Fishing
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports that as we move into the month of June, across the state the bite is improving as the waters warm. Anglers are doing well for panfish, Bass, Pike, Catfish, Bullhead, Carp and Freshwater Drum. More boats are heading out on the Great Lakes where Lake Trout fishing has been very good. Salmon and Steelhead are also being caught. In the Southwest Lower Peninsula, summer fishing is finally here and those hitting the inland lakes in this region are catching Bluegills, Crappie, Sunfish, and Rock Bass. Bass season is open and catch rates have been very good. Pyle’s Porthole in South Haven reports that the fishing has slowed a little on Lake Michigan. King Salmon and Coho have been found in 200 to 240 feet of water. Yellow, purple, green and orange have worked best at the surface. Meat rigs, spoons and spin-n-glows are working too. Lakers are still in 80 to 100 feet of water on the bottom. Some jumbo Perch were being caught in 45 to 50 feet of water; straight out of the channel or a little north of the pier. A few Steelheads were caught off the pier. Also the Black River has been good for Catfish, Suckers and a few Pike. Inland lake anglers are catching Crappie and a few Bluegills in Shallow water on the beds. Lake Eleven and Bear Lake seem to be the best. Two tournaments will be coming up in South Haven. On Saturday, June 11 a Ladies Tournament will be held with a $30.00 entry fee per team. The 3rd Annual Cat’n for Jason Woodall Catfish Tournament will be held from Saturday, June 25 at 7:00 p.m. to Sunday, June 26 at 7:00 a.m. Entry fee is $20.00. More information or to sign up can be accomplished by calling Pyle’s Porthole at 269-637-6720. Ellinee Bait & Tackle by Coloma report that Paw Paw Lake has been keeping anglers busy with Bluegills and Bass which are both bedding. They are biting on red worms, poppers, minnows, gnats. Some nice four and five pound Bass are being taken. A few Pike have been taken also, but you have to fish deep. The area lakes are all producing nice amounts of panfish and plenty of Bass. The rivers are producing some nice Catfish. One was brought in to be weighed from St. Joe River that weighed in at 27 pounds. Anglers going out of St. Joseph have found Salmon fishing slowed, but was still good. The fish were scattered and caught on spoons in 60 to 120 feet or more. Pier anglers caught Freshwater Drum and Catfish on Crawlers. Perch fishing was slow. Don’t forget that June 11-12 is the Free Fishing Weekend in Michigan. Residents and non-residents alike can fish without a license on both inland and the Great Lakes. All other rules and regulations apply. The Natural Resources Commission recently approved new baitfish regulations that affect personally caught bait in Michigan waters. Any personally caught bait now must be used within the same body of water, or connecting bodies of water, where it was captured. The general rule of thumb is if the baitfish can swim freely from the capture location to the location of use, the angler is in compliance. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/fishingguide. The DNR’s program Hook, Line and Sinker is available weekly at more than 30 state parks and fish hatcheries from mid-June until the end of summer. The program teaches participants casting and fishing basics and equipment and bait are provided. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/hooklineandsinker.
Hunting
The DNR will aid the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to evaluate whether the northwestern subspecies of moose – found in four states including Michigan – should be added to the list of threatened and endangered species affording federal protection. Too ensure the process is comprehensive and the final determination is based on the best available scientific and commercial data, the Service has opened a 60-day comment period to solicit relevant information from the public. The northwestern moose subspecies (Alces alces andersoni) being evaluated is found in the Upper Peninsula, including Isle Royale, northeastern and northwestern Minnesota, northeastern North Dakota, as well as a small, recently established population in Wisconsin. For more information contact Daniel Kennedy at 517-284-6194 or visit the DNR’s web page. Volunteers are needed for June stewardship workdays at southwestern Michigan state parks. Work days include; Saturday, June 11, Holland State Park in Ottawa County; Wednesday, June 15, P.J. Hoffmaster State Park in Muskegon County; Thursday, June 16, Ludington State Park, Mason County; Thursday, June 16, Saugatuck Dunes State Par, Allegan County; Saturday June 18 at Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien County. For more details please visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvolunteers.
Coloma Rod & Gun Club
The Coloma Rod and Gun Club will hold their CCW Class on June 11. Registration day was June 5 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. Watervliet Rod & Gun Club The Watervliet Rod and Gun Club will hold their CPL/CCW class on June 23 and June 25; sign up is June 21 between 6 and 7 p.m. at the club house. The fee for the classes is $100; a Michigan lawyer explains the law pertaining to concealed carry and you receive two NRA certificates. For more information or to be put on
Take a walk through a wetland in May and you might become a landing platform for an insect that looks as if it has a pair of significant stingers. However, a mayfly’s “stingers” are thought to be used as sensory organs. Scientists aren’t exactly sure what they are sensing. It isn’t food. dult mayflies do not have mouthparts; they don’t eat. Mayflies aren’t using these cerci to find a mate either. Males perform a kind of swarm dance near an aquatic habitat by flying together in formation. Females recognize their species’ pattern and fly into the swarm for mating. The females then immediately deposit eggs in the water and die, as do the males. In some aquatic habitats the mayfly adults emerge in such large numbers (the better to thwart predators) they are a bit of a nuisance but indicate the good health of that wetland.
Kayak the Paw Paw River June 12
Kayak the Paw Paw River with Sarett on June 12 at 10:00 a.m. The $20 fee includes all equipment and transportation. Kayakers should wear footwear that can get wet. Pre-registration is required.
Learn about snakes June 16
Learn about Sarett’s snakes on June 16 at 3:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults. Help out the Trail Crew on June 18 at 10:00 a.m. to prepare the trails for summer hiking. Please call (269) 927-4832 to let us know you are coming. Call (269) 927-4832 to register to for programs.
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