Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015

I’m pleased to report that President Barrack Obama signed a bill into law that will improve the health of our Great Lakes and Rivers by decreasing the plastic pollution. The Microbead-Free Waters Act of 2015, bans plastic microbeads in soaps, body washes and other bath products, starting in July 2017. Even the toothpaste you use has this stuff in it. I was surprised on how many people I personally knew, did not even know that these plastics were in these products and we all use them every day across America.

By banning microbeads this is great news for the Great Lakes' and our fisheries future. Much of the pollution in our waters is from plastics - be it microbeads or plastic water bottles. Because they are able to make it through the water filtration systems, they eventually wind up in our lakes and oceans, and are frequently mistaken by fish as food. This new law will decrease the presence of micro plastics in all of our lakes and rivers.

Another thing I want to point out is how many local clubs, organizations and individuals worked tirelessly to see this bill and others get passed. NOT just you’re elected officials! These folks helped bring this issue to light and cause awareness in our country.

People like my friend Matt Lubaway from the Metro West Steelheaders and the MUCC just to name a few. Matt is a warrior of our environment here in the Great Lakes and gets no recognition for his efforts. So here is a big thankyou to you Matt and everyone else for your hard work. The Great Lakes needs people like Matt, other clubs and organizations and they all deserve our support.

Several States like Wisconsin, New York, Illinois, Indiana and Minnesota had already made strides on their own, banning and phasing out microbeads, before this bill was passed. Many states were working together to get this passed.

Everyone should be very excited to see the improvements in our waters. Ultimately it will help our fisheries over time. Just think the fish will not have plastic beads in their stomach and digestive tracts anymore. Plastic in a fish’s body or food cannot be good, right?

I thought I would never say this about the current politicians in Washington, but I commend our members of Congress and President Obama for passing such a monumental bill.

If you want to do your part to help out, please support these clubs, organizations. Look for the words “polyethylene” or “polypropylene” on the labels . If you don’t see those ingredients on the products you buy than they should be microbead free.

Spread the word folks  and get involved. 

New Video

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The Winter Steelheader

Passion meets Courage (The Winter Steel Header of 2013) 

Courage; think about that word for a moment. When we use that word what do we think of? Is it a story of someone saving someone’s life? Or some bold, daring rescue maybe? The passage is titled this because any man who is truly passionate about Steelhead fishing must have some courage to fish in the winter time. Only a man with a burning passion or desire could pursue a fish when freezing temperatures would send any other person packing for the car or staying home. All this comes with a price though. A wintertime Steelheader will tell you it’s not easy.

Where you could spend all day freezing, or spend the day very cold, wet, and miserable. It’s not for the faint hearted, that’s for sure. What drives a man to endure these kinds of conditions?  Only too suffer and catch nothing all day or catch his quarry only to release it. A madman some people say.

But those willing to brave the elements or accept the challenge, the rewards can be great on many levels. My favorite reaction is when you stop at the gas station pulling a drift boat. People say “What are you nuts? Going fishing on a day like this? On a boat?” This is the time of year a Winter Steelhead angler lives for. Land a Steelhead and you’ll understand. No one is out there; you have the river to yourself. I have never met an angler who enjoys or welcomes combat fishing.

We love the challenge of a fish that can be so finicky, it could drive you insane. Only the right presentation or perfect drift will do. A fish that’s unwilling to move more than just a few inches for your offering. Which means your drift must be perfect by inches. If you can master that, it will result in a bent rod.

The real purpose of this article is not point out that we’re nuts (we already know that) or to teach you the latest technique or method. The point is what it really means to be a Winter Steel-Header. There is a life lesson to be taught here to everyone, even non fishers and the like. Some people may need a reminder or maybe they should look a little deeper into the obvious.

The obvious is when a person is so committed to something or is so passionate about it; they will endure harsh conditions or even the icy cold waters. Where after all day you got nothing, but yet you leave happy or fulfilled inside. A true river angler will agree that the river is where you go to get soothed and healed.

The winter Steelheader is a person everyone should know or maybe even fish with. Why you ask? This is someone who is mentally tough. This person is committed not half way, but there all in. They have the passion and guts along with the courage to overcome, to stay tough, and be committed to something. Why, I’m thinking this should be a requirement for everyone! We all should become a Winter Steel-Header, right?

Nope, that’s a bad idea on second thought. I kind of like those winter holes all to myself. Being the only one on the river, where you find that inner peace and solitude, which can only, can come from a lonely cold winter’s day. I call it Soul Fishing! After all rivers are in beautiful places and Steelhead are such a special fish. It’s you against the Gray Ghost of the river.

I’m thinking what a person needs to get from this article is that Winter Steel-Headers are not crazy, but these are the people that when they die, everyone can say “Wow, I wish I were as passionate about something in life as a fisherman.” It’s only then they realize; they wish they had the courage to be so passionate about something. If everyone found a passion like fishing they would live a much fulfilled life, for fishing is truly a lifelong journey.

The problem with people is they think they have time. Life is short and we all at some point will end up downstream if you know what I mean. Everyone must walk their own path in life; I just choose to spend my time on the river.

Think about that when you hold that next steelhead and release it. True happiness just left your hands. Always practice CPR…. Photo, Catch and Release. These special fish deserve it. So Get a thermos and get out here this winter; it’s were courage meets passion and boy, life is good.

This article was published a few times aound the country when we had some tough winters here in the Great Lakes. This year should be a mild winter so get out there this year and enjoy. I hope you enjoyed the repost. Have a Very Merry Christmas Everyone.

Fish On!

Water temps are dropping and its time to get Jiggy with it!

Steelhead Jig Video

MAXI JIGS by Yakima

During Warmer Temperature's this Past SUMMER

My good friends Justin Nguyen, Aaron Cameron and Todd Hatfield at Trail Creek Guide Service in Indiana invited me down for some fun fishing on the creek this summer. We were fishing for the Cart Wheeling Evil Skamania. All of us had a blast together! I knew we were going to have a blast and catch some fish. Justin has some private waters we could fish which made for a killer day. It's not often that guides get a day off and fun fish. I must say these boyz know there stuff and can put you on fish. So if your looking for some fun look my friends up its a blast. 

 

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El Nino Steelhead

El Ni·ño

el ˈnēnyō/

noun

1.   an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.

El Nino is an abnormal weather pattern that is caused by the warming of the Pacific Ocean near the equator, off the coast of South America. Every few years, the winds shift and the water in the Pacific Ocean gets warmer than usual.

We had the worst El Nino in 1997-98 and things are already shaping up to be the strongest on record. Now this will have many effects around the country depending on what part of the country you live in. This post is going to be concentrating on the Great Lakes Region and what effects it will have on our upcoming winter. This years is nicknamed Bruce Lee.

If history repeats itself the Great Lakes Region will experience a warmer winter and less snowfall this year in 2015 and 16. After the past two winters of 2013 and 14 that is a welcomed sight for the Steelhead Fisherman. We saw rivers that were actually froze up and  not fishable for months. This all sounds like good news for us but others around the country will not like the effects.

Most of Lower Michigan will have a 40% chance temperatures will be warmer than normal. That also means that there is only a 33% chance of normal Temps. Along with a 27% chance of below normal Temps. Believe it or not the farther North and West you go here in Michigan I predict warmer temps this year.

Don't believe me look up the El Nino Winters of 1972-73, 82-83 and 97-98. Those winters averaged 32.5-33.9 degrees above freezing. That's music to the winter steelheaders ears. To be honest it's up to God and Mother Nature.

Only time will tell this coming winter on my predictions, but if I'm right remember you heard it here first. If I'm wrong take me off your Christmas Card list, ha-ha. 

Feel free to comment and share. 

Take care everyone and thanks for your support.

Get out on the water and enjoy yourself the salmon are running!

Winter Warm Regards!

My next seminar will be September 1st

Join me September 1st will be discussing curing, float and 

plug fishing techniques for River Salmon. Open to all at no 

charge. Location will be the Livonia Senior Center, Southeast

Corner of Farmington and Five Mile Roads. 

15218 Farmington Rd. Livonia, MI 48154 at 7:00 PM.

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Don't believe scent is important, better think again?

Today’s post is for the Terminal Tackle Steelhead and Salmon angler and it was inspired from a discussion on my fishing forum page. I could not believe there were a few who were skeptical about using scents and if it really played a role in there fishing success. The Skamania Run is underway and the river Salmon fishing is just around the corner. So let's get ready to wack some fish!

For me I would not even go fishing if I did not have my scents. I have seen it make all the difference in the world on getting bit some days. So instead doing a step by step instructions on cures and dyes, lets talk some Olfaction science and how it can affect your catch ratio.

Ol – fac – tion

Noun

The action or capacity of smelling; the sense of smell 

As many fisherman will tell you, they think fish are very sensitive to odors, particularly the scent of their predators and food. A Canadian study, where a nearly homeopathic solution containing one part of human skin dissolved in 80 billion parts of water was dumped into a river. The scent from this solution in the experiment was sufficient enough to stop a migrating salmon for as long as a half hour dead in there tracks. 

I believe that olfaction plays a crucial role in the day to day life cycle of all fish. They rely on scent for nearly every aspect of their lives, from locating food to avoiding predators. They travel hundreds or even thousands of miles during their lifetimes and rely upon their discerning sense of smell and the magnetic fields to bring them home again.

It’s a proven fact fish can detect odors as low as parts per billion. That’s not an opinion of mine, that’s a scientific fact. That last sentence alone should get you re-thinking your scent game this fall on the river.

I put scents on all my plugs as well. This fish was taken on a Yakima Mag Lip 3.5 in Coppermine using Pautzke Gel Krill. This Big Buck could not resist.

I even add the krill powder to all my skeins, eggs and shrimp. Below is some shrimp I colored up for a Skamania Pier fishing trip. I love to use Pautzke Fire Brine, Pautzke Nectar with Pautzke Firepower Krill Powder shaken on the baits.

By using Half Fire Brine and Half Nectar I'm able to  achieve that bubble gum pink that Steelhead LOVE! After its in the water for awhile it milks out just enough to achieve that perfect muted pink. 

SALMON CANDY 

THE PERFECT EGG EVERYTIME!

When I cure or tie up baits I always wear rubber gloves. I like to keep human scent to a minimum. Another factoid for you is when you touch things you leave behind amino acid serine. Well known fishy dudes in the industry refer to this as this as "the serine problem". Fish smell something not normal or not natural could cause you not to be bit. I also like to wear them when floating skein for Kings to prevent my hands and fingers from being died red or orange. These gloves will not keep your hands warm during the late fall or winter. But they sure will keep them dry. More importantly keep the serine off yours baits or lures. Pay attention ice fisherman that's a nugget for you too. 

Pay attention Great Lakes the West Coast has been schooling us for years in this stuff. After all where do you think our fish came from? All of my baits whether plugs, bags or skein get the scent treatment. Now when the Steelhead Spirits are willing and the bite is on, it's on and may not make a difference. But someday's it can make all the difference in the world I promise. People spend thousands on gear, clothing, tackle, lodging and fuel just to name a few. But won't invest a little extra money and care on a very over looked factor YOUR OWN HUMAN SCENT! Please give some of these tip's and Pautzke's a try on your baits this season. Let me just say it now. 

YOUR WELCOME! FISH ON!

 Women will love your new FISH COLOGNE!

Stationary Bobber Rig For Pier Skams

MMM GOOD!

You’ll need to start by sweating some green onions and mushrooms, to which you will then add a handful of chopped macadamia nuts. Now I chose to use macadamia nuts because I really like their subtle, creamy flavor and the intense crunchiness that they have to them, but if you don’t have any on hand, I take it any other nut would do the trick and would also confer its own personality to the dish.

Chopped spinach then goes into the pan and is given a few seconds to wilt…before the shrimps join the party and are also given a few seconds in the heat of things, just until they turn pink and opaque.

The stuffing is then given a few minutes to cool down, then mayo gets added to it. You will then need to help it find its way down the “pockets” that you’ve carefully carved in the salmon fillets.

Of course, that alone wouldn’t be enough stuffing for my taste, so you need to mound more on top of the fillet! It looks so much better that way, too!

The fillets then go in a scorching hot pan, skin side down, for about a minute, just to sear the skin nice and good. You’d be surprised how much personality this simple precaution gives to the dish! The skin becomes so crispy and SO tasty. Think chicken skin is yummy? Just wait ’til you tasted this!

After about a minute, you need to lower the heat, put a lid on and let your fish cook for 5-8 minutes, until the meat turns opaque. If you like your salmon to remain a bit on the rare side, do not go over that 5 minute mark! The fish then gets transferred to the oven where it will spend a few more minutes under the broiler, just until the stuffing starts to bubble and turns a beautiful golden brown.

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Manistee River Clean Up

Don't forget everyone that lives here in Michigan, the Manistee River Clean Up is this Saturday July 11th. We have a bunch of prizes from some awesome companies to give away to the volunteers. We also will feed you lunch and provide a T-shirt courtesy of the MUCC. Please consider coming out for this important event. Below is a list of amazing companies who have donated to this event.

Napa Auto Parts

Hank and Sons 

Smith Optics

Daves Tangle Free Weights

Great Lakes Steelhead Company

Bloodrun Tackle 

Stealthcraft Boats

Rodwraps

Boca Bearings

MUCC

Chrome Identity

Jays Sporting Goods

Another Limit Guide Service

Lick'em Lures

Steelhead Manifesto

For people that may be driving a ways to help. Hank and Sons Bait Tackle does have some room for camping at their place. This is limited space so give them a call for availability. The Manistee River is Michigan most pressured river and needs our help. Take care of our river’s, so they may take care of you. Thanks again to everyone and see you on Saturday.

PLEASE Sign up and register below to volunteer for wildlife!

https://mucc.org/event/otg-manistee-river-clean-up/#sthash.ZdgTVrXj.BmrkEApC.dpbs

 THANKS FOR EVERYTHING ANDY!

SOMETHING FUNNY

RANDOM FISH PORN

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