The Michigan Sportsman Forums - Blogs http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php Michigan hunting, michigan fishing, michigan trout fishing en Sat, 19 May 2012 16:30:02 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg The Michigan Sportsman Forums - Blogs http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php kids and turkeys http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=614 Fri, 04 May 2012 14:09:29 GMT Left work early a couple days ago to finish up some tile in the master bathroom. Figured I would run out and feed the chickens before getting to the... Left work early a couple days ago to finish up some tile in the master bathroom. Figured I would run out and feed the chickens before getting to the tile, walked out the patio door with my 2 year old stepson Jason soon as we turned toward the barn there stood two Toms strutting right by the barn. As they strutted their way acrossed my lawn we snuck closer as they stood about 40 yards from us I gave them a few yelps just to see if they would get closer. Sure enough here they come within 30 yards without a care in the world. They didn't know what to do but my Jason knew so he tried to yelp at them then they walked off. Its funny just what kids will learn and how quick. Then the rest of the day all Jason would do is say turkey and yelp like one its hilarious he's probably already thinking of running and gunning for Toms now ]]> triple-e http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=614 Test http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=612 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:37:32 GMT Test
[URL=""] ]]> Merimac http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=612 big praire buck club http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=611 Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:45:25 GMT Looking for information for big prairie buck club and i believe its saginaw county, dad used to belong to it and they had lots of land for deer to... Looking for information for big prairie buck club and i believe its saginaw county, dad used to belong to it and they had lots of land for deer to duck and goose hunting.....if anyone has any info on it i would appreciate it ]]> pavie004 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=611 Made in Detroit http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=610 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:32:22 GMT Along the lines of the famous Chrysler TV ad this made in Detroit story is about toughness. The gritty blue collar, Joe lunch bucket, ham and egger... Along the lines of the famous Chrysler TV ad this made in Detroit story is about toughness. The gritty blue collar, Joe lunch bucket, ham and egger attitude from the motor city has osmosed to other inhabitants of the area. This denizen of the deep is the spotted muskellunge from Lake St. Clair and the connecting rivers. Known far and wide as the best waters for musky reproduction and growth Lake St. Clair may now become the birth place of many of the state's musky plantings.

Large fish always hold a special place in every fisherperson's heart(another blog soon to come) and especially the musky from Lake St. Clair. Homer LeBlanc told of a musky fisherman that became stranded after many hours trolling on the lake. Desperate to get back to his dock before an impending storm the inventive fellow used his recent catch to power him home. He secured a 25 pound musky to each side of his boat and set up a rod with lure in front of each. A sort of daggling the carrot ploy using the muskies' urge to engulf the offering powered the boat to shore. Supposedly in time to stay dry and for this the muskies were released for their hard work. Fact or fiction? Nobody really knows but it's just an example of one of the many stories surrounding these fish. Now the rest of the state may have a chance to create their own stories about these made in Detroit bruisers.
From the DNR:
Again this spring, the Department of Natural Resources will collect eggs from spotted muskellunge in the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair to be raised at its Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery.
The practice of collecting spotted muskellunge eggs, instead of northern muskellunge eggs, was started last year in an effort to raise a type of musky that is native to more of Michigan’s waters. Last year 174,000 eggs were collected from the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair and producing nearly 7,000 fall fingerlings (for three inland lakes in Michigan, two of which will serve as broodstock lakes for egg collections in the future) and 3,000 4-inch fish (for Wisconsin that were targeted for Green Bay through a cooperative interstate arrangement).
“Collection efforts in Southeast Michigan last spring were hampered by poor weather conditions,” said Martha Wolgamood, manager of the Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery. “If we have limited success collecting Great Lakes spotted muskellunge eggs this spring, we will request northern muskies from other states.”
To collect the eggs, trap nets are used in Anchor Bay in Lake St. Clair during late April and May and fish are captured with electro-fishing gear in the Detroit River in May. Collecting spotted muskellunge eggs is difficult in these areas because of the physical conditions associated with open waters, especially during that time of year.
As a safety issue and a precaution, boats on the water should avoid coming close to the electro-fishing boat during nighttime efforts.
“When the generator is running and the boat’s lights are on, we are collecting fish using electricity near the boat,” said Todd Somers, fisheries technician supervisor for the Lake Erie Management Unit.
To learn more about fishing in Michigan and the spotted muskellunge management effort, go to www.michigan.gov/fishing and click on “Angler Information” and then “Michigan Fish and How to Catch Them.”
Get Outdoors Downriver.
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]]> MPT http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=610 Spring salmon on Lake Michigan starts with a bang http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=609 Fri, 06 Apr 2012 00:03:19 GMT !st time I can remember getting Kings to17 pounds this early. Along with Coho and even some Browns. Quite a start. Lake Michigan fishing charters... !st time I can remember getting Kings to17 pounds this early. Along with Coho and even some Browns. Quite a start.

Lake Michigan fishing charters ]]> Coldwater Charters http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=609 i phone apps http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=608 Sat, 31 Mar 2012 02:53:37 GMT Zite is a magazine app I set up with a section on fishing and fly fishing. Cabelas recon fish is new. Have not played with that one but I like... Zite is a magazine app I set up with a section on fishing and fly fishing.

Cabelas recon fish is new. Have not played with that one but I like the sun moon data on it.

Amazon app nice for price checks on fishing stuff

Gas buddy to get best prices heading to or from lake

iFishing is an amusing game

Definitely like the navionics maps for looking for new spots

Dropbox for file storage such as photos or PDF scans of lake maps. ]]> Fish Whisperer http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=608 Ups and Downs of Walleye Fishing on the River http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=607 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 13:59:54 GMT Ups and downs could be referring to the type of fishing being done, jigging in other words. In order to do that you have to get your boat in the... Ups and downs could be referring to the type of fishing being done, jigging in other words. In order to do that you have to get your boat in the water first. Doing this and getting it out can be a downer though. Depending on where you launch.

Here's a video of a great outing on the river, catching fish and having a great time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckuvO...ature=youtu.be

There are many reports of limit catches and big fish all over the area.

Even a blind squirrel can find a nut at times. When that squirrel out fishes the guide twice in a row that's a pattern.

Those are some hogs from this family outing.
Then there are the downs of fishing the river and although launching can be troublesome it's just a matter of time getting on the water. People can't back their trailers up easily, or once they get the boat in they dilly dally in getting the boat out of the way for others to use. The biggest problem is returning from fishing because if there's a lineup you have to wait your turn while fighting a 4-5 knot current instead of waiting in your vehicle. When there are 20 to 30 boats in front of you, and the line cutters that shall remain nameless, it can take over an hour to get out. The big lineup occurs just after dusk, a traditional time for walleyes to stop biting on jigs, everyone has the same urge to get back home. So choose your ramp carefully before you launch.
Here's a link to the Downriver Walleye Federation website with a map of some of the launches.
http://www.dwfonline.org/images/River%20Map.gif
There's also a lot of other info to be gleaned here about walleye fishing Downriver. This is a group that can put you on fish, let you know how to catch them and get in or out of the river safely and efficiently.

Get Outdoors Downriver.

 ]]> MPT http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=607 Tippy? http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=606 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 08:28:18 GMT no!! no!! ]]> RIVER LADY http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=606 Tippy? http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=605 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 04:27:44 GMT [IMG][/IMG] ]]> ICEGUY http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=605 Record walleye caught http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=604 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:25:04 GMT A river rat caught his just dues late Sunday morning. Oooh I like the sound of that. With the Detroit River's early walleye season coming up many will be dreaming of a fish like this. A big female that Mr. Zimmerman put quite some time into.

Pending completion of paperwork and verification, Jim Zimmerman appears to have caught the Illinois-record walleye of 15.08 pounds from the Pecatonica River.
Zimmerman was pitching a 1/8th-ounce Northland fireball jig with a 3-inch Berkley PowerBait twister tail and a small minnow when he caught his 31.5-inch walleye with a girth of 20 3/8th inches.
``This guy fishes more than anybody I know,’’ said Dan Palmer, a well-known tournament organizer from the Rockford area. ``He has put in at least two months of 12 hours a day [on the Pec and the Rock rivers]. Last year he caught one that would have been a record, but it lost 10 percent of its weight in the freezer.
``There is not a more deserving guy to have the record. He puts the time in.’’
Palmer received a call from Zimmerman, a Wisconsin man, late Sunday morning asking what to do to certify it. Palmer told him to contact conservation police officers. They met him to witness the weighing at Blackhawk Meats in South Beloit, Wis.
``My daughter [Bobbie Jentz] was working and she said, ``Mom, oh my God, it was huge,’ ‘’ Debbie Jentz said. ``It was a buzz. People were taking photos out in the parking lot. It was huge.’’
``This guy, this was the perfect time, 14 days before the spawn,’’ said Dan Sallee, regional fisheries biologist who was plans to verify the fish and check paperwork this afternoon. ``That fish will be loaded with mature eggs.’’
It was just slightly larger than the record caught by 15-year-old Nick Tassoni on Jan. 7 from the Pec. The Rockford Auburn freshman’s 14-pound, 12-ounce walleye broke what was then the longest-standing gamefish record in Illinois, the 14-pound walleye caught by Fred Goselin from the Kankakee River in 1961.
``It was fun while it lasted,’’ messaged Tassoni, whose walleye was 31 inches long with a girth of 20 1/4 inches.
This might not be the last time the record is broken.
``There is another one in there,’’ Palmer said. ``That [one caught by Zimmerman] was 31 1/2 inches. There are 32-inchers in there. There are bigger walleye in that river.’’
``Oh, yeah, there is always bigger ones,’’ Sallee said.
Hopefully I'll be able to get rid of my nightmares this year. I can still see my personal best walleye popping my jig out of it's mouth and slowly sinking into the depths of the river. All 3 feet of him.
Get Outdoors Downriver
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]]> MPT http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=604 <![CDATA[Don't forget your new license]]> http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=603 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:41:27 GMT The state of MI fishing licenses are expiring as of March 31st. Make sure you renew so you don't end up like Paul Crowder of Arkansas.

The new state record largemouth bass announced last week by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has been wiped off the books after AGFC officials learned that Forrest City angler Paul Crowder bought his fishing license after the fish was caught. The commission announced the new record on its website in early March. On Friday, March 9, the AGFC made the following announcement in a press release posted to the site:
“The AGFC discovered that a license was purchased for Crowder three hours after he claimed to have caught the bass. Crowder’s fishing license expired in April 2011. Under AGFC regulations, it is illegal for any person 16 years of age or older to fish without possessing a current Arkansas fishing license. State record fish rules require that an angler hold a valid license at the time of the catch.”
Reached by phone Monday, Crowder did not dispute those facts.
“My license wasn’t current,” Crowder said. “It was just an oversight.”
Crowder said he took the fish to AGFC officials not knowing that his license was expired. “I sent my friend to the store with my driver’s license and she got me a set of licenses, because we was having to wait three or four hours to get the fish weighed,” Crowder said.
The 16-pound, 5-oz. bass weighed one ounce more than the current Arkansas record bass, which was caught caught March 2, 1976, by Aaron Mardis on Mallard Lake in Mississippi County.

AGFC wildlife officers seized the fish as evidence, and Crowder has been charged with fishing without a license. He faces up to a $1,000 fine and up to 30 days in jail. Crowder has a court hearing March 19 in Wynne District Court.

“It hurts,” Crowder said. “I’m not proud of it.”
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]]> MPT http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=603 <![CDATA[How's the river looking for tomarrow?]]> http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=602 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 21:50:02 GMT Coming up to do some jigging and trying to get some info on water conditions. any help would be appriciated . Thank you and good luck with the... Coming up to do some jigging and trying to get some info on water conditions. any help would be appriciated .

Thank you and good luck with the fishing. ]]> BTFD87 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=602 best place to launch for thursday http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=599 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:27:53 GMT first time up on the saginaw river and coming from the south . which launch would be better to go out of Veterans park or Zilville park, or is there... first time up on the saginaw river and coming from the south . which launch would be better to go out of Veterans park or Zilville park, or is there another that would be a better chose for a short run to get into fish?

Thank you in advance for all your help. ]]> BTFD87 http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=599 Recent Build http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=598 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:23:28 GMT I just finished a knife, and thought I'd share the steps that went into creating it. Currently, my shop is under renovations, and this summer when I finish it, I hope to add metal working machinery so that I can build a truly custom knife from a little bit of metal and wood. For now, however; I select a premanufactured knife blank and handcraft an eye popping tool from there. This is a good way also, for people new to the craft, or just want to tinker on some home projects now and then. There comes a great satisfaction from creating something with your own hands, and being able to add it into your arsenal as an efficient tool that you use often.

First step is in selecting your knife blank, fastener material, and the wood for the handle. There are many online options for purchasing knife blanks, and the tools/accessories necessary for knife building. Here is a picture of a hunting knife blank, and a fillet knife blank. I will be working with the Platte Hunting knife purchased from Jantz Knife Supply.

Here is a picture of brass and nickel pinstock that can be used as a handle fastener. I selected 5/16 Corby Rivets for this knife.

For this knife, I selected an exotic wood called Sapele.

I want to take a quick second and apologize at this point. I did not think to include a picture of every step. I am working on another knife now that I will include more photos of more steps, but hopefully you can follow along on this one ok. The first thing I do is rip the piece of wood I selected on the bandsaw to make two scales. Then using a planer, joiner or hand plane make the inside of each scale (the side that will attach to the tang of the knife) perfectly flat. It is important that the inside of the scale is flat so that when attached to the knife, there aren't any gaps on the spine. Once my scales are flat, i place a strip of carpet tape in the middle of the two scales, to in essence, make them one piece again. This will allow me to trace the knife handle on one scale, and cut this shape out on the scroll saw one time instead of twice. It also keeps the grain of the wood consistent so that each side will match the other. After I make the rough cut on the scroll saw, I place another strip of carpet tape on top of the scale to attach the blade to ensure perfect drilling in the handles of the wood via the pilot holes in the knife blank. here is a picture after this process, with rough cut scales with holes drilled. After I have my holes drilled, I counter sink into these holes to attach the rivets.

I have covered the blade of the knife with either blue painters tape, or electrical tape, to protect the blade from marring, and myself from a trip to the ER. I use an epoxy resin to attach the scales to the blade. I use the rivets to hold the scales in the proper place, and clamp the wood at three points along the handle. I make sure not to get any epoxy on the rivets, and precoat them in vaseline so that epoxy wont adhere to their surface. After the epoxy has hardened, I remove the rivets. This type of rivet can be left in and sanded down flush with the wood, or, As I have chosen, to not sand them down, and instead have them "hidden" inside the wood. I remove them, so that I don't scratch them in the sanding process. I use a belt sander and spindle sander to work the wood down flush to the tang, and to achieve the look and feel that I want. This knife is being built for a former Army soldier that has really big hands, and prefers an over-sized grip. Keeping that in mind, this is why I chose not to sand down the rivets into the handle. Here is how the knife appears after I am done on the machine sanders.

I now focus on the guard, the guard has two steel rivets that have been pounded into it to hold it secure. This was achieve using a pein and anvil. In the pictures above you can see these two rivets protruding from the guard. These need to be ground flush with the rest of the guard, and then "erased" from the guard so that they wont be seen. I use a hand sander, or belt sander to work down the rivets flush to the guard. I finish with 220 grit sandpaper to get to this point.

You can see that the rivets have almost disappeared. From here, the knife will be finished by hand. I start with 120 sandpaper to take out the lumps in the handle created by the belt sander. I move to 220 and finish with 400 grit. I pay particular attention to the guard, and only move in one direction, from the wood, onto the guard, then off. Each grit will leave scratches in the guard, that you want to erase with the next grit, the scratches will become shallower and shallower until the fine grits actually appear to polish the guard. One could continue with finer grits, but at 400 the "noticeable effects" are almost nonexistent. Here is the finished knife on the wood it was constructed from:

In its sheath (provided with the blank)

The final product, Sapele Handled Platte Hunting Knife with Nickel Corby Rivets.

I hope that this helps explain the process I use to build a knife. Most all of my learning has been in the shop on my own, by tedious hours trying to find the best way to accomplish one piece of the puzzle and by trial and error. I also hope, that someone who reads this will decide to try and build a knife of their own, to use for their own needs.
I hope to create a second entry outlining the process, with more photos, in more detail shortly. Good Luck. ]]> fishineveryminuteofit http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=598 Berrien springs trash hole http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=597 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:07:53 GMT ---Quote (Originally by samsteel)--- were you plunking into a waist deep hole near the dam? if someone did that while you were float or drift...
Quote:
Originally Posted by samsteel View Post
were you plunking into a waist deep hole near the dam? if someone did that while you were float or drift fishing, that's unreal.....did you set the hook?

I was down stream about a half mile- no I didn't set the hook, I'm not gonna stoop to their level- it was blatant.

I'm not saying other places are any better (Michigan vs Indiana); I've grew up in Mi, moved to IN (* hangs head) and I'm just amazed Everytime I go how gross folks can be. Ya know, id take someone blatantly walking thru my fishing hole every time I fished if it meant that people would clean up after themselves. ]]> myruca http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=597