Quackers in Paradise

What would draw grown men to the edge of Lake Erie at 5am in the late fall? Yes, Fall. I’m just a little behind in my article chronology. This fine morning I came to find out what happens at the duck hunting drawings at the Point Mouillie Headquarters on Campau road. There were about 25 men waiting for the drawing results. As with all endeavors of chance there are those that try to sway favor their way. To this end the area manager, Joe Robinson, has listed almost 2 pages of rules to comply with in order to be eligible for a permit. Yet that doesn’t deter these men afflicted with the fever. As the numbers are drawn the best spots go first and it seemed these were the easiest to access, and they have corn. Many times the drawer for the day, Chuck Pulling, mentioned that you couldn’t wade that ditch because the water was over your head. Some areas are accessed by boat only so that’s another obstacle to overcome. Of the 12 areas for permit only 9 got picked for the morning hunt, there’s another drawing later for the afternoon hunt. Something Joe failed to mention when I first inquired about the permit process.

From Downriver Outdoors

So only a little more than half of the hunters got a permit and it seemed like a waste of time for the unlucky ones, time which could’ve been spent sleeping in. No, the fever doesn’t allow sleeping in; you have to be ready when shooting light becomes available. Ready means all decoys are deployed and a blind or some place to sit and not be seen by incoming birds is set up. So getting a permit only allows an easier, quicker set up, the others usually already know where they’ll be. Then it becomes a matter of first come, first to set up. There are 4000 acres in the Point Mouillie State Game Area and with a little work you can find your own little paradise within it’s’ boundaries. As I left the drawing building I could hear a cacophony of duck sounds that I didn’t hear just half an hour earlier. I don’t know if it was just the normal chatter of the duck or an in your face tease like here I am come and get me.

PMSGA is considered the “Jewel of the Midwest” by many and not only duck hunters. It’s a natural flyway for ducks and many other birds and that’s what makes it so popular. Many birds use it as a reference for their migrations north and south. As I wrote last fall about the Hawkfest at Lake Erie Metropark, many birders flock to the area to catch a glimpse of birds that may only be in the area for a few days on their trips back and forth. Everyone visiting the site must follow the rules and regulations of use. The most notable is that no one is allowed within the PMSGA after September 15th and the end of duck season, usually the first weekend in December, without a permit. Call the area’s headquarters at 734-379-9692 between 8am and noon on Wednesdays only to ask any questions about permits and other subjects. Check out Jerry Jordan’s web page for info on what birds may be in the area at any time of the year. Last year while working outside at home I heard the most awful honk coming from the sky. I looked up to see a lone sandhill crane looking for a mate or just some company in its new climes.

Get Outdoors Downriver

River Trip

All the heavenly bodies aligned today and I finally got to spend a good chunk of time on the river. 3-3-3: 3 waldos, 3 huge smallmouth and 3 silvers. Yes the silver scourge are coming. I guess they're late like everything else this year but when they come in the walleye are harder to find. This year is the hardest in recent memory so just the thought of making it harder is depressing.

The Boarder Patrol boats were out doing some kind of training, maybe. I didn't want to get too close to them so as not to become part of the training myself. The DNR and Wayne County boats are also out so make sure and check the boat for everything you must have for an inspection. Use the “quick list” to see if you are ready.
http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse/ReviewPages/BoatUSF/PDF_files/section4.pdf this is a good page for info as is http://a0911806.uscgaux.info/Detriverwakezones.html

Something else I saw on the river
It's a cell phone picture so the quality isn't the best but these are nesting cormorants. Something that isn't supposed to be happening in the Detroit River area. At least that's what people involved with these birds tell me. If you see these birds nesting anywhere in our area send me a picture or notify the DNR using the cormorant report form(link just under and to the right of the slideshow. Seeing a cormorant 25 years ago was a rare sight and kind of gave you that "wildlife feel". Something reminding you there is wilderness somewhere. Now these birds are so numerous that you can only imagine what affect they're having on our fish population. Each bird eats a pound of fish per day but they can't eat big fish so a lot of little fish make up their diet. In the 7 months(210+ days) they live here they consume many fry of the fish we like. However, I'm told, let don't make a dent in any fish's population. We'll just have to wait and see.

Sacred Land Restoration Ceremony/ with update

The Blessing went off without a hitch. Many members of the Wyandot Nation were in attendance confirming the reverence they have for the land their families have walked on for many eons. The Wyandot's were the first people to reference the sunflower, maybe it originated from around here. Corn, beans and squash were used in the ceremony as well as smoke from the tobacco plant to reclaim this brownfield and make it a place that wildlife and people will want to use. Over 200 students(would have been more if not for budget cuts) from Summit Academy in Huron Township, Southgate Anderson, Trenton and Gibraltar Carlson high schools were all well behaved and in awe of the happenings.
Faith keeper Tharehtade from the Quebec Wyandot carried out the blessing with the help of many Canadian(http://www.wyandotofanderdon.com/) and local members of the Wyandot including Chief Ted Roll.
The blessing was a kickoff for many projects that are happening at the sight. Right now there's a shoreline restoration going on using large land moving machines. This brief period of elevated noise will pay off big in the future for aquatic wildlife in the area. The crown jewel will be the fishing pier, placed out away from shore, that could become the most popular one this side of the Mississippi. http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/HumbugRefugeGateway.html
This could open walleye fishing to more people than any other fishing pier in the world. That's quite a statement and the rest of the refuge is shaping up to be even better than the pier.

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May 4th - Refuge Gateway
5437 W. Jefferson Ave. Trenton, MI 12:00-2:00 pm
We invite you to join the Wyandot of Anderdon in
blessing the Shoreline Restoration at the Refuge Gateway.
We invite students to experience a traditional smudging ceremony, administered by the Wyandot of Anderdon, the local Native American Tribe. The ceremony will bless the restoration work at the Refuge Gateway and Humbug Marsh.
After the ceremony, students will embark on a journey to learn about the natural, industrial, and cultural history of our region through visiting 5 learning stations. Stations will include: history and culture of the Wyandot of Anderdon; industrial history of the Refuge Gateway; Monguagon wetland system restoration; shoreline restoration ; and the natural history and the habitat found in Humbug Marsh and the Refuge Gateway.
For More Infromation Contact:
Allison Krueger
ph: 734.692.7672
Dear Teachers and Administrators:
The Wyandot of Anderdon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invite your class to participate in a traditional blessing ceremony at the Refuge Gateway.
May 4th, Refuge Gateway, Trenton, MI
11:30 arrival, 12:00 pm ceremony, 2:00 pm dismissal
After the ceremony, the students will visit 5 learning stations to describe the natural, industrial, and cultural history of the Refuge Gateway site.
As a traditional Wyandot ceremony will be performed at this event, we ask that participating students act respectfully
and appropriately.
We would be honored by your classes’
participation in this upcoming
learning opportunity.

Schedule:
11:30 arrival,
12:00 pm Blessing Ceremony,
12:30-2:00 Visiting learning stations
2:00 pm dismissal
Directions:
The Refuge Gateway is located 1 mile south of Van Horn on West Jefferson Ave.
5437 W. Jefferson Ave, Trenton, MI 48183

ACTIVITIES:
1.WYANDOT OF ANDERDON SMUDGING CEREMONY & BLESSING OF THE LAND
LEARNING STATIONS:
2. INDUSTRIAL HISTORY: Learn the Refuge Gateway’s industrial history and how we are transforming this property back to wildlife habitat
3. MONGUAGON CREEK DAYLIGHTING: The Monguagon is a newly restored wetland at the Refuge Gateway, learn what ‘daylighting’ means and how it improves water quality
4. WYANDOT HISTORY: Discover the culture of the Wyandot of Anderdon, our local Native American tribe, and learn how they used these lands
5. NATURAL HISTORY: Learn what species of birds use this land with and how migratory species use it as stopover habitat
6. SHORELINE RESTORATION: The restoration of coastal habitat is significant to our area! Learn the why and what of this important restoration

ZZ Tops

This year hunting turkey was different. Normally I’d be north of Bay City on the first or second week of the season trying to outwit a THUNDERBIRD. My cousin Jojo got permission to hunt a farm in the thumb area of Michigan from his wife’s uncle. This is the ZZ hunt unit and offered 2 weeks to hunt closer to home. We knew there were birds around but didn’t expect the turkey LOVETHING that would happen opening day.

We used a combination of pop up and ground blinds to cover the farm. Expecting most birds to be on the north side of the farm 3 hunters stationed there and I went south. Opening morning was cold and crisp; rice crispy snow fell much of the morning. Jo set out his Flambeau decoy, she’s got LEGS and SHE’S A HEARTBREAKER. Right at 8:30 a nice tom came in all HOT BLUE AND RIGHTEOUS calling out GIMMIE ALL YOUR LOVIN’ to the decoy. Jo punched his tag with a little GUN LOVE from his Browning 10 gage pump shortly there after. A big bird with a 9 1/2“ beard and 1 1/8” spurs.

From Downriver Outdoors

After lunch there were birds in the field when Jay went to Jojo’s blind. He would be using the same decoy with the PENTHOUSE EYES. Just decided to stay in his SLEEPING BAG and I headed south again. Soon Jay was surrounded by birds and everything was GOIN’ SO GOOD. Jo informed me that Deuce wouldn’t be going out for the afternoon hunt and I should use his blind due to the birds being on that side of the farm. The only problem was being seen by the flock around Jay and causing them to leave the field. So I used the NEIGHBOR NEIGHBOR’s hedgerow to stay out of site and got set up without being detected. Now I was looking directly west and even with the cloudy skies I wished I had some CHEAP SUNGLASSES.

Jay on the other side of the field has a DEAL GOIN’ DOWN. He’s got the SHARP DRESSED MAN coming in to the decoys. A huge tom, definitely the boss of the field. He’s just 10 yards out of range and here comes the WORLD OF SWIRL. Three jakes, young toms, going spastic chasing each other in a tight circle and are about as wanted as rowdy teenagers in church.

LB2 is up now, Jojo and he are having a PARTY ON THE PATIO watching the action from a good part of a quarter mile away. They can see the circling jakes and the boss tom strutting to beat the band in front of Jay. Then like it always can hunting turkey, things took a turn for the worse. The pesky jakes got up close to the decoy and didn’t like what they saw. When they started putting, the turkey alarm sound, the boss tom got nervous and started moving off. A long shot was attempted and missed the mark but did push the birds to my side of the field.

I was just on the other side of a rise in the field from the turkeys. I couldn’t see them but I could hear them clucking and purring. Soon I could see the top of a turkey fan tail then a PRETTY HEAD. Just on the other side of the rise, a fan then a head, a fan then a head, DON”T TEASE ME like this. The tom can’t see me in the Ameristep pop up blind but he’s GOT ME UNDER PRESSURE with the head bobbing, now I see him now I don’t. A light purr on my Abbas A-Way box call and the curiosity was too much for him. DUSTED. I felt like a TEN FOOT POLE. The tom sported a 9 3/4” beard with 1” spurs. Thank you Uncle Chet!

From Downriver Outdoors

Cursed Wind

The MWC Pro Walleye Tournament was canceled today due to the unsafe conditions caused by this big blow. The winning team of Greg Bliznik and Keith Greear posted a 5 fish basket weighing 43.49 pounds yesterday. The wind is a curse of the early spring walleye fisher testing the boat handling abilities of everyone. This wind was just dangerous to go out in so congratulations to these two for the big catch yesterday.
Hopefully it won't take long for the river to clear up so we can get at this spring's run of this delectable fish.

Cormorants

April Foolish

With all definitions of crazy aside, this story borders on craziness and April foolishness. As you can tell by my slide show, with the first picture being a cormorant devouring a nice sized pike, I think the black death from the sky is a very clear and present danger. This is why I have a link on the blog page for anyone that sees a cormorant to report it. This is why I volunteered to be a cormorant guard.

Saturday 4/2 I was at the Southgate library to volunteer for cormorant control. What type of shot to use was my first question. No these birds are federally protected. Only agents of the USFW service are authorized to do and rarely at that. . Tim Wilson, from the US Department of Agriculture Wildlife Division, gave a very detailed presentation on the state of the cormorant in Michigan and what the different agencies are doing to try and control them. So I volunteered to be a cormorant guard. Guard them as in protecting? No, not hardly. Guarding them from a highly prized valuable.

Tim Wilson

You see the USFWS doesn’t think there are any cormorants south of northern Lake Huron, that’s why we need to get those reports in. I sent in a report last October after a quick outing on the river and counting 80+ cormorants. Yesterday I observed 220 flying north, there were many others swimming or flying east and west in the river so I couldn't get an accurate count, the ones I reported were flying off into the north. For years now the black death from the sky has been taking advantage of a fish near and dear to many. Who knows when it started, but for 8 years it’s been known that when fish are stocked at certain locations cormorants show up in droves for a free meal. These fish are steelhead smolts that stick around the area they’re planted for a week or 2 to get their bearings and imprint on the water source they’re in. Somehow cormorants have adapted to this, like someone ringing a dinner bell.

Somewhere Downriver
These fish are fairly large, raised in the hatchery to help their survival. The cost for each fish is in the neighborhood of $2 each by the time they’re released. Bob Eggleston released 35,564 fish today somewhere Downriver. Due to red tape the truck drivers can’t release the fish at night, which may not help anyway. How the cormorants know the stocked fish are there is a mystery, but keeping the fish safe is now the job of the cormorant guards. Bring it black death, I’ll be waiting.

Of course the ball game is in favor of the protected bird not the fish the state pays to raise. The only tools and tactics we can use are pyrotechnics, in certain areas, and using boats to herd the cormorants away. So for 2 weeks the sites will be manned with volunteers trying to save the young steelheads. If you have questions or wish to volunteer contact any of these organizations for details.

http://huronriverfishing.com/About%20HRFA.html

http://huronval.michigansteelheaders.org/

http://www.dwfonline.com/

15.9 pound Walleye, Biggest in 15 years

Yesterday 4/13 at 9:30 am John Kinkead caught a hog walleye out of the lower Detroit River. John caught the fish of a lifetime on a jig tipped with a 4" Gulp in shad color. John took it to Bottomline Bait and Tackle to get some pictures taken. Bill at Bottomline says it's the biggest walleye from the river in the last 15 years. Congrats John.
John's big fish has all of the FLW pro anglers in town for this weekend's tournament itching for a chance at the same type of fish. Final weigh-in will be Sunday 4/17 at 3 pm at Elizabeth Park in Trenton. More pics and info to come.

From Downriver Outdoors

John caught the fish of a lifetime on a Northland jig in orange and black with a shad colored Gulp minnow body. The fish was 31 1/8 in length. For fishing updates from Bottomline shoot them an email at bottomlinebait734@yahoo.com

From Downriver Outdoors

Nathan Lewis Eagle Scout Aspirant

  Nathan Lewis, of Trenton, is completing a long journey in scouting to becomes an Eagle Scout. It's the last step in rank a scout can make, the last of 6. After many merit badges, outings, camping trips and projects the light at the end of the tunnel is coming into view.
  Nathan, a junior at Gabriel Richard High School in Riverview, has been in scouting for 11 years. An endeavor he enjoyed because it introduced him to camping and he loves camping. After many camping outings with his troop, #802 out of Woodhaven, Nathan has been involved in some intense camping. These trips are on a par with the survivor reality shows. One was a week on an island just off of Florida, a week surrounded by saltwater. Are you thirsty yet? Last year was 10 days in New Mexico, so think desert. Foraging for food and water for 10 days in the desert, maybe love doesn't quite describe Nathan's zest for camping.
  Now the Life Scout has just one more step to make Eagle Scout. Thanks in part to the leaders of troop 802 who made sure Nathan stayed on track. They have a good recipe there because Nathan isn't the only Eagle Scout to come out of the 802. Nathan isn't just a scout either, he's also a football player and track participant at school. So the project comes at a good time for him, a little lull so to speak. Also a good time for the vegetation to take root. Under the guidance of Allison Krueger, the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance landscape designer, Nathan and his troop installed 300 feet of fa-chine on the banks of the overflow from the retention pond on the north end of Humbug Marsh. The pond collects surface rain water from the surrounding area. This water used to go right into the river and now gets a natural treatment from the pond and Humbug Marsh. This is a big plus for the fish and animals in the refuge. I saw a pair of geese there already so the herons and egrets aren't far behind.
  Congrats to Nathan for achieving the highest rank in scouting and a big thanks to all that helped with the project. Allison Krueger, Nathan's parents and the members of troop 802 that volunteered all deserve a big attaboy. If you'd like to help out on another of the DRIWRA's projects go to their website http://www.fws.gov/midwest/detroitriver/ and check it out. Volunteers are always appreciated in a wildlife refuge.



Get Outdoors Downriver

Antique Outboard Motor Show

  Lockeman's Hardware and Boat hosted it's annual outboard motor show last Saturday, 3/26/11. There were 15 outboards on display for judging by members of the Great Lakes Chapter of The Antique Outboard Motor Club, Inc. It's amazing how these members can get a 75 year old outboard motor to look. A lot of elbow grease and some fabricating are needed. Fabricating because parts are no longer available, that is unless Lockeman's doesn't have it in stock.
Along with the show is a swap meet in the alley. Quite a few vendors had the odd motor parts and things like motor covers which can be lost quickly in the Detroit River. It was a great turnout as I found out because by the time I got there the free doughnuts and hot dogs were gone. All in all everyone had a good time and enjoyed the show. Make sure to check my "To Do Downriver" next year to find out when it will be.



Get Outdoors Downriver

It’s Walleye Time Again

  Mark Martin was at the Downriver Walleye Federation meeting last night and if Mark’s in town the walleyes can’t be far behind. Mark was giving tips on fishing the Detroit River and the 500+ in attendance were all ears. You can judge the interest in a speaker by the lack of side conversations in the room and when Mark stopped talking, which wasn’t very often, you cold hear a pin drop. Considering this was 2-3 times the normal attendance Mark’s reputation is well known. An interesting moment of the evening was the Pledge of Allegiance by the crowd of mostly 40 and over men. A pure slice of Americana.
  Mark pointed out quite a few hot spots on the river to try. He also pointed out that if the spot is crowded with boats and the fish aren’t biting, to try moving just up or down river to find active fish that are spooked by the armada. One thing he did stress more than once is that if the water is dirty jigging takes a backseat to crankbaits. The fish can hear the crankbait better than they can see it and are more prone to hit. This knowledge helped him develop special techniques to present the lures where the fish are. All the info is found in his book of which he only covered maybe 30%. If interested in the book or just finding out more about Mark go to http://www.markmartins.net/.



On a sad note it was announced that Dorothy from Lockeman’s Hardware and Boats is very ill and in need of some support. There is a fund raiser for her this Saturday, March 26th at Westland VFW Hall, 055 South Wayne Road. Check out the web site:



http://www.giveforward.com/fight4dorothy



or stop by the shop to leave a donation.

From odds

Get Outdoors Downriver