Calling All Train Enthusiasts

  I know you’re thinking what have trains to do with the outdoors? Well I could go on about how the train workers used to stock streams and ponds with smallmouths and carp near where they would stop for water or a pick up. Doing this they spread the range of these fish throughout the country some for good, some not so. I want to cover some interesting things Downriver that are interesting and could interest people on off days.

From Blogger Pictures

  The Lincoln Par Train Club, formerly the Trenton Train Club, have been Downriver for quite some time. Thanks to the city of Lincoln Park they have a semi-permanent set up in the J.F.K. Memorial Building, some may know this as the bandshell building, and are open every Saturday from 10am till 1pm January thru Thanksgiving. For the Christmas season they help the city with Fantasyland operations.

From Blogger Pictures

   They have 3 different scale train set ups with HO, O and S all running during the open sessions. All the members are very helpful if you have questions about a set up or trouble shoot. Some members may even be persuaded to fix some old equipment you may have. Special arrangements can be made for groups such as schools or seniors to come in for a tour, please do this a month in advance. Call 624-1462 for info. If you do have questions or any interest in trains then this is the weekend to take advantage of their train show.

From Blogger Pictures

On Sunday October 24th at the J.F.K. building the 3rd annual Train Show will be held. From 11am until 3pm for the $3 admission you can swap and buy all things trains. If you’re not familiar with the area the J.F.K. building is just east of the Veteran’s memorial or the First Baptist Church on Fort Street between Emmons and Champagne.

Remember get Outdoors (indoors) Downriver

The perch, the perch, the perch are on fire!

This is one of those feel good stories. The numbers and size of perch this fall are incredible. Reports of foot long double headers have come from more than one source. This would be unheard of just a few short years ago when the commercial fishermen were making big hauls the perch were small and harder to come by. The Ohio operations were bought out and the Canadians are keeping a closer watch on their quotas. The results are a rebound of magnanimous proportions of this fine table fair.




The reports are in Lake Erie east of Stoney Point in 24 feet of water. Use this as a starting point and move around if you must to find a biting school. As always for perch emerald shiner minnows are a must. Check the bait shop link for the phone numbers to call to make sure the dealer has them. If you’re like me, and have a smaller boat, in rough weather stick to the river. Anywhere in the triangle between the crossdyke, Celeron Island and the boundary marker look for an opening in the weedbeds and plant your speader there. Or look for Ray’s marker to make a killing.

From Downriver Outdoors

On the other hand the walleyes are declining without a good explanation. The powers that be are seriously considering a reduction in limits. Hopefully they’ll see a rebound soon. One way to help is reporting any cormorant sightings. According to Larry Meijer who’s on the cormorant advisory Committee for the state the ASF+G considers Lake Erie to be cormorant free. So if you see cormorants please report to the MDNRE to establish a baseline for possible control. Go to: http://www.dnr.state.mi.us/cormorantobs/ for the form.



I just wanted to mention the rebound in sturgeon also. Not as prolific as the perch but a good start from the spawning reefs near Fighting Island in the river on the Canadien side. Here’s proof positive they’re working thanks to DR. John Hartig.

From Downriver Outdoors

If you want to catch an adult specimen of these fine fish contact Walleye Mike from the MI sportsman web site. http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=349532, he’s running a special up on Lake St. Clair and the SCR. Fish aren’t guarantied but they have been having great luck and he supplies everything including the proper tags.