GLF

Shoreline ice is breaking up, making access difficult. All the fishing pressure on the north end has been for whitefish, but a few lake trout were also caught. Try fishing spawn just off the bottom in waters 30 to 40 feet deep.

The ice is holding, and fishing continues. Those fishing out from the Cut River and Lyman’s have caught bluegills. Black crappies up to 15 inches long were caught when jigging minnows in waters 8 to 12 feet deep.

Anglers are now walking out to get smelt, as they may have to cross over a little open water near shore before getting on solid ice. Trucks pulling shanties off the lake in certain areas did tear up the ice a bit. Smelt can still be found up near the North State Park. Rainbow trout are hitting on wigglers in shallow waters near the creeks. Use caution as ice in these areas can be unpredictable.

Heavy rains along with strong winds took out the ice and ended ice fishing in the bay. Boat anglers should be able to get out once the weather has stabilized.

Is currently at or above flood stage. Any fishing activity or even launching a boat would be impossible and very dangerous. Walleye anglers will have to wait until the season opens back up on April 29th. Water levels should recede by the end of the week.

Ice fishing is over, as strong winds have blown the ice out of the bay. A few anglers managed to catch some yellow perch in the cuts and canals around Quanicassee. Boat anglers may be able to get out by the end of the week.

Steelhead are still hitting below the dam at Flat Rock. Spawn or flies in bright colors are catching fish.

Good jumbo perch fishing in the Metro Park Marina and near the mouth of the Detroit River.

How many of you have checked out google earth? This is a fee download. 11.2mb, so I hope you have high speed internet. http://earth.google.com/

You have to love the weather in Michigan to live here. One day its 65, the next day its 37. Now they are forecasting 3-6" of snow on Thursday. Figures....I took the plow off my truck yesterday.

At $25 dollars a person I do not feel that is an unreasonable amount. Figure by the time you leave home, haul the boat to lake, fish for 6 - 8 hours and haul the boat back, you will spend $75 if not more in gas. You can figure gas will be at least $2.50 - $3.00 per gallon, if not more this year. I am sure the charter rates will be up this year because of the gas prices. Those big boats do not run on water. OK...they do run on water, but you need gas to make them go

I will see everyone at the chat tonight.

I have the cost of the embroidering. I am trying to get a better cost on the jackets. The cost to put the Great Lakes Fisherman logo on a jacket is $35.00 If I have 5 or more done at a time, its $30.00 per jacket. Your name or username can be embroidered for $5.00. If you want your name and username, it is $7.50. I will have the total cost for jackets and embroidering on Friday. I need to see what kind of buisnessman I can be

Thanks for the report!

I am the net man for Running Arend's. That or buoy look out Fish boil sounds good to me.

I really thought more people would get involved in this. After the first week, Steve Arend has the lead with 1 referral.

Maybe I should have asked if everyone heads straight home after a days fishing, instead of where does every like to eat.

Anyone going to make it this Sunday?

I am going to sticker shock my wife with the prices of a new boats

I have seen them on ebay as well. You can find anything on ebay Welcome to the site groover.

Recently the U.S. Coast Guard has become aware of a recall notice for some U.S. Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers made by the Strike First Corporation of America. trike First has determined that the valve stem seats in a number of its 2.5 and 5 lb dry chemical fire extinguishers assembled between December 2002 and February 2004 may prevent the extinguisher from discharging properly when the lever is activated. As a result of this condition, Strike First has initiated a fire extinguisher retro-fit program for these units. Retro-fit kits are available free of charge by contacting your Strike First distributor, or by contacting Strike First directly. The Coast Guard recommends that vessel operators verify the manufacturer of their fire extinguishers, and if applicable, take the action recommended by the manufacturer. For details visit: www.strikefirstusa.com/serv_bull_002.htm Questions or comments regarding this safety alert may be addressed to Mr. Klaus Wahle of the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Life Saving and Fire Safety Standards Division at 202.267.0256 or [email protected]

Legislation proposed by several Great Lakes states including Wisconsin to fight the spread of invasive species is not realistic. That's the opinion of the new Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute at UW-Superior. The Institute claims such laws won't allow ocean-going ships with ballast water that aren't free of invasive species to sail on the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute has almost $3-million in federal money, charging the Institute to come up with alternatives that will ease the invasion of foreign organisms plaguing the Great Lakes. Co-Director Richard Stewart says the solution is not for states to ban international shipping. "Because interstate and international transportation is a regulation of the federal government, not state entities. But that will be decided in the courts as it has been decided before." Universities of Minnesota, Michigan and Wisconsin have a hand in this Institute's research. Stewart says already they're looking at ships that do not hold ballast water. "Using a flow-through ballast system. The Europeans who are much more advanced in shipbuilding, especially in the area of green shipbuilding than we are as a nation, have devised a treatable ballast system, very green ships. These are already being built and used in the Baltic and other regions." Stewart says preventing invasive species such as zebra mussels and sea lamprey is everybody's problem and not one left to the shipping industry. "The option of not having a transportation network because of invasive species is not a viable option. So we have to address it." This collaboration gives the Research Institute three years to come up with some alternatives to make shipping less invasive to the Great Lakes.

I have the itch something fierce! Now this blasted cold front came in Maybe next week.

I can get em stitched for you. Only if you have them on when it gets done!

Lets see some pictures of these home made pinch pads.