Angler connects with monster brown trout

   Successful anglers in pursuit of large, fighting trout know when to fish and what to use.  The when part of the equation is easy.
   When it gets dark, big fish come out to play and feed. The patient angler will hunt them similar to the way a good deer hunter stalks deer.
   That is by remaining quiet, sitting still, then keeping a sharp eye peeled for rising trout. Anglers also are tuned in to he sounds around them.
   In the case of feeding trout it can be as subtle as a "slur" or more pronounced like a "splash" when fish come out of the water to snatch a bite.
   Goo friend Bill Semion has been a trout fisherman for a long time. He knows the value of fishing after dark.
   Li,e many others, fishing the hex hatch has always been something he's looked forward to. So far this year, he's hooked and landed several quality fish inn the 18-20 inch range.
   Then came the monster, the daddy of all those smaller browns. "I was fishing about mid-river up from the Mason Tract," Semion said.
   "I knew when it hit that this was going to be a big fish," he said. Fishing during dark hours can be tricky. It gets a little more exiting when fighting a big fish.
   Somehow they intuitively know to head for brush piles or under river banks. In either case, if you aren't ready to fight the fish, you stand a good chance of breaking off.
   Semion made no sure mistakes. "I couldn't believe it when I saw it. A friend of mine who was fishing nearby estimated it was three inches between the eyes. I think it was a good 25-inches long," he said.
   This was a fish that will create many memories and enjoyable  conversation around the campfire when the night gets late and the eyelids start to get heavy.

   A Family Day Camp experience might be a good way to learn how pioneer families lived or what living in a fort was like.
     Family Day Camps, a new program offered by Walker Tavern, Hartwick Pines State Park and Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, will provide a few hours a day of stepping back in time for children and adults during select weeks this summer.
    “These programs are a way for us to showcase Michigan’s different history stories with participating or nearby state parks,” said Sandra Clark, director of the Michigan Historical Center. “We encourage campers or parents or grandparents looking for an ‘edu-vacation’ experience this summer for children to take advantage of these programs.”

Family Day Camps will take place at:

Walker Tavern, June 20-22. At this former stagecoach stop between Detroit and Chicago, participants will enjoy a three-day Family Day Camp that focuses on Michigan’s pioneer days. Basic survival skills, like using a compass and reading a map, will be taught on the first day, followed by a day of learning how the pioneers lived, and the final day will focus on making and recording memories.

The cost is $20 per day or $50 for all three days per child. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for accompanying adults. Programs are appropriate for children ages 7-12, and all programs run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walker Tavern is located at the junction of US-12 and M-50 near Brooklyn and just down the road from Hayes State Park. Pre-registration is required and can be done by contacting Cheryl Valentine via email, valentinec@michigan.gov or phone, 517-467-4401.

Hartwick Pines State Park’s Logging Museum, July 9-11. This three-day Family Day Camp at Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling will focus on Michigan’s lumber camp days. Participants will learn to make a log mark, use the cross-cut saw, load a log sled, how to be a timber cruiser, and how to cook and eat like a lumberjack.

The cost is $20 per day or $50 for all three days per child. The programs are appropriate for children 7 and up. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for accompanying adults. The programs will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. To register, contact Rob Burg via email, burgr@michigan.gov or phone, 989-348-2537.

Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, July 11-12; July 24-25, Aug. 1-2. Fort Wilkins Historic State Park, at the tip of the Keweenaw Peninsula near Copper Harbor, will be the site of two-day Family Day Camp sessions that will have participants step back in time to the summer of 1870 to experience life at the fort. The living history workshops include tours of 150-year-old buildings where participants will learn to wash clothes, grind coffee, dance and play games common to the time period. Costumed interpreters will interact with participants to re-create life at the fort in 1870.

The cost is $25 for one day or $50 for both days per child. Sessions run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. The program is appropriate for children 9 years and older. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for the accompanying adult. Space is limited to 25 children per workshop. To register, contact Barry James via email, jamesb@michigan.gov or phone, 906-475-7857.

   No tent to camp in, no worries. On June 2, officials at the Holly Recreation Area held a ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate two new deluxe rental cabins.
   The family-friendly cabins, with access to Wildwood Lake, offer two bedrooms, kitchen and living area, and a bathroom.
   The roomier cabins, which are the first modern cabins in the parks with indoor plumbing, are more spacious than the traditional camper cabin rental units.
   These deluxe cabins can accommodate six to eight adults in 448 square feet of living space, and offer a 32-foot-long front porch to maximize views and water access.
    Along with the new model cabins at Holly, 17 camper cabins within the state parks are also available for the enjoyment of visitors.
   The recreation area’s 8,000 acres of woodlands and open fields are located in Oakland County, less than an hour’s drive from the Detroit metropolitan area. “The area offers the feeling of ‘being up north’ without making the drive there,” said Holly Recreation Area supervisor Shawn Speaker.
   “In addition to a beach, boating and fishing opportunities are just steps from the front doors of the cabins. There is also an adjacent trail that links many other recreational opportunities,” Speaker said.
   The cabins will rent for $100 per night on Fridays and Saturdays and $80 per night Sundays through Thursdays. Reservations can be made through the state’s Campground Reservation System, 1-800-447-2757 or on the Web at www.midnrreservations.com for arrivals beginning July 20 or later. For details, call Holly Recreation Area, 248-634-8811.

Angler catches and releases large brown trout

   Fishing the south branch of the AuSable River near Roscommon, fellow writer Bill Semion felt a bump and set the hook.
   Several minutes later and he brought to net a huge brown that was estimated to be three inches across, between it's eyes.
   "I don't know exactly how big it was but would guess it was in the 24-25 inch range," Semion said. To prove the catch, he has pictures of the fish along with an eye witness to it's size.
   Fishing a version of the hex bug, a very large fly, Semion says there were other big fish about this night as well as other nights.
   "Anglers have to be sure where the hex are because they constantly are on the move downstream.
If you plan on fishing the hex hatch, you can't beat local information as to where the hatch has been occurring.
   Check out Gates AuSable Lodge or the Old AuSable Fly Shop.

Large trout like large flies

   This is the best time to catch those large known to give anglers using the long wand-fly rod- a good battle.
   The saying about big fighting fish like steelhead and in this case, browns, bookies and rainbows is that they have "shoulders." That is a tribute to fighting fish anywhere.
   June is the month for a large bug called the Michigan Mayfly. But it's best known for an abbreviated name; hex.
   Hex stands for hexigenia limbata, formal name for this insect that is fished at night. Anglers sit or stand on the banks of both the AuSable and Manistee Rivers, in the early evening, listening and watching for the signs of feeding fish.
   They mark the spots they see or hear fish mentally in hopes of casting a hex bug very near or exactly to the spot where feeding fish have been observed.
   My best was a 25-inch rainbow fishing on the AuSable below Stephan Bridge Road. A typical fishing night, he sky was full of stars but down on the water it was nearly pitch black.
   Moving slowly and as quietly as possible, I headed downstream. Pausing to look and listen, I heard then saw several big trout feeding across from me.
   Two or three casts later and I hooked into the fish of a lifetime. See Saturday's blog for another huge trout hooked near Roscommon last week and read my Sunday column about hex fishing.

Deluse accommodations available at Holly Rec

   

   Two new deluxe rental cabins will be dedicated and open for use June 20, 10:a.m., at Holly Recreation Area.

   The family-friendly cabins, with access to Wildwood Lake, offer two bedrooms, kitchen and living area, and a bathroom. The roomier cabins, which are the first modern cabins in the parks with indoor plumbing, are more spacious than the traditional camper cabin rental units.    

   These deluxe cabins can accommodate six to eight adults in 448 square feet of living space, and offer a 32-foot-long front porch to maximize views and water access.

   Along with the new model cabins at Holly, 17 camper cabins within the state parks are also available for the enjoyment of our visitors as a result of the combined resources of our two agencies over the years.

   The recreation area’s 8,000 acres of woodlands and open fields are located in Oakland County, less than an hour’s drive from the Detroit metropolitan area.

    “The area offers the feeling of ‘being up north’ without making the drive there,” said Holly Recreation Area supervisor Shawn Speaker.

   "In addition to a beach, boating and fishing opportunities are just steps from the front doors of the cabins. There is also an adjacent trail that links many other recreational opportunities,” Speaker said. “We’re looking forward to our visitors being able to enjoy these new amenities in a beautiful setting.”

   The cabins will rent for $100 per night on Fridays and Saturdays and $80 per night Sundays through Thursdays. Reservations can be made through the state’s Campground Reservation System, 1-800-447-2757 or on the Web atwww.midnrreservations.com for arrivals beginning July 20 or later. For details, call Holly Recreation Area, 248-634-8811.

Ligjht and compact the way to go

   This Sunday's column is about ultra light equipment that has been the rage of outdoors people from anglers to zoologists.
   Backpackers probably led the way by demanding more functional gear at less weight. Anglers too have gotten the bug to utilize lighter rods, tackle and line in the pursuit of game fish from blue gills to larger ocean going fish.
   When it come to a lighter load when fishing consider your first move by leaving all that tackle at home.
   Instead of hauling a tackle bag or box use that vest you normally use for stream fishing. Better still, purchase a newer one with floatation along with pockets to hold enough tackle for a day or longer on the water.
   If you have a fly rod put a spinning reel and mono on it for flinging popping bogs chasing blue gills. This method is great over weeds-gives you a longer reach with the rod length-and anything no matter the size that hits will put a bend in your rod.
   Try ultralight. It adds another dimension to whatever you door outdoors.

It's all about ultra, as in light and compact, these days

   You name it. From golf clubs to skis, the term is "ultralight." Compact could be another catch-phrase as well.
   These days, boats-like small kayaks-are taking the place of their larger cousins, those high-powered water craft.
   Rods, reels, even line and tackle, in a lot of instances are downsizing. Records have been on the books for the largest fish taken with the lightest in tackle.
   Cameras are small and compact but still able to do most of the operations the larger-bodies ones do. Since the advent of digital, cameras have been getting smaller and even easier to use.
   Camping gear is not to be left out of the lightweight or ultra equation either. These days sleeping bags keep you warm while weighing less thanks to technology that combines fabrics that are lighter but do a better job of insulating.
   So, is smaller and lighter better? That depends. Stay tuned, as they say.

Melt away stress with a fish in pole

    No, fishing isn't the cure for everything. However, because it's a relatively calming activity, it can play a part in producing a calming atmosphere.
    My guess is that it's not the activity of fishing so much as it is being on or around water. For some reason, water has a calming effect on many of us.
    Whether it's moving water like a river or a stream, a lake with waves crashing, or a smaller body of water like a pond, just being around it is calming.
   Moving water, especially water that if flowing over or around obstacles like rocks or woody debris creates it's own special sound. If one is stream side and remains quiet, these sounds creep in and before you know it, you've been transported to another world.
   I've known at least one veteran of the Viet Nam war who turned to fishing following a particularly rough tour as a member of the famed River Rats.
   Stress or life's fast pace getting to you? Park yourself alongside one of the many lakes in the area and relax. It's worth a try.

Record flathead catfish-something to aim for

   The recent news about the nearly 50-pound flathead catfish being caught on the St. Joseph River near Berrien Springs, no doubt will bring out the trophy anglers.
   Fishing for catfish-whether going for a record or just some action-can be both a blast as well as relaxing. That's because once you are baited up and have set your line, it's nothing more than wait around for the action to begin.
   A large, long-shanked hook tipped with a gob of nightcrawler is about all you need on the business end. Cast that offering out and let it sit on the bottom. Set your rod or pole in a holder or, if  you choose, hold it.
   In the meantime, grab a chair then sit back and wait for something to come along and pick your bait up off the bottom.
   Might be a carp, bullhead or catfish. In any event, it's a good way to spend the evening without taking the whole tackle box out on the lake. And you don't need a boat and motor to connect.
   Some of the best action takes place when bank or pier anglers hook up.
So, forget about record size fish and just get out and enjoy wetting a line!

Record catfish caught on St. Joe

   Fishing the St. Joseph River in Berrien County, Rodney Akey from Niles was in for a surprise. At about 8p.m. on May 22 he caught a flathead catfish that weighed 49.8 pounds and was 45.7 inches in length.
Caught by Rodney Akey of Niles, Mich., on Tuesday, May 22, on the St. Joseph River in Berrien County at 8 p.m., the fish weighed 49.8 pounds and measured 45.7 inches.
   Akey was still-fishing from shore with an alewife when he landed the record fish. The previous state record flathead catfish was caught by Elmer Rayner of Hastings, Mich., on the Maple River in Ionia County on Aug. 6, 1943. That fish weighed in at 47.5 pounds and measured 44 inches.
   “I’ve been fishing catfish on the St. Joseph River for the last 20 years, but it never crossed my mind that I would catch a state record,” said Akey. “And beating a nearly 70-year record – that’s a feat in itself!”
   State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the current listed state record weight, and identification must be verified by a DNR fisheries biologist.
   For more information about record-breaking fish caught in Michigan, visit www.michigan.gov/masterangler.

Michigan State Forest Campgrounds-reduce fees

   The Department of Natural Resources has lowered many fees at state forest campgrounds. Most state forest campgrounds will have a $13 per site, per night fee rate (a reduction of $2).
   Campgrounds identified as equestrian state forest campgrounds, those associated with ORV trails, and the semi-modern Houghton Lake state forest campground will charge a $17 per site, per night rate (a reduction of $3).
   Approximately 270 campsites at a variety of state forest campgrounds spread over 11 counties can be reserved through the state’s on-line reservation system. For more information, visit www.midnrreservations.com.