Silver Bullet Fishing

Now this is a new one to me:

“But for people who plan to eat walleye caught in Saginaw Bay this year, the Michigan Department of Community Health urges some caution.

According to the agency’s 2008 Michigan Family Fish Consumption Guide, women of child-bearing age and children under age 15 should not eat any walleye from Saginaw Bay that measures more than 18 inches in length.”

Click here for the entire story.     or     Click here for the MDCH Consumption Guide.

Well Buck, either we start keeping 14 inch walleye or you may as well cut the fish fry list in half.

Cormorants

Now the good news:  Michigan Wants to Double its Cormorant Kill

Possession Limits

An interesting discussion regarding possession limits over at the Michigan Sportsman Forums.

Written by Dave Kern

The 2009 version of the Manistee River Trout Camp was a mixed bag of some fishing with little success. The weather was the culprit again this year, as high winds coupled with cold and wet conditions created difficult fishing conditions. The motivation of almost everyone to get in the stream and fish was dampened by the bad weather.

Sam & Sammy fished the Ocqueoc and Sam landed a nice 24 inch steelhead on Monday.  They then drove to the C.C.C. on Tuesday. The Licavoli boys returned home on Wednesday night. Dan (the good looking one) Rude, Dale Pringle, Roger and Dean Kitchen, Harold Heit, Tom Glenn, Jan and Jim Snyder and Joe Robbins joined the Kern Klan for some outstanding camping. Tom and Terry Licavoli dropped by on occasion as well.

A few small trout were caught on crawlers and spinners. On the fly fishing end we hooked some brook trout using streamers trailed by nymphs. But not a great deal of effort was exerted. We will give the trout a second chance as the weather and the fishing conditions improve later in the year.  Click Here for Pictures

Bought One of  These

I’ve had it with the Courtland Loop Connectors.   Every one that I’ve installed in the past two years became unbraided in a very short time.  Since I can’t remember the knot that Sammy showed me at Trout Camp,  I just bought one of these.  Nick and Josh, bring over your fly rods, we will fix ‘em right!

Hey, this is what every fly fisherman needs, a $9,700 fly reel.    The website selling this reel says:

“Titanium is self-healing. Scratch it and the raw metal oxidizes in minutes. Because titanium is inert, nothing can rust it. If you threw it to the bottom of the Florida Keys and left it there for thirty years and then retrieved it, it would be like new once you’d scraped off the barnacles.”

I don’t know about you guys, but I always worried about the condition of my fly reel after thirty years on the bottom of the ocean.  I’ll sleep better now!    At least the shipping is free.

 And here is a link to the most expensive fly ever.  Well, actually at $9,000, this fly is the most expensive.   Jeez, and Buck thought fly tying hackle was getting expensive.

Or how about this little bauble for the tackle box?  The Million Dollar Lure.    

The website says:

“Crafted in just over 3 pounds of glimmering gold and platinum, then encrusted with 100 carats of diamonds and rubies (4,753 stones to be exact). This extraordinary Big Game Lure is over 12 inches in length. It’s truly the most stellar of all MacDaddy’s jeweled flies and lures!”

Hey, it’s the perfect  gift for that Hip Hop Rapper who likes to fish. They just have to rename it the MoFu Lure.

 Or for the fashonable fisherperson try the Chanel Fishing Kit.  At only 9,170 Euro ($12,300) its a real fashon statment - making the Orvis guys look like tramps!

The Chanel fishing rod comes with a set of monochrome Chanel flies, complete with the double C logo on their gossamer wings. In true Chanel style, the flies come in their own quilted black leather box.   “Fly fishing is so this season,” says Chanel.

You can bet that the boys on the stream will just die with envy.

Written by Dick Hazel

Now do I have to give up the CARD.  Finally caught enough for the family to partake in some Saginaw Bay walleye.  Must admit tho I’ve caught more Pike than Walleyes. Those  toothy buggers have cost me a couple walleyes and 2 of my good harnesses.  Drifting down with the n-n/e wind from about Sunset til past the Q then move out to the south end of the 10/12 fow.  The fish seemed grouped so the ole keep on trolling wasn’t the best tactic.  Best harness (til I lost it) was a Gold Muffin(gold-black) blade with chartreuse beads. Boy I maybe rushing it but seems like they should be in there thicker by now.  I really don’t want to venture over to the madhouse at Patterson.  So with this slow start I mus-ta fallen way down to the top 25 by now.  Take care now its your turn to catch some fish.  R Hazel

Written by Dave Kern

May 2, 2009

RJ & I traveled  to Georgia for a visit with Andrea and Nick this past weekend.  On Saturday Nick and I were the guests of Ken Selzer who owns land adjoining the Soque River near Clarksville GA.  The Soque is a northeastern Georgia mountain stream that generally flows in a southerly direction.   It is about 34 miles in length.  Because of it’s mountain origin and spring  feeder streams the water temperature allows for planted trout to survive.

Our host Ken served as our personal guide  again this year.  We primarily fished Wooley Buggers trailed by a nymph.  The trout seemed to prefer the slow moving Buggers over the nymph.  Ken’s advice regarding a proper drift of the fly was essential.  Nick and I landed about six rainbows each, and lost at least as many due to light hook sets.  Nick landed the largest fish at about 3 1/2 lbs.  The day of fishing ended with a meal of outstanding Georgia BBQ at a local bistro.   Both Nick and I enjoyed our day with Ken and extend a thank you for his hospitality.  Click here for pictures.