate
camps utilizing each style wigwam,
offered a tremendous opportunity
for further lessons in the wilderness
classroom.
For the fall, the resurrection
of the trading post hunter’s “duck
camp” seemed a workable solution.
Stiff, dry cedar rafters rested on a
hefty, straight-out branch of a wild
cherry tree. Enough of the old brush
remained to foster a reasonable level
of authenticity. As it turned out, the
hired woodsman only stepped over After a few moments of reflection, the trading post hunter removed his
time’s threshold once last year. bedroll and began the work of rebuilding the damaged brush-camp shel-
ter described in the journal of Meshach Browning.
Despite the loss of the canvas-
covered structure, Msko-waagosh’s
camp area was still intact. The fire Open Mon thru Fri
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 51
 GUN CHAT:
M1 Garand
I
was introduced to the Ga-
rand rifle in high school. In
JROTC I was “issued” one
made by International Har-
vester. The IH rifles were
built in the 1950s and are
expensive now because relatively
few were made.
We used to take the ri-
fles apart and put them back
together blindfolded. I did
okay taking mine apart. The
elevator that looked like a
small toy airplane gave me
trouble when I tried to put
the M1 back together by
feel. Often I put it in upside
down and that kept the
rifle from working.
My JROTC M1 By Lee Arten
was in good shape for
a service weapon and had a stock
with a distinct dark red color. Under
the eyes of the JROTC instruc-
tors, we learned rifle drill and how
to give up the rifle for inspec-
tion. Dropping an M1 was a very
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52 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
bad move. So was holding on to it
too hard and forcing the inspector
to engage in a tug of war over it.
Other things, like how to avoid “M1
thumb,” getting your thumb caught
in the rifle’s action while closing it,
were taught by the rifle itself.
At the time M1 rifles, even the
IH versions, were cheap.
I remember seeing some
priced at $79. I missed
those deals but several
years later bought an M1
that had been returned
from South Korea. The
rifles were being sold in
the sporting goods depart-
ments of Woolworth’s.
I almost bought one
in Escanaba while on
a deer hunting trip.
Months later I picked one up at the
Woolworth’s in Marquette. I paid
under $300 and, luckily, got an ac-
curate one. It was made by Spring-
field in 1943, looked like it had been
through three wars, and had prob-
Available
Disc Brakes, Galvanized
Axles, Greasable Hubs,
LEDs Rear, Torsion Axles
Made for combat, the M1 also made a good match rifle due to
weight, good sights and reduced recoil. It was fed with eight-round
en-bloc clips.
ably been through two.
My M1 has a two-tone look.
The handguards are dark walnut but
the stock is a much lighter shade.
The stock has dings and nicks from
going in and out of racks in an ar-
mory and a rack number was sanded
off the stock. Several places on the
stock are marks from when a soldier
banged a loaded en-bloc clip of
ammo into it to be sure the rounds
were seated correctly.
The M1 generally feeds well but
bullets that are out of place, even
by a little, can make it difficult to
load the clip into the action. The
Garands use an en-bloc clip, not a
box magazine like the M1a, or the
AR15. When the rounds have been
fired the clip is ejected. In the M1 it
is thrown out the top of the action.
The clip makes a pinging noise if it
hits something hard after leaving the
rifle. I was always amused to hear
the succession of pings as a match
relay finished up a rapid fire stage.
John Cantius Garand, working
for the U.S. government, designed
the M1 in 1936. It was originally
supposed to be chambered for a
7mm cartridge and hold 10 rounds.
The U.S. had an enormous stockpile
of .30-06 ammunition at the time, so
the M1 was made in .30-06 instead.
The weight of the M1 at most went
nine or 10 pounds, and the semiau-
tomatic action softened the recoil
of the .30-06. The M1’s peep sight
was easily adjusted for windage and
elevation and worked well for both
combat and target shooting.
When I started shooting NRA
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High Power Rifle matches, the M1
was the most common rifle on the
line. I used mine for some years at
matches and then switched to an
M1a. The M1 was much easier on
the shoulder than the bolt-action
Enfield 1917 that I started shoot-
ing matches with. The M1a in 7.62
X 51 (.308) had a bit lighter recoil
than the M1. I also found the M1a’s
box magazines easier to use than the
clips.
I took the M1 deer hunting once,
using it as a single shot. I found it
heavier than I liked for a deer rifle,
and missed the only deer I shot at
with it. It wasn’t the rifle’s fault.
I’d banged the sights into the fender
of my truck while getting ready to
go into the woods and made the
rifle shoot low. Windage was fine,
as I found out by center punching a
downed maple branch underneath
the doe’s chest.
The 75th anniversary of the
1944 D Day Invasion of Normandy
was observed on the 6th of June.
Stories about it on TV and the Net
got me thinking about the Garand
more than usual. They were the best
military rifle fielded in World War
II and General Patton called them,
“The greatest battle implement ever
devised.”
Even now, after many advance-
ments (some so-called) the M1 is
still a fine, capable rifle.
Years ago, I used to take some
retired military weapons to the range
and shoot them on Independence
Day. Maybe I can arrange to do that
again this year.n
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Hifivekennels@aol.com
Michigan - Georgia
SUMMER CRAPPIE
Great Fishing,
Good Eating
J
uly is the time to set your
bobber for some tasty
panfish and, in the taste
department, crappie are
hard to beat. They are found
in most but not all or our
inland lakes and some lakes are
definitely better than others. Im-
poundments, especially those with
flooded trees, are absolutely the tops
for crappie cover – these fish love
brush.
Crappies are sometimes hard to
find, especially in mid-
summer. The best fishing
for them generally starts
in early June and peaks
in early July. During that
period, the schools seem
to be tighter and the fish
are often high in the water.
They often give themselves
away as they feed
on minnows, driv-
ing their prey to By George Rowe
the surface and
making a considerable fuss as they
slash into them.
Most of the time, crappies can
be taken readily on minnows, of-
fered under a light bobber. A good
practice is to start out with the
bobber set to offer the bait perhaps
four or five feet down. The fish will
come up to take the bait but, if you
don’t get any takers, it might be a
good idea to offer the bait deeper.
If you have to go down much more
than six or seven feet, it might be
necessary to use a slip bobber. Un-
like bluegills, which will make a
bobber bounce around quite a bit
during the bite, crappie bite hard
and fast. The bobber will not bounce
around as it might with a bluegill, or
slide off sideways as it might with
a small bass, but it will go down
quickly and stay down.
Crappie are school fish, so once
you get into a school, you are likely
to catch all fish of the same year
class or size. If the fish are larger
– ten inches or so – there might
be a few much larger fish in that
group. If you catch all small fish,
you might as well move on – look-
ing for a school of larger fish. Our
local black crappies get fairly large
– the minimum for Michigan Master
Angler recognition is 14 inches or
one pound, twelve ounces. The cur-
rent state record is a whopping four
pounds, two ounces. Around North-
west Michigan, it is not unusual to
catch fish over 10 inches and many
12 and 14-inch fish are caught every
year.
While fishing minnows under
a bobber is probably the best way
to take these fish, they can also be
taken on a variety of artificial lures.
The best is a small jig – as small as
1/16 of an ounce. The jig should be
dressed in bucktail, feathers or fur or
enhanced with a plastic bait tail or a
small minnow or both. Some anglers
offer both dressings and also add a
small minnow. This colorful crappie was taken on a small jig and spinner combination.
My personal favorite
in artificials is a small jig that also risks losing fish – a net is to the water, after they have worked
rigged with a spinner. This the best bet. so hard to catch them.
lure is cast out near weeds Crappie fishing is great for kids Crappie are a real table treat.
or brush and allowed to and the family group. If dad can find Most anglers rank them right up
sink. It is a good idea to a nice school of crappie, the action there, close to bluegills and perch.
count it down, ticking off is almost non-stop and the children Their flesh is white, firm and very
the number of seconds it is will be thrilled. The fact that the fish mild in flavor. While they are
allowed to sink, so that you can be kept and eaten will add to the best pan-fried, they are also good
can repeat the thrill, for most kids. Many of them broiled, particularly if the fish are
depth to which it
has been allowed
have seemed reluctant to return fish larger and the fillets are thicker. n
to sink, once you
discover the depth at which the fish
are holding. Crappie are usually sus-
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off the bottom or ten feet up. Once •
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• in Bellevue, Michigan
it a slow, jerky retrieve. If your rod
is stiff enough, you will feel the Bow, Pistol,
tap as the crappie takes the jig. You
may have to experiment with the Rifle or
retrieve – sometimes, the fish want a
straight-line retrieve, although they
Shotgun Hunts
often prefer a jigging retrieve. Try •
both and the fish will be quick to let
you know which they prefer on a No License
given day. Required
When you are jigging, be sure to
let the jig settle after giving it some •
motion. This is usually when the
strikes occur. You may also have to
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plastic bait tail and/or the jighead.
White, yellow and pink are fairly
No Pay
good choices with chartreuse a good •
bet some days. When crappie hit
Discounted
Specials
the jigs that is about as much fun as
you can have with these fish, and Doe Hunts
when the jig works, it will out-fish
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These fish have fairly soft mouths
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 53
Bigmouth buffalo state record broken...again!
E
arlier this month, Tyler Kathrin Schrouder, a DNR fisheries
Fisher of St. Charles, biologist out of Bay City, verified the Tyler Fisher
Michigan, caught a new record. of St. Charles
record-breaking big- Roy Beasley of Madison with his state
mouth buffalo, unseating Heights, Michigan, held the previ- record big-
the previous state-record fish that ous bigmouth buffalo state record, mouth buffalo
was caught in 2017. a 27-pound, 35.25-inch fish he that weighed
Fisher caught his fish – weighing caught while bowfishing on Monroe 32.01 lbs. and
in at 32.01-pounds and measuring County’s River Raisin in May 2017. was 38-inches
38-inches – while bowfishing in the Over the last 10 years, anglers long.
Shiawassee River in Saginaw County. have caught 14 state-record fish in

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State-record fish are recognized
by weight only. To qualify for a state
record, fish must exceed the current
listed state-record weight, and iden-
tification must be verified by a DNR
fisheries biologist.
The DNR reminds anglers who
bowfish to properly dispose of all
specimens they harvest. See the cur-
rent roster of record-setting fish at
Michigan.gov/StateRecordFish.n

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 WALLEYE BUSTING Walleye myths abound…here are my thoughts!
N
o other fish spe-
cies in Michigan
seems to have
tallied up more
myths, mis-
information and
downright fabrications than wall-
eyes have. As a charter captain who
has specialized in catching walleyes
for decades, I certainly hear
all sorts of weird walleye
notions on a regular basis,
some of which just make
me shake my head in
bewilderment. Sadly, some
of those long perpetuated
myths are often accepted
as facts even by seasoned
walleye anglers
that should know
better. Thank-
By Michael Veine
fully we have so many great walleye
fisheries in Michigan that you don’t
really need to be an expert to be suc-
cessful at times, but it never hurts to
expand your knowledge base to im-
prove your odds or just seem more
like an authority on the subject.
Walleye
Coloration Myths
Last year I was chatting with
an old friend about walleyes. This
guy has been chasing walleyes on
Saginaw Bay for decades and most
would consider him to be a very
good fisherman. When he started
rambling on though about the differ-
ent colors of the walleyes that they
had caught that day I actually did
shake my head in bewilderment. He
was convinced that the ones with a
darker back and more golden sides
were reef spawners and nailed them
down to certain spawning rock piles
too. He then told me definitively
that the walleyes with lighter backs
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and just a hint of gold were river
spawners. He also went so far as to
break them down to particular rivers
based on this or that color pattern.
In his mind, light colored ones were
sterile fish. These Saginaw
Where he got all that misinfor- bay walleyes were
mation from is unknown, but the
fact is that walleyes in the Great caught on smaller
Lakes all have the same ba- sized crankbaits,
sic genetics for coloration. showing that small-
And since most inland
walleye waters are stocked er lures will take
with Great Lakes walleyes, bigger fish. Michael
those genetics pretty much Veine photos
cover the whole state too.
The fact is that walleyes
change colors based on
their environment.
I have witnessed
this thousands of
times on my own boat where we
catch light colored walleyes from
muddy water and put them in my
dark colored live well. A few hours
later and they have darkened up
handsomely with lots of gold hues
and accents that were not there
when they were put in the tank.
I’ve seen just the opposite hap-
pen too: I was in a friend’s boat on
Little Bay De Noc and we caught a
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Walleye Busting:
from page 55
studies have shown that Great Lakes
walleyes migrate and move all over
the place. It’s not uncommon for
walleyes to move many miles per
day and on those long journeys their
colors will change with the differ-
ing environmental conditions they
encounter. Therefore it’s not uncom-
mon to catch walleyes of differing
color patterns on a given day and it
has nothing whatsoever to do with
the fish’s origins, but rather where
they were that particular day.
Big Baits=Big Fish
This is one of those subjects that
is hard to quantify with science. An-
ecdotally though, I can say that I’ve
caught a lot more big walleyes on
smaller lures compared to big ones.
I’ve done a lot of side by side com-
parisons of hundreds, if not thou-
sands of different lures of widely
ranging sizes, and most of the time
smaller lures consistently not only
out produce bigger, similar ones, but
in my experience they catch more
big fish too. On Lake Erie, my best
trophy walleye producing bait is a
Jr. Thunderstick with #7 Shad Raps
coming in a close second. These
rather diminutive baits certainly
catch big walleyes.
I’ve also caught tons of huge
walleyes using small spoons and
also with crawler harnesses featur-
56 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
ing nickel sized blades. Certainly
bigger lures will catch big walleyes,
but many times I’ve trolled the same
type of lures in different sizes side
by side, and the smaller ones always
seem to work better on numbers of
fish and bigger ones too. Usually,
if you are catching more fish with
a lure, then you are just more apt to
catch the occasional bigger fish with
it too. It’s often just a numbers game
where a certain percentage of the
fish taken will be bigger and when
using smaller lures, you often in-
crease those odds by catching more
fish. I find that matching the hatch
with lures similar in size to what-
ever the fish are eating is usually
going to give you the best catch rate.
I find small food stuff in walleyes
the majority of the time.
Walleyes
are line shy
I know of a lot of seasoned wall-
eye anglers that believe that wall-
eyes are extremely line shy and they
use thin lines as a result. However,
my extensive side by side test-
ing has not proven that to be true.
Thinner lines do have the advantage
of allowing lures to reach greater These two Lake Erie walleyes exhibit different coloration despite
maximum depths or just hit certain being caught in the same waters, which indicates they were moving
depths with less line out when troll- around before being hooked.
ing. Thinner lines also cast further much better sensitivity too. I do not line shy at all. I’m currently running
and the no stretch varieties have believe though that walleyes are 15-pound test, monofilament on my
walleye trolling rods and I wouldn’t
even consider using anything lighter.
I’ve even run 20-pound test at times
too, and suffered no ill effects other
than needing longer trolling set-
backs to achieve the desired running
depth. On my homemade crawler
harnesses, I’m using 25-pound test
and in side by side comparisons
with store bought harnesses made
with much lighter leaders, I’ve seen
no better catch rates and usually just
the opposite compared to my spin-
ner rigs.
Lightest Bottom
Bouncer Possible
I’ve been using the heaviest
bottom bouncer possible for many
years with outstanding results, so
that one is certainly just an old
wives’ tale. I believe that heavy
bottom bouncers actually attract
walleyes by kicking up more bottom
debris. Heavy bottom bouncers also
seem to catch more suspended fish
too, so it may also be a combina-
tion of the wire and heavy weight
causing vibrations in the water that
attracts fish too. Either way, a grow-
ing number of super successful wall-
eye anglers are using heavy bottom
bouncers almost exclusively in their
trolling programs now days. About
the only time I don’t like heavy
bouncers is when trolling spinners
in very shallow water with a lot of
weeds. That’s about the only time I
go light.
Aggressive Fish
are Always up
High
I’ve heard a bunch of walleye
gurus make this claim when in
fact walleyes, more often than not,
occupy the bottom of the water col-
umn and a lot of the time they never
venture more than a few feet from
bottom, but they still bite aggres-
sively down deep. Sure, if walleyes
are suspended they are often catch-
able, but focusing your entire strat-
egy looking for suspended fish will
often lead to disappointing results.
On Saginaw Bay for instance, where
walleyes now feed on bottom dwell-
ing aquatic insects a lot of time,
fishing suspended is often a waste
of time. Even when suspended, they
don’t necessarily bite any better in
that part of the water column and
the bigger fish seem to like to hold
deep a lot too. When I’m seeing
suspended fish on sonar, I test that
water by putting at least some lures
up higher, but I won’t commit the
bulk of my trolling spread there un-
less I see positive results.
Walleyeys are
Really Boat Shy
Walleyes certainly can be boat
shy in clear, shallow water, but as
long as there is a chop on the water
or the water clarity is limited, then
walleyes don’t seem to pay much
attention to a boat. I’ve boated thou-
sands of walleyes trolling in less
than 15 feet of water using flat-lines
where the lures were super close to
the boat. Sometimes, in fact, those
flat lines produced more fish than
rigs off the planer boards way out
away from the boat.
More Lines =
More Walleyes
I have friends that believe that
you need to troll with over a dozen
rods to maximize your catch. Funny
thing though, when I troll side by
side with them they never seem to
out-fish my boat even when we are
running the same exact lures and
otherwise fishing the same exact
way. In fact the opposite is often the
case with my boat, running fewer
rods, catching more walleyes per
hour. I’m sure that there are some
situations where having more lures
in the water may help some, but
there is usually a point of diminish-
ing returns especially with a spe-
cies as easy to catch as walleyes. If
you run too many rods then tangles
become much more of a problem.
When you are out of the action
untangling messes, you are not fish-
The viability
of the eggs
of bigger
walleyes is
not as good
compared
to younger
fish, so from
a hatchery
perspective
the biggest
ones are
not ideal
candidates
for egg tak-
ing.
ing efficiently. Through side by side does not support this theory. are super high, you can keep
testing, I have learned the hard way I’ve heard from multiple whatever legal fish you want
that having lures running too close fisheries biologists that the without negative consequences
together is not nearly as productive viability of the eggs of bigger to the fishery. As mentioned
as spreading them out more. I like walleyes is not as good compared before, the smaller ones are far
to separate walleyes lures by at least to younger fish, so from a better eating, so that may be a
20 feet and even more in very clear hatchery perspective the biggest reason to photograph and
water. Any closer than that and you ones are not ideal candidates for throw back bigger fish, but that’s
just don’t usually catch as many egg taking. Most reputable about the only reason I can think
fish. When a boat has 14 lines in the biologists do not believe that of.
water, pulling them all up and reset- keeping bigger walleyes will The author offers fishing charters
ting on the typical trolling passes we damage a fishery providing the specializing in Saginaw Bay wall-
are forced to make in choppy condi- fishery is thriving. In fisheries eyes. Contact Mike Veine at www.
tions really slows down the process like Lake Erie or Saginaw trophyspecialists.com or 734-475-
too. I haven’t used more than eight Bay where walleyes numbers 9146.n
rods in my trolling spread in years
and if the fish are really biting good
it’s often less than eight.
Big Walleyes Taste
as Good as Small
I know of a lot of very experi-
enced walleye fishermen that only
keep big walleyes sorting through
and throwing back the legal sized,
smaller ones in the process. They
claim that there is no difference in
taste between big and small wall-
eyes. This one really baffles me.
I’ve eaten a lot of walleyes in my
58 years on this planet and without
question smaller walleyes eat a lot
better than big ones.
There is really no comparison
either. Smaller walleyes are flakier
and much milder tasting whereas
larger ones are more rubbery and
often stronger flavored. Bigger wall-
eyes are older ones and the longer
the fish swims around, the higher
the possibility of them soaking up
toxins too, which are generally ac-
cepted as not good for people. Wall-
eyes can live a very long time too.
Studies have shown that some
walleyes live past 20 years in the
Great Lakes. Bigger walleyes also
don’t hold up in the freezer nearly
as well either. I personally prefer
walleyes that are barely above the
legal size limit.
Big Walleyes are
the Best SPawners
This myth gets perpetuated a lot
these days. The science though
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 57


TROPHY PAGE
Brock
William-
son,
8, with
his first
turkey
that he
had to
belly
crawl
300-
yards for
a final
Jessica Sczepanski Jordan Peters of Homer took
20-yard from Midland finally his first turkey hunting Cal-
shot. got her first turkey. The houn Co. The 26-pounder
turkey had an 11-inch had a 10 ½” beard and 1 ¼”
beard and 1¼” spurs. spurs.

Ashlyn Lock, 11, with her dad, Rob Colton

and Ashlyn’s 25 ½ lb. tom with a Lapham,
10” beard she harvested at the West
Michigan Wildlife’s 2019 youth tur- 3 ½, caught
key hunt at the Muskegon Co. Waste a 17 ¼”
Water property. Hunting with guide smallmouth
Gil Pearo. bass on Up-
per Crooked
Lake in Barry
Co. on
Memorial
Nicole Day.
Twardowski
took her Emma Barnard caught this 25.5”
first turkey
on May 26. walleye trolling a crawler harness on
It had a Houghton Lake.
10 9/16”
beard
with
1 7/16”
spurs.

Kyle Blankenship caught and released this 40” sturgeon

While fishing a canal off the St. Clair June 1 in the St. Joseph River. He’s never heard of any
River. Elijah Naylor, 11, of Marine City sturgeon being caught on the St. Joe and feels
reeled in this largemouth bass. extremely privileged to catch such a wonderful fish.

Reid Brian Pietrzak,

Dejonge, Kyle and Katie
Rotarius of Al-
NWTF lenton take three
member dandy toms this
and semi- spring; Brian’s
pro turkey 22-pounder had
caller was a 10” beard,
1” spurs. Kyle’s
able to get 23-pounder had a
Keira McCleary, 10, of this nice 10 ¼” beard and
Sterling Heights took her tom on 1 ¼” spurs. Katie’s
public land 19-pounder had
first turkey, a bearded hen, a 10 ½” beard
using her .410 in St. Clair in Neway- with 1” spurs and
Co. with Uncle John after go Co. it was her first
11 1/2 hours of hunting! turkey.
58 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 59

 Proper walleye stocking strategy
can result in a good walleye fishery
W
alleye have been
a preferred game
fish in Michigan
since sportfish-
ing began. Wall-
eye are not ca-
pable of long running self-sustaining
natural reproduction in most inland
lakes in Michigan. DNR fisheries
biologists were historically limited
to relatively ineffective walleye fry
(newly hatched) plants for many
years. Intensive walleye fingerling
(young of the year) production in
the state hatchery system was fairly
unreliable.
For many years pro-
duction was far below the
desired needs of fisheries
management biologists to
create good walleye fisher-
ies in lakes with good adult
habitat. In the 1970s DNR
fisheries research and man-
agement biologists came up
with a system to “farm out”
walleye fingerling
production to the By Bill Ziegler
DNR field offices.
This was successful and fingerling
production rose steadily and dra-
matically, partly due to the fact that
local managers had a very strong in-
centive to succeed. There is a great
motivating factor for field fisheries
managers to make their own local
walleye management programs suc-
cessful. That fingerling production
was critical to biologists creating
and maintaining good walleye
fisheries in their management units.
Some other states that continued
with the hatchery model of produc-
ing their walleye fingerlings were
plagued with inadequate numbers
of walleye fingerlings to maintain
a viable walleye fishery. Research
indicated that walleye rearing was
not suited to the intensive nature of
a typical hatchery.
Walleye stocking has always
been challenging to fisheries biolo-
gists to establish or re-establish and
maintain viable walleye populations.
Considerable progress was made
when Michigan DNR fisheries field
offices began fairly consistent spring
fingerling (typically two inches
long) production to attain adequate
stocking rates and regular (typically
biennial) stocking efforts in mul-
tiple lakes with good adult walleye
habitat. Almost all of Michigan’s
walleye fisheries that were created
or re-established (historical walleye)
were accomplished with the newly
reliable spring fingerling walleye
supply in the 1980s and 1990s.
60 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
Michigan DNR fisheries es-
tablished a State Walleye Manage-
ment Committee that helped pool
the DNR collective knowledge
and experience to improve walleye
management methods. This com-
mittee helped communicate a better
understanding of fingerling walleye
rearing and lead to much more con-
sistent successful methods for the
state’s rearing pond system. I served
as the State Walleye Management
Committee chair for six years and
was exposed to considerable wall-
eye research information during that
period and the many years as a state
committee member.
One good aspect to the
field office rearing walleye
fingerlings is in addition to
being relatively inexpen-
sive, it is also relatively less
labor intensive than many
other fisheries activities.
Field walleye rearing does
not require more than one
skilled technical
field staff (an ad-
ditional seasonal aid
or volunteer help speed the process)
to maintain the rearing ponds during
the rearing process.
A second alternative to spring The author with good size walleyes caught in a maintenance
fingerlings is rearing them to the stocked (spring fingerlings) lake in the U.P. with some strong year
larger advanced fingerling size (six classes of older fish.
to eight inches). Rearing advanced
fall fingerlings is either very labor to over $2 or greater per fingerling. not a magic bullet.
intensive or expensive depending Walleye stocking studies carried Stocking walleye fingerlings into
on how large numbers and a regular out by biologists at the Michigan most Michigan inland lakes is not
long running demand for forage DNR Institute for Fish Research easy on the walleye fingerlings. Fish
minnows is accomplished. Walleye found that advanced fingerling communities in Michigan lakes can
fingerlings become very cannibalis- walleye survived at about twice be a hostile environment for finger-
tic as soon as the food source (zoo- the variable (typically low) rate ling walleye to survive (both spring
plankton) declines. The zooplankton of survival for spring fingerlings. and advanced). Fisheries biologists
can only be maintained in rearing For example, if spring fingerlings have been aware for many years of
ponds for about six-weeks in the averaged a survival rate of about 1.5 research and experience that walleye
spring to early summer. percent then fall fingerlings would fingerlings typically do not survive
Fisheries staff need to harvest be about three percent. Research by well going into a fish community
the pond quickly once their food Wisconsin DNR’s Howard Snow with abundant sunfish species like
source declines or cannibalism will in Northern Wisconsin indicated if bluegill, pumpkinseed, rock bass,
result in a small number of larger there was a realistic chance of pro- and bass. Although bluegill is
walleye fingerlings surviving. If the ducing a viable walleye population not native to the U.P., they were
fingerlings are to be raised to the with advanced walleye fingerlings in widely historically introduced and
advanced size they have to be held the face of a sunfish (bluegill, rock established. Sunfish family species
until fall. This requires considerable bass, bass etc.) population fisher- are found in almost all lakes with
effort by staff to trap and transfer ies managers would have to use adequate walleye habitat in northern
minnows (typically fathead min- stocking rates of 20 to 60 per acre. Michigan.
nows and dace) to the rearing ponds This stocking rate would have to Spring walleye fingerlings
to keep the walleye fingerlings be maintained for three to six years were used to create about 30 good
growing and not eating each other. (annually) before a viable walleye walleye fisheries in the Crystal Falls
If minnows are purchased it requires population might be expected. Most DNR Unit from Iron County to the
regular expensive minnow deliver- likely maintenance stocking would Menominee River and Bay of Green
ies from bait dealers from about July be necessary on a biennial basis. Bay from about the later 1980s until
1 until into the month of September. The bottom line of walleye research about the mid-2000s. The Crystal
Either way, the feeding of minnows in the lake states is advanced fin- Falls unit reared more advanced
to the growing fingerlings during the gerlings were desirable to have as walleye fingerlings (6 inches or
summer is what increases the cost a tool for fish managers for special greater) than any other unit in the
per fingerling from about five cents use, although they were definitely state from about the late 1980s until

about 2000. Initially these fall fin-
gerlings were spread out into waters
with poor conditions for walleye
fingerling survival (abundant sunfish
family species) at relatively low
stocking rates. Fish managers with
limited budgets are prone to typi-
cal human nature of trying to cover
many waters with a very limited
supply of very expensive advanced
walleye fingerlings. They stocked
about 19 lakes at rates from about 6
to 15 per acre with no real success.
When the Wisconsin DNR advanced
walleye fingerling study referred to
above came out, we greatly reduced
the number of lakes stocked with
advanced fingerlings down to the
three highest priority waters with a
much higher stocking rate.
With advanced fingerling diffi-
cult to raise, we tried to stock at the
minimum rate of 20 per acre, annu-
ally. After several years of this effort
we established a viable walleye
population in two out of the three
high priority lakes. In the third lake
(Six Mile Lake - Dickinson County)
we failed to establish a walleye
population despite the increased
stocking rate and expense. In addi-
tion two lakes where we succeeded,
Winslow and Stager in Iron County,
special limited harvest regulation
(one walleye daily bag limit) had to
be established to allow the stocking
effort to succeed.
Two examples within that
management area discussed above
illustrate the economic and practi-
cal realities of using fall fingerlings
versus spring fingerling walleye.
Lake Antoine in Dickinson County
is a 748-acre classic “saucer shaped
basin” walleye water that had a
good walleye fishery created and
maintained by spring fingerling
walleye from about the late 1980s
until about 2000s. Maintenance
Chicagon Lake has a small unreliable amount of walleye natural
reproduction and has been maintained by consistent walleye spring
fingerling plants.
stocking was stopped when Lansing
administrators determined that all
the walleye fingerlings produced in
Iron and Dickinson County rear-
ing ponds should all be redirected
to establish the walleye fishery in
Big Bay de Noc. After the walleye
population drastically declined and
the Big Bay de Noc experiment was
discontinued, discussions occurred
how best to re-establish this former
successful walleye fishery.
If advanced walleye fingerlings
were used to attempt to rebuild that
fishery it would require a minimum
rate of at least 15,000 advanced
walleye fingerlings per year at a cost
of about $30,000 per year. These
advanced fingerling plants would
have to be made for at least three
to six-years with no guarantee of
success.
If the spring fingerling were
used as was previously successful it
would require about 37,500 finger-
lings at a cost of about $1,875 per
year. Spring fingerlings are normally
stocked for three consecutive years
and then biennially after that for
maintenance stocking fisheries like
this.
Iron Lake in Iron County had
Historically walleye fry were
stocked for years into inland
Michigan lakes with minimal
success other than a few rare
situations. Fingerling produc-
tion by Michigan’s hatcheries
has not been successful in any
consistent reliable fashion over
the years. A breakthrough came
in the 1970s and ’80s when
those fry were put into outly-
ing rearing ponds around the
state operated by field fisheries
management staff. Soon more
consistent walleye fisheries de-
veloped due to much better and
reliable supply of spring finger-
lings than had been provided by
relatively inexpensive rearing in
the field office’s rearing ponds.
a similar drastic decline in walleye walleye population can be tenu-
population when all the available ous. Once a walleye population is
walleye fingerlings were required established in a lake with good
for the Big Bay de Noc experiment. adult walleye habitat and inadequate
Iron Lake is a 396-acre classic spawning grounds, the walleye
walleye basin lake that produced population should not be allowed
a good walleye fishery for several to drop to low levels. It was com-
decades that had been created by monly observed with all the more
spring fingerling walleye plants. competitive fish species present
Attempting to re-establish a vi- in most northern Michigan lakes
able walleye fishery with advanced (sunfish family, bass, abundant
fingerling walleye would require pike, etc.), some other fish spe-
at least 7,900 walleye and would cies quickly increase following the
cost over $15,840 per year. Using decline of a walleye population. In
the previously successful spring other words, the result was that the
fingerlings it would require at least ecological niche is locked up by
19,800 walleyes at a cost of $990 walleye competitors, making the
per year. When the survival rate of re-establishment of a good walleye
both stages of fingerling is so low fishery an uphill battle once walleye
and when you consider the high cost stocking is resumed.
of advanced walleye fingerlings the Although rearing walleye spring
better alternative is pretty clear. fingerlings is a relatively inexpen-
In most situations with limited sive program compared to other
budgets I have observed it is dif- fish species management programs
ficult to justify the long running like trout and muskie, it is a good
expense of obtaining the minimum project for angling oriented groups
stocking rate of (20 advanced to support. During my tenure in the
fingerlings per acre) in larger lakes U.P. as a DNR fisheries biologist
(greater than 200 surface acres). several outdoor and angler groups
Michigan DNR considers that wa- readily provided significant financial
ters managed for walleye should be support for our local rearing pond
200 acres or larger. operations. In many cases members
A widely accepted walleye of a sports group would assist DNR
population goal is about three to five fisheries personnel by helping fill
adult walleye per acre. Population out a crew working on pond rearing.
estimates in the Western U.P. indi- For this financial and service help
cated an average walleye population we always made sure that the pond’s
of about five adult walleyes per acre walleyes were first used to maintain
could be achieved in maintenance the group’s local (county) walleye
stocked lakes with good adult wall- waters.
eye habitat. By producing more walleye
DNR fisheries research indicates fingerlings, more walleye lakes can
at an adult walleye population of be adequately maintained. A good
five per acre it would take about 10 walleye fishery generates more an-
angler hours to catch a legal wall- gling interest than any other inland
eye. For comparison, at one adult fisheries in the lake states. More
per acre, their studies indicate it good walleye fisheries help spread
would take about 91 hours for an the fishing pressure out, especially
angler to catch a legal walleye. if most of the waters are on the
Considerable experience since smaller size by walleye standards
the 1970s by other fisheries manag- (less than 500 acres). Spreading
ers that was readily evident dur- the anglers out on a popular fishery
ing annual meetings of the State makes quality fishing last longer
Walleye Management Committee than all the pressure focused on a
indicated that maintaining a water’s just a few lakes.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 61
Early Summer
HOT SPOTS
Cadillac-Pine River
The warm low waters seen as
the summer drags on create an in-
creased density of trout in the deep
pools. Targeting these deep holes
past rapids and gravel often create
the most opportunities to hook into a
quality trout. Time of day is also an
important factor. The fish tend to be
active in the early hours of
the morning and later in the
evening, continuing into the
night.
Traditionally in June,
hatches of large insects be-
come the predominant food
source for trout. Fly fishing
during these hatches can be
some of the most exciting
fishing found on
the trout waters. By John Bergsma
Fish of all sizes
gorge themselves on these hatching
insects, making them more suscep-
tible to take anglers flies. This hatch
is positive for anglers who catch the
beginning of the hatch, but once the
hatch has started the trout tend to
be less inclined to take an offering
from an angler. Presenting a may-
fly imitation has been a successful
tactic when pursuing trout during
this time.
As July wears on these
hatches become less active
and the fish become very
weary. Anglers often must
scale down their tackle in
order to trick them into
taking their lure. On the
Pine River, anglers can
find success fishing with
grasshoppers in deep holes.
If you have never
wadded a small
river or stream
for trout, the Pine is a great place If you have never wadded a small river or stream for trout, the Pine
to learn. There’s lots of quality fish, is a great place to learn. John Bergsma photos

with your host

n B e r g sm a
Jo h Now on...
CBSSN: Saturday’s at 7:30 a.m January-March
Fox Sports Detroit: Sunday’s at 7:00 a.m January-June
Online viewing at: www.fishermansdigest.com
Visit our website and find out about . . .
• Destinations • Fishing Reports •
• Our Show • Cooks Corner •

62 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS

and the spots are generally acces- During the summer the trout and
sible. salmon congregate on the drop-offs
and in the deeper water (usually
Traverse City 100–120 feet), but in June they
frequent the shallows and flats - so
Summer Fishing dipsy divers, planers and long-lines
When the ice leaves Lake Michi- on the downriggers are good spring-
gan, crystal blue waters are exposed time techniques.
on the lake and in its bays due to Ultra-light tackle and small
decreased turbidity (there are less spoons make for fantastic fishing
suspended materials in the water action, and the fish are active all
column). These pristine waters make day long at this time of year. Don’t
for excellent fishing opportunities be afraid to use light line, like 6-12
along the breathtaking shorelines, pound test. Most of the billfish
and after the long winter and cool tournaments we fish in the Florida
spring, the fish are very active. Keys in the winter are limited to
There are many great charters 12-20 pound test. We routinely take
from Ludington to Petoskey, and 60-pound sailfish – one of the faster
Traverse City’s West Bay is smack fishes in the ocean – on 12 pound
in the middle of what is considered line, and blue marlin up to 250
by many to be the best freshwa- pounds on 30 pound test, so don’t
ter fishing region in the Midwest. overkill line diameter.
Smallmouth bass, lake trout, brown I like to start with a little lighter
trout, steelhead, walleye, salmon, drag on my reels when using light
drum and cisco are what we target line and tighten them up a bit when
in the waters of West Bay when the fish begin to wear down. When
trolling, while perch can be taken they get closer to the boat, I lighten
at anchor, and carp are commonly the drag a little again, just in case
pursued by the fly-fishing enthusiast they make a big run when they get Ultra-light tackle and small spoons make for fantastic fishing action
from the shore or in waders. to the boat. With waters this clear, in the Traverse City area.
lighter line can greatly increase your ter, contact Capt. Sammy Worden/
Chef Grant’s Country Smoke House “Recipe of the Month” odds of a bite, and it will sharpen Showtime Xtreme Charters show-
GARLIC HERB CHICKEN BRAT ALFREDO your angling skills!
For an awesome day on the wa-
timechartersxtreme.com
231-218-1494.n
Ingredients:
1 package Country Smokehouse garlic herb chicken brats, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red onion, sliced
1 Tb minced garlic
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 Tb basil (fresh is best)
2 Tb butter
16 oz of your favorite alfredo
Preparation Instructions:
Heat a large skillet on high till butter is melted. Add all ingredients from
top to bottom except sauce. Saute on high till you have good color and veggies
are tender (about 10 minutes) then add your sauce and put heat to low and
cover and cook for 10 minutes. Then pour over your favorite pasta and enjoy.

This recipe was provided by Chef Grant Bergsma at Fisherman’s Digest TV.
For more recipes and excellent video fishing reports check out
www.fishermansdigest.com or on Facebook@Great Lakes Fishermans Digest.

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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 63

 TRAIL CAM/OUTDOOR PHOTOS
Join us in sharing interesting and sometimes rare
trail cam and/or outdoor photos with our readers.
Send your photos to: wnw@pageone-inc.com

After digging a fresh den, this badger was photo-

graphed by Caitlin Smith in Fairview. Tom turkeys showing off for the hens and Lauren
Al Lyons photographed this fawn.
Trainor’s trail cam in Eaton County.

Kraig Staples with plenty of trail cam photos

of spring bears near Millersburg.

A true UFO captured on Jim Caywood’s trail cam.

Joe Misiak
photographed
this seagull
catching an
afternoon
snack from the
Kayla Koresky of Sterling Heights has a
Cass River in
great horned owl and her two babies in
Frankenmuth.
her backyard. She took this photo from
Tom Spillane had a bear make a visit to an the viewfinder of her telescope.
empty bird feeder at their cabin near St. Helen.

Dean Babcock believes this is an immature bald eagle taken on his property in the Kraig Staples’ trail cam of a ring-neck pheasant and
thumb area. His other trail cam captured a group of deer near his hunting blind. a galloping coyote near his home in the Flint area.
64 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
 Michigan’s cultural treasures:
preserved, protected, cared for and shared by the DNR
By Suzanne Fischer - MDNR
M
ost people
already know
that the Michi-
gan Depart-
ment of Natu-
ral Resources
manages elk herds and stands of
pine – but how about historic pho-
tos, a 1957 Corvette and a historic
fort on the Keweenaw Peninsula?
All these things are part of
Michigan’s cultural resources, also
managed by the DNR.
For more than a decade, the
DNR has committed in its mission
to preserving, protecting, steward-
ing, and sharing cultural resources –
as well as natural resources – for the
people of Michigan.
“Cultural resources are the
state’s treasures that were made by
people in Michigan and are evidence
of their lives and stories,” said San-
dra Clark, director of the Michigan
History Center in Lansing. “Like
natural resources, they are held in
trust by the DNR for the people
of Michigan, to make sure that the
state’s history and culture are docu-
mented, preserved and shared.”
Cultural resources give lives
meaning. They’re the things that tell
stories of who we were and how and
why and where we live and lived.
They’re historic houses, stores, of-
fices, sawmills and blast furnaces.
“Cultural resources, like the
Sanilac Petroglyphs in Sanilac
County, are gifts from Michigan’s
first peoples to their current de-
scendants,” said Stacy Tchorzynski,
archaeologist with the State Historic
Preservation Office. “They’re tools
and ceramics uncovered to help re-
construct a community’s daily life.”
They’re objects, tens of thou-
sands of them – from Civil War
rifles and satellite dishes to lead
service pipes from Flint – that tell
stories of our state.
“Cultural resources include
millions of records of the births,
deaths, naturalization, imprisonment
and freedom of Michigan’s people,”
said state archivist Mark Harvey.
“They’re the official records of state
and local government and the hand-
written diaries and letters of famous
and everyday people.”
Cultural resources are images of
Michigan, the historic photos that
allow us to see into the past.
Several DNR divisions manage
Michigan’s cultural resources.
The Michigan History Center
takes care of, and provides ac-
cess to, the state’s historic objects,
documents and photographs. Within
the center, the Michigan History
Museum collects artifacts that relate
to the history, culture and people of
Michigan.
“These collections include more
than 130,000 artifacts ranging from
farm tools to elegant 19th-century
textiles and streamlined 20th-centu-
ry automobiles,” Clark said.
The Archives of Michigan is re-
sponsible for preserving the records
of Michigan government and other
public institutions. With documents
dating back to 1792, the archives
house much of Michigan’s recorded
heritage.
“We have more than 120 mil-
lion state and local government re-
cords and private papers, 10 million
photographs and 50,000 maps, plus
films and audio tapes are available
for research,” Harvey said.
The Michigan History Center
collaborates with the DNR’s Parks
and Recreation Division to interpret
and preserve historic sites at eight
state parks in Michigan. Among
these sites are Fayette Historic
State Park in Delta County, with its
astonishingly complete 19th-century
iron-processing company townsite
located on the Garden Peninsula; This 1893 image of a World’s Fair load of pine logs – 31,800
Cambridge Junction State Park board feet – is one of 10 million photographs in the Archives of
in Lenawee County, home to the Michigan’s holdings. MDNR photos
historic Walker Tavern; and Fort
Wilkins Historic State Park, a site in Michigan’s historic lighthouses to ment Authority.
Copper Harbor at the tip of the Ke- historic structures of all kinds. Even This office manages objects
weenaw Peninsula that dates back a state park toilet-shower building found in the ground as well as ob-
to the days of the mid-1840s Copper can be a cultural resource. During in jects found underwater, on the “bot-
Rush. the 1930s and ’40s, enrollees in the tomlands” of the Great Lakes, where
Friends groups associated with Civilian Conservation Corps built shipwrecks have come to rest. The
the historic state parks collaborate a great deal of state park infrastruc- Center partners with the National
with the Michigan History Center ture in Michigan, including roads Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
and the DNR to preserve and share and bridges, picnic pavilions and istration in managing the Thunder
these one-of-a-kind cultural resourc- decorative stone walls and gates – Bay National Marine Sanctuary in
es with a broad public. like the ones at Bewabic State Park Alpena.
“The DNR is not only respon- in Iron County – and these historic While cultural resources may not
sible for managing the state’s great toilet-shower buildings. be the first thing many people think
natural resources, but also many of Mackinac State Historic Parks, of when they think of the DNR, the
the state’s unique cultural resourc- another DNR division, manages department’s role as steward of our
es,” said Bob Wild, park supervisor historic sites, structures and ob- cultural heritage cannot be dimin-
at Fort Wilkins Historic State Park jects relating to the history of the ished.
in Copper Harbor. “Partnering with Straits of Mackinac on Mackinac From photographs and maps
entities like friends groups and the Island and in Mackinaw City. The to personal records, historic forts
Michigan Historical Center helps state’s buried cultural resources, the and sunken ships, Michigan’s
the DNR to best preserve these won- archaeological evidence of people’s cultural treasures are the ingredients
derful cultural treasures.” lives as seen in pottery, fire-cracked that help people and communi-
The DNR’s Parks and Recre- rock and bottles of medicine, are ties find, learn and share their own
ation Division’s Stewardship Unit managed by the Office of the State stories.
also manages cultural resources Archaeologist, housed in the State Get more information on Michi-
found within Michigan’s 103 Historic Preservation Office at the gan’s cultural resources at Michigan.
state parks, from Fresnel lenses in Michigan State Housing Develop- gov/MHC.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 65
 Scholars honored in
MOWA/Toyota Program
T
hanks to generous support from
Toyota Motor North America,
three students from Michigan
colleges recently received a financial
boost to their efforts to develop careers
that include some aspect of communi-
cating the outdoors experience.
The awards were presented on June
1 during the 75th anniversary confer-
ence of The Michigan Outdoor Writers
Association (MOWA) at Crystal Moun-
tain in Thompsonville. Each student
won $1,200 through the Michigan
Outdoor Writers Association/Toyota
Let’s Go Places Scholarship program.
Additionally, the program covered
the costs of the students to attend the
awards ceremony.
This year’s winners are writers An-
gela Mulka, senior, and Andrew Blok,
graduate student, from Michigan State
University; and Liam Kaiser, an aspir-
ing photographer/filmmaker who will
be transferring to Northern Michigan
University this fall after graduating
from Northwestern Michigan College
in Traverse City.
Mulka studies journalism with a
focus on environmental reporting. She
also works as a reporter for the Great
Lakes Echo, a nonprofit environmental
CBM’s Official 11th edition
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of DEER, BEAR, ELK and TURKEYS
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www.michiganbiggamerecords.com
OR MAIL CHECK PAYABLE TO:
WILLOUGHBY PRESS
P.O. Box 306, Owosso, MI 48867
Call with questions 989-723-6850
66 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
news service operated by the Knight
Center for Environmental Journalism
at Michigan State. This summer she is
interning with the Michigan Economic
Development Corporation.
“My primary career goal is to
work in the field of environmental
journalism – reporting on complex
environmental issues while upholding
traditional values of accuracy
and fairness,” Mulka said.
She explained the reasoning
behind her global approach to
understanding and communi-
cating those issues this way:
“While many environmental
issues affect primarily local
and national areas, others deal
with problems that face the
entire planet.”
She has written
on a range of topics By Tom Carney
such as, invasive
species control in Michigan waterways,
golf balls and microplastics in the
Great Lakes, PFAS in Michigan drink-
ing water, and haunted lighthouses.
Interestingly, in elementary school,
on a list of “My Favorite Things” Mul-
ka included “the sound of my pencil as
it races across a piece of paper holding
includes
55
shipping
& taxes
a great idea.”
Mulka has set some high expecta-
tions for herself. She said, “I hope to be
a storyteller with a purpose – to use my
education, life experience and personal
drive to make a positive difference
through journalism. I love the planet,
nature and the outdoors and hope to
make people care about them. I believe
people will protect what they
care about.”
Blok exhibited a healthy
understanding of the realities
that face writers these days.
“I am a writer. I intend to
write for the rest of my life
and am now working to add
audio skills to my storytelling
toolbox. I deeply believe in
writing’s power to
change perceptions
of the world – it
has for me dozens
of times. But, I also understand the
importance of telling stories in multiple
media. Podcasts and video can reveal
the world with power, too. I’ll always
be a writer, but first and foremost I
want to be an effective, compelling
communicator.”
Of his time at the Knight Center
Blok said, “I’m there to learn as many
tools as possible to spark understand-
ing, stir emotion and forge connection
between people and their environment.
I want to leave with the ability to
convincingly explain the importance of
environmental protection.”
Finally, Blok added, “I love writing
stories that highlight research about the
Great Lakes region, especially when
it works to protect and restore such an
important landscape. I love translat-
ing the ways that science shapes our
understanding of how the world around
us works. Science and the outdoors are
perfect and necessary companions.”
Kaiser was born in New Hamp-
shire, but his family spent summers at
his grandfather’s cottage in Arcadia,
overlooking Lake Michigan.
“This is where my love for the out-
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doors started, and more specifically my
love of water,” he said. “To this day,
there isn’t a place I find more tranquil
than the shorelines of the Great Lakes
State.”
During his senior year in high
school, while completing his AP
Photography portfolio, he decided he
wanted to “focus on capturing people
in their natural environments, for our
environment shapes us more than we
can begin to imagine.”
He found himself establishing a
relationship with – of all places – a
northern Michigan surf shop.
Kaiser said, “Now, you’re prob-
ably thinking, ‘you can’t surf the Great
Lakes.’ I had that thought, too, and boy,
was I wrong. It’s certainly not easy.
You need a thick neoprene wetsuit and
a hefty tolerance to the cold, but you
can, in fact, surf the Great Lakes.
“Plunging into the water for the
first time was the biggest adrenaline
rush of my life (the fact that it was
wintertime and the temperature was a
balmy 10 degrees didn’t help).”
Kaiser currently enjoys an ongoing
internship with ManeContent, the cre-
ative division of Traverse City’s televi-
sion station, Channel 9&10 News. His
role is to create short documentaries
highlighting outdoor activities and
people in the area, which are then
broadcast on television and online.
Kaiser has a clear goal in his view-
finder:
“So many people in the world have
no idea what’s out there, and I’d like to
give them a glimpse. I want to inspire
people to get outside and enjoy the
outdoors for themselves, and use my
skills to inspire people to protect our
resources like the Great Lakes.
MOWA’s Scholarship Committee
was thrilled to be able to recognize and
support such inspiring young people.
In a statement it said, “Their work
displayed not only technical skill and
dedication to natural resources journal-
ism but also promise for greater things
to come.”n
Dr. Howard Tanner, 2019 Michigan
Outdoor Hall of Fame inductee
T
he Michigan Outdoor
Writer’s Association
inducted one new
member into the
Michigan Outdoor
Hall of Fame during
the annual summer conference at
Thompsonville, Michigan. This sole
inductee is truly an icon to towns
and anglers throughout our state,
the Midwest and the entire country.
The 2019 inductee is Dr. Howard A.
Tanner.
In 1964, as the newly appointed
chief of the Michigan Department
of Conservation Fisheries Division,
Dr. Tanner was challenged by then
director Ralph McMullen to, “Do
something and make it spectacular.”
No one could truly understand just
how spectacular his work would
be. Dr. Howard A. Tanner
brought salmon to the Great
Lakes and changed the eco-
system forever. He is now
widely known as the father
of the Great Lakes salmon
fishery.
A World War II veteran,
Dr. Tanner returned home
to continue his educa-
tion and enrolled at
Michigan State College By Mark Sak
pursuing a degree in
Zoology with a specialty in fisher-
ies. Dr. Tanner would receive his
Ph.D. in 1952 and began a 12-year
stint at Colorado State University as
a teacher in the Fish Unit, teaching
undergrads how to become fisheries
biologists. He returned to Michigan
in 1964 due to a shake-up in Michi-
gan’s Conservation Department
ordered by Governor George Rom-
ney. The Conservation Department
would be completely overhauled to
include an emphasis on the Great
Lakes, which had until this point
been for the most part under-man-
aged. Dr. Tanner’s decision to bring
salmon to the Great Lakes is now
called, “the most significant bioma-
nipulation program in the history of
fisheries management.”
Little did he know the actual im-
pact of his efforts to release that first
Coho into the Platte River on April
2, 1966. Salmon can now be caught
from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario
and are responsible for approximate-
ly a seven billion dollar industry.
It has changed many lives, not
just in Michigan but throughout
all of the Great Lakes states and
Ontario.
As if this wasn’t enough, Dr.
Tanner also had a very large part in
dealing with mercury contamina-
tion and convincing then
Governor Milliken and
his cabinet to ban PCBs in
Michigan. Michigan was
the first state in the country
to ban this harmful chemi-
cal. He has been a tremen-
dous advocate for the Great
Lakes and has also been an
active member of the
Michigan Resource
Stewards, an advo-
cacy group formed by
former state environmental authori-
ties which has also just been named Dr. Howard Tanner was honored for his years of conser vation work.
to MUCC’s Conservation Hall of a book telling his story of this great salmon and funds field trips to local
Fame. accomplishment. The book, named areas to fish. Dr. Howard Tanner
At 95 years young, Dr. Tanner Something Spectacular My Great is truly an inspiration and an easy
is still doing some speaking en- Lakes Salmon Story, is available choice for the Michigan Outdoor
gagements and was present for his through Michigan State University Hall of Fame.
induction into the Michigan Outdoor Press and Amazon. One hundred The Michigan Outdoor Hall of
Hall of Fame. He is a wonderful percent of the proceeds from the Fame is located at the DNR’s Carl T.
storyteller and spoke of catching his sale of the book are being directed Johnson Education Center in Cadil-
first brook trout in 1926 and being to Michigan State University’s lac, Michigan. This year’s sponsor
hooked on fishing since. For those Project Fish program, which teaches of the Hall of Fame was Eppinger
interested he has recently finished elementary children the life cycle of Dardevle.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 67
 My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinion...

New NRC bear regulations are...just wrong!

W
hen I read the
bear hunting
regulations
changes made
by the Natural
Resource Com-
mission (NRC), in particular, pertain-
ing to the use of barrels on public
lands… I was dumbfounded. They
are now requiring the holes
that bear baiters cut into the
barrels, which allows bears
to get the bait out, cannot
be bigger than one inch in
diameter. I understand we
need to prevent bears from
getting caught inside the
barrels and I know a bear
was found dead at a bait site
because it was
caught inside By Jeff Pendergraff
the barrel and
was unable to get free. But, how do
bears get the bait out of a barrel?
The DNR told the NRC that by
limiting the size of the hole in the
barrel the bear would have to pick up
the barrel to remove the bait.
That is going to be very hard for a
bear to pick up a barrel, shake the
barrel and get the food out of a one-
inch hole. Many hunters use bait
that will not fit through a one-inch
hole, bread, meat and other pastry
products. On private lands there are
no size limits on a barrel used for
baiting bears.
Again, I understand that we can’t
have bears being trapped or caught
inside a barrel causing injury and
even death. But, can you imagine a
bear picking up a 55-gallon barrel,
holding it over its head and trying
to shake the food out of it. Smaller
bears wouldn’t even be able to ac-
complish this task.
I have been baiting bears for
more than 25 years in Michigan and
Ontario and I used a 55-gallon drum
barrel on private property with the
barrel chained to a tree. I cut three
holes into the barrel about the size of
a softball and about one foot above
the ground. This prevents a bear from
getting inside the barrel and
gives the bear, no matter the
size, the ability to reach in-
side the barrel and pull food
out. This would have been a
more appropriate solution to
this issue rather than a one-
inch hole that would limit
what most bears would be
able to do to feed from that
bait.
The next
regulation
change really had me scratching my
head. The NRC wants to start allow-
ing the use of barrels restricted to 33
gallons in size, made of steel, with a
maximum of three one-inch holes in
the barrel. This barrel must have the
owner’s driver’s license number or
their DNR sports card number on a
tag attached to the barrel.
The barrel must be anchored to
a post in the ground (not a tree) with
a chain and the chain can’t be more
than eight-feet in length. The barrel
must have a lid attached and can’t
be more than 100 yards from a state
forest road.
Who is going to want to hunt
100 yards off the road? Especially
when you have so much ORV traffic
throughout the Upper and Lower
Peninsulas? The ORV noise can
stravel a very long distance through-
out the woods. Plus bear hunters are
sharing the woods
with small game
hunters and trout
fisherman. In many
bear management
units, it takes several
years to draw a tag.
The last thing you
want is for some
sportsman, who
may not even know
someone is bear
hunting in the area,
to mess up your
hunt.
These changes
make no sense at all
and are only going to
cause issues for bear
hunters.
First, if you have
the barrel attached
to a post there are
many bears that will
pull that post right
out of the ground
unless you have it
very deep. Most sec- MDNR photo
tions of the woods
have so many roots
underground it’s very hard to dig of complaint in the past.
very deep. I know this because I have The problem with the new bear
tried it many times when I hunted on regulations as I see it, is there are
public grounds. Once a bear pulls the people trying to make these decisions
barrel out there is a very good chance who haven’t been employed by the
the barrel will disappear. Once I left DNR long enough to know the his-
a barrel full of bait with the lid on it tory on these issues and don’t realize
and no holes it in about a mile from these rules were put into place back
the bait site, next to a friend’s camp. in the 1980s to solve the issues they
This storage barrel made it easier were having then, like dirty baits.
to re-bait my bear sites and if I was Hunters leaving the bait such as
back downstate my friend could grab bread and pastries still in its original
the bait and re-bait my stand. Sure package and letting the bears tear
enough, my friend called and said the into the bait and leave the garbage
barrel was gone. Once I got there it all over the woods. Or these folks
took me an hour to find the 55-gallon who are trying to change the rules on

A billion dollar
barrel which was empty and about
400-yards from where I had left it.
The bear pulled the lid off and ate all
an activity such as baiting in a bear
that have never done it themselves
and don’t really understand how it’s
done. These changes are just going

Asian carp problem!

of the food that was in it. I didn’t do
that again.
The next issue is after the hunter
is done hunting, all they have to do is
remove the tag and just walk away.
to cause issues for men and women
who have waited years to draw a bear
tag.
I talked to a couple of Conserva-

Just restore native fish! You can buy a 55-gallon drum barrel
for $10 and to some it’s not worth the
effort and they just leave the barrel
Dear Woods-N-Water News: there in the woods. Most likely they
wouldn’t draw another tag for many
The Asian carp are now going to cost $922 million and $35 mil-
lion for engineering. I predict the Brandon Road project will cost a years so there is no real reason to
drag the barrel out and save it.
billion dollars, probably much more and it is only ONE location!
Another issue would be dog hunt-
The biologists say that with a restored native fish population ers finding the bait and running their
Asian carp can be controlled and we can do that much cheaper and dogs off the bait. Bear hunters spend
every predator that eats an Asian carp egg, fry whatever just con- years trying to draw a tag. You’re not
trolled that Asian carp! going to have many bears coming
There are six below the barrier next to Lake Michigan; three sil- into a bait site if they can smell dogs
vers, three bighead. It only takes 10 to be established. The Brandon in the area. Most certainly if the dogs
Road will take years to do. Restoring the native fish population will pick the scent of a bear off a site and
not! So walleye, perch, bluegills etc. or Asian carp! Why a question? start tracking the bear it will never
The longer we wait the more the threat grows! come back to that site again. Most
Tom Matych dog hunters wouldn’t do this, but
Twin Lake, MI there are a few that would. Conserva-
tion Officers have dealt with this type
68 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
tion Officers who work bear season
and they couldn’t believe these
changes were made. The Bear Fo-
rum, an advisory body made up of 13
conservation organizations voted 9-6
against these new changes.
Now the real people who are
going to have to deal with these new,
non-necessary rule changes are going
to be the Conservation Officers.
Bear hunting is hard work and
takes a lot of time and patience. It
takes years to draw a tag, and weeks
to bait a bear into your spot. There
are a lot of variables that go into a
successful hunt and these rules will
only make it vastly harder.
Author is Jeff Pendergraff, retired
Captain from the DNR’s Law En-
forcement Division.n
 Dear Fish Diary: My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinions...
Thank you State Park System
One thing for sure is that in the next 100-years, camping will continue to change...
Dear Fish Diary:
I’m trying to imagine a Michi-
gan State Park 100-years ago. I am
imagining a camping trip without
being surrounded by loud blaring
music. Music that’s only
gotten louder over time
with better speakers, oh,
and with louder music. In
1919 we’d be hearing “I’m
forever blowing bubbles,”
rather than Kid Rock. Even
if the music was loud back
then, you could probably at
least sleep to it.
By Ron St. Germain
I imagine
a good night’s
sleep prior to
big power generators. I imagine
everyone in tents prior to house size
trailers, RVs and buses. There is
nothing like lying in a tent squeezed
in between two enormous houses on
wheels with their generators shaking
the ground. I imagine a time before
spray paint cans when people had to
carve their names in a tree in a dis-
crete place rather than spray paint-
ing their entire thoughts in plain
view of a scenic vista.
I imagine Silver Lake before
dune buggies. I envision Lake of the
Clouds only accessible by foot or
horseback...ah, but then all of your
fall photos would be in black and
white. How about fishing any of the
State Park lakes without the use of
fish finders or modern day boats?
How about just plain fishing with-
out being constantly heckled and
harassed by obnoxious jet skis?
I imagine the State Parks when
camping was free. A time when it
was first come first serve. A time
when roughing it was roughing it.
And the over view of Lake of the Clouds. Author photos
No showers, so we showered in the
rain and bathed in the lake. There
were no modern toilets or modern
outhouses. I have no idea what a
modern outhouse is compared to a
not modern outhouse, it just sound-
ed good.
A lot has changed in
the camping world in 100
years. One hundred years
ago a Model T would have
cost you around $500. Five
hundred dollars is roughly
twice the price as it will
currently cost you to stay a
week at a State
Park today if
you want elec-
tric hook up.
Of course, a Model T today in good
running condition could cost you
upwards of $30,000.
Today’s camper seems more
comfortable by bringing as much of
their home with them as possible.
That includes pets, microwaves,
televisions and Alexa probably runs
them all. They decorate their sites
with lights, statues and whatever
fits their personality. They play
more music than ever, not that I’m
opposed to music, I’m a musician,
but I come to these rustic places to
hear the sounds of the rustic places.
I like listening to the waves lapping
the shore, the sounds of the wildlife
and the breeze rustling the leaves.
Now, if you play an instrument and
want to sit around the campfire, I’m
all about that, as long as it’s not a
banjo, I just have a phobia about
banjos in remote places.
But really, how much fun could
camping have been back then?
The first portable ice cooler
Thanks to Michigan’s State Park system, we have this scenery, and
many wild places like this to explore without seeing development
spoil it’s natural beauty… the popular Bond Falls.
wasn’t available on the market until
1957. S’mores didn’t hit the camp-
fire until the late 1920s. The first
camp stove didn’t become available
until the mid-1940s and those were
fueled with gasoline. Color film, not
until the mid-1930s. The first car ra-
dio wasn’t used until the 1930s and
FM didn’t really hit until the 1950s.
With 103 State Parks, Michigan
ranks eighth nationally in the num-
ber of State Parks and State Recre-
ational Area Forests combined and
that makes us fortunate. For as many
pet peeves as I might have about
modern campers, I also keep things
in perspective. If decorating your
campsite like it’s Christmas gets
you outdoors and utilizing a State
Park, awesome. It is the State Park
system that is keeping these pristine
places protected and pristine. Camp-
ers fees contribute to nearly half of
the park’s budget. No campers, no
parks.
One hundred years of outdoor
memories have been made in
Michigan State Park campgrounds.
One hundred years of people that
have been exposed to Michigan’s
outdoors and scenic beauty that may
not have ever been exposed to it.
The biggest fish I ever caught up
until about 20 years ago came from
a State Park and I remember it like it
was yesterday.
One thing for sure is that in
the next 100 years, camping will
continue to change. The good news
is that as long as we have our State
Park system, the places in which
these campgrounds are located
won’t change.
We owe a lot to our State Park
founders and those before us that
made sure we continue to have some
beauty to enjoy that remains wild
and undeveloped. So thank you
State Park workers, here’s hoping
we have another 100 years of pro-
tecting our wilderness.
Funny fish stories wanted:
Strangest thing you’ve
ever caught...
Send a short description of your
“best or worst” fishing day, or worst
fishing-related adventure, or strang-
est thing you’ve caught to me. You
don’t have to write the entire story,
just a brief outline of what hap-
pened. If it has some humor to it
I’ll be getting in touch with you and
we’ll work on the completed story
together.
Contact - Woods-N-Water News
columnist Ron St. Germain by
calling 517-626-2814, e-mailing
DaPhotoDude@aol.com. Visit the
author’s Facebook page www.Face-
book.com/BearwaveBooks.n
My Thoughts,
My Views, My Opinions
Share your thoughts, views, opinions or short
stories with Woods-N-Water News readers by
emailing: wnw@pageone-inc.com or mail to:
Woods-N-Water News,
PO Box 278, Imlay City, MI 48444
Questions regarding Woods-N-Water News sub-
scriptions, newsstand sales, Outdoor Weekend,
stories, trophy page, contact our office
Mon.-Fri. 9 am-5 pm 810-724-0254
www.woods-n-waternews.com
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 69
 My Thoughts, My Views, My Opinion...
NTSB Line 5 Anchor
Strike Report calls for
immediate action
C
itizens groups recently
called on Gov. Gretchen
Whitmer and Attorney
General Dana Nessel to
take immediate steps to shut down
Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipelines in
the Straits of Mackinac in the wake
of shocking details contained in a
newly released National Transporta-
tion Safety Board (NTSB) investi-
gative report into a near-disastrous
2018 anchor strike.
The May 31 NTSB report, car-
ried Tuesday in the trade publica-
tion Maritime Executive, blames a
series of crew errors and defective
equipment aboard the Erie Trader for
causing the damaging anchor strikes
as the tug and barge navigated up
to 8-foot seas and 30-knot winds
through the icy Straits. It wasn’t un-
til more than a day after the April 1
anchor strike—when the Erie Trader
approached its Indiana destination
after sailing from the Straits through
Lake Michigan that the ship’s cap-
tain noticed they had been dragging
anchor.
“This report shows there is no
regulation or law short of eliminat-
ing the pipeline that Michigan can
pass to protect the Great Lakes from
a catastrophic Line 5 pipeline rup-
ture,” said David Holtz, Oil & Water
Don’t Mix spokesperson. “Michigan
must act on this new evidence. Only
shutting Line 5 down can prevent an
oil pipeline rupture and it is urgent
that the governor and attorney gen-
eral immediately use their authority
to protect Michigan and the Great
Lakes.”
Under an agreement with the
State of Michigan, Enbridge is
required to shut down Line 5 oil
transport during certain dangerous
conditions, but didn’t do so until
several days after the anchor strike
was first discovered. In the after-
math of the anchor strike, Michigan
also banned anchor deployment in
the Straits, but as the NTSB report
indicated there were already anchor
restrictions in place when the Erie
Trader sailed through the turbulent
Straits, unknowingly dragging 540
feet of heavy chain and one of its
two anchors behind it.
“Passing anchor bans and sign-
ing swiss cheese agreements with
Enbridge are simply rearranging
deck chairs on this Titanic disaster
in the waiting,” said Holtz. “You
cannot read the NTSB report and
conclude anything other than an im-
mediate and permanent shut down of
Line 5 is the appropriate and neces-
sary action to take. Every day that
pipeline sits in the Straits is a day
70 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
closer to disaster.”
The day of the anchor incident,
most of the ship’s crew was off in
observance of Easter Sunday while
the captain was unaware that his ship
was dragging a six-ton anchor across
the lakebed, rupturing electrical
pipelines and damaging Enbridge’s
66-year-old oil pipelines, according
to NTSB investigators.
Other findings in the report,
include:
• The Erie Trader had two
anchors, port and starboard, but
the crew only checked that the port
anchor was secure after mooring
overnight near the Soo Locks and
departing the next day on Easter
Sunday for the Mackinac Straits. A
crew member, according to the re-
port, indicated that the anchors were
secure but actually failed to check
the starboard anchor, which was
recently repaired but had been previ-
ously out of service since 2017.
• Meanwhile, it appears the
starboard anchor remained deployed
as the Erie Trader headed to the
open water behind a Coast Guard ice
breaker amid heavy winds and seas.
Those strong winds, high waves and
noise from breaking ice may have
masked the sound of the anchor
chain and ship’s anchor dragging,
according to the report. The report
concludes that the weight of the
nearly 18,000-pound anchor chain
and six-ton anchor dragging through
turbulent waters likely overwhelmed
anchor braking and safety devices.
The NTSB report also found that
the starboard anchor brakes, which
had been recently repaired, were not
properly adjusted.
• The American Transmission
Corporation, owner of the electrical
lines in the Straits, first discovered
a problem with the lines at 5:31
p.m. on April 1 but it took two more
days to notify the Coast Guard. It
took Enbridge two weeks to visually
inspect the pipeline and initially they
claimed Line 5 hadn’t been struck by
the anchor.
Gov. Whitmer is currently
negotiating a potential oil tunnel
in the Straits but is concerned that
construction will take many years
leaving the oil pipelines there a
continuing risk. The State of
Michigan has approved permits
for installation on 201 anchor screw
supports on the twin pipelines in
the Straits which are screwed into
the lakebed and hold the pipeline
2 to 4 feet off the bottom, rais-
ing concerns that an anchor fluke
could easily snag the now elevated
pipeline.n
Rep. Howell welcomes school
group for committee testimony
State Rep. Gary Howell
of North Branch, chair of the
House Natural Resources &
Outdoor Recreation Com-
mittee, recently welcomed
a group of middle school
students to Lansing to testify
before the committee.
The group from Waldon
Middle School in Lake Orion
made the trip to voice their support for Rep. Howell’s bill, House Bill
4589, which would designate the eastern wild turkey as the official game
bird for the state of Michigan. The bill was introduced by Rep. Howell at
the request of the students.
Jon Gray, eighth grade science teacher at Waldon, and social studies
teacher Jillyan Fuller developed an innovative way to pair Gray’s aviary
science lessons with Fuller’s lessons on how state government operates.
Gray then visited Howell’s office hours in Lapeer with letters of sup-
port from the students. Testifying before the committee gave students a
unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the legislative process.
“Mr. Gray’s students provided thorough and compelling testimony on
this proposal,” Howell said. “They also spoke with many of my colleagues
in the House of Representatives individually to secure their support. I be-
lieve the students have learned a great deal about successful civic involve-
ment by promoting this bill.”
Also testifying in support of the bill was Art Pelon, president of the
Michigan Wild Turkey Federation.
If passed out of committee, House Bill 4589 would move to the House
floor, where it would receive a vote before the full chamber.
One million in Wildlife
Habitat Grants available
Converting farm land
into pheasant and small
game habitat, conducting
prescribed burns to restore
native grasslands, cutting and
planting oak trees to restore
forest land – these are just a
few examples of past Wild-
life Habitat Grant Program-
supported projects. Those
interested in securing grant dollars from this DNR program for future
projects are encouraged to apply for the next round of funding. Projects
to enhance game species habitat will be given priority.
“This is an exciting opportunity to partner with others in the state to
increase the habitat available for game species in Michigan and to en-
hance the existing habitat for the benefit of hunters, trappers and wildlife
viewers,” said DNR Wildlife Division Chief Russ Mason.
Local, state, federal and tribal governments, for-profit and nonprofit
groups, and individuals all are welcome to apply through an open,
competitive process. The minimum grant amount is $15,000. The maxi-
mum is the total funding available for the current grant cycle. This year
that amount is approximately $1 million. A minimum match of 10% is
required.
Launched in October 2013, the program is funded from the sale
of Michigan hunting and fishing licenses. It is aimed at improving the
quality and quantity of game species habitat in support of the Wildlife
Division’s strategic plan.
Applications must be postmarked no later than July 26. The DNR will
announce successful grant applications by Oct. 1.
For more information, review the detailed program handbook and
application at Michigan.gov/DNR-Grants or contact Clay Buchanan,
517-614-0918 or Chip Kosloski, 517-284-5965.
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 71
Bert Winnie’s Michigan Stump Dodger
The Monarch of All Baits
W
alt DeWitt’s
mother, Gen,
first walked him
down to the
Winnie Broth-
ers’ Barber Shop
in downtown Traverse City when
he was about eight years old in
1932. She had been cutting his hair
up till then but felt it was
time for him to get a really
good hair cut and to meet
the two brothers, Bert and
Art Winnie. Walt was crazy
about anything fishing, and
who better to meet than the
two brothers. They were
both acknowledged to be
just about the
best fishermen
in the region. By Terry McBurney
Art was the fly
fisherman of the family, and he was
also an expert fly-tier who sold flies
commercially all across the U.S.
Bert, however, was even a better
known angler than Art, whether he
was catching smallmouth bass out
of area’s many lakes or fishing for
trout on the nearby Boardman River.
Bert also made the celebrated fish-
ing lure, the Stump Dodger.
Over the next ten years, Walt
spent many afternoons in the Tra-
verse City barber shop listening to
the customers come and go talking
about the politics of the day. The
main topic, however, was always
about fishing with older brother,
Bert, spinning tales along with many
of his fishing cronies who added
their own anecdotes to the mix of
fishing stories. Many of their fishing
friends loitered at the Winnie barber
shop along with several of the
reporters from the local newspaper,
the Traverse City Evening Record.
Ber t Winnie (standing) and Ar t Winnie fishing on Lake Leelanau in 1934
for smallmouth bass. The photo was taken by their friend, Walt Hastings,
the Michigan Conser vation Depar tment photographer. Gary Miller photo
72 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
The Winnie fishing exploits were
often written up and featured in the
Evening Record - great free public-
ity promoting Bert Winnie’s fishing
prowess with a casting reel and rod
and his eye-popping stringers of fish
caught on his Stump Dodger.
Walt also became quite close
with Art who took him under his
wing and taught the tal-
ented youngster how to
tie flies. Walt’s visits to
the Winnie barber shop,
however, stopped in 1942
when he was drafted into
the Army Air Corp at the
start of WWII.
Albert “Bert” Winnie
(1874-1940)
and his younger
brother, Ar-
thur G. “Art”
Winnie (1880-1966) were part of
a large Traverse City family. Their
mother and father were Isaac and
Mary Winnie along with their six
children – Augusta (1867), Frank
(1869), Albert (1874), Martin
(1877), Arthur (1880) and Julius
(1884). Isaac Winnie was an ardent
hunter and fisherman who passed
his love of the outdoors to all of his
sons, especially Bert and Art. It was
said of Bert that he only worked just
enough to “buy a few drinks and go
fishing.” He was also a talented jug-
gler, baton twirler and knife thrower
and went on the vaudeville stage
during the late 1890s. One playbill
for the Marine Minstrels headlined
him as “Major Bert Winnie in his
Phenomenal Drum Major Act.”
Art was six years younger than
his brother, and according to Art
“he learned everything he knew
about fishing and barbering from
Bert.” Art was also a consummate
fly-tier and was well-known across
the country for his quality flies and
best-known as the originator of the
“Michigan Caddis” and the “Michi-
gan Hopper,” as well as a number of
other classic patterns.
No one knows when Bert Win-
nie first started working on the
Stump Dodger, but it most likely
was sometime in 1911 or 1912 or
possibly before. He was making
and selling commercial fish decoys
locally during this earlier period, so
he knew how to use a wood lathe
and to paint. He made quite a few
spearing decoys, which ranged from
Lake Herring (Ciscos), to chub,
pike, perch, sunfish and suckers. He
applied for the first of two patents
on the Stump Dodger on August 15,
1913, and U.S. patent #1102312 was
issued to him on July 7, 1914. The
patent drawing showed the distinc-
A near perfect example of a Stump Dodger in “rainbow” with the original
cardboard box. Clarence Zahn collection
Three well used
Stump Dodgers
out of Walt De-
Witt’s tackle box.
The top one mea-
sures 3 3/4”, the
center 3 3/8” and
the bottom one
3 1/2”. I wonder
how many bass
Walt caught on
these wood baits.
Bob and Julie
DeWitt photo
tive squared-off double diving lips
and two screw-eye line ties. One
line tie was mounted above the div-
ing lips and the second below, which
would determine whether the bait
acted as a diving lure or swam on
the surface. Also pictured were two
treble hooks with one mounted on
the belly and the second on the rear
of the lure using screw-eye hook
hangers.
Add the characteristically shaped
body, and you have a drawing of
what would pretty much become a
standard Stump Dodger. I say “pret-
ty much” because when you exam-
ine quite a few Stump Dodgers, you
quickly realize that Bert made varia-
tion after variation of his famous
lure with all kinds of changes – to
the line ties, to the shape and length
of the body, to the hook hangers and
to the variety of colors he painted
them. His first patent also showed a
second drawing featuring an adjust-
able side fin, which apparently never
was used.
He applied for his second Stump
Dodger patent on January 13, 1915,
and patent #1202631 was granted on
October 24, 1916. The key improve-
ment between the two patents was
an improved line tie, which soon be-
came the most common one found.
This was a single wire loop that was
screwed into the forehead of the lure
and then folded down and soldered
to the top lip. Again, there were
other variations shown in the patent
drawings including more side fins.
None of these variations apparently
were ever made.
No local or national advertising
was run. However, Stump Dodg-
ers were pictured in a number of
leading hardware wholesaler and
mail order house catalogs of the era
including William Mills and Sons,
Abbey and Imbrie, and Abercrombie
and Fitch, all out of New York City,
and the Shakespeare catalog from
Kalamazoo. The catalogs promoted
a 3 1/2-inch Stump Dodger and
the copy started out with: “Floats,
swims and dives. Does not twist the
line.”
Between the four retailers, they
advertised the following colors: a
metallic finish (what I call “Alumi-
num”), rainbow (a green back with
a pinkish-red stripe down the side
and a white belly), green back and
white belly, chub or scale finish, and
“spotted shark belly.” (Your guess
is as good as mine on this last color,
but the “spotted shark belly” Stump
Dodger retailed for $1, which was
$.25 more than the standard colors
which were $.75 each)!
Bert did get good mileage out
of the 1914 Forest and Stream
magazine fishing contest which
announced in their October 1914
issue that Chas. E. Quick, of Tra-
verse City had caught a record
smallmouth bass weighing 6 lbs.
4 oz. and measuring 22 1/2-inches
in length from nearby Cedar Lake.
I am not sure whether this was
the Cedar Lake west of Traverse
City near Long Lake or the Cedar
A near
perfect
example of
a yellow &
red spot-
ted Stump
Dodger in
the original
box with the
paper inser t.
It sold for
$1500 in
the October
2015 Lang’s
Auction
Lang’s
Auction
photo
Lake just NNE of the city. The
former lake was best known for its
smallmouths and the one NNE of
Traverse City was recognized for
muskies but it does contain some
good smallmouths. Regardless,
that’s a nice smallmouth, and it was
caught on a Stump Dodger using
a homemade rod, Shakespeare’s
Favorite silk line and a Meissel-
bach Take-Apart casting reel. Bert
reprinted the information from the
Forest and Stream article on the
back of the paper insert packed in
each Stump Dodger lure box.
The first Stump Dodgers mea-
sured between 3 1/4-inches and 3
5/8-inches long, had the squared-off
double diving lips often made out
of copper, a single screw eye line
tie above the diving lips, no eyes at
all, two treble hooks with screw-eye
hook hangers, and with a small lead
weight inserted under the chin. The
next major changes were the switch
to the improved single wire line
tie, the addition of eyes made out
of an unpainted brass tack mounted
through a metal washer, different
hook hangers that vary from staples
to “L-rigged” hook hangers. I have
also seen one example that had a
belly staple hook hanger with a rear
screw-eye hook hanger. You never
know what you will find because
Bert used up whatever parts he had
in stock at the time to finish his
lures. A few Stump Dodgers with
painted brass eyes have also been
found along with some with glass
eyes, but these are very rare.
Most Stump Dodgers have the
common double diving lips, but
some come with an interesting
variation. This Stump Dodger has
a longer lower lip, which appar-
ently was bent down at a 45 degree
angle to give it a steeper dive angle.
I would like to try both versions to
see which swims better – the stan-
dard double lipped lure or the one
with the longer angled lower lip.
Hopefully, I will find one to fish in
the near future. A few Stump Dodg-
ers have been found with a single
diving lip, which was possibly a
Bert Winnie prototype he made for
his own use or given to his fishing
Above: The car toon on the reverse
side is believed to be a caricature of
Ber t Winnie and his English Setter
Freckles. Note the copy on the right-
side promoting Chas. Quick’s record
smallmouth. Right: The paper inser t
from an early Stump Dodger states the
Michigan Stump Dodger “Brings in the
Bacon.” Cour tesy of Mike Rolf
friends. This bait would have been
a top-water version and apparently
was not successful.
Many Stump Dodgers are
marked with “Stump Dodger” sten-
ciled across the back of the lure with
a few baits marked on the side in-
stead of the top. Others were marked
“Winnies, Traverse City,” and quite
a few had no markings at all.
Bert also varied the shape of
the body and the length of the lure
from shorter fat shapes to long and
skinny ones measuring as little as 2
1/2-inches to 3 3/4-inches in length.
Examples between 3-inches and 3
1/2-inches are the most common.
He also made a small amount of
jointed Stump Dodgers, as well as
a 3 3/4-inch muskie 3-hook ver-
sion with a treble mounted on each
side and attached with heavy-duty
L-rig hook hangers along with a rear
treble hook.
Colors also varied greatly with
rainbow being the most common
along with red and white, white
with a red chin and then olive green
and gold painted over the entire
lure. George Richey, former Woods-
N-Water News staff writer, who
wrote about vintage fishing tackle
for many years, stated that he had
cataloged over “thirty-six colors and
still counting” in collecting Stump
Dodgers, his favorite fishing lure.
The Stump Dodger floated at
rest and then dived as it was re-
trieved. Supposedly, it reached
18-inches in depth and had a wide
sweeping wiggle. One of my fishing
friends and Michigan lure collec-
tor, Tony Przybylo, took one of his
cherished Stump Dodgers and fished
it at my request. His Stump Dodger
A beat up but extremely rare example of a 3 ½” jointed Stump Dodger in white
with a red chin and tail with the extended lower lip. Tony Nedela photo
only dived about 12-inches and had
medium side-to-side wiggle. He said
it reminded him of fishing a compa-
rably sized Creek Chub Pikie Min-
now. I am looking to find several
Stump Dodgers in poor condition
and take them fishing. I will report
back when I find a couple.
Bert continued barbering, fishing
and making Stump Dodgers through
the 1930s when he had a serious
accident. He fell on the ice in 1936
while out fishing and broke his back.
Four years later in 1940 he passed
away. The official cause of death
was cirrhosis of the liver – a sad
loss for his family and friends and to
anglers across our country.
I would like to thank Gary
Miller for his help in writing this
article and acknowledge his excel-
lent article “The Winnies, Traverse
City’s First Family of Fishing,”
published in the December 2006
issue of the National Fishing Lure
Collectors Club Magazine. I would
also thank Bob DeWitt for telling
me about his father, Walt DeWitt
and his friendship with both Art and
Bert Winnie. And thanks to John
and Debbie Ganung, Lang’s Auc-
tions, for allowing me to use their
great photos and to Tony Nedela and
Mike Rolf for letting me take photos
of their Stump Dodgers.
Feel free to contact the author
at antiquefishing@comcast.net with
your questions. Photographs are im-
portant, so please send them. They
help me with identification and give
me an idea of the condition of the
item.n
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 73
 By the Campfire
Watching all the campfires flickering over time, from a half million years ago to the present date:
They would equal in numbers the stars in the heavens...By Mike Simcik
I
have really seen a lot of
changes in the last seventy-
five years - some good,
some not. Most of the joy-
ful and peaceful memories
I’ve had in my lifetime
were spent by the fireside, poking
the embers with a stick by day or
night. Watching the sparks rising
upwards toward the stars helped me
realize that the Rat Race could do
without one more rat for a few hours
or days. It helped me think more
clearly.
It seems the whole history of
mankind began with lightning
hitting a tree and forming the first
campfire for mankind to use as
he wished. Talk about a sign from
above!
My first campfire was at the
age of six. It was on a small beach.
Dad prepared cowboy coffee, hot
chocolate, soup in a can, and baked
potatoes under the embers, while we
caught fish all night.
Since then I have been on a lot
of fishing and hunting trips with
a rock-ring fire pit. Sometimes at
wilderness campsites, I saw mosqui-
toes so big they could have carried
tomahawks! But each camp was
filled with camaraderie, sharing of
thoughts, storytelling, and bonding.
I often wondered how long this has
been going on. Then one day it oc-
curred to me that campfires are part
of the world’s heritage.
More than likely, before re-
corded history, people sat around
the campfire with women cooking
the meat, children waiting for scraps
and men grunting their strategy on
how to kill the next dinosaur with
spears. The tips of long heavy sap-
lings were sharpened in the fire by
burning and scraping on the rocks
making them sharp. The women
scraped the animal hides to make
clothing, and the smaller charcoal
sticks were used to create images on
the cave walls and ceilings. Yes, life
was good back then.
Just imagine young Ugla and
Luna, late at night after dinner, lying
on a rock cliff gazing at the stars
while thinking about starting a fam-
ily. I can’t imagine what he said to
her but she probably disagreed.
Later, after the nuptials were
grunted, no matter what kind of wild
game he brought back to the cave,
naturally, it wasn’t big enough. But,
she cooked the meat anyway. Life
74 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
was probably still OK, I guess.
Even later came the Nomadic
tribes. They had to take the fire
with them from camp to camp, so
the tribe picked one person to keep
the eternal flame going from the
previous fire. God help that poor
schmuck if he ever let that flame
go out, because they did not know
about flint yet or how to rub two
sticks together to start a new fire!
Many people like to eat chicken or
turkey roasted over a campfire. But,
if some tribes were unlucky enough
to live in Africa, they discovered
some of those turkey-like critters
were ten feet tall, had teeth, ran 30
miles per hour and also ate people
for dinner. Other similar buzzard-
like critters, while still in flight
with wingspans of 24 feet long, ate
people whole. I guess turnabout was
fair play because back then people
were not at the top of the food chain.
Before recorded time we learned
how to make pots, blow glass, make
things from copper, bronze, iron,
and steel. We also learned how to
make arrows, spears, and swords
with fire, just in case our neighbors
didn’t like us. After a recorded time
we learned how to make better ar-
rows, swords and then gunpowder
because we were absolutely sure
that lots of our neighbors did not
like us. We prepared just in case.
Now we jump forward to the
migration to Alaska and the tundra
from the Far East. I don’t care what
they did with their noses or to keep
warm, try making a campfire in an
ice igloo and see what happens! I
can just imagine young Nanook and
Keesa lying on the polar ice, gazing
at the stars, talking about starting a
family. I don’t know what he said to
her, but she probably disagreed with
him. Moving on.
Meantime, ships landed at
Plymouth Rock and unloaded naive
pilgrims. Soon they made camp-
fires, shot turkey and deer, built log
cabins, while the women cooked
the meat, planted corn, and cooked
apple and pumpkin pies. Things
were still pretty good, thanks to corn
liquor and those apple pies. But, the
pilgrims were restless and wanted
independence. Probably one of the
more creative things we learned to
do over a fire in the great outdoors is
to distill corn mash into liquor. And
so it goes!
Later, in New York, a revolu-
tionary war was happening and the
soldiers made campfires, burned
meat for dinner, and talked about
shocking war stories. Of course,
they had to drink lots of corn liquor
to keep warm in the winter, and
the more they drank the bigger the
stories got. The British brought their
own rum to keep warm. Some of it
was actually for medicinal purposes.
Back in the West, the Native
Americans moved south for the
winter from Alaska, kind of like the
snowbirds. They made campfires
and tepees, and killed buffalo and
deer, while the women cooked the
meat, tanned the hides and made
clothing. Then came the settlers out
West looking for land, in covered-
wagon mobile homes. God bless the
person who invented cowboy cof-
fee. Pioneers also made campfires
and coffee, shot deer and buffalo,
and sang songs, while the women
cooked the meat and later looked
through the Sears & Roebuck cata-
log. Obviously, some things were
changing slowly.
Cowboys came into the picture,
some moving cows to the west for
a market, and others moving cattle
to the east for a market. One would
think they could have saved time
and stayed where they were. They
made a lot of campfires on the trail,
drank coffee, sang songs to the
cows while playing their ‘gee-tars.’
All this fun didn’t last very long
because soon our nation discov-
ered there was nothing civil about
the Civil War. But, both sides built
campfires, made coffee, drank corn
liquor, burned meat, and sang songs
about Betsy, Rose, or Clementine,
whoever they were. Life was not
good back then!
Then came the settlers of the
Oklahoma Land Rush to make
campfires, drink White Lightning
and stake out the land in order to
bring peace and economic develop-
ment to the area. This was the same
land that our government already
took from the Native Americans.
Yes, the same people who had previ-
ously built campfires to cook meat,
sat around holding pow-wows and
dreaming about how happy they
were. Then those urbanites came
along, planted a lot of crops, and
built towns every twenty miles. We
didn’t have cornflake cereal or etha-
nol fuel back then, so I wonder what
they made from all that corn.
From 1914 to 1954 it was not a
great time to be campers! We had to
deal with WWI, Prohibition (corn
production dropped), the Great
Depression, the Great Dust Bowl,
(no, not football games), and farm-
ers who lost their farms. Then came
WWII and the Korean War which
produced a lot of unwilling back-
packers and foxhole campers!
Now comes the modern campers
with mobile homes, fifth wheelers,
and the half-million dollar, 60-foot
bus with a 600-hp motor, generator,
built-in microwave oven, furnace,
and a flat-screen TV - and last but
not least, the air conditioner and the
portable $2,000 gas-fired stainless
steel bar-be-que grill! I actually saw
a pickup truck with an extended cab
and extended bed, towing a 40-foot
fifth-wheel trailer, towing a 24-foot
bass boat with trailer. I guess that’s
80 feet long! Lord help that guy if
he ever had to back up.
Just imagine a world view at
night with a fast forward button,
watching all the campfires flickering
over time, from a half million years
ago to the present date. They would
equal in numbers the stars in the
heavens.
Nowadays, we still camp,
chop wood and cook everything
from tube-steaks to beef-steaks,
and marshmallows over a fire. We
still pop and roast corn over a fire,
(ironic don’t you think?). We also
bring motorcycles, kayaks, laptops,
smart-phones, and Wi-Fi. But, not
a whole lot has really changed over
time, except for looking through a
catalog (on the internet of course)
and making S’mores!
Unless we’re one of the Hat-
fields or the McCoys, we not only
get along with our neighbors in a
campground but most often, we try
to help out and make them feel wel-
come. The last time I heard, even
the Hatfields and the McCoys have
learned how to be friends. Maybe
those two families finally mellowed
out on all that Moonshine and apple
pie.
That reminds me, maybe the
Democrats and Republicans should
sit around a campfire up in the
Smoky Mountains, drinking corn li-
quor, making S’mores, and learning
how to be friends. Stranger things
have happened. Dare to dream! Both
history and friendships have been
made by the campfire.n
 33 rd Annual Woods-N-Water News

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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 75
 They are interesting little people
I will develop a bond with Dyllon and
my other grandchildren through
hunting and fishing...By Bob Vogel

G
randchildren are in-
teresting little people.
They age in dog
years. It seems that
when the calendar
year flips for adults,
our grandchildren have aged six or
seven years. My oldest grandson is
Dyllon. He turned 14 this past May.
That does not seem possible. The
last time I looked he was lap-size.
He giggled when I teased him.
He loved baking cookies with his
grandmother. I took him to the floor
and tickled him. He loved campfires
with hobo pies and s’mores.
I turned around for a minute. I
took my eyes off him. Now he is a
cornerback on his school’s football
team. He wears cologne when he
visits the neighbor girl, he rolls his
eyes when I say something stupid,
and I do that often.
Fred Savage called these The
Wonder Years. I would argue that
these early teenage years are awk-
ward and wonderful. Dyllon, like
most fourteen-year-old boys is
stuck between being a child, and
being a man. He is long past being
tickled by his Papa, and I suspect
years from buying his grandfather’s
breakfast.
How do I relate to Dyllon? How
does he relate to me? We are two
full generations apart. He and his
grandmother figured out how to
span this gap way before I did. They
fish together.
Dyllon spends most of his sum-
mer days on various inland lakes
in the Irish Hills area of Southern
Michigan. His father’s speed boat
provides most of the evening and

After only a few minutes, and a few missed fish, Dyllon had things
figured out and was catching perch!
weekend entertainment (tubing,
wake boarding, and skiing). But,
during the weekdays he and his
grandmother panfish from a pontoon
boat. They spend countless hours
of quality time together. They have
developed a bond through fishing.
This past September I thought it
was time that Dyllon and I spend a
day fishing, bonding, bridging our
generational gap.
Here in Michigan we are very
fortunate when it comes to finding a
place to fish. Our state claims over
11,000 inland lakes and is bordered
by four of the five Great Lakes.
As Gordon Lightfoot said, “Old
Michigan seems like a young man’s
dream, its islands and bays are for
sportsmen.”
I wanted a fishing adventure
with plenty of action. Like most
teenagers Dyllon gets bored quickly,
and so does his grandfather. I
thought perch fishing on Lake Erie
might provide just what we were

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looking for.
I never dreamed I would write
an article about fishing. I am no-
where near an expert fisherman. Yes,
I have drowned some worms hoping
to hook panfish. I have pulled buzz
bait and spinners close to docks and
other structure hoping a largemouth
would find my offering interesting.
I have trolled for northern and
walleye pike on the big lakes. But,
in all honesty I am not a good fisher-
man. I lack the knowledge and skills
needed to be considered good at the
sport. I had never jigged for perch.
Dyllon and I would both be new to
this type of fishing and would have
to learn the basics from someone
who knew how to find the perch and
how to catch them.
I chartered a four hour, morning,
perch fishing trip with a reputable
Lake Erie charter captain.
Dyllon and I left the house at
5:30 a.m. Prior to this day I do not
think Dyllon knew there were two
5:00 in each day. We were all of 10
minutes into our trip when he asked,
“Can we stop at McDonald’s?”
“If they are open,” was my
response.
I was somewhat relieved to find
that McDonald’s was not open. I
wanted to arrive at the pier in time
to be at our fishing spot at first light.
I did promise Dyllon we would stop
to eat as soon as our fishing adven-
ture was over. He rolled his eyes, (I
was being stupid again.)
We met our captain at his boat,
made our introductions, and were
soon headed out. We sat in silence
as we were propelled over calm
water for eight miles. As daylight
was breaking our captain slowed
the boat, made a couple of circles
and kept his eyes on his fish finding
instruments. “Drop the anchor, we
are right on top of them, were in 24
feet of water,” he said to his son.
With the boat anchored and
equipment in place the captain said,
“Come here Dyllon you have work
to do.”
He showed Dyllon the jig setup
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Tom Carney
Among the Aspens
and handed him a bucket of min-
nows for bait. He instructed Dyllon
to allow the bait to go all the way
to the bottom, then pull all the slack
from the line. “You must now see
the bite, if you feel the bite you have
waited too long and the fish has Award-winning nature and outdoor
stolen your bait,” he instructed. writer Thomas Carney returns to
“Watch the end of the rod. When form in his latest collection of
it begins to quiver, pull up hard to essays, Among the Aspens: Stolen
set the hook. There you go Dyllon, Moments in Secret Coverts.
you got him, reel it in, there you go, As with his previous collections,
nice fish, that’s how you do it!” said Sun-Drenched Days, Two-Blanket
our captain. Nights; and Bird Dogs and Betty
After only a few minutes, and a Cakes, Tom employs a variety of
few missed fish, Dyllon had things perspectives and presentations
figured out. Our outing did not last as his writing glides effortlessly
the four hours we had planned, we across the lines that delineate
caught our legal limit of fish in two serious writing, humor, nostalgia,
hours. It was the nonstop action I analysis, description and storytelling.
was hoping for. Dyllon had no time Different this time around: Instead
to think of food or drink. We had of moving from activity to activity
little time for conversation other with the progressing seasons as he
than to tell each other, “Nice fish. did in his first two books of essays,
Oh, you have another double.” in Among the Aspens Tom delivers
I have never seen my grandson the goods through a single form
any happier than he was for those of outdoor recreation: upland bird
few hours. hunting.
On our return to the docks we To purchase: $34.95 (Michigan residents, please add $2.10 sales tax) plus
talked about doing another perch $6.35 postage/handling
fishing outing. We talked about try-
ing our luck fishing for walleye in Send check or money order to: Partridge Pointe Press, 2470 Strawberry
the spring. We talked about hunt- Farm St. NE, Belmont, Michigan 49306.
ing deer, and finishing the cabin we
were building back in the woods. Purchase online at www.tomcarneywriter.com
We discussed the things we would
do together. We developed a bond
through fishing.
I will do these things with
Dyllon. I know that the next time I
turn around he will be off to col-
lege, off to the service, or starting
a career and family of his own. He
won’t have time for me, and I will
understand that. But before those
dog years pass I will develop a bond
with Dyllon and my other grandchil-
dren through hunting and fishing in
this great state of ours.
Special thanks to Captain John
of Stray Cats Charter fishing. John
not only put us on fish, he taught us
how to catch the fish. His patience
with Dyllon, and me, was very
much appreciated.n
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WNW NEWS JULY 2019 77
 Ladies, Thumb area gobblers
and small bore shotguns
T
he Becoming an
Outdoors Woman
(BOW) Turkey Hunt-
ing Seminar was held
at the Cass City DNR
Field Office this spring
on May 17 and 18, with it being the
third annual time for this event in
the Thumb area, which offers won-
derful turkey hunting opportunities.
DNR Wildlife Assistant Ron Sting
does an admirable job in putting this
(free) seminar together, and when
he announced it online for attendees
with a first come, first serve basis,
the available 18 openings
immediately filled up, with
plenty more ladies waiting
in the wings for a possible
opening. The number of
ladies which can attend the
seminar is dictated by the
number of turkey hunting
guides/mentors Ron Sting
can come up with. For me,
it has been my
honor to assist By Tom Lounsbury
this seminar
since its beginning, because I fully
support ladies getting involved in
the hunting arena.
The fact is that ladies are one of
the fastest growing dynamics today
in the world of hunting, which I find
as being outstanding. There is now
hunting clothing of all types avail-
able for ladies that are specifically
designed by ladies, which certainly
says it all. There is also hunting
gear, firearms and archery tackle
available solely with ladies in mind.
The recent Turkey Hunting
Seminar began on Friday morn-
ing with classroom work where all
was explained by experts about this
unique spring pastime including his-
tory, biology, scouting and calling.
After lunch, the ladies headed to a
nearby shooting range to become
acquainted with the hunting arms
they were going to use, and firing
at “turkey targets” in order to grasp
where to aim with a shotgun to put a
tenacious gobbler down on the spot,
which is the critical head/neck shot.
A marvelous fact I appreci-
ate about working with ladies on a
shooting range such as this, is they
do not go there with any precon-
ceived ideas of how to do matters,
which is often the case with men,
and they also tend to naturally have
better hand and eye coordination.
The ladies are there to listen and
learn and are a true joy to instruct.
Many in attendance had never
fired a shotgun, or even owned
one. Those lacking shotguns were
provided one by their guide/men-
78 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
tors, and these were typically small
bores, with 20 ga being the most
popular, but three being used were
28 ga (of which two were mine as
I dearly love the performance of
the 28 ga that offers a potent hitting
factor very similar to the 20 ga, but
with a much milder recoil factor). It
would not be wise to have a begin-
ner, no matter the gender, ventur-
ing into this pastime for a first time
shooting experience with a 12 ga 3
1/2 inch magnum shotgun stoked
with a potent turkey load.
DNR Conservation Officers Seth
Rhodea and Josh Wright,
as well as DNR Wildlife
Assistant Josh Imber did
an outstanding job work-
ing with the ladies on the
shooting line in acclimating
them to the shotguns they
were going to use as well as
maintaining a safe atmo-
sphere. There was no doubt
that all the la-
dies thoroughly
enjoyed blazing
away at the turkey targets and then
checking their patterning results.
The youngest lady present on
the shooting range was 11-year-old
Sophie O’Nan who had travelled all
the way from Noblesville, Indiana to
attend the seminar with her grand-
mother Ellen Rice of East Lansing
(who had attended the seminar last
spring and wanted her granddaugh-
ter to participate). Young Sophie
made it apparent she thought the
20 ga shotguns present were a tad
cumbersome for her, and that is
when I brought out my wife’s H&R
(“Topper”) single-shot 28 ga. It
would turn out to be a match made
in Heaven, with Sophie putting the
hurt on turkey targets, and with
gusto! Top Lt-Rt: Dawn Mudie of Wixom and her gobbler taken with a 20 ga shot-
The remainder of that afternoon gun. She also found a nice batch of yellow morels during her exciting hunt.
was spent with the ladies heading Eleven-year-old Sophie O’Nan of Noblesville, Indiana and her Thumb gob-
out with their hunting guide/men- bler taken with a 28 ga shotgun. Her grandmother, Ellen Rice of East Lan-
tors. My hunting partner was Carol sing, was on hand to witness the very exciting event. Bottom Lt-Rt: Mela-
Kenyon of Westland, and we would nie Colon of Waterford with her Thumb gobbler taken with a 28 ga shotgun
be hunting on private property that at 18 yards, when the gobbler came rushing into the decoys. Laurie Kibler
had yet to be hunted, and using my of Marquette and her Thumb gobbler taken with a 20 ga shotgun.
favorite turkey hunting blind I have
used for over 30 years, a portable ing a box call as well as my favorite mature gobblers would bite the dust
Lucky’s Hunting Blind (made lo- scratch box calls, while frequently that afternoon and both were one-
cally in the Thumb) in the old and whispering how to do such to Carol. shot 28 ga kills using Winchester
dependable TreBark camouflage. However, the only turkey we saw one-ounce number fives for the load
Carol was using my beloved 28 ga coming in was a nosy hen, without (actually it is my favorite 28 ga
Remington 870 Express shotgun, any vocal response from a gobbler, load for tough rooster pheasants as
which she enjoyed firing and had and all too soon it was quitting time. well). Melanie Colon of Waterford
gained confidence in while at the My suspicion was that a majority was the first and accomplished it
shooting range. of gobblers were “henned up” with using the Franchi 28 ga semi-auto
I placed my turkey hen decoy (I receptive hens. This would turn out provided by her mentor/guide, DNR
call “Norma Jean”) out at a known to be the case with most of the hunt- S.E. Regional Wildlife Supervi-
15 yards for a range reference and ing teams. sor Joe Robinson. The second was
began calling from the blind by us- However two outstanding and none other than 11-year-old Sophie

O’Nan using my wife’s single-shot
H&R 28 ga. Her mentor/guide was
seasoned turkey hunter (and devoted
NWTF member) Aaron Shaugh-
nessy of Columbus, MI.
The next morning at 4:30 a.m.
found all the ladies having breakfast
at the Cass City DNR Field Office
and enjoying a literal “turkey camp”
atmosphere before heading out with
their mentor/guides. Daybreak was
just dawning when I began calling,
with Carol Kenyon who was at the
ready with my 28 ga. Remington.
I received an immediate response
from three separate gobblers and
our anticipation began, because
one gobbler was clearly moving in.
However, he soon clearly moved off
into the distance, as did the other
gobblers by the sound of them, and
it was apparent to me some recep-
tive (and jealous) hens were leading
them away. Time actually went by
quickly, and I decided it was time to
stretch our legs a bit, and I thought
I would show Carol how to “run
and gun,” which is actually rov-
ing, calling and then moving in and
setting up when a gobbler response
is heard, and is actually my favorite
turkey hunting technique, especially
around mid-day.
We did locate a very territorial
hen that circled us and was scolding
away, but since I didn’t have a hen
decoy set out, she couldn’t locate
the trespassing “hussy” hen invad-
ing her space. At least it beat not
seeing any turkeys at all, and was
an enjoyable moment. There was no
doubt Carol Kenyon appreciated the
experience and it was both an honor
and pleasure in sharing the spring
turkey hunting atmosphere with her.
Once back at the Cass City DNR
Field Office during the finale of the
seminar, we would discover most
of the teams had the same results as
we did, but two more dandy gob-
blers had been taken using 20 ga
shotguns. Dawn Mudie of Wixom
was guided by Andrew Niedermeyer
of Fort Wayne, Indiana (and she also
harvested a nice bunch of yellow
morels) and Laurie Kibler of Mar-
quette was guided by Brian Guzga
of Unionville.
Clearly, small bore shotguns
reigned supreme and very effective
during this fun-filled event for the
ladies.
At the end of the festivities, all
18 ladies expressed their gratitude
with an ovation to their mentor/
guides and the BOW Turkey Hunt-
ing Seminar which allowed them all
to have a wonderful experience in
the great outdoors.
Personally, I’m looking forward
to it again next spring.n
Locating and retrieving dead birds
Bird dog training requires patience and forethought combined with good doses of common sense and
honest effort. After thinking the process through and building on each step along the way, results will become
evident. That's where we are right now. Our equation of:
Patience + Forethought + Common Sense + Honest Effort = A Finished Gun Dog
Is almost complete. So far, your dog comes when called, heels, whoas, points or pursues game depend-
ing on whether he is a pointing or flushing breed, tolerates the sound of gunfire without fear, fetches with
enthusiasm, demonstrates general good manners, and loves earning your praise.
We’re now ready to fine-tune these skills even further and expand them to in-
clude the dog's actively locating and retrieving downed birds. The last piece of our
puzzle is almost in place, and you will be the hunter in the picture we presented
to you when you began reading this book. Let's put the last piece in place now.
The best way to develop a good retrieve in your dog, regardless of his breed, is
to keep the retrieving exciting and stimulating. Since nothing is more exciting to
a bird dog than birds, let’s give him some action and let him retrieve birds which
we will shoot over him in a simulation of a real hunt. This will, of course, take
some preparation so you may want to ask someone to be your assistant in order
to save time and facilitate this training.
You’ll also need the right equipment and birds so get everything ready first
and formulate your strategy. You 'll need three mechanical bird launchers which
you can spring by stepping on the release lever, some short pieces of brightly
colored plastic to mark the locations of your set-out launchers, a shotgun (prefer-
ably a 20 gauge), birds (quail or pigeons), your spiked force collar (Scott), whistle,
30 foot checkcord, safe grounds in which to shoot as you work into the wind, and
a small wire cage to hold the birds until you get them loaded into the mechanical
launchers.
Because we want this first experience at locating and retrieving dead birds to
be a successful simulation of a real hunt, be certain to allow plenty of time and
Dog Training
make sure that your assistant fully under­stands your strategy. It's also advisable By Len Jenkins
that you begin this training when there are no constraints such as excessively hot
weather, rain, distractions, or lack of wind. Remember your dog will learn what he does so let's make sure
nothing prevents him from doing all this right. Ready to start? Here we go. (See the August 2019 issue of
Woods-N-Water News for the next installment.)
BOOKS/DVDS BY RICHARD P. SMITH
Great Michigan Deer Tales
MORE BIG BUCK STORIES
Tracking Wounded Deer
Lots of NEW INFORMATION and ALL COLOR PHOTOS
Quantity Cost
____ *NEW* Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 7 ($16.50) _______
____ Tracking Wounded Deer - 3rd Edition ($25) _______
____ Black Bear Hunting - 2nd Edition ($40.00) _______
____ Walking with Whitetails DVD ($24.00) _______
Even the ____ Deer Hunting - 4th Edition ($35.00)
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 6 ($16.50)
_______
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best turkey ____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 4 ($16.50) _______
hunters appreciate ____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 3 ($16.50)
____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 2 ($16.50)
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less recoil and ____ Great Michigan Deer Tales - Book 1 ($15.50)
____ Deer Tales Set - 2/$28; 3/$40; 4/$50; 5/$60; 6/$72; 7/$82
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muzzle jump! Please specify which books sent to the same address.
____ Stand Hunting for Whitetails ($19.00) _______
____ Understanding Michigan Black Bear - 2nd Edition ($20.00) _______
SEND FOR YOUR ____ Animal Tracks & Signs of N.A. ($23) _______
“I recommend Pro-Port to all my clients” AUTOGRAPHED COPIES TODAY. ____ TOTAL _______
Graig Everetts, Bluffton, South Carolina Name
Address
Phone: 586-469-6727
Fax: 586-469-0425 City State Zip
Shotgun Division MAG-NA-BRAKE Phone #
www.magnaport.com Please remit by MasterCard, Visa, Check or Money Order.
MAG-NA-BRAKE
email@magnaport.com
• Reduce Recoil Circle card type:
• Reduce Recoil
• Reduce Muzzle Jump
• Reduce Muzzle JumpMC/Visa #
•41302
QualityExecutive Drive
• 1971
Porting Since Quality Porting Since 1971
Expiration Date Signature
Harrison Twp., MI 48045-1306
41302 Executive Dr., Harrison Twp. MI 48045-1306
Make checks payable to: SMITH PUBLICATIONS
814 Clark St. • Marquette, MI 49855
Ph: 586-469-6727 · Fax: 586-469-0425
41302 Executive Dr., Harrison Twp. MI 48045-1306
Email: email@magnaport.com
Ph: 586-469-6727 · Fax: 586-469-0425
www.magnaport.com www.RichardPSmith.com
Email: email@magnaport.com
www.magnaport.com WNW NEWS JULY 2019 79
 Woods-N-Water News Classified Section
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CITY                                           STATE                      ZIP .............................................. lodging included. Write for more UNBELIEVABLE PRIME
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80 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
 Woods-N-Water News
Classified Section
REAL ESTATE
A HUNTER’S PARADISE:
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Beautiful 2 bedroom, 2 bath well
built 1400 sq ft modular home situ-
ated on 86 mostly wooded acres. 30
x 50 pole barn w/lg. overhead doors
with RV plug. 220 amp elec. and full
bath. St. Joe river meanders
through property. Frontage on two
roads. Shed. Outside wood burner
offers supplemental heating. Quality
deer management. Some of the
best deer hunting around. Other
wildlife fox, coyote, mink, beaver &
turkey. $389,900. Call Diana at
Faust Real Estate, LLC 517-270-
3646. RE-7-1
..............................................
73 ACRES WEST OF
KINGSLEY, 15 miles from
Traverse City. 75% prime hard-
woods, excellent hunting with
food plots. Electricity to prop-
erty with prime building sites.
Close to ATV and snowmobile
trails. $222,000. Call 231-620-
5635. RE-7-1
80 ACRES OF PRIME
HUNTING LAND IN
NATIONAL CITY, MI. Areas for
food plots. Mature trees, swamp for
wildlife. Adjoins state land.
Sportsmans dream. Secluded
enough to build your dream home.
Call Michelle at Carole Wilson Real
Estate 989-274-5095. RE-7-1
..............................................
REAL ESTATE
ENJOY A NEWLY BUILT,
VERY SECLUDED CE-
DAR CABIN on 271 acres
with over 1,000 adjacent acres
of State and Timber Company
land. 28 x 48 half log cedar sid-
ed cabin with red cedar interior,
28 x 40 garage, with sauna,
generator building, water well
and septic tank with drain field.
Located off US 41, 3 hours
west of the Mackinac Bridge
and 30 minutes from casinos
or health club. Deer blinds with
food plots, trout streams and
rivers close to cabin. Located
in Alger County. 989-732-9588
or bdipzinski@gmail.com Ap-
praised at $400,000 selling
price $345,000. RE-7-1
80 ACRES FOR LEASE,
Redding Twp of Clare Cty. Sept 1,
2019 to Jan 1, 2020. Four Elevated
Shadow Hunter Blinds on Property.
No other facilities. $2000.00 for four
months. Call Wally at 989-330-
0586. RE-7-1
..............................................
LOT 727 AND 704 AND
HALF INTEREST IN 703.
Located in Indian Glens of the
AuSable in South Branch Town-
ship, Roscommon, MI $10,500.
517-403-1294. RE-6-2
BUYING OR SELLING!
Farms, Vacant Land or Recreational
Parcels throughout Michigan. Call
Doug Beasley at Faust Real Estate,
LLC 517-260-2939 RE-7-1
..............................................
80 ACRES OF PRIME
HUNTING PROPERTY!
Clearings made from the Ruffed
Grouse Society for great grouse
hunting. Also great for deer, turkey,
bear, rabbit. 20 minutes south of
Mackinac, MI. $2,000/acre for more
information please call 352-502-
6825 or 231-537-4445. RE-7-1
..............................................
75 ACRES WEST OF BIG
RAPIDS. Corn, Hayfields, Pines,
Hardwoods all hold HIGH numbers
of deer and turkey. $20 per acre.
Mark_wm@hotmail.com HL-7-1
..............................................
30 WOODED ACRES/
CABIN AND 32X40X12
POLEBARN. Well/septic,
Hunter's paradise. Poss. Hunt
Camp. Carsonville area. RLKR,
Washington. Martha Niemc-
zura, 586-255-8555. RE-7-2
LUCE COUNTY: 20 acres of
U.P. hunting land with many nice
cabin sites. Deer, bear, grouse and
more. Excellent snowmobiling and
ATV area. Property has good sea-
sonal access and borders State
Land $27,000 231-689-2067
RE-6-2
..............................................

REAL ESTATE
160 WOODED ACRES WITH
900’ FURNISHED CABIN IN
IOSCO COUNTY NEAR
EAST TAWAS. Cabin has fur-

nace and wood stove with well
water, cell phone and internet ser-
vice available. Prime hunting, 2
ponds with Kunzy Creek running
through the back of the property.
Lots of deer and other wildlife
including partridge, coyote, bobcat,
coon and more. Also listed on Zillow
with many photos. Asking $289,000.
PAGES 81 - 90
989-225-0362. RE-6-3
..............................................
BIG BUCK COUNTRY! 60-90
minutes from Metro Detroit. 23.77ac
surrounded by farmed land near Mt.
Morris, MI, wooded. has turkeys,
small game. 60 foot Bray Rd ease-
ment. Camp on the easement and
hunt the land. Call 248-891-2024.
RE-5-3
..............................................
DOGS
AKC CHOCOLATE LAB
PUPPIES OFA, EIC, CNM,
EYES all clear UTD Shots, Wormed,
Vet checked Full registration, $200
Deposit / $800 at pick up Call for
limited registration option. Can visit
by appt. Ready June 28th 810-931-
3691. D-7-1
..............................................
BRITTANY PUPS: Champion
bloodline, 6 males $1,000 each;
3 females $1,250 each. Liver and
white & orange and white. Born May
19th. Call Kim 248-343-3985 for de-
PERFECT INVESTMENT PROPERTY!
posit. D-7-1
GERMAN SHORTHAIR
POINTER PUPS: Males
and females available. Excel-
lent 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 52 acres of lush gently rolling property. “Come build your dream
989-426-4884 D-6-2
home or private retreat!“ Imlay Township will allow 10 splits with
approval. Located just south of Capac Rd. gate at entrance.
Only $275,000!
BIRD DOG TRAINING BY
THE BEST! David Grubb is the
only trainer in history to win a na-
tional championship bird dog in five
different game birds. David has won
Ask for: Paulette Wcisel
almost 100 open championships Re/Max Encore • 248-494-1551 for more info
and was elected to the National Bird
Dog Hall of Fame. He has retired
from bird dog field trials and now will
20+/- Mostly wooded Acres Ausable River ‘’backwaters’’ frontage
only train gun dogs for the foot hunt-
er. With all this experience, let him
train your dog/pup today! Labs wel-
come. David Grubb 248-860-1009.
D-6-2
LLEWELLIN ENGLISH
SETTER PUPS F.D.S.B
3 bedroom 2 bath with basement. This is a
Registered. We are proud to
“dated’’ but well cared for home featuring large 3 bedroom 1 bath, features central air, fire-
announce our Patch/Danny rooms with knotty pine throughout, a fireplace, place, waterside hot tub, and extensive deck-
litter born May 23rd. 8 pups front & rear facing covered patio/porch, Natural ing leading to large dock. 30’x40’ pole build-
available. If you are looking for Gas baseboard heating and blacktop driveway ing with concrete floor and 13’+ overhead
a smart, gorgeous, birdy, close from state highway. Located just south of Mio. doors...seller will consider a land contract.
working hunting companion
then please call 989-550-8595.
Detrich Real Estate
Both parents available to see.
Pups will weigh approximately Mio, MI 48647
50-55 pounds at maturity. (989)370-1955
Loving and incredibly gentle email: mikeinmio@yahoo.com
family dogs as well as ex-
Michael Thomson, Associate Broker
cellent hunters. Find us at www.
gouldgundogs.com D-7-1 Open 7 days a week
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 81
 Offices Serving Lower & For Sale
Upper Michigan $239,000
Bringing people and places together since 1945 Cheboygan MI.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE TODAY! Motel & 3 bedroom house
statewiderealestate.net on 3 acres
Call for more information!

SNOWMOBIELING, BOATING, ETC!

• Houghton

Marquette

CALL
Newberry

HUNTING, FISHING,
•
Curtis •
Crystal Falls • Manistique • Motel 3-4 rooms with efficiency
• kitchens and bathrooms,
• Gladstone
Escanaba • Onaway community laundry room
• Powers

810.724.0254
• • Hawks
Menominee • Hillman
• Alpena
Marinette •
• Atlanta
Mio • • Harrisville

TO PLACE YOUR Custom 3 bedroom home

AD TODAY! Home with 3 bedrooms many
This great little slice of heaven is an income
upgrades
producing opportunity located across from Black


• Almont Lake access. This is zoned commercial and
Linden •
residential and is on two lots with over 1000 acres
Howell •
state land behind it.! PERFECT FOR HUNTING!

P.O. Box 278 • 594 N. Almont Ave.
Imlay City, MI 48444
Contact Your Nearest State Wide Real CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE:
Estate Office To Buy or Sell In Michigan www.woods-n-waternews.com

ALPENA
1100 W. Chisholm, 49707
email: alpswre@speednetllc.com
989-356-2142 • Fax: 989-356-2144
HARRISVILLE
430 S. US-23, 48740
email: sold@anjstatewide.com
989-724-5711 • 800-655-5735
Fax: 989-724-6833
SUMMER CLEARANCE
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN
1460 Marinette Ave., 54143
email: statewidemarinette@yahoo.com
715-735-9964 • Fax: 715-732-1107
SUMMER CLEARANCE! • DISCOUNTED PRICES! • SUMMER CLEARANCE! • DISCOUNTED PRICES! • SUMMER CLEARANCE!

ALMONT
844 Van Dyke Road
lafrancesharon@yahoo.com
810-798-8591 • Fax: 810-798-8079
CRYSTAL FALLS
225 Superior Ave
Crystal Falls, MI 49920
PH: 906-874-3500
PH: 906-396-3002
email: steve@statewide.estate
CURTIS/NEWBERRY
Main Street, P.O. Box 305, 49820
email: swcurtis@sbcglobal.net
906-586-9606 • Fax: 906-586-9607
HAWKS
8383 Hwy. 451, 49743
email: rita8383@yahoo.com
989-734-4846
HILLMAN
14938 State Street, P.O. Box 98, 49746
email: statewidehillman@yahoo.com
989-742-4523 • 800-228-7856
Fax: 989-742-3931
HOUGHTON
500 Shelden Ave., 49931
email: dick@statewideofhoughton.com
906-482-6955 • 800-676-6323
Fax: 906-482-7699
One-10 ACRE SAND BEACH LOT (this lot has it all):
60 miles east of Sault Ste. Marie. 300’ frontage on Bright
MARQUETTE Lake near Hwy 17 East (lake area approx.. 24 sq. miles),
856 W. Washington, 49855 year-round access with power to property. Inland lake
email: sw@statewiderealestate.org has Perch, Bass, Walleye and Northern Pike. Priced to
906-228-9312 • Fax: 906-228-8069
sell at $109,900 US.
1,350 ACRES: Prime hunting property - 50 min. East of
International Bridge. Hunt camp, hardwood 900,000
board feet, and also some softwood. Timber info avail-
MENOMINEE able on request. Miles of trails thru-out. Beaver ponds
3631 10th Street, 49858 and streams. Small amount of open area. $799,900 US.
email: statewideone@newbc.rr.com MACDONALD PROPERTY: 759 acres with hunting
906-863-9905 camp, 25 miles east of Sault St. Marie Ontario, property
is gated, isolated and wooded, with an insulated 4 bed-
Fax: 906-863-7935 room, 2-story cabin. Generator wired. 20-acre lake and 2
streams. Great Bear Hunting! Two Deer plots! Five
deeds, no guide required, underpriced at $249,900 US.
MIO WOW ONLY $329 PER ACRE. Terms available, excel-
lent buy!
102 West 8th St., P.O. Box 395, 48647
email: info@statewidemio.com SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE: 115 acres of softwood and
989-826-3292
hardwood bush uncut with creek flowing into lake huron.
Fax: 989-826-2108
Shoreline is three-quarters mile facing south with a
2-bedroom cabin with a well, solar generator power and
several outbuildings. ASKING $279,900 US.
SUMMER CLEARANCE! • DISCOUNTED PRICES! • SUMMER CLEARANCE! • DISCOUNTED PRICES! • SUMMER CLEARANCE!
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’ front-
age, waterview lots 80’ frontage. Prices from $10,000
US and up.
140 ACRES HARDWOOD AND SOFTWOOD UNCUT
BUSH ON HWY 17, 48 MILES EAST OF SAULT,
ONTARIO: this is in a great hunting area and close to
bruce mines for supplies etc. Power at the property line
with fields adjacent to this parcel. ASKING $52,900
O.B.O.
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. $109,900 US.
ONLY $275 PER ACRE.
160 ACRES HARDWOOD & SOFTWOOD: Large bea-
ver pond. Only 2 miles off year-round maintained road.
35 minutes East of Sault, Ontario. $54,900 US.

ONAWAY FINANCING AVAILABLE O.A.C.

ESCANABA
2209 Ludington Street, 49829
email: escanaba@statewiderealestate.net
906-786-1308 • 800-900-0777
Fax: 906-786-1388
GLADSTONE
1401 Delta Ave.,
Gladstone, MI 49837
906-825-9000
email: judy@statewiderealestate.net
M-33 & M-68,
CANADIAN PROPERTY CLOSE TO
HOWELL/LINDEN
1285 S. Michigan Ave., Howell, MI 48843 P.O. Box 478, 49765
email: statewid@earthlink.net
517-546-9060 • 800-531-4449
email: bigdan@frontier.com
989-733-6522
SAULT STE. MARIE, MICHIGAN BORDER
Fax: 517-546-9148 Fax: 989-733-2427 OTHER PROPERTIES AVAILABLE!
NO GUIDE OR OUTFITTER REQUIRED!
MANISTIQUE
10 N. State Highway M-149
POWERS
W3776 US2 & 41, 49874 LAJAMBE OFFICE: (705) 248-9663 CELL: (705) 941-8355
FAX: (705) 248-1110
Cooks, MI 49817
906-644-2304
email: dekeysermary@yahoo.com
906-497-4190
Fax: 906-497-5328
holly@statewiderealestate.net
ENTERPRISESINC. Frank Lajambe
flajambe@lajambe.com
715 Finns Bay Road www.lajambe.com
Echo Bay, Ontario CAN POS 1C0 *Prices subject to change.

82 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS

 THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING?
Southern Michigan
Brandon Cropsey 269.816.3010

Mid-Michigan
David Cergnul 989.324.9443

Michigan Land & Lakes

Southeast Michigan America’s Land Specialist
Jim Lochrie 248.840.5668

(office) 269.357.7036 • MOSSYOAKPROPERTIES.COM

VE G G G
TI LISTIN LISTIN LISTIN ICE ED
AC NEW NEW NEW PR UC
D
RE

Branch County • 43.41 +/- acres Clare County • 100+/- acres

List Price $164,900 -
An excellent 43+/- acre hunting and
recreational parcel of ground with
food plot, creek, some tillable with a
potential building site, and timber.
Property is enrolled in the Qualified
Forest Program which offers reduced
property taxes to the owner. Comes
with a camper, and camp site for
your weekend getaways.
Gladwin County • 200+/- acres
List Price $519,000 - Beautiful
200 acre parcel previously used
as Sugar Springs Sporting Clays
and Hunting Preserve. The
majority is mature woods, with
some tillable, 6 ponds, and a
1320 square foot club house. A
very rare find in Mid-Michigan.
EACH MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
List Price $209,000 - Mid- Oakland County • 53 acres
Michigan Hunting and Recreational property List Price $199,000 -
with deer, turkey, and the occasional black Turn key hunting property
bear. The property consists primarily of located just minutes from Metro Ontonagon County
woods, with a small hunting cabin. There Detroit consisting of mature 80 +/- acres
is a nice mix of tree cover on the property. woods with timber, marsh, a List Price $119,000 -
Property is enrolled in the Qualified Forest creek, food plots, and scattered Wooded acreage in the
Program with the State of Michigan water holes throughout. Western Upper Peninsula
offering reduced property taxes for properly Covered with wildlife for your with beautiful turn key
managing the timber on the property. weekend getaway. D-style log cabin
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 83
 15+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
& 70+ MILLION IN
MICHIGAN LAND SALES

I NG I NG
END END
P P

52+ Acres, Benzie County,

Arenac Co, 167+/- Acres, 3,500+/- ft
Lake Huron, 6 Bedroom Lodge, Guest
Cabin, Great Duck & Deer Hunting.
$550,000
Arenac County, Au Gres, 773.42 Acres,
Whitetail Paradise, Road/Trail System,
Large Pond, 10 Gun Shacks,
Awesome Deer Hunting Property.
$1,850/Acre
Near Interlochen and Traverse City,
Great Road Frontage, Beautiful
Build Spots, Great Hunting,
National Forest Adjoins Property!
$99,000
Calhoun County, 67+/- Acres Calhoun County, 80 Acres, Big Buck Gladwin, 142 Acres,
300 ft. All Sports Prairie Lake, County, Lots of Deer Sign, Fully Furnished Deer Ranch.
Tillable Acreage Oak Ridges, Rolling Hills. The Rack Ranch
$275,000 $249,900 $835,000

Jackson County, 432 Acres,

Isabella County, 80+/- Acres, Duck Excellent Duck, Deer & Turkey Hunting. Jackson County, 105+/- Acres, WRP Jackson County, 76 Acres, Lapeer, 102 Acres, This property offers 40+/- Acres Mecosta, Fenced
And Deer Hunter’s Paradise, Over Area Of Other Large Property Owners. Program, Mature Hardwoods, Great 50+ Acres of Tillable, Great Crop room for multiple building sites and is In Pastureland And Pond. Perfect For
A Mile Of Pony River Frontage. “Man Cave” w/Game Cleaning Station. Deer, Turkey & Waterfowl Hunting Yields, Beautiful Build Spots. just 3 Miles from the city of Lapeer. Equestrians And Cattle Owners!
$160,000 $875,000 $199,000 $272,000 $340,000 $97,900

6+ Acres, Mis-
saukee County,
Secluded 34’X16’
Pole Barn - Deer
Camp! This Is A
Must See With
An Incredible
Track Record Missauke County, 320+/- Acres, 3
Of Harvesting Bedroom, 3 Bath, Large Brick Home,
48’x80’ Pole Barn With Living Quarters, 38 Acres, Newaygo County, 80 Acres, Newaygo County,
Midland County, 80 Acres Mature Newaygo County 4+/- Acres White Cloud Cabin/Home, Five Food Plots, Mature Timber Value,
Whitetails! Tillable, Timber, Swamp, And Loaded
12 Miles To Mount Pleasant, With Deer Sign! This Property Truly Muskegon Riverfront, New Cabin, Mile Creek Frontage, Deer, Loaded With Deer And Turkey,
Excellent Hunting Price Right!! Beautiful Landscaping, Secluded Woods. Bear, Turkey, And Seclusion! Economically Price!
Has It All And Is A Must See!
$176,000 $55,000 $1,100,000 $220,000 $165,000 $160,000

I NG L D
END SO
P

Newaygo County, 125 Acres, Three
Spring Fed Lakes, Excellent Deer,
Turkey And Waterfowl Hunting
$325,000
Oceana County, 40 +/- Acres,
30 Acres Tillable, 20 Acres Planted In
Jersey Supreme Asparagus,
Great Deer And Turkey Sign!
$194,500
Oceana County, 67 Acres, Great Deer
And Turkey Hunting, Tillable,
Thick Forest Floor, Food Plots, Pond,
Hunting Shack And Pole Barn.
$159,000
Oceana County, 149 +/- Acres, 1 Mile
Away From Lake Michigan, Multiple
Building Sites, 40 Acres Wooded, Great
Deer And Turkey Habitat!
$349,900
Osceola County, 120 Acres, Trail
System, Near Reed City, Tons Of
Deer And Turkey Sign, Food Plot Areas
$255,000
Osceola County, Evart, 278 Acres,
Major Deer Sign, Multiple Food Plots,
Rolling Terrain,. Thick Bedding Cover,
Near State Land, Great Deer History.
$517,000

Presque Isle County, 1,500 Acres,
High Fence Deer Ranch, 50,000+ Sq.
Ft. Lodge, Rolling Hills, Caretakers
House, And Pole Barn.
$6,400,000
Roscommon County, 480+/- Acres,
High Fence Deer Ranch, First Class
Lodge And House, 120’X60’ Pole
Barn, Quality Deer Herd.
$2,900,000
Van Buren County 50 +/- Acres,
Rolling Terrain, Creeks, Ponds,
Food Plot Areas, And Loaded With
Deer Signs. Great Build Spot!
$199,000
Van Buren County, 63 Acres -
Beautiful Farm House - 2 Large Pole
Barns - Blueberry Farm - Must See!
$350,000
Van Buren County, 80 Acres - Apple
Tree Farm - Apple Trees Consist Of
Honey Crisp, Gala, Supra, And
Rubyjon. Beautiful Building Spot.
$399,000
Van Buren County 89.6+/- Acres,
Producing Blueberry Farm, Duplex
Currently Being Rented As Well. Great
Income Producing Property!
$375,000

SELL YOUR PROPERTY WITH US!

BLAKE VER WOERT: 616-308-3122
JAKE DYKSTRA: 616-916-8354
CURT BRYAN: 616-745-2759
MAX WIERDA: 616-834-2010 WWW.WILDLIFEREALTY.COM
84 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
 300 Acre
Licensed State Wide Real Estate of Mio
Deer BEAUTIFUL WATERFRONT
Farm HOME - Mio, 96 ft of great
frontage on Mack Lake, large
8291 E. 4 1/2 Mile Road Located between Charlevoix lawn, 3 bd, 2 ba, fireplace, newer
Luther, Michigan and Traverse City.
windows, fantastic sunroom
19 acres. 2 br, 1 bath. All appliances stay. 10 foot x 3 mile fence.
off the kitchen, kitchen island,
Custom quality built year round home. Mostly wooded, mostly maple.
master suite, central air, generator
$169,900 MLS #18040935 Trout pond, includes
shooting ranges. backup, detached garage, steel
Bellabay Realty Lakeshore roof, well cared for waterfront
231.571.9004 (office)
Sandy Sirianni $700,000 home. $149,900 D-391

231-330-9210
231.343.7259 (cell)
www.bellabayrealty.com Tom Galbraith • 989-826-3292
Small town, nautical city means big time opportunity w/this friendly bar.
One block from marina and beach. Includes license. $179,000 #318669
121 Acres
Affordable 2 bedroom home on large lot. Room to build pole barn. Close
to marina, shopping and restaurants. $31,800 #318020
Log home on triple lots. Has 3 bedroom, 2 bath and attached garage.
Near Lk Huron sandy beaches, bike trail, marina. $210,000 #318665
Affordable 1 bedroom home in Rogers City with 26 x 32 pole barn. Ideal 40 acres of Hunting Bliss. Ranch home Near Marlette
summer home. Near marina, beaches and parks. $49,000 #318333 with a full walk out basement, 3 bedrooms, in Sanilac County
Country setting – 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home on 20 wooded acres.
2 full baths, gourmet kitchen. All season
Sun room with separate entrance. Attached
$302,500 or
Finished walkout basement and detached 3 car garage. Very private.
3 car garage plus a 32’ X 48’ Pole Barn (can
$2,500 an acre
$200,000 # 318682 Will consider all offers.
fit 2 semi trucks) 14 ft doors. Deer, rabbit
& turkey are bountiful. There also is a small
STATE WIDE REAL Check out our web site for
additional properties of all types. pond and swamp area on the property.
ESTATE OF HAWKS www.statewideofhawks.com Hunters Paradise is at 2152 Five Lakes Rd,
OF HAWKS FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ONE OF OUR AGENTS: 989.734.4840 Metamora, MI 48455 $459,900

3 BD, 2 BA home with a few
simple projects left for the
new owners. Nicely situ-
ated on approx. 1.5 acres
with beautiful, level, views
to the 234’ private frontage
on pretty Pickeral Creek...
complete with foot bridge!
MLS 19020321 $59,900
Little Manistee River Log
Cabin might be small but it
is mighty! This 1 BD, 1 BA
charming cabin is as cute
and cozy with many updates.
81’ of river frontage, deck,
easy access, pole barn, most
furnishings and appliances.
MLS 19020499 $69,900
3BD, 1 BA cabin on the Mid-
dle Branch of the PM river
with private frontage on both
sides of the water. Almost
a quarter mile off the main
road, it is private and seclud-
ed. Cabin comes with most
furniture and appliances.
MLS 18049336 $79,900
Great Place to Camp! (or
build) Located in un-zoned
Cherry Valley Twp, has paved
road frontage, approximately
142’ frontage on the Sanborn
Creek (I’ve been told there are
trout), and easy access yet still
has a feeling of seclusion.
MLS 19008409 $12,900
Almost 4, partially wood-
ed acres, with 132 feet
of prime Little Manistee
River frontage. Property
is less than 1 mile west
of Luther. Great place to
camp or build your dream
house or cabin.
MLS 18051595 $25,900

2 BD, 1 BA mobile needs some

work, has new insulation in
the ceiling, new subfloor,
new engineered roof over the
mobile, deck and great view
of good fishing/swimming
Putman Lake. Close to public
lands for hunting and trails for
riding.
MLS 19020690 $39,900
3 BD, 2 BA, recently up-
dated cottage offers 40’ on
quiet, good fishing, Put-
man Lake. The large fam-
ily room has breath taking
views of the lake and room
for everyone. This could
be your perfect getaway!
MLS 19019880 $49,900
Nicely wooded lot on great
fishing Watermill Lake!
Fronts on a paved county
road for easy access. 125
feet of frontage, priced to
sell and ready for the sum-
mer, this would be a great,
affordable getaway spot!
MLS 19019284 $17,000
150’ frontage on no wake
Honeymoon Lake! The prop-
erty is nicely wooded and
perfectly located at the end
of the street for extra peace
and quiet. This property
could be the perfect spot to
build your up north cabin.
MLS 19012951 $21,900
Beautiful vacant lot with
60 feet of frontage on gor-
geous no wake Basford
Lake! Nicely wooded with a
perfect spot to build your up
north cottage! Comes with
deeded access to Big Star
Lake just down the road!
MLS 19012518 $35,000
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 85
86 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
Beautiful Rolling Hills
153 Acres
10 ACRE PRIVATE WOODED SETTING.
Beautiful log sided home with an open floor plan,
lots of windows, an unfinished walk-out basement
and a new roof. 40x48 pole barn with 12’ OH door,
GRAYLING LOG HOME ON 17 ACRES!
Nearly 3000 sf of living space, 3 bedrooms, 3
baths, finished walk out basement w/family
room & 2nd kitchen, wrap around deck,

Newaygo
electric & concrete floor. Close to lakes, snow 3-1/2 car garage w/heated workshop, 1 car
trails and State land. Just listed at $159,888 MLS storage garage, RV station w all hook-ups.
#318477 (Hawks/Millersburg area) Excellent hunting! $329,500 #313950

County
518’ LAKE NET-
TIE. Affordable up
north get-away on
a quiet all sports
lake. 3 bedrooms,
2 bath home with
7370 E 16 MILE ROAD, REED CITY, MI a full-length deck
overlooking the lake, 149 SECLUDED ACRES! Trail roads, 11
a breezeway, tiered established blinds, small clearings for food plots,
$269,000 landscaping and boat dock. Great fishing, swimming
and year-round sporting activities. Snow trails &
trail roads and a creek. Nicely wooded with a mix
of evergreens & hardwood, mostly high ground.
state land close by. Motivated seller wants an offer! Abundant game. Close to Hammond Bay
Just outside of Reed $119,000 #308591 (Millersburg area) Harbor. $148,250 #313641 (Millersburg area)

City, MI. Great land for 100’ PRIME

SANDY LAKE
hunting and recreational HURON BEACH.
This well
activities. Income appointed home
has astounding
possibility through timber views of Lake
Huron and Bois 13 ACRES W/PRIVATE LAKE & 380’ ON
harvesting. Call me to set Blanc Island. Can sleep up to 18. 4 bedrooms THE OCQUEOC RIVER. Beautiful rolling
and 3 baths plus a bunk room over the 2½ parcel in a secluded setting. There’s a
up a showing! car garage. Extra deep lot, private from the small cabin roughed in, a hunting blind
neighbors. Across from snowmobile trail system. overlooking the lake with its own deck,
Too many amenities to list! $349,500 #318967 a well and electric hook ups for your
(Between Cheboygan & Mack City) camper. Land contract available. $99,900
Keller Williams GR North RE/MAX NORTH
3237 Platinum St NE Carol Steiger, Associate Broker
Grand Rapids, MI 49525-0000 (231) 627-9991 Office
(989) 351-0110 Cell
email: carol.steiger@remax.net
Katherine L. Bourgois
Pure MI Real Estate
231.250.4251 846 S. Main, Cheboygan, MI
www.liveupnorth.com

3 Bdrm, 1 bth, lake home.

2 Bdrm cottage. Sturgeon
River frontage, snowmobile
trail access, Hwy 13. Nahma.
$63,900 1105794
Big Stevens Lk. Well kept
on 4.84 acres with 278’ frtg.
Great hunting/fishing. Snow-
mobiling! Gar. Wetmore.
$145,900 1112478
1 Bdrm, 1 bth, 160 Acres. Elect,
well, septic, built in 2000.
30x40 Pole barn. Hermansville.
$225,000 1114399

THOUSANDS OF
ACRES AVAILABLE
FROM $12,900 TO $325,000. 2 Bdrm, 1 bth mobile home.
32 Acres, garage, and shed. 2 Bdrm, 1 bth, log home. On 1 Bdrm, 1 bth cozy cottage near
Great hunting! 6 Miles from Cedar River. Large garage. Steven’s Lake. Elec. Generator
Escanaba Escanaba. Ford River. Cedar River. included. Deck. Gar. Wetmore.
2209 Ludington Street $49,900 1114708 $199,000 1112404 $54,500 1113683
(906) 786-1308

Powers
W3776 US 2 & 41
(906) 497-4190

Gladstone
1401 Delta Ave.
2 Bdrm, 1 bth camp. Septic 1 Bdrm Camp. 4 Acres. Elec- 1 Bdrm, 1 bth Cabin. Large
(906) 825-9000
and drilled well. 36 acres. tric. Yr round access. Great bdrm with 3.5 acres. Extra
Great hunting. Skandia. location. Cornell. large garage. Rapid River.
$79,500 1112412 $33,000 1112567 $85,000 1107870
WNW NEWS JULY 2019 87
 WEST BRANCH HALE WEST BRANCH
R S ALE R S ALE
M-33/M-55 OFFICE F O OFFICE F O LOOP OFFICE
1953 S. M-33 3160 North M-65 2575 S. I-75 Business Loop,
West Branch, MI 48661 Hale, MI 48739 West Branch, MI 48661
10 miles north of I-75 exit 202 “Gateway to Huron National Forest” 1 mile north of I-75 Exit 212

Local: 989-345-2662 Local: 989-728-2540 Local: 989-345-0315

Toll Free: 800-535-6520 www.CAHANES.com Toll Free: 800-495-2540 www.CAHANES.com Toll Free: 866-345-0315

“UP NORTH” HOMES AND COTTAGES

POPULAR SAGE LAKE!!
Spacious 4-bdrm, open floor plan, FP, a bath on
each floor, walkout bsmt, upper deck, covered
patio, breezeway to garage, boat dock, 155’ of
water frontage on 785 acre all sports lake!!
$235,000 1860613
LITTLE CLEAR LAKE!!
3-bdrm, open floor plan, newer appliances,
master suite, deck, boat dock & 90’ of water
frontage. Move-in ready with very little updates
needed and nice canal frontage to 30 acre lake!
$59,000 1853977
ACROSS FROM RIFLE LAKE!!
Cute and updated 2-bdrm home w/views of
all sports lake and just steps to public lake
access! Knotty pine interior, hickory cabinets,
front porch, covered rear porch & more!!
$79,500 1847245
GREAT RECREATIONAL AREA!!
2-bdrm home for nice year round or perfect
getaway on 2 lots with decent yard, garage
and natural gas. Open floor plan, large living
area, and you can walk to all sports lake!!
$54,900 1860848
ACROSS FROM STATE LAND!!
Beautiful 4-bdrm in Clear Lake area on just over
AN ACRE w/ garage, workshop, convenient up-
per level bath, master suite, lots of storage in
kitchen and deck w/gorgeous views!!
$139,900 1860562

CLOSE TO LAKE AND RIVER!!
3-bdrm home in need of some updates and
bedroom flooring w/FP, garage and shed.
Over a half acre of property and would make a
nice Up North getaway or spacious yr round!!
$49,900 1861619
BEAUTIFUL RIVER FRONTAGE!!
3-bdrm Saltbox style home on a large lot with
72+ feet of frontage on gorgeous Rifle River!
Back deck w/nice views, appliances, newer
furnace, water heater & roof!!
$149,900 1861915
ACCESS TO ALL SPORTS LAKE!!
Neat and clean 3-bdrm home on 2 lots w/FP
and heated porch for extra sleeping space,
and comes with access to 42 acre lake! Ex-
cellent vacation or getaway spot!!
$44,000 1861626
COUNTRY LIVING AT ITS FINEST!!
5.9 ACRES, partly wooded w/stream running
thru, and spacious 4-bdrm home, fantastic
views, full bsmt w/2nd kitchen & wood stove,
2 garages, small vineyard & more!!
$150,000 1861901
ALMOST ¾ ACRE!!
Cute 2-bdrm home on 5 wooded lots for plenty
of elbow room and a garage for storage! Also
not far from many lakes for swimming, boating
& fishing and near State lands for the hunter!!
$34,900 1858769

HENDERSON LAKE!!
Neat and clean 2-bdrm mobile home with deeded
access to 171 acre all sports lake! Open floor plan,
appliances, screened porch & several outbldgs in-
cluding heated garage w/washer and dryer!!
$32,000 1862230
SILVER CREEK FRONTAGE!! AMISH REMODELED!! LARGE DOUBLE LOT!! NICE VIEWS OF E TWIN LAKE!!
Home sits back off of road, nestled on 2 Gorgeous 3-bdrm w/custom cabinets, mobile Cute 3-bedroom, log home in great rec- Updated 2-bdrm home near many all sports
ACRES w/212 feet of water creek frontage! kitchen island, Amish built furnishings, FP, 2 reational area not far from lakes and State lakes!! Laminate floors, stainless steel ap-
Large rooms, nice views, no close neighbors covered porches, oversized garage and all NES- lands. Wood stove, garage, screened porch pli, attic that could be dbrm #3, garage &
and the perfect and affordable getaway!! TLED ON 20 ACRES w/groomed trails & 4 blinds!! and mostly furnished!! pole bldg!!
$18,500 1861906 $249,900 1855393 $49,900 1850311 $84,000 1856575

IMMACULATE LAKEFRONT!!
Beautiful, completely remodeled 3-bdrm, 1.5 ba
home w/detached garage & 75” on all sports Peach
Lake. Tons of updates, appliances, deck, sunroom,
gas fireplace, beautiful views & much more!!
$244,500 1858694
LOTS OF RECENT UPDATES!!
Cozy one bedroom home w/approximate $15K in up-
dates, including remodeled kitchen and bath, newer coun-
ter tops and appliances, newer flooring, newer oak pan-
eling, newer pumps, newer doors, newer vinyl & more!!
$57,500 1858471
BEAUTIFUL LAKEFRONT HOME!!
Over 2100 square feet & 3-bdrm home on pleasant
Big Williams Lake! Master suite, large open kitchen/
dining area, fireplace in living area, on demand wa-
ter heater, sunroom, deck, fantastic views & more!!
$92,000 1842289
BEAUTIFUL COUNTRYSIDE VIEWS!! NEAR POPULAR CLEAR LAKE!!
Spacious 4-bdrm, 2.5 bath Cape Code on 2 ACRES 3-bedroom, 1.7 ba home w/garage located
w/both detached & attached garages, full finished in fantastic recreational area near all sports
walkout bsmt, master suite, stainless steel appliances, lake & state lands! FP, porch, main floor
stone field FP, office, AC, wood floors & much more!! master & more!!
$249,900 1858287 $59,900 1859595

CUTE AND CLEAN!!
2-bedroom, 2 bath ranch-style on two lots!
Well-maintained, open floor plan, appliances,
sunroom, wooded back yard, garage & ac-
cess to all sports private Lake Ogemaw!!
$59,900 1859169
GEORGE LAKE!!
Cute 2-bedroom, move-in ready home w/
access to all sports George Lake w/newer
metal roof, newer well, appliances, deck,
sheds and also near all sports Rifle Lake!!
$59,000 1858789
YEAR ROUND!!
2 large bedrooms, open floor plan, some ap-
pliances, full bath, garage, fenced yard for
your pets, shed with fireplace & screens for
relaxing & near lakes & State lands!!
$58,000 1859683
HARDWOOD LAKE!! IMMACULATE LAKEFRONT!!
Cozy 2-bedroom cottage w/large living area, Beautiful 3-bdrm home, over an ACRE w/
some furnishings & appliances, sunroom frontage on all sports Lake Ogemaw & tons
with spectacular sunsets, garage, shed, of superior & spectacular amenities you just
sandy beach, roll-in dock & more!! have to see!!
$154,900 1859766 $399,500 1860120

VACANT LAND - WATERFRONT

“NO MOTOR” LAKE!! RIFLE RIVER!! ALL SPORTS LAKE OGEMAW!! 2.07 ACRES & CREEK FRONTAGE!! FLOWAGE LAKE!!!!
Partly wooded lot on Fawn Lawn and poten- Two lots with frontage on the beautiful Rifle Over a half acre with frontage on all sports Beautiful property in nice subdivision with Beautiful lot with water frontage on Flowage
tial spot for building your new home. Also not River and potential site for building your Lake Ogemaw and a gentle slope to water. 151+ feet of water frontage on Ogemaw Lake. Potential building site and just minutes
far from all sports lakes, State land and with vacation or dream home. Great location to On paved road, potential bldg site and LC Creek and great site for building your new from town for dining and shopping. Several
access to Rifle River!! enjoy excellent fishing & kayaking!! terms available!! home or weekend getaway!! other sites also available!!
$15,900 1850114 $29,900 1860204 $59,900 1790612 $76,000 1855912 $101,000 1763733

FOR MORE LISTINGS

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.CAHANES.COM
88 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
 420 Acres With Private
97.86 acres of amazing country land! Approximately 56
acres of farm field, 42 acres of beautiful wooded property

Lake in Central Michigan

with private lake access to Deaner Lake. $329,900
#1857085
2 beautiful lots for the price of one. Drainfield and septic
system already installed. Full lake privileges at Lake Isabella.
$22,900 #1835303
Gorgeous buildable lot on Lake Isabella .64 acres. End of
a cul-de-sac, over 190 ft of beautiful waterfront. Very quiet
street on South side of the lake. $119,900 #1852038
Great wooded 20 acres, not far from Mt. Pleasant!
Perfect for hunting or building your dream home in the
woods! Surveyed in the past and features a small pond on
property. $44,900 #1848569
Great chalet home with 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms in
Lake of the Pines Association. Gorgeous setting on 3 lots,
with a 2 car detached garage and a new 48 X 32 pole barn!
With access to an all sports lake. $139,900 #1861373
Nice wooded 6 acres just North of Mt. Pleasant. Build 420 acres with 100 + acre private lake All maintenance equipment included,
your dream home on a paved road close to Lake Isabella! with dam for sale in central Michigan mowers, tractor, dozer, crane, etc.
$17,900 #1850384 (great investment opportunity). Great Would make a great church camp,
fishing and hunting—Michigan trout hunting resort or lake development.
Tricia Boerma Dave Feger Trevor Turner stream, mature bucks harvested every Frontage on three county roads. Grave,
BROKER REALTOR REALTOR year. Over two miles of water frontage, sand deposits on property, also oil
standing timber with enough pine to rights. Ann Clark’s Trust. $4,000,000 or
make 30 log homes. Seven miles of best offer. Special terms for non-profit.
524 E. Mosher Street, Suite 200 trails, rolling hills, paved roads, has
Mt. Pleasant natural gas line on property. Lodge Call Robert Clark at
www.Boermarealty.com
989-560-5779 989-965-3075 616-302-4048
(brick house) with fireplace. Three 810-629-9376
stoarge buildings and workshop.
tboerma@msn.com dfeger17@gmail.com trevor.turner@hotmail.com
Includes all boats with pontoon boat. Email: johnclark1954@hotmail.com

Heritage Exclusive Marketing Agents for Northeast

House Michigan Properties
RealtyPC Located in the Heart of the Huron National Forest, on the
“Personalized Service is the Difference”
Shores of Lake Huron and the banks of the AuSable River

3315 AuSable St 4210 E Rolling Hills Rd 430 Sitzmark Dr, Spruce

1270 sf, 3 bed, 1.5 bath with 1022 sf, 3 bed, 2 bath with 1750+ sf, 2 bed, 2 bath with
attached garage and a full basement, garage and full finished basement,
breathtaking view you won’t large deck overlooking 10+ attached garage and easy
see anywhere else. House acres offering privacy and all access to Hubbard Lake.
sits atop a hill overlooking 23 the outdoor recreation Enjoy watching wildlife from
acres and one of the best activities you can think of. in front of your fireplace or off
views of the AuSable river Call today to view this Move- your deck. Call today, this
you will ever find. NEW in-Ready beauty! NEW won’t last. NEW $139,900
$179,900 $199,000

E F-30, Mikado 4215 N US 23 4625 River St

This is a true Outdoorsman’s This is your chance to walk 1248 sf, 2 bed 1 bath with
Paradise, 80 acres with into a well-established attached garage and soon
flowing creek allowing for Antiques and Furniture store completed new roof. Enjoy
ample hunting and fishing with several detached all the wildlife that visit the
opportunities all year long. commercial rental units and area daily while still having
Camp is all set for you to 10 residential rental units the convenience of being in
enjoy for as long as you want with good history including town. $89,900
to stay. NEW $189,900 almost 5 acres. Priced to
sell at $625,000

3756 F 41, Mikado 840 S Stockton Rd 1535 E Spruce Rd

780 sf, 2 bed, 1 bath with 1440 sf, 3 bed, 2 bath with 1500 sf, 3 bed, 2 bath with
partial basement and plenty 61 acres ideal for hunting or attached garage is move in
of opportunity. Two garages recreating close to trails and ready for you today. Ideal
for extra storage or convert state land. As a bonus location in town keeps that
one and have a guest house. includes a standalone guest rural feeling but still only
Don’t be fooled by the size house ideal for visitors. minutes away from Alpena.
this one is definitely a must $185,500 REUDCED $75,000
see. NEW $71,000

406 E Fowler Rd 4998 Cedar Lake Rd 610 Marilyn Lane

1770 sf, 3 bed, 1.5 bath with 2 acres of beautiful frontage Beautiful 10 acres with rustic
40 acres ideal for the on Cedar Lake would make cabin waiting to be finished
upcoming hunting seasons ideal building location for and ready for all those up
or just to enjoy as your new that dream home you have coming hunting seasons.
getaway. This is one of always wanted. Sites this Offering superior location for
those hidden gems that large are rare to come all seasons of hunting and
doesn’t come along very across, especially ones that recreational activities year
often. $143,700 have not been touched. round. NEW $39,000
NEW $110,900

Call 800-650-5566 - Glennie or 800-982-0102 - Harrisville - www.HeritageHouseRealty.com

WNW NEWS JULY 2019 89
 APPROX.
250 DEER
186 RANDY MINTO 370 ACRES
ACRES Always Working Hard for You!

REALTOR
SANILAC COUNTY APPROX. 100 ELK Direct:
Amazing Applegate Hunting Preserve! 1/2 Million+ 810.449.1286 Drummond Island - Cabin
Dollars Worth Deer/Elk Inventory Included in Sale. - OR -
Ranch Home & Lodge - Several Outbuildings Office: & Cottage on Lake Huron
*DV 810.653.4500
$1,250,000 *DV $949,000
SPECIALIZING IN UNIQUE, LUXURY AND LARGE RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES
DEER & NATURE LOVER’S DREAM PROPERTIES

NEW $285,000 5+ ACRES NEW 50 ACRES

MONROE COUNTY 170 ACRES GENESEE COUNTY

10,000 SQ FT TUSCOLA COUNTY Beautiful 2,800 sq ft Ranch Home Built in 2005. Amazing Ranch Home & Guest House,
Additional 4.37 Acres Landscape Business 34x80 Horse Barn, New 40x80 HayBarn, Pond Private Lake
*DV $49,500 $129,500 *DV $875,000 *DV $1,650,000

NEW $10,000
L DCLUB
PARADICE HUNT NEW
S O $3,950,000
AMAZING LOC
ATION
LAPEER COUNTY 5-8 ACRES New Built 2018, 3000 SqFt Building, Excavating
2019 Custom Built Home Great Building Sites & Landscape, 36 Bins, Located on 5 Acres
7.74 Acres Price Reduce $10,000 to SELLING BUILDING & PROPERTY ONLY (NOT BUSINESS)
*DV $399,000 $59,900 - $79,900 1,120 ACRES *DV $485,000

NEW
LAPEER COUNTY LICENSED DEER RANCH GENESEE COUNTY

34 ACRES 60-80 DEER

72 ACRES
192 ACRES GENESEE COUNTY 10-15 TROPHY BUCKS
Beautifully renovated historic Victorian Bed Woodland Deer Ranch in Davison, 6-car garage,
Beautiful Setting Chalet Home
and Breakfast with horse facilities. pond, 5 blinds, 3 lg feeders, Lg polebarn, 4BD, 3BA 40 x 80 Pole Barn with 6 Horse Stalls.
*DV $1,490,000 *DV PRICE REDUCED $835,000 *DV $595,000

GENESEE COUNTY DAVISON

O L D 55 ACRES
S
40 ACRES
6 ACRES SANILAC COUNTY SANILAC COUNTY
Over 4,800 sq ft of Living Space Commercial Properties Gorgeous Ranch Home, 55 acres + 38 Bonus Hunting acres,
Amazing Setting on Private Lake $85,000 to Pole Barn, Pond Gorgeous Home plus Hunting cabin
*DV $425,000 *DV $595,000 *DV $399,000 *DV $459,000

30 ACRES NEW 60 ACRES

NEW 80 ACRES 289 ACRES

OGEMAW COUNTY SANILAC COUNTY VAN BUREN COUNTY LUCE COUNTY

1700 Sqft 2 Story Home Deer Hunters Dream Property 80% Wooded. Well 1,800 SQFT Cabin, Completely Solar
24x 48 Pole Barn, Edwards TWP 700 acres of state land known for big bucks powered, 90% Wooded
*DV $289,000 $119,000 *DV $179,900 *DV $349,000

1154 ACRES NEW NEW 1240 ACRES NEW

Luce County
Schoolcraft Columbus
County GRATIOT COUNTY 76 ACRES Township
Seney Great Hunting
Township Over a 1/2 mile on Pine River Property
Deer Hunters & Nature Lovers Dream Property 24x20 Cabin
$595,000 *DV $795,000
*DV $219,000 *DV

DRONE
*DV
90 JULY 2019 WNW NEWS
VIDEO GO TO: MIDREAMPROPERTIES.com
OR CALL 810-449-1286
For optimum performance and safety, read the Owner’s Manual before operating your Honda Marine Product. Always wear a personal flotation device while boating.

DEALER DEMO SALE

Angler Qwest $37,900 Angler Qwest $38,700 Angler Qwest $43,900

2018 822 Fish/Cruise, 2018 822 Family Fish, 822 Pro Fish,
135 hp Honda and Trailer 150 hp Honda and Trailer 150 hp Honda and Trailer
Holding Power
Retrievability • Durability The Chene Anchor
201 Industrial Way, Fenton, MI • 517-202-2949
or available at...
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Visit us at www.freeway-sports.com for a complete listing of boats!
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3241 Thompson Rd. Mon.-Fri. 9am - 6pm EXIT 84
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
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Fenton, MI 48430
23

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