Michigan TU Chapter Updates

by Joe Barker

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 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.

remains the same: to provide a safe and fun environment for campers to learn the values of TU.

After years of ensuring the camp’s flawless operations codirectors, Alan Brooks (KVCTU) and Paul Meyer (Adams Chapter) will be stepping down this year as directors. Alan and Paul took over the Youth Camp in 2014 with no formalized schedule or budget. Since that time, Paul and Alan have incorporated new systems and processes that helped track equipment, budget, and logistics of the camp to streamline and maximize the efficiency of the personnel and resources involved in making it such a success. While their leadership as directors will be missed, their knowledge and skills will still be available to campers as they both plan to remain involved as camp counselors.

The 2022 youth camp will be housed at the Michigan DNR’s Ralph A. McMullan Conference Center on North Higgins Lake Roscommon, Michigan. Campers will have the opportunity to learn from counselors with generations of experience both in and outside of Michigan. Campers will not only learn both fly and conventional fishing techniques but will also take the time to emphasize the importance of coldwater conservation and how to ensure the future of trout. In addition, campers will learn lure making, fly tying, knots, advanced fly casting techniques, and, most importantly, have some fun.

Campers will have an opportunity to test out the skills they learn on historic stretches of the nearby Au Sable River with the oversight of counselors. An evening river float trip with some of the Grayling area’s finest river captains is a cherry on top of the camp’s activities, leaving campers with knowledge and confidence as they grow as TU’s future leaders and conservationists.

Camp dates are Sunday, June 19th through Thursday, June 23rd. With approximately 20 seats available, campers ranging in ages from 14-17 are encouraged to contact their local TU chapter if interested in enrolling. Additional information will be posted on the KVCTU.org and michigantu.org websites, with camper applications and other important dates. The camp is also looking to add camp counselors and medical personnel. If interested in sharing skills or a desire to teach coldwater conservation to our youth, please contact Jon Chizmadia at jon.chizmadia@kvctu.org or phone (269) 251-5368.

Paul H. Young Chapter

In September, the Paul Young Chapter reluctantly had to cancel its annual golf outing due to severe weather. The board of directors has already made plans to reschedule the event for March 24, 2022, and has decided to change the venue to Top Golf in Auburn Hills. The chapter feels the new location will be better suited for non-golfers and cannot be canceled due to weather.

The chapter held its fall Wa Wa Sum Lodge weekend in late September. Member volunteers assisted the Anglers of the Au Sable with cedar plantings on the Upper Manistee River. The chapter continues to support this great effort with both donations and volunteer hours. Last spring, they were able to release several cedars from their cages. It was gratifying to have planted the trees, nurtured them, maintained the cages, and brought them to a self-sustaining state.

Wayne Memorial High School has been added to the chapter’s

The Family Fly Fishing Fun Festival participated in the by the Mershon-Neumann Heritage Chapter. Salmon in the Classroom program. The chapter’s board of directors has decided to update their chapter logo. The idea is to have something that works well on things like t-shirts, hats, coffee mugs, and stickers.

Challenge Chapter

The Challenge Chapter was part of the Family-Friendly Fishing Events at the Johnson Nature Center throughout the summer. The chapter provided technical assistance and support to the families who bring their kids to learn the joys of fishing. The Nature Center has a large pond that is closed to fishing all year except for these days. Naturally, the fish cooperate, and everyone leaves happy. The chapter is looking forward to the 2022 fishing season, where it will continue the partnership with the Nature Center and support the Youth Fishing Program. If other chapters would like to participate, the number of days can be expanded in 2022. Please contact one of the board members on its website, www. challengechapter.org The chapter started 50 years ago with seven members. The chapter name “Challenge” was chosen on this premise: “… as a continual reminder or challenge to protect, preserve and restore coldwater fisheries for Michigan.” To that end, the chapter has been providing “Trout Angler Guides” that are dedicated to saving anglers time and provide valuable information as to popular streams. Current titles include Pigeon River Country, Au Sable Holy Waters (Burton’s Landing to Wakeley Bridge), Lower Au Sable Trophy Waters (McMaster’s Bridge to Oscoda), Pere Marquette River, Boardman and Jordan Rivers (soon to be updated), Manistee River, and the Steelheader’s Guide (five rivers). Each guide book includes a history of the area, specific directions to access sites within a tenth of a mile, stream depth, bottom, width, current flow, trout cover, detailed maps, and a schedule of crucial fly hatches. The guides can be found at local fly shops or the chapter’s website.

Pere Marquette Chapter

PMTU is working with the Conservation Resource Alliance ...continued on page 23