Tuesday is voting day

Proposal 15-1 on all ballots statewide

Voters across Michigan will head to the polls this coming Tuesday to decide a statewide ballot question. Find your polling location and track your absentee ballot at the Michigan Voter Information Center at www.Michigan.gov/vote. You also can view your sample ballot to see if your community or school district has other items on the ballot.

Headed west on US 2?

Work on US 2 bridge begins today

 

COUNTY:

Delta

 

HIGHWAY:

US-2

 

CLOSEST CITY:

Rapid River

                                  

ESTIMATED STARTING DATE:

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

                      

ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE:

Monday, June 1, 2015

 

PROJECT:

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will perform railing repair work on the US-2 bridge over the Rapid River.

 

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS:

The project will require the work crew to close the eastbound outside lane of US-2 on the bridge. Vehicles wider than 14 feet will be restricted from using the bridge. 

 

Roadside parks opening soon

Most U.P. roadside parks opening Monday

 

Fast Facts:

- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) owns and maintains 32 roadside parks in the Upper Peninsula.

- U.P. roadside parks usually open in mid- to late April each year.

- Opening of some U.P. roadside parks will be delayed this year due to late spring snow, cold weather and wet conditions.

 

April 24, 2015 -- Most roadside parks operated by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) in the Upper Peninsula will open April 27. The nine parks located in Luce, Alger, Chippewa and Schoolcraft counties will remain closed until remaining snow melts, facilities thaw and water recedes. Those parks are tentatively set to open May 1.

             "We try to reopen roadside parks as early in the spring as possible," said MDOT Superior Region Transportation Maintenance Coordinator Charlie Heidt. "This year, due to lingering winter conditions, we have decided to hold off on opening some of the parks until a little later."

           MDOT maintains 32 roadside parks in the U.P. They usually close in late October and reopen in mid- to late April.

             For a map and complete list of MDOT roadside parks, visit www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9622_11033_52552---,00.html.

Check out this week's U.P. fishing report

UPPER PENINSULA
Want a video snapshot of fishing in this area? Check out the Michigan Fishing Forecast 2015 for the Eastern Upper Peninsula and Southern Upper Peninsula!

Northern Luce and Alger County still have snow on the ground, between one and two feet. Some roads are passible, but a majority of the roads are not due to snowpack and ice cover.  The only confirmed accessible roads at this point are County Road 500 towards Little Lake Harbor and County Road 414 to County Road 423 to the mouth of the Two Hearted River.  A majority of the trout lakes will still be ice covered for the trout opener.  The roads in Chippewa County should be open however the trout lakes near Lake Superior will most likely still have ice on them.  The roads in Mackinac County should be open.  Lakes to the south end of the Upper Peninsula should be open for the weekend.  M-28 could be used as a divider for lakes open or not.  Expect all streams and rivers to be high and muddy.  

Copper Harbor:  Fishing is very slow.  The harbor was about half full of pack ice and strong winds keep moving it around.  It was along the west end making it impossible to launch a boat.  Eagle Harbor has no ice issues but steelhead fishing was slow.  

Keweenaw Bay: Anglers fishing the Falls River in L’Anse did manage to catch a few fish.  Those fishing off the rock dock caught a few coho, steelhead and splake when using spawn, crawlers, spoons or spinners.  Boat anglers trolling near the head of the bay caught a mix of coho, chinook, brown trout, steelhead and splake.  In the South Portage Entry, those jigging off the lighthouse in 120 to 180 feet caught lake trout.  

Menominee: Brown trout were caught in good numbers off the Lighthouse Pier and north of the Menominee River when using #7 rapalas in various colors in six to 10 feet.  Fish as large as 28 inches and 12 pounds have been caught.  

Menominee River: Brown trout were caught on rapalas and stick baits.  Most anglers are now concentrating on walleye in the lower river when using jigs and minnows.  Walleye and brown trout were caught at the Hattie Street Dam.  

Little Bay De Noc:  Anglers have just started boat fishing.  The docks are in at Rapid River, the Ford River and the Gladstone Yacht Harbor.  There could still be some floating ice in the bay so boat anglers will still need to use caution.  Perch anglers caught small fish on crawlers in 10 to 25 feet.  Steelhead anglers fishing the Bark River, Days River and the Whitefish River are starting to catch some fish.  

Big Bay De Noc:  Had no reports.  Garden Bay is still iced over but should break up any day now.  The only launch open is at Ogontz.  The Sturgeon River is very high and only being fished north of US-2.  Many anglers are waiting for Garden Bay and the great perch fishery.

Marquette:  For the most part the area is ice free except for shoreline ice that has blown towards the mouth of the Chocolay River.  Catch rates were very slow with only a few anglers taking one to three fish which were mainly coho and Chinook.  Most of the fish were caught by boat anglers fishing the “Bubblers” at the Upper Harbor, outside the Lower Harbor breakwall and between the Carp River and the Chocolay River.  Jig fishing produced more than trolling.  A few lake trout were caught in 80 to 100 feet east of Marquette, towards the White Rocks and north towards Granite Island.  Boats are trolling spoons and crank baits 20 to 30 feet down in 50 to 60 feet.  The area towards the Sand River and Shot Point is ice free except for the shoreline.  Ice is still present along Shelter Bay, Au Train Bay and the Rock River remains ice locked however there are pressure cracks.

Munising: Changing weather, strong wind and melting ice has limited angler activity.  Ice conditions in the bay are still not safe!  Around the shoreline there is open water however some thin ice still remains locked in the bay.  Reports from around the bay indicate poor to fair catch results on a mixed bag of fish.  Many in small boats are fishing in 20 to 30 feet near the mouth of the Anna River where the occasional steelhead, coho and splake were caught by those still-fishing or jigging spawn and worms.  Whitefish reports were down.  Try spawn or worms on the bottom.  Trout Bay has not been fished and efforts at Bay Furnace were low as 4WD is still needed to get for access to the road.  No word on smelt.  

Grand Marais: The ice was blowing out of the bay including ice near the boat launch and the channel so anglers can start launching boats.  The ice is gone near the Sucker River as well.

Mackinac County:  Smelt action has been nonexistent at this point.  Water temperatures on the Carp River were 36 degrees and Nunn’s Creek was 41 degrees.  The cold nights and rain will lower those water temperatures.  The Black River had some steelhead activity but the bite was slow.  Water levels were high. 

The Weekly Fishing Report is intended to give anglers an ”idea” of what is going on around the state. Updates for the report come from our DNR Fisheries Creel Clerks (seasonal staff) and field staff as well as DNR Conservation Officers working in in the field. General information when available can be found in the first paragraph for each section of the report. For those looking for specific information on a certain body of water or port, it is safe to say if a certain species is being caught in some waters in the area, more than likely they are being caught in all waters in that section of the state that have that species.  

While we would love to include all waters and ports of the state that simply is not possible, especially with more than 11,000 inland lakes, the Great Lakes and thousands of miles of rivers and streams. 

Tips on fly fishing now available

Weekly Fishing Tip: New to fly fishing? Buying equipment doesn't have to be intimidating!
Many would-be anglers find fly fishing to be a tad intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! Part of the intimidation relates to purchasing the necessary equipment, which can get quite expensive. But there are really just a few items you need to make your experience successful!

Obviously the rod is most critical component needed. Many sources encourage anglers to find an option between $100 and $200. The next critical component is the reel, available as a separate purchase from the rod or bought together as a combo. The last necessary item you will need is fly line!

Additional equipment you might need when fly fishing include something to cut the fly line (such as fingernail clippers), polarized sunglasses so you can see better into the water you are fishing, and a hat with a brim to protect you from the elements. You should include a selection of both dry and wet flies in an easy-to-access container, needle-nose pliers or a hemostat to help remove the hook, and a license valid for the area you are fishing. Also, unless you have a boat you most likely will need to get into the water when fly fishing so waders will be necessary to have as well. And don't forget your sunscreen and bug spray!

Want even more info on fly fishing in Michigan? Check out the DNR’s How-To Go Fly Fishing website!

Trout season begins Saturday

Multiple openers kick Michigan fishing season into high gear
Michigan Department of Natural Resources would like to remind anglers to dust off their fishing gear and get ready for the opening of two fishing seasons Saturday, April 25. The statewide trout season and the Lower Peninsula inland walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons all open that day. 

Anglers are reminded that in Upper Peninsula waters, the walleye, northern pike and muskellunge seasons open Friday, May 15.
Please note, due to recent regulation changes the catch-and-immediate-release season for largemouth and smallmouth bass is now open all year on all waters (unless otherwise closed to fishing). The possession season for bass opens statewide Saturday, May 23, except for Lake St. Clair, the St. Clair River and the Detroit River, which open Saturday, June 20.
Fishing is a major economic driver in many parts of the state. Each year in Michigan, anglers typically spend 28 million days on the water and generate $4.4 billion in economic activity which generates $623 million in local, state and federal tax revenue. On top of that, sportfishing in Michigan is estimated to support nearly 38,000 jobs.
The new license season began April 1, so anglers need to be sure they have purchased a new fishing license for this fishing season. The 2015 fishing licenses are valid through March 31, 2016.
The 2015 Michigan Fishing Guide and Inland Trout & Salmon Maps are available online. Visit the DNR website at michigan.gov/fishingguide for more information. 

Be alert to bears on the move

Spring weather has bears, other wildlife on the move

Spring is here, which brings warmer temperatures, longer days and wildlife emerging from their winter homes. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources reminds residents that black bears are among those animals that are now awake and have left their dens.

At this time of the year, wildlife officials receive many calls about bear sightings and bears damaging bird feeders, trash cans and grills.

"Bears are hungry," said DNR bear specialist Kevin Swanson. "They are looking for food after spending months in their dens. While we might not think of bird feeders and trash cans as food sources, a hungry bear certainly may."

Bird seed especially is attractive to bears because of its high fat content and easy accessibility. Once bird feeders are discovered, bears will keep coming back until the seed is gone or the feeders have been removed.

"The majority of complaints we receive about bears in the spring involve a food source. The easiest thing people can do to avoid problems is to take in their bird feeders and store other attractants like trash cans inside until garbage pickup," Swanson said. "Once the woods green up, bears tend to move on to find more natural sources of food, as long as they haven't become habituated to the bird seed or garbage cans."

Bears that are rewarded with food each time they visit a yard will remember these food sources. This can create an unsafe situation for the bear and become a nuisance for landowners if a bear continuously visits their yards during the day and repeatedly destroys private property in search of food.

“We ask landowners to do their part by eliminating the food sources in their yards,” said Swanson. “Given time and no food reward, a bear will move along on its own.”

Anyone who is experiencing problems with bears and has removed food sources for a period of two to three weeks, but has not seen results, should contact the nearest DNR office and speak with a wildlife biologist or technician for further assistance.

Learn more about Michigan’s black bear and how to prevent potential problems by visiting www.michigan.gov/bear.

Public meetings scheduled

MDOT schedules annual public meetings throughout U.P.

 

WHAT:
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has scheduled a series of public meetings to discuss the department's Five-Year Road and Bridge Program, the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and the State Long-Range Plan (SLRP).

Three meetings are scheduled in locations throughout MDOT's Superior Region to accommodate residents of the region's 15 counties:

- Sault Ste. Marie (Chippewa, Luce and Mackinac counties),
- Escanaba (Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee and Schoolcraft counties) and
- Houghton (Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Keweenaw and Ontonagon counties).

WHO:
MDOT Superior Region and Newberry, Ishpeming and Crystal Falls Transportation Service Center (TSC) staff
Rural planning agencies
Interested residents and business owners

WHEN:Tuesday, April 14, 2015 (Sault Ste. Marie)
5 p.m.

Monday, April 20, 2015 (Houghton)
1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015 (Escanaba)
1 p.m.

WHERE:Lake Superior State University MacArthur Room
650 W. Easterday Ave.
Sault Ste. Marie 

 

Heirman Center Room 963
Bay CollegeEscanaba

 

Houghton City Hall616 Shelden Ave.Houghton

Special accommodations: 888-304-6368

BACKGROUND:

For more information, contact MDOT Superior Region Planner Vince Bevins at 906-786-1800, ext. 315, or bevinsv@michigan.gov, or MDOT Superior Region Communications Representative Dan Weingarten at 906-485-4270, ext. 136, or weingartend@michigan.gov.

Traveling to Marquette the week of April 20?

Read this...

 

COUNTY:

Marquette

 

HIGHWAY:

US-41/M-28

 

CLOSEST TOWN:

Marquette

                                   

ESTIMATED STARTING DATE:

Monday, April 20, 2015

                       

ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE:

Friday, Aug. 28, 2015

 

PROJECT:

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) will be resurfacing and installing paved shoulders on 1.1 miles of US-41/M-28 from the Carp River to Furnace Street in the city of Marquette.

 

TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS:

This project will require lane closures.   

BOW opportunity scheduled

DNR Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program set for June 5-7 in the Upper Peninsula

Women seeking to improve their outdoor skills can now register for the 18th annual Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) summer program, offered the weekend of June 5-7 at Bay Cliff Health Camp, in Big Bay, located approximately 30 miles north of Marquette, Michigan.

Sponsored by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, this BOW program offers instruction in more than two dozen types of outdoor activities, including kayaking, wilderness first aid and survival, lake and fly-fishing, fly-tying, geocaching, shooting sports, boating and mountain biking – to name just a few.

“Volunteer instructors provide basic and advanced instruction that is uniquely tailored to each participant's individual ability, helping all Becoming an Outdoors-Woman participants learn the basics in a short amount of time,” said BOW coordinator Sharon Pitz.

Participants will be housed in a universally accessible, dorm-style facility with numerous amenities, including a pool, sauna, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails and easy access to Lake Superior, Pitz said. The BOW summer program also includes special evening programs, such as hikes, group bonfires and more.

The $185 registration fee includes all food and lodging, as well as most equipment and supplies.

Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow, and registration can be paid online at www.michigan.gov/estore. The summer program typically fills quickly – in fact, as of today half of the spots already are filled – so early registration is encouraged. The deadline for registration is May 15. A limited number of BOW scholarships are available to help low-income participants with the cost of registration; the scholarship deadline is May 1.

Pitz said that Becoming an Outdoors-Woman is a noncompetitive program that encourages each individual to learn at her own pace.

“The emphasis is on the enjoyment, fun and camaraderie of outdoor activities,” she said. “Everyone shares in each other’s successes and supports each other in efforts to master skills. Having these life-changing and empowering experiences in Michigan’s beautiful woods and water is just icing on the cake.”

For more information about this or other BOW programs offered in Michigan, go online to www.michigan.gov/bow or contact Sharon Pitz at 906-228-6561 or e-mail pitzs@michigan.gov. 

Calling youth - ages 14-18

DNR seeks applicants for NRC Youth Conservation Council

Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced it is accepting applications from Michigan’s youth, ages 14 to 18, who are interested in being a part of the Natural Resources Commission Youth Conservation Council.

Launched in 2013, the council's structure has been modified to operate more as an "academy model" that should help its young outdoor enthusiasts build stronger outdoor leadership skills.

“Over the first two years, we have evaluated the program to make sure that council members and the DNR were both achieving their goals from this experience," said Ray Rustem, the DNR's Youth Conservation Council advisor.

“During our weekend meetings, members were very engaged and there was a lot of energy. Still, the distance between members and the absence of local support once they returned home hindered success in reaching some of our goals," Rustem said. "We hope the academy format, which includes presentations on natural resources and outdoor recreation issues – along with pairing members with local DNR personnel – will improve the experience.”

Already in the first few years, there have been several bright spots.

Council members have developed projects to encourage youth participation in outdoor activities. A youth blog has been established. Council members also are preparing YouTube videos to promote outdoor activity and developing a youth photo contest. The department also administers a Facebook page on behalf of the council.

Youth interested in joining the NRC Youth Conservation Council will be expected to participate in four meetings each year. At least two of the meetings will be offered as weekend training sessions at a conference facility; other meetings will be shorter meetings with possible attendance through teleconferencing and/or Web-based applications.

At these meetings, members will take part in broad-ranging discussions about Michigan’s outdoors and current and future recreation opportunities available statewide. Additionally, they’ll make recommendations to both the NRC and the DNR about policy, program and legislative changes that members believe will boost young residents’ interest and involvement in the outdoors, including in the Michigan traditions of hunting and fishing.

Those youth chosen for the council also will be expected to:

• Attend a Natural Resources Commission meeting.
• Write and submit three articles on outdoor activities for the Youth Conservation Council blog.
• Help develop and participate in local events to encourage more kids to get outdoors.

During their time on the council, members will be partnered with local DNR personnel to enhance their learning experience and provide mentoring opportunities.

Applications are available on the DNR’s Youth Conservation Council website, along with a roster of frequently asked questions that offers more detail about the Youth Conservation Council. Visit www.michigan.gov/dnr, choose Education and Outreach, and then select the Youth Conservation Council under Programs for Families and Individuals.

Completed applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2015, and sent to:

NRC Youth Conservation Council
ATTN: Raymond Rustem
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909 

Do you heat with wood? Read on...

2015 fuelwood permits now available from the DNR  

April 1 marked the start of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ 2015 fuelwood season. The personal-use permits can be purchased any time now through Dec. 31, 2015, in person or by mail.

The permits are good for 90 days from the date of purchase.The mail-in order forms are available online at the DNR’s website, www.michigan.gov/fuelwood.

Bill O’Neill, DNR Forest Resources Division chief, reminds people who are looking for alternative home-heating options that the fuelwood permits are a good value for those willing to put in some work to gather wood. “The price hasn’t changed for years,” he said. “We want to keep our permits affordable and easy to access for the folks who rely on them each year."

Permits cost $20 and are for use on designated state forest land in the northern two-thirds of the state and allow for collection of up to five standard cords of wood per household. Fuelwood collected with the permit can be used for personal use only and cannot be resold or traded.

O’Neill suggests people contact their local DNR office to determine what areas are available this year for wood collection, then follow up with a visit to the site before purchasing a permit.

“The quantity and quality of dead and down wood varies by location,” he said. “We only sell one permit per household, so we really encourage people to check out potential areas before purchasing a permit.”

The DNR has issued fuelwood permits for decades and issues between 2,500 and 3,500 each year.

For further information on how and where to purchase a personal-use fuelwood permit, contact a local DNR office or visit www.michigan.gov/fuelwood.

State record drum caught

Middleville angler breaks freshwater drum state record
Michigan Department of Natural Resources confirmed a new state record last month for freshwater drum. This record marks the first one caught in 2015.
A fish caught by Mark Leep of Middleville, Michigan, on Gun Lake in Barry County Saturday, Jan. 24, at 4:30 p.m. beat the state record for freshwater drum. Leep was spearing. The fish weighed 28.61 pounds and measured 34.02 inches.

Kregg Smith, a DNR fisheries biologist in Plainwell, verified the record.

James Black caught the previous state-record freshwater drum, weighing 26 pounds and measuring 37.5 inches, on Muskegon Lake May 28, 1973.

In Michigan, freshwater drum typically inhabit the Great Lakes or their tributaries. Based on the size of this fish, it found its way to Gun Lake several years ago, perhaps through illegal stocking, as there are limited connections to a large river system. Anglers are reminded that transferring fish from one water body to another is prohibited without an approved permit, because such transfers can disrupt the fish community in the receiving water through predation, competition with native species or introduction of new disease-causing organisms.

State records are recognized by weight only. To qualify for a state record, fish must exceed the current listed state-record weight, and a DNR fisheries biologist must verify identification.

For more information on fishing in Michigan, visit michigan.gov/fishing.