meanders gfish a river; and trout food (emergence chart for michigan) and hatches. students first...
TRANSCRIPT
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MUDDLER T H E M E R S H O N
Winter 2012 Volume 16 Issue 1
A LOCAL CHAPTER OF
AMERICA’S LEADING NONPROFIT
COLDWATER FISHERIES
CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION
Newsletter of the William B. Mershon Chapter of Trout Unlimited
G reetings,
I hope this message finds you rested and rejuvenated from the holiday
festivities shared with friends and family. A tree is no stronger than its roots, and
what is true for trees is also true for organizations such as Trout Unlimited. It is
vital that chapters remain committed to coldwater conservation to keep TU
strong. The picture that most often comes to mind is that of men and women
with boots in water working to restore or protect a stretch of river or stream, but
there are many ways to work towards the ideals of Trout Unlimited. One goal of
the Mershon chapter leadership has been to provide
multiple opportunities for involvement in the life of the
chapter. Support takes many forms, and we are fortunate to
have a partnership with Huron Pines and other
organizations that are working on behalf of the Rifle River
watershed. The chapter will again be involved in water
temperature monitoring and bank-side restoration projects,
but there may also be opportunities to take part in a
macroinvertebrate collection day, helping inventory
agricultural sites, or surveying user groups to help develop
management plans for the Rifle.
Another way to support TU is through financial
contributions. The officers of the chapter recently had an
opportunity to sit down with Michigan TU’s Director of
Program Development, Perry Rech, and discuss chapter and
state council goals. Perry has been enlisted to coordinate
activities between the chapters and the state organization and help with chapter
and state council fundraising. Please consider donating to Trout Unlimited or
including a donation when estate planning. Donors may specify where they
would like their contribution directed. If you would like to contact Perry, his
email and phone number may be found at www.michigantu.org.
Lastly, show your support through attendance at a Grin and Grub event, a
walleye dinner, or through attendance at the spring banquet. All provide an
opportunity to gather with fellow chapter members and friends and contribute to
the life of the chapter and “water” the roots of Trout Unlimited.
Paul Morand
President
William B. Mershon Chapter TU
Founded 1963, Chapter Number 020
1989, 1996 & 1997 RECIPIENT OF THE MICHIGAN COUNCIL TU CHAPTER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Meanders A few thoughts from
the president
ww w.Mershon - TU.org
Paul Morand, chapter president
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Browning Maxus Hunter 12-gage
shotgun.
Acquired with the assistance of
Gander
Mountain,
Saginaw
3” chamber,
gas-operated
autoloader
Lightweight
aluminum alloy
satin nickel
finish receiver
Receiver
laser
engraved
with
pheasant
and
mallard
Gloss
finish walnut stock
Three Invector-plus choke
tubes
Inflex Technology recoil pad
Ivory front sight
Retail price $1250
So, put April 20th on your
calendar for a great evening,
and help us raise money for
stream restoration projects by
buying some raffle tickets
when you get the opportunity.
Also, let me know if you would like
to help the banquet committee with
this great project. Just give me a
call at 989-245-5819 or send me an
email at
Don Albrecht
Banquet Chair
2012 Spring
Fundraising
Banquet plans
are in the works by Don Albrecht, chapter director
W e have started our
planning for the spring
banquet, which will be
held at the Trillium Center on
Friday, April 20th. It is already
shaping up to be another great
banquet. This will be our 49th
annual banquet.
We already have a couple of great
raffles again this year, and we will
start selling tickets at the January
walleye dinner. The raffle items this
year are:
Orvis Mershon Chapter Superfine
Touch 863-4 Outfit
Donated by Bo Brines of Little
Forks Outfitters
Includes: 8’6”, 3-weight, 4-piece,
full-flex superfine touch fly rod
CFO I disc drag fly reel
DT-3-F Hydros Double Taper 3-
wt Trout fly line
Backing, rod tube, rod sack, and
reel case
Rod is hand-scribed Wm. B.
Mershon Chapter TU
Retail Price: $825
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Fly-tying and
fly-fishing
classes starting
soon by Jac Ford, Mershon chapter vice-
president
Y our Mershon chapter is
planning another series of
fly-tying and fly-fishing
classes for 2012. These inexpensive
classes—which are designed for the
novice fly fisherman—are similar to
others taught by TU costing several
hundred dollars.
Both five-week classes will be held
from 7–9 p.m. at Swan Valley High
School, beginning Tuesday,
January 24th, for the fly-tying class
and Wednesday, January 25th, for
the fly-fishing class.
Youth, as well as adults, are invited
to attend. There is a $30 fee for each
class, which includes all the
materials you will need. No extra
charge for the bigger-than-life tales!
Again this year, the classes will be
taught by Mershon chapter director
Jac Ford, with the assistance of
several other chapter members.
Participants in the fly-tying class
learn step-by-step fly-tying methods,
using videos developed for the class,
and receive individual instruction.
When completed, participants will
have been exposed to the basic
techniques necessary
to tie most flies
successfully.
Participants will tie
the following flies:
Green Caddis Pupe,
Hares-Ear nymph,
Comparadun, Elk
Hair Caddis, Roberts
Yellow Drake,
parachute and
standard Adams, Egg-
Suckin-Leech,
floating mayfly
emerger, and a poly
-wing mayfly spinner. Equipment,
materials, and use of the flies are
discussed, and of course, there are
the usual fishing stories.
The fly-fishing class is a basic
class for people who have little or
no knowledge of fly fishing or
casting. The class teaches the
concepts of fly fishing and
casting; how to use a rod, reel,
backing, line, tippet, and flies;
what the fish sees below and
above the water; how to read and
fish a river; and trout food
(emergence chart for Michigan)
and hatches.
Students first hone
their skills with a fly
-o, then spend time in
the school’s gym
casting with fly rods.
If you are interested in
either of these classes,
contact the Swan
Valley Community
Education office at 989
-921-2471 or Jac Ford
at 989-781-0997.
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The “learn by doing” can only be
on the stream with one of our
professional guides.
The first 20-Plus Club class is right
around the corner! A Streamer
Fishing class will be held on
Thursday, March 1, 2012, at 7 p.m.
at the home of Jac Ford. Taught by
Mershon chapter vice-president Jac
Ford and Mershon chapter director
Todd Zwetzig, this class will cover
the nine phases of fly-fishing with
streamers, including basic concepts,
such as rods, reels, lines, casing
methods, and presentation, as well as
streamer flies and different actions.
The cost of the class is $50.
One week after the streamer fishing
class, on Thursday, March 8th, we
will host a Streamer-Tying Class.
The cost of this class is also $50 and
includes the cost of all materials
used in the class.
Much of this instruction can take
place in the classroom; still, to make
the fisher the best possible, they need
“hands-on training” by doing the
fishing on the river with one of the
guides in the program. So, to become
a full club member, you must go
beyond the classroom and spend a
half-day with one of the club guides,
such as Todd Zwetzig, Mike
Bachelder, or myself.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE
GUIDED PORTION OF THE
CLASS WILL COST FAR LESS
THAN A NORMAL GUIDE FEE!
For TU members, the cost of this
Introducing the
“20-Plus”
streamer
catch-and-release
fly-fishing club by Jac Ford, chapter vice-president
S treamer fishing has grown in
popularity in recent years
because it is a great way to
hook a lifetime trophy trout.
Unfortunately, many anglers do not
know how to choose, tie, or use
streamers properly.
Enter, the “20-Plus Club.” This elite
club has been established for those
who fish streamers for TROPHY
TROUT. Whether it is day-time
streamer or night fishing below or on
top of the water, we are here for you!
Through this club, we hope to
inform, instruct, and reward
streamer fishers.
INFORM: through the use of our
streamer fishing manual, which is
provided when you attend one of our
private classes. The manual will
cover topics such as:
Types of streamers
Rods/reels
Lines/leaders
Casting techniques
Presentation of the fly
Improving the flies action
Hook setting
Fight/land
Hook removal
Pictures
Catch release valuable techniques
INSTRUCT: through a class and
guide trip
The mental part of learning all of
the information necessary to
become an adroit streamer
fisherman can be done in class
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GUIDES:
All guides that become club
members will provide information
about themselves regarding the
following:
Waters guided
Favorite rods, lines, and leader
systems
Three favorite flies with pictures
One “20 PLUS” photo
In addition, guides joins the club at
no costs and are eligible to
contribute and collaborate with club
leadership on the content of
the manual.
Interested in joining the 20-Plus
Club? Here’s what you need to do:
Attend the streamer fishing class
on Thursday, March 1, 2012,
starting at 7 p.m. at the home of
Jac Ford.
At the class, you will learn more
details about the upcoming
streamer tying class and half-day
guide trips.
Spend a half-day on the river with
one of our 20-Plus guides.
There is a limited amount of seating
at the March 1st class, and you must
register for the class. Contact Jac
Ford at [email protected] or 989-
280-3238 today to reserve your seat!
If you have always wanted to learn
more about streamer fishing, we
hope you will join us in the 20-Plus
Club for catch-and-release trophy
trout fishing.
half-day guided trip is $200. Non-
members will pay $225.
REWARD:
In addition to receiving a copy of the
20-Plus Club Streamer Manual when
you attend the class, you will also
receive a “20-PLUS” pin. After the
fisher catches a twenty-plus inch
trout on a streamer and verifies their
catch with another person, a picture
of the trout will be installed into our
club’s manual. Then, the fisher will
receive a hat pin for each “20 PLUS”
trout that is placed in the manual.
Think of these 20-Plus pins like the
iconic football helmet-sticker
rewards.
In addition, if the fisher is with one
of our club guides, the guide will
receive a “20 PLUS” pin, as well.
The streamer manual will then be
updated once per year with all the
pictures of your twenty-inch fish.
photo by Eli Berant
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of the river that I first fished in the
early seventies.
We were using mostly egg patterns
and doing quite well. Both Dennis
and Dave are good fisherman and
have been fishing with me for twenty
years. They are very low-
maintenance, and at this stage come
with me mostly because they always
have. So, they tie on a lot of their
own flies.
All of a sudden, Dennis, then David,
could hardly make a cast without
hooking a steelie or a trout. It was
phenomenal. We've had some great
moments together, but the next few
hours were really special. I looked at
Dennis' fly, and he had a fry-egg sac
pattern that he tied. It looked really
cool, and worked even better. I don't
remember exactly the fish landed;
but, the total steelhead was in excess
of ten, and the trout over sixteen
inches were close to that number.
I've always kept my eyes on the
shallows, slower water on the inside
corners for large schools of fry. This
one got away from me. Dennis came
up with the hot fly.
The fly that I've illustrated is not the
same pattern that Dennis used and
gave me a sample because I don't
give others people’s patterns away.
Try the one illustrated here, and
when you see Dennis Theil, be extra
nice, and maybe he'll give you his fly
patern, too.
Oh, and drift the fly naturally and let
it swing slowly at the end of the
drift. Focus on fishing in pockets
behind spawning fish, too.
RECIPE FOR THE "JAC'S
SIMPLE" FRY PATTERN
Hook: 2X long 2X wire hook
Body and over body: flashabou
Body top and head: zonker strip
Step one: wind the hook with thread
from the eye to the back of the hook
over the barb
Step two: tie cut and tie in place with
thread over the barb two strands of
flashabou
Step three: wind thread to front of
the hook and wind the flashabou to
the thread and tie off
How to tie a hot
fly last spring for
trout and
steelhead by Jac Ford,, chapter vice-president
E verywhere there are fish that
naturally spawn, a variation
of this fly will work several
times throughout the year. Whenever
fish hatch from their egg, they
become fry. First, they will have an
egg sack that's large relative to their
body, then in a short time the sac
will get smaller and smaller until it
disappears. Fish during this time
usually have par marks that later
disappear, and that's when they
become what I call smolts.
Over the years, I've used streamers
from one inch long to seven or even
eight inches long. You want to
imitate what's happening with the
bait fish at the time. Pretty much
each type—salmon, steelies or
trout—will hatch at several different
times throughout the spring and fall.
In other words, when they come,
they come by the hundreds
or thousands.
When they first hatch, you want a fly
pattern with an egg sac attached.
Trout are funny like this. In a bug
hatch, they focus on eating what is
readily available, and they gorge
themselves, so you want to be there
the first couple of days before they
get nonaggressive and go back in
there holding water with
large dummies.
It was last march, the Theil
brothers—David and Dennis—were
fishing with me for steelhead and
trout on the Pere Marquette. We
were fishing an area that gets a lot of
traffic from boats and walk-ins
called Doc Green’s. This is an area
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Step seven: cut of a one plus inch of
zonker strip rabbit hair (make sure
the blade on cuts the hide and not the
hair)
Step eight: tie in the zonker strip
back from the eye and just in front of
the egg sac
Step nine: wind the thread to the eye
and push the tip of the zonker strip
back forcing a loop in it and tie right
at the tip
Step ten: wind several times and tie
fly off
Step eleven: take a permanent
marker and dab the circle formed
when you pushed the zonker strip
back
You now have a “Jac's Simple” with
an egg-sac
Step four: pull the flashabou toward
the back of the hook and tie thread
over it
Step five: spin a ball of dubbing or
egg yarn onto the bottom of the fly
or in this case tie in some yarn and
pull it to the bottom
Step six: pull the egg sac back and
wind the thread in front of it
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Greenwood Road is considered
warm water.
Pipeline public access:
44º 13.212’N, 84º 03.940’W.
Look for a fence with a short, fence-
bounded road to a parking lot, on the
west side of Rifle River Trail. It’s
about 100 wooden steps down to a
small beach. Upstream is pocket
water, out from the beach is a broad,
shallow hole. Downstream and
across the Rifle is a deep hole that
can hold good-size fish its full
length. Be careful wading across the
river, since the bottom is rock, and
has many slots that grab your feet.
Bottom is not slippery, but be
careful, anyway. This stretch is
supposedly good for steelies after
November 10th.
Highbanks public access:
44º 14.703’ N, 84º 03.826’W.
Look for a big parking lot on the
west side of road, easy to spot. Steps
lead up to an opening in the fence,
then about 100 steps take you down
to the Rifle. You can then cross the
river and walk either up- or
downstream. Upstream water tends
to be riffles and runs; downstream
the river veers right and there’s a
Rifle River trout
fishing, from
Greenwood Road
north by Robert Kren, chapter advisor
This item was first published in
“Tippets, Tapers, and Tales,” the
electronic newsletter of the Red
Cedar Fly Fishers, Okemos MI.
T he main stem downstream
from Sage Lake Road is open
year-round (Stream type 3),
and trout season north of Sage Lake
Road, and on all tributaries, spans
from the last Saturday in April
through September 30 (Stream
type 1). The West Branch of the
Rifle enters the main stem below
Highbanks Access (see below).
The West Branch is a marginally
coldwater stream, so fishing
downstream of its confluence yields
more and more bass and pike during
the summer months, though there are
brown trout year round; the local
custom is that all pike caught are
gently released and encouraged to
walk back to the river.
Easy canoe launches and takeouts
are at several spots in the Rifle River
Recreation Area, and at Sage Lake
Road, Peters Road, Klacking Creek
access, and Kenneth Road. There’s
a skid at Highbanks access, but it’s a
long haul up or down.
Remember that in good weather
you’ll face the strong likelihood that
there’ll be traffic on the river. Be
sure to wear an orange hat during
hunting seasons! The Rifle’s flow is
fragile, and rain raises its level and
increases its murkiness quickly; you
can go to http://waterdata.usgs.gov/
mi/nwis/uv?site_no=04142000 and
compare current flows with average
values before you waste your time
driving up.
There’s a big run of suckers in early
April, and steelhead follow them in.
The steelhead subsequently spawn
from mid-April through mid-May;
they also follow the salmon run
during October and November.
DNR fish plantings are listed at
http://www.michigandnr.com/
fishstock/. Select Ogemaw County/
Rifle River/all species, for brown
and rainbow plantings during
whatever time period you choose.
Both food and lodging are available
in West Branch, and Rose City, and
the Rifle River Recreation Area (see
last listing, below) offers good
camping, both modern and primitive.
Kenneth Road turnoff:
44º 14.703’N, 84º 04.498’W.
There’s a small standard sign
indicating a canoe launch. Proceed
west on Kenneth Road (dirt), don’t
turn onto roads on left, that lead to
houses. The next
sign to the canoe
launch is
ambiguous, but take
left-hand fork,
downhill to a big
parking lot/canoe
launch; the
memorial to Harold
Kleinert is here, so
take a moment. You
can walk upstream
on land, but if you
do, the first possible
entry to the river –
there’s a steep bank
until this – is a
quarter mile, at
least. You can
proceed on land
even further, if you
care to. Nice water,
riffles and runs and
deep holes. If you go downstream
from the launch, you’ll find the same
sort of stream features. You can
walk back through the woods on the
west bank. Further downstream is
very marginal trout water, and
smallmouth start to become
dominant; all fishing below
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Continue north on Rifle River Trail
to M-55. Take a slight jog left, and
continue on paved road, now Gerald
Miller Road. (As an alternative, you
can park at the bridge on M-55 and
climb down to the river, or go into
the Ogemaw County fairgrounds and
drive to the SW corner, then climb
down the bank, and fish.) Anyway,
continue north on Gerald Miller
Road until you run out of pavement,
at State Road. (You can turn west on
State Road and park at the bridge in
Selkirk, then fish up- (that’s where
the DNR plants steelhead) or
downstream.) Turn off the dirt road
at 44º 19.276’N, 84º 03.987’W, to
the parking lot at Klacking Creek
access. River at a canoe launch is
down a short trail. You can walk a
long way upstream on the east bank,
all the way to Klacking Creek, and
further if you get into the river and
wade. Here, the Rifle
is mostly sandy
bottom, with some
holes, and gravel, and
is generally easy
wading. Downstream
from the canoe
launch is more of the
same sort of cover.
Gerald Miller Road
does NOT continue
through to
Peters Road.
Peters Road canoe
launch site:
44º 20.083N, 84º
08.818’W
If you drive north on
M-33 past
M-55 about four
miles to Peters Road,
you can turn east on
dirt and proceed to a
Peters Road canoe
launch site at 44º
20.083N, 84º
08.818’W. (If you’re
coming west from the
Rifle, on either M-55 or State Road,
turn north on Morrison Road to get
to Peters Road) Park on the
shoulder, or near the canoe launch,
but don’t block the launch site! You
can walk downstream and fish all
the way down past the Prior Creek
confluence to Klacking Creek, and
further; there is some private
property, so plan on returning
instream, though there’s lots of
public land, too. Or you can follow
the trail on the west bank, upstream
from Peters Road. The nicest water
is upstream. Legend has it that the
best steelhead water is between
Peters Road and Sage Lake Road.
Twin Lake Road access:
44º 20.973N, 84º 03.131W
Six miles north of M-55, on M-33,
is Sage Lake Road. Turn east and,
after you’ve crossed the Rifle,
continue on to Pettit Road. Turn
See Rifle River, page 10
deep hole on the
outside bend, with
some good fish in
it. Downstream,
the water can get a
bit deep, so
walking back
through the woods
is a good idea.
You can also park
in the lot and walk
along the hilltop
fence, back south,
to a set of stairs
down to the river. That’s nice as a
concept, but the steps end at deep
water, which you can fish to from
the bank, but probably shouldn’t try
to get into.
Klacking Creek access:
44º 19.276’N, 84º 03.987’W
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might be able to park near
civilization and walk in, but there’s
no need to try, since that water is
readily accessible from the east, as
already described, off Twin
Lake Road.
Rifle River Recreation Area:
You can park off Sage Lake Road at
44º 21.801N, 84º 02.885W, and walk
upstream, or enter the Rifle River
Recreation Area by proceeding north
on M-33 to Rose City, turning east at
the traffic signal downtown, and
getting to the entrance at 44º
25.290N, 84º 01.325W. A Michigan
state park sticker is required. In the
recreation area you’ll find small
streams—Houghton Creek, Gamble
Creek—that are tricky to fish, and
the Rifle, which is pretty heavily-
fished, though there’s some big fish
in there. You can drive the back
roads in the recreation area, almost
down to Sage Lake Road, but you
can’t drive out, nor enter the
recreation area, there.
Enjoy yourself, and stay safe.
south a mile, then head back west on
Twin Lake Road, which is dirt. Go
to the end 44º 20.973N, 84º
03.131W. There’s an old lunker
structure here, and the water’s a little
deep, but manageable, to get into.
Haven’t fished this stretch, but it’s
alleged to be the heart of steelhead
country, early in the seasons (see
general information and “Pipeline”
entry, above). DO NOT TRY TO
ACCESS THE RIFLE RIVER
FROM THE WEST, on Ogemaw
Center Road. The two-track at the
end sank my car up to its nuts—
lugnuts, that is—in mud, and AAA
or Onstar will not get you hauled
out. Nor will your insurance
company reimburse you for your off-
road shenanigans. It looks like you
Rifle River, Continued from page 9
SAVE THE DATE S a v e o u r c o l d - w a t e r r e s o u r c e s
49 th An n ua l Tr o u t U nl i mi t ed Ba nqu et
Apr i l 20 , 2 01 2 | Tr i l l ium Banq u et Center , Sa g in aw
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WALLEYE DINNER Monday, January 16, 2012
5:30 p.m. Dinner
Followed by program
Eli Berant: Adventures with big
streamers and big fish American Legion,
5190 Weiss Rd., Saginaw
FLY-TYING CLASSES Beginning Tuesday, January 24, 2012
for 5 weeks
7–9 p.m. Swan Valley High School, Saginaw
Contact Swan Valley Community Education
office at 989-921-2471 to enroll.
FLY-FISHING CLASSES Beginning Wednesday, January 25, 2012
for 5 weeks
7–9 p.m. Swan Valley High School, Saginaw
Contact Swan Valley Community Education
office at 989-921-2471 to enroll.
GRUB & GRIN GATHERING Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Dinner & drinks 6:30 p.m.
Presentation 7:30 p.m.
Todd Zwetzig: Fly Fishing for Carp and Bass Damon’s Grill
4960 Towne Centre Rd., Saginaw
OPENING DAY TROUT SEASON Saturday, April 28, 2012
RIFLE RIVER RESTORATION PROJECT Saturday, August 18, 2012
Location & time to be determined Contact Bob Spence at
989-799-6617 or [email protected]
MERSHON BOARD MEETINGS Wednesday, January 4, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gander Mountain, Saginaw
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
5:30 p.m. (before Grub & Grin) Damon’s Grill, Saginaw
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gander Mountain, Saginaw
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gander Mountain, Saginaw
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Gander Mountain, Saginaw
20-PLUS CLUB
STREAMER FISHING CLASS Thursday, March 1, 2012
7:00 p.m. At the home of Jac Ford
Contact Jac at [email protected] or
989-280-3238 to register.
20-PLUS CLUB
STREAMER-TYING CLASS Thursday, March 8, 2012
7:00 p.m. Contact Jac at [email protected] or
989-280-3238 to register.
WALLEYE DINNER Monday, March 12, 2012
5:30 p.m. Dinner
Followed by photo presentation of
theArtPrize, by Dick McGarrity American Legion,
5190 Weiss Rd., Saginaw
SPRING FUNDRAISING BANQUET Friday, April 20, 2012
Trillium Banquet Center, Saginaw.
Calendar of Events
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5:30 p.m., followed by the
presentations and mingling.
At the walleye dinner, we will also
be selling raffle tickets for the
outstanding raffle items for the
spring fundraising banquet, which
will be held in April. Be sure to
bring a wad of bills to snatch up
some raffle tickets.
Walleye dinners
promise
phenomenal food
and fascinating
features by Jac Ford, chapter vice-president
O ur walleye dinner
fundraisers are right around
the corner, and you won’t
want to miss the food and programs
this year!
The first walleye dinner will be held
on Monday, January 16th, featuring
guest speaker Eli Berant, owner of
Great Lakes Fly, who will tell us
about his adventures with big
streamers and big fish.
“In love with the diverse fishery of
the Great Lakes, I set out a few years
ago to explore some of the
overlooked fly fishing opportunities
and develop the flies to be
successful. Great Lakes Fly was
started in 2009 to fill the missing
niche of flies for Trophy Fish. The
major fly vendors are more
interested in flies that sell, rather
than flies that catch big fish. This is
because most fly anglers can't
fathom that the fish they dream of
fishing will hit a fly that big, The
goal is simple—fishing actively with
streamers to elicit top-of-the-food-
chain predators, where you are the
fly, and the way you make it move
draws the strike. Lake St. Clair, the
shores of Lake Michigan & Lake
Huron for any species willing to
strike the fly and bend a fly rod is
where most of the flies get their start,
but they have proven successful in
waters all across the country,
especially in the trophy trout waters
of Michigan.”
Our second walleye dinner will be
held on Monday, March 12th, with
speaker Dick McGarrity, who will
present his stunning photos of the
exhibits at The Art Prize in Grand
Rapids—the world’s largest art
exhibit. A flyer will be coming out
the end of February.
Both dinners will be held at the
American Legion, 5190 Weiss Road,
in Saginaw. Dinner starts at
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These walleye dinners are an
important part of our efforts to raise
funds to support the chapter’s
programs. We endeavor to make
them enjoyable and informative for
you, as well as giving you an
opportunity to rub shoulders with
other trout enthusiasts. Take
advantage of this opportunity to
support a cause we all
care about.
We hope you will join us on
Monday, January 16h and Monday,
March 12th to support our efforts to
preserve and protect Michigan’s
cold-water fisheries.
“The Mershon fly originated from the old Mowry, which was made of a
turkey wing, and it was, I though, not bright enough, so I wrote to Wm.
Mills & Son, New York, and asked them to tie some flies for me with a
black silk body and wings feathers from a mallard drake, leaving the
tip of white thereon. They did so, and afterwards I had Mills have some
tied with a white body, and the white bodied Mershon proved to be more
attractive than the black bodied. I used this fly with great success on
the Black River, many years ago.”
—William B. Mershon
(from Fly Patterns and Their Origins, by Harold Hinsdill Smedley)
The Mershon Fly
14
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could be special about a net? I have
used many nets over the years and
this is the one net that will cover all
your needs from wade fishing for
trout to boat fishing for steelhead.
The unique feature of this net is the
innovative modular platform which
allows you to detach the handle and
interchange it with a large array of
accessories; some of which are
different sized nets. Now, instead of
buying a different complete net for
each species you fish you simply just
buy a net head specific to your
needs. You utilize the same handle. I
know what you’re thinking, how do
you use a boat net when you’re wade
fishing for steelhead? Simple, the
other revolutionary feature of the S2
slider is the net handle. The slide
system works with a push of a button
and a pull of the handle. As the
handle is pulled back it also pushes
another tube out the front. This
actually doubles the length over a
standard adjustable net while
keeping your hands in the right place
to net the fish. You can get handles
in lengths of 18”-36”, 29”-
60” (which fits nicely behind the
rowers seat of a drift boat), and 48”-
108”. If you purchased the 18”-36”
S2 compact with clear rubber mesh
net it would cost $75.98. This net
could be used both in the boat and
wading for trout. Now comes the
good part. If you also steelhead fish
you would only need to purchase the
net head in large with the extra deep
rubber mesh net for $49.98. You can
mix and match however you want
making this truly a “do everything” net.
Another nice features of this net is
the deep rubber mesh bags that
measure24” deep instead of the
standard 15”. This means you can
finally get a quality net bag for
steelhead that won’t hurt the fish if
you plan on a release. They also
offer the 15” bags as well for the
smaller streams and fish. The net
also has a yoke that covers all sharp
edges where the net screws into the
handle. The yoke doubles as a float
if you drop the net in the drink. You
can also purchase a boat hook, slider
knife, and gaff hook that screws into
the handle making it even
more versatile.
I have had the pleasure of using
Adventure Products EGO nets for
the past 3 years and have been more
than pleased with them. Last year
was the first full year I used the S2
slider 29”-60” medium deep mesh
bag and will not even think of having
anything else in my boat.
For more information on this truly
revolutionary net go to
www.egos2slider.com.
Gear Review by Capt. Todd Zwetzig, chapter
director and owner AuSable
Troutfitters Guide Service
O ne of the benefits to being a
flyfishing guide is that you
always have an opportunity
to try the latest and greatest gear or
see it in action when a client brings it
along on a trip. Over the years I have
seen or tried just about everything
that has come out on the market. No
matter what the product, it always
seems to come with more hype than
actual function ability. So, when I
was asked to do a gear review I
struggled with finding a product I
thought was worth having in your
arsenal of equipment. After a few
days of brainstorming different
items, I finally decided to go to my
gear bag and dump it out. I started to
organize items in categories of “must
have” or “can do without”. Outside
of consumables and a camera, it all
ended up in the “can do without”
pile. So, I started to think what
would make or break a trip. Then it
hit me, I thought of the one item that
can truly put more fish in the boat. In
fact, I’ll guarantee it will put more
fish in the boat! What could possibly
live up to this claim?
The item I have decided to review is
the EGO S2 Slider net from
Adventure Products. I know, what
15
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WILLIAM B. MERSHON CHAPTER
OF TROUT UNLIMITED
2011-2012
Dale Hernden
989-798-6652 (H)
989-791-7693 (W)
Donald Meyer
642-9093
Robb Smith
989-893-3792 (h)
989-233-1922 (cell)
Greg Stansbury
751-3925 (H/FAX)
Nick Thomas
989-450-6869
Todd Zwetzig
989-225-2478
Advisors Bo Brines
989-832-4100 (W)
989-832-9528 (H)
Joe Bula
781-2047 (H)
David Cozad
684-7947 (H)
Carl Hubinger
642-5487 (H)
Howard N. Johnson
753-6373
Risty Kalivas
790-8614 (H)
Rich Kemerer
781-5220
Bob Kren
810 659-8470
Art C. Neumann
777-0484 (H)
Christopher J. Radke
249-6420 (H)
Jake Shinners
781-3003 (H), 199-5000 (W)
Newsletter Layout
Teri Skidmore
781-0040
Website
www.Mershon-TU.org
Officers President Paul Morand
989-893-7132
Vice-President
Jac Ford
781-0997 (H/FAX)
Treasurer Dave Case
642-5286
Secretary
Bob Spence
799-6617 (H)
Past-President
Josh Butzin
Directors Dick Albosta
989-791-4042 [email protected]
Don Albrecht
989-245-5819 [email protected]
Craig Bublitz
810-688-3963
David Fisher
781-4932 (H), 792-9641 (W)
16
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MUDDLER
P.O. Box 6920 Saginaw, MI 48608-6920
T H E M E R S H O N
Newsletter of the William B. Mershon Chapter of Trout Unlimited
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YES! Please begin my one-year
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