Michigan Trout Unlimited
MICHIGAN Trout
Michigan TU Chapter Updates
12 Fall/Winter 2021
Frank “Bob” Perrin/Lansing Chapter The Lansing area Frank “Bob” Perrin chapter has had a recent revival of chapter activities. This began with an effort by the former president Bob Ceru, who had a vision of the chapter becoming active in a local coldwater resource. With the guidance of Jim Bedford, an expert on coldwater fisheries within the state, a piece of water was identified. Jim recommended Prairie Creek, located just outside Ionia (shown in the photo above), and utilized an established relationship with a landowner. Thus, the Prairie Creek Project was born. In 2020, the chapter’s grant submission was selected by the Trout Unlimited Embrace-a-Stream program, which partnered with Orvis to help fund projects aimed at coldwater fisheries. The chapter was awarded $6,000 from EAS with a fundraising week in November 2020, which earned an additional $4,837. Project Chair Dan Oberst heads the project. Without his help and leadership, this project would not have been possible. As with most activities in early 2021, the beginning was difficult due to local health restrictions and an uncertain future. Despite these challenges, Dan and the chapter were able to begin in-person work in June. The project set out to improve over 1,000 feet of stream habitat, build and install 20 log habitat structures, cut over a mile of angler access trail, and plant trees as needed throughout the work area. An underlying goal for this project was chapter engagement and revitalization. The chapter has experienced a growth of active members who volunteered their time and efforts to bring the Prairie Creek Project to life. They are optimistic that 2022 will provide opportunities to continue work on the creek with new projects and assist other chapters with their knowledge and experience. Headwaters Chapter The last few months have been very productive for the Headwaters Chapter, thanks to their members that supported events this year. The chapter sent a team out to work on the cedars project on the Deward Tract of the Upper Manistee River. Less than a dozen trees did not survive, and quite a few were upgraded with larger cages as many trees had grown. Chapter teams also participated in the Au Sable River cleanup and conducted an annual macroinvertebrate survey with the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council. The chapter is getting closer to fully implementing its sustained giving program. The website is functional, and the chapter is working on the premiums from hats to shirts. It is a very good program to get more people involved with the chapter and provide some cool rewards for sustained support. The chapter is very close to starting its “barbless hook fly box” fundraising event, where 38 unique fly boxes have been
by Joe Barker
made from wood at the property where Trout Unlimited was created. Details will be available from the chapter’s Facebook page on the unique history offered by these boxes and the wood used to make them. The Headwaters Chapter recently held its annual Cast and Blast weekend camp and opener for the archery whitetail season. It had a few folks out to enjoy the weather in the northern section of the Pigeon River Country, and they were serenaded each night and morning by the elk herd that is still in rut. Mershon-Neumann Heritage Chapter Working in collaboration with the Rifle River Restoration Committee, the Mershon-Neumann Heritage Chapter placed onion bag dispensers at four popular landings along the Rifle River. The project, designed to encourage people using the river to remove trash, started July 1 and saw immediate results. Landowners and canoe liveries monitor and restock the boxes weekly with the bags, sponsored by Greenstone Farm Credit Services. The Women ‘n Waders event was held on September 11 at the Saginaw Bay Visitor’s Center for the fifth year. Each participant learned the basics to start fly fishing. David Humphries of Scientific Anglers and the DNR provided donations to assure each woman had a good start with the equipment needed to get out on the water. The Family Fly Fishing Fun Festival was held on September 12 at the Saginaw Field and Stream. Members of the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter, Coast Guard, Bay County Health Department, and Creative 360 helped the chapter educate and entertain more than 60 participants in casting, bug identification, yoga for anglers, fly and knot tying, crafts, water safety, and casting competitions. The chapter’s partnership with Creative 360 continues with “Yoga on the Fly” on Tuesday, December 7, from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Wirt Library in Bay City. Participants will learn yoga moves to reduce tension at the fly tying bench while tying a few simple flies. To join, register through the chapter’s Facebook page, www. facebook.com/mershon.tu. Victoria Hankins and Laurie Seibert attended the Friends Involved In Sportsfishing Heritage program. Michigan State University Saginaw County 4-H and the M.S.U. Extension Office present F.I.S.H. to teach hands-on ways to get youth excited about fishing and becoming good stewards of the water systems. This program has provided the chapter with resources and networking to expand its youth program considerably. Kalamazoo Valley Chapter After taking the year off in 2021, Michigan’s TU Youth and Conservation Camp will be returning in 2022. While some changes should be expected with Covid-19, the camp’s mission
