SeaCatMich

If you check the MiDNR budget figures, ALL license fees have gone directly to support either the fishing or hunting in the state and not other programs in the DNR. I see no reason that this will change. Another way that anglers in the state can help with funding the state DNR is to get youth licenses for those under 16. The license is only $2 currently but the real benefit is that the state gets ~$9 returned in Federal Pittman-Robertson Act funding for each license... just like a full adult license. The federal funding is through an excise tax on all fishing tackle sales. We might as well do what we can to get some of those $$$ back to help with funding the DNR fisheries.

I don't think they will sell the tape or other products in bulk to the general public but WTP have had their packaged products available via the web site for quite a while. I have ordered it before because I don't know any sources that have a good selection of the different colors. Here is a link to their site where you can order direct: http://www.shopwtp-inc.com/index.php

That's the one that I had but never tried.

I'd be glad to help by answering questions and/or going out with you. Can't say I'm an "expert" as far as Holland goes, but have launched there quite a bit in the last 3 years and done pretty well. Each port can have its little nuances, but overall salmon fishing is pretty similar at most ports with currents, temps, and structure when it is available affecting choices. You would be welcome to join me on my boat when I trailer over your way and a spot (happens pretty often) and/or go out on your boat. There is a lot of water out there on Lake Michigan. While just going out and figuring it out on my own is quite satisfying... getting a little knowledge to know what lure(s) have been working, where, how deep... sure helps to shorten the daily learning curve. For Holland the Gold Coast Outfitters tackle shop near Port Sheldon is a good source of information along with reports on the web sites (GLF, GLA, Michigan Sportsman...). BUT developing a network of buddies that are out fishing is a great way to keep up on what's going on. I can always use another buddy to trade info with -- either the days or night before a trip or out on the water. There are also a couple of fishing leagues that have friendly tournaments out of the Holland/Port Sheldon/Muskegon/South Haven area. I'd be all over that if I didn't live 2 hours from the lake. From what I have heard, the guys who fish these are pretty good guys and willing to share. There isn't enough money involved to be tight lipped about it... plus let's face it, us fishing guys like to brag (and exaggerate). Holland also has a Steelheaders chapter. Join and go to some meetings. Great way to get to know some of your fellow fishing nuts in the area. http://www.hollandsteelheaders.org/

The link isn't working to get to the speaker schedule.

I isn't so much that Wisconsin counts a slider as another rod. Wisconsin limits each person to 3 lures total in the water. So if you put a slider on one rod that is 2 of your lures and you can only run 1 other lure... usually on another rod. You could actually run only one rod with all 3 lures. As for the original question, the biggest issue I have with stacking is having to have both rods out of the water to change a lure on one. There was a stacker release on the market that would walk a line down the rigger cable to allow you to release and reset the stacked line without bringing the rigger up, but I never tried it... so I can't say how well it worked.

Check with Wild Wings marina. It is in Ohio a little west of Port Clinton and is in easy range of most of the reefs and western islands for spring fishing. They have a campground, launch and slips. Not sure how early they open the campground. Nice restaurant there too that has early morning breakfasts and will put together a "cook your catch" dinner for a reasonable price.

Kurt has a great company. Real nice when the owner/engineer is answering the phone as the head customer service guy too.

I do it both ways. If it is a fish that I think would be best to smoke or grill then the skin is left on. If it gong to be cooked any other way then I take the skin off. Ratio is probably 40% on, 60% off. Either way, the whole skin on filets or the steaked out skin off pieces are sorted by species and go into big 1 gallon economy brand ziplocks bags to transport them home. Then the smaller pieces go in the pint/quart vacuum bags easier and are all ready to cook when I pull them out. The whole skin on filets go into vacuum bags from rolls cut to length.

Might want to drive an hour down to Benton Harbor to Wolf's Marine. Almost guarantee they will have what you need and be a lot cheaper than any other vendor.

One more completed.

Big Jon will exchange the standard bases for the tree post for ones that will go in standard tracks from Bert's, Traxstech, or Cannon. I have the track mount bases for mine and they work great.n/

I am probably against having the Chicago River connected to the Mississippi more than almost anyone, but that has very little impact on the Michigan/Huron water level. The big problem is that for the last decade, the Lake Superior watershed has be way below average precipitation. Until that corrects itself there will be low water levels. The good news is that from the previous lows of 1965 the lakes were back to above average levels by 1968... so it can correct itself fast.

In the next couple weeks I am going to start my annual fishing tackle tune ups. The main thing is to check all of the reels and do the regular maintenance such as cleaning, oiling, and greasing. I'll probably wait until late March or early April before respooling some with new line. In thinking about this, it reminded me that last year lots of guys waited until April or May to do this and found that some reels needed professional service. Tuna Tom's in Ludington was completely swamped due to people waiting until the last minute and this caught lots of anglers with their reels out of commission during the season. Now is the time to check your reels and get them shipped to Tuna or other repair locations if there are issues you can't address yourself. Having them away for a couple weeks now is a whole lot better than in May when there are fish to catch.

They are just carp. Had a bunch in the 3#+ class in a garden pond when I lived down by St. Joe. The pond was 4' deep or so and around 3,000 gallons so plenty of space to grow in the three years I had the house. Biggest challenge was to keep the herons and kingfishers from using it as a fast food restaurant.

The Hoosier Coho Club is having a swap meet night on Feb 13 (http://www.hoosiercohoclub.org/2013%20Calendar%20of%20Events.html) in Michigan City.

Me too.

If you are in the west or central Michigan area, go to the big Sportsman's Swap Meet coming up 2/2 near Grand Rapids (http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29649&highlight=swap+meet). Always a lot of good stuff and I have seen quite a few roller rods for sale the last couple of years.

Use the Reel Fill Calculator to figure out what you can put on the reel! http://www.greatlakesfisherman.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16491&highlight=calculator You will need to know the capacity figures for your reel and the diameter of the line(s) you are going to put on the reel. Plug in the numbers and you will be real close. At a minimum I would try to get 100 yards of braid for backing and more if the reel will take it. Remember that once you get the copper in the water you will then have backing going from the rod to the board. That's your starting place for where the fish will start taking line. A good spunky King can get out another 200'+ pretty easy. Better to have too much backing than not enough!

I tried a pair of the level wind under rod reels and liked them -- but I really prefer a spinning reel and winding with my left hand. The drags were not very impressive though and I decided to go with all line counters. I'm guessing the reels are history.

Not sure where this should go, but figured here is as good as anywhere. On Saturday morning we (me any my fishing buddy Larry) met at the Portland exit off I96 and drove up to Pentwater for the 2013 Ludington Regional Fishery Workshop put on by Sea Grant. Here is a link to the meeting agenda: http://www.miseagrant.umich.edu/files/2012/12/Ludington-Agenda-2013.pdf I took notes at the meeting and here is what I found interesting or thought that others might want to know about. Hopefully it is useful If you have questions, ask and I'll try to answer. 1. Salmon Stocking & Plan Information on the Lake Michigan stocking is available on the Sea Grant web site The history of the stocking reduction process was reviewed Decisoin was made to have a 50% overall stocking reduction for the lake with criteria to review to adjust in the future Since Michigan has the bulk of the natural reproduction in the NW lower peninusla, Michigan's plants will be reduced more than other states Michigan -- 67% reduction Wisconsin - 38% Illinois - 8% Indiana - 11% The criteria used to determine where Michigan's plants would be impacted were: 1) Amount of nat reproduction; 2) Maximize the Fishery Opportunity; 3) Broodstock maintenancy; 4) Maintain net pen use; 5) Hatcher logistics The stocking numbers for each plant location were then reviewed Only two locations were eliminated for plants Initial method was to make a 67% accross the board reduction and then adjust based on the criteria above Little Manistee saw the smallest reduction to insure that there would be a good return to the weir there to sustain the planting/hatchery system for all locations Jay stated "The primary goal of the Chinook plants is to maintain the lake based fishery. Other species (Steelhead) are better suited to provide a river fishery." Stocking will stay the same for the 2013, 2014, and 2015 plants. 2015 will be the first real returns of the fish planted this spring to apply the measurements to make adjustments. The main measure to make adjustments is the size/weight of the returning 3 year old fish -- avg weight of 15.4# = further 30% plant reduciton; avg 19.8# wight = 30% increase in planting numbers All fish planted in the Michigan/Huron watershed are tagged chemically, have wire coded tags in nose, and are fin clipped (adapose fin between dorsal fin and tail removed). DNR is actively monitoring stocked vs wild catches at major tournaments with fish data collected Fish catch data also being done with creel survey program Looking for ways to improve/expand this, but current department budget constraints are severely constraining expansion Also collecting data from manditory charter boat catch reports Discussed the potential for stocking other species instead of chinook at locations -- net evaluation is based on how many alewife a chinook consumes vs the other species. For example it takes 2.2 brown trout to eat as much as a single chinook, so 2 browns could be planted ffor each chinook not planted. 2. Fishery Division Updates Fishery Division strategic plan on the DNR Fisheries web site is open for public comment through 2/10/13 Would like input on Family Friendly Fishing initiative to identify locations to publicise Bag limit for Steelhead on Little Manistee & Platte rivers reduced to 1/day from 3/day. Reason is reduced numbers returning to weir for egg taking over last few years indicating too many fish being harvested. 2 fish daily Pike limit. Will be looking at slot limit on some bodies of water. 1 fish per season harvest limit for Muskie 3. Great Lakes Water Levels Normal seasonal rise for Lake Michian is 12". 2011 was 4" New Internet tool available to see what is going on: http://www.glerl.noaa.gov/data/now/wlevels/dbd/ Biggest problem is the lack of precipitation feeding/replenishing the Lake Superior watershed. Has been a problem for 10 years with water levels lower on Lake Michigan/Huron, and Erie in all but one of those years. 4. Forage Fish Studies 2011 trawls had the lowest biomass in history of the trawls 2012 results not available for discussion. Only thing they would say was that the results were "average". 5. Natural Reproduction of Chinook Salmon on Lake Michigan Lots of data provided including the methodology used to measure wild vs stocked fish. DNR intern doing his doctorial thesis on the topic developed a comprehensive method to measure/eval the data including false positive and false negative identifications of wild or planted fish 54 to 56% of fish determined to be wild from 2006 through 2009 63% wild in 2010 Statisics show wild fish mature more slowly (usually at 3 years old but some at 4) Planted fish seem to be bigger but mature for spawing sooner (2-3 year olds) Larger percentage of wild fish in the population as fish get older -- stocked fish are maturing and spawning sooner taking them out of the population Lunch -- The Ludington Charter Boat Assn sold raffle tickets and the drawing handed out ~30+ gallon ziplock bags of tackle and gift certificates (Larry won one, I didn't ... oh well) 6. Great Lakes Observing System New Internet tool available soon: http://explorer.glos.us Will consolildate data from many different reporting tools through out Great Lakes GLATOS has capabiity to report on location of harvest for lake trout with accostic tags implanted in belly of fish if tag is returned Port Sheldon/Holland buoy will return in 2013. The down temp measuring "thermo string" was a borrowed unit in 2012 and malfunctioned. Funding is still needed to get a new one. 7. Who is fishing and what are they catching MiDNR State Wide Angler Survey -- creel surveys Catch/Creel data is available on the MiDNR Fisheries division web page: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/chartercreel/ 2012 data will be online by 2/18/13 Catch data is extrapolated based on the actual creel surveys by calculating a catch/fish per hour rate and then using that to calculate based on how many people are observed fishing Different methods (pier, shore, boat, inshore, offshore...) plus when and where are all kept separate and data is not mixed for a specific location in doing the calculations/extrapolations 8. Asian Carp Not much "new" info Said that carp had been "found" in Calumet Lake -- did not say if this was DNA or actual fish (I'm pretty sure it was DNA) Considering how to reduce numbers of fish downstream from the electronic barriers with the thought being: less fish = less potential for fish to breach the barriers Most (85%+) of the Asian carp by weight and number are the Silver Carp. 90% of the carp harvested by netting are the Big Head carp. Mainly because there is not a market for the smaller Silver Carp and they are more difficult to net. Without gov't subsidies, there is no viable economic model to support netting the carp 9. Charter Fishing Study Sorry didn't get much from this. Catch rates/numbers were lower last year than in 2011 (I think ) 10. Presentation on Big Lake Fishing Tips & Techniques by Capt George Freeman (Free Style Charters0 Has gone to a lot of meat rigs for after "morning flury" presentations

I am going to try to participate in at least a few of the tournament days. Water levels may have an impact though as last year it was a little difficult at times with the Holland ramp since I need to back in quite a ways with the cat's dual bunk trailer.

Are you sure you have hydraulic steering? Generally hydraulic steering does not require the engine to be running and is completely independent of it. With hydraulic you should have a fill spot on the top of your steering wheel hub to be able to add hydraulic fluid. An almost direct replacement for your Autohelm is the Raymarine SPX-5R and actually is its direct descendant. Like the Autohem it mounts under the steering wheel to the steering hub and turns the wheel for you to keep on course. Much better unit than the Autohelm/SportPiot series though. It will work with any steering system -- if you can turn the wheel it will do it for you. It is actually a rotary steering system and not truly a hydraulic system. For hydraulic steering a rudder reference transducer to measure/report the position of the rudder is needed -- and from my experience, I recommend it for any steering system for best performance and especially when trolling. A true hydraulic auto pilot is going to insert a hydraulic steering pump into the hydraulic hoses you currently have and the pump is going to move the hydraulic fluid instead of your boat's steering wheel. They are not difficult to install but doing the hydraulic hose fittings may take some special tools and it is a tedious job. When I had mine installed I had it done because of my dual outboards with a steering ram on each. Raymarine, Simrad, Garmin, SiTex all make very good true hydraulic steering autopilot systems. Prices are going to start in the $2000 range and go up from there. If you have power assisted steering then one option I know of is to implement a Raymarine mechanical drive unit (http://raymarine.com/view/?id=579&collectionid=30&col=5915). These work with most of their control heads and basically take the place of the power assist steering when the engine is off. You would then connect the kicker to the main engine with a control rod (EZ steer or similar). Cost is going to be pricey though. I don't know much about them but there is also something called an octopus drive that I believe can be used on power assist steering boats. I believe that the Garmin APs support this and maybe the Simrad and SiTex. Another option would be to install a remote steering system for your kicker. The downside is that it will only control the boat's direction when using the kicker (trolling) and not when cruising with the main engine. The deluxe unit on the market is the Garmin TR-1 but there are also the Control King and Panther Electro Steer. You can even add remote trolling throttle controls to them that make fine tuning the speed/rpms on the kicker very precise.

I would think an outboard model Lund Tyee Gran Sport will probably work for what you want. I would not go with an I/O version as they will have less interior room and draft more water. Lund Tyees are pretty heavy aluminum boats but in that length should be okay if your lakes are not real small. If you are talking about Saginaw Bay or Lake Erie walleye fishing, that is probably the smallest you should be thinking of. While you can fish in a smaller boat on good days, it is the days that start out good but get worse while you're out there that make the bigger hull worth having. The bad thing about both of those spots is that with land in the road, the weather will often sneak up on you and to get back to the ramp you are going into the weather.

Talk to Bob at Big Papa Sportfishing if you want trolling bags. He's local to Michigan and makes them himself (well, actually I think it's Mrs Bob ). Bob is a great resource to discuss your boat with to get the right size bag and stands behind his products too. I know he has been at the Flint Steelheader's show and I'm pretty sure he also exhibits in GR. The web site is http://www.bigpapasportfishing.com. Give him a call or stop by the booth at a show and he will help you get the right thing.