GLF

Thanks for the report and weir information. I am curious as to what the final numbers will be.

I have talked with several friends of my who are hunters. Myself and all of them agree, this is a poor year for acorns. Whats everyone's observations?

A weak El Nino under way in the Pacific Ocean should contribute to a mild winter for much of the United States, the National Weather Service reported today. That could be bad news for the Great Lakes region, where a mild winter translates into less ice cover on the lakes. Less ice cover increases precipitation of lake water, which lowers lake levels. http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-10/1160491521159310.xml&coll=8

Looks pretty favorable. Anyone going fishing this week? j/k SOUTH HALF GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 PM CDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY AFTERNOON THIS AFTERNOON WEST WINDS 10 TO 20 KNOTS RISING TO GALES TO 35 KNOTS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. OCCASIONAL RAIN. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET BUILDING TO 6 TO 8 FEET. TONIGHT WEST GALES TO 40 KNOTS. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS. WAVES BUILDING TO 12 TO 16 FEET. THURSDAY WEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS OR SNOW SHOWERS. WAVES 12 TO 16 FEET. THURSDAY NIGHT WEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS. RAIN SHOWERS OR SNOW SHOWERS LIKELY. WAVES 12 TO 16 FEET. FRIDAY WEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS. CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. WAVES 12 TO 16 FEET. FRIDAY NIGHT WEST GALES TO 35 KNOTS EASING TO 30 KNOTS AFTER MIDNIGHT. WAVES 10 TO 14 FEET. SATURDAY SOUTHWEST WINDS 30 KNOTS. WAVES 10 TO 14 FEET. SUNDAY SOUTH WINDS 15 TO 25 KNOTS. WAVES 3 TO 5 FEET.

Nice job Roger. Myself, I think the does are better tasting.

Nice mess of perch Frank!

Scientists have been trying to keep the invasive sea lamprey under control in the Great Lakes for decades. A pesticide helps keep their numbers down. But it's expensive, and sometimes it kills other fish. Now, researchers have discovered a lamprey "perfume," a pheromone or chemical attractant that could be a big help in their fight against one of the most destructive invasive species. Duluth, Minn. — The sea lamprey came into the Great Lakes through canals more than 100 years ago. They're parasites, attaching themselves to big fish and sucking the juices out. Each lamprey can kill 40 pounds of fish in its lifetime. Wildlife managers use a chemical called TFM to keep the lamprey numbers down. They spread the lampricide in streams in the spring, to kill some of the young lamprey as they swim down into the lake. http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/10/03_hemphills_lampreys/

City hopes to control historic site next year The white surface of the Fort Gratiot Lighthouse in Port Huron is spotted with red bits of brick peeking from behind the paint, serving as evidence of the 177-year-old building's deterioration. Through the years, outer chunks of bricks forming the lighthouse's tapered, vertical exterior have broken off and fallen from the structure, which is the focal point of the six-building Fort Gratiot Light Station off Omar Street at the southern tip of Lake Huron. http://www.thetimesherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061006/NEWS01/610060304/1002

Before hitting the campaign trail, a bipartisan Congress managed to reauthorize funding that helps protect the Great Lakes and their wildlife. Lawmakers even managed to double funding for the multi-year program. Instead of $8 million, the feds are providing $16 million - for the entire Great Lakes region. This is progress. But in light of the variety of threats to the Great Lakes, and their crucial importance to Michigan, the region and the nation, the congressional action is, well, underwhelming. http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/OPINION01/610050325/1086/opinion

The situation became even steamier this past week as attorneys for the Waukesha Water Utility asserted in a letter that the city really does not need to apply for approval for access to Lake Michigan water. Citing a similar case in an Indiana town, the utility argues Waukesha does not need to qualify as a new diversion of water from the lake under a federal law passed in 1986 because the aquifer under the city serves as a ground water tributary to Lake Michigan. The utility is seeking a long-term supply to replace its use of the deep, underground aquifer; that reservoir has been determined as having too much radium content, through recent tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency http://onmilwaukee.com/politics/articles/wispol100606.html?9878

I have upgraded the forums software. I am not seeing any issues. Let me know if anyone is having issues with the site.

UNIONVILLE -- Hunters who open the southern Lower Peninsula duck season on Saginaw Bay on Saturday may have to rethink their plans for decoy sets. State wildlife officials say water levels in the bay are so low that they may not be able to pump water into waterfowl management areas. But Chris Deming, who operates Fish Point Lodge with her husband, Doug, said that what hunters may not see as much water, what they will find throughout the big bay is ducks and geese, lots of them. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061005/SPORTS10/610050400/1058

Local municipalities are being asked to participate in a new study bent on establishing the quality of near-shore lake water which is under way in Lake Ontario by the Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative (LOCI). The study will focus on phosphorous and nitrogen levels in the lake, as well as suspended solids and cyanotoxins. This study is aimed at addressing these issues in local municipalities through more effective sewage treatment and the management of run-off waste that enters Lake Ontario. The research will revolve around the lake shore, a change from previous concentration by other groups on the off-shore waters of Lake Ontario. Off-shore lake waters were dramatically improved through efforts over the last 25 years in the Lake Ontario Management Plan, instituted by an international joint commission between the United States and Canada. http://www.pall-times.com/articles/2006/10/05/news/news1.txt

Officials with the city of Longueuil, south of Montreal, insist their decision to dump raw sewage into the St. Lawrence River has not jeopardized public safety. The city began to redirect sewage into the river on Sept. 28, after a fire damaged an electrical panel at a key municipal pumping plant, said François Laramée, a spokesman for Longueuil. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2006/10/05/qc-rawsewage-st-lawrence.html

Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife health officials, collaborating with Michigan State University’s Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health, today announced epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) has been diagnosed in two Michigan white-tailed deer. The two deer -- one free-ranging and one privately owned -- were from Allegan County. EHD is an acute, infectious, often fatal viral disease contracted by wild ruminants but most commonly affects white-tailed deer. EHD is not transmitted from one animal to another by direct contact, and it is not transmissible to humans. Cattle may develop an infection from the EHD virus that is not readily apparent; but fever, oral lesions, lameness and reproductive problems occasionally occur. Dogs and cats are not susceptible to EHD. The virus is transmitted by the bite of an infected insect, Culicoides, which includes midges, gnats and other biting flies. EHD typically strikes in late summer and early fall. The insect dies with the onset of frost. “In the past three weeks, the DNR has received reports of approximately 50 dead deer in the area encompassing the Kalamazoo River, Rabbit River and the Potawatomi Marsh,†said Sara Schaefer, supervisor for the Wildlife Division’s Southwest Management Unit. “Staff in this area have received numerous calls about dead deer, and we were able to retrieve some fresh carcasses to be tested.†“Examination of the submitted deer showed lesions consistent with an EHD infection and laboratory results confirmed the preliminary diagnosis,†said Thomas Cooley, DNR pathologist. Deer in the early stages of EHD may appear lethargic, disoriented, lame and unresponsive to humans. As the disease progresses the deer may have bloody discharge from the nose and mouth along with sores in the mouth and a swollen tongue. Death may occur within one to three days. Infected or dead deer with EHD usually are found near water as a result of the high fever that develops with this disease. Deer that have recovered from EHD infection often have cracked hooves and/or heavy hoof overgrowth. If dead deer are found near bodies of water, or if any deer harvested during the archery season or firearm season exhibit abnormal hoof growth or damage, the public is encouraged to report them to the nearest DNR field office, which can be located by visiting the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. “Although EHD is considered the most important viral disease affecting white-tailed deer in the U.S., it rarely occurs in Michigan. While it may impact the deer population in a localized area, it is not a threat to the deer herd statewide,†said Bill Moritz, chief of the Wildlife Division. “When all conditions are right: weather, virus and host, the disease may occur; this is just very rare in Michigan.†Previous EHD die-offs occurred in Michigan in 1955 and 1974. This year EHD also has been diagnosed in Oregon, Wyoming, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana and Georgia.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources wildlife officials today announced there are more than 30,000 leftover licenses still available for the fall turkey hunting season. These licenses may be purchased over the counter by individuals who did not apply for a fall wild turkey license in August. The licenses will be sold until the quota for each hunt unit is met. The complete list of leftover licenses is located on the DNR Web site at www.michigan.gov/dnr. The fall turkey season opened Oct. 2 and runs through Nov. 14 in selected areas of the state. A hunter may purchase only one fall turkey hunting license each year. Last year, 17,100 fall wild turkey hunters harvested 4,700 turkeys. See the 2006 Fall Wild Turkey Hunting Guide for all hunt numbers, dates and regulations pertaining to the fall season. The guide is available on the DNR Web site or at all DNR license vendor locations.

Now that you had the opportunity to use it for the season, how do you like it?

Recommendations for a marine radio. What brand/model marine radio do you have? Do you get feedback from others that your transmissions are breaking up? How is your reception?

Who still has their boat out and is still fishing?

E. coli bacteria has been hogging the headlines. It's in the news whenever there's a sewage spill or beach closing, and the contamination of raw spinach was a national drama. But phosphorus, a nutrient in everything from sewage to manure to lawn fertilizer, doesn't get as much play. http://www.mlive.com/columns/bctimes/jeff_kart/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1159469105288330.xml&coll=4

Waterways could get $80 million The Great Lakes are about to win federal funding of up to $80 million over the next five years, double the amount available in the past. From studying the movements of yellow perch in Lake Michigan to restoring marshes, the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act has paid for 65 projects since its start in 1990. The U.S. House renewed the act this week and the Senate is expected to approve the bill before it recesses today or Saturday. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060929/NEWS06/609290383/1008/NEWS

The boat has been looked over by a marine mechanic(not theirs). The stringers and the transom are in good shape. There is no damage to either skag on the lower units. I have been doing some checking on the net, and I am seeing that the engine coupler is known to go out in I/O's The inner teeth of the coupler are aluminum. This is something that should be greased once a year, or every 100 hrs. Some after market engine couplers come with a grease fitting, so you do not have to pull the drive to do it.

Happy Birthday Caznik! Hope you have a GREAT one!!!

This will mostly be a fishing boat.

It has I/o's and the whirling noise is a bad engine coupler.