the riverwatch - Anglers of the Au Sable

Summer 2014
Number 69
THE
RIVERWATCH
THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF
THE ANGLERS OF THE AU SABLE
tHe riVer - robert tHomPSon’S maSterPieCe on tHe au Sable riVer floWS
to all tHe riGHt PlaCeS.
tHe eXPanSion - anGlerS and tHe national Guard Come to a QuiCK
aGreement.
tHe HatCHerY - tHinGS are far from Clear aS to WHetHer it Can
funCtion WitHout HarminG our riVer?
from tHe editor
it’S CleanuP time aGain
Once it gets kick-started – I think
Brown Drakes usually do it – the season just rushes by, and the next thing
you know it is time for the Fall Cleanup. “Cleanups” is a better word around
this region, three to be exact. Here is
the pertinent info:
September 6th, Anglers of the Au Sable Cleanup, 10 AM, Gates Au Sable
Lodge, George Alexander Memorial
Lunch at Noon. Contact Josh Greenberg
989-348-8462/ josh@gateslodge.com.
September 6th, Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association, 8 AM
(Boats), 9 AM (Walkers), Comins Flats,
BBQ Noon. Contact Thomas Buhr at
989-745-4957/ tom@asbwpa.org.
September 20th, The Old Au Sable Fly
Shop, 9 AM. Contact Andy Partlo
989-348-3330/andy@oldausable.com.
In recent years the fight has been against
fracking. Dr. Richter put in long hours
educating folks throughout the region
He was to the Jordan River what Rusty about what might happen if the practice
was to the Au Sable, and just like Da’ becomes widespread. He took a hard
Gator, he left us too soon. Dr. John line on it. This left him and the FOJ
Richter, who passed away in May, out on the left flank almost completely
was like many of us, a native of down- alone while the majority of conservastate who heard the siren song of “Up tion organizations sought centrist posiNorth.” A veterinarian by trade, he tions. It showed his passion and courmoved to East Jordan in 1984, and fell age to do what he thought was right,
in love with the river flowing at its core. realpolitik be damned.
In 1990 he helped to found the Friends His work brought accolades: East Jorof the Jordan River Watershed and dan Citizen of the Year (2008); Enviserved as President for many years. ronmentalist of the year (2008) from
Under John’s direction the FOJ helped the Northern Michigan Environmental
prevent drilling for oil and gas in the Action Council (NMEAC); and the
Jordan River Valley – a place so charm- Clarence Kroupa Lifetime Achieveing and sweet it could be right of out ment Award from that same organizaTolkien – and stopped the harebrained
tion in 2013.
scheme to inject leachate from Bay
Harbor into a well located in Alba, not I had the pleasure of interviewing him
from time to time about things over the
far from his beloved Jordan River.
*****
dr. JoHn riCHter
Continued on page 19
direCtorS
PreSident
Bruce Pregler, Rochester Hills, MI
firSt ViCe PreSident
tHe riVerWatCH
The RIVERWATCH is a quarterly publication
of The Anglers of the Au Sable, a non-profit
corporation dedicated to the protection of the
Au Sable River, its watershed and surrounding
environs. Dues are $25 per year. For membership please contact:
The Anglers of the Au Sable
P.O. Box 200
Grayling, MI 49738
www.AuSableAnglers.org
Front Cover Photo Credit:
www.respectmyplanet.org
2
Tom Baird, Diamondale, MI
SeCond ViCe PreSident
John Bebow, Milan, MI
treaSurer
Pat Dwyer, Rochester, MI
SeCretarY
Joe Hemming, Beverly Hills, MI
Don Boyd, Grayling, MI
Thomas Buhr, Luzerne, MI
Dick Daane, Ann Arbor, MI (Emeritus)
John Dallas, Troy, MI
Alan Diodore, Grayling, MI
Dan Drislane, Emigrant, MT (Emeritus)
Jay Gleason, Huntersville, NC (Emeritus)
Josh Greenberg, Grayling, MI
Karen Harrison, Frederic, MI
Mark Hendricks, Grayling, MI
Bruce Johnson, Rochester, MI
Terry Lyons, Perry, MI
Ed McGlinn, Farmington Hills, MI (Emeritus)
Tess Nelkie, Tawas City, MI
John Novak, Grayling, MI
Andy Richards, Kalamazoo, MI
John Russell, Traverse City, MI
Don Sawyer, Okemos, MI
Jim Schramm, Pentwater, MI
Jim Shiflett, Grand Ledge, MI
David Smith, Grayling, MI
John Walters, Vanderbilt, MI
David Waymire, Charlotte, MI
Lance Weyeneth, Gaylord, MI
fraCKinG letter
enVironmental GrouPS PreSS State to ProteCt miCHiGan’S
Clean Water, PubliC HealtH from fraCKinG
(Editor’s Note: At press, Anglers of the Au Sable signed on to this
letter addressing the new set of regulations regarding the form of
mineral extraction known as fracking. Much remains to be decided
on this matter. Please check the Anglers’ Homepage for updates. We
will cover developments on fracking in depth in RIVERWATCH 70.)
ANN ARBOR -- The Michigan League of Conservation
Voters (LCV), Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, Moms
Clean Air Force Michigan, and more than 25 environmental and conservation organizations called for stronger safeguards for Michigan’s clean water and public health against
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. In a letter sent to the
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the
groups pressed for more rigorous fracking rules that adequately protect the quality and quantity of Michigan’s freshwater. Today is the final day for public input on the draft of
the rules released by the DEQ earlier this year.
“Oil and gas development, including high volume hydraulic fracturing, puts Michigan’s waters resources at risk –
threatening our health and economic viability,” said Jennifer McKay, policy specialist for Tip of the Mitt Watershed
Council. “The administrative rules currently proposed by
the DEQ contain significant deficiencies and are insufficient
to adequately protect Michigan’s lakes, streams, and rivers.”
Groups are asking the DEQ to require more in-depth evaluation and monitoring of water levels and water quality before, during and after fracking operations begin, and public
disclosure of chemicals prior to drilling. Alongside the letter, the Michigan LCV submitted 2,227 public comments to
the DEQ on behalf of members across the state. The strong
turnout and widespread opposition to the proposed rules at
DEQ public hearings in Grayling and Lansing earlier this
month, and the outpouring of public comments demanding
that fracking operations be held to the highest standards of
safety reflect a groundswell of support for getting our state’s
rules right.
“If we want to maintain our ‘Great Lakes State’ image and
our natural resource economy, we must address the unprecedented threats that our waters face from fracking,” said
Jack Schmitt, Deputy Director for Michigan LCV. “The
DEQ should not ignore calls from every corner of the state
to toughen up on rules for fracking operations and put into
place safeguards that truly protect our clean water and our
public health.”
In addition to risks posed to Michigan’s freshwater, fracking could lead to increased air pollution. Methane, the main
component of natural gas, is a powerful greenhouse gas and
contributor to high ozone levels. The release of toxic air
emissions during any stage of the fracking process would be
detrimental to air quality and public health.
“Any process that could increase the levels of pollution in
the air we breathe should raise a red flag for Michigan decision makers,” said Wibke Heymach, Program Manager for
Moms Clean Air Force Michigan.
“Without strong enough safeguards against fracking on the
books, we put air quality and the health of future generations
of Michiganders on the line.”
- Charlotte Jameson, MLCV
mlCV nameS anGlerS
adVoCate of tHe Year
Former Michigan State Football Coach George Perles –
yes, it’s come to that now – once said, “Keep your head
down, play hard, and good things will happen.” Anglers’
herculean effort at the end of last year to stop the mineral
leases on the Holy Water was just such an example.
And it’s being celebrated. The Michigan League of Conservation Voters (MLCV) has named AOTA the 2014 Advocate of the Year.
“The Anglers of the Au Sable have shown time and again
a deep commitment to protecting one of the most vital
waterways in Michigan,” said Lisa Wozniak, Executive
Director for MLCV. “Their dedication to preserving the
Au Sable River stopped oil and gas leasing efforts that
threatened Michigan’s Holy Waters. Their tenacious
work is so critical in the Great Lakes State where clean
water lies at the heart of our way of life and our economy.
That is why, at MLCV’s annual Innovation in Conservation Awards Dinner this year, we are proud to recognize
the Anglers of the Au Sable with our ‘Advocate of the
Year’ award.”
MLCV will host the second annual Innovation in
Conservation Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 2nd at
the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit. MLCV will present
awards to honorees to celebrate their achievements on
behalf of Michigan’s land, air, and water and to highlight
their leadership as conservation champions. This year, in
addition to Anglers, MLCV is pleased to recognize retiring Congressman John Dingell and retiring Senator
Carl Levin with ‘Lifetime Achievement’ awards.
3
CamP GraYlinG eXPanSion
HoW anGlerS QuiCKlY fouGHt off
a maJor au Sable-maniStee inVaSion
We all knew the Hendricksons would come late this spring,
but by the first of May there were plenty of riverside jitters.
We needed warm nights and spinner falls to get over the
frostbite of the polar vortex. What we didn’t need was another war to protect the river corridors. We got one anyway.
On May 1 , DNR forester Susan Thiel shook River Country out of late-winter slumber with a bombshell email that
quickly found its way into the hands of Anglers of the Au
Sable board members. Thiel’s email to her colleagues
throughout the DNR said:
st
The military had its sights set on 50,000 additional acres of
state land in Crawford County.
The military wanted the land for infantry training.
The DNR had drawn detailed maps for the proposed land
deal, including handing over both sides of the Manistee
River from M-72 to CCC Bridge, the sensitive wetlands of
the Connors Marsh area north of the main branch of the Au
Sable, and more sensitive areas adjacent to the North Branch
in the Kellogg’s Bridge area.
Some 6,000 of the acres in the mapped military giveaway
were specifically purchased in years past with state and federal funds for recreational purposes only.
Perhaps hundreds of privately owned parcels fell within or
next to the proposed additional military land giveaway.
Plans were in the works to cut a verbal deal between the
DNR and the military by early July.
of anglers in the middle of mayfly hatches. And with just a
quick glance at the maps we could see that private property
owners far and wide were likely to fight tooth and nail to
keep infantry troops from training nearly in their backyards.
At our June meeting, the Anglers board approved a sharply
worded letter to Governor Rick Snyder and top officials in
the DNR and the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. We cited additional emails we had obtained in
which DNR fisheries biologists strongly opposed the new
expansion zones. We noted that taxpayers had already invested in the proposed military lands for recreational purposes – and questioned the legality of turning over those
recreational lands to the military. We expressed our amazement that such a major Camp Grayling expansion could be
mapped out in draft form by the DNR without one word of
public knowledge or input.
And, we warned state officials to quickly reconsider before
they sparked a major, expensive, and long public controversy.
braCinG for battle
And that’s exactly what we expected - a long fight. After
licking the stamps on our letters, we started drafting battle
plans. It wouldn’t be long before we’d start a major media
campaig. We were mapping out a strategy for rallying property owners. And we were considering our legal options. (As
we’ve had to do too many times on too many issues over the
years. But when we go to court, we’re usually loaded for
bear.)
anGlerS of tHe au Sable SWinGS into aCtion In short, there was no way we were going to stand by while
This news was a red alert. Anglers of the Au Sable respond- the corridors of two of the best wild trout streams in the easted immediately. We convened meetings of numerous river ern United States were essentially given away to the miliconservation groups in the Au Sable and Manistee river cor- tary. Rusty Gates would’ve been up in arms. So were we.
ridors. We met with Susan Thiel to gather more information.
tHe PHone Call tHat CHanGed eVerYtHinG
(An initial request for the DNR’s military land giveaway
maps was denied. But we quickly obtained the maps any- And then, in mid-June, we received a phone call from Genway from sources within the DNR who were every bit as eral Gregory Vadnais, the top military official in Michigan
and the head of the Michigan Department of Military and
concerned as we were.)
Veterans Affairs.
A quarter-century after Anglers first came to prominence
fighting Camp Grayling intrusions into River Country, General Vadnais told us he was standing down and immeThiel’s email and the DNR’s new maps felt like a sneak at- diately walking away from the DNR’s expansion maps for
tack. Most troubling of all, the Camp Grayling expansion Camp Grayling. Vadnais said that once he reviewed Anglers
appeared to be under discussion completely behind closed written concerns he completely agreed with our major condoors. The maps suggested a virtual military takeover of the tention – the lands mapped by the DNR were completely
remaining public lands in Crawford County. It didn’t take incompatible with military use for all the reasons Anglers of
much imagination to envision troops training right on top the Au Sable cited.
4
CamP GraYlinG eXPanSion
Instead, General Vadnais said he would explore only one
small sliver of land in Frederic Township to connect some
existing Camp Grayling territory.
A major land use war turned into a quick and complete river
victory overnight.
WHat We learned
The potential threats to River Country never end. In the past
year, Anglers of the Au Sable has fought off surface fracking wells in the Holy Water and a proposal to allow gold
prospecting in trout streams. We continue to monitor and
oppose massive fracking water withdrawals in the Manistee
and Au Sable watersheds. We’re working to tighten regulations and consider our legal options to protect the Au Sable
should the Grayling Hatchery expansion for commercial fish
farming come to fruition. And we’re working with Roscommon County officials who control the Lake St. Helen dam
to stabilize flows and protect against extremely low water in
the South Branch in summer months.
The work literally never ends. To succeed, we must have
many friends and contacts within the DNR and the rest of
state government to stay on top of development plans and
attack terrible ideas like the Camp Grayling expansion in
the river corridors before such ideas even get off the ground.
We continue to talk to DNR officials about Camp Grayling.
Top officials acknowledged to us in early July that the DNR’s
expansion maps, and the aggressive timeline outlined in the
May emails, were a mistake. The military’s 10-year lease
for state lands is coming up for renewal. We’re watching it
closely.
And we work hard every month to maintain respectful and
professional relations with state and local government of-
ficials. To that end, Anglers is deeply grateful to General
Vadnais for his quick and thorough response and the strong
respect he demonstrated for the extremely valuable natural
resources of the Au Sable and Manistee river corridors.
Anglers’ President Bruce Pregler said it best in our press
release announcing the military’s decline of the DNR expansion maps in late June: “We are extremely pleased to receive
General Vadnais’ response to our June 9 letter. The general
took seriously – and agrees with – our conclusion that Draft
Expansion Zones 2, 3, and 5 are mainly recreational lands,
sensitive river corridors, and sensitive wetlands that are simply incompatible with military use. We are very grateful to
General Vadnais and other state leaders for their rapid consideration and response. In the end, we firmly believe their
decision to decline Draft Expansion Zones 2, 3, and 5 is exactly the right decision for the river corridors our organization is duty-bound to protect.”
We’ll never know exactly what was said in June among officials in the DNR, the governor’s office, and the Department
of Military Affairs once they received our letter strongly opposing the DNR’s Camp Grayling expansion maps. We can
only report what we heard as second-hand rumors. We were
told of a conversation in which military officials asked other
high-ranking officials who Anglers of the Au Sable is and
why they should be worried about us. The rumored answer
was: “Anglers of the Au Sable has more lawyers, more passionate members, more resources, and more media reach
than you can imagine.”
If that conversation did indeed take place, we like the message. And we’ll keep working every day to maintain that
image and protect the rivers our members hold so dear.
- John Bebow, 2nd Vice President
SonG of tHe morninG ranCH
dam remoVal laWSuit HaS ended
It was June 23, 2008 when the catastrophe on the Pigeon
River occurred. For those who remember, it was when Golden Lotus (Song of the Morning Ranch) discharged tons of
sediment from their impoundment due to faulty dam management. This resulted in a fish kill of over 500,000 trout.
That sediment discharge was the third such occurrence in
51 years.
Since that date the DEQ & DNR conducted an environmental investigation resulting in a lawsuit between the State of
Michigan and Golden Lotus. Michigan Trout Unlimited
(MITU) and Pigeon River Country Association (PRCA)
also joined the lawsuit with the State of Michigan. MITU/
PRCA filed a nuisance claim against Golden Lotus, which
was part of the ruling by former Judge Porter in the 1984
lawsuit. The primary purpose MITU/PRCA entered into this
lawsuit was to ensure complete dam removal, so the Pigeon
River can flow freely, and to ensure this type of catastrophe
would never occur again.
The original settlement was eventually contested. With tireless work and persistence, MITU/PRCA, the State of Michigan, and Golden Lotus have now reached final agreements
regarding the Song of the Morning Ranch Dam Removal
case. This took an incredible amount of legal work, science
work, negotiating, and old-fashioned hard work.
On April 3, 2014, almost six years later, all parties affiliated
5
SonG of tHe morninG ranCH
Lawsuit Ended continued...
with the case appeared in court to enter
the agreed upon and signed final documents before Judge Allen.
It is very exciting for everyone involved,
and long overdue, to complete the lawsuit, which is a necessary process. Now
the real work begins.
The new Collaborative Agreement,
an agreement between Golden Lotus,
MITU and PRCA, lays out all of the
conditions, monitoring, sand removal
efforts and work to be completed. As a
result of these agreements, a Steering
Committee will be established to make
critical decisions as they arise during
the dam removal. Huron Pines has been
named, and they have agreed to be the
project manager for the dam removal
and associated projects.
So, what is next for the Pigeon River?
First, the drawdown of the impoundment will start this spring. Due to light
organic sediment, being the top layer in
the impoundment, the drawdown will
be relatively slow. The Sediment Management Plan 1 will be implemented, including how the sediment will be managed once some of these sediments are
transported when the Pigeon River has
increased flow through the impoundment. As vegetation seeds are prevalent
in the sediment, vegetation growth will
commence as the dewatering occurs
and the new surface is exposed to oxygen and sunlight. This new vegetation
growth will stabilize the newly exposed
sediment.
The second phase of the project, which
will start following the drawdown, will
consist of removal of the dam structures,
installation of a replacement bridge over
the river (spanning the natural width of
river, which is estimated at 35 feet), and
from the river.
Then and Now - The Song of the Morning Ranch Dam only served to impede one of
Michigan’s most historic rivers. Thanks to the Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited, it
is now part of that history. Check our website for further updates on this issue.
removal of sand
The Golden Lotus Dam is the most significant element impacting the health of the Pigeon River. This nearly six year
long legal process has taken incredible resources to see
through, and MITU would not have been able to effectuate
6
this positive outcome for the Pigeon River without the continued support of our members like you. We are pleased today to report the dam removal process will begin this spring,
and the Pigeon River will forever be better because of it.
We will continue to provide more information and details
about this project.
- John Walters – MITU Vice Chairman, Anglers Director
GraYlinG fiSH HatCHerY
GraYlinG fiSH HatCHerY
A new threat to the Au Sable River has emerged: massive expansion of the Grayling Fish Hatchery on the East
Branch. The Harietta Hills Trout Farm, owned by Dan Vogler, proposes to increase production at this obsolete facility from under 20,000 pounds of fish per year, to 300,000
pounds. This massive expansion has caused concerns about
phosphorus discharges in the river due to increased amounts
of fish food and feces, insufficient monitoring of those discharges and the operations of the facility, substandard waste
management, and as a result, creation of conditions conducive to symptomatic whirling disease in the river system.
Vogler appears to have the backing of the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD),
which sees use of Michigan’s waters for aquiculture as the
“next big thing.” He has now obtained an NPDES discharge
permit from the Department of Environmental Quality,
which does not adequately address the concerns we have
raised. The Department of Natural Resources has essentially been frozen out of the process, much to the chagrin of
career fisheries personnel.
When the Anglers of the Au Sable became aware of this proposal last year, we began monitoring the situation. Early
this year we were tipped off that the project was still in the
works, and that that MDARD was pushing for a sweetheart
deal on the permit. After seeing the proposed permit, it was
apparent that action was required. We consulted with several experts. Steve Sendek, retired DNR fisheries biologist,
expressed initial concerns, and we also spoke to Bryan Burroughs, the executive director of Michigan Trout Unlimited
and co-chair of the Water Use Advisory Council. We were
referred to Dr. Ray Canale, who was extremely helpful. Before he retired he was a professor of environmental engineering at the University of Michigan, and more importantly, he was the Plaintiff’s expert in the Platte River hatchery
litigation. He currently serves as the court appointed monitor of that operation, and a nationwide expert on hatcheries
and their chemical discharges. Finally, we consulted with
Dr. Mark Luttenton of Grand Valley State College, a stream
biologist and ecologist, who has many years of experience
on the Au Sable.
The experts confirmed our fears regarding the proposed permit: (1) the limits on phosphorus in the proposed permit were
too high, (2) the waste management program was essentially non-existent, (3) the monitoring regime proposed by the
DEQ was totally insufficient and subject to bias and manipulation, (4) this would lead to degradation of the waters
of the Au Sable, (5) the result would probably be increased
algae growth and a reduction in the diversity of macro invertebrates (including the flies we all know and love), and (6)
whirling disease could possibly reach symptomatic levels.
Furthermore, documents produced indicate that this project
may be significantly underfunded. The DNR/DEQ should
have conducted an analysis of HHTF’s finances. AOTA is
unaware of any such investigation. Such an investigation
would give the DEQ some insight into HHTF’s ability to
properly operate the hatchery, perform its testing obligation and complete any cleanup or contamination caused by
HHTF operations. What good are restrictive requirements if
the tenant is unable to properly operate the hatchery, conduct
testing or cleanup due to financial constraints? In addition, it
came out that MDARD had interfered with the DNR in the
performance of its duty to protect the river. At the request
of the Mason Griffith Chapter of TU, the DNR was going
to conduct some baseline water quality tests above and below the hatchery, so that the effects of increased production
could be assessed in the future. When he learned of this testing, Vogler complained to MDARD, which prevented the
DNR from conducting the tests. They were ultimately conducted by DEQ, much later than originally planned. Finally,
the economic costs of the proposal had not been considered.
Vogler promises the addition of two jobs to the local economy, and that he will keep the hatchery open as a tourist attraction. The economic risks to the local economy and property values from the project have never been factored in.
On May 6, 2014, a hearing was held on the permit. Long
story short: minor revisions were made to the permit. It is
still unsatisfactory in a number of respects. The phosphorus limit is too high; there are no limits on carbon, nitrogen or dissolved oxygen depletion; the monitoring remains
far short of optimal; and there is still no waste management
plan, although Vogler is required to submit one soon, albeit
after the permit was issued.
We are currently monitoring the situation, consulting with
our experts, and considering our options. In addition,
MGTU has retained Dr. Luttenton to conduct phosphorus
monitoring above and below the hatchery, as a check on the
results reported by management. In the meantime, MDARD
is continuing to explore expansion of aquiculture in Michigan, including hatcheries on rivers and pen raised fish in the
Great Lakes. We are sure to see additional developments in
the near future.
Let me make this very clear: Our position is not to
shut down the hatchery. It is to make sure that it is
done properly, with good protective standards, a
sound protocol for monitoring, a satisfactory waste
management system, and any other necessary safeguards. In other words, we don’t want to ban the
hatchery, but we want it done right!
- Tom Baird, First Vice President
7
tHe riVer interVieW
Q & a: inSide tHe mind of tHe maKer
of ‘tHe riVer’ moVie
Chicago-based filmmaker Robert Thompson has earned national acclaim for filming a world-record muskie on a fly
rod, chronicling the lives of punk-rocking trout bums in the
Driftless Region, and capturing haunting scenes of the Midwestern hex hatch. In late April he released his most ambitious fish flick yet… It’s actually a three-movie DVD called
“The River” and based on Michigan’s storied Au Sable.
Anglers of the Au Sable sponsored the movie and its world
premiere at the Rialto Theater in Grayling on the opening
night of trout season. After two years of filming and plenty
of river adversity along the way, “RT” as he’s known in river
country, sat down with fellow Au Sable trout bum and Anglers 2nd VP John Bebow to talk about the project…
“The River” is quite a title. Camera-carrying anglers
have featured hundreds of rivers. Why is the Au Sable
THE river?
Well, if I was to be completely honest I didn’t name it The
River, implying that the Au Sable is THE river. It’s how I
and others refer to it in conversation... “Are you heading to
the river this weekend.” Also, I’ve never been terribly creative when coming up with names for my pieces...so it was
the best I could do. Honest answer...
You’ve shot film all over North America, and you live in
Chicago, but you seem especially rooted on the Au Sable.
Why?
I’m a Michigan kid, growing up not too far from the Au
Sable. So that may have something to do with it. The Au
Sable was the river that really cemented my addiction to fly
fishing...for better or worse! I also think when you look at
it from a historical perspective, starting back in the logging
era and coming forward to present day, there is probably no
other river in the country that has the history and traditions
this river has. I’m not saying it’s the best river, but there is
no shortage of history to it and it’s that history that makes
it interesting...at least to me. I mean, this was a river full
of Grayling at one time...Kind of hard to wrap your head
around.
it was the perfect cool, drizzly fall weekend and the fishing
was ridiculously good...but I had no idea at the time just
how good it was. My third cast ever with a streamer pulled
a 17-inch brown out of a sweeper in the Holy Waters...And
that was the way the weekend went. I had no idea what I was
doing and I caught a ton of fish...And some nice ones.
Knowing what I know now, I would have tried to appreciate
it more, but at that time I just assumed my first experience
the norm. I’ve been trying to duplicate that fall weekend
for 12 years...and haven’t come close. I think that weekend
happened for a reason. Had I gone up there and the fishing
sucked, maybe I wouldn’t have come back...Who knows?
But that is the Au Sable...insanely unpredictable.
You spent two years filming “The River.” Why?
I wanted to give myself the best chance at getting the footage I needed, especially from a fishing standpoint. I mean all
rivers are unpredictable, but this one can be downright cruel.
I knew I could probably spend five years trying to get all the
hatches and would still probably miss one or two so I said
I’ll give it two seasons and what I get is what I get.
It also made it a little tougher because I spent April and May
of the first year shooting The Brothers Brown so technically I didn’t start shooting The River until June of 2012 and
that only gave me one shot at April & May...So of course I
missed a few things. Also, 2012 was a very early, low water year...almost a drought year. And 2013 was a late, high
water year. That did not help so the shooting schedule became very much a scramble as dates had to be shifted and
moved around.
This is the fourth DVD I’ve done and the challenges are always the same… Finding the time to dedicate to the project
and being a one man band. I would love to have a month or
whatever to just work on something but that isn’t going to
happen. I make the most of the weekends I have and whatever happens, happens.
When did you first fish the Au Sable? How’d that go?
So, is this a fishing movie or a conservation movie or a
bug movie?
We have a family cabin not too far from the Au Sable so I
actually fished it a couple times as a kid with spinners and
such. It wasn’t until I picked up a fly rod 11 or 12 years ago
that I “rediscovered” it. It was a late fall weekend I’m guessing around 2002 and it was probably my second or third
outing as a fly fisherman. I took a four-hour, on-stream instructional lesson through Gates Lodge because I didn’t really know what I was doing...Probably still don’t. Anyway,
Hopefully all of the above. As usual with my stuff there is
no narration so it’s all told first person. I interviewed about
three dozen people for this, which is another reason I needed
two seasons. Those interviews drive the story along and it’s
weaved together with a season of fishing starting in the snow
in February and ending in late October. The story line jumps
around a bit but the fishing is shown linearly throughout a
season.
8
tHe riVer interVieW
This DVD actually features three films. One of them,
“The Brothers Brown,” was in the Fly Fishing Film Tour
in 2013. Then you have the main flick. And then there’s a
third feature on bamboo rod builder Bob Summers. Tell
us about him and how your feature on him developed?
Well, it’s kind of interesting how that came to be. I interviewed a guy named Jay Stephan Sr. He’s probably one of
the original Au Sable long boat builders. I think he was 88
when I interviewed him. His health was failing and unfortunately he died about six months ago. Anyway, during that interview he said he’d made a couple boats for George Griffith
who is credited as being the founder of Trout Unlimited and
those early TU meetings were held at George’s camp called
“The Barbless Hook” on the Holy Waters of the Au Sable.
I knew that Bob Summers now has George’s boat, and I
was interested in how that came to be. I reached out to Bob,
briefed him on the project and my interview with Jay, and
he gave me the green light to swing by his shop in Traverse
City, Michigan. So originally I went into it thinking I would
just get an interview with Bob that I could use in the main
piece.
It wasn’t until I spent some time with him, learned a little
more of his relationship with George and found out that they
were fishing buddies on the Au Sable system for the better
part of 25 years that something clicked. Then when he told
me that they had done a film together in the late ’70s or early
’80s that really peaked my interest. I was eventually able to
track the film down and get my hands on it and that is when
I decided to expand the piece into its own short.
Not to mention, Bob has quite a history in his own right. The
guy started with The Paul H Young Rod company in Detroit
right out of high school and has been a revered rod maker
for 40+ years. I think it’s a great piece and adds a nice flavor
to the DVD.
The Au Sable is a river of legends… Bob Summers is just
one of them. This river is also the birthplace of Trout Unlimited. And it was home to Rusty Gates. Did you know
Rusty before he died in 2009? How does your film deal
with the legend of “Da Gator,” as he called himself?
I don’t know what it was or what I did but Rusty was gracious enough to invite me into his world outside of his fly
shop. So yes, I was fortunate enough to be able to call Rusty
a friend.
There is a lot I miss about Rusty since his passing in ‘09,
the biggest of which is Hex Camp at his cabin. Some of my
fondest memories of being on the river came during those
years.
And in reality it was Rusty who brought all of us together.
He basically created the social group I still hang with... He
had a knack for that kind of stuff.
But as it relates to the film, it’s very tough to talk about that
river without talking about Rusty Gates. He was the ultimate river keeper, maybe to a fault. There are many who
will moan and groan about situations and sit on the sidelines,
then there are those who will actually do something about
it...make the phone calls, mobilize, delegate, raise funds and
drag someone’s ass into court...That was Rusty. Tough to say
if we’ll ever see another one like him...
So, does this movie offer hints on how to fish the finicky
Au Sable? What’s your advice to anglers heading to
Grayling, Michigan for the first time?
In short, no. I’m not big on how-tos or getting into a lot of
technical stuff...Just doesn’t interest me. The Au Sable is a
HIGHLY pressured river so if I had advice for someone fishing the river for the first time it would be lower your expectations. I do think it’s a river that you have to pay your dues
on. It seems to do things on its own terms and you learn to
roll with it. I don’t think there is a secret code to crack...But
I do think there can be a little luck involved as well.
The Au Sable also is a river of intrigue… Lots of conservation and political battles… Lots of different clubs and
fishing camps… Lots of secret fishing holes and fly shop
whispering about where it’s hot and where it’s not…
Maybe a few rivalries… How do you think your movie
will be received among Au Sable loyalists?
I think like anything there will be those who love it and those
who will hate it. That’s just part of the deal. There will be
those who will question why this person is in it and why that
person isn’t. It’s a judgment call on my part, rounding up
those that I think will best tell the story. Sometimes it works
out great, other times it doesn’t. You have to have thick skin,
especially if you’re going to put yourself out there... I’m
used to it.
I like to think I did the best job I could and if it ends up being a miserable failure it wasn’t because of lack of effort.
However my gut tells me it will go over fairly well, especially with The Brothers and Summers... A little something
for everyone.
So, now that your latest project is in the bag, what’s next
for you and your camera?
That’s a very good question. I was honestly leaning towards
retiring from the fly fishing film thing because I think I’ve
done about all the pieces I’ve wanted to do… all that interests me.
However, just when I think I’m done a couple interesting
ideas fell in my lap recently, both Midwest things as I like
to do, so we’ll see. But in the near future, no I don’t see me
schlepping a camera around a river anytime soon.
9
HoW to buY tHe riVer
tHere iS Still PlentY of time and
manY WaYS to buY tHe riVer
It’s the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays and just plain anything. The RIVER is a
great film and part of the proceeds goes to Anglers of the Au Sable to take care of
it. So here are some places to buy more copies.
retail:
The River DVD (standard) $30
The River DVD (BluRay) $35
miCHiGan retail outletS:
Gates Lodge (Grayling)
Schultz Outfitters (Ypsilanti)
Old AuSable Fly Shop (Grayling)
Little Forks Outfitters (Midland)
Fullers NBOC (Lovells)
Pere Marquette Lodge (Baldwin)
AuSable Angler (Mio)
RW Summers Company
(Traverse City)
Nomad Anglers
(Okemos & Grand Rapids)
otHer midWeSt outletS (tHat rt dealt direCtlY WitH):
Chicago Fly Fishing Outfitters
(Chicago)
Driftless Fly Fishing Company
(Preston, MN)
Lunds Fly Shop (River Falls, WI)
online:
thirdyearflyfisher.com
BluRay $38 shipped
standard $33 shipped
Your WaterSHed needS Your HelP.
Over the past 7 years, the Upper Au Sable River Watershed Monitoring Project has sampled and scored 6 sites on the major tributaries of the watershed.
We do this twice each year on sites that are 300 feet in length and score them
according to the quality assured MiCorps protocol. The results have consistently showed that our river is indeed healthy with very good water and
abundant biota. What we sometimes lack, is people. It takes 4-6 volunteers
to adequately monitor each site. During our most recent monitoring event,
June 7th, we were forced to omit one site, the Big Creek at North Down River
Road. On that day, I just happened to stop in at Gates Lodge to share a ride
with a volunteer and right there was all the “potential help” a watershed
monitoring project could ever hope for. Eager flyfishers were everywhere;
sorting gear, swapping stories, planning their evening outings and perhaps
just wondering in what truly meaningful way they could contribute to the
resource. Here’s an idea: become a volunteer. It will take about 2 hours out
of your day, put you right into the river and the watershed will realize a direct
benefit. Interested? Please become a volunteer. The project leader is Tom
Dale; email him at thdale@core.com.
12
letterS to tHe editor
From time to time The RIVERWATCH receives letters from members about a wide range of subjects.
In my time as editor I have published every one of them to my best
recollection. I encourage anyone to
send a letter about any subject related to the Au Sable, fishing, conservation, bird hunting or the outdoors.
It will get published, but there are
some guidelines for submissions of
letters or any type of article.
They are as follows:
1. We will correct for typos, grammar and inappropriate language.
2. Profanity, vulgar language or
slanderous statements will be excised if the piece is accepted at
all. We will fact check any information presented as such.
3. We’d prefer that letters or articles
not exceed 1000 words, but if
you check with us first we may
be able to wave this restriction if
space allows.
4. Letters or op-eds do not have to
agree with the official positions
of Anglers of the Au Sable, but
responses to diverging opinions
are likely to be presented as well.
5. You may submit as many pieces
as you wish. Hard copy or email
is fine.
6. Photos are welcome as well.
Send letterS to:
RIVERWATCH
PO Box 300
Luzerne, MI 48636
Send emailS to:
tombuhr@prodigy.net
betSY HemminG on anGler etiQuette
fiSHinG niCe WitH otHerS
“Fly-fishing is becoming a combat sport,” an Au Sable
angler and friend said recently, his tongue fairly firmly in
cheek. The comment closed out a conversation about a delicate river issue – fishing etiquette. Yes readers, I will tackle
this sensitive topic as we near that time of year when location really matters, at least in our neck of the river: Hex
hatch.
The provocative quote above was precipitated, innocently
and appropriately enough, by a great fishing story. We all
love great tales of glory starring the Au Sable, not to mention those that fall in the downright amusing category. This
story was one of the latter, told by my always-entertaining
angling husband Joe. But it had a philosophical bite to it for
sure, excuse the pun.
Joe hosted three dear friends and fellow anglers to a few
days of fishing during the hex hatch a couple of years ago.
None had fished the famous hex hatch on the Au Sable, and
Joe was eager to introduce them to it. Timing and weather
were perfect, and the conditions were absolutely ripe for the
magic hex to appear. The special night had arrived – the
one and only night they would have at the river house -- and
these gentlemen were getting ready to fish. My husband
cooked a lovely dinner of grilled steak and other manly food
items, to prepare the crew for the adventure to come. Joe
was ever mindful of the time, as he wanted to get his boys
into the river at just the right place, as dusk emerged.
Just as they sat down to their steak and red wine, Joe saw
a lone angler, wading upstream, seemingly making his way
to the very spot that he had carefully identified for his pals.
Now he had a dilemma on his hands. It’s a public body of
water, of course, and Joe is very aware of that. But of all
the stretches of river, this fellow had to pick this very spot.
Struggling with the etiquette issue, Joe finally walked down
to the dock and very politely explained the situation to the
angler, and requested that he move just a tad up or down
stream. While not appearing particularly amused, he did so,
and Joe was able to introduce his friends to this special fishing paradise.
In Joe’s defense, he asked a number of people – river guides
and fellow anglers -- about what they would have done in a
similar situation. Frankly, he received a wide array of inputs, from “I would have done the same thing” to “Wow,
that is way out of line.” In this particular conversation, it
was concluded that Joe faced a unique situation in wanting
the best for his guests, and that he asked nicely. If he did
this regularly, that would be another matter. I won’t mention
that he occasionally dives into his fishing gear and bolts into
the river when sensing another angler nearing. No, I won’t.
Back to our angler quoted above. After a good belly laugh
about the whole situation, our friend mentioned that when
he first started fishing the Au Sable, he bought a book about
the river, which included a section on fishing etiquette. He
carried it with him and followed it religiously, even to the
point of climbing the banks to avoid an angler in the river.
He did admit that those days are over as it’s pretty hard to
scramble the river banks in many places, and he may have
alluded to the fact that the body wasn’t as willing and able
as in past years. But then the horror stories of really bad
behavior entered the conversation, including noisy races to
get to favored fishing spots, vessels nearly whacking anglers
in the middle of the river, even a motored canoe heading
upstream through fertile water at prime time.
Well, I was intrigued with this whole conversation – so
intrigued that I visited my very dear friend Google and
searched for fly fishing etiquette. And darned if I didn’t find
a few bursts of insight:
“I’ve always fished by one motto: respect the fish and the
fish will respect you… When it comes to your fellow angler,
take that same, respectful approach. Follow the golden rule
and the good deeds you dish out will come back to you next
time you’re on the water. If you’re fishing a stretch with a
friend who doesn’t fish as often as you do, and doesn’t know
the fishery like you do, give them a first shot at a fish on your
favorite stretch of water… And share a cold one afterward.”
– Brian Milne, Fly Fishing Etiquette, About.com
“Don’t walk along the skyline above a pool where someone is already fishing; it is frustrating to have spent some
time stalking a rising fish under the bank only to have some
chump come gawping over the bank top… SHUT any farm
gates that are shut before you get there and leave OPEN any
farm gates that are open before you get there… If you wear
a hat bedecked with reservoir lures don’t be surprised if you
excite the suspicions of other members about what flies you
have been using!” – Rules from The Darley Dale Fly Fishing Club, founded in 1862, Derbyshire, England.
Then I found a treaty on fly fishing, amazing on several
fronts, first because it was written in 1496 (yes more than
500 years ago) and also because it was written by a woman.
My imagination runs wild thinking about a female angler
from 1496. Interested readers can search for “A treatyse
of fysshynge wyth an Angle” by Dame Juliana Berners.
The treaty concludes with some significant thoughts about
the duty of the angler, specifically to protect the fish in all
ways possible and to avoid any base actions. Heeding these
words, the author suggests, will allow the angler to avoid the
many vices in life. There you have it.
13
SCHramm & WaYmire
Fishing Nice continued...
My takeaway from all of this is that while etiquette of the
old days may have tapered off a tad, it’s still an essential
part of the fishing trip. And in favored waters such as our
beloved Au Sable, it’s not surprising that anglers will be at-
tracted in numbers just a tad under the cloud of hex on a
warm summer’s eve. So play nice out there, remember the
golden rule and fish on.
- Betsy Hemming,Columnist for The RIVERWATCH
Jim SCHramm named riVer CHamPion
bY ameriCan riVerS orGaniZation
Jim Schramm, longtime Anglers’ Director, has received yet
another commendation for his service to conservation. This
time it was from the American Rivers Organization. Jim has
been named one of their Champions.
Anyone associated with Anglers of the Au Sable for any period of time is well aware of Jim Schramm’s many accomplishments. Terry Lyons, who has worked with Jim for over
20 years on protecting our woods and streams, sums up his
legacy:
“Since the early 1990’s Jim has traveled around the state
and to Washington DC on behalf of the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition (MHRC). Since he does not fly, this often resulted in being on the road for up to a week. Many of
the trips in state were to the UP and required an overnight
stay. Without his attendance at the meetings he travelled to
there would probably not be a MHRC any longer.
During his trips to DC he managed to negotiate funding for
the MHRC that kept us afloat financially for a lot of years. In
recent years he has cut back on his long trips for the MHRC,
but because of his expertise on Hydro issues he was asked to
take on the responsibility of working on the Boardman River
dam removal project. Without his efforts it is likely that the
removal of these dams would never have happened.
All of this is in addition to his ongoing efforts on our behalf
of the Anglers, FFF, GLC, and other local clubs around the
state.
There is no way to adequately express our gratitude for all
of his efforts. He would likely shrug it off and mention others he has worked with anyway. It is gratifying to see him
recognized by a prominent nationwide river conservation
organization.
Many thanks are greatly deserved.”
-Terry Lyons, Director
(Read more about Jim’s accomplishments here: www.americanrivers.org/rivers/rc-schramm)
WaYmire JoinS anGlerS’ board
Once again we landed a good
one. David Waymire was appointed to our Board in February of this year. David is partner
at Martin Waymire, one of the
state’s most aggressive public
relations firms. His expertise is
public policy, working with a
number of the state’s largest corporations as well as non-profit
clients on issues involving government agencies and political decision-making, including
ballot proposals. He’s a former reporter, and a Northwestern
University graduate. David has won numerous awards as
a reporter and in public relations, including the “Oscar” of
public relations, the Silver Anvil (twice!).
His father taught him a love of fishing and the outdoors.
When he moved to Michigan in 1980, he quickly embraced
14
the outstanding and diverse fishing opportunities available. His father in law showed
him how to fly fish, hooking him right in
the heart.
When he’s not in his Lansing office, you can
find David living up to his motto, “Nobody
has more fun than Dave.” He relaxes with
Marsha, his wife, and the family dogs and
horses in Charlotte, skis with his daughter, Emma, in Colorado, rocks out at concerts across the country or casts a fly from
his drift boat or in his waders…because, as Robert Traver
famously said, “I love the environs where trout are found,
which are invariably beautiful.”
David brings much to the table. I look forward to working
with him protecting and enhancing the Au Sable and Manistee Rivers for many years to come.
- Bruce Pregler - President
mio PlantinGS
mio fiSH Plant
During a recent vacation up
at our cabin we got wind of
a fish plant that was about
to occur at Mio. I was up at
the river with my wife and
14-year-old daughter. Thinking that this would be a nice
experience for our daughter,
let alone for my wife and I,
we jumped at the opportunity to watch it happen.
(captive fish maintained for
easy acquisition of eggs and
sperm) as well as outdoor
rearing facilities and a stateof-the-art effluent treatment
system. The hatchery also
has an isolation building to
allow the staff to monitor
the disease status of the fish
prior to moving them to the
hatchery proper. This new
facility cost $11 million; it
We were warned that the
sure sounds like properly
DNR in planting fish is very
building and running a fish
timely and we should not be
hatchery is not a cheap oplate. When we showed up at
eration! I must admit I did
the boat launch at Mio, the Future Dreams - Somewhere in this gush of water is a 20-incher to
have pause to reflect on the
DNR truck from the Oden come, maybe more than one.
sufficiency of funding for
Fish Hatchery was already
the Grayling Fish Hatchery.
there and making initial preparations to plant the fish. I had
the pleasure of meeting the DNR technician Jason who was The old hatchery building has been transformed into a visiplanting the fish. Jason had brought his wife Melissa with tor’s center. According to the website, the visitor’s center
him. Jason and Melissa in fact live at the Oden Fish Hatch- is complete with a replica of the wolverine fish transport
ery together with their three children, ages 16, 14 and 11. rail car and has extensive exhibits on watersheds and fisherThe family has lived there for the last 13 years. Talk about ies history, as well as a viewing chamber of a stream seca great place to raise kids, let alone trout.
tion allowing the public to see what happens underwater in
a stream. The Oden State Fish Hatchery is located at 8258
Jason informed me that we were going to be planting 14,000
South Ayr Road in Alanson, Michigan. Make sure to check
rainbows that were each approximately 1-½ years old. Jaout the website. I think a road trip to Alanson is in the near
son has been doing this for 16 years. The average length of
future for my family.
these fish is 8 inches. Jason explained that over the summer, they will double their size to 16 inches. Only about 5 According to a recent article in Crain’s Detroit Business, the
to 10% of these fish will survive to an adult age, ultimately DNR Fisheries Division stocks approximately 40 million
reaching 20-25 inches in length. The rainbow trout that sur- adolescent fish of various species at 800 locations across the
vive will spawn in three to four years.
state. That is a lot of fish! Crain’s reports that as many 40%
of fish caught in 2014 will come from Michigan’s fish hatchOn this particular day, the DNR was also planting trout at
ery system. There are six hatcheries in the state including
Cummins and at McKinley with two other trucks. The folOden.
lowing week, the DNR was going to plant at two other spots
on the river.
I would say that if you ever have the opportunity to watch
the DNR in action in planting trout, you should certainly do
Jason informed me that every spring the DNR plants at five
so. It is quite a sight, watching 14,000 rainbows pour into
different sites or more. This year, they are just planting rainthe Au Sable. What was interesting was so many of the fish
bow trout. Intrigued by the volume of these fish plants, I did
trying to get back up the tube and into the truck and go back
a little research.
to Oden, the only home that they have known.
According to the DNR website, the original Oden State Fish
This particular Thursday afternoon at the Mio boat launch
Hatchery was established in 1921 and continued to operate
was very peaceful and quiet. In fact it was serene. I know
until 2002 when the complex was completely renovated, thus
there is no one that would describe this particular boat ramp
creating one of the most advanced fish culture facilities of its
in the same manner on a hot Saturday in August. But this
kind. This hatchery is a major rearing facility for both brown
day was perfect.
and rainbow trout. The website goes on to explain that the
facility has production buildings for rearing and broodstock
- Joe Hemming, Director
15
WallaCe on Winter
tHiS miCHiGan Winter
This Michigan winter’s Cicely-plus snow piles
would have Dr. Joel Fleishman looking twice.
The towering size of our endless piles resolved
any doubt that the snow we remember from
childhood really was that big, not like the myth
of large drinking fountains in elementary
school. We will always remember this winter
even through any coming dementia haze.
But there was a first for me this winter in
early January when I arrived at my cabin.
While unloading I heard--or rather didn’t
hear--something that was always there: the
river. The North Branch flows fast and strong,
a symphony of tones, as it rushes to its nearby
confluence with the Main. Its sound is as much a part of the
landscape here as the pine scent and seemingly unnaturally
bright star light. Yet this winter it had frozen over completely somehow. The quiet was deafening. Weeks, then months
passed without even a sliver of open water.
After snow-blowing yesterday, both at home twice and the
office twice, what seemed like yet another eight inches, I
was still on top of the week’s work. Weather.com said Grayling would be 45 degrees on Friday (so fishable), I needed
another day at Duane’s to finish work on my new bamboo
rod, and Bonnie had to work late Wednesday and Thursday.
So I loaded up and headed Up North for a couple of days,
knowing I could work from the cabin, or at least I convinced
myself I would.
Just south of Saginaw the temp dropped to single digits, but
there was no snow on the roads and it was clear there hadn’t
been any. As I drove, I puzzled over where I would fish and
when. A little open trout water this year---Keystone or down
below the dam at Mio, where I waded a week ago, had been
my forced substitutes for two months. Neither had been productive the last two months.
The season’s snow pack on my wooded driveway had melted
now and then frozen again leaving a thick, slick sheet of ice,
making the steep hill down to the cabin particularly tricky.
Trickier was carrying my unloaded gear over crunchy snow
and ice without falling. As I paused at the door to find my
key in the dark, everything went quiet----except the river.
I looked out over the rail to see it was open and not just a
little.
So the next day I could fish the convenient, familiar nooks
and log jams of the North Branch, hoping to renew acquaintances with certain brown trout that stalk these waters on
occasion.
16
It may not actually be spring yet but
open water was the first sign the
back was broken on this very
grumpy old man winter for this
old man.
Busy the next morning with
various client emergencies,
real and perceived, and that afternoon scuffing then varnishing the guide wraps on my new
bamboo, it wasn’t until the late the next
afternoon that I ventured down to the river,
armed for battle—from waders to rod with a tailbiter olive streamer as ammunition.
Starved for new water of the winter’s many snows by the
ice that had covered it so completely, the water level had
dropped as foot or more below the remnants of the almost
three foot thick shelf ice. I stood for the longest time, not
scouting the river for fish as usual, but trying to imagine the
sounds and sights of the massive chucks of ice breaking then
rolling down the river tumbling, colliding, pounding the
shore ice, scraping the gravel bottom, dragging and pushing debris at will. Although I had only been away a week, I
missed that show. Only a winter like this one could give us
such a dramatic spring.
You can guess the one remaining sign of spring I stalked
now. It was not from the easy, slow water but from the
heavy, churning current mid-river. And it struck with force
and fury, pulling line for the instant before I lifted the rod
tip for the set, causing him to jump from the water and then
fight and fight as though it were June, as though this brown
trout was unaware he was supposed to be lethargic with
winter’s cold, like the rest of us. The instant I released him,
he darted away full speed. It was spring for him, too.
- Neil Wallace, Member
Editor’s Note: Neil’s story, as well as John Bebow’s on the next
page, first appeared in the new AOTA Fishing Page. Want to check
it out? Go to our Home Page and put your cursor on Data Library for the dropdown menu. It’ll be right there! Hey! This is
not one of those boring, sketchy Fishing Reports that are all over
the Internet and always say the same thing - THEY ARE JUMPING IN THE BOAT BUT ONLY ON OUR FLIES OR WITH OUR
GUIDES!!!!!!! No, we actually talk about the activity, the whole
thing from the days they really did jump in the boat to the days
when the damn boat sunk at the landing (PLEASE SEND US
THESE STORIES!) and everything in between. We also post photos, just not of big fish. Let’s cut the ego and BS out and get back to
why we go fishing in the first place. Send your stuff to tombuhr@
prodigy.net.
beboW on HennieS
ode to tHe HendriCKSon
Ah, the Hendrickson. At first breath, it sounds so distinguished. Like it has advanced degrees, the pedigree of a blue
blood one percenter, and over-engineered rooms all filled
with the finest vino in the basements of its multiple estates.
Actually, Hendrickson is an ancient Scottish name with its
own family crest. Well, that’s nifty. But, with apologies to
proud Scots in waders, in
my little part of the world
the Hendrickson is nothing but an oaf living off
the reputations of far more
ethical mayflies.
Up here in northern Michigan, the Hendrickson
opens the annual parade
of river bugs. (Unless you
count the Black Stonefly,
which is more like the fat
old impotent afternoon
drunk who waddles out
in front of the St. Paddy’s
Day band in the middle of
Main Street.) The Black
Stone is a harmless lout
wallowing in low expectations, but this Hendrickson is
some kind of shifty combination of cheerleader-temptress,
cuff linked personal injury attorney, and class clown.
The males appear first, if at all, and never on any kind of
schedule approximating a working man’s calendar. Oh,
sure, you’ll get phone calls from your upstate buddies when
you’re in rush hour traffic on a balmy Tuesday night in
early April: “We had henny sailboats all over the place today!” But on a Saturday or Sunday? Fuhgettaboudit. Stay
home and buy Powerball tickets instead. Oh, those weekend emergers are out there in the currents somewhere, but
there’s always an east wind or a torrential Friday night rain
that turns the streams to chocolate by hatch time on Saturday. You can even try to wire this thing with some kind of
contrived mid-week business meeting up north and catch a
warm breeze out of the south. Trust me, the water temps will
linger in the forties and those Henny males will shrivel back
into their shucks with a bad case of the shrinkage, and the
river, unbroken by trout snouts, will convince you the Silent
Spring has finally arrived. Meantime, back at the office the
boss will look at your empty cubicle and wonder if it’s finally time to let you go.
Then you have the indecisive and chronically disoriented
females who, almost without exception, immorally abort
egg-laying after hours of wasted energy hovering just inches
above the current. We’re talking about clouds of dainty hotty
spinners here, dancing for you, yellow eggs all aglow on
their butts behind their smooth mascara-colored bodies, until the sun fades and the girls wave goodbye with wings all
a-winking, untouched as they whisk away right back into the
cool cedars of despair on the opposite bank. The cabin boys
and I witnessed it again last
year on Tax Day, but we’re
too old and bruised to fall for
those hollow flirtations. We
just sat there in blue jeans,
chewing cigars on the deck,
and flipped off the last lingering prostitutes.
By mid-May, the wildflowers will pop after two
straight weeks of warmth
and the homeless guy who
hangs out at the gas station
in your one-stoplight town
will tout an armload of morel
mushrooms. And you’ll head
to the river, hours early, on
a warm morning, so hopeful you won’t even check the weather forecast. In your silly
bliss, you’ll give a sideways glance to the Brown Drake box
and count the days ‘til that Memorial Weekend spinner fall.
Then you’ll grab handfuls of sulphurs and popcorn caddis,
drive to a favorite bend an hour from town, wader up, and
jump in the current with your four weight and prissy CFO
reel.
Within moments, a fresh north wind will suck twenty degrees out of the thermometer. The sun will die behind a
purple sky to the west. Ice pellets – nature’s own buckshot
– will pelt the back of your neck.
And in the middle of the season’s last snowstorm, the browns
and brookies will erupt and you’ll be nothing but a glowering chaperone at the Henny Prom. The males and females
will disco and fall by the thousands into the river, all around
your untouched sulphur, as your other fly box, a veritable
housing project full of unemployed Hendrickson males and
females, sits in a dark corner of your downstate bedroom.
Goodbye, Hendrickson.
You can fly your pretty pregnant butt all the way back to
Scotland for all I care.
- John Bebow, Second Vice President
17
CarloS & don
tWo friendS of riVerS
One of the side benefits
Unlimited is the stuff of
of fishing is to meet
legend. He was the spirit
some mighty fine peoof the chapter, a livple. That was definitely
ing embodiment of the
true for Carlos Fetterolf
love for coldwater and
and Don Buchanan,
the wild places it flows
both of whom died last
through. An avid fisher,
March. I’m a better
he never let the shortman for knowing them,
comings of old age stop
but diminished by their
him from another trip
passing.
to the river with a lucky
friend or two in tow. A
Carlos Fetterolf may
marvelous man, he prowell have been the nicvided a perfect example
est guy in the world.
of a life well led.
Seriously! To know him
was to really like him,
Don was a kind man with
and it didn’t take long.
wonderful wit.
Carlos had the gift of in“Don had long been instantly disarming somevolved in community
one, making them feel Carlos Fetterolf loved The Rifle River. A picture of him and a fishing buddy affairs, serving on the
at ease, accepted and are depicted on this sign designed by Huron Pines to help promote etiquette Webster Township Planliked. It was genuine.
on that popular river.
ning Commission when
“Carlos was the Best!”
he lived in Dexter. When
Observed friend and fishing guide, Mike Bachelder. “He al- he moved to his dream house on the Manistee River, he afways had a joke to tell, was full of information and had a filiated with the Adams Chapter of TU, and was instrumenlifetime of great stories to tell.” Mike spent over 20 years tal in developing and managing a township park,” said longguiding Carlos on adventures on the Rifle and Au Sable riv- time friend and fishing buddy, Mark Delany. He fished all
ers.
over the country with Don, including sub-Arctic Quebec for
Those who met him in the last 15 to 20 years would prob- giant Brook Trout. “Don always said, ‘When there’s no acably guess that he was an old-timer who loved the outdoors, tion, tie on a black Woolly Bugger.’”
especially fishing, and had a million stories to tell ranging While he traveled to many spots with his fishing buddies
from charming tales to hold-your-gut funny stemwinders – over the years, Don was really a “Manistee Guy.” His place
the life of any party.
of the sister stream to the Au Sable, The River House, was
What most people didn’t know was that Carlos de la Mesa sacrosanct to him. He was a member of the Upper Manistee
Fetterolf was a World War II veteran, All American College River Association - he took over as President of UMRA afSoccer player and Masters level aquatic biologist who was ter Joe Kutkuhn passed away, a daunting task - and the Ann
dedicated to the protection of the Great Lakes and rubbed Arbor Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Yes, he and Carlos were
shoulders with all the legendary conservationists of the mid- friends and sometimes fished together.
century era, including the founders of Trout Unlimited.
In my active days in AAATU, as it was called back then,
He was there for many key conservation outcomes in the Don used to help me organize and mail out their newslet1970s and 1980s while working for the Canada-United ter, The Reel News – sometimes Carlos was there as well. I
States Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Executive Secre- loved his fishing stories and observations on carving walktary, 1975-1992), Michigan DNR (Chief Environmental Sci- ing sticks – another passion. Don Buchanan was an easyentist) or U.S. National Academy of Sciences (science co- going guy who was easy to like. Just like Carlos, he gave
ordinator for the Water Quality Criteria that would be used back, but more often at the boots-in-the-water level.
in the Clean Water Act). Carlos was involved in every ma- Whether or not Carlos and Don were members of Anglers
jor water-related conservation association for professionals of the Au Sable doesn’t matter. Through their actions and
(e.g., North American Benthological Society, International love of riparian environs they were brothers in arms, kindred
Association for Great Lakes Research) and often served a spirits. If you met either one you’d know that immediately.
term or two as the president. He received a cluster of awards
Like the rivers that we cherish, life flows on. I’m grateful
from entities such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He
for spending a portion of my journey with Carlos and Don,
consulted to various groups well into his retirement.
and I’m not alone in that sentiment.
Carlos’s tenure with the Ann Arbor Area Chapter of Trout
- Thomas Buhr, Editor
18
fun WitH PollS
Editors Column continued...
last decade or so. It was always informative and refreshing. Dr. Richter was
all about the resource.
There’s a short list of environmental
leaders that I use as examples to strive
for in my work. Rusty was one, Joe
Kutkuhn was another, and John Richter
was there, too. He was the best of us,
and will be missed.
Memorial contributions may be sent to
Friends of the Jordan Watershed Center,
P.O. Box 412, East Jordan, MI 49727.
*****
fun WitH PollS
We looked at the Public’s perceptions
of fracking in RIVERWATCH 68. Now,
let’s take a gander at their overall views
of the environmental. These results
should provide evidence as to whether
we are swimming against the tide or
rolling along its rising waters. It never
hurts to know what others think about
the things you hold dear.
Gallup took a look at public opinion on
several environmental factors in an annual poll conducted last March. Over
three days 1,048 respondents, 18 years
or older, were randomly selected via
landline or cell phone. The selection
process was weighted to reflect the
latest census figures for proper demographic representation. The standard
error for the results was +/- 4% points.
Half the sample (50%) felt that the
quality of the environment was getting
worse while 42% believed it was getting better. This is a trend that began
when Barack Obama became President. The disparity was much more
pronounced during the Bush years –
42% at one point. The ascendency of
a Democrat to the Presidency – that
party is believed to be pro-environment
– appears to be enough to narrow the
gap although the overall perception remains the same – it’s getting worse.
When asked to rate the quality of the
environment today, 55% said it was
poor or fair compared to 44% believing it was good or excellent. Not too
surprisingly this broke down along
political party identification. Fifty-six
percent (56%) of Republicans ranked
the quality of the environment today
as good or excellent compared to Independents (45%) and Democrats (35%).
Where one sits on the political, and
likely ideological, spectrum is a significant determinant for viewing the health
of the environment.
A majority also believed that protection of the environment (50%) should
be prioritized over economic growth
(41%). As recently as 2011 there had
been a 18% difference in the other direction, 54% favored economic growth
over environmental protection (36%).
What happened to create a 27-point net
swing in opinion? Likely an improving economy is the answer. Americans
had long favored protecting the environment over economic gain until the
Great Recession of 2009 when fixing a
moribund economy became crucial.
Now that the economy is on a mend
the country seems to be returning to a
fairly entrenched belief concerning environmental protection. The gap in the
early 1990s was as high as 52-points
(environment-71%, economy-19%).
It did narrow considerably during the
years of Bush 43.
Of course the differences regarding
political party identification are obvious, Republicans are much more proeconomy (59%) than environment
(32%), but there are some interesting
trends. The first is the narrowing of the
gap since 2011 (economy 74%, environment-19%). This is a 28-point net
swing and mirrors the overall results
for this question. More interesting is
that prior to “W” becoming President
a majority of Republicans prioritized
the environment over the economy.
The difference was 60% to 34% as recently as 2000! A President can set the
agenda and change the tune, especially
in his own party.
A final point of interest is the generational differences for this question.
Folks in the 18-29 years of age category favor the environment (60%) over
the economy (30%) by a two-to-one
margin. That is wiped out and reversed
in the 65+ years of age category where
the economy (50%) is favored over the
environment (39%). The seniors are
the only ones who do not prefer the environment, although the gap narrows in
each age classification.
Some Green folks would say, “See! We
are winning the hearts and minds of our
youth. The future is ours!” Maybe, but
what is likely happening here is not an
awakening by our young people but
the opposite effect. As people go off
into the working world, get married,
buy houses, have kids, and worry about
providing a good life for their family
then the importance of a sound economy grows.
However, as the economy becomes stable or robust, concerns for the environment again become paramount. These
results fit very well with many theories
regarding post-modern social attitudes.
As basic needs are met and less of a
worry, individuals become more aware
of broader issues, the wellbeing of the
environment being part of that list of
concerns along with social justice and
civil rights.
It would appear from the reading of
these results that environmentalists
would be well advised to hope for a
good economy. In those periods, public opinion is favorable, or more favorable, to the environment, although to be
sure those opinions may be mitigated
by specific concerns. Still, given the
desire to influence policy outcomes it
helps to have a rising tide at your back.
It makes it easier to cover more water
and possibly catch more fish.
- Thomas Buhr, Editor
19
Anglers of the Au Sable
P.O. Box 200
Grayling, MI 49738
NonProfit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
LUZERNE, MI
Permit No. 4
Editorial Offices
The RIVERWATCH
P.O. Box 300
Luzerne, MI 48636
Email:
tombuhr@prodigy.net
Editorial Staff
Thomas Buhr, Editor
Mark Hendricks, Assistant Editor
Ashley Jardina, Assistant Editor
Mercy Huizar, Graphic Designer
Email: oppllc@gmail.com
Contributors
Tom Baird, First Vice President
John Bebow, Second Vice President
Thomas Buhr, Editor
Betsy Hemming, RIVERWATCH Columnist
Joe Hemming, Anglers’ Secretary
Charlotte Jameson, MLCV
Terry Lyons, Director
Bruce Pregler, President
John Russell, Director
Neil Wallace, Member
John Walters, MITU Vice Chair/Director
Calendar - Summer 2014
Our organization is officially
affiliated with the Federation of Fly
Fishers (FFF). We strongly
encourage you to join the FFF.
Since 1965, FFF and its Councils
have been and continue to be the
only organized national and
regional advocates for fly fishing.
Five dollars of your FFF dues
are returned to the FFF Great
Lakes Council (GLC)
to be used for local efforts.
September 6th,
Anglers of the Au Sable Cleanup,
10 AM, Gates Au Sable Lodge,
George Alexander Memorial Lunch
at Noon. Contact Josh Greenberg
989-348-8462/josh@gateslodge.com.
September 6th,
Au Sable Big Water Preservation
Association, 8 AM (Boats), 9 AM
(Walkers), Comins Flats, BBQ Noon.
Contact Thomas Buhr at 989-7454957/tom@asbwpa.org.
September 7th,
Anglers Board Meeting, 10 AM,
Gates Au Sable Lodge.
September 20th,
Manistee River Cleanup,
The Old Au Sable Fly Shop, 9 AM.
Contact Andy Partlo 989-348-3330/
andy@oldausable.com.