Michigan TU Youth Conservation and Trout Camp

by Jonathan Chizmadia, Kalamazoo Valley Chapter Youth Camp Committee

After a two-year break, the 2022 Michigan TU Youth Conservation and Trout Camp is officially in the books. The camp was once again hosted at the Ralph A. MacMullan (RAM) Center on Higgins Lake. This year’s 16 campers from 13-18 years of age represented the Adams, Kalamazoo Valley, Frank “Bob” Perrin-Lansing, Schrems West Michigan, Challenge, Paul H. Young, Mershon-Neumann Heritage, and Headwaters Chapters of TU. The Anglers of the Au Sable also sponsored a camper.

Trout Camp teaches campers about coldwater conservation and promotes the mission of TU to future generations. Campers are given a full tutorial in trout fishing techniques, both fly and conventional, and leave camp with the tools and confidence to become leaders within their respective chapters.

After arriving at the RAM center and saying goodbye to relatives, Sunday started with a lesson in fly casting from FFF-certified casting instructor Tim Jacobs. Students also had a chance to learn basic knots as well as spinner building with legendary spinner expert Jim Bedford. Sunday afternoon, students were hosted by the Anglers of the Au Sable for a tour of the Grayling Fish Hatchery. They learned the history of the facility and how a potential ecological nightmare was transformed into a tool for conservation. Campers honed their fly-casting skills on the hatchery’s bluegill pond, where the campers’ spider imitations fooled several fish. On Sunday evening, campers discussed the day’s activities and did a little ice-breaking over s’mores and a campfire.

Monday morning came early, and after a quick breakfast at the RAM center, John Sheets of Gates Au Sable Lodge instructed on tying several proven patterns for Grayling area streams. Students then learned about different types of flies and how to fish them. After a quick trip to Gates fly shop, campers hit the river for the evening, where several campers could connect. Some even managed to catch their first wild Michigan trout! Day three started with more fly tying with legendary Mershon-Neumann Heritage Chapter tyer Don Meyer, followed by Michigan DNR presentations from Neil Godby and Patrick Ertel. In Neil’s discussion of “What Makes a Trout Stream,’’ campers learned about geology and the importance of groundwater to maintain cold stream temperatures. During Patrick’s hands-on stream table simulations, campers could see how streams can be altered for better or worse. Stream tables are a valuable tool used more frequently to simulate the field conditions of a stream. This new knowledge was quickly put into play on a local Mason/Griffith/Founders Chapter project located on the East Branch of the Au Sable River. Campers provided sweat equity by clearing brush and installing half logs to increase flow and expose much-needed trout spawning gravel under the supervision of former DNR biologist Steve Sendek and Chapter President Karen Harrison. Following the project, campers visited the Lovells Historical Museum, where they learned even more about the history of TU and how the organization started in Campers clearing brush and installing half logs on the East Branch.

Grayling. Unfortunately, the warm weather did not provide optimum fishing conditions for the nearby North Branch, so campers returned to the mainstream, where they spent the evening fishing the cooler stretches of the Holy Waters. This was a perfect opportunity to practice what students learned about stream temperature and its effect on trout.

Cooler weather greeted campers on a busy Wednesday morning. Again, after a quick breakfast, campers were shuttled to the South Branch, where they spent the morning fishing under the supervision of their assigned counselors. Michigan TU Aquatic Ecologist Kristin Thomas and her team met the campers for lunch at Chase Bridge following the morning fishing. Kristin and her team demonstrated stream shocking and macroinvertebrate collection and identification.

Campers took a break in the afternoon to unwind and have some fun floating the South Branch with the Paddle Brave Canoe Livery. Following dinner, Howard Johnson (Cedars for the AuSable) and his team of boat captains arranged the highlight float trip through the Holy Waters on traditional Au Sable River boats.

Thursday was a bittersweet day as parents arrived for the awards ceremony. Campers packed up to return home, but the time spent and memories made at the 2022 Michigan Trout Camp won’t soon be forgotten.

Passing the torch to future generations of anglers to create our next conservationists is one of the most important things TU can do to ensure the sustainability of coldwater fisheries. The Trout Camp was a program designed 25 years ago that embodies this idea. Originated and administered by members of the Kalamazoo Chapter, counselors throughout Michigan and beyond spend countless volunteer hours planning and operating the camp, including members from Clinton Valley, Ann Arbor, Schrems West Michigan, Mershon-Neumann Heritage, Frank “Bob” Perrin-Lansing, Mason/Griffith/Founder, Adams, and Kalamazoo Valley Chapters.

Planning is underway for the 2023 camp, which will again be held at the RAM Center June 18-22, 2023. The 2023 curriculum will be tailored for campers 13-16 years of age. No prior fishing experience is necessary. Campers are encouraged to bring a good attitude and an open mind. Applications will be available in January 2023, requiring some basic information and a short letter explaining why the camper would like to attend the camp. The camp is limited to 20 campers, who can only participate once.

If you would like to help contribute to the 2023 TU Michigan Youth Conservation and Trout Camp, you can do so this fall by purchasing a donor pin. Designed by extremely talented artist and 2022 alumni Emma Grace Ridley (Gracie), proceeds from the pins will fund campers. By purchasing a pin, you can show your support of the coldwater fisheries’ heritage and have a very nice, hard enamel pin that can be proudly worn on your hat or vest or kept as a collector’s item. In addition, several very nice prizes will be drawn randomly for those who purchase a pin. As always, donations are greatly appreciated and accepted. Pins can be purchased here go.tulocalevents. org/a8ea6e/Campaign/Details.

For information on Michigan TU’s Trout Camp visit michigantucamp.org, or contact Andrew Pokorski from the Clinton Valley Chapter at andrewpokorski@ michigantucamp.org or Jon Chizmadia from the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter at jonchizmadia@michigantucamp.org.

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