Enjoy Paddling In Michigan’s Great Outdoors

Tom LounsburyConservation & Wildlife Management, kayaking

  The canoe has a very ancient and prestigious history with its origins dating back thousands of years, and its design has remained virtually unchanged. Variations of it can be found, with it having been used by primitive folks all over the world. The oldest canoe known thus far was a dugout discovered during an excavation in the Netherlands, which was dated to have been used sometime in 8200 – 7600 BC. The canoe gets its name from the word “kenu” (meaning dugout) of the Carib Indians of the Caribbean islands who used their handy … Read More

The “Sucker” Run Is On!

Tom LounsburyFriends of ELO, Spring Fling

By: Tom Lounsbury. Spring sucker fishing is a very popular outdoor pastime in Michigan, which includes various techniques such as with hook and line, spearing (including bowfishing with archery tackle) and netting. In my agricultural Thumb area featuring countless drainages, I grew up with “sucker-spearing”, and it is a time- steeped pastime I much enjoy, and freshly cooked sucker is seasonal flavor I yearn for. For years, sucker-spearing had established seasons, typically set in April with various opening days occurring on different dates according to different zones in Michigan, which I had a problem with, … Read More

My Fascination With The Outdoors

Amy GauthierFriends of ELO

By:  Amy Gauthier. “Heel toe, heel toe”… A little girl walks in the woods pretending she’s like Marty Stouffer from “Wild America”. Not sure if I got that trick to walk quietly in the woods from that show, or from Michigan Outdoors, but I knew I wanted to be silent as I observed the wildlife on my parents little piece of Michigan paradise. My dad helped to instill my love of the outdoors at an early age, and I couldn’t get enough of it. That love brought me to hunting and fishing, and continues today. … Read More

The Retirement Of A Legendary Fishing Rod

Rebecca MorganFriends of ELO

By: Rebecca Morgan. My dad fished a lot over his many years.  He’d take me fishing every now and then, but as a child, I never really understood the allure.  Distracted with the things of childhood, and then later as an adult raising children, I didn’t really make time to appreciate this complex yet simple sport. I remember my dad organizing many a fishing trip to Canada, his oftentimes weekly trips to Atlanta to challenge or be challenged by the many difficult to access fishing streams. The hunt for the elusive stream trout demanded patience, … Read More

Marine enforcement, and search and rescue on Tip of the Thumb waters

Tom LounsburyFriends of ELO

By:  Tom Lounsbury. With Memorial weekend fast approaching, and not to mention a whole bunch of folks tired of being literally cooped up during the past year due to the pandemic restrictions, the various Huron County ports found on Lake Huron and Saginaw Bay will most likely be a bit busy soon with a lot of boaters. Without question, the Marine Division of the Huron County Sheriff’s Office will be ready, waiting and ever watchful, especially in the event of any emergencies, which it is well equipped and prepared for. Huron County Sheriff Kelly Hanson … Read More

A Backpack Fishing Adventure

Jim KushnerFriends of ELO, Take A Hike!

By: Jim Kushner. Not long after moving to northern Michigan I found myself quickly becoming friends with Matt,a local guy. Our common interests, hunting & fishing was of course one of the things that ignited what would become one of those rare friendships that lasts a lifetime. Matt became one of those friends who will spend his days off helping you when you really need it, one of those friends who says “whats mine is yours” and means it. Of course it was not always that way. When I first found out about Matt’s interest … Read More

Pike Fishing – Even Better Table Fare!

Jim KushnerFriends of ELO

By:  Jim Kushner. Why would anyone want to fish for pike? I have heard this question before and the answer is that they are a lot of fun to catch, they are not real finicky about what they will hit or the time of day and they are very good to eat, that’s why. Oh, and they get pretty big, too. Try to get your hand around the back of a 40 inch pike’s head and you will know what I mean. I have always liked pike fishing but until I started regularly fishing in … Read More

The Unconventional Fish Story

Adrian ZarantonelloFriends of ELO

By: Adrian Zarantonello My adventurous wife, Rachel, and I planned a backpacking excursion on the Manistee River Trail this spring. We both agreed to pack our fishing poles in hopes of catching some trout. The weekend arrived and our trek to our camping spot began.  After setting up camp we decided to wet a line. I caught a small brook trout and lost a nice one so I gave my spot up to Rachel and slid downstream so she positioned five feet upstream of me,  right behind a nice slack water eddy. After casting for a while with no action we noticed a big fish splashing around, swimming in … Read More

Spring Sucker Fishing Is A Great Cure For Spring Fever

Tom LounsburyFriends of ELO

By Tom Lounsbury. The various sucker fish species in Michigan get a bit of a bum rap from some folks who consider them to be a trash fish on the order of carp, which is a very incorrect attitude to have. Suckers get their name from their fleshy lipped mouths located on the underside of their heads and they are for a fact, bottom feeders. However, they are what I call “clean bottom feeders” in that they feed only on aquatic insects, crustaceans, snails, worms and in some cases, algae too. Suckers have also been … Read More