08-24-17 Outdoors

Fishing

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that a small number of salmon were starting to move into the rivers in the Upper Peninsula and the northern Lower Peninsula. Those fishing the inland lakes across the state are catching a variety of species. The fish are moving to deeper water when it is hot. Those fishing shallow waters should find fish in the early mornings or late afternoons.

FAMILY FUN… Jerry Hyatt and wife Rebecca went fishing together on August 20 for a mornings’ entertainment. Jerry said, “My wife doesn’t go often so I was looking forward to the outing. It turned out to be a very good day indeed, for both of us.” The Hyatts went to Lake-of-the-Woods and by 8:00 a.m. Jerry pulled in a beautiful 36-inch-long northern pike, pictured here. Just before 9:00 Rebecca caught a four-and-a-half-pound bass and not long after, she reeled in another bass that was 15-inches long.

Captain Kenny Bard of Rampage Fishing Charters out of South Haven reports that fishing has slowed down on Lake Michigan. King salmon and lake trout are still biting in 100 to 200 feet of water and anywhere from 80 to 100 feet down.

Best bait is meat rigs, plugs and flies.

Perch fishing is really bad right now, after the wind and rain swept through and scattered the fish; they are in water anywhere from 20 to 60 feet. Pier anglers are doing well on catfish and the water is too warm for river fishing right now. Inland lakes are producing panfish and the bluegills are down deep. Duck Lake, Eagle Lake and Minor Lake are a few to try. Van Auken has been producing some nice bass.

Boat anglers out of St. Joseph found salmon fishing very inconsistent with fish caught in 80 feet as well as past 150 feet of water. White spin doctors and green flies worked well. Perch fishing was slow as the fish were scattered. Some were found in 50 feet of water. Drifting seems to work better than still-fishing.

In July, the DNR confirmed the presence of invasive red swamp crayfish in Novi and near Kalamazoo. These two locations represent the first detections of live red swamp crayfish in Michigan. Native to the southern states they are considered invasive in Michigan because they compete aggressively with native crayfish species for food and habitat. They feed on plants, insects, snails, juvenile fish and other crayfish, disrupting the food chain for many aquatic species.

Of the greatest concern is their habit of burrowing deep into banks, causing damage to dams, irrigation systems and shorelines.

The DNR has been setting traps in nearby lakes and ponds to remove the crayfish and determine the extent of the infestations at both locations. They are also following up on reports from concerned citizens who believe they may have seen or found the red swamp crayfish at other places across the state.

The Michigan DEQ has created a video to help people identify and report the red swamp crayfish. If you find a red swamp crayfish, photograph it and send the photo, date and location of the find to herbsts1@michigan.gov. For more information visit www.michigan.gov/invasivespecies.

Hunting

The Lake Effect Chapter of Michigan Duck Hunters Association’s Youth Waterfowl Day will be held on Saturday, August 26. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Muskegon State Game Area headquarters, located in Twin Lake, Michigan.

This event offers an opportunity for families and kids of all ages to learn about waterfowl identification and biology, hunting techniques, retrieving dogs, and the traditions of hunting and management. Activities take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with lunch provided at noon, along with a drawing for prizes.

Those who would like to attend are asked to RSVP to lakeeffectduckhuters@gmail.com or call Susie Hughes a 231-343-4092.

The shooting range in Algonac State Park located in Marine City, recently reopened after a construction project aimed at improving the visitor experience at the range. Improvements include accessible parking, new accessible shooting stations – a six-station shotgun shooting structure and a four-station handgun lane – and concrete target-retrieval paths. Learn more about DNR shooting ranges at www.michigan.gov/shootingranges.

With grouse and woodcock hunting season openers just around the corner, the DNR reminds hunters that now is the time to make plans to spend some days in the woods. Michigan is known for great ruffed grouse and woodcock hunting, but with millions of acres of public land to explore, hunters might not know how to get started. GEMS are a great place to begin.

GEMS (Grouse Enhanced Management Sites) are large blocks of land, open to hunting, that have hunter walking trails winding throughout. The 18 sites are managed to have young timber, which makes them ideal places to hunt and see wildlife due to the thick cover and great food sources provided. Visit www.michigan.gov/gems for an interactive map, more information about individual GEMS and custom maps.

Michigan’s grouse season runs September 15 to November 14 and December 1 to January 1. Woodcock are a migratory bird and have an abbreviated season, September 23 to November 6. Millions of acres are open to public hunting in Michigan and there are many more locations to hunt beyond the 18 GEMS. Use www.michigan.gov/mihunt, an interactive map application, to plan adventures anywhere across the state.

Coloma Rod & Gun Club

The Coloma Rod & Gun Club will hold their monthly CCW Class on September 9. Class registration is held on Sunday, September 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The class is taught by a certified NRA and RSO instructor and the cost of the class is $100. For more information or to be put on the list, please call (269) 621-3370.

What is a butterfly’s favorite flower? Is a common question in our butterfly house. The answer, as always in nature, is… It depends.

In general, butterflies seem to prefer flowers that produce nectars that have relatively high sucrose concentrations. The concentration ranges from 20% to 25%. Ideally, the nectar would also have a good concentration of amino acids.

Two native plants, Sullivant’s milkweed (ascelpia sullivanti) and spotted bee balm (monarda punctate), have some of the highest sugar concentrations of flowers. They also fit the bill for what botanists call the “butterfly pollinator syndrome.” They have tubular flowers, proboscis guides, bright coloration and strong scents. The latter seems to be the most important in a butterfly’s search for nectar.

Although we are not permitted to provide milkweed in the butterfly house, the crimson-colored monarda was quite popular when it was in bloom. Now the coneflowers seem to be the nectar stars. When the jewelweed blooms, the sugary nectar (almost 30% concentration) inside their tubular flowers will have many visitors.

Some species of butterflies, like our Pipevine Swallowtail, can actually “learn” which species of flowers have the best nectar and will frequently return to them during feeding times.

Meet Val, Sarett’s turkey vulture, and celebrate International Turkey Vulture Awareness Day on September 2 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults; free for children.