Michigan Trout Unlimited
MICHIGAN Trout
Michigan TU Chapter Updates
12
by Joe Barker
Spring 2022
Vanguard Chapter
Clinton Valley Chapter
It has been an active six months for the Vanguard Chapter despite challenges presented by the lingering pandemic. In late summer, the Chapter completed phase II of its instream habitat improvement project on Paint Creek within the Clinton River watershed and, in the process, fulfilled the requirements of the Embrace-A-Stream grant that was secured for this multi-year project. Included in this effort were electro-shocking fish surveys with Michigan TU’s Aquatic Biologist Kristin Thomas. The Chapter also installed a stairway on Paint Creek at an access point experiencing significant bank erosion due to the heavy foot traffic on the prior pathway leading to the creek (shown in the photo above).
October thru December 2021 found the Clinton Valley Chapter working on various items. In October, the Chapter worked on a joint effort with the Michigan Fly Girls on a woman’s “Introduction to Fly Fishing” event. The event was sponsored by the Michigan Fly Girls with CVTU members as additional support to the instructors. The event taught the participants about fly rods and reels, leaders, tippets, casting, and safe wading practices.
Looking ahead into calendar year 2022, the Chapter has several conservation efforts planned, including planting native vegetation at the aforementioned angler access site, maintenance work on instream structures installed in Paint Creek in prior years, and the continuation of sediment monitoring on the creek. They are also looking forward to participating in the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo in March and the annual fishing weekend on the Au Sable River in June. Copper Country Chapter The Copper Country Chapter continues to support coaster brook trout research at Michigan Tech University. In collaboration with USFWS and Michigan DNR, 23 large brook trout were implanted with acoustic tags to track their migrations in Lake Superior and tributaries around the Keweenaw Peninsula. This information is critical to understanding coaster habitat use and identifying potential restoration strategies. CCCTU will be offering a competitive research fellowship to an Upper Peninsula college student studying fisheries or coldwater habitats. In 2021, CCCTU purchased and deployed temperature loggers in six different streams. These will be redeployed along with some additional loggers in 2022 to establish a long-term stream temperature dataset for important trout streams in the western Upper Peninsula. CCCTU also hosted a beginner fly tying class and turned out an impressive variety of woolly buggers. Additional fly tying and fly fishing workshops are planned for the coming year.
To close out 2021, CVTU, along with the participation of the Paul H Young, Challenge, and Vanguard chapters, joined together for a holiday social. This is their season-closing event in which they work to raise funds for a particular event. That event was a raffle to support The Michigan Grayling Initiative, managed by Nicole Watson. The chapters were honored to have Nicole at the social to describe her work and answer all their questions. Starting 2022, Chapter members braved the elements and worked with the Clinton River Watershed Council on a stonefly search. The activity, as always, was a great success. The Chapter will sell tickets for its 2nd Annual March Madness Raffle starting in February. This will consist of 1000 tickets for 31 days of great prizes. Check the CVTU Facebook page and website for further information. In March, the Chapter will have the drawing for its grayling raffle and set up at the Midwest Fly Fishing Expo on March 12th and 13th. Going into spring, CVTU will start with its river cleanups, classes with the Boy and Girl Scouts, and get out in the rivers for fly fishing. Fred Waara Chapter Last fall, the Fred Waara Chapter worked with the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve and Partners for Watershed Restoration to complete the Lost Creek tree planting project that was started in 2020. A combined team of more than 42 volunteers planted 1,240 native trees, including white pine, white cedar, and hemlock. Farther south, FWCTU completed another temperature monitoring season in both the Paint River and Iron River watersheds. Data from the arsenal of 39 temperature loggers are being evaluated as decisions are being made about plans for future temperature monitoring. In addition, the Chapter completed its fifth year of brush bundle work on Cooks Run. They are currently working with the DNR and Forest Service to determine whether future brush bundle
