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 ice fishing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ice fishing. 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.
Sunday, January 3, 2016
Tip Up Town USA Election Night-Jan 9,2016
Day 56
Looking for a fun night out that will benefit Tip Up Town? Try election night for Town Mayor, Town Marshal and Tip Up Town Queen. For applications click here.
Election night will be held on January 9, 2016 at the new location Houghton Lake Playhouse at 1601 W Houghton Lake Dr. Admission to the election is free.
New this year. There will be an After Party with live music by Dominic and hors d'oeuvres. There will be 50/50 drawings, door prizes, raffles and a cash bar. For a modest $10 admission. Proceeds go to help keep Tip Up Town happening. See below or click here Tip Up Town kickoff.
Election night will be held on January 9, 2016 at the new location Houghton Lake Playhouse at 1601 W Houghton Lake Dr. Admission to the election is free.
New this year. There will be an After Party with live music by Dominic and hors d'oeuvres. There will be 50/50 drawings, door prizes, raffles and a cash bar. For a modest $10 admission. Proceeds go to help keep Tip Up Town happening. See below or click here Tip Up Town kickoff.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Saturday, January 2, 2016
Houghton Lake Has Ice-Not Yet Safe
Day 55
For all of you ice angler's out there. The ice has finally begun to form on the lakes in our area. This is great news with Tip Up Town USA only a few weeks away. Whether or not the ice will be safe in time for TUT remains to be seen. The festival will go on either way as all of the rides, vendors and contests are held on snow covered land with the exception of a few, such as the ice fishing contest.
Late ice on the lake has happened before. A few years ago the ice didn't form up until the very end of December and TUT went on without a hitch. I'm sure I'll see someone on the ice in the next two weeks whether the ice is safe or not.
Unusually warm weather was the culprit a few years back. This year we set a new record for December average temperatures. Just over 40 degrees average for the month.
I don't ice fish so I'm not upset in the least. I look forward to an early spring and getting my boat back in the water at either Backus Lake or Reedsburg Dam area. I prefer fishing from my small two man boat. Over the last four years I have become very fond of trolling at Backus Lake. Partly for bigger fish but lately for any fish. The winter kill over the past two winters has been devastating to the smaller and shallower bodies of water.
Fishing has gone down so much at Backus there were hardly any campers there this past summer. One good thing though, the deer flies were almost none existent. Deer flies like to fly around your head and they bite. Mostly they bite my hands and ankles. Right through my socks! It's hard to catch fish when your constantly swatting at biting flies. I don't look forward to the flies but I have an electric fly swatter. Once you zap the first dozen they don't come back right away. So it's all good.
Anyway, the point is there's ice forming on Houghton Lake and a little snow on the ground. So ice fishing and snowmobiling aren't far away. Spring isn't far away either.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
For all of you ice angler's out there. The ice has finally begun to form on the lakes in our area. This is great news with Tip Up Town USA only a few weeks away. Whether or not the ice will be safe in time for TUT remains to be seen. The festival will go on either way as all of the rides, vendors and contests are held on snow covered land with the exception of a few, such as the ice fishing contest.
Late ice on the lake has happened before. A few years ago the ice didn't form up until the very end of December and TUT went on without a hitch. I'm sure I'll see someone on the ice in the next two weeks whether the ice is safe or not.
Unusually warm weather was the culprit a few years back. This year we set a new record for December average temperatures. Just over 40 degrees average for the month.
I don't ice fish so I'm not upset in the least. I look forward to an early spring and getting my boat back in the water at either Backus Lake or Reedsburg Dam area. I prefer fishing from my small two man boat. Over the last four years I have become very fond of trolling at Backus Lake. Partly for bigger fish but lately for any fish. The winter kill over the past two winters has been devastating to the smaller and shallower bodies of water.
Fishing has gone down so much at Backus there were hardly any campers there this past summer. One good thing though, the deer flies were almost none existent. Deer flies like to fly around your head and they bite. Mostly they bite my hands and ankles. Right through my socks! It's hard to catch fish when your constantly swatting at biting flies. I don't look forward to the flies but I have an electric fly swatter. Once you zap the first dozen they don't come back right away. So it's all good.
Anyway, the point is there's ice forming on Houghton Lake and a little snow on the ground. So ice fishing and snowmobiling aren't far away. Spring isn't far away either.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Star Wars to Ice Fishing to Prime Rib
Day 37
Wow. December 15 and the lake has no signs of freezing. It's also looking like a brown Christmas here as the temperatures are too warm for snow, although we have had plenty of rain.
Three days to the December 18th release of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie and it is scheduled for the local Pines Theater. Hurray! THe Pines has a showing scheduled for the 17th for more info Pines Theater info. I won't be fighting for a seat until after the first few days but I'm sure it will be a sell out every night of the three weeks it is scheduled to run (assuming it doesn't get extended).
On December 19th the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts will be doing a live radio broadcast of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" at 5pm on 100.3 FM.
Finally because I'm hungry and need to finish this entry so I can eat.
Matt's Lake Street Grill and Pizzeria will be open on December 25th with a Christmas Dinner Prime Rib buffet from 11am to 5pm. Including Ham, chicken and shrimp and many other holiday favorites. So if your not invited to Christmas dinner or you don't celebrate Christmas you can still have a fabulous dinner. Mom and I aren't doing anything this year so I'll see you there.
The new Little Caesars pizza is still under construction although I've heard there will be a grand opening on January 8, 2016. The new Little Caesars is situated between Arbys and Garretts restaurants. Should be a better location than the current one at the west end of the lake. The current one will be closed when the new one is opened.
Three days to the December 18th release of the new Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie and it is scheduled for the local Pines Theater. Hurray! THe Pines has a showing scheduled for the 17th for more info Pines Theater info. I won't be fighting for a seat until after the first few days but I'm sure it will be a sell out every night of the three weeks it is scheduled to run (assuming it doesn't get extended).
On December 19th the Kirtland Center for the Performing Arts will be doing a live radio broadcast of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" at 5pm on 100.3 FM.
Finally because I'm hungry and need to finish this entry so I can eat.
Until tomorrow,
Ken
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
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