May 10, 2011

Sturgeon R running a bit highYup. You see it correctly. The hundred year rain dumped enough water into the Sturgeon that you could have almost floated right up to Meadows Bar for a burger and beer. The river was about 2 ½ feet above normal. Fortunately, things have pretty much returned to normal. The river bottom has been rearranged, that’s for sure. So, be sure to take a wading staff the next time out.

Prior to the deluge, the steelhead were dropping back to Burt Lake, and willing to chase streamers. Here’s one that ate a purple woolly sculpin. Looks like a spawned out female, but she had plenty of spunk left in her.

Drop Back SteelieOnce the river receded, I thought I’d head to the U.P. to look for some of that “superior chrome”. The USGS stream flow charts said the rivers were just about back to normal levels by May 2, so I topped off my gas tank at $4.17 per gallon and headed north. What the USGS stream flow website doesn’t tell you, however, is that even though the rivers had receded, they were still carrying alot of silt and clay. Take a look at the Pine River near Rudyard. It looks like a large MacDonald’s coffee with two creams. The Two Hearted looked like a large MacDonald’s coffee . . . hold the cream.Pine River Oh well. Top off the gas tank (at $4.27 per gallon) and head back home.

Au Sable Hene-EaterMaple R Hene-EaterLooks like this is shaping up to be a great year for the Hendricksons. On May 4, I caught an early Hene hatch on the Au Sable’s Holy Water. Then a few days later, I ventured to the Maple River east of Brutus, and found them there, too. I’m certainly not an expert on the Hendricksons, but I would say the next two weeks ought to be Hene Heaven.

From May 13 to May 15, it’s time for our annual Christian Sportsmen’s Fellowship “Trout Camp” at Baldwin. It’s a great time for camping, fellowship and food. Heck, we might even catch a fish or two. Who knows?!

Trout camp is open to anyone that’s interested. If you’d like to fit it into your calendar next year, keep an eye on the CSF Calendar of Events link on the left hand side of the WFFJ home page.