Tip Up Town gets more expensive each year as the cost of insurance and rides goes up. The local business community does great but this they need a little help. Thus the fundraiser asking a mere $5 donation. Wow. What a deal. Hope to see you there.
Showing posts with label Reedsburg. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reedsburg. Show all posts
Sunday, January 10, 2016
TIP UP TOWN USA 2016 Fundraiser Event January 16, 2016
Day 63
There will be a fundraiser event held at Shenanigans Pub on Saturday, January 16th at 7pm with live entertainment and a free Nacho Bar. Will be asking for a $5 donation that will go to Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce in support of Tip Up Town.
Tip Up Town gets more expensive each year as the cost of insurance and rides goes up. The local business community does great but this they need a little help. Thus the fundraiser asking a mere $5 donation. Wow. What a deal. Hope to see you there.
Tip Up Town gets more expensive each year as the cost of insurance and rides goes up. The local business community does great but this they need a little help. Thus the fundraiser asking a mere $5 donation. Wow. What a deal. Hope to see you there.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Houghton Lake Ice Fishing 2015 No Ice Yet
Day 20
There is no joy in shanty town because there's no ice and no telling how soon there will be. Last year at this time there was already an ice angler on the lake. Ill advised to be sure but every year someone has to try for bragging rights, to be the first fisherman on the ice. No matter how dangerous. So far this year there is not even a hint of ice. Whitecaps can still be seen in a high wind.
The reason as I understand it is a tropical storm called El Nino (there's a tilde above the n you just can't see it). This causes warm air to work it's way north giving us in Michigan a mild winter. The last time we had one of these tropical storms the lake barely iced over in time for Tip Up Town in late January.
My rule of thumb is when the temperature drops below 50 degrees I put my boat away. If a warm spell comes through I go to Reedsburg and fish from shore. I seldom trudge out onto the lake for ice fishing so I don't mind a nice warm winter. It keeps my heating bill down. But many people here do enjoy winter fishing. The proof is in the number of fishing shanties on the lake when the ice is thick enough. Groups of shanties pop up as fisherman return to their favorite fishing spot. Others just assume the fishing must be good wherever there is a large number of wooden shacks. Mostly people fish near a bait and tackle store for the convenience and the parking.
The last couple of years the temperatures have been at record lows and the ice thickness may have hit records too. This is great for snowmobiles and quad runners but the extra thick ice took a toll on fishing with higher than normal winter kill numbers. This is the number of fish that die during the winter due to low oxygen levels caused by the ice limiting the amount of sun getting to the vegetation which produces oxygen.
Some of the smaller bodies of water were hit hard and fishing has not been as good as in past years. Two of my favorite small fishing areas Reedsburg Dam and Backus Lake were definitely down the past two years. I want everyone to have a good fishing experience in the winter time, but if the fish population isn't given a chance to survive, the sport will suffer in the long run.
When I see some ice I'll be sure to let my readers know. Come back again, come back often.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
The reason as I understand it is a tropical storm called El Nino (there's a tilde above the n you just can't see it). This causes warm air to work it's way north giving us in Michigan a mild winter. The last time we had one of these tropical storms the lake barely iced over in time for Tip Up Town in late January.
My rule of thumb is when the temperature drops below 50 degrees I put my boat away. If a warm spell comes through I go to Reedsburg and fish from shore. I seldom trudge out onto the lake for ice fishing so I don't mind a nice warm winter. It keeps my heating bill down. But many people here do enjoy winter fishing. The proof is in the number of fishing shanties on the lake when the ice is thick enough. Groups of shanties pop up as fisherman return to their favorite fishing spot. Others just assume the fishing must be good wherever there is a large number of wooden shacks. Mostly people fish near a bait and tackle store for the convenience and the parking.
The last couple of years the temperatures have been at record lows and the ice thickness may have hit records too. This is great for snowmobiles and quad runners but the extra thick ice took a toll on fishing with higher than normal winter kill numbers. This is the number of fish that die during the winter due to low oxygen levels caused by the ice limiting the amount of sun getting to the vegetation which produces oxygen.
Some of the smaller bodies of water were hit hard and fishing has not been as good as in past years. Two of my favorite small fishing areas Reedsburg Dam and Backus Lake were definitely down the past two years. I want everyone to have a good fishing experience in the winter time, but if the fish population isn't given a chance to survive, the sport will suffer in the long run.
When I see some ice I'll be sure to let my readers know. Come back again, come back often.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Santa's Workshop is Coming to Houghton Lake Playhouse This Sunday November 22,2015
Day 11
Santa checking his list
Santa Claus IS coming to town this Sunday, November 22,2015 to the Houghton Lake Playhouse on M-55 in Houghton Lake. Santa and Mrs Claus are coming to spread some Christmas cheer at the annual Santa's Workshop sponsored by the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce and local businesses. The workshop is from 10 am to 3 pm. C'mon out and start the season right. Hope to see you there.
The weather report for Saturday is 3-5 inches of snow. Coincidence? I think NOT! The big guy just wants to get us in the mood. Plus the sleigh works better on snow than asphalt. Until tomorrow thanks for stopping by.
Ken
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Fishing Down & Hunting Slow at Reedsburg Dam Fall 2015
Day 9
The last two winters have been extra cold here and the ice has been extra thick, over 20" on Houghton Lake. Basically when the ice gets thick the vegetation gets less winter sun and can't produce enough oxygen for the fish. Each winter some of the fish die off. This is known as winter kill. With the ice extra thick more fish die. So although fishing has been good it hasn't been great, as it has been in previous years. Two years ago in the late summer and early fall there was a tremendous run on crappie on the low side of the dam. The year before that it was smallmouth bass, before that it was northern pike, and so on.
Fishing for sunfish and bass on the flooding from a boat has always been great. This year though it was interfered with when the DNR decided to upgrade the boat launch with new slabs and a removable dock. The removal of the old slabs started at the end of June and construction wasn't finished until August. Without the boats buzzing around the lake the vegetation grew wild and made maneuvering through the seaweed near impassable. I use a two man boat with an electric trolling motor for power. I never even put my boat in at Reedsburg this year. I was afraid my 50 lb thrust trolling motor wouldn't be able to cut through the weeds. Normally I enjoy fishing Reedsburg flooding as there aren't to many boats and it's a bit more of a challenge. But this year the challenge was just too much.
Hunting also seems to be down possibly due to the warm weather. Normally I see a large number of hunters at Reedsburg but not this year. The season is still young though and I'll wait and see. If another warm day comes along I may sneak over to Reedsburg and try some fishing.
Until tomorrow take care.
Ken
 |
| Reedsburg Dam Northern Pike 2012 |
Reedsburg Dam Crappie 2013
Bass Raider Two Man Boat at Backus Lake
Hunting also seems to be down possibly due to the warm weather. Normally I see a large number of hunters at Reedsburg but not this year. The season is still young though and I'll wait and see. If another warm day comes along I may sneak over to Reedsburg and try some fishing.
Until tomorrow take care.
Ken
Monday, November 9, 2015
Mid Michigan Writers Group Is Awesome
Hello,
This is the first post to my new blog. I plan to post everyday about my life here in Houghton Lake, Michigan. I'll write about some of the events and other things happening around town. Most of it real with a little "blarney" mixed in. From the general store with the two old guys playing checkers, to the barber shop philosophy and, of course, the fish stories. The coffee is always hot, the cider cold and the stories are plentiful. So if you enjoy what you read share it with your friends.
Today is the second Monday of the month which means the Mid Michigan Writers are meeting in West Branch. Tonight is special as it is the first meeting that I will be the moderator, I was voted in at the last meeting by near unanimous yea vote, with one nay vote (mine). I'm sure this will be an honor and a lot of fun. I enjoy the group and look forward to the meetings twice each month ( the second and fourth Monday).
Mid Michigan Writers are a great bunch who are serious about writing and offer constructive criticism of each others work. Two members read something they recently wrote for critique by the group. No more than ten pages double spaced if you run over you'll have to save it for the next opening. We schedule will who read for us once a quarter at the business meeting. Even though we schedule ahead all members are encouraged to bring something to read in case we have an opening or the scheduled readings are short as is often the case with poems.
So if you are a writer or an aspiring writer who doesn't know where to start. and interested in interacting with like minded people. Come to one of our meetings held in the downstairs meeting room of the West Branch Public Library on the second and fourth Monday each month at 6:30 pm. For more information about the group, the groups activities and the benefits of membership click here Mid Michigan Writers. Let us you know you saw this article (it will make me feel good) and I hope to see you at one of our meetings.
Note: No meeting on December 14th do to our Christmas Dinner. I'll be sure to post about that after.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you'll come back soon and often.
This is the first post to my new blog. I plan to post everyday about my life here in Houghton Lake, Michigan. I'll write about some of the events and other things happening around town. Most of it real with a little "blarney" mixed in. From the general store with the two old guys playing checkers, to the barber shop philosophy and, of course, the fish stories. The coffee is always hot, the cider cold and the stories are plentiful. So if you enjoy what you read share it with your friends.
Today is the second Monday of the month which means the Mid Michigan Writers are meeting in West Branch. Tonight is special as it is the first meeting that I will be the moderator, I was voted in at the last meeting by near unanimous yea vote, with one nay vote (mine). I'm sure this will be an honor and a lot of fun. I enjoy the group and look forward to the meetings twice each month ( the second and fourth Monday).
Mid Michigan Writers are a great bunch who are serious about writing and offer constructive criticism of each others work. Two members read something they recently wrote for critique by the group. No more than ten pages double spaced if you run over you'll have to save it for the next opening. We schedule will who read for us once a quarter at the business meeting. Even though we schedule ahead all members are encouraged to bring something to read in case we have an opening or the scheduled readings are short as is often the case with poems.
So if you are a writer or an aspiring writer who doesn't know where to start. and interested in interacting with like minded people. Come to one of our meetings held in the downstairs meeting room of the West Branch Public Library on the second and fourth Monday each month at 6:30 pm. For more information about the group, the groups activities and the benefits of membership click here Mid Michigan Writers. Let us you know you saw this article (it will make me feel good) and I hope to see you at one of our meetings.
Note: No meeting on December 14th do to our Christmas Dinner. I'll be sure to post about that after.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you'll come back soon and often.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)