THE RIVERWATCH - Anglers of the Au Sable

Late Fall 2013
Number 67
THE
RIVERWATCH
THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF
THE ANGLERS OF THE AU SABLE
YoUTh IssUe
Tess neLKIe reCeIVes
rIVerKeePer aWard
rUsTY KeePs
PerCh eYe on rIVer
froM The edITor
LeT TheM hear froM YoU soon!
As I write this sentence the current coldwater regulations have
been in effect for 31 months and two days. The time has come
for even the most cautious of folk to start drawing a conclusion
or two about the effectiveness of the rules that so many worked
so hard to create.
According to the Fisheries Division, the goal of the Gear Restriction promulgation was to create more fishing opportunities. Boy, did it ever around here! The opening of several
sections of the Au Sable to year-round fishing has introduced
many people to the trials and tribulations of cold weather angling and put a few trophies in the books for some. The increased size limit and decreased creel has possibly, possibly,
improved the quality of fishing in some reaches of river, especially below Mio.
These, however, are just my opinions. They count, but only
as one voice. Yours is needed as well. I’m not going to tell
you what specifically to say. You should not turn it into a fish
story or inventory of your catch rate. That’s boring and often
apocryphal. No one really pays attention to blowhards with
flipbooks of photos. What Fisheries wants to know is what
your experience has been fishing areas with new regulations.
It matters no matter what you say.
I’m fairly confident, with this readership, at least, that the reviews will be favorable. On our river these changes have been
a plus. I’ve held back on crediting the new Gear Regulations
with improving numbers of quality fish until now because the
rules needed time to “bake in the oven.” After the last season
I believe the new regs do contribute to more quality trout (14
to 18 inches) on the Big Water. They are not the only factor.
Nor do they explan the most variance. But they have made a
significant impact in the direction we had hoped.
Some will dispute this, and it’s important to understand that in
the fuzzy world of fisheries management it’s nigh impossible
to draw definitive conclusions. There will also be a cacophony
of haters bent on laying low the concept of catch-and-release
once and for all.
In a few years there will be a Division review of coldwater
regulations. It’s important to get in front of this process by
going on the record early and often. There’s no reason why
Continued on page 27
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
2
Tom Baird, Diamondale, MI
seCond VICe PresIdenT
John Bebow, Milan, MI
TreasUrer
Pat Dwyer, Rochester, MI
seCreTarY
Karen Harrison, Frederic, 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
Joe Hemming, Beverly Hills, 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
Lance Weyeneth, Gaylord, MI
oIL & gas Leases on The hoLY WaTer
dnr dIreCTor Creagh joIns angLers In saYIng “no
sUrfaCe deVeLoPMenT” on hoLY WaTer
After meeting with Anglers’ President Bruce Pegler and
First Vice President Tom Baird and receiving hundreds of
emails from concerned anglers and lovers of the Au Sable
from around the state, DNR Director Keith Creagh has
decided there will be no oil and gas exploration along the
“holy waters” corridor anytime soon.
The announcement came at a Dec. 12 meeting of the
Natural Resources Commission. Anglers of the Au Sable
thanks Director Creagh for reversing the department’s initial plan to allow development in several parcels near the
river, and changing them to “non-development” status.
Not only have the leases been set as “non-development,”
the director is modifying them to remove language allowing reclassification of surface use without public notice
and a new lease process.
Anglers, our fellow fishing and environmental friends, local businesses plus hundreds of concerned citizens can
finally exhale, for now.
“Michigan has special places that deserve careful attention and thoughtful protection,” Creagh said. “The Au Sable River is one of those places. A nondevelopment lease
lets us protect an area’s valuable surface features. This, in
turn, protects Michigan citizens against the loss of revenue if publicly owned minerals are removed without a
lease in place.”
In late October, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources auctioned nearly 2,800 acres east of Grayling
for potential oil and gas development, much of it smack
in the middle of one of the world’s most beloved trout
streams. We urged the DNR not to do this. The Department did it anyway.
notice and a new auction – which Anglers would
naturally oppose.
• Modify the affected leases along the Holy Water to
“non-development” status.
• Pledged, based on this recent controversy, to assign
a DNR taskforce, with stakeholder input including
Anglers representatives, to identify “special places” akin to the Holy Waters, where mineral leases
and future oil and gas development will be off-limits in the future.
• Further tighten the leases to specifically prohibit
any reclassification for the full five-year lease period. Any such reclassification, if requested by the
oil and gas lease holders, would require public
“This is a huge win for Anglers of the Au Sable,” president Bruce Pregler said. “Only through intense yet rational public input from hundreds of Anglers members and
our friends in the conservation community were we able
At the December 12 NRC Meeting, DNR Director Keith
Creagh announced he would:
• Not enter the leases as originally auctioned.
Continued on page 11
3
angLers’ sChoLarshIP
angLers’ sChoLarshIP reCIPIenTs for 2013
If the old adage that “you reap what you sow,” is true,
then Anglers is laying the groundwork for a prosperous
conservation future. Two outstanding young people have
been selected for this year’s scholarship awards: Addie
Dutton and Joseph Parzych.
Addie is now a senior majoring in Fisheries Wildlife
Management at Lake Superior State University. She hails
from Fife Lake, about 30 miles from Traverse City.
“I have grown up in this beautiful state enjoying the outdoors and consequently have wanted to make a career in
natural resources,” she wrote in a letter to Anglers acknowledging her scholarship. “I love to spend my free
time on the water fishing or in the woods hunting. Above
all my favorite activity is fly fishing in streams for trout.
The thrill of seeing a trout take your fly is unforgettable and you will often find me on the river most summer
nights.”
Addie has become interested in limnology - the study of
the biological, chemical, and physical features of lakes
4
and other bodies of fresh water – and is doing a senior research project along that theme. She is studying changes
in terrestrial subsidies and resident trout species’ diets in
the Two Hearted River following the Duck Lake wildfire.
The fire destroyed the forest canopy and may have lead
to trout focusing more on aquatic insects than terrestrials
for food.
She plans to pursue a Masters Degree in aquatic ecology
– her cognate will be in stream ecology and exploring
linkage differences in trout species. Her hope is to “become a biologist and help conserve the natural beauty of
the world around us.”
Joseph is also an excellent choice. He carries a 3.98 GPA
and in addition to our award, he has received the Fisheries and Wildlife Outstanding Senior Scholarship from
Michigan State University. He is a native of Livonia and
a lifelong hunter and fisher, most of which takes place on
the Tittabawausee River near Gladwin.
Joseph spent last summer doing research on walleye on
angLers’ sChoLarshIP
the Indian River
with MSU professors Dan Hayes
and Brian Roth. He
is currently in the
first semester of his
Masters work in environmental science
at Washington State
University.
“My long term
career goal is to
become a project manager for
an
environmental consulting firm
working on stream
restoration and dam
removal,” he explained in an email
to Anglers’ President Bruce Pregler. “Salmon and trout
conservation is particularly interesting to me because
they are valuable from
both a commercial and
recreational
standpoint. Stream restoration is a great way
to improve salmon reproduction, with dam
removal being central
to improving access to
spawning grounds, I’d
love to check out the
Au Sable and possibly
meet some more of the
Anglers.”
The concept of awarding scholarships to deserving college undergrads at both Michigan
State and Lake Superior State universities
was conceived and designed by Director Tess Nelkie.
This is the second year of the program.
- Thomas Buhr, Editor
In memory of Mary Lou
Sheppard – Thomas BeWier
In memory of George
Alexander – Steve Habash
In memory of Craig Perry –
Steve Habash
In memory of Rusty Gates –
Steve Habash
In Honor and Memory of
Rusty Gates – Frank W. Lynch
and Roberta Jane Lynch
Endowed Family Fund
In memory of Tom Lovell of
Chelsea, MI – Pat and Peter
Schmid
In Tribute to John Wylie –
Romaine Hicks
In memory of Ronald W.
Ballantyne from P.O.E.T.S.
In Memory of John Sanderson:
Roger J. Wood
In Memory
and Tribute
Robert Charles Sauer
Skip and Linda Cline
Berthold G. Wolfram
Laurie E. Keenan
Craig and Trish MacDonell
Scott and Karen Whetter
Jack and Saundra Crandall
Robyn and Charlie Polzin
Janice Kowell
The Kaminski Family
William and Kathleen Haley
St. Patrick School Teacher,
Staff and Students
5
TroUT UnLIMITed fLY fIshIng CaMP
(Ed. Note: Brienna Shear and Nick Obermiller were the first ever recipients of Anglers’ sponsored trip to the Trout Unlimited Fly-Fishing
Camp conducted by the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Here are their application essays and post-camp experiences.)
BrIenna shear, MarCh 2013
I love fishing! It’s one of my most favorite things. My
mother tells me I can catch fish from dirt. I’ve had experience in many different types of fishing: salmon fishing,
spear fishing, trolling, “worm dunking” (as my grandpa
calls it) and fly-fishing. I learned how to fly-fish from
my grandpa when I was younger; he taught me all that
I was capable of doing. I’m still not that good at it, but
I love it. Since I began fly-fishing, I’ve caught one fish.
ONE! But catching that fish felt amazing, and learning
something new and succeeding was the best thing ever.
Though since then I’ve caught trees, bushes, and water
submersed logs, just in hope of catching a big fish. My
grandpa has told me many tales of catching big fish on a
fly rod. I’ve seen it! Yet every time he’s pulling in one after another and I go and try, I get
nothing. I can’t believe it; I do exactly as he
does, and cast exactly where he does yet still
I get nothing. Usually I give up and go back
to “dunking worms,” I can never be beaten in
that.
I also have experience in tying flies. Like flyfishing, I’m not the best. Yet, I can do simple
ones, with my grandpa’s help, or just learn
from practice after my grandpa’s help. Even
after mastering a fly, ask me the next day to tie
it, and for sure I will have forgotten how. If
only I could remember!
Really, the reason I should be picked to go
to the camp is I want to learn more. I really
want to enhance my skills and come home and
tell my parents of the fish I caught with my
grandpa. Maybe one day I will beat him in
a fish contest on the river, or just fish when I
can without my grandpa’s help and enjoy the
peacefulness of the river. That is why I would
like to go to this camp.
And after the experience…
The Trout Unlimited Fly-Fishing Camp was
the most fun way of learning fly-fishing I have
ever experienced. I learned many things while
I was there and met a lot of great people. While
I was there I learned many things about the
6
flies trout go after and their life cycle, I learned how to tie
some pretty cool flies, how to read the water and recognize where trout may be, along with very important things
about trout, and most importantly the different casts and
how/when to use them. All these different things along
with many others helped me throughout the week. I’ll say
it made it the best week of fishing I’ve experienced, but
the very best day was on the fourth day of camp, the last
day that we got to fish.
The day was perfect for trout fishing on the Au Sable River
at dusk. It was cool, and there was a little cloud cover still
remaining from the downpour the day before, but there
Mark Hendricks provides instruction on fly casting.
TroUT CaMP
were not threats of rain. The landing we were at looked
perfect, there was a nice riffle in the middle of the stream
— a nice feeding area for any fish. After about twenty
minutes of fiddling with my rod, Kyle (my partner for the
river boat float) and I stepped into the water to fish, while
we were waiting for the Au Sable riverboat to come pick
us up. I had an ant I had made earlier in the week tied onto
my line, and I was finally ready to fish. Kyle and I waded
upstream a little ways and were fishing in the riffle hoping to catch a fish. I had four hits before the fish became
uninterested in my fly so I waded upstream a little more
to a perfect place. Right along the bank under an over
hanging tree fish were jumping, and I thought, “Wow this
will be a piece of cake to catch some fish.” But I forgot,
it’s never easy. The fish were just not interested in my fly,
and I couldn’t see what they were feeding on so I cast my
line down at a log where there was a calm spot then a sudden riffle. I wasn’t paying much attention to my line, as
I was too busy talking to my counselor, Dick Augustine,
about bats and many other different things. Then I pulled
up my line to recast, because my fly was just dragging
in the current, and what do you know! There was a fish
on! I pulled in my line carefully so I wouldn’t pull it out
of its mouth. This was going to be my first fish I caught
this week (unless you count a minnow that was so small
I thought it was my fly as a fish)! I finally pulled it in and
grabbed the string so I could pull up the fish, because my
net was too rough and would tear up its skin. Pulling the
fish up out of the water was amazing; it was a small three
to four inch Brook Trout. What a beautiful little fish. Dick
took a picture and I pulled the hook out gently letting the
fish go so it could be caught another day. The only thing
that was running through my mind was that I just caught
a fish and there would be many more to come.
I had so many other great experiences on the water, seeing the beautiful wildlife like the beautiful predatory birds
and a fawn that was hiding on an island in the middle
of the river, or filtering the river water through a big net
to collect and sort bugs. On land I learned about bugs
and their life cycle, cast my line on land to practice, ate
lunch on the river banks with friends, and learned about
that gorgeous river that I fish. I met new friends, and saw
many things, all thanks to the Anglers of the Au Sable for
sponsoring me to go and giving me a fly rod. My knowledge of fly-fish has increased thanks to all the counselors
and many other people. Now when I go with my Grandpa
or Dad fly-fishing it won’t be a big lesson on how to flyfish or how to not get caught in trees. Now it’s a contest
to see who can catch the most fish or who can catch the
biggest fish. This one five-day camp has created in me a
lover of fly-fishing.
- Brienna Shear
nICK oBerMILLer, MarCh 2013
I would like to go to this camp because I simply love to
fish. I started fishing when I was three with my grandpa.
We would walk down to a bridge I live close to and, even
though we didn’t catch anything, I have loved to fish ever
since.
I believe that I have gotten very good at fishing, and now
I have been learning how to fly fish. Last year I started tying my own flies. There is no better feeling than knowing
you have a one-of-a-kind fly that works.
I love fishing. I always have, and I always will. I think
that if I go to this camp, I can learn new things and have
fun.
And after the experience…
During the time I was at the Trout Unlimited camp, I
learned more than I ever could by myself. I learned about
the many different kinds of bugs and insects that I would
be imitating while fishing. I learned how the current can
dramatically change the way the fish can see your fly. And
I learned so much more than I could ever fit in this paper.
One of my favorites and in my eyes one of the most important things was making habitats and shelters for the
fish. This gave them a place to hide from predators that
in turn makes the population of the trout population rise.
This means more fish for a fisherman like me to catch.
There wasn’t a single part of this camp that I didn’t like.
I wouldn’t change anything about this camp because you
can’t change perfect.
I cannot thank you enough for giving me this opportunity,
and I cannot tell you how much fun I had.
Thanks again,
- Nick Obermiller
7
ILCTU and the North Branch Project
(Editor’s Note: Anglers received a Habitat Improvement Account (HIA) grant to do stream improvement work on the North Branch. The ILCTU incorporated that project into their summer
youth program. What follows is a letter from
their director of camp activities to Bruce Pregler.
The HIA is funded by Consumers Energy as part
of the 1994 Hydro Relicensing Agreement.)
Dear President Pregler,
On behalf of the Illinois Council of Trout Unlimited (ILCTU), thank you to the Anglers of the Au
Sable for allowing the youngsters of our Youth
Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp to participate in the construction and remplacement of
half log covers on the North Branch of the Au
Sable at the Power Line access. That morning
our kids learned the meaning of trout cover during a fish shocking survey on the East Branch
of the Sturgeon River near Wolverine, and thus,
were fully able to appreciate the true value of
their labors on the Noth Branch that following
afternoon.
I trust you will extend thanks to Steve Sendek,
and his entire work crew: Traver Smith, Jordan
Wakley, and Zack Kline. Steve’s years of experience as a Fisheries Biologist at the DNR enriched the experienced of our kids and mentors
alike tenfold. Traver’s, Jordan’s and Zack’s enthusiasm spurred a spirit of team work the kids
will long remember. They will indeed appreciate
their efforts when they return years later to fish
the North Branch. I trust that Anglers of the Au
Sable will be endowed to continue their preservation efforts in the years to come and will allow our continued participation in such projects.
The hard work of stream restoration is one of the
cornerstone lessons which we need to imbue in
our kids at each of our camps.
Respectfully,
Greg Prosen, Director
ILCTU Youth Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp
8
Boots In The Water Here’s a trio of shots
from the Kalamazoo
Valley TU Chapter
Trout Camp.
The kids
learned how
to fish and
how to take
care of fish.
Nice!
KId’s one fLY (BoX)
InaUgUraL KIds one fLY (BoX) fIshIng eVenT
goes off WIThoUT a hITCh
It was a crisp, clear morning, something more akin to mid
September than the first part of August, but the kids didn’t
mind one bit. Thanks to Anglers of the Au Sable, 38 of
them, ranging from ages three to fourteen, were getting
the chance to learn the magic of fly-fishing.
Last winter, as part of a concerted effort to reach out to
more young people, the Communication & Education
Committee drew up plans to have a youth day of sorts to
get kids interested in the river and, possibly, stewardship.
With the help of Director Josh Greenberg, owner of Gates
Au Sable Lodge, they put together a winning set of activities that were fun and educational. (Major kudos to Josh
who had his own event, the one fly night tournament, later
that day. He put in nearly a 24-hour workday between the
two activities.)
“I believe that we got a membership from our youngest
person yet at the event,” said Karen Harrison, Director,
Secretary and Chair of the Communication and Education
Committee. “Her name was Anneke, about nine years
old, and her dad bought her a membership. I don’t even
think he’s a member!”
Another young boy told his grandfather that he knew
what he wanted for Christmas now: a fly rod. No report
on Grandpa’s reply, but I’m sure that Josh can help him
out.
“It was a beautiful day with lots of good vibes,” Karen
added. “I think we may have created some future fly fishers and conservationists.”
“It was the best kind of tired. And I’m looking forward to
doing it again next year,” he said.
The ball got rolling on the casting field at Gates as the sun
crept over the pines. Gates Lodge Head Casting Instructor Mark Hendricks led the casting instruction for a group
of youngsters antsy to fish. Then it was off to the river to
do just that, hook a finster with a fly. A few friends and
family joined in on the fun, but the kids had some pretty fine gillies guiding them along including Hendricks,
Peter Jones, “Big Fish” Terry Warrington, Ron Urkuski,
Joe Bartha, and Joe Sprys – in other words, the guys who
typically give of their time.
A Natural! The Kid’s One Fly
(Box) taught youngsters the basics
of fly fishing, and some participants
caught on quickly.
And, of course, what event is not complete without food
and fun? There was plenty of that for the young fishers
when they came back from the river. Chef Matt stepped
up and delivered a splendid spread of goodies. The crowd
started sloshing back around noon with fish stories – they
had quickly learned the sport’s crucial element – and a
creel full of enthusiasm for the whole thing. Some kids
didn’t get back till around 2 PM.
After a great lunch there were activities including assembling trout puzzles and casting contests that yielded wonderful prizes, some of them swag, such as Anglers’ 2012
pins (the kids loved ‘em!), Anglers’ hats, Gates lanyards,
fly boxes, single boxes with one fly and other items. Every participant received an Anglers’ fly box with six flies.
And the magic started happening.
9
WaY To go, Tess!
Tess neLKIe naMed rIVerKeePer for 2013
She’s been taking care of rivers and forests for a long time
and somebody finally noticed.
Tess Nelkie, a member of the Anglers’ board of directors
for over 20 years, and an active conservationist for nearly
twice that long, received Anglers’ highest award at the
directors’ meeting in September.
Although clearly delighted to have received the recognition, she responded to it in her usual even-keeled manner:
“I’m proud to be a part of the AOTA Board and extremely humbled to have been honored with this prestigious
award.”
This recognition was long overdue and that may be because Tess Nelkie just goes about the business of stewardship with no drama or fanfare. She’s not new to service
having developed hiking and cross-country skiing trails
in the Huron National Forest since the 1970s as well as
sitting on two other boards for Corsair Trail Council and
the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy. Along with her husband Gary, an avid naturalist and conservationist in his
own right, Tess was the recipient of the White Pine Award
from the Sierra Club in 1994.
In 1992, one of the founding members of Anglers, Ed McGlinn, invited her to join Anglers’ board of
directors. She agreed and, characteristically, got right to work.
Her first task was to resurrect a writing contest – Dan Drislane, another
founding member had suggested
this needed to be done, but couldn’t
take the lead because he had business obligations in Belgium for
several years – designed to engage
young people in the joys of the Au
Sable River. Au Sable River Words
was born and Tess has been the chair
ever since. This is the fifteenth year
of the contest. (See page 12 for this
year’s winners.)
Tess Nelkie took the lead on developing the AOTA scholarships for
students majoring in Fisheries Programs at Michigan State University
and Lake Superior State University
– both of this year’s recipients are
on pages 4 and 5 – and also helped
formulate AOTA’s scholarships for
two kids to attend the Kalamazoo
Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s
Annual Youth Trout Camp. She also
facilitated AOTA’s affiliation with
the 1% For The Planet program.
“I’ve sat with Tess in dozens of
meetings over the years and worked
with her on getting the Au Sable
10
Tess, oIL & gas Leases
River Words ready for The RIVERWATCH for a decade
now,” said Thomas Buhr, Editor of The RIVERWATCH.
“She consistently asks intelligent questions, makes keen
observations, and never fails to deliver on her responsibilities. People such as Tess make this conservation thing
work.”
A resident of Tawas since 1974, Tess is a teacher for deaf
and hard of hearing children in Iosco County. She coowns Nordic Sports with her husband. When not working or protecting wild places, she’s out enjoying them
through fishing, hiking, skiing or canoeing. Tess and
Gary are regular fixtures on the lower Au Sable and veterans of the June night hatches on the Big Water below
McKinley.
Being honored as a Riverkeeper is not an endpoint. Tess
remains devoted to the task at hand:
“I think we all have a responsibility to protect the outdoors we love, an obligation to take action on issues we
know are right whether we will see the results in our lifetime or not.”
- Art Thomas, Big Water Correspondent
Tess Nelkie, Riverkeeper
“No Surface Development” On Holy Water continued
to convince the DNR to make this change. In fact, during the meeting today the director said he was getting an
email every four minutes.”
“Thanks to all who took the time to explain to the DNR
why the Au Sable is so special and why there was no way
any of us would stand by while land was cleared for oil
and gas wells in the Holy Water,” Pregler said.
Baird also said special thanks go to DNR Director Creagh. “Keith really listened to us,” Baird said. “It took guts
to make this change – and vision to pledge to identify
other special places where these kinds of controversies
should be avoided in the future.”
When the lease news broke in October, Anglers went to
work. The proposed leasing plan did not bode well for
current or future residents of this historic stretch of the
Au Sable. We asked again that the DNR reconsider the
action. The Department initially declined our request.
That meant it was time to roll up our sleeves and do the
heavy lifting necessary to help Director Creagh better understand these issues. This was nothing new for us, and
we quickly were joined by our usual allies: the Michigan
Environmental Council, Michigan League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club, Au Sable Big Water Preservation
Association, North Branch Foundation, Au Sable River
Watershed Committee, and Michigan Trout Unlimited.
Several local business and government leaders assisted in
this effort at well. We had not seen that spirit here since
the dark days of the Mason Tract crisis.
Given the short time window and enormity of the task it
was an extraordinary show of solidarity by all. We are
grateful for the support.
In the final analysis Director Creagh made the right decision. The “Holy Water” is safe for now thanks to Creagh’s willingness to listen.
More work needs to be done to responsibly obtain these
resources, but this is a victory worth savoring. Thank you
to all who helped us to secure it
- Bruce Pregler, President and Tom Baird, First Vice President
11
rIVer Words
aU saBLe rIVer Words
aU saBLe
rIVer Words
2013 oVeraLL WInners
nonfICTIon
1. Sarah Goodyear – Au Sable River
Words, Grayling High School
2. Angie Rouston – Resurrection of a
Resource, Grayling High School
fICTIon
1. Emma Burke – A Dead Fish, Grayling High School
2. Olivia Dikin – The River’s Stage,
Grayling High School
PoeTrY
1. Ally Sage – Flow of the Au Sable,
Mio-Au Sable High School
2. Tyler Powers –
Grayling High School
12
Life-Blood,
It would be dishonest for me to say
that I never hated the Au Sable River. My words would be fallacious if
I said that I’ve always recognized
its importance within our community. When I was five years old, my
father was told he was being relocated to a small northern Michigan
town named Grayling. Neither of
my parents had lived up north, so
it was a completely new experience
for our small family. We packed up
and left our friends to start anew.
After many months of searching,
we found a house that fit our every
need; it was older and needed some
new design, but we were satisfied.
My five-year-old self was excited
to learn about the new house, but
was more interested in the fact that
it sat on a dead end road and had
direct access to the river called the
Au Sable.
playing around on the planks, and
it was only a matter of time before
I fell through one of them. My tiny
feet were just small enough to slip
down in between the two planks of
splintered wood. Dancing and playing, I fell as the bridge captured me
in its clutches. I was trapped! My
right foot plunged into the river, the
boards scraping down my entire leg
as I fell. My father left his pole to
come assist me during my time of
need. I was in hysterics from my
first traumatic experience as a fiveyear-old. If I was still five, I would
have told you about the massive
amounts of blood I lost from the
major accident. However, fast forward thirteen years into the future,
and I would tell you I walked away
with nothing more than a scraped
leg, a hurt spirit, and a spiteful view
of the river.
My first excursion to the river
was via bicycle. I had a new, purple two-wheeler that could withstand any terrain; even the deep
sand leading down to the river. At
the end of the trail, a very meager bridge sat connecting the two
banks. Magnificent shrubbery covers both trails before and after the
bridge, creating a green, cave-like
walkway that opens to the mighty
Au Sable. It was on that very bridge
that I had my first privative experience with the river. Now, this
bridge is not a typical one. It would
not meet the adequate standards
of an experienced contractor, as it
was built with various sized planks
overlaying two moldy telephone
poles. My dad, the avid fisherman,
decided to take his young daughter down to the river to teach her
the basics of fishing. Being a fiveyear-old, I was more interested in
My spiteful view was reinforced
when I was thirteen years old.
When visiting Grayling during the
summer, it is nearly impossible to
not participate in at least one kayak
or canoe trip. In October however,
it’s a different story. Here in northern Michigan, it is considered a heat
wave if the temperature is above
fifty degrees during the month of
October; not the best weather to adventure out in a canoe in an ice-cold
river. However, I went anyway. I
was chosen as a Natural Helper in
the sixth grade; a group of select
students designed to unite my fellow peers in the fight against bullying. One of the afternoon activities is a mellow canoe trip meant
just for relaxation. Fully clothed,
my teacher, my friend, and I set out
with the other groups of kids down
the icy Au Sable. We were messing around with another canoe, and
rIVer Words
they came extremely close to tipping over into the water.
The three of us laughed and laughed at their terrified faces. Karma eventually caught up with us, though. About
thirty minutes later, my canoe came across a sunken log
that was hidden in the deep black water. We hit it because
our navigator was not paying the slightest bit of attention. We spun around
the log and twisted until
we were perpendicular
to the flow of the river.
Of course, we tipped
over, fully clothed, into
the deepest part of the
whole trip. It was over
our heads, and we were
quickly engulfed into the
freezing water of lateOctober. I’m not sure
what was worse, the actual fall, or the ride home
in soaking wet clothes.
The river had yet again
traumatized me during
my adolescence.
I did not think it was possible to experience feelings of hatred towards
a body of water, but I
also did not think loving a body of water was
possible either. Looking
back, I can obviously see
I was foolish and closeminded during the years
where I felt negatively
about the river. Just in
the past few years, I have
really grown up and learned to appreciate my life in Grayling, and all that the Au Sable does for it. This past summer, I worked for a bed and breakfast in Lovells that sits
on the banks of the Au Sable, and I met the most inspiring
people. It caters mainly to fly-fisherman who come to get
away from their busy lives downstate. I met a professor
from a very prestigious university and he asked about my
future plans; he made pancakes and we talked for an hour
about picking a school that was best suited for me. He
gave me great advice, and it was a humbling experience
to converse with someone so intelligent. I was able to
meet a group of doctors from University of Michigan who
were studying ways to cure various types of cancer. I felt
humbled in a room so full of extraordinary, inspirational
people. I was able to meet someone new every week I
went, and I was grateful for the amounts of knowledge I
learned. Their love for the river was necessary for the bed
and breakfast to remain a business. Without it, I never
would have been enlightened by their knowledge
or advice. I eventually
realized that we were all
connected by one thing:
the mighty Au Sable. My
whole life is affected by a
river, and that is not something just anyone could
say. The river is a symbol
for everything that I love:
my hometown, my greatest memories, and my
life in general. Without
it, there would not be a
Grayling, Michigan. Our
canoe marathon attracts
a diversity of people,
even ones from different
countries. The river fills
the town with tourists
and defines us as to who
we are. I’m proud to live
in a community dependent on such a beautiful
landmark, and can finally
say that I appreciate the
river’s existence and its
impact on my life.
I now believe that it is
completely possible for
one to love a body of water. The river shaped the town,
and the town shaped me. I grew up with a closed mind because of my own dreadful experiences with the Au Sable,
but obviously I have grown physically and intellectually
since childhood. Without the river, my hometown, and
my life would not exist. I wouldn’t have been inspired
by amazing people, and I wouldn’t have experienced
the great childhood I’ve had growing up in Grayling. I
can honestly admit that I love the river, and its symbolic
meaning of my hometown’s community.
- Sarah Goodyear
13
rIVer Words
resUrreCTIon of a resoUrCe
The Au Sable River runs approximately 138 miles before
emptying into one of the world’s largest fresh bodies of
water, Lake Huron. Many people do not know that the Au
Sable is one of the best brown trout fisheries east of the
Rocky Mountains. However, at one time the river used to
be home to many other species of fish, including grayling,
walleye, round whitefish, and suckers. Unfortunately,
drastic changes occurred to the river within the first several decades of European settlement, which resulted in the
alteration of the river’s habitat and the depletion of many
species of fish, including the extinction of the artic
grayling.
The history of the Au Sable dates back to the late
1800’s, during Michigan’s logging era. Loggers
used the river to transport logs downstream to the
mill. This movement of logs downriver scoured the
river bottom and banks. Logging and vast wildfires
denuded the surrounding landscape of vegetation,
resulting in erosion of large amounts of sand into
the river. As northern Michigan became more populated, roads were developed near the water’s edge,
allowing more sand and pollutants to enter the water course. Heavy use by recreationists created bare
banks, continuing to contribute to degradation of
the watercourse. All of this sand that was becoming
deposited in the river began to change the dynamics
of the river habitat. Sand covers the gravel substrate
that fish prefer to spawn on, and the collection of
sand makes the river shallower, causing it to warm
up. The increasing temperature of the river is not
good for trout, which need cold water. The increasing demand for power resulted in numerous dams
being created along the river for hydroelectric power. Hydropower development fragmented the river
system, eliminating the migration of fish from Lake
Huron upstream. All of these changes resulted in a
changing river ecosystem, which eventually led to
the depletion of many fish species and the extinction of the artic grayling.
Over time, the river has gradually started to heal.
Sand traps were actively used to remove some of
the heavy sand deposited into the river from earlier
activities. A concerted effort is being made to work
with county road commissions to improve road
crossings to minimize dirt and pollutants that drain
into the river at road crossings. Recreational access
sites and road ends are monitored and stabilized as
14
needed, so recreational access does not negatively impact
water quality or habitat. Many people have worked to stabilize barren banks and minimize the erosion into the river. The Michigan Department of Conservation was born
in an effort to allow our lands to heal from unchecked
logging fires, market hunting and fishing. Hunting and
fishing regulations were established, and fire breaks were
established in an effort to curb the spread of wildfires. The
CCC was created which assisted with building of these
fire breaks and replanting of many tracts of barren land.
rIVer Words
Land along the river became valued for residential property and additional roads and houses were developed all
along the river corridor. The Woody Debris project began
approximately ten years ago, which placed full trees and
stumps into the river to provide the fish natural habitat.
Dams are gradually being removed to restore water flow
and annual river clean-ups are planned by volunteers to
help keep the river clean and free of pollution.
Society must learn from the past, and returning the Au
Sable River to its original habitat will help prevent the
depletion of native species unique to the area. We want
to prevent tragedies, such as the complete annihilation
of the artic grayling, from happening again in the future.
The Au Sable River is a natural wonder greatly treasured
by the surrounding communities, who have been making
conscious efforts to keep the river in pristine condition for
the generations to come.
- Angie Rouston
a dead fIsh
There he swam, some time ago, in the clear, cold waters of
the Au Sable. Among the rocks, the sand, and the weeds
he would dart and play with his fellows. He lived a good
life, albeit a short one, that was filled with all the fleeting
joys and sorrows that his kind could come to expect.
It ended, for lives must always end, when a force beyond
his knowledge stole him from the water in a clear, empty
prison, then dumped him unceremoniously too far from
his homeland. Stranded, he flopped upon the rocky bank
and made it not to the safety of water, but to the dark mud.
He flopped there, gasping, panicked, alone, until a stupor
took him and he begged for breath no longer. There he
was sprawled, staring up at a green canopy with sweet,
blue flowers – his only bouquet – and watching this for-
eign world through one eye. For his other eye, you must
understand, could see only the mud below him, where his
body surely came to rest. Time passed, matching his coldness and solemn stillness.
He had no funeral procession, save a lone fly who rejoiced
that night at finding itself the first explorer, scavenger, at
the dinner party.
There he wasted in the muck, his thin sinews eaten away
by hungry mouths of prying insects. When only his bones
remained, the sediment rose up to meet him. He is buried
there, in that very spot. From the organic structure, his
pale skeleton, there grew the beginnings of a plant. A blue
Forget-Me-Not blooms there now, proudly marking the
spot of an unremarkable tale, finished.
- Emma Rose Burke
15
rIVer Words
The rIVer’s sTage
I never really believed that nature could produce music.
Trees, though living, were amoral, so they couldn’t feel
the emotion expressed through melodies. It wasn’t until I
actually listened and spent time in nature, that I heard the
rhythms of the bubbling water and whispering leaves and
foliage.
I had just moved from Seattle, Washington to rural Michigan. It was an immediate culture shock as I had been surrounded by the rushing of the city my whole life. The
plethora of trees on my new housing property was a scene
I was not used to, yet I managed. Of course, my cellos
followed me. The most precious of my collection was a
great orange beast with a sunburst wood pattern on the back. Strings of bronze stretched
across the neck and when warm the strings
contoured to my fingers like butter.
My new home sat on the bank of the Au Sable
River, almost twenty miles from the nearest
town, through many other families decided to
call the woods around me home. My favorite
place was my sun room. It was outdated with
tacky yellow paint covering the walls and a
sea foam green carpet with dark, unknown
stains. But, it had a certain magic to it. The
widows gave a perfect view of the rushing
waters out back, and the fractals of sunlight
that reflected from the surface shone through
the windows and seemed to soften the clashing colors in the room. The river wasn’t even
the main aspect of the room, and it seemed to
make it look like a work of art; this is where I
played my music.
However, with the move into a new home
came unfamiliar noises. I wasn’t used to the
noises of the woods (more like noiselessness),
and the creaks of the house startled me in the
night hours. I don’t think I slept peacefully
throughout the first month or so.
It was a windy night when I was first lured
outside during to listen to the masterpiece in
process.
The wind was moaning through the trees and
buffeting the house sides. When I heard a
crash outside in my backyard, it was against
16
my better judgment to investigate, but I had to know.
Donning a thin sweatshirt and a pair of tennis shoes, I
exited the warm comfort of my house. Slowly, I made my
way down to the river.
As soon as I reached the sloping bank, the wind stopped.
The quietness was eerie as I felt isolated from everything,
even the family living a couple acres away. As I listened
for any more strange noises, I watched the Au Sable.
The full moon peaked out from behind the covering of
clouds and instantly the surrounding area exploded with
light. The white moon was reflected off of the waters and
small flecks of light from fireflies peered in and out of
rIVer Words
my eyesight. The trees, once ominous shades of black
and even darker purple, now were covered in a dusting of
moonlight that turned them a grayish color. Peering over
into the shallow waters by my feet, I could see miniscule
pebbles lying in the sand that had been buffed into possessing smooth, round surfaces. Reaching down, I picked
one up (as the sand grazed my fingers I realized why the
name literally meant “With sand” in French) and the cold
water bit into my arm. Running my fingers over the rock,
I skipped it into the middle of the river, the only major
disturbance on the water; ripples scattered the moonlight
as the rock thundered into the brush on the other bank.
As soon as that one pebble hit the opposite shore, the music started.
What had once been mute silence now roared into an orchestra of sound.
A frog croaked a little upstream and set the base-line for
the others; a splash directed my attention a little ways in
front of me where more ripples spread across the rivers
surface, reminiscent of a fish catching one of the glowing
fireflies that sent a buzz through the air. The wind picked
up again, though not as violent as it was previously that
night. It whispered through my hair and sent currents of
air through the leaves in the glowing trees around me,
and the leaves at my feet rustled contentedly. Mournful
yips from some sort of animal sounded miles away. What
would have terrified me a few minutes ago now entranced
me as I listened to the growing cacophony of sound.
However, something was missing: the melody. All I could
distinguish was the back up and counter melodies of the
supporting roles . Another mournful howl in the opposite
direction of the first man in the moon. Then I heard it
— the muffled gurgle from the river. There was so much
of it; it couldn’t freely express itself without some help.
Spinning around, I raced to my house. I burst through the
doors to my sun room and snatched the orange cello from
its stand in the now bland room; a bow was situated in
my other hand as I took off back to the current. I found
an overturned log and sat down on it, the rotting wood
creaked and moaned against my weight but I didn’t pay it
any attention. I situated the string instrument in between
my legs and placed the bow on the strings. I waited.
When I felt it appropriate to join in the other-worldly music in the air, I felt my bow and fingers move of their
own accord. I was playing with an orchestra that I never
knew existed, and it was breathtaking. The river expressing itself through my strings told stories I had never heard
before, yet I would never forget them either.
The waters told the brave stories of the lumbermen directing logs through the bends, in consequence their deaths
were glorified with a fanfare. To counter that was the under melody of the rise of new life, a young fawn just taking its first drink for the water, the spots still visible on
its back and its mother standing next to it. The unadulterated form a new born duckling that lost its mother in the
brush of weeds countered with the solitary calmness of
the graceful heron waiting for its meal. The sadness of a
lost friend in a school of fish, and the joy and fulfillment
in a young child’s eyes as he catches his first fish while
fly-fishing with grandpa. The serenity of the lazy river
bends, and the tumultuous rapids over the rocks.
I never did believe in the music of the river until I heard
it myself. The River’s Lament was a piece of art, still
in processing to this day. For years, as I wrote the music, I wondered what to name it, surely there had to be
something more appropriate to call it than a Lament. After observing the river on its bank for almost a decade, I
finally understood why Lament stood out. The Au Sable
mourned for the loss of lives in its past, but also mourned
for the beauty that was going unnoticed. People travel on
it for fun, yes, but dread touching the wetness of its lifesaving waters. People are caught up in trying to avoid the
negative aspects of it that they forget to enjoy the positive
qualities.
I will never take this beautiful work of art for granted
again.
The twisting snake of the river is a series of beautiful contradictions; each oxymoron composes a movement of the
entire suite. This is the first time I have told anyone about
the River’s lament, a musical suite written for an orchestra but will only ever be finished when the water dries up
and the life once supported by the river dies off.
It’s morning now, and the birds are calling to each other
as the tiny flutter of butterfly wings land of flowers, and
dragonflies dart across the water, dodging the kayakers
as they paddled downstream. They all know me now as
I refuse to be confined to that once magical room in my
house. It has lost the magic that the river once gave it, the
river deserves it all.
I found a better stage to play on.
- Olivia Dikin
17
rIVer Words
fLoW of The aU saBLe
A rippled current crawling
Going even further ahead
Never slowing down
Around the first bend;
Trees break their path,
After they have gone
Others flow even faster
But they will find another
Waves will never stop
‘Till both currents mend
Each create a new ripple
Flowing by and by
They surge together now
Different from the other
Until their journey ends
Across the river bed
They drag the rocks below,
When the river meets the sky
Spilling over the rocks;
Relentless waves continue on
- Ally Sage
18
rIVer Words
LIfe-BLood
The artery of the earth,
Hollowing out canyons across the face of time
Beautiful, pristine, fluent.
The river flows
The river flows
The omnipresent monarch,
It rages through the land cutting the earth with its
mighty power
Taking and giving what it sees fit.
Desperate to meet the Huron,
The river flows.
Forever
- Tyler Powers
19
CLeanUP
Cleanup Buddies: Anglers’ Prez Bruce
Pregler and DNR Fisheries Chief Jim
Dexter got their feet wet while picking up
trash on the mainstream.
angLers’ CLeanUP TUrns 19, fLedgLIngs KeeP PaCe
The way things are going there may be a day when not a
scrap of paper will be found on the Au Sable and Upper
Manistee by the end of September all the way until the
next spring.
We aren’t there yet, but one has to be impressed with the
progress.
The Anglers’ cleanup went off with the usual smooth mechanics developed from 18 previous events. After a week
of prepping, including port-a-potty delivery, tent set-up,
etc., the day started early, about 8 AM, with Anglers’
Directors showing up to answer questions and pitch-in
wherever needed. The event officially got underway at
10 AM with a short pep talk by Bruce Pregler, our president, and then the introduction of special guest, Fisheries
Chief, Jim Dexter.
Two hundred plus folks in all walked the usual beats: Burton’s to McMasters on the Main; Deerheart Valley to the
confluence on the South (there was a cadre of intrepid
souls working above Deerheart Valley); and Dam 4 to
Mac’s Island on the venerable North.
“The trash keeps getting less and less each year, but we
are still filling a six yard long dumpster,” said Karen Harrison, Anglers’ Director and Secretary.
This year’s items included a bat on a section of fly-line.
Everybody who has had the opportunity to work with Jim
Dexter knows him to be smart, dedicated and fair-minded.
The fact that he would take a Saturday in early September
to come and spend time at our cleanup speaks volumes
about his professionalism. Thanks, Chief!
Volunteers were feted with the usual victuals; burgers,
brats, Connie Novak’s baked beans, Carol Vidrio’s coleslaw and potato salad, corn on the cob, baked goods galore, soda pop, barley pop, and a little brown water here
and there. It’s billed as a cleanup and it’s all of that, but
the second Saturday in September at Gates Au Sable
Lodge (thanks, Josh!) is really the celebration of another
season’s passing. Even in the era of year-round open sections of river, people still feel the rhythm of the traditional
season in their souls. Not even some periods of rain could
dampen that sense of good cheer.
Dexter got a fine demonstration of what has become the
model of coldwater cleanups. Volunteers hit the river
shortly after 10 and started filtering back around noon.
Down below Mio where conservation and stewardship
are still in their infancies, the Au Sable Big Water Preservation Association (ASBWPA) put on its seventh edition
20
CLeanUP
of a cleanup on a section of the Au Sable that is legendary
for the abuse it receives in the form of trash and vandalism.
“It’s getting better,” said Thomas Buhr, ASBWPA President, echoing Harrison’s comments. “But let’s not forget,
this is Mio, the rules are different.”
Turnout for this year’s cleanup was the second largest
ever for the ASBWPA. Over 50 people braved the rain
and those dreaded Mio “rules” to put a dent in the trash
load on the Big Water.
Afterwards there was a
BBQ at Comins Flats run
by guides Dennis Davis
and Mike Bachelder –
two of the best around –
followed by a few door
prizes sponsored, in
part, by the Pro Shop at
Gates Au Sable Lodge,
Streamside Custom Rod
& Guide Service and
Ryba Guide Service.
The Mershon Chapter of
Trout Unlimited and the
Michigan Fly Fishing
Club also sponsored the
event.
BBQ of the year. Anglers and UMRA also added bodies
and donated supplies to the multi-organizational project.
Cedars for the Au Sable did two tree plantings in the
Deward area with bodies from Anglers on one crew and
folks from the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of Trout
Unlimited on the other.
UMRA not only brought bodies to the cleanup, but also
did a lot of heavy lifting in helping to organize the event
and gaining permits necessary for the landing repair.
UMRA also acted as a liaison to the Army National
Guard and was able to secure the tent, chairs, and
tables for the BBQ, in addition to the materials necessary to repair the disastrous
fishing access.
A big group of students from
Kingsley High School, led
by the kayak group Boardman River Clean Sweep,
paddled from County Road
612 to Hole in the Wall. The
group scooped trash from
the center of the river and
from the deeper runs while
also picking up garbage too
large for wading cleaners to
carry out.
This year’s most unusual trash item was an
engine block retrieved Over The Line: This engine block recovered by a team of volunteers
Roughly half of the total
from a section just below led by Kevin Foerster indicates that Mio still harbors folks who have no
number of volunteers pulled
Comins Flats by ASBW- respect for the river.
on their waders and bravely
PA Director Kevin Foertook to the frigid waters
ster. He got $15 for it at the junkyard!
with poker sticks in hand. The most fun bit of trash was
The Second Annual Manistee River Cleanup and Work a message in a bottle from “two hot-looking 17 year olds
Bee was held this September 21st of this fall at the Old on vacation with the girls at a family member’s cabin.”
Au Sable Fly Shop.
The beats upstream of that find are already booked for
next year.
Once again the weather darkened the skies and dampened
the ground but not the spirits of five conservation organi- In the end, the many conservation groups and volunteers
zations and over 60, hard-core volunteers. Raincoat clad gathered together and took care of the Au Sable’s sister
Manistee enthusiasts scoured the bottom and bushes of river—the Manistee. The landing is repaired, usable, and
the Manistee River for trash, planted Cedar Trees, and the erosion stopped. Trees planted in Deward will proeven repaired a landing that had degraded into an ero- vide shade long after we’re all gone. The Manistee is
sions site/angler hazard.
sparkling clean.
Anglers of the Au Sable and the Upper Manistee River
Association (UMRA) stepped up to fund the last great
Many thanks to everyone that participated.
- Karen Harrison, Andy Partlo, and Art Thomas contributed to this report
21
Page Title
22
KIrTLand WarBLer
KIrTLand’s WarBLer:
shooTIng The LIne for ConserVaTIon.
You know the feeling. It’s just over there. Your arm is moving smoothly. Forward. Back. Forward. Back. The line is
tracking effortlessly above your head. You’re crouched
low, looking over and around soft branches seeking the
spot to place your fly. The spot that is deserving of all the
meticulous time and focus you’re building into this cast.
You can feel the momentum and you know the timing is
right. You bring your arm swiftly and decisively forward
and just at that most appropriate time you shoot your line.
And that little something extra, that little steely nerve allows you to gain the greatest possible distance from your
cast and hit your mark. You prepared, focused and timed
it all just right.
For the last 40 years since the inception of the Endangered Species Act, and the first species were listed for
protection, the Kirtland’s warbler has been waiting for
the timing to be just right. And now its next move is just
over there. Where’s there? Off of the Endangered Species
List (ESL) and on the path to long-term survival. In 1973
the 93rd Congress under President Nixon had a vision “to
protect species and…the ecosystems on which they depend.” When signed in to law, the Endangered Species
Act (ESA) launched environmental conservation in a
new direction—shifting away from regulating the commercial trade of wildlife to focusing on understanding the
fundamental needs of a species while providing funding
and a framework to meet those needs. The connection
that endangered species had to the landscapes they lived
in which they lived became central to recovery efforts.
In the case of the Kirtland’s warbler, understanding and
managing the jack pine ecosystem can be directly linked
to population numbers increasing.
The Kirtland’s warbler, a ground nesting species, specifically seeks out dense jack pine stands that range from 5 to
20 years in age—an age class that was historically maintained in Northern Michigan by wildfire. With settlement
and human populations sharing the landscape used by the
warbler, natural wildfire is suppressed leaving the warbler
without the young, protective trees it needs to survive.
Complicating the warbler’s recovery is the presence of
brown-headed cowbird. Arriving in Michigan during logging days, these nomadic birds lay their eggs in the nests
of other birds, pushing out the other eggs and out competing nestlings for food. The Kirtland’s warbler never
had any reason to develop a defense against such behavior and soon years of unsuccessful nests saw the species’
population hit all-time lows.
Just as it may take a few passes to lift the line and have
it move effortlessly between ten and two, answers to the
questions surrounding the right combination of management programs or the intensity of treatment to help recover the warbler’s population have taken years to answer. Guided by a comprehensive recovery plan the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Forest Service,
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Team (Recovery Team) have
worked together with unfailing commitment to answer
those questions. In the process they have developed integrated, science-based strategies that provide prime Kirtland’s warbler nesting habitat by mimicking the effects
of wildfire through large-scale harvesting and planting of
jack pine, effectively control threats by removing brown
headed cowbirds from nesting areas, provide conservation benefits to a variety of wildlife species, and ensure
water quality protection.
The combination of partnership and adaptive management programs has returned great success. After seeing
the population dip below 200 pairs twice since 1973,
annual census numbers began to show strong, steady
growth. In the last decade the population has met or surpassed the recovery goal of 1,000 pairs identified in the
species’ recovery plan and in 2012 over 2,000 pairs were
counted. The recovery effort found tight, sure rhythm and
is moving decisively forward. Kirtland’s warbler is riding
the momentum of its conservation success story toward
the ultimate goal of removal from the ESL.
As the Kirtland’s warbler prepares to make the leap from
recovery to long-term survival, the pulse of the conservation community quickens. Although this will be the
crowning achievement of the species and of those who
have worked to see it recover, all of the energy, time and
resources built into this next step are being cast into unknown waters. The Kirtland’s warbler is “conservationreliant,” meaning it depends on continued human intervention and action for survival. As a resident of the ESL,
protections mandated through the legislation and funding
support help ensure these programs continue. Without
23
KIrTLand WarBLer
Kirtland Warbler continued
delisting provisions in place, like long-term funding and
a vehicle for continued advocacy for the species and its
importance, the conservation community will fall short of
its mark and run the risk of losing North America’s rarest
songbird forever.
Fortunately for the Kirtland’s warbler, the push needed
to hit its desired mark is already building—the Kirtland’s
Warbler Initiative is the next chapter in the warbler’s incredible story. This program, born out of the recovery effort and with the goal of building a public-private partnership to support delisting and long-term conservation
of the Kirtland’s warbler, brings new partners and new
strategies to the table. Huron Pines, with funding from the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, has joined USFWS, USFS, MDNR, and the Recovery Team to launch the
Initiative and help solidify a broadened base of support
for perpetual Kirtland’s warbler management.
The success of this effort hinges on implementing three
key strategies: formalizing long-term agency commitment through an Inter-Agency Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Plan, building and fostering a strong stakeholder
group and eventual non-profit that will advocate for and
maintain focus on the importance of Kirtland’s warbler
conservation, and securing a fund that will provide dollars to address gaps in funding for programs most critical
to the species’ survival. When combined, these elements
create a powerful model for building a multi-faceted and
broad network of support to transition other conservationreliant species through the delisting process.
With its own 40-year history of working to conserve the
forests, lakes and streams of Northeast Michigan, Huron
Pines sees a unique opportunity for local communities
and conservation groups in embracing the goals and strategies of the Initiative. Not only does the program have
the potential to bring national and international exposure
to the state and region for its role in advancing new conservation theory but these management efforts, although
born out of the legislative protections for the endangered
Kirtland’s warbler, cannot be disconnected from the
benefits and protections afforded to the ecosystem as a
whole—land, water, and people.
Although some Kirtland’s warblers travel farther afield
to parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and
southern Ontario, Canada each year, nearly 98% of the
world’s population of the species chooses Northeast
Michigan to mate and nest. Roughly 50% percent of the
population can be found in the counties that are home to
the Au Sable River (MDNR 2012 published census results). This relationship—forged 14,000 years ago in
sand—is not a coincidence and one that has brought with
it conservation benefits to a variety of wildlife species
and ensured water quality protection.
Northeast Michigan is rich in rare and quiet beauty.
The Au Sable River Valley ups the ante by providing a
venue to experience two natural assets that are rare on a
global scale. The attraction of traveling to our region to
experience world-renowned fly-fishing and life-list bird
watching is an economic driver. In 2011, according to a
national survey conducted by USFWS of fishing, hunting and wildlife recreation, wildlife recreationists spent
nearly $145 billion on their activities. Of the 33.1 million
anglers in the country, 27.5 million of those fished freshwater as compared to the 8.9 million who fished saltwater. Advocating for continued management programs that
infuse this system with resilient forests, healthy wildlife,
and clean, cold water is an insurance policy for the future
growth and development of our communities.
This is an exciting time for conservation, for the Au Sable
River watershed, and for Northeast Michigan. The Kirtland’s warbler—although only one part of the jack pine
ecosystem—is emerging as a mechanism for advancing
the way we approach conservation and stewardship of
natural resources. The opportunities presented by the legacy of conservation surrounding the Kirtland’s warbler
will see the development of a strong conservation ethic—
holding up the lessons and successes of the past to expand
investment in conservation by new supporters and partners. The next time you wade into your favorite fishing
spot on the Au Sable and are searching for that ideal eddy
or feeding log—the one that is deserving of the time and
effort you’ve built into delivering the perfect cast—take a
moment to appreciate how those waters, that trout. Those
sweepers are protected now, but question how they might
continue to be protected in the future. You just might hear
the call of a Kirtland’s warbler from high atop the jack
pine leading the way.
- Abigail P. Ertel, Huron Pines Kirtland’s Warbler Coordinator
24
WIshIn’ for fLYfIshIn’
WIshIn’ for fLYfIshIn’
It is fairly bearable in the cold dead of winter.
Many anglers retire their rods for the bitter winter months,
though certainly a few courageous souls fish on. But
most are fairly content to use the break in action to enjoy
the holidays, organize their flies and ponder new fishing
holes come spring. Even the Au Sable appears to appreciate the slower, more peaceful winter season; its edges
freeze up and the fish snuggle way down deep, enjoying
their long winter’s nap.
But then…it happens. It might be a random day in January or February, and certainly March offers a few possibilities. Winter puts on the brakes for just one short day,
which is all it takes. A frisky breeze sends temperate air
into the region and just like dogs to steak, anglers think
fishing. In a heartbeat, it’s not enough to visit Orvis or
dust the rods. Anglers ache for the real deal.
I know about this yearly phenomenon. For I am married
to an… angler.
Fortunately, the fisher gods on Earth came up with a pretty
darn good solution to this late-winter angst. In our part of
the national wonder called Michigan, it’s called the Midwest Flyfishing Expo and, it takes place every March in a
mundane expo center in southeastern Michigan. While it
is not evident from the exterior of the building, the insides
host fishing nirvana.
The organizers are very, very good at capitalizing on
the eager fly-fishing community. Teasers in the form of
emails and mailers appear starting in late February. If
early spring breezes don’t wake up the anglers, notification of the expo certain will.
In our family, those notifications kick off a countdown
conducted by Joe, my fisher-husband, in the form of
emails: Two weeks until the expo, one week, 24-hours…
you get the drift. His former assistant, now living in Arizona, still receives these mid-winter missives and wishes
him a happy expo.
This year, I gained huge insight into just how important
this event is to Joe. With the countdown finally concluding, Joe jumped out of bed Saturday morning bright and
early so he could be at the expo right as it opened, to work
the Anglers of the Au Sable booth. Before he departed,
he kissed me goodbye as I blatantly ignored the possibility that it could be morning. “It’s Christmas morning,”
he whispered in my ear before zipping down the hallway.
Once truly awake, I gathered up our girls and we headed off to the expo, although with considerably less zeal.
Don’t get me wrong; it is a great event and we enjoy it.
It’s a March tradition for sure, though March madness is
right up there in terms of late winter traditions. We meet
up with Joe, who already has started to lose his voice from
talking to hundreds of people decked out in their fishing
uniforms. He tells us that he is “giddy.” (Yes, he actually
used the word “giddy”). While we enjoy our hot dog and
pop and watch a crowd stare intensely at a fly-tier showing his wares, Joe gets on his soapbox and pontificates
on the importance of fishing in his life. Being mindful of
my limited amount of space in this newsletter, I will summarize the key themes: He aches to be fishing, he aches
to be on the Au Sable and he really needs to go buy flies.
Yep, I think I covered it fairly thoroughly.
So after a couple of hours where we say hello to many
friends and persuade Joe to buy us things (he eagerly
complies), we leave him to wander aimlessly through the
expo for just awhile longer. We know he will return home
a happy fisher dude.
Now, for those readers who may not have the ability to
get to a fly-fishing expo, there are home remedies for the
late-winter depression suffered by many of our fishing
friends. We call it “wishin’ for flyfishin,” and it’s an evening of celebration of the joys of angling. When Joe has
the fishing blues bad, his family will gather up the waders, the rods and the fishing vests and decorate a room
in the house. Appropriate fishing music will play in the
background, and we will surprise Joe with an evening
devoted to his beloved Au Sable. Usually, fish will be
served as the main course, though we of course believe
deeply in catch and release on our river.
We have found that this evening of intervention can be
a life saver at this critical time of the year; it just might
help your angling addict to make it to the next significant
fishing holiday: Trout Opener, which is just around the
corner.
And so goes the life cycle called fishing.
- Betsy Hemming
25
daVIs resT
daVIs resT erosIon ConTroL ProjeCT
The Challenge Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Au Sable Big
Water Preservation Association, the US Forest Service,
and members of various other TU chapters just completed
an erosion control project on the lower Au Sable River
near McKinley called Davis Rest. The problem originated up in the parking lot. Water was running down the canoe take out point and eroding the sandy slope. We built
steps and two benches, redirected the drainage away from
slope, then walked away whistling. That was in September of 2011.
By late 2012 it was apparent that the river wasn’t done
with us. Log structures that we had placed to divert the
natural current away from the landing were washed away
in the spring high water, and by fall signs of erosion were
evident. A critter living in the slope wasn’t helping things
either.
The Forest Service built two more steps into the river and
placed some stone at the base in July 2013. In August
we brought in coir fiber logs and pinned them against
the bank to encourage the existing slope plant material
to grow into them and stabilize the erosion. More tree
trunks were brought down to the river and better secured
with “duckbills.” For the record, no ducks were harmed
in the building of this project.
As a finishing touch, rocks were brought down the steps
and placed by ASBWA volunteers and the Forest Service
to reinforce the banks. The logs appear to be diverting the
flow as hoped and we will review the project this coming
spring.
- Greg Baughman, Challenge Chapter President
The multiyear project at the historic
Davis Landing was spearheaded by the
Challenge Chapter of Trout Unlimited.
It may be the finest restoration effort ever
undertaken on the Big Water.
26
BoB andrUs WIns PeTosKeY PrIZe
From The Editor conitnued
one cannot send a letter every year. If we
want to keep the regulations that we have, or
suggest necessary changes, these letters will
help to start the dialogue.
1732 West M-32
Gaylord, MI 49735
So click on your word processing package
or get out a pen and paper. Here are the
folks to write about Gear Restrictions:
Tim Cwalinski
Senor Fisheries Biologist
DNR Gaylord Operations Service Center
1732 West M-32
Gaylord, MI 49735
Jim Dexter
Chief
MDNR Fisheries Division
PO Box 30446
Lansing, MI 48909
Neal Godby
Senor Fisheries Biologist
MDNR Grayling Field Office
1955 N. I-75 Business Loop
Grayling, MI 49738
Todd Grischke
Lake Huron Basin Coordinator
MDNR Fisheries Division
PO Box 30446
Lansing, MI 48909
It’s probably best to send your letter to
Chief Dexter and cc the rest. This should
not necessarily be a contentious or negative
letter. (Mine will be very upbeat.) Inform
them about what you have experienced over
these past three “seasons” and how you feel
about it.
Dave Borgeson
Northern Lake Huron Unit Manager
DNR Gaylord Operations Service Center
And it would be nice to do it soon.
*****
a Man for aLL seasons and reasons
Last spring Bob Andrus, longtime member
of the Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter of
Trout Unlimited, was awarded the Petoskey
Prize for 40 years of outstanding conservation work in the state – most of it on the
Au Sable and Manistee rivers. The honor
was no surprise to those people who have
worked with Bob over the last four decades.
Their only reaction was, “It’s about time.”
Andrus, who also held the Chair for Michigan Trout Unlimited State Council way
back when, founded the Au Sable River Watershed Committee a quarter century ago.
While he has his executive bona fides, Bob
is the quintessential boots-in-the-water guy.
Give him an erosion project to do or a lunker
structure to install and he’s in heaven. He’s
as comfortable swinging a sledgehammer as
he is casting a four weight. There are hundreds of spots along these two beloved rivers
that have his fingerprints on them. In recent
years he has been Project Coordinator for
Mason-Griffith and a big reason why they
were awarded back-to-back MITU Chapterof-the-Year awards in 2011 and 2012.
Where would we be without him?
In addition to his dedication to coldwater
conservation, Bob Andrus is refreshingly
modest and soft spoken. There’s not a selfpromoting bone in his body. In an era of
swaggering “face guides” with slick websites and the aforementioned flipbook laden
blowhards, it’s nice to be around a man of
real consequence who feels no need to acknowledge it. Bless him!
Next spring will find Bob Andrus drawing
up plans to do a half a hundred workdays on
two watersheds. He’ll sneak in some fishing and a trip out west as well. I hope that
he does it for a longtime.
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:
- Thomas Buhr, Editor
[email protected]
27
Anglers of the Au Sable
P.O. Box 200
Grayling, MI 49738
NonProfit Organization
US Postage
PAID
LUZERNE, MI
Permit No. 4
Contributors
Editorial Offices
The RIVERWATCH
P.O. Box 300
Luzerne, MI 48636
Email:
[email protected]
Editorial Staff
Thomas Buhr, Editor
Mark Hendricks, Assistant Editor
Ashley Jardina, Assistant Editor
Mercy Huizar, Graphic Designer
Email: [email protected]
Calendar - Late Fall 2013
December 14, 2013 - Anglers’ Board
Meeting, 10 a.m.
February 22, 2014 - Anglers’ Board
Meeting Room, 10 a.m.
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.
Tom Baird, First Vice President, Anglers
Greg Baughman, President, TU Challenge Chapter
Thomas Buhr, Editor
Emma Burke, Grayling H.S.
Olivia Ditkin, Grayling H.S.
Abigail Ertel, Huron Pines
Sarah Goodyear, Grayling H.S.
Josh Greenberg, Mainstream Correspondent
Karen Harrison, Secretary, Anglers
Betsy Hemming, RIVERWATCH Columnist
Nick Obermiller, Member
Andy Partlo, The Old Au Sable
Tyler Powers, Grayling H.S.
Bruce Pregler, President, Anglers
Greg Posen, Director, ILCTU
Angie Rouston, Grayling H.S.
Ally Sage, Mio-Au Sable H.S.
Brienna Shear, Member
Art Thomas, Big Water Correspondent