Week of July 30, 2012 |
Misc New Fishing-Boating |
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Misc New Fishing-Boating
Gang of Kids Rumble with Marathon Man Fishing For Life�s annual fundraiser adds a David versus Goliath Wrinkle Such loveable hoodlums those Little Rascals; you�ll love them all. The dapper Alfalfa with his eternally unmanageable hair and a voice that makes angels wince; Spanky, the anchor and the leader of the gang, willing to defend his mates through thick and thin; finally, Buckwheat � again, the hair.
Once again the headliner of the annual knock-down drag-out brawl will be Kolo as he takes another run at defeating himself. Yes, to knockout the Guinness World Record for the most fish caught and released in a 24-hour stint, the Marathon Man must eclipse his own tally of 2,591 biting bluegills and bass set only one summer ago.
Each year, Fishing for Life�s Marathon Man event spotlights one of the organization�s touchstone programs. This time around it�s the Fish-A-Thon, a friendly month-long fishing competition that runs throughout the month of August. In 2011, Fish-A-Thon raised over $170,000; the donations invested in urban youth ministries. Besides the opportunity to |
simply get out and fish, Fish-A-Thon gives kids the chance to win prizes ranging from iPods to Rapala gift cards.
Fishing for Life encourages the public to mosey out onto the dock at Maynard�s and catch the Marathon Man live in action, too. And if you haven�t witnessed Kolo�s uber-European, Interpol secret-service Polish-ninja skills on the water, it is must-see TV. This boy can fish, and has done so up against some of the world�s finest in tournament match competition. If you can�t make a dash to Maynard�s, the entire 24-hour escapade will be streaming both above and below the docks � fisheye view � at www.fishingforlife.org.
About Fishing for Life Fishing for Life is a nonprofit Christian fund raising group working to support urban youth ministries in Minneapolis and St. Paul. In 2008, Fishing for Life was selected by the National Parks and Recreation Association to serve as one of 30 �ANCHOR AGENCIES� in the U.S. dedicated to promote and engage youth in the fishing and boating activities |
Regional
Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for July 27, 2012 WEATHER CONDITIONS Warm, dry weather returned to the Great Lakes at the start of this week. The week came to an end with many areas across the entire basin seeing 1 plus inches of much needed rain. The rain was relief from what the U.S. Drought Monitor is calling abnormally dry to severe drought conditions across much of the basin. Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for the start of the weekend with dry weather to return for the majority of the next week. Temperatures are forecasted to hover around their seasonal averages for the period. LAKE LEVEL CONDITIONS The water level of Lake Superior is 2 inches higher than last year's level, while Lake Michigan-Huron is 9 inches lower than its level of a year ago. Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 11, 13, and 12 inches, respectively, lower than their levels of a year ago. Over the next month, Lake Superior is forecasted to rise 1 inch, while Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to fall 1 inch. The water levels of Lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario are each forecasted to fall 4 inches over the next thirty days. FORECASTED MONTHLY OUTFLOWS/CHANNEL CONDITIONS Lake Superior's outflow through the St. Marys River is projected to be below average for the month of July. Lake Huron's outflow into the St. Clair River and the outflow from Lake St. Clair into the Detroit River are also |
expected to be below average throughout the month of July. Lake Erie's outflow through the Niagara River and the outflow of Lake Ontario into the St. Lawrence River are predicted to be below average in July. ALERTS Lake Michigan-Huron is near chart datum. Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.
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Spring Search for Invasive Eurasian Ruffe in NE Michigan Spring efforts were conducted by the USFWS to detect the presence of Eurasian ruffe (ruffe) in northeastern Michigan. The ruffe is a small invasive fish native to Eurasia that is related to yellow perch and walleye. Ruffe only reach sizes of five to six inches and are not of value as a sport species; however, due to their small size, they may compete with juvenile perch and other valuable bottom dwelling species for food and habitat.
In May, staff from the Alpena FWCO, with assistance from volunteers, conducted sampling in an effort to detect spawning‐phase Ruffe that may |
be present in rivers and nearshore areas of northeast Michigan. Boat electrofishing and backpack electrofishing was used to sample downstream areas of the Thunder Bay River, Trout River (Rogers City), and Cheboygan River. Nearshore areas of Rogers City, including the Swan River mouth, Calcite port and Rogers City marina, were also sampled.
No Ruffe were captured following a total of 270 minutes of effort.
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General
Cabela�s plans stores for
Saginaw and Anchorage SIDNEY, Neb. � Cabela�s plans to open new stores in Saginaw, Mich., and Anchorage, Alaska. The Saginaw store is expected to open in the spring of 2013. The Anchorage store is scheduled to open in the spring of 2014.
Saginaw Construction on the 43,000-square-foot store is scheduled to begin this fall and Cabela�s expects to open the location in spring 2013. It will be Cabela�s third retail store in Michigan, joining the Dundee location, which opened in 2000, and the Grandville location, slated to open in 2013. The Saginaw store will be located in a building previously occupied by Circuit City on Tittabawassee Road in the Saginaw Shopping Center, which also includes Target, Staples, McDonald�s and Toys R Us. Anchorage |
The 100,000-square-foot store, to be located on the south side of Anchorage near the intersection of W. 104th Avenue and C Street, will be Cabela�s first in Alaska. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2013. The store is expected to employ approximately 200 full- and part-time employees. To staff the store, Cabela�s expects to draw on the large pool of outdoor-recreation savvy people in Anchorage and the surrounding area.
In addition to next-generation stores scheduled to open this summer in Charleston, W.Va., and Rogers, Ark., and the first Outpost store to open in Union Gap, Wash., Cabela�s has announced plans to open six next-generation stores in 2013 � Columbus, Ohio; Grandville, Mich.; Louisville, Ky.; Thornton, Colo.; Lone Tree, Colo.; and Green Bay, Wis. Currently, Cabela�s operates 37 stores across the United States and Canada. |
Indiana
Vintage vehicles, rolling fishing cabin for auction Aug 30-Sept 2 Ford Model A And Vintage Trailer Haul Fishing Gear AUBURN, Indiana � America�s love of the open road will be a theme at this year�s Auctions America by RM Aug. 30 � Sept. 2 Auburn Fall auction as exhibited by a restored Model A and camper combo that looks like a time capsule from the 1930s. Nearly 1,500 American muscle cars, classics, foreign sports cars and hot rods will cross the block at the historic Auburn Auction Park, the company�s national headquarters in Auburn, Indiana.
Towing a camper full of fishing gear across the country is nothing new; marine products representative J.M. Keely saw much of the southeastern United States from just such a rig in the middle of the Great Depression. Keely modified his new 1931 Ford Model A Deluxe and custom-built trailer (est. $150,000 - $225,000) for heavy-duty road use, and it provided him a sales platform as well as on-the-road accommodations. Once retired from the road, the Keely combo lived in storage for many decades until its recent restoration.
The nautical-themed, custom-built, single-axle camper is a 20-foot-long |
rolling fishing cabin with twin bunk beds, a hooded gas stove, icebox, sink, writing desk and cabinets housing Keely�s original enamelware cookery and utensils. A 25-gallon water tank with hand pump serves the camper, and an attachment allows �shore water� to be piped aboard. Model A cranks and regulators operate the trailer�s windows, and brass screens keep the mosquitoes away.
In addition to the nearly 1,500 cars for sale, Auburn Fall will feature a seminar and special display devoted to the 50th anniversary of Carroll Shelby�s legendary Cobra and Mustang sports cars.
Tickets to the auction are $15 for a daily pass or $40 for a full event pass, and admission is free for the preview on Wednesday, Aug. 29. There is no charge for the ample on-site parking. The auction runs Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2. Internet, absentee and telephone bidding options are available for those unable to attend the event in person. Full event details and a list of auction offerings are available online at www.auctionsamerica.com or by calling toll free 877-906-2437 (or +1 260-927-9797 outside North America). The auction will stream live online at www.auctionsamerica.com to provide real-time coverage of the event. |
Michigan
DNR offers archery workshops for women Aug 11, 16 The Michigan DNR will present a Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Introduction to Archery workshop in two locations in August: ►Saturday, Aug. 11, 9 AM-noon, Detroit Sportsmen�s Congress (www.D-S-C.org), 49800 Dequindre Road in Utica ►Thursday, Aug. 16, 6-9 PM, Saginaw Field and Stream Club (www.saginawfieldandstream.com), 1296 N. Gleaner Road in Saginaw
This workshop will cover safety, dominant eye, proper shooting form/technique, various archery equipment, maintenance and selection.
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The course will also provide hands-on practice shooting a bow with assistance by instructors. All equipment will be provided, and no skill level is required.
Girls age 10 and older are welcome to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Cost for both adults and youngsters is $20 per person. For registration forms and more information on this and other BOW events, visit www.michigan.gov/bow, email [email protected] or call 517-241-2225. |
MUCC says Court Ruling is Attack on Shooting Range Rights LANSING, MI � Michigan citizens have the statutory right to operate a shooting range without fear of nuisance lawsuits. That right was granted under protections established in 1989 with the passage of the Sport Shooting Ranges Act. But a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling attempts to deny those rights to Michigan�s citizens. Because of this, Michigan United Conservation Clubs has stepped in to ensure the Michigan Supreme Court rights this wrong.
MUCC has filed an Amicus Curiae brief with the Michigan Supreme Court in the case of Township of Addison v. Jerry Kline Barnhart. The brief supports defendant Jerry Barnhart�s application for leave to appeal the Supreme Court from a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling that denies the majority of sporting shooting ranges across Michigan the protections granted under the Sport Shooting Range Act (SSRA) (Public Act 269 of 1989).
The case at hand stems from earlier disputes between the two parties that were thrown out in Oakland County�s lower courts. The Michigan Court of Appeals inexplicably overruled these courts, and turned the case into a broad mandate against shooting ranges by declaring that any evidence to show that a range was being used for �business or commercial purposes� nullified SSRA protection for those ranges.
In fact, the act makes no mention of disallowing protections for any type of shooting range, whether public, private, nonprofit, or commercially run. Instead, the SSRA expressly includes ranges run by proprietorships, partnerships, and corporations � all of which are types of commercial business entities.
The Court of Appeals� unprecedented narrowing of the SSRA would also leave in its wake shooting ranges that have been the staples of sportsmen�s clubs and conservation organizations for generations. Most clubs routinely charge fees for range use and instructional classes and sell ammunition and equipment, both to cover range costs and as a way of raising revenue for the club. In fact, most clubs and ranges would not be able to continue operating without generating revenue from the range.
All of these are types of business and commercial activity that have always been acceptable ways to run a club and shooting range that were suddenly put at risk by the Court of Appeals.
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�What we have is a poorly-constructed decision by a court that�s at best unfamiliar with shooting ranges or, at worst, blatantly anti-gun. The decision by the Michigan Court of Appeals flies directly in the face of what the SSRA was designed to do � protect all compliant Michigan sport shooting ranges from the bevy of junk lawsuits and burdensome ordinances against them that have followed from the expansion and development in areas around shooting ranges,� said MUCC�s Executive Director Erin McDonough. �MUCC was one of the driving forces behind the adoption of the SSRA back in 1989, and worked for the broader protections sought in the 1994 amendments because local governments and the people developing around ranges were using lawsuits and new ordinances to harass and shut down sport shooting ranges that had been established for decades.
�Recreational shooting is an incredibly popular and family-oriented recreational activity both statewide and nationally, with more than 21 million Americans taking part in some type of shooting activity each year,� McDonough said. �Not only do shooting sports put hundreds of millions of dollars into our economy, but in an increasingly busy world, it is another way to get kids and families outdoors. MUCC hopes the Michigan Supreme Court will look at this case and consider not only the poor legal precedent the Court of Appeals decision sets, but also the harm done to the future of our sport shooting tradition in the state of Michigan.�
McDonough also noted that MUCC has close to 125 member clubs that maintain shooting ranges, many of whom charge membership and shooting fees, provide instruction and safety classes for fees, and sell ammunition and equipment. Nearly all of them would be denied the protections of the SSRA under the appeals court�s ruling.
The SSRA, originally adopted in 1989, was based on the Right to Farm Act for the purpose of preserving and protecting the existence of all shooting ranges from lawsuits and local ordinances brought on as urban sprawl moved new development into rural areas. The act specified that the shooting ranges covered by the act must have been in existence at the time of the amendment in 1994, and must comply with generally accepted operation practices. No other requirements are asked of the ranges in order to be protected by the act.
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DNR offers ladies-only hunter education class Aug 25 The Michigan DNR Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program will offer a free hunter education class for ladies only on Saturday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Caledonia Sportsman�s Club.
This is a home-study course, and participants must review the materials prior to attending. The class will include review of materials previously studied at home, range time and the test for certification. A hot dog lunch will be provided, compliments of Caledonia Sportsman�s Club, or attendees may bring a sack lunch if they prefer.
Participants may choose to get the course booklet by mail or study the course online. Those who would like materials mailed to them should fill out the registration form and return it no later than Aug. 16 to allow for delivery of the booklet and pre-study before the class. Those choosing the |
online option should visit www.hunterexam.com/usa/michigan or www.hunter-ed.com/michigan and obtain a certificate prior to the class. There is a third-party fee involved with the online course.
Youngsters are welcome to attend and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Class size is limited, and pre-registration is required.
The Caledonia Sportsman's Club is located one mile south of 100th Street, at 10721 Coldwater Ave., about six miles east of Caledonia and three miles west of Freeport. For more information about the club, visit www.csc.us.com.
For registration forms and more information on this and other BOW events, visit www.michigan.gov/bow, email [email protected] or call 517-241-2225. |
Wisconsin
Meetings to discuss Lake Michigan trout/salmon stocking, Aug 7, 9MILWAUKEE � Another round of public meetings is set for August 7 in Green Bay and for August 9 in Milwaukee to discuss the results from online surveys conducted in April on potential stocking reductions in Lake Michigan that scientists say are necessary to balance game fish with the available food source. In addition, tentative information concerning the details of the reductions will also be discussed.
The meetings will both begin at 6:30 p.m. and be held: ►August 7, Green Bay � DNR Northeast Region Headquarters , 2984 Shawano Ave ►August 9, Milwaukee �WATER Institute, 600 E. Greenfield Ave
"We want to go over the results from an online survey that anglers were asked to complete gauging their preferred option for salmon and trout reductions and discuss tentative details of how each state will implement those reductions slated to start in 2013." says Brad Eggold, the Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Fisheries Supervisor.
�Despite an exceptional coho harvest and good size-at-age among chinook salmon in 2011, lake-wide forage assessments and computer modeling conducted by Michigan State University researchers suggest that the number of trout and salmon being stocked in Lake Michigan |
exceeds what can be supported by the available prey fish in the future,� says Bill Horns, the Department of Natural Resources Great Lakes fisheries specialist.
"The computer modeling as well as forage and game fish survey data suggests that we risk a future collapse in both alewives and game fish if stocking levels stay the same," he says. "Concern about the stability of the Lake Michigan alewife population has increased in recent years as we have watched the dramatic declines in Chinook salmon harvest in Lake Huron after alewife populations there crashed."
Biologists in the four states bordering Lake Michigan have reviewed model results and consulted with interested anglers regarding future stocking policies. The Wisconsin meetings, as did the initial Benton Harbor, Michigan meeting, examined five options pulled together in workshops over the last year by the states' fisheries biologists and representatives of fishing and other interested groups.
The options include sticking with current stocking levels or implementing one of four reduced stocking patterns for chinook salmon, coho salmon, steelhead, brown trout, and lake trout. According to the models, the probability of reducing alewife abundance to an unacceptable level can be reduced seven-fold, from 23 to 3 percent by implementing one of the stocking options. |
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