Hello all Yoopers! In addition to our classified page, I like to write about a variety of Yooper related issues. I know that many of you are gearing up for a great summer season! I have decided to include a post about fishing. Since I am not really a fisherwoman, my friend wrote a little blog post for yooperrummagesales.com about the upcoming brook trout opener. Have fun reading and feel free to comment if you have any great tips of your own!
U.P. Brook Trout Season Tips
The official start to the Upper Peninsula brook trout season begins this coming Saturday! The astute Yooper fisherman or women should take the coming days to finalize some important preparations before the start of the season. Proper preparation will insure that you have a, fun, enjoyable and productive outing.
One of the first preparations that you should take is to determine potential fishing spots. Make a list of 3 to 5 bodies of water that you may want to fish. The Upper Peninsula is full of rivers, streams and lakes, so this should not be a problem. I say 3 to 5 because you want to have options just in case your first choice is either occupied by another angler, or already fished out. Once you determine where you intend to fish, it is extremely important to look at a 2012 Michigan Fishing Guide and check the rules and regulations pertaining to your choices. Trout and Salmon regulations are referenced on page 22 and 23. Lakes are grouped A,B,C,D,E and F. Streams and rivers are grouped 1,2,3 and 4. Each of these groupings may have different opening dates, minimum size, possession limits and bait choices. Trout waters right next to each other can be of different groupings and thus have different regulations. Don’t take for granted that the rules are the same on all fishing waters! A citation from a conservation officer can quickly ruin a great day of trout fishing. Always carry a 2012 Michigan Fishing Guide with you. You can get one at your local bait shop or on the internet at www.michigan.gov/fishing.
It is very important to analyze the physical characteristics of your trout fishing waters. Google Maps and Bing Maps can be very useful for this. The satellite imagery is great and you can zoom down close. You want to look for the best path to take to the shore. Stealth and the avoidance of shadows are extremely important when trout fishing. Remember these creatures are very spooky and can take off if you sound like an army tank or cut the rays of sunshine like a soaring eagle! By using these mapping features you can also find those hard to reach or forgotten spots back in the woods. Sometimes this is the key to finding a trophy Yooper brook trout!
A thorough equipment check should be one of your final preparations. Nothing can make a grown up cry like a huge trout swimming back to his home just because your rod or reel failed. Make sure that you spool up with fresh 4 to 6 lb test line. You also want to make sure that your reel is in good working condition. It should reel smoothly and quietly. The rod should be free of cracks or defects on the eyes as this could fray your line. Check your tackle. You should have an ample supply of hooks, sinkers and lures(in case you are fishing an artificial lure only lake). You certainly don’t want to be way out in the bush with only limited tackle. By doing these simple checks you can be assured that your equipment will hold up when that beautiful brookie is on the other end!
The most important thing to prepare for is fun! Have fun and enjoy all that the Upper Peninsula has to offer. Remember that people come from thousands of miles away to visit the place we call home. We live in a truly beautiful place and need to enjoy it to the fullest!
A local Upper Peninsula River
