Slideshow

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Fishing Report

It's unanimous from all bait shops, the silver bass are in. There are so many the bait shops are having a hard time catching minnows. They are catching limits in boats almost everywhere but from shore it's hit or miss depending on the area. Walleyes acn still be had in the deeper waters and the lower river but worms are needed for them. Lake Erie Metro Park and Point Moullie have had some catfish action that's better towards dark but make sure you know the hours of operation so you don't get locked in over night.

Get Outdoors Downriver


Just as some food for thought from the hiking article...
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/ap_on_re_us/storytext/us_the_big_walk/36315423/SIG=10t84a2g6/*http://www.imjustwalkin.com

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Barta Returns

   Before you get too excited, no Jim won’t be writing a blog for the paper. He’s still really busy with his new endeavor down in Alabama. He wrote for the Heritage papers for about 10 years but had to give it up when his Hunter Safety Harness business took off. He’s partner with some old high school buddies and they are doing great. Hunters use the safety harness when they hunt from an elevated tree stand. As mentioned in a previous article after hours in the stand without seeing any deer a hunters mind can begin to wander and this can lead to a state on restfulness. Sometimes this can cause one to close their eyes and drift off, or so I’ve heard. When you’re 15 to 20 feet up in a tree this is a dangerous situation. Jim’s company’s harness is what you need if this happens. If you fall asleep, or slip, or misstep and fall, the harness will save your life. Some hunters will just tie a rope around themselves and then to the tree. If you fall and can’t get back into the tree stand you may start to get constricted and this could lead to asphyxiation. They also have a life line which helps getting into and out of the stand. That’s something my cousin Jojo could have used a few years back, he fell but was lucky to be able to walk away with just some bumps and bruises. Jim’s company has received hundreds of letters from hunters and their spouses thanking them for keeping them in one piece and being able to be with their families again. It’s got to give him a great feeling of accomplishment knowing he’s helping people like that.

   I saw Jim out on the Detroit River fishing for some hog walleyes. Each spring he comes back downriver to scratch that itch he gets from the walleye fever. The fever that drove him to learn the ways of the fish, and chase them, up and down the river, and into Lake Erie. His passion for catching walleye probably would have caused Jim to become a professional walleye fisherman but the big tournaments and money didn’t exist then. Jim started guiding other fishermen when his schedule of being a Lincoln Park fireman would allow. One day he made a comment to a client about the deficiencies of a local store’s sporting goods department. The next day Jim got a call from the client’s mother, who just happened to be the store’s regional manager of sporting goods. Well they met at the store and Jim showed her how some items were sorted by brand and if he wanted to buy fishing line he needed to look in 4 different places. The manager agreed with the things Jim was pointing out and changed the displays around. The two became good friends.

   This led to Jim being asked to talk at the State Fair and demonstrate his fishing techniques. He did that for a few years and each time his popularity grew and he added more clients. Then he was asked to talk at Outdoorama, and then at the Silverdome, which led to Ford Field, which was the precursor to the Ultimate Fishing Show in the Rock Financial Showplace. At each one of these shows Jim would give out a lot of advice and his popularity grew leading to more charter customers. I saw him at Ford Field talking about trolling Lake Erie. Jim has a gift of gab and although he can’t out talk a radio he stays in close competition.

   I then noticed Jim writing for magazines like Michigan Sportsman and Woods and Water. When I saw his article in Fur, Fish and Game about trolling for walleye in Lake Erie, that cemented in my mind that Jim was an expert in the ways of the walleye. When he left to pursue his business venture Jim left his customers in the hands of the Libra Marine boys. They’re located on Perry Place between Biddle and the river. Ron Berry and Tom Dinnewith are two who will take care of you in the early spring if they’re not booked up.

   Jim says there’re some new products coming up on his horizon. Research and marketing are so important to his business and it takes up a lot of time. Not too much time that he can’t scratch a little itch. Maybe you’ll see him next year on the river doing just that.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Get Out Hiking

   What is hiking? Huh? Who invented hiking? Such are the mind wanderings while waiting in the woods for something to happen. Hiking is something you wouldn’t consider a sport, but some do. It’s considered an everyday happening, or is it? In this age of the internet I ventured to find out what hiking is. One foot in front of the other, ha, ha, ha. What is the theory of hiking? After checking many web sites and asking jives all sorts of questions the only answer I could find was that walking is using your feet to get from point A to point B. Hiking is traveling on foot to an adventure. Walking to the grocery store is a hike but it’s just walking. Walk from Georgia to Maine and that’s a hike all right, a hike along the entire Appalachian Trail. That’s another difference, walking is done on sidewalks and hiking is done on trails.




   Trails are the heart of this sport. Hiking on trails can be easy or hard depending on the terrain and how well the trail is marked. Thru swamps, hills, hummocks, rivers and sand the going can be hard but if the trail is marked well you should have a pretty good idea of how long it will take to reach your next stop. So get a map from the National Park Service and start planning a 2178 mile 5 million step adventure. About 10,000 people have reported finishing the hike but many more have lost fortune and marriages trying to complete the hardest hike in America.



   So how to get started? The first consideration is comfort and finding a place to hike near by to see if you enjoy this. Boots are naturally the best place to bet your money. You want comfort and performance, sometimes both aren’t achievable. You want a good cleated sole that’s not too heavy. The more that your boots weigh, the more your leg muscles are picking up over time adding to fatigue and more soreness the next day. There are many sites that boast the best hiking boot so you’ll have to make your own choice, my only suggestion is to get the high top boot. This boot will give more support to the ankle which is a big plus once you get off a groomed trail. With the high top you can start with a less expensive boot to get an idea of what would help your foot be more comfortable.



   Where to hike? If you have new boots the local high school track is a good place to break them in. Eventually you’ll want to get out to see some sights. The Huron-Clinton Metro Parks have many trails. The Oakwood – Willow parks have 30 miles of connected trails. Lake Erie Metro Park has 6 miles of trail thru a very unique swamp/ grassland area of the park that utilizes a boardwalk over the wet part of the ecosystem. Lake Erie Park is a hotspot for the most popular activity while hiking and that is birding. Birding or bird watching is the identifying of birds, sometimes this is easy but sometimes not. You’ll definitely need a field guide to identify and to know what to look for. This area is so good because the birds have to come around the corner of the lake during migration. The birds can be of a higher concentration in the fall and that’s when they have Hawkfest. If you go, and usually the date is picked to coincide with the height of migration, you’ll see thousands of raptors in 1 day. Impossible you say? Let’s make a bet.



   Another trail system is the Midland to Mackinaw trail. This is what remains of the old Sauk trail which connected Detroit to Mackinaw and on to the Keweenaw Peninsula where copper deposits were mined. The copper was traded in Detroit or thereabouts for shell from the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. This was long before the white man was here. The Midland to Mackinaw trail is 210 miles long and goes thru few places to gather supplies so support from the outside is needed. This would be a real adventure for those so inclined. The trail meanders somewhat and isn’t as the crow flies so it does cross roads and this would allow you to complete it in sections and over a period of time, say a summer. Start planning now for this summer. I got my map from a store that is next to the trail but you can get one from the Lake Huron Area Boy Scout Council (989)695-5593 or check with the DNR or the US Forest Service.



   Some things to keep in mind when setting out are be comfortable and be safe. Comfort comes in good boots, appropriate clothing for the weather and good weather. Lightning and hail don’t mix well with hiking. Check the weather many times before going out and be prepared by taking a raincoat or a light tarp to protect you during a flash storm. Always carry a map of the area, a compass, flashlight, whistle, walking stick and insect repellant. If you hike alone make sure someone knows where you are and where you’re going and what time you’ll be there.



Get Outdoors Downriver

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Invasives

Check out the Bait Shop Blog for updates and pics....




  The video was quite compelling. It’s the kind of thing that you just can’t stop watching or thinking about. It’s still going on now pouring over 200,000 gallons a day and spreading the worst oil spill in history over 3500 miles2, that’s about 10 times the surface size of Lake St. Clair. It could take decades to clean it up if at all. The current strategy is a chemical that breaks down the oil into smaller particles that bacteria can break down. No one knows how long the process will take but it’s the best we have right now. We can pin point where a space ship will go but can’t handle something of this magnitude. So the oil slick becomes the latest invasive on our delicate ecosystems.



   Just 2 quick questions. When a gasoline tank truck rolls over and catches fire, the price of gas usually shoots up $.50 per gallon but not for this little burp. What gives? I’m not complaining but when gas prices were going up and down like a yo-yo we were told just little problems can cause big spikes. I’m sure glad those times are over. The other question is about the animal savers that advertise on the TV and internet all the time. You now the picture of the dog with the long eyes and a foot in a cast. Where were those people when the dolphins and turtles started dying because of the oil spill? I would have thought they’d be there cleaning up birds for photo-op but nothing. So I googled oil spill and HSUS and found only 1 article from W. Purcele stating they’re using patience to see when they’ll be needed. Maybe donators should be using the same strategy.



   It seems the whole strategy on this spill is out of sight – out of mind. The chemical is breaking up the oil but this is just making the slick sink down 6 to 10 feet below the surface. There’s also those little tar balls that are washing up on shore. Some aren’t so little, reaching an 8 inch across size. When the oil starts coming on shore no matter what phase it’s in the trouble will start. My Brother-in-Law was just down there on vacation. You can see some pics on the slideshow (hopefully). When he was there he saw the bottom of the gulf in a pinkish red tone. The red snappers were just getting ready to spawn. I believe there are many other species spawning at this time of the year. The implications aren’t good but nobody is speaking of them, they just closed fishing from the Mississippi River to the pan handle of Florida.



   Now something is happening to our fish. The Chinooks of Lake Huron are being displaced by walleye. No one is sure why but we do know by creel reports what is being caught now. One invasive alewife) was probably decimated by another invasive (zebra mussel) and the Chinook (another invasive but an invited one) over fed on the alewives and knock them out of the lake. One action causes another reaction and so on and so on down the line. That’s Mother Nature. Now in Lake Erie the walleye are in a pretty steep decline, mostly from poor spawning. At least that’s what the experts think but could it be the zebra mussels or the round gobies or some new invasive? Because of the drop it looks as though the walleye limit on Lake Erie will drop to 4 fish per day until the situation changes. Hopefully this year’s spawn effort will explode and the drop to 4 fish won’t be needed. Keep your fingers crossed.



Get Outdoors Downriver
drdownriverrat@gmail.com

Thursday, May 13, 2010

DWF Tournament

sorry for the last minute notice...


Tomorrow night (8 pm Thursday) is the entry deadline for the Saturday Tournament!! You don't want to miss this one! Get your entry form in to one of the locations listed in the rulrs or contact the Tournament Captains Kay or Shuan Ross at 734-285-2428



Remember , the more particpants, the more you can win!!! Thw wheather is supposed to be great (for a change) so come on and join the fun!!!!



Walleye Detroit River AND Lake Erie Tournament May 15th



This tournament will be open to the River and Lake Erie (within the boundaries shown on the maps in the Rules document)

See DWF in the links label.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Joe's big walleye

Joe S caught this 30" 9.5# walleye just off of Wyandotte. There are still some nice fish bitting but they are becoming less and less. Ofcourse now the silver bass are becoming more and more...

Friday, May 7, 2010

Happy Mothers Day

Don't forget your mother this Sunday. For some fun downriver outdoor activity try these metro parks.


At Oakwoods Metropark




“Mother’s Day Wildflower Walk,” Sunday, May 9 at 2 p.m., Oakwoods Nature Center. Treat Mom to a hike in the woods and search for spring wildflowers. Fee: $2 per person/moms are free. Pre-registration required. For more information, please call 1-800-477-3182 or 734-782-3956.







At Lake Erie Metropark:



“Welcome Home Bird Bash: Celebrating Migratory Birds,” Sunday, May 9, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Marshlands Museum and Nature Center of Lake Erie Metropark in Brownstown. Come for early bird or lazy afternoon walks, speakers, special exhibits, craft sessions and more. Donations appreciated. For more information, please call 1-800-477-3189 or 734-379-5020.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Turkey Tracks

   I’ve been out hunting the elusive turkey for the last 10 days. The turkeys didn’t cooperate at all. In over 40 hours in the field I didn’t hear 1 gobble. Very depressing, especially since last year 4 of us got a bird each. I tried every kind of call I know and nothing worked. We saw turkeys everywhere around us but nothing close. It was very frustrating but that’s why it’s called hunting and not shopping.


   The time spent in the woods was priceless however. All the little things really add up. From hearing a whip-or–will to seeing a rufous-sided towhee. At times the quiet is deafening. Very relaxing and good for recharging the batteries. The anticipation was high but the lack of gobbling was a big disappointment. I did see some birds in the field, they were very skittish, so there’s always hope for next year.

   Sitting in the woods with very little going on always makes my mind wander. I think of hunts long ago, some great some just bad. How family and friends are doing, what I’m missing at work. The eyelids start to sink and you go into a state of near sleep, sometimes a light sleep my just happen. Time seems to slow down and go by very slowly, like the house on the side of the road. God bless you Ernie, we’ll miss you.

   Traveling back from turkey camp I saw an empty eagle’s nest. Last year it was active at this time of year. Maybe it’s a late spring and that’s why the turkeys were tight lipped. I did see an eagle right over I-75 in Saginaw of all places. They’re really making a comeback from years ago, much like the Detroit River. You can’t believe the change from what I witnessed in the 60’s and 70’s. Brown effluent was coming from most manufacturing discharges right into the river.

   One of the more spectacular sights I saw back then was the quenching of coal into coke. Wyandotte Chemicals would heat the coal as high as they could without it burning and then dump water on it to produce coke. The coke burns much hotter because the impurities are driven out. I was very young at the time but it seems like yesterday because of the shock and awe of the operation. The sound was a series of loud explosions and the steam cloud that formed extended many hundreds of feet in the air. I think my uncle Pete new when they were going to do this because we were always half way across the river when it happened. That was ok by me. There were many operations that the steel mills and chemical plants did that were amazing to see. One that you can still witness is the dumping of off spec molten steel onto the ground at Great Lakes steel. You may see the sky light up at times in the summer from this process. From just 100 yards away it’s like watching fireworks.



Get outdoors downriver.