Michigan Trout Unlimited
MICHIGAN Trout
Michigan TU Chapter Updates
12 Fred Waara Chapter
Summer 2021
The Fred Waara Chapter continues to impact Upper Peninsula watersheds, trout, and people positively through numerous collaborations. In addition to the Iron County projects detailed in the summer 2020 issue of Michigan Trout, the Chapter is working on important projects throughout its large geographic footprint. With the Partners for Watershed Restoration (PWR), which includes the Copper Country Chapter and the Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve, several hundred trees were planted along the Pilgrim River and Lost Creek last October. The Pilgrim is one of the few coaster brook trout strongholds in the Upper Peninsula., and Lost Creek is a coldwater refuge tributary to Yellow Dog River. Through a $5000 grant from the Cleveland Cliffs Foundation, the group will continue tree planting initiatives (shown in the photo above) this fall. Several other PWR projects are also being planned. The Chapter also supports the Alger Conservation District in revamping the West Branch Whitefish River King Road crossing. Work includes pre and post-project macroinvertebrate sampling in addition to post-project plantings. FWCTU provided educational activities at the Richmond Township Fishing Derby in mid-June. This event serves more than a hundred kids each summer. The Chapter acquired ten new sets of fly tying equipment through a Marquette Rotary Club grant, which will be used in a youth fly tying workshop at Northern Michigan University in June. In August, the Chapter will participate in an university information fair to promote the TU mission, the Chapter, and some great opportunities for NMU students to get involved. Vanguard Chapter It has been a long, tedious road through the COVID pandemic, but it looks like the Vanguard Chapter can see the light at the end of the tunnel. After almost a year and a half of no in-person meetings and social distancing, in May the Chapter had a scaled-down but in-person gathering at their annual fishing weekend at Au Sable Riverview Resort in Grayling. Participation was reduced, and there was only one shared meal, a Friday fish-fry held outside. Unfortunately, water temperatures were still in the low 50s, and the fish were still waking up from their winter slumber. Early June brought another gathering for the Chapter at Rochester Municipal Park for a casting clinic with Dave Leonhard from Streamside Orvis in Traverse City. Dave never ceases to amaze with his casting and teaching ability.
by Joe Barker
Members were able to correct any problems with their casts that developed over the last 18 months. Dave also provided an excellent overview of past, present, and possible future technologies employed in the hardware and techniques of fly fishing. Never one to disappoint, Dave encouraged everyone to get out and practice their skills on the rivers and streams of Michigan with their newly found tips to improve their game. The Chapter is looking forward to returning to normal this summer with Paint Creek projects, including instream habitat improvement, constructing angler access points, and conducting fish surveys through electro-shocking with Michigan TU Aquatic Biologist Kristin Thomas. Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter President Karen Harrison is known for being a can-do advocate who avoids the spotlight. But her accomplishments will get lots of attention on August 19. That’s when the Michigan Environmental Council is to present her with its Petoskey Prize for Environmental Leadership. Awarded annually, the Prize salutes a volunteer activist whose outstanding grassroots environmental leadership is marked by commitment, creativity, and courage. Those qualities certainly pertain to Harrison, according to a nomination submitted by MGFTU member Thomas Buhr. Over the last 18 years—the last eight of which include steering the Chapter— she has led numerous initiatives to preserve and promote the Au Sable River. They include shepherding a number of restoration projects, raising more than $1 million through grant writing and fundraising, energizing the Chapter, and organizing and participating in various related activities, ranging from fly-tying classes to cedar-tree plantings. “I have yet to see a volunteer, or anyone for that matter, devote so much heart and soul to the protection, restoration, and stewardship of one of Michigan’s prized aquatic resources,” wrote retired Michigan DNR biologist Steve Sendek in a letter supporting Harrison’s nomination. Harrison will receive the Petoskey Prize at MEC’s 23rd Annual Environmental Awards Celebration on the grounds of Gordon Hall in Dexter. It comes with a $5,000 gift to MGFTU. The event is open to all. Celebration sponsorships and admissions are now available. For information, visit MEC’s website (environmentalcouncil.org), email joe@ environmentalcouncil.org, or call 269-823-8722.
