The Legacy of a
River
is an amazing gift…
Please consider including Michigan Trout Unlimited in your estate plans, trust or will. The
legacy you leave will help ensure Michigan’s cold waters and trout live on.
MITU has a helpful guide to planned giving options that can both benefit you as well as
providing a legacy to coldwater protection.
To view this brochure, visit michigantu.org/plannedgiving, or request a paper copy from
Bryan Burroughs, Executive Director
[email protected]
Spring Special!
For the Love of Trout
by George A. Griffith,
Founder of Trout Unlimited
Trade Edition
$18.00
Collector’s
Edition Leather
Bound
Signed &
Numbered
$75.00
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By Art Neumann - $15.00
Only Available w/ Book Purchase
Please add $6.00 Postage per each Item
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Payable To: MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED
C/O Tom Quail, 2575 Orbit Drive,
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or order online @
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Buy Your Groceries,
Save a Trout Stream
If you do your grocery shopping at Kroger or its
affiliate stores in the state, your grocery purchases
will earn cash for Michigan TU through the company’s
Kroger Community Rewards Program.
With a simple one-time registration into the
program, Kroger will donate 5% of your grocery
purchases each and every time you do your
shopping. That’s right…your grocery shopping
generates a cash donation to TU from Kroger! That’s
right…no cost to you!
This program is a ridiculously easy way to donate
a few bucks a week to coldwater conservation
every time you do your grocery shopping. Kroger’s
program uses your existing Kroger Plus customer
card…there is no separate card, matching payment,
or minimum purchase requirement.
Visit our website to sign up!
www.michigantu.org/kroger
Spring 2016
MICHIGAN TROUT MAGAZINE
P.O. Box 442
Dewitt, Michigan 48820-8820
(517) 599-5238
[email protected]
EDITOR
Joe Barker
(586) 206-1414
[email protected]
LAYOUT
Ron Peckens
Fisheye Internet Solutions & Hosting LLC
(248) 909-2916
www.fisheyeinternet.com
ADVERTISING
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MICHIGAN TROUT UNLIMITED
Chairman: John Walters
Vice Chairman: Tom Quail
Treasurer: Robb Smith Sr.
Secretary: Tim O’Connor
Executive Director:
Dr. Bryan Burroughs
Aquatic Biologist:
Kristin Thomas
NLC Representative: Dave Smith
Development Chair: Tom Quail
Education & Chapter Assistance
Chair: David M. Smith
Communications: Ron Peckens
Conservation:
Advocacy - Jeff Jocks
Government Affairs - Paul Rose
Operations & Finance Chair:
Ed Roden
MICHIGAN TROUT is the official
publication of Michigan Trout Unlimited.
Copyright 2016.
Issues are mailed to all members of
Trout Unlimited Chapters throughout Michigan.
Send all editorial and advertising correspondence
to the editor.
Advertising rate card is available at the following
address michigantu.org/advertising
Michigan Trout and Michigan
Trout Unlimited reserves the
right to accept or reject proposed
advertisements at their sole discretion.
Cover by John Walters. Pictured are Glen Eberly
(foreground), and John McKnight (Headwaters
Chapter members), fishing the Holy Waters of the
Au Sable River downstream of the Lower TU Access.
In the state where Trout Unlimited was founded, Michigan
TU will work to ensure clean, healthy streams and rivers
supporting thriving populations of wild trout and salmon for
future generations to enjoy.
CONTENTS
4
Michigan TU Chairman’s Report
by John Walters
5
Opening Day Lineup
by Ann Miller
6
Michigan TU Chapter Updates
by Joe Barker
8
Not Just a Ditch
Submitted by Ron Barch, Schrems West
Michigan Chapter TU
10 Aquaculture Update
by Dr. Bryan Burroughs
12 Financing Michigan TU Activities
by Ed Roden and Robb Smith
14 Spring Trout Fishing in Michigan
by Chuck Hawkins, Hawkins Outfitters
16 A River Runs Through It
by John Walters
18 Coldwater River Temperatures Higher
by Kristin Thomas
Aquatic Ecologist, Michigan Trout Unlimited
20 My Journey to Trout Unlimited
by Marci Cisneros
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
4
Michigan TU Chairman’s Report
Spring 2016
Spring is a special season for many of us. It is the
time of year for new life and new beginnings. It is
the anticipation of standing shin deep wearing rubber
pants seeing your first mayfly and casting an artificial
fly to a rising trout, holding that handful of color for
a photo, and then releasing it into the chilly spring
water. Whether you desire to catch them all, only
the big ones, or just be out there with your fishing
partner, I wish you all a very safe and memorable
trout season. Take pictures!!! Please submit those
pictures to our Michigan Trout editor, Joe Barker. We
would like the opportunity to use them.
It is banquet season!!! This is one of my favorite
times of year. Seeing great friends, meeting new
friends, celebrating a successful year, and raising
money for coldwater conservation with a party
atmosphere is something I thoroughly enjoy. There
is a list of chapter banquets on the michigantu.org
website. Please check out the various dates and make
plans to attend. For most chapters, a banquet is
their main event for fundraising. TU is different than
any other national conservation organization in that
100% of the money raised at the banquet stays with
the local chapter. Each chapter board decides how
that money is spent. I am impressed with how much
money stays in local areas and is spent on resources.
Please donate to your local chapter; every dollar
makes a difference. I plan on attending many of the
chapter banquets. I look forward to meeting or seeing
you again. I wish each chapter the greatest success
this banquet season. Have Fun!!!
I would like to thank you for your end-of-year
contributions. These donations are a significant part
of Michigan TU funding. We utilize these dollars
very responsibly to benefit Michigan coldwater
resources. Michigan TU employs two staff members.
Executive Director Bryan Burroughs works closely
with chapters on various restoration and conservation
by John Walters
issues, coordinates with our partners on those
issues, and meets with regulators and legislators to
improve state regulations and laws that protect our
coldwater resources. Aquatic Ecologist Kristin Thomas
coordinates our River Stewards Program. She works
very closely with our chapters and partners on instream data collection efforts. The data is analyzed
and a report for each stream is compiled. Much of
the data that is collected is utilized by Michigan
DNR fisheries biologists. Michigan TU works very
closely with these biologists to improve coldwater
watersheds and trout fisheries. These reports provide
information on what a river system needs so that
we can prioritize habitat enhancement. Both Bryan
and Kristin are vital to the day–to–day activities that
Michigan TU needs to accomplish our objectives,
which we all value. I truly enjoy working with them to
achieve our goals. Bryan and Kristin, I thank you.
www.michigantu.org
Nymphs of the Little Mahogany are classified
as “crawlers,” but really don’t fit the typical robust
profile. Long and lean, the most distinctive feature
is their forked or prong-like gills on their abdomens.
Reddish-brown in color, the delicate looking nymphs
are well camouflaged as they clamber in and about
the streambed gravel, decaying wood, and leaf packs.
They are prolific in well-oxygenated streams across
Michigan.
Prior to emergence, the nymphs migrate to
quieter waters where they often congregate in great
numbers or “schools.” I’ve observed them in April
in quiet, shallow pools en masse one day, gone the
next. This is a good time to dead drift a nymph along
stream edges. Sparsely dressed patterns tied on 1XL
hooks work well or check the custom patterns that
are tied and illustrated by Tim Scott in my book. Fish
the nymph as a dropper well below a dry imitation for
trout in shallow pools.
Duns will begin emerging in mid to late April
across mid-Michigan and really get going the first
week of May, depending, of course, on seasonal
conditions. Be on-stream and ready for them around
noon where they will hatch at or just below the
surface in quiet waters. Their bodies are mahogany
brown in color with solid smoke-gray wings. Other
characteristics include three tails and a hind wing that
is small and perfectly elliptical.
During rainy or snowy conditions, they may float
a long distance downstream before finally escaping
and flying off. I like a Comparadun or No-Hackle
imitation in size #16-18. Because the fish are taking
the naturals in quiet seams, the take can be subtle,
so use a long tippet and make sure the fly gets
presented first. Spinners look similar to the duns
but more intense in body color and with clear wings.
Mating swarms will occur in mid to late afternoon
and Rusty Spinners in #16-18 will work, again using
stealthy skills.
This time of year there can be two other hatches
that may potentially cause confusion with Little
Mahoganies. As mentioned earlier, Blue Wing Olives
might stump the angler - their bodies are lighter
tan in color, but more obviously, they have two
tails, which they twitch back and forth constantly as
though a nervous twitch inhabited their little behinds.
They can also be a size smaller, so if you get into the
hatch and can’t decide what the fish are feeding on,
try throwing a #16 Little Mahogany and a #18 BWO.
Hendricksons are much larger at #12-14, but also
have three tails -- the females are brown while males
are pinkish-brown. Make sure your early spring fly
box is equipped in advance to cover all three hatches.
Ann Miller is the author of Hatch Guide
for Upper Midwest Streams (Frank Amato
Publications, 2011; ISBN -13: 978-157188-481-7; $29.95).
Spring 2016
Little Mahoganies are sandwiched between Blue
Wing Olives (Baetis tricaudatus) and Hendricksons
(Ephemerella subvaria) and hatches can overlap,
making it important to be able to tell the difference
amongst the three. Before discussing those
differences, let’s examine some of the finer points of
the Paraleps mayfly.
by Ann Miller
5
One of our early spring hatchers that doesn’t get
much respect is Paraleptophlebia adoptiva, maybe
in part because it’s such a mouthful to say. Paraleps,
as they are called by some, including myself, are
commonly referred to as Little Mahoganies, but have
a litany of other handles, including Mahogany Dun,
Slate Winged Mahogany Dun, Blue Quill, Blue Winged
Dun, Iron Blue Dun, Dark Blue Quill, Early Blue Quill,
and Dark Brown Spinner. (Trust me, scientific names
are easier...).
Michigan Trout
Opening Day Lineup
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
6
Michigan TU Chapter Updates
NORTH BRANCH RIVER ACCESS PROJECT
Spring 2016
This past summer, the Challenge Chapter joined
with Glen Eberly, a member of the Lovells Township
Historical Society, and the North Branch Association
Group for a much needed project at the Morley Road
access site on the lower North Branch of the Au Sable
River. The access is located just below North Down
River Road. Kenny Reed from Huron Pines served as
work superintendent and between the two groups a
crew of twelve hard-working individuals tore out what
was left of the dilapidated access. Considerable time
and some backs were saved when a member of the
crew went home and retrieved his tractor with a front
bucket. Eventually, the crew was able to tear out
old timbers and install new ones with backfill and a
crushed limestone topping.
The Chapter has worked in the past with Huron
Pines on new stair projects on the lower Au Sable
River at Davis Rest and Bear Island, plus a few
other large erosion control projects.
They plan to work with both groups
this coming year on a yet to be
determined project on the North
Branch.
to fish. A rod, reel, and tackle box full of gear were
given to each participant. A sixth program is already
being planned for 2016 and TU members will be
there to help. The chapter has provided funds for
the program and for a “Take a Kid Fishing!” map and
guide to public lakes and streams in the mid-Michigan
area.
SALMON IN THE CLASSROOM PROGRAM GETS
BIG ASSIST
The Leon P. Martuch Chapter has been
participating in the Salmon in the Classroom
Program for more than six years. Currently, the
Chapter proudly sponsors seven programs in Central
Michigan, including Saginaw High School, Gladwin
High School, Northeast Middle School – Midland, St.
Brigid’s School – Midland, Midland Academy, Floyd
Elementary - Bullock Creek, and Hemlock Middle
School. These local programs reach over 1,000
students each year.
YOUTH FISHING PROGRAM
ENTERS SIXTH YEAR
Members of the Perrin-Lansing
Chapter have been active in
promoting youth fishing for many
years. Last year Chapter members
mentored children from 5 to 16
years of age at the Dr. Bill Earl
Youth Fishing Program in Lansing.
This was the fifth anniversary of
the event and was held on the first
three Saturdays in May. Over 150
children attended the event where
basic fishing skills were taught such
as casting, knot tying and rigging,
as well as regulations and fishing
ethics. Afterwards, time was made
by Joe Barker
Perrin-Lansing Chapter Youth Program
www.michigantu.org
7
The Yellow Dog is a small spring
fed stream in northern Marquette
County and is a favorite for trout
fishers, both from the area and
tourists from outside the Upper
Peninsula. The wild and scenic
stretch of river sought to be
purchased from a private lumber
company includes several waterfalls
and deep pools.
Michigan Trout
property, approximately $1.2 million,
and to develop the Community
Forest Plan. As of January 2016, the
group has obtained commitments for
approximately 70% of the needed
funding and other grant applications
have been submitted.
WOMEN IN WADERS
Salmon in the Classroom is a year-long program
in which teachers receive fertilized salmon eggs
from a Michigan DNR fish hatchery in the fall, hatch
them out, feed and raise the fry through spring, and
then release the young salmon into a local river. The
program requires a commitment from an educator
to teach students about our Great Lakes ecosystem
and fisheries management. The program has been
in Michigan schools for over a decade and has grown
and now boasts over 180 schools. It requires schools
to purchase the necessary equipment, including a
tank, chiller, and other supplies. This initial expense
is about $1,200, a significant hurdle for many
schools, which is where the Chapter
provides financial assistance.
...continued on page 21
PROJECT TO PROTECT RIVER
FROM PRIVATE DEVELOPMENT
The Fred Waara Chapter is
partnering with seven other non-profit
conservation organizations in a major
project to protect a valuable stretch
of the Yellow Dog River. The goal is
to purchase approximately 700 acres
of forest land that includes about five
miles of river rather than allowing it
to be sold to multiple private owners
who would develop the riverfront
and preclude public access. The
land would become the Yellow Dog
Community Forest, be owned by
the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
land conservancy, and would remain
accessible to the public forever. The
coalition is working to both raise
the funds needed to purchase the
Removal of dam remnants from the Childsdale stretch of the Rogue River
Spring 2016
Project to protect the Yellow Dog River
Photo courtesy of Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve
The William B. Mershon Chapter
is sponsoring their first all-women’s
event on Saturday, May 21, 2016, at
the Saginaw Bay Visitor’s Center for
those new to the sport or just wanting to improve
their skills. John VanDalen, an experienced casting
instructor, will be holding small group casting classes;
Ann Miller, author of “Match the Hatch” will present
information on Michigan entomology and how to
use this knowledge when choosing flies; and Katie
Hambone Ferner, developer of “Women Only” fly
fishing clinics, will share her expertise on fishing
species such as smallmouth bass, steelhead, salmon,
and trout. Michigan Fly Girls, an International
Federation of Fly Fishers club, will be on hand to
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Photo courtesy of Dave DeYoung
Michigan Trout
Not Just A Ditch
8
Spring 2016
It took a while for the impact of the situation
to sink in. As I stood on the M-43 Bridge looking
downstream, my initial reaction was disbelief, then
hope, followed by anger and finally a profound
sadness. My stream, my home waters, were ailing,
afflicted by a drain code more interested in ditches
than trout streams. What was once picturesque was
now ugly, just a ditch. And, to make matters worse
as the sickness traveled downstream, the disease,
the drain code, destroyed, no killed, no murdered, my
secret fishing spot, my honey hole.
Below the bridge, with a short wade, but far
enough to prevent the part-time angler’s exploration,
was my favorite go-to stretch of the Coldwater
River. A beat of riffle and pool, a bend shaded by
overhanging branches, which provided cover for the
best fish, the ones that could snap a tippet and leave
a smile. I remember so well the old log that always
held a good riser, and if my cast was good I’d hook
em and maybe even land em! Now that’s all gone,
it’s just a ditch. My go-to honey hole is no more,
destroyed by a bulldozer, a backhoe, the drain code, a
careless contractor, and a county drain commissioner
that just wanted to “tidy things up a bit.”
In 1884, according to Scott Hanshue
of the Michigan DNR, the Coldwater River
was first stocked with brook trout. I think
it is safe to say that at one time the water quality of
the Coldwater was good enough for brook trout. In
local eateries and taverns, around plates of eggs and
hash browns or beer and burgers, you’ll hear the old
guys talk of specks and tributaries like Messer Brook,
although I haven’t been able to confirm those stories.
On the other hand, area anglers, well respected fly
fishermen, share those same stories.
It was spring and the mayflies were hatching
when I invited my good friend Peter Jones to share
a day on the Coldwater River fishing for brown trout.
Peter lives on the banks of the Upper Manistee,
is internationally recognized for his prowess as a
fly caster in the classic style and an old pal of Art
Neumann. Peter is a TU member and continues to
carry the torch in support of coldwater fisheries. I’d
like to share his comments after spending a day
fishing the Coldwater:
Many thanks for your hospitality in sharing the
Coldwater. I had a truly wonderful day. It
doesn’t get any better.
The river reminded me of fishing the Fromme
River last year in England. The Coldwater is a
better stream with more fish, more interesting
Photo courtesy of Jim Bedford of Lansing TU
Lately, I have been considering a grief counselor.
You know, the kind of mental health
professional that deals with the loss of
a loved one. I’m an angler and as such
prone to some exaggeration. But in
the case of the Coldwater River disaster
(see Michigan Trout, Summer 2015),
I don’t believe I’m telling a tall tale or
stretching the extent of our loss. A good
trout stream, one of the best in Southwest
Michigan, has been dealt a mortal blow.
While the politicians, lawyers, and
environmental regulators meet, stream
banks erode, gravel runs disappear, and
piles of stumps, logs, and brush prevent
folks from using their land or even taking a
walk down along the river.
Submitted by Ron Barch
Schrems West Michigan Chapter TU
www.michigantu.org
places to cast to and without a permit fee of
$110.00 per rod, per day. In Michigan we are
very fortunate to have the fishing we have for
the comparable pittance that a fishing license
costs.
Five carloads of dredge equipment were
shipped in by railroad in pieces, hauled
by horse-drawn wagons to the site and
assembled there. Work started on the Little
Thornapple downstream, so that Jordan
Lake water level would not be lowered. The
dredge was assembled on the east side of
the bridge of what is now known as Wellman
Road. Dynamite was used to blow a big hole
in the stream then dirt was pushed in at the
bridge to raise the water level and the dredge
was assembled in the river. As soon as the
dredge had dug for a little distance a cook’s
shack was built on a barge and towed on
the project. The dredge dug its way all the
way to the Freeport mill pond, and then was
disassembled to be moved to the next job.
Over time, Mother Nature began the healing
process and in the past 30 years she has received
some much needed help. Area TU chapters, Chicago
area’s Oakbrook Chapter, the Coldwater River
Watershed Council, Student Stream Teams, and a
host of volunteers have donated their time, effort,
and resources to rebuild the river.
Classic trout streams like the Au Sable and
Manistee have special places with treasured names
like Guide’s Rest and the CCC Bridge. The Coldwater
River is no different. After the evening hatch has
ended, anglers will often gather at the Shamrock
Pub to drink a beer and swap stories. Tall tales
will be told about their day casting around Brown
Road or upstream near the Pipe Line run. If the
early black stoneflies are popping, talk will turn
to the Refrigerator Hole or maybe Marv’s Pool. As
Tyler Creek, a tributary, which flows through
a golf course and campground, is a sweet little
creek and home to some bruiser brown trout. In
2006, after manure ended up in the creek causing
a massive fish kill, extensive restoration work was
performed by TU chapters along with the CRWC.
Today, with the help and watchful eye of the manager
and staff of the golf course, Tyler Creek is a clean,
quiet, healthy haven for brown trout. And let’s hope
it stays that way.
The Dolan Nature Preserve is the real gem within
the Coldwater watershed. In 1983, Dr. James Maher,
a Grand Rapids physician, donated 127 acres of his
family’s holdings to Schrems West Michigan Chapter.
The name Dolan is in memory of his mother’s family.
The property is bordered on the east by Tyler Creek
and on the south by the Coldwater River. Extensive
restoration work, both to the land and streams, has
been done over the years with amazing results. Trout
numbers have grown with estimates of increases
from forty to eight hundred fish per mile. All this is
open to the public via well marked and maintained
trails.
All this is potentially threatened by the destructive
work which took place upstream in 2014-15. The
current Michigan Drain Code threatens not only a fine
trout stream like the Coldwater but many others: Gun
and Rogue Rivers, Augusta, Dowagiac, Brandywine,
Rice, Mill, and Paint Creeks, along with Mentha Drain,
just to mention a small part of a longer list.
The citizens of Michigan, led by concerned anglers
and environmentally aware outdoor men and women
can, before another trout stream is laid waste, make
a difference. Michigan’s outdated, destructive drain
code needs revision and the unbridled power of
county drain commissioners needs to be restrained
and regulated. Write a letter, attend a meeting,
make a contribution, or simply talk to your neighbor.
The choice is ours, we can have trout streams or
ditches.
Spring 2016
It has been almost 100 years since the Little
Thornapple River, which is the headwaters of the
Coldwater River, and the Coldwater itself, were first
dredged. The date was 1916 and the rationale was
that “farmland had to be drained before it could
produce to its full potential.” A description of the
dredging operation follows:
9
Abuse is nothing new to the Coldwater River
watershed and perhaps early settlers found it
necessary to destroy wetlands and dredge rivers in
order to make a go of it. On the other hand, I am
not certain it’s in society’s best interest to trade a kid
playing in the creek for profit for Concentrated Animal
Feeding Operations (CAFOs), manure, pesticides,
herbicides, ethanol, and ditches.
Bridge crossings from M-43 downstream to
Whitneyville Road all offer access. Stay below the
high water mark, respect the landowner’s wishes,
carry out whatever you bring in, and you’ll be
welcome. Coldwater Park in the river’s lower section
has a nice parking lot and streambank restoration
makes it a possible big fish location. Get to know a
local farmer or home owner and your walk to good
water could be a short one. One nice guy even lets
anglers drive across his property and park next to the
stream, his way of saying thank you for clearing log
jams and restoration work.
Michigan Trout
Fortunately, the meadow Peter and I fished that
day has been spared (for now) the onslaught of the
bulldozer and backhoe. The spot that local anglers
call “heaven on earth” is downstream from the
devastation and was saved only because of an outcry
by concerned members of TU and the Coldwater River
Watershed Council. But I’m worried about what next
spring will bring.
the evening and the suds progress, mention will
be made--in hushed tones--of the Riffles, Farmer’s
Bridge, the Monument, or if you’re a good friend, the
Meadow, where the blue-winged olives and selective
brown trout test an angler’s patience. It’ll take years
and the purchase of a few beers to learn about these
spots, but avid anglers are fortunate to have easy
access to some other pretty good water if they just
take the time to look around.
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Photo courtesy of Drew YoungDyke
Michigan Trout
10
Aquaculture Update
Spring 2016
Over a year ago, Michigan Trout Unlimited was
among the first entities to write about the emerging
issue of aquaculture expansion in Michigan and
warn about the potential ramifications. Since then,
aquaculture expansion has developed into a fullblown, critical issue. Today, it is at the forefront of
policy discussions in the State Capitol.
If we have your email address, you’ve received
some action alerts on this issue from us recently.
The purpose of this article is to give you more
comprehensive background on how the issue has
developed, to highlight what’s next, and to make
you aware of what you need to know and do to
advocate on this critically important issue. As with
all hot button political issues, writing this now comes
at the risk of it being partially outdated by the time
it reaches your mailbox. To get the most current
information, make sure we have your email address
and check our website.
Separating the Issue into Two
The two issues regarding aquaculture expansion
in Michigan today are: (1) the Grayling fish farm
on the East Branch of the Au Sable River; (2) Great
Lakes net pen fish farming. While they are related
in some important ways, they are also distinct and
worth discussing separately.
Grayling
A fish farm has been given a permit to operate on
the East Branch of the Au Sable River in downtown
Grayling, a short distance upstream of the confluence
with the mainstem of the Au Sable. The operator is
Dan Vogler of Henrietta Hills Trout Farm. The public
comment period for the permit application was last
year. Comments were provided jointly by Michigan
TU, Mason-Griffith Chapter of TU, and Anglers of the
Au Sable.
There were numerous deficiencies with the
proposed permit, but perhaps key among them
by Dr. Bryan Burroughs
was the proposed nutrient levels in the effluent
waters discharged by the operation. The Michigan
DEQ provided scientific guidance on thresholds
of impact to the river’s biota caused by different
levels of nutrient effluent. The application proposed
to discharge about three times more nutrients
than would cause impacts to some of the river’s
important biota (like mayflies, stoneflies, and brook
trout). The DEQ lowered the effluent limits in the
final permit, but still approved them at more than
twice their recommended levels. They did that by
using a loophole in the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit rules, leading to
subjective standards that do not ensure the river is
protected.
Anglers of the Au Sable and the Sierra Club filed
an appeal to the permit and an administrative court
hearing began the week of February 8, 2016. An
administrative appeal must be exhausted before
the case can be heard in circuit court. We hope the
administrative judge will see the problems with the
permit and reject it. However, depending on the
outcome, the case may proceed to court. It’s likely
that we will know the result between the writing
of this and the time it reaches your mailbox. We’ll
make every effort to provide you the most up-to-date
information.
Great Lakes Net Pen Farming
This kind of aquaculture takes juvenile fish raised
elsewhere and grows them to harvest size in net
cages suspended in open water, in this case the
Great Lakes. This is being done in ocean waters,
but has not been done in U.S. waters of the Great
Lakes. Ontario allowed several of these operations
in Canadian waters of Lake Huron about 20 -30
years ago, but has not allowed its expansion since
then. It also shut down one operation after finding it
created severe impairment to water resources. A few
Canadian companies have come to Michigan hoping
to start open pen operations in the U.S. waters of the
Great Lakes. This form of fish farming, however,
www.michigantu.org
Second, legislative proponents of aquaculture
released a package of three bills in both the Senate
and House. These bills were sponsored by Senators
Booher, Casperson, Shirkey, and Robertson in the
Senate (SB 681, 682, and 683) and Representatives
Lauwers, Cole, McBroom, and Roberts in the House
(HB 5166, 5167, and 5168). These bills would allow
Great Lakes net penning, create a state funded Office
of Aquaculture Development to promote the industry
and oversee its permitting, require only general
permits for aquaculture (a non-intensive permit
category with little public comment opportunity), and
set required timelines for permit review activities,
among other things.
For the proposed Great Lakes net pens, the
following is a list of high level concerns (please see
our policy for complete details):
• Nutrient pollution, anoxic dead zones,
nuisance algae, and harmful toxic algal blooms
• Fish diseases transmitted freely between
livestock fish and wild ones, without an ability
to treat wild fish, causing diseases to become
more virulent
• Escaped fish (domesticated rainbow trout)
that interbreed with wild steelhead, reducing
the fitness of our fisheries and jeopardizing
their ability to thrive
Executive and Legislative Branch
In June 2015, the Quality of Life Bureau (QOL),
which includes the Departments of Natural Resources,
Environmental Quality, and Agriculture and Rural
Development, convened a panel of experts to
review the subject of net penning. Michigan TU
gave testimony at the first meeting. In November
2015, the panel released reports and held a public
comment period. Michigan TU commented in detail
on the reports (the comments are on our website).
In February 2016, the panel released a report on the
public comments they received (link to it is on our
website), which showed overwhelming opposition
to net pens. The QOL stated they plan to release a
report of their findings, but to date has not.
Michigan TU commissioned a statewide poll on
this subject through EPIC·MRA, a highly-regarded
and experienced survey research firm. The results,
released in February 2016, showed that about 70% of
Michigan residents oppose Great Lakes net penning.
This was consistent across all demographics of
gender, location, age, and political persuasion. The
only slight deviation was an increased opposition
to net penning from residents located in Northern
Michigan – where the operations are targeted. The
poll results are available on our website.
Several legislative bills have been introduced on
this subject. First was Senator Rick Jones’s Senate
Third, Representative Jon Bumstead introduced
House Bill 5255, which prohibits Great Lakes net
pen fish farming. HB 5255 was referred to the
House Natural Resources Committee and received a
hearing the following week. During the first week
of testimony, the hearing room and overflow room
were completely filled. Support for the bill was
clear. Prompted by movement of HB 5255, the
House Agriculture committee took up hearings on
HB 5166 – 5168 as well. Each committee completed
two hearings on the bills. The testimonies received
can be found for each committee at http://www.
legislature.mi.gov/(S(jgj3u5wx4auj52gxcgylgad1))/
mileg.aspx?page=Committees. While we were
anticipating the House Natural Resources Committee
to vote on the bill the week of February 16th and to
send it to the House floor, we are learning that the
Speaker of the House may be holding this off.
We will continue to work with all of our
conservation partners to ensure positive legislation
on these issues. We are seeking an affirmative
prohibition of Great Lakes net pen fish farming and
meaningful regulatory reforms for inland aquaculture
operations; ones that can ensure that our natural
resources will be protected. We will continue to
keep you updated on developments via email action
alerts, In The Stream. We sincerely appreciate the
active participation of so many of you. What is
most needed now is for each of you to contact your
representative and senator to voice your opinion on
these issues. Please take the time to make these
important contacts. Unless you and others do,
HB 5255 may not even be given the chance for a
floor vote. You can find contact information via our
website at www.michigantu.org/advocacy. Thanks
for your support and engagement on these critically
important issues.
Spring 2016
For more background on net penning and its
impacts, please visit our webpage www.michigantu.
org/aquaculture. If you are coming to this issue
fresh, there is a video documentary online at www.
salmonwars.com, which provides a good overview of
all the issues of net penning in marine waters of the
Northeast.
11
Bill 526, which sought prohibition of Great Lakes net
pen fish farming. Unfortunately, its language has
been construed as banning all forms of aquaculture
on all waters of the state. That was not the intent
of the bill, but it has not received a hearing in the
Senate Agriculture Committee (Chair is Joe Hune –
Scio), so clarifying substitute language has not been
able to be adopted.
Michigan Trout
intrinsically poses severe impacts and threats due
to lack of containment and separation from public
waters. Net pen operations are unable to collect
and remove the nutrient wastes created by fish and
feeding, allowing them to be added to the waters
around them. They can’t control or prevent disease
transmission, and despite their best efforts struggle
to keep even their fish contained without escapes.
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
12
Financing Michigan TU Activities
by Ed Roden and Robb Smith
Spring 2016
The Michigan Trout Unlimited development efforts,
better described as fundraising, are rather shortlived compared to Michigan TU’s long history. In
2009, serious discussions were started to create new
and significant income for the operation of Michigan
TU. At that time, Michigan TU was operating on
the generous gifts made from the estates of two
men, John Caseman and George Griffith. It was
also a period when Michigan TU was enjoying and
appreciating the successes of a new executive
director and realized that it had only seven years
before depleting those gifts. The awareness of this
situation was incorporated into our five year strategic
plan that proposed a self-sustaining income strategy
be implemented. This goal started with a fulltime development director and after a year moved
forward with a self-directed fundraising program. A
development committee was formed. As a result
of that committee, the core of our fundraising has
been created and it consists of the following major
components:
1. End of Year Appeal – Sixth year of a formal
process
2. Aquifer Club – Fifth year of $1,000 givers
3. Tributary Club – second year of $250 givers
4. Estate Planning Opportunities
5. Chapter Support – focused on specific needs
6. Foundation grants
7. Corporate grants
2015-2016 Budget Income
Grants
Individual Donations
Chapter Donations
TU National Rebate Other
Corporate Donations (DTE)
34%
28%
19%
10%
10%
0%
230,000
GOAL
$
134,000
$
FUNDS RECEIVED
TO DATE
MITU
Operational
Fundraising
Goal
*Unrestricted funds required
to operate Michigan Trout
Unlimited and its programs.
0
$
The Michigan TU development process has taken
baby steps, hopefully growing into great strides.
We are a long way from being a self-sustaining
organization, but the goal is within sight and the hard
work continues to earn the support of our members,
chapters, and significant donors. We are continually
looking for new ideas and committee members so
please contact anyone on the executive committee if
you are interested in helping.
Where does the Michigan TU money go?
Last year, chapters donated money to fund
two additional interns. Besides freeing up Aquatic
www.michigantu.org
Biologist Kristin Thomas’s time to work on more indepth data analysis, grant reporting, report writing,
and partner communications, the interns engaged in
the following activities:
74%
10%
9%
7%
During a typical year, Kristin completes one or two
published reports for the Michigan TU website. These
are used by chapters for project identification and by
the Michigan DEQ and DNR for use in their studies.
This year four are completed, with another four
scheduled to be published this spring. These include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pigeon River
Pine River
Little Manistee River
Upper Manistee River/Portage Creek (will be
up in the next week or two)
Black River (will be up in next week or two)
Big Sable (should be published by spring)
2014/15 Flow (should be published by spring)
Sturgeon (in progress should be published by
spring)
Coldwater (in progress should be published by
late spring)
This is where your donations go, back to the
resource! If you have any additional questions, do not
hesitate to reach out to Ed Roden or Robb Smith. You
can donate by check or online via PayPal.
Stock Donations
We have recently added the ability for members
and donors to make a stock contribution to Michigan
TU. My first caution is to discuss this with your
financial advisor and/or tax professional to make sure
that you are doing what is most beneficial to both
yourself and Michigan TU.
The short answer benefit to a stock donation is
that you are able to donate an appreciated stock in
your portfolio for the full value on the shares with no
gain or other tax on the transfer, and the ability to
declare the full value of the stock donated (assuming
it has been held for more than one year, and any
other limits the IRS may have).
If you have a depreciated stock, you would do
better to sell it at the loss, take the loss on your
taxes, and then donate the cash. Michigan TU will
not ask whether the stock has lost or increased in
value, we only deal with the FMV (Fair Market Value)
of the stock at the time of donation.
Michigan TU does have a minimum FMV of $1,000
for any donated stock. This is due to the costs that
we will incur. Once the stock has been transferred,
Michigan TU will convert it to cash and either place
it in our operating fund or in our Executive Director
Fund, depending on donation size and need.
Table 1. Thanks to the Motley Fool for this example
Tom
Jerry
Initial Stock Purchase
$5,000 shares in XYZ Corp.
$5,000 shares in XYZ Corp
Value at time of donation
$20,000
$20,000
Action Taken
Sell shares with $15,000 gain
Donate shares to charity
Taxes
$3,000 federal taxes (20% capital
gains rate)
$0
Amount Donated
$17,000
$20,000
28% Tax Bracket/Tax Savings
$4,760
$5,600
Spring 2016
Conservation Management Education Development Paint Creek
Cedar River
Boardman (not whole river)
Boyne River
Silver Creek
Platte
Lower Maple
13
2015-2016 Budget Expenses
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Michigan Trout
• Completed fish sampling at eleven additional
sites
• Completed habitat mapping on four additional
streams
• Completed flow monitoring at ten additional
sites
• Evaluated wood and aquatic vegetation
in the Pine River to prepare for possible
improvement projects
• Completed analysis of stream slope of all
mapped rivers
• Updated website summaries for 2014 flow and
temperature
Other studies to be completed and published by
this summer or fall:
Michigan Trout Unlimited
14
Spring 2016
Opening day of trout season signals the end of
the long, cold winter in Northern Michigan. We sit by
the fire and fashion trout flies out of feathers, furs,
and synthetics, dreaming of big fish when the season
starts. We look at new equipment in catalogs, dream
of far away destinations like Patagonia, Labrador,
Belize, or New Zealand, and we contact our guides
and get our days reserved. But wait...we have many
miles of trout water that is open year-round. So the
trout opener is whenever we have the guts to brave
the weather and give it a try.
Braving the weather means being prepared and
properly attired. Today we are lucky to have so many
different clothing options there is no reason to be
cold. I personally am a big fan of merino wool. I wear
a base layer of capilene long underwear and then a
wool layer over that. Add a pair of insulated wading
pants and a wool hoody covered by waders and a
raincoat. Fingerless gloves are often accompanied
with a heater pack! This outfit helps me stay warm
and comfortable during the cold days of winter and
spring.
For the truly die-hard big trout hunter,
those days before the opener, when it is
warm enough, are prime times. Throwing
streamers with sink tips can produce
some of the largest daytime browns of the
season. The reason is that many of the
waters that hold these twenty-five inch
plus fish in any numbers are also planted
with small rainbows and browns. When the
DNR drops those little morsels into the rivers, good
luck getting the big guys to eat an artificial. If you
can throw larger streamers all day with a sink tip and
believe you will exceed twenty-five inches, this is the
best time of year to do it.
If this is the game you want to play, 250 to
350 grain sink tip fly lines with three foot, twelve
to sixteen pound test leaders is the starting point.
Flies are usually four to eight inches long, big, and
meaty. Russ Madden’s Flash Monkey comes to mind.
Serious hook sizes, hard strikes, and epic battles are
the norm in this game. Every year fish pushing thirty
inches are caught in some sections of the big three:
Manistee, Pere Marquette, and Au Sable Rivers.
Those anglers that haven’t reached that level of
insanity can have great days before and after opening
day fishing smaller waters either wading or from
a boat. If you are considering hitting your favorite
stream first check water levels. Is it fishable for the
species you are pursuing? Catching trout in high
water is a lot different than steelhead. If the river is
blown out, save the day until water levels are better
Photo courtesy of Jon Ray/Mangled Fly Media
Depending on the year, my trout fishing
begins in earnest around mid-April. There
are rivers I want to fish early on when the
big trout are just feeling the strong urge
to eat due to warming waters. There are
other waters that I won’t touch until water
temps have breeched forty degrees. In the
coming paragraphs, I’ll give you some tips
and techniques for catching early season
trout.
by Chuck Hawkins
Hawkins Outfitters
Photo courtesy of Jon Ray/Mangled Fly Media
Michigan Trout
Spring Trout Fishing in Michigan
www.michigantu.org
With a sink tip line, a 250 grain is my favorite;
use about three feet of eight to fifteen pound test
mono or fluorocarbon as a leader. Keep your retrieves
slower with shorter strips. Fish slower holding areas,
woody places, and other areas that are sheltered
from the current. Russ Madden’s Circus Peanut and
my Nutcracker are two of my go-to flies during the
early season. I also tie some unnamed patterns that
are two to three inches long and include a lot of flash
Nymphs and streamers will certainly put trout
in the net during early trout season, but what most
of us are really looking for is that first hatch that
brings fish to the surface. The first hatching insects
of any consequence are black stoneflies. Usually the
water is still too cold for any trout to rise to these
bugs. However, don’t leave home without a few dry
imitations of a black stonefly when you are nymphing
or streamer fishing. I remember a fat seventeen inch
brown that I saw rise and my client caught on a dry
fly. It was April 25th.
More typically the first bugs to actually
consistently bring fish to feed on the surface are the
Hendrickson hatch. We usually start seeing bugs at
about forty-five degree water temps. Seeing bugs is
a big tease until water temps hit fifty degrees. That
is normally what it takes to get trout to rise and eat
these early mayflies. There are some fantastic waters
for Hendricksons in Michigan. The Upper Manistee,
around M-72 and below M-66, and below Mio on
the Au Sable are some of my favorite Hendrickson
waters.
The other dry fly that can come into play in early
season is the Black Caddis. While I’ve gotten a lot
fewer big fish on the Black Caddis than I have on
Hendricksons, I’ve certainly had some great days
fishing this hatch. I’ve done very well during hatches
on a simple Loop Emerger fished as a dropper off the
back of a dun pattern.
In conclusion, the key to successful early season
trout fishing is variety. Be willing and able to fish
nymphs, streamers, or dry flies. Depending on
conditions, water temperature, water levels, and
clarity you may have to employ different methods
and flies on different waters. When the fishing itch
hits you in spring, be thankful for all of the great
rivers in Michigan that will reward your efforts if you
put the time in.
Alder Creek Angling
RODS / READS / ROD MAKING
• Handcrafted Split Bamboo Fly Rods
• Split Bamboo Rod Making Instruction
• Books and Videos for the Angler/Craftsman
Let’s talk about your next fly rod.
Ron Barch
phone: 269-945-2329
email: [email protected]
aldercreekrods.com
aldercreekpublishing.com
Spring 2016
The other option before water temps reach fortyfive degrees is streamer fishing. Streamer fishing
after opening day can be very effective especially if
the water is a little high and off-colored. A wading
angler can fish streamers with either a sink tip or a
floating line. A floating line is a lot easier to manage
while wading, but makes it more difficult to get the
fly deep. Use a nine foot tapered leader, a weighted
fly, and do lots of mending. Flies like my Little Rascal
and Hat Trick are easy to fish with a floating line.
15
The method that you select to use
in early season usually depends on two
things; the water you are fishing and your
fishing method preferences. If you plan
on nymphing, a stretch of water that isn’t
choked with logs makes sense. A simple
indicator that slides up and down your
leader to adjust for depth is a good start.
Below the indicator add a little weight and
then two bead head nymphs. Adjust your
weight so that you get your flies down
quickly. Most of the water I fish has large
populations of Isonychia mayflies so I
always include a Prince Nymph and usually add a
small black stonefly to the mix. Black stones are
active on the bottom when they hatch in spring. I
cast the rig across, throw a big upstream mend, and
then feed line to let it run, dead drift. Set when the
indicator moves.
Michigan Trout
Photo courtesy of Jon Ray/Mangled Fly Media
to fish. If you are a boat angler can you
launch? I hear every year about anglers
trying to get in certain spots on the Upper
Manistee River where the roads don’t get
plowed. Check before you go.
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
A River Runs Through It
16
Spring 2016
“Up North” in the northeast Lower Peninsula of
Michigan lies the “Big Wild,” also known as the Pigeon
River Country State Forest; and in the heart of that
lies the Pigeon River. Just about in the middle of that
watershed was the Song of the Morning Dam (also
known as the “Golden Lotus Dam”). This 125-yearold dam had a long time to do some good for some
people living in the area, and a lot of bad for the river
and its aquatic life. In the summer of 2008, there was
a discharge of sediment killing over 500,000 trout.
There had been three dam failures leading to
fish kills on the river within a fifty-one year period.
In-between those catastrophes, the dam raised
water temperatures in the river and blocked aquatic
organism passage, diminishing the trout fishery for
decades and decades. In 1984, after the second
large fish kill caused by the dam, Michigan Trout
Unlimited (Michigan TU) went to court to have the
dam removed from the river, which did not come to
fruition. In 2008, when the dam once again led to
the catastrophic, Michigan TU and the Pigeon River
Country Association (PRCA) went to court to seek
complete dam removal and a free-flowing river.
Immediately following the catastrophe,
a thorough investigation commenced with
DEQ and DNR biologists and staff. They
uncovered that if the thermal discharge
did not kill the trout, the sediment that
followed did. We all need to thank our
fisheries biologists for the quality and
tremendous attention to detail of the
report they provided in this case.
After six years of negotiations and
legal battles, a settlement agreement was
reached between Michigan TU, PRCA, the
State of Michigan, and Golden Lotus. This
was when the real work began. All parties
agreed to have Huron Pines act as project
coordinator. The first order of business
for the project team was applying and
successfully receiving a grant award from
the Michigan DNR Aquatic Habitat Grant
by John Walters
Program to complement the monetary contributions
to the project made by Golden Lotus. We and our
partners got busy designing, planning, implementing,
fundraising, and executing various parts of the
project.
In May 2014, the drawdown of the impoundment
began. This drawdown was the beginning of the
project and a significant symbolic act. This involved
slow and methodical removal of four-inch stoplogs
from the dam, essentially bringing the water level
behind the dam down from twelve feet to close to
zero feet, four inches at a time. With each stoplog
removal, water stored in the impoundment was
released downstream, along with certain amounts
of organic sediments; potentially dangerous to the
aquatic life if too much was released at any one time.
The plan projected the volume of water and
sediment releases, and the concentrations and their
lethality downstream with each stoplog removal.
The project included monitoring of dissolved oxygen,
total suspended solids, and turbidity, which was
undertaken at various points downstream and at
www.michigantu.org
various times after the removal of each stoplog.
We tracked how our predictions were holding up
and if conditions were remaining safe for the fish
downstream.
The dam removal process involved demolition
of all concrete abutments and the base of the dam
in the bottom of the river. The concrete base of the
dam and water acceleration over it is what blocked
fish passage in the river. The river was constricted
to twenty-two feet in width at the dam site. With
full removal of the dam, the river was restored
to its natural bank width of thirty-five feet. Utility
lines through the dam were rerouted deeply under
the river. The road over the top of the dam was
replaced with a new timber bridge that was installed
in November 2015. This bridge spans the thirty-five
foot width of the river and has no center supports
which could negatively affect the river. Taking into
consideration the approach on either side of the
river, the new bridge is approximately seventy feet in
length and has a beautiful aesthetic appeal.
Spring 2016
In early fall of 2015, a sediment collection basin,
or sand trap, was constructed downstream of the
dam to capture and remove as much sand and
sediment as possible. This sand trap is located just
downstream of Golden Lotus’ geodesic dome (visible
in aerial photos) and is the full width of the river, ten
feet in depth and over two hundred feet in length.
When the physical dam removal occurred, sand
from the upper portion of the former impoundment
began moving downstream in large volumes. The
sand trap is emptied frequently enough to be as
effective as possible. Since the dam removal occurred
in November 2015, the sand trap has been emptied
three times. It is not possible to collect the smallest
particles, but the trap is designed to capture the
majority of sand.
No big, important, profound change comes
without tremendous effort. It took three fish kills
on the Pigeon River, six years of legal efforts, years
of careful planning and design, and unforeseen
obstacles to fundraising to get this dam removed.
The Pigeon River is one of the highest quality rivers
in our state and has land protection around it to
ensure it stays so for a long time to come. The
Golden Lotus Dam has been the biggest fundamental
detriment to the quality of the Pigeon River. There
has been nothing else so powerful and meaningful
we could have done to help this river achieve its full
potential. It has been pure work at every step of the
process to get to this point, but it has all been worth
it. Michigan TU is thankful to its supporters and
members who have given us the ability to contribute.
17
To the human eye, it was a dramatic change. The
river began looking like a river again, yet there will
be much more change and restoration in the years
to come. One quirk of the process was unexpected
yet not surprising. Midway upstream in the former
impoundment, a large collection of wood debris
appeared that had long ago sunk to the bottom of
the impoundment. The wood debris was compacted
with sediment and resisted erosion from the new
river flow. This partially worked to our advantage,
giving the project team more time to fully implement
sand management activities before the actual dam
removal.
Michigan Trout
We couldn’t be more excited, proud, and fortunate
to report that throughout the summer 2014 the
entire dam drawdown was completed without
incident and levels stayed well below our cautious
predictions. To our knowledge, this was the first
dam removal in Michigan that successfully navigated
controlled releases of large volumes of fine organic
muck sediments. Upstream of the dam the river cut
a channel exposing mud flats, which naturally revegetated quickly.
We may have to manually remove the wood
debris jams in the former impoundment to help
begin the stream slope restoration process. This
will allow the river to cut a channel to its new
equilibrium point and provide a higher slope, faster
water, more gravel substrates, and allow numerous
other restoration processes to continue. We strongly
recommend anglers to NOT wade through the former
impoundment as the river bottom is very unstable.
Currently, the following list of entities have
financially contributed to the project: MI DNR
–Aquatic Habitat Grant (angler license fees
derived),Golden Lotus Inc. (dam owners), reallocated
fines from Golden Lotus to the DEQ, Great Lakes
Fishery Trust, Great Lakes Energy People Fund, PRCA,
Otsego County Community Foundation, Patagonia,
Michigan TU, and several individuals.
Dave Smethurst, Headwaters Chapter member
and past Michigan TU Chairman, summed it up
rather nicely: “From start to finish, the time and
effort to complete the dam removal was a tediously
long process, but the outcome for the Pigeon River
was worth our vigilance. I am proud of the Michigan
TU team (Pete Gustafson, Bryan Burroughs, John
Walters, Ed Davison, and myself) during negotiations
and court case, and the partnerships we made
through the dam removal process. Michigan TU made
the commitment to uphold our Mission Statement to
‘protect’ the Pigeon River; we can all celebrate this
success.”
For Sale by Owner:
1561 Speckled Trout Trail, Grayling, MI 49738
Blue ribbon fly fishing 400’ of riverfront
North Branch Au Sable River $259,000.
www.zillow.com or call (989) 492-1115
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Photo courtesy of John McKenzie
Michigan Trout
Coldwater River Temperatures Higher
18
by Kristin Thomas
Aquatic Ecologist, Michigan Trout Unlimited
Spring 2016
Michigan Trout Unlimited has been actively
involved in documenting the extent of damage to
the Coldwater River as a result of the devastating
drain commission work completed in spring 2015. It
is worth noting that although this work was labeled
as “drain maintenance” it was excessive in scope
and unwarranted scientifically. Michigan TU has been
involved in documenting the impacts this work has
had on the river.
In 2015, Michigan TU worked with the Schrems
West Michigan Chapter to monitor water temperature
using continuous temperature loggers at thirteen
locations in the Coldwater River (eleven loggers have
been recovered to date). These loggers recorded
water temperature hourly from May to October and
were located from just below Jordan Lake down
to Morse Lake Road (see map below). In addition,
Michigan TU interns completed habitat mapping
and pebble counts on the Coldwater River in 2015.
We are still working on the habitat data, but water
temperature data is ready and is telling.
Water temperatures were higher than expected
in most locations, especially in and near the
impacted area from Jordan Lake to Freeport. All
but one measurement in this area were higher than
anticipated; so much so that the stream did not
Location of temperature loggers on the Coldwater River in 2015.
www.michigantu.org
Local Chapter Work...
Temperature data collected in 2015 has
been shared with the Michigan Department of
Environmental Quality and the Department of Natural
Resources. Michigan TU will continue to monitor
temperature for the next several years to document
new trends and changes. Unfortunately, the 2015
data was not so good for trout in the Coldwater
River. An update on current instream habitat will be
available soon.
TWO MAJOR PROJECTS IN WEST MICHIGAN
Two major coldwater conservation projects are
planned by the Schrems West Michigan Chapter for
2016. The second phase of the Kent County Brook
Trout Project will pick up this spring where the first
phase left off, which included in-stream habitat
improvements on Shaw Creek, removal of dam
remnants from the Childsdale stretch of the Rogue
River, and prepping and staging materials for phase
two. This project has been a major undertaking by
the Chapter. The multi-year $284,000 initiative was
made possible by grants from the City of Rockford,
Plainfield Township, Grand Rapids Community
Foundation, and the National Fish and Wildlife
Federation.
The Chapter’s second project involves monitoring
Buck Creek, a uniquely urban fishery. It has a viable
brown trout population and receives significant runs
of anadromous fish from Lake Michigan. However,
the creek is very threatened, which is why the
Chapter has set out to collect data to guide future
efforts to protect and save this coldwater resource.
The Chapter continues to host an annual Buck Creek
cleanup that helps spread awareness and interest.
In addition to establishing twenty temperature
monitoring sites on the main branch and tributaries,
water chemistry data is being collected annually at
four sites.
“In the Stream”
Michigan TU’s E-Newsletter
Plain and simple: signing up for Michigan TU’s email
list is quick, easy and free; and above all, it’s the best
way to stay updated and informed about Michigan’s
cold-water resources. In an age where the email list
can be an annoying thing, Michigan TU stands apart by
delivering only the content worth reading and only the
news worth your attention.
Just go to Michigantu.org and enter your email.
It’s a great way to learn about the conservation battles
you can help us win. You’ll also get great content about
restoring and fishing Michigan’s premier cold-water
streams in our newsletter, In The Stream, and our
magazine, Michigan Trout.
Spring 2016
What does this mean for the Coldwater River?
It means removing all the riparian trees, and
consequently the shade, has had a big impact on
the river, and not only in the impacted area. Drain
commission work ended at the point where the
stream transitions to a designated trout stream.
The warm water from the impacted area has flowed
downstream to warm water in coldwater portions of
the stream. The good news is that the increase was
much less severe in the most downstream location
with an increase of only 1.5˚F.
The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cost
is $15 with lunch provided. Registration is required
and can be done by visiting www.mershon-tu.org.
You must have a state park pass to enter the Saginaw
Bay Visitor’s Center, located at 3582 State Park Drive,
Bay City, Michigan. Participants who have never
belonged to TU will receive a year’s free membership.
For further information contact Laurie Seibert, 989205-3763, or email at [email protected].
19
Classifications are based on mean July water
temperature, which means there is certainly
potential for temperature to vary on an annual
basis with variations in air temperature. To address
that issue we deployed temperature loggers in five
locations where the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources has historical temperature data. In the
impacted area from Jordan Lake to Messer Brook,
2015 mean July temperature was an average of
4.25˚F warmer than the mean July temperature in
1997. In addition, mean July water temperature in
Freeport at Fighter Road was 4.3˚F warmer than that
measured in 1997. Further downstream, away from
the impacted area, at Morse Lake Road 2015 mean
July water temperature was only 1.5˚F more than
that measured in 1997. This information alone is
very telling. Combined with historic air temperature
data it is downright devastating. In 1997, the mean
July air temperature was 71˚F. In 2015, the mean
July air temperature was 71˚F. The same mean air
temperature.
discuss all aspects of the sport.
Michigan Trout
meet the criteria for its current stream temperature
classification. Stream segments in Michigan are
currently classified as cold, cold-transitional, cool,
or warm. The measured water temperature in 2015
placed the river in the warm category in areas where
it should be classified as cool and cool in areas where
it should be cold-transitional. This is not good news
for trout.
continued from page 7
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
20
My Journey to Trout Unlimited
by Marci Cisneros
Spring 2016
Looking back, I can see where some might think
that I would have been better suited for taking
a cooking class or a photography lesson. Nah, I
wanted something a bit more challenging. I wanted
to know more about this elusive sport. I wanted to
learn to fly fish.
handful of Gierach novels on the night stand, it was
clear - I was on my way. The only pressing question
to ponder…was I going to be the prudent purist or a
laissez–faire trout bum? It seemed I was susceptible
to both, given the weather conditions, fishing partner,
and amount of discretionary spending available.
And so it began, a chilly day in February on the
Pere Marquette River in Baldwin; my first cast of a fly
rod. A couple weeks later this enthusiastic beginner
was attending the Fly Fishing Film Tour at the
Wealthy Theater in Grand Rapids. A fanatical event
with an unprecedented mix of brains, brawn, and
bravado. I was primed for my first fishing expedition.
As soon as the weather broke, I was eager to get
started - enough with the casting lessons, armchair
explanations, and video tutorials. I wanted to fish. A
weekend away on the Au Sable River in Grayling was
the official start to what
I now refer to as my love
affair with fly fishing. I
hooked a brookie, brown,
and rainbow during that
inaugural event. The trout
trifecta award was quickly
bestowed upon me.
Sounds pretty spectacular,
right? Well, it was. But,
mind you, that was back
in the day when size didn’t
matter. And the cute little
eight to twelve inchers
were truly a blessing and
gave me the inspiration to
keep going. In fact, it was
during that weekend that I
discovered what was going
to occupy my mind and
hijack my travel plans for
the rest of my days.
It wasn’t long before I was to purchase my own
rod. A modest choice, 586-4 Winston Passport and
TR2 Abel reel. It was on that glorious day when
the package arrived that I noticed in the printed
materials a free membership to Trout Unlimited.
“Great! Now I am official,” I thought as I filled out
the form and slipped it in the mail. That pride in
ownership of my first rod and reel led to my pride
in membership of an organization in which I now
serve on as a board member, Schrems West Michigan
Chapter. My involvement not only allows me an
With a few more well
finessed fishing trips under
my belt, coupled with a
www.michigantu.org
The idea behind all of this is to bring the
importance of conservation to the forefront by
way of doing what we love. Getting more women
involved is just a part of the plan in creating a wellbalanced chapter. We seek to get existing members
more engaged as well as identify future members.
This push about membership is less about money
and more about knowing that small non-profit
organizations cannot be successful without the
dedication of volunteers who bring forth their talents
and expertise for the greater good. It is through
volunteer commitment that we are able to secure
grants and donations for projects like dam removals,
stream monitoring, and educational programming.
7891 Brown Bridge
The perfect fly fisherman’s paradise!
19.65 acres with frontage on both
sides of the Boardman River.
Features include 2BD/2BA plus
sleeping loft, fully furnished, all
appliances, huge screened porch,
private gated driveway and security
system.
Perfect year-round family home or
vacation retreat.
Mark Hagan
402 E Front Street Traverse City, MI 49686
(231) 620-2418 (231) 995-8153
[email protected] / www.markhagan.com
Spring 2016
Our chapter has talked about taking the Women
on the Water series to the next level. Perhaps, invite
the ladies back and welcome newcomers to join us
for a weekend away. The idea would ultimately be to
spend more time on the water. I am a believer that
actually having an experience far outweighs hearing
about one. A day on the water with a good guide
can do wonders for your confidence. Learning the
subtleties of proper fishing etiquette, how to read
the water, and why not to hook your guide are all
noteworthy lessons.
21
Prior to being a board member, I noticed the
leadership at TU National was encouraging women
to get more involved. Offering free or reduced
membership paired with promoting greater
participation in local chapters and state councils. I
was impressed to see that my local chapter, Schrems,
was already taking the initiative to get women more
involved. In fact, they hosted a free event, History
of Women in Fly Fishing, featuring author and angler
Jen Ripple. It was a great event introducing women
to those who blazed the trail years ago with talks on
lady legends like Joan Wulff and Helen Shaw. It was
following that seminar that I decided to volunteer and
assist with planning the first Women on the Water
event. Jen Ripple returned to West Michigan to teach
casting techniques, spend time on the water, and
showcase the equipment needed to get started. Like
the first event, this one was also sponsored by our
local chapter through the generous support of donors
and a local fly shop that pitched in to help make it
happen with rigged rods, waders, and boots. This
event was also free of charge and about thirty ladies
turned out for a beautiful day and evening alongside
the Rogue River in Rockford. And like any good
fly fishing event, it involved a healthy mix of food,
festivities, fishing, and friendship.
Personally, I chose to become more involved
because of my interest in conserving, protecting, and
restoring the natural resources I treasure. I pursued a
board position because I wanted to make a difference
and I wanted to surround myself with others who had
a similar mindset. That does not necessarily mean I
will be testifying before a committee in support of a
bill to not allow net pens and fish farms…but it may.
It may or may not mean that I get to go electrofishing with fellow board members and scientists to
continue our river research…but it may. Whether it is
attending river cleanups, coordinating informational
sessions, or creating advocacy alerts, I consider my
role as a board member to be active and useful. I
look forward to working together with a great group
of individuals in the Schrems West Michigan Chapter!
Michigan Trout
opportunity to serve in two areas where I am most
passionate - conservation and fly fishing - but also in
other aspects such as communications, marketing,
and membership. I am interested in bringing others
who share the same passions into the TU fold. Both
men and women. Like anything, I think a balanced
approach with various perspectives can make for a
better outcome.
Michigan Trout Unlimited
Michigan Trout
22
Spring 2016
Chapter
Contributors
Adams
Challenge
Charles A. Fellows
Clinton Valley
Copper Country
Frank “Bob” Perrin Lansing
Fred Waara
Headwaters
Kalamazoo Valley
Leon P. Martuch
Mason-Griffith
Founders
Paul H. Young
Pine River Area
Schrems West
Michigan
Vanguard
William B. Mershon
Romayne Hicks
Charles Hurbis
Dan Keifer
Patrick Kelly
Blake Krueger
James Kure
John Lamacchia
John & Kristen
Lamacchia
Bruce Maguire III
Bill Main
William Main
Paul Meyer
Hank Milius
John Paul
James Peterson
Edward Proctor
Tom Quail
Jason Rowe
Dave Scott
V. Carl Shaner
David Stafford
Annoesjka Steinman
William Stewart
Philip Thorrez
Lawrence Walla
John Walters
Scott & Karen Witter
Douglas Yingst
Aquifer Club
Wayne Andersen
Dick Augustine
Dick Barch
Thomas Dr. Black
James Bos
Peter Brown
Daniel Cronin
William Demmer
Individual Donors
Damion Frasier
Russell Ackerman
Peter & Virginia
Robert Adrian
Gustafson
Craig Alexander
A.J. Koegel
Philip Allor
Jeffery Lowe
James Anderson
John McCarthy
Terry Armstrong
Thomas Mundt
Steven Arnoczky
Roger Newton
J.B. Audi
Larry Oman
John Avey
Rick Poston
Brian Balliet
Paul & Carol Rose
Theodore Banta
Bill Shelden
Bruce Baty
Jake Shinners
James Batzer
John Sickler
Alex Beachum
David Smith
David Beck
Robb & Chrissy Smith
Jim Bedford
Hal Smith
Donald Beeney
David Smith
Ben Beversluis
Joseph Swantek
Adam Bickel
Paul Towner
Peter Bildner
Rick & Carol Vidrio
William Blackmore
Dana Bliss
Tributary Club
Stanley Blood
Edwin Anderson
Gilbert Bogley
David Barnes
Christopher Bork
Laura Bell
James Bosak
Kenneth Bloem
James Bour
Jeremy Bottoms
Thomas Bowling
James Bour
Barney Brauker
Richard Buss
Melissa Braybrooks
Win Case
Michael Brooks
Patrick Conklin
David Brose
Clarence
Doug Brower
Constantakis
Thomas Brown
David Cornelius
Michael Brown
John Eichel
Joseph Bruce
Jon Griffin
John Buehler
Daniel Hayes
Keith Bumgarner
William Burger
Bryan Burroughs
Richard Buss
Charles Button
Charles Caldwell
Jeffrey Camp
James Campbell
Joseph Carnacchio
Richard Chamberlin
William Chesney
Dorothea Clarke
Thomas Conlan
Danny Covell
Doug Cowman
David Cozad
Melvin Czechowski
Roderick Daane
James Daoust
John Davis
Philip Davis
William Deephouse
Mark Delaney
Joe Derry
Richard Dew
Robert Dewit
Jim Dillinger
Patrick Dolan
John Dolbee
Frederick Dorsett
William Doub
Denny Douglas
David Dunaway
William Duncanson
Frank Eaman
Alan Edgren
James Elbert
Charles Ellis
David Ellsworth
Timothy Engelhardt
A. Thomas Evans
Frederick Eyer
Lawrence Falardeau
Roger Fechner
Gary Fedus
Bernard Finn
James Fish
Thomas Fisher
Jerry Fitzgerald
William Foss
Keith & Mary Frame
Greg Frey
Belinda Friis
John Fuerstnau
Michael Fuson
David Gabrielson
Gary Galovics
Paul Gambka
T. Eduardo Garcia
Thomas Gebhardt
Raymond Geitka
Robert Gillenwater
Bob Gorashko
Robert & Susan
Gordon
Ken Gottschlich
James Grady
Brian Granger
James Graves
Lorne Greenwood
Christopher Greiner
Derek Grossman
Bob Gwisdalla
John Haggerty
Ronald Hamilton
Robert Handelsman
Charles Harle
Hugh Harness
Karen Harrison
Thomas Hector
Mike Hefner
Kenneth Hendrian
John Hepker
John Hesse
John Highlen
Craig Hitchcock
David Hohenstein
Donald Holley
Russell Holmes
James Holzbach
Ralph Hommel
Peter Howard
Brett Howard
Larry Howell
Norman Hubberth
Michael Hubert
Dan Hudson
Thomas Hunter
David Hunter
Brian Hutek
John Hutto
Dom Iammarino
Joe Ivan
Mark Jarvie
Jim Jenkins
Robert Johnson
James Johnson
Brian Johnson
David Joswick
Gregg Kabacinski
Mark Karaba
Patrick Kelly
Chuck Keuten
Douglas Kik
George Killat
Roger Konyndyk
Robert Kren
Rick Kristufek
Thomas Kromer
Ric Kuhn
Donald Kursik
Scott Lachniet
Jerry Lang
James Lang
Craig Larrabee
Bob Lathrop
Frederick Lavery
James Lawless
Thomas Leppek
James Lewis
David Lincer
Robert Linsenman
Larry Lipovsky
Lennart Lofstrom
Jaeson Loman
John Lyons
Joseph Maggini
Walt Maisner
Kenneth Marek
John Marsh
Robert Martin
David Mayotte
Leonard Mazur
James McCatty
Roy McCauley
Ed McGarrell
Michael McGraw
John McKenzie
Thomas McLenithan
Katie Meier
David Menapace
Rondell Metro
Gregory Meyer
Kenneth Meyer
Hank Milius
Peter Miller
Michael Monahan
Robert Moore
Bob Morgner
Ken Muenk
James Mumby
Philip Mutch
Scott Myckowiak
Tonya Nash
Joseph Nazione
David Neal
John Nebel
Gary Neumann
Mark & Michelle
Nichols
Thomas Niemann
Bruce Noble
Matt Nothdurft
Gregory Nowak
John Ochs
Victor Pajunen
Dan Papiernik
Douglas Patterson
Ron Peckens
Frank Penkala
Ralph Pernice
David Peterson
Kenneth Pierce
William Posak
John Prebay
Matthew Priebe
Steven Radecki
Chris Radke
Constantine Raptis
Judith Ray
Gerald Reed
Richard Reid
William Renbarger
Robert Resh
Robert Richards
Ed Roden
Philip Rodgers
Kenneth Rosenman
Brett Rousseau
William Rubel
Jerry Rucker
Carl Ruetz
Steven Ryan
George Safranek
Peter Santo
Andrew Sarabyn
Neil Satovsky
William Savage
Jim Savalox
James Scherzer
Rex Schlaybaugh
Robert & Karen
Schmitt
John Schmittroth
Stanley Schroeder
Ronald Schroeder
Richard Schwartz
Glenn Seagren
Steve Selinger
Lloyd Semple
John Shea
James Shinners
Thomas Shope
Richard Skutt
Bruce Smith
Marc Smith
Carolyn Smith
John Smith
Milton Snyder
Donald Snyder
Kenneth Spears
James Squier
Ken Stanton
Irene Stark
Elizabeth Start
Robert Stegmier
Robert Steiner
Joe Stevens
William Stewart
Daniel Stewart
Terrence Strawder
Robert Strom
Lawrence Swantek
Andrew Tarkington
Terry Thomas
Lee Todd
David Triezenberg
Perry Truitt
Paul Tulgetske
Walt Turino
Gregory Umstead
Harold Utich
Samuel Van Boven
Mark Van Eizenga
Joseph Van
Haverbeck
James Vanderveen
Norbert Vanochten
Jason Visser
Paul Vlahakis
James Vogt
Ryan Waddington
Lloyd Walerczyk
Randolph Walker
Gregory Walz
Charles Washnock
Wayne Weiss
Bruce Williams
Edward Williams
Mark Wilmot
David Wodowski
Roger Wolfin
Alfred Woody
Walter Wurst
Paul Zoutendam
Foundations
Albert Koegel
Elizabeth A. &
Warren Shelden Fund
John D. & Susan
K. Paul Family
Endowment
Joyce Foundation
Kroger Cares
Michigan TU Trout
Fishing School
Richard W. Barch
Susan & David Scott
Fund
United Way of
Washtenaw County
(Ann Arbor)
In Memoriam
Dan Hudson
Phil & Nancy Graham
Craig & Marsha
Dunkin
Jeanne & Tim Lee
Jeffery & Angela
Smith
Jeff Plummer
James & Jan Fifarek
Dan Havlin
Barbara Bierbusse
George L. Marsik
Daniel Buehler
Linda Marsik
Timothy Van
Gessel
Thomas Schmidt
Gina Van Gessel
Donald J. Kothe
Shirley Niemi
Michigan TU
Fly Fishing
School
The Michigan TU Fly Fishing School is indeed one
of the country’s finest. The school runs from Friday
afternoon through Sunday afternoon, June 10, 11 &
12, 2016. Beginners are instructed in the basics of fly
casting and fly fishing and are introduced to a wide
variety of angling interests. Experienced fly fishers
will improve their skills, technique and knowledge of
the sport.
For more information visit the Michigan TU Fly
Fishing School website @ www.tuffs.org.
Find what you're looking for yourself or
great gifts for your friends. You'll find
unique Michigan TU merchandise with
our logo on t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs,
stickers, and more.
Visit our Store Today!
michigantu.org/merchandise
Men’s, Woman’s & Youth Shirts
Our rivers, the Maple, Sturgeon,
Pigeon, Black, Jordan, Bear and
some spectacular creeks, are all
just minutes from Petoskey or
Harbor Springs and fly fishing
heaven.
Call; 800.871.1780
ReelWatersMi.com
True blue ribbon trout waters for
Brook, Brown, Rainbow /
Steelhead, Salmon and other
great game fish.
We provide everything you need
to fly fish these great Reel
Waters!
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PERMIT #126
ELGIN, IL
Michigan Trout Unlimited
P.O. Box 442
Dewitt, Michigan 48820-8820
TIME DATED MATERIAL
Wade...Don’t Wander!
Trout Angler Guides
Available for these Michigan Rivers:
Au Sable ‘Holy Water’
Au Sable ‘Trophy Water’
Manistee River
Boardman/Jordan Rivers
Pere Marquette River
Pigeon River Country
New!
Steelheader’s Guide
Also Available: Coaster Brook Trout print
Signed and numbered by James Prosek
Order at: www.challengechapter.org