Fishing

Anglers are reminded by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the last day to fish on all Type 1 and Type 2 rivers and streams was Friday, September 30.  Type 3 and Type 4 waters are open all year.  The season to take Lake Trout on the waters of Lake Huron or Lake Trout and Splake from the northern waters of Lake Michigan (north of Arcadia) also closed on September 30.   This week’s fishing tip from the DNR was targeting autumn Walleye.  In early fall Walleye can be found in a variety of locations within the water body, including deep, shallow or anywhere in between.  Keep that in mind and do not stick to one depth range.   In the mornings, check the areas where deepwater meets the shallow spots.  As the day goes by, start heading deeper, as Walleye can be photosensitive.  Do not forget to try your luck during the nighttime hours.  This can be a very productive time during the fall, especially along rock points and flat areas.   Captain Kenny of Rampage Fishing Charters out of South Haven reported that Lake Michigan water had flipped and the surface temperature was 47 degrees this past weekend.  Fishing was slow but anglers were taking a few Lake Trout fishing on the bottom in 100-130 feet of water.  Spin and glows seemed to be the fish’s choice.  Steelhead fishing was spotty.   Perch fishing was slow going, but anglers were catching some south of the pier in 30-40 feet of water.  Pier fishing was very slow with a few Steelheads being taken in the Black River.   Ellinee Bait & Tackle by Coloma reported that Bluegill fishing is doing real well in Paw Paw Lake and in other local lakes.  All reports indicate that to catch the Bluegills you need to fish deep on all the lakes.  Anglers fishing the Paw Paw River have been successful with Coho and Steelhead up around Watervliet.  The first King was reported to have been taken in Watervliet this past week.   Going out of St. Joseph Salmon anglers were catching a fair number of fish when trolling in 80 feet of water.  Spin doctors and flies worked best.  Perch anglers caught a decent number south of the piers in 30 feet.  Pier fishing was slow for all species.    Those trolling the St. Joseph River have caught the occasional Salmon on plugs, and the Dowagiac River was producing some Salmon up near the dam.  The Kalamazoo River had a few Steelhead, Chinook and Coho.  Those trolling spoons caught a few Salmon.  Fish were caught at the Allegan Dam with yarn flies and spawn.

Hunting

The DNR has confirmed that a deer in Berrien County has died from epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), a sometimes-fatal viral disease found in wild ruminants.  There is no evidence that humans can contract the EHD virus.  For more information on EHD, visit www.michigan.gov/wildlifedisease.   Deer deaths from EHD in Michigan have occurred sporadically since 2006.  Prior to 2006, EHD outbreaks occurred in 1955 and 1974.  The estimated mortality has varied from 50 to 1,000 deer per year.  In 2012 the largest die-off occurred, with an estimated loss of over 12,000 deer.  No cases of EHD were confirmed in the state in either 2014 or 2015.   The DNR has released its 2016 Michigan Deer Hunting Prospects Report.  The entire report can be found on their website.  Here are some highlights from it.   The 2015 season, while seeing a drop in hunter numbers, ended up with a slight increase in harvest from 2014.  While hunting success decreased in the Upper Peninsula, it increased across the entire Lower Peninsula with a little more than four out of every 10 hunters taking home at least one deer last season.  The 2016 deer season is forecasted to have similar to slightly increased success rates in comparison to last year.   The winter of 2015 was a relatively mild winter across the entire state.  With snowfall levels staying low and temperatures staying above average, it made for good survival conditions for deer and leads into a great potential for this year’s fawns.  Spring had relatively mild weather as well, which is a major factor in both deer fitness and fawn survival.    Due to these circumstances, field reports this year have indicated a high overall number of fawns seen, with plenty of twins and triplets across the state.  In addition to the high number of fawns being reported, deer condition in terms of body weight and antler growth on bucks appears to be better than last year.   The Southern Lower Peninsula forecast states that abundant food and cover in the form of agricultural crops and scattered swamps and woodlots provide very good habitat across the Southern Lower Peninsula landscape.  This high-quality habitat, combined with relatively mild winter conditions, typically results in a more abundant and productive deer population compared to other regions of the state.   The 2016 harvest forecast should be similar to last year, with perhaps a slight increase given the current conditions.  Harvest in the Southern Lower Peninsula can depend heavily on the percentage of standing corn.  If corn harvest is delayed going into the firearms season, a reduced harvest can be expected.   The DNR along with Pine Hill Kennels and Sportsman’s Club and the Grand Valley chapter of Pheasants Forever, will offer a guided ladies’ pheasant hunt on Sunday, October 23 in Belding.  Beginners are welcome and space is limited to 12 ladies, 18 years of age or older.  Pre-registration is required, so please call Scott Brosier at 616-874-8459 to reserve a spot.   The cost for the day is $45.00 per person.  Firearms are available for beginners, if needed.  The day’s events will include warming up by shooting clay pigeons on the skeet range, hunting with a guide for three pheasants, learning to clean the birds, and enjoying a gourmet lunch.

SARETT

“When I poked at it with a broomstick, it flattened its head like a cobra,” said the concerned caller. We were able to convince him that, unless he was a toad, he was in no danger from the Eastern hognose snake he encountered on his front lawn.  If the caller had stayed by the snake, he would have been treated to an Oscar-worthy death scene. The hognose would have imitated a convulsive fit while smearing itself with smelly musk and ended belly up, tongue hanging out of its mouth.  This performance is usually enough to make a perceived predator think “ewwww” and walk away.  Toads, however, elicit a different response… a “grab-and-eat” response. A hognose snake has an unusually wide mouth that allows it to deal with an inflated toad (its defense against a predator). The snake also has specialized hormones that render the toad’s toxins ineffective.  Do not forget the Country Fair on October 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.!  Adults and families (all children must be with an adult) can learn Geocaching with a GPS unit or phone app on October 9 at 2:00 p.m. Fee is $3 per person plus admission.  Let Sarett do the driving to Explore Michigan at Saugatuck Dunes State Park on October 12 at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $20. Pre-registration is required.  Please call (269) 927-4832 to register for programs.

“When I poked at it with a broomstick, it flattened its head like a cobra,” said the concerned caller. We were able to convince him that, unless he was a toad, he was in no danger from the Eastern hognose snake he encountered on his front lawn.  If the caller had stayed by the snake, he would have been treated to an Oscar-worthy death scene. The hognose would have imitated a convulsive fit while smearing itself with smelly musk and ended belly up, tongue hanging out of its mouth.  This performance is usually enough to make a perceived predator think “ewwww” and walk away.  Toads, however, elicit a different response… a “grab-and-eat” response. A hognose snake has an unusually wide mouth that allows it to deal with an inflated toad (its defense against a predator). The snake also has specialized hormones that render the toad’s toxins ineffective.  Do not forget the Country Fair on October 8 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.!  Adults and families (all children must be with an adult) can learn Geocaching with a GPS unit or phone app on October 9 at 2:00 p.m. Fee is $3 per person plus admission.  Let Sarett do the driving to Explore Michigan at Saugatuck Dunes State Park on October 12 at 10:00 a.m. Cost is $20. Pre-registration is required.  Please call (269) 927-4832 to register for programs.