Outdoors

FISHING

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reported that the extremely warm temperatures we had over the weekend drove the fish into deep water or areas with shade or thick vegetation, especially during the day.  Your best bet is to try night fishing or head out in the very early morning or late evening.   Look for inflows with cooler water from spring-fed streams or target lakes that have natural springs.  Pyle’s Porthole in South Haven reported that Perch fishing has picked up and anglers are doing very well in 35 to 45 feet of water, south of the piers.  Lake Michigan anglers were doing real well in 110 feet of water with spoons and meat rigs, taking Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Steelhead, and Kings.  One Salmon brought in for weighing, weighed in at 29.9 pounds.  Pier and river fishing have been very slow, reports Pyle’s.  They are catching some Catfish and a few Bass, but it was slow.  Inland lakes were doing real well producing lots of Bluegill and Crappies; especially on Lake Eleven, Eagle Lake and Great Bear Lake.  Ellinee Bait & Tackle by Coloma reported panfish are being taken in not only Paw Paw Lake, but the surrounding lakes in quantity.  One angler from Van Auken Lake (he is an a.m. angler) had caught his limit of Bluegills before 11 a.m.   Not much has been reported about taking Pike or Walleye, but they are still getting some Bass on Paw Paw Lake.  Cat fishing is still successful for those targeting them.  Perch fishing out of St. Joseph continues to be decent, but the fish were scattered and caught in 30 to 40 or 50 to 60 feet of water.  Salmon fishing has been very slow.  Pier fishing was slow for Steelhead and those using crawler or shrimp caught freshwater drum.  Long Lake in Barry County was producing some Crappie.  The DNR and Michigan State University (MSU) are partnering together this summer to monitor crayfish populations in the Upper Peninsula.  Approximately 140 sites across the U.P. will be sampled by field crews to determine the distribution of native and invasive crayfish.  The Rusty Crayfish are the most widespread invasive crayfish in Michigan, initially introduced to the state’s waters by the live release of unused bait.  Native to Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky, they have the ability to negatively alter aquatic habitats and organisms.  For more information on Rusty Crayfish, visit www.michigan.gov/invasives.  The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center now has a live fish webcam.  The webcam offers a real-time, round-the-clock view of Chinook Salmon, Steelhead Trout, Northern Pike, Northern Muskellunge, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, a variety of sunfish and two 6-foot Lake Sturgeon as they fend for food.  Shana Ramsey, interpreter at Wolf Lake said, “This is a really cool opportunity to see and connect with the thousands of Michigan game fish that live in our Show Pond anytime, from anywhere.”  For more information on the Fish Cam, call the Hatchery at 269-668-2876.

HUNTING

 Applications are available for restricted deer hunts at Pierce Road Hunt Unit of Sharonville State Game Area.  All deer reserved hunts at the game area are reserved for those with qualifying disabilities.  The applications are available now through August 15 at any license agent or DNR Customer Service Center or online at www.mdnr-elicense.com.  The applications are $5.00 and only one may be purchased.  As part of the DNR’s Michigan Operation Freedom Outdoors initiative, the DNR has designated a 600-acre unit of the game area in order to provide special hunt opportunities.  This will give hunters with disabilities the opportunity to hunt deer on state-managed land with reduced competition from other hunters and will allow Michigan’s deer resources to be more accessible to hunters with disabilities.  For the 2016 deer season, special hunt opportunities will occur on the following dates: September 17-18 (coinciding with the Liberty Hunt); October 1-7 (coinciding with the first week of the archery deer season); October 13-16 (coinciding with the Independence Hunt); and November 15-30 (coinciding with the regular firearm deer season).  The DNR reminds hunters that a fall turkey hunting application is still available through August 1.  Applications are $5.00 and may be purchased at any authorized license agent or online.  Drawing results and leftover license availability will be posted August 11 at www.michigan.gov/turkey.  Bear and Elk license drawing results have been posted at www.michigan.gov/huntdrawings.  Any leftover bear licenses are available to any hunter now, including those who did not apply.  Big changes to waterfowl hunting regulations this year include a liberalized Canada Goose hunting season with increased bag limits.  The daily bag limit is now five geese per day during the entire September season and three geese per day October through February.  The Canada Goose season runs September 1-30 and October 1-December 16 in the North Zone.  Middle Zone dates are September 1-30 and October 1 to December 14 and a December 17-18 split weekend.  In the South Zone, dates run September 1-25, October 8-December 4, December 31-Janurary 1, and January 1-February 11.   Saginaw and Tuscola County goose management units (GMU) have the same dates as the South Zone.  Designated goose management units in Allegan and Muskegon counties have alternate dates.  Information on goose seasons GMUs can be found in the Waterfowl Hunting Digest available at license agents, online at www.michigan.gov/dnrdigests, field offices and Customer Service Centers.

COLOMA ROD & GUN CLUB

 The Coloma Rod and Gun Club will hold their CCW Class on August 13.  Registration day is Sunday, August 7 between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. at the club house.  The Class Fee is $100.00 with $50.00 deposit due at sign-up.  Class is taught by a certified NRA and RSO instructor.  For more information, call 269-621-3370.

The Butterfly House is full of butterflies! Here are some fun factoids to enhance your visit:  The longwing family of butterflies (including the Julias, zebra longwings and Gulf fritillary) has learned to dissolve pollen for a meal that is more nutrient-laden than nectar. They can live three to six months…much longer than the average 3-4 weeks of other species.  The giant swallowtail is the largest species found in the United States.  Julias tickles caiman (small crocodiles) eyes to lap up the salty tears.  Painted lady butterflies live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.  Cloudless sulfur butterflies also migrate in the winter. They head for south Florida.  Male monarchs dip specialized hairs into their black scent pockets (the spots on the hind wings) and wave them about to attract females.  Meet Sarett’s owls and turkey vulture on July 28 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children.  Join the Outdoor Adventure Club (for twenty-somethings) on July 31 at 11:00 a.m. to kayak on the Dowagiac River. Fee is $25 per person. Pre-registration is required.  Amphibian Feeding Time on August 2 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children.  Meet Sarett’s snakes on August 4 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults, $1 for children.  Please call (269) 927-4832 to register for programs.