By Jack Payne
Fall is without a doubt the best pan-fishing time of the year. I should repeat this because it's hands down superior to any other time period of the year. Fall fishing starts now and will continue until the lakes freeze over.
The boat launch is empty, the pleasure boaters are done for the year, and most of the anglers have taken up other activities or simply given up.
When we mention pan-fishing, we are referring to fishing for bluegill, crappie, and perch. Fall perch fishing on bodies of water that connect to Lake Michigan is a story in itself. And we will cover that in a week or so.
On the inland lakes that we fish, a combination of the two mentioned species and sometimes all three are caught on one outing.
Location can be paramount and vary from lake to lake or within a lake. Generally, between Oct. 1-12, some of the fish will start using the shoreline structure.
Five-foot depths, plus or minus a foot or two, can be very productive. Other schools will be found hovering in the deeper basins of the lake. On many of our lakes, this depth is between 25-30 feet. The fish will be found nose to the bottom and perhaps halfway up.
Our favorite locations are the deep- water basin fish. I just love locating a school of deep-water fish. Almost always, this will be a mixed bag of fish. Often, we will find the bluegill slightly higher than the crappie.
Side Scan will pinpoint these large schools of fish. We set our side scan to read 80 feet on each side of the boat. Once a school is located, we throw out a marker buoy. We continue onward looking for a second school in the same vicinity.
When we are fishing depths greater than 15 feet, we fish vertical. Shallower depths we cast and follow our baits down until they hit the bottom. When casting, once the bait hits the bottom, we let it sit for a few minutes and then twitch it in a foot or so.
In nearly any situation, we fish a tandem rig. The tandem rig can be made up with a combination of the following. Some type of perch fly, which could be a fish skin bait, or a fly made with marabou. Glow in the dark teardrops, pinky style jigs, small bluegill flies, small crappie jigs, with my favorites being made with marabou, deer hair, or chinchilla.
Fall is without a doubt the best pan-fishing time of the year. I should repeat this because it's hands down superior to any other time period of the year. Fall fishing starts now and will continue until the lakes freeze over.
The boat launch is empty, the pleasure boaters are done for the year, and most of the anglers have taken up other activities or simply given up.
When we mention pan-fishing, we are referring to fishing for bluegill, crappie, and perch. Fall perch fishing on bodies of water that connect to Lake Michigan is a story in itself. And we will cover that in a week or so.
On the inland lakes that we fish, a combination of the two mentioned species and sometimes all three are caught on one outing.
Location can be paramount and vary from lake to lake or within a lake. Generally, between Oct. 1-12, some of the fish will start using the shoreline structure.
Five-foot depths, plus or minus a foot or two, can be very productive. Other schools will be found hovering in the deeper basins of the lake. On many of our lakes, this depth is between 25-30 feet. The fish will be found nose to the bottom and perhaps halfway up.
Our favorite locations are the deep- water basin fish. I just love locating a school of deep-water fish. Almost always, this will be a mixed bag of fish. Often, we will find the bluegill slightly higher than the crappie.
Side Scan will pinpoint these large schools of fish. We set our side scan to read 80 feet on each side of the boat. Once a school is located, we throw out a marker buoy. We continue onward looking for a second school in the same vicinity.
When we are fishing depths greater than 15 feet, we fish vertical. Shallower depths we cast and follow our baits down until they hit the bottom. When casting, once the bait hits the bottom, we let it sit for a few minutes and then twitch it in a foot or so.
In nearly any situation, we fish a tandem rig. The tandem rig can be made up with a combination of the following. Some type of perch fly, which could be a fish skin bait, or a fly made with marabou. Glow in the dark teardrops, pinky style jigs, small bluegill flies, small crappie jigs, with my favorites being made with marabou, deer hair, or chinchilla.
(Photo courtesy of Jack Payne)
We tip these baits with either a piece of worm when the water temperatures are above 55 degrees, or a wax worm when the water is cooler. If we suspect that crappie or perch are possible, then we carry a dozen or two minnows.
I rarely use minnows in warm water. Once the water temperature falls to the low 50s or into the 40s, then I will get a bit more serious about using minnows.
As the water cools, your retrieve or drift needs to slow down. Drifting between .3 mph and up to a half-mile per hour is ok early in the fall. As the cool weather kicks in, your bait needs to become nearly stationary. Think about how fast you move in the winter, so move slowly.
An overlooked bait that worked well for us in the past was the Gulp Minnow. The one-inch minnow caught plenty of bluegill, perch, and crappie. A friend put on until this bait, and it works surprisingly well. Quick tip: the local stores sell out of the bait quickly and will not restock until spring.
Adding glow to your presentation increases your return. A glow-in-the-dark teardrop, a fly with a glow strand of flashabou, or a small glow egg added to your line for some crazy reason, draws in the fish.
We fish with two rods and most often with two different baits or lures on each rod. Once the fish tells us their preferred preference, we will switch the balance of the baits and lures.
Fall fishing is amazing, the lakes are empty of anglers. Stop in at Bob's Gun and Tackle for your fall hunting and fishing products.
Deer Hunting Preview:
Robust 2024 Harvest Could Extend Into 2025
Deer hunters taking part in Michigan's Oct. 1-Nov. 14 archery season could see a strong statewide harvest, even as they encounter varying conditions – from the results of heavy snowfall in parts of the Upper Peninsula to an outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease in the southern Lower Peninsula.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ newly published 2025 deer hunting preview indicates this year’s deer harvest could be strong overall – mirroring a robust 2024 – but that hunters should be aware of several factors.
In addition to the potential for lower deer numbers in high-snowfall areas of the U.P. and the ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula, the devastating March 2025 ice storm in the northern Lower Peninsula could affect hunters as well.
"Overall, the 2024 deer season was a pretty good one, with hunter participation and deer harvest all generally steady or increasing from the prior year," said Brent Rudolph, the deer, elk and moose management specialist for the DNR’s Wildlife Division. "Variability within each region occurs every year, but for 2025 the wild cards include the borderline severe winter conditions in the U.P., potential ice storm impacts on access to hunting locations in the northern Lower Peninsula and the ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula."
EHD is caused by a virus transmitted to white-tailed deer by a biting midge (or small fly). The disease is not sustained in the deer population, and outbreaks have not had significant long-term effects on Michigan’s deer herds. But deer mortality can be intense in small areas and persist for a few years.
After being confirmed in 15 counties in 2024, EHD has been confirmed in eight counties this year as of mid-September: Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Jackson, Lenawee, Mecosta, Van Buren and Washtenaw. EHD will likely emerge in additional southern Lower Peninsula counties until a good frost can kill off the midges that transmit the virus, Rudolph said.
The edibility of venison is not impacted by EHD, and there is no evidence humans can contract the virus either from the midge or from handling and eating venison.
In the northern Lower Peninsula, deer are not expected to be significantly impacted this year, but hunter access may be affected by the lingering effects from the 12-county ice storm. The DNR has worked hard to clear roads and open trails, but backcountry two-tracks might remain inaccessible and hunting areas might look vastly different. Many downed trees and limbs remain in the woods, and salvage timber harvest will continue for some time.
Michigan’s statewide archery deer season runs Oct. 1-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-Jan. 1. The statewide regular firearm season is Nov. 15-30, and muzzleloader season is Dec. 5-14. For more information on additional deer hunting season dates, licenses and regulations, visit the DNR’s deer webpage at michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/ hunting/deer.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ newly published 2025 deer hunting preview indicates this year’s deer harvest could be strong overall – mirroring a robust 2024 – but that hunters should be aware of several factors.
In addition to the potential for lower deer numbers in high-snowfall areas of the U.P. and the ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula, the devastating March 2025 ice storm in the northern Lower Peninsula could affect hunters as well.
"Overall, the 2024 deer season was a pretty good one, with hunter participation and deer harvest all generally steady or increasing from the prior year," said Brent Rudolph, the deer, elk and moose management specialist for the DNR’s Wildlife Division. "Variability within each region occurs every year, but for 2025 the wild cards include the borderline severe winter conditions in the U.P., potential ice storm impacts on access to hunting locations in the northern Lower Peninsula and the ongoing EHD outbreak in the southern Lower Peninsula."
EHD is caused by a virus transmitted to white-tailed deer by a biting midge (or small fly). The disease is not sustained in the deer population, and outbreaks have not had significant long-term effects on Michigan’s deer herds. But deer mortality can be intense in small areas and persist for a few years.
After being confirmed in 15 counties in 2024, EHD has been confirmed in eight counties this year as of mid-September: Calhoun, Cass, Eaton, Jackson, Lenawee, Mecosta, Van Buren and Washtenaw. EHD will likely emerge in additional southern Lower Peninsula counties until a good frost can kill off the midges that transmit the virus, Rudolph said.
The edibility of venison is not impacted by EHD, and there is no evidence humans can contract the virus either from the midge or from handling and eating venison.
In the northern Lower Peninsula, deer are not expected to be significantly impacted this year, but hunter access may be affected by the lingering effects from the 12-county ice storm. The DNR has worked hard to clear roads and open trails, but backcountry two-tracks might remain inaccessible and hunting areas might look vastly different. Many downed trees and limbs remain in the woods, and salvage timber harvest will continue for some time.
Michigan’s statewide archery deer season runs Oct. 1-Nov. 14 and Dec. 1-Jan. 1. The statewide regular firearm season is Nov. 15-30, and muzzleloader season is Dec. 5-14. For more information on additional deer hunting season dates, licenses and regulations, visit the DNR’s deer webpage at michigan.gov/dnr/things-to-do/ hunting/deer.
Report: 19 Percent of Lake Michigan Shore
Now Armored, Limiting Public Access
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Lake Michigan’s coastline has been transformed with seawalls and riprap since the high-water crisis that peaked in 2020.
That’s likely no surprise to anybody who’s visited the state’s beaches in the years since. Wide swaths of sandy public beach have been replaced with boulder piles that are often flanked by private property signs.
A new study led by Michigan State University researcher Ethan Theuerkauf quantifies the extent of the change: Armoring increased fivefold along the state’s Lake Michigan coast between 2014 and 2021.
Some 69 miles — 19 percent of the mitten’s western shore — are now armored.
That transformation brings significant consequences for the environment, shoreline landowners and the public, for whom beach access is a legal right. That’s because hard armoring disrupts the natural processes that rebuild beaches, resulting in temporary relief for some property owners but worse erosion in the long run.
Local and state policymakers who vowed reforms during the height of the high-water crisis have largely retreated from efforts to limit hardening or stop people from building homes and infrastructure perilously close to shore.
Bridge Michigan spoke with Theuerkauf, an assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, about his findings. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
—————
What is hard armoring and why do we see more of it during periods of high water?
“It’s essentially a structure along the shoreline that’s trying to stop erosion. You can have a sea wall of wood or steel that’s meant to literally be a barrier between the waves and whatever you’re trying to protect. There are rock revetments that try to go with the grade and dissipate some of the wave energy. And then you’ve got other things, like groins, which are perpendicular and meant to trap sand.”
“When water levels rise, the zone of wave attack shifts landward. In the case of the period from 2014 to 2020, we were up over six feet of water level. So now any wave event that you had was just eating away at stuff that hadn’t been exposed to wave energy during low water levels. That’s when you start to get these really dramatic events of houses falling into the lake and large chunks of bluffs slumping over.”
—————
Your study focused on Lake Michigan. Is Lake Michigan particularly vulnerable to erosion?
“It has the biggest swings in lake levels as compared to the other lakes. It also has large stretches that are heavily populated — there’s just a lot more infrastructure along the coast that can be eroded. And on the Michigan side of the lake, we’re chronically getting those westerly winds that do a really good job of eroding and pulling sand offshore.”
—————
Your study found that hard armoring skyrocketed during the most recent high-water crisis. Tell me more.
“We already knew anecdotally that was the case, just from being out there and talking to people who were writing the permits. But it hadn’t been documented. Fortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had funded an analysis of the amount of hardened shoreline in 2014. So we leaned into high resolution aerial photography to show that Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast is now five times more armored.”
“The biggest increase was in the southwestern portion of Michigan, which makes a lot of sense when you think about the number of people that are living along that coast and the fact that this was already the place where you had the most armoring.”
“The surprising element is when you get to the northern third of the coast, which was less than 1 percent armored prior to lake level rise, it’s almost 5 percent armored now. It’s not something that I think you want to continue to increase, because that stretch of coast has lots of natural processes and remaining natural and unarmored is probably a key part of the identity of northern Michigan.”
—————
Did you see any correlation between the extent of armoring and local policies that restrict how close property owners can build to the shore?
“We did not look specifically at that. But I will say, for instance: Chikaming Township, which banned hard armoring, went from nothing in 2014 to 12 percent of its shoreline armored in 2021. That’s much lower than in adjacent townships.”
“I think it’s one of those things where the more it happens in an area, it sets a precedent. You have very few situations where people are choosing to not armor when they’re surrounded by other people who are armoring. It becomes almost a necessity, because basic physics means armored areas that flank an unarmored area are going to accelerate erosion in that area.”
—————
You just touched on an important point: Shoreline hardening ultimately worsens erosion. So what are the impacts of installing more of it?
“In a very general sense, we are changing the way the coastal system functions in these areas. There’s this natural dynamic of sand flowing both onshore to offshore, and then back offshore to onshore. When that feeding of the nearshore system gets shut down, you’re changing where the wave energy is distributed across the coast.”
“Rather than being broadly distributed across the beach, it’s hitting that sea wall and being forced down. And that’s digging a big hole in front of those sea walls, making the recovery process worse and forcing the sand out deeper.”
“Beyond that, one of the big issues we see in heavily armored places is we’re changing the access to the shoreline that we as Michiganders have a public trust right to access. It sets up a very interesting socioeconomic scenario where you have people who are doing the change to the coast — those are right along the shoreline — and then everyone else who’s experiencing that change.”
—————
High-water events are cyclical in the Great Lakes. How can this data help Michigan prepare for the next time?
“We have an opportunity to be proactive and to work toward resilience. It’s very hard to get people to care about coastal erosion and high water when it’s not actually happening, but if we can keep the conversation going, then maybe when the water goes back up, the immediate response isn’t just to start armoring.”
“Getting the findings of our work in front of the people that are making permitting decisions is really important. But we’re also working with local officials and private landowners, because they have a lot of ability to be proactive. This is your coast. This is how it’s changing. You have the ability to manage it how you want.”
By Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Lake Michigan’s coastline has been transformed with seawalls and riprap since the high-water crisis that peaked in 2020.
That’s likely no surprise to anybody who’s visited the state’s beaches in the years since. Wide swaths of sandy public beach have been replaced with boulder piles that are often flanked by private property signs.
A new study led by Michigan State University researcher Ethan Theuerkauf quantifies the extent of the change: Armoring increased fivefold along the state’s Lake Michigan coast between 2014 and 2021.
Some 69 miles — 19 percent of the mitten’s western shore — are now armored.
That transformation brings significant consequences for the environment, shoreline landowners and the public, for whom beach access is a legal right. That’s because hard armoring disrupts the natural processes that rebuild beaches, resulting in temporary relief for some property owners but worse erosion in the long run.
Local and state policymakers who vowed reforms during the height of the high-water crisis have largely retreated from efforts to limit hardening or stop people from building homes and infrastructure perilously close to shore.
Bridge Michigan spoke with Theuerkauf, an assistant professor in MSU’s Department of Geography, Environment and Spatial Sciences, about his findings. Responses have been edited for clarity and brevity.
—————
What is hard armoring and why do we see more of it during periods of high water?
“It’s essentially a structure along the shoreline that’s trying to stop erosion. You can have a sea wall of wood or steel that’s meant to literally be a barrier between the waves and whatever you’re trying to protect. There are rock revetments that try to go with the grade and dissipate some of the wave energy. And then you’ve got other things, like groins, which are perpendicular and meant to trap sand.”
“When water levels rise, the zone of wave attack shifts landward. In the case of the period from 2014 to 2020, we were up over six feet of water level. So now any wave event that you had was just eating away at stuff that hadn’t been exposed to wave energy during low water levels. That’s when you start to get these really dramatic events of houses falling into the lake and large chunks of bluffs slumping over.”
—————
Your study focused on Lake Michigan. Is Lake Michigan particularly vulnerable to erosion?
“It has the biggest swings in lake levels as compared to the other lakes. It also has large stretches that are heavily populated — there’s just a lot more infrastructure along the coast that can be eroded. And on the Michigan side of the lake, we’re chronically getting those westerly winds that do a really good job of eroding and pulling sand offshore.”
—————
Your study found that hard armoring skyrocketed during the most recent high-water crisis. Tell me more.
“We already knew anecdotally that was the case, just from being out there and talking to people who were writing the permits. But it hadn’t been documented. Fortunately, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had funded an analysis of the amount of hardened shoreline in 2014. So we leaned into high resolution aerial photography to show that Michigan’s Lake Michigan coast is now five times more armored.”
“The biggest increase was in the southwestern portion of Michigan, which makes a lot of sense when you think about the number of people that are living along that coast and the fact that this was already the place where you had the most armoring.”
“The surprising element is when you get to the northern third of the coast, which was less than 1 percent armored prior to lake level rise, it’s almost 5 percent armored now. It’s not something that I think you want to continue to increase, because that stretch of coast has lots of natural processes and remaining natural and unarmored is probably a key part of the identity of northern Michigan.”
—————
Did you see any correlation between the extent of armoring and local policies that restrict how close property owners can build to the shore?
“We did not look specifically at that. But I will say, for instance: Chikaming Township, which banned hard armoring, went from nothing in 2014 to 12 percent of its shoreline armored in 2021. That’s much lower than in adjacent townships.”
“I think it’s one of those things where the more it happens in an area, it sets a precedent. You have very few situations where people are choosing to not armor when they’re surrounded by other people who are armoring. It becomes almost a necessity, because basic physics means armored areas that flank an unarmored area are going to accelerate erosion in that area.”
—————
You just touched on an important point: Shoreline hardening ultimately worsens erosion. So what are the impacts of installing more of it?
“In a very general sense, we are changing the way the coastal system functions in these areas. There’s this natural dynamic of sand flowing both onshore to offshore, and then back offshore to onshore. When that feeding of the nearshore system gets shut down, you’re changing where the wave energy is distributed across the coast.”
“Rather than being broadly distributed across the beach, it’s hitting that sea wall and being forced down. And that’s digging a big hole in front of those sea walls, making the recovery process worse and forcing the sand out deeper.”
“Beyond that, one of the big issues we see in heavily armored places is we’re changing the access to the shoreline that we as Michiganders have a public trust right to access. It sets up a very interesting socioeconomic scenario where you have people who are doing the change to the coast — those are right along the shoreline — and then everyone else who’s experiencing that change.”
—————
High-water events are cyclical in the Great Lakes. How can this data help Michigan prepare for the next time?
“We have an opportunity to be proactive and to work toward resilience. It’s very hard to get people to care about coastal erosion and high water when it’s not actually happening, but if we can keep the conversation going, then maybe when the water goes back up, the immediate response isn’t just to start armoring.”
“Getting the findings of our work in front of the people that are making permitting decisions is really important. But we’re also working with local officials and private landowners, because they have a lot of ability to be proactive. This is your coast. This is how it’s changing. You have the ability to manage it how you want.”
Outdoor Truths ___________________________
By Gary Miller
I have hunted big game most of my adult life. I have written about my experiences for over 20 years.
These experiences are not spectacular. Most of them have come in random places at random times, and without the resources to make them anything special. That is, I have only paid for one hunt, but have relied on special friends for the opportunities I have been given.
I have no trophies that would cause anyone to think I am some special or gifted hunter. I am a blue-collar, mediocre private land hunter.
Don’t get me wrong, my Midwest opportunities are special, and they create for me an opportunity that many don’t have. But even these only come because of special friends and their unmerited graciousness to me.
I have also made ministry to men the biggest part of my life for these past 20 years as well. During that time, I have traveled and spoken at places I would have never dreamed. But again, most of the places fall within what most of us would call normal churches and venues. None of them fall into stadiums or coliseums.
I have written five books. Four of these are compilations of my articles. Again, nothing outstanding. And their sales? Mediocre at best. But compared to some others, I have been beyond blessed and extremely successful.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I want us all to see that privilege and blessings are not always by our good decisions. That our positions, prosperity, and health are not all actions of our decisions or our freewill. Some things – in fact many, many things, are pre-determined by God.
For instance, we had no say in what country we would be born in, what race we would be, what would be our mental capabilities – or incapabilities, or who, or what our parents would be. We had no say if our mother would be a drug addict, or our father would begin abusing us as a child. These were forced on each of us by God and by a sinful world.
Why? I don’t know. But what I do know and believe is this - Jesus sat and ate with tax collectors and “sinners.” He was criticized for it because everyone believed, at that time, tax collectors were dishonest and sinners were well, sinners. And those who were born blind or had other handicaps, were believed to be that way because of their sin or the sin of their parents.
But Jesus knew better, and that’s why he went to them. He understood that many of their predicaments had nothing to do with any decision they made. It had everything to do with what God determined and what sin in general, destroyed. He went to the hurting, hungry, and handicapped, and healed, fed, and restored. And then told his apostles to do the same. He used this sentence: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” He was telling the religious crowd that while your religious activity was fine and your spiritual sacrifices were okay, the compassion and kindness you show to those who have not had your privileges are the best.
Remember, if you are one who God has blessed with basics or abundance, find those who seemingly haven’t been. It will remind you to be humble in your position and thankful for your determined and unmerited blessings. And perhaps who will be the one God uses to heal, feed, and restore – until God makes everything right in heaven.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
I have hunted big game most of my adult life. I have written about my experiences for over 20 years.
These experiences are not spectacular. Most of them have come in random places at random times, and without the resources to make them anything special. That is, I have only paid for one hunt, but have relied on special friends for the opportunities I have been given.
I have no trophies that would cause anyone to think I am some special or gifted hunter. I am a blue-collar, mediocre private land hunter.
Don’t get me wrong, my Midwest opportunities are special, and they create for me an opportunity that many don’t have. But even these only come because of special friends and their unmerited graciousness to me.
I have also made ministry to men the biggest part of my life for these past 20 years as well. During that time, I have traveled and spoken at places I would have never dreamed. But again, most of the places fall within what most of us would call normal churches and venues. None of them fall into stadiums or coliseums.
I have written five books. Four of these are compilations of my articles. Again, nothing outstanding. And their sales? Mediocre at best. But compared to some others, I have been beyond blessed and extremely successful.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because I want us all to see that privilege and blessings are not always by our good decisions. That our positions, prosperity, and health are not all actions of our decisions or our freewill. Some things – in fact many, many things, are pre-determined by God.
For instance, we had no say in what country we would be born in, what race we would be, what would be our mental capabilities – or incapabilities, or who, or what our parents would be. We had no say if our mother would be a drug addict, or our father would begin abusing us as a child. These were forced on each of us by God and by a sinful world.
Why? I don’t know. But what I do know and believe is this - Jesus sat and ate with tax collectors and “sinners.” He was criticized for it because everyone believed, at that time, tax collectors were dishonest and sinners were well, sinners. And those who were born blind or had other handicaps, were believed to be that way because of their sin or the sin of their parents.
But Jesus knew better, and that’s why he went to them. He understood that many of their predicaments had nothing to do with any decision they made. It had everything to do with what God determined and what sin in general, destroyed. He went to the hurting, hungry, and handicapped, and healed, fed, and restored. And then told his apostles to do the same. He used this sentence: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” He was telling the religious crowd that while your religious activity was fine and your spiritual sacrifices were okay, the compassion and kindness you show to those who have not had your privileges are the best.
Remember, if you are one who God has blessed with basics or abundance, find those who seemingly haven’t been. It will remind you to be humble in your position and thankful for your determined and unmerited blessings. And perhaps who will be the one God uses to heal, feed, and restore – until God makes everything right in heaven.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 22 years. He has also written five books which include compilations of his articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game dinners and men’s events for churches and associations. Write to him at gary@outdoortruths.org.
Improve Your Garden Soil with
Fall Leaves and Landscape Trimmings
By Melinda Myers
Fall is a great time to improve your soil for next year’s garden. Many of the resources needed are readily available and many are free at this time of the year.
Start by putting fall leaves to work in the garden. Use your mower with the bag attached to shred and collect fall leaves. Work them into the top 8-to-12 inches of soil. They break down over winter, adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil before you begin planting in the spring.
Fall leaves are also a great resource for those of you minimizing soil disruption with no till, also known as no dig, soil care. Spread several inches of the leaves over the soil surface. The leaf mulch protects the soil in new and vacant gardens from erosion and compaction over the winter. They keep the soil a bit cooler in the spring so you may need to adjust your planting times.
Cover bare soil in perennial gardens and mixed borders with fall leaves. They are a great mulch, suppressing weeds, conserving moisture and improving the soil as they decompose. A layer of leaves insulates the soil, helping insects and other wildlife that overwinter underground. Plus, they are free.
Fall is a great time to improve your soil for next year’s garden. Many of the resources needed are readily available and many are free at this time of the year.
Start by putting fall leaves to work in the garden. Use your mower with the bag attached to shred and collect fall leaves. Work them into the top 8-to-12 inches of soil. They break down over winter, adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil before you begin planting in the spring.
Fall leaves are also a great resource for those of you minimizing soil disruption with no till, also known as no dig, soil care. Spread several inches of the leaves over the soil surface. The leaf mulch protects the soil in new and vacant gardens from erosion and compaction over the winter. They keep the soil a bit cooler in the spring so you may need to adjust your planting times.
Cover bare soil in perennial gardens and mixed borders with fall leaves. They are a great mulch, suppressing weeds, conserving moisture and improving the soil as they decompose. A layer of leaves insulates the soil, helping insects and other wildlife that overwinter underground. Plus, they are free.
Hugelkultur gardening, or mound gardens, takes the lasagna gardening method one step further with a bottom layer of logs, branches and fall leaves that decompose, adding organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
(Photo credit MelindaMyers.com)
Incorporating two to four inches of compost or other organic matter into the top 8-to-12 inches of soil is another option. Organic matter adds nutrients but also improves drainage and aeration in heavy soil and increases water- and nutrient-holding capacity in fast draining soils.
Adding compost also builds the soil ecosystem. It increases the number and activity of beneficial soil organisms such as good bacteria, fungi, microorganisms and insects. Healthy soil grows healthier plants more resistant to pests and environmental stresses.
Another no till method uses a five-inch layer of compost on top of non-shiny cardboard, covering the soil surface. The cardboard helps suppress the weeds and the compost provides the growing medium for seeds and transplants. The compost is replenished yearly, and the cardboard eventually breaks down, adding organic matter to the soil.
Convert landscape and garden trimmings, fall leaves and compost into a rich planting medium with lasagna gardening. This system employs composting methodology to build soil in free-standing or contained raised beds.
Start your lasagna garden by measuring and marking the layout of your garden bed. Cut any grass and weeds in this area very short and cover with moist newspaper or cardboard. This smothers any existing grass and weeds.
Next, add a two- to three-inch layer of peat moss or compost. Top this with four to eight inches of plant debris such as leaves, plant-based kitchen scraps, herbicide-free grass clippings, straw or similar materials. Sprinkle a bit of low nitrogen fertilizer over this layer. Cover with an inch of compost. Repeat the layers, just like making lasagna, until your garden is 18 to 24 inches high.
Hugelkultur, or mound gardens take this one step further. The bottom layer is made of logs, branches and fall leaves. Do not include black walnut tree trimmings that are toxic to many plants or those of cedar and black locust that are very slow to decompose. The rotting logs and branches absorb water, making it available to the plants in the garden. As the tree trimmings decompose, they add organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Then top this with a lasagna garden.
The lasagna and Hugelkultur beds gradually settle but the benefits remain. Continue to build additional lasagna layers every few years on top of established beds as needed.
Select a method that best fits your gardening style. Investing time in building healthy soil reaps years of benefits.
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Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” streaming courses and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and her website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
Whooo’s That? Listen for Owls
at the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary
In the quiet stillness of night, owls are often easier heard than seen. Join W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary staff to look and listen for owls after dark.
An Owl Prowl will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Sanctuary’s auditorium and grounds. One of the Sanctuary’s ambassador owls will make an appearance to start the event, then attendees will take a nighttime walk along the trails to call for owls and listen for their responses.
Admission for members is $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and $4 for children ages 2-17. For non-members, admission is $8 for adults, $7 for students or seniors, and $6 for children. Register by Tuesday, October 14, at bit.ly/kbs-owl-prowl-2025.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or (269) 671-2510.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to conserve native habitat for migratory and resident birds and to promote environmental awareness through research, education and outreach. Since 1928, the Sanctuary has served as a practical training school for animal care and land management, and remains an innovator in wildlife conservation efforts.
An Owl Prowl will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Sanctuary’s auditorium and grounds. One of the Sanctuary’s ambassador owls will make an appearance to start the event, then attendees will take a nighttime walk along the trails to call for owls and listen for their responses.
Admission for members is $6 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and $4 for children ages 2-17. For non-members, admission is $8 for adults, $7 for students or seniors, and $6 for children. Register by Tuesday, October 14, at bit.ly/kbs-owl-prowl-2025.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 East C Ave., one mile north of M-89 and just west of 40th Street. To learn more, visit birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu or (269) 671-2510.
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary’s mission is to conserve native habitat for migratory and resident birds and to promote environmental awareness through research, education and outreach. Since 1928, the Sanctuary has served as a practical training school for animal care and land management, and remains an innovator in wildlife conservation efforts.
