The crew of the survey vessel Steelhead captured a 42.5-inch, 35-pound lake trout on Lake Michigan during a 2025 spring survey that they believe to have been stocked in 1995.
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
By Jack Payne
Finally, fishing opportunities are expanding. The piers will come alive with the regulars. The regulars are what I like. I just love listening to the regulars talk. Some of these anglers fish just one pier; others roam up and down the coast.
If you really want to learn about pier fishing, get there at daybreak. What I found is that diehard, experienced anglers will beat the sunrise. The other thing I found is that most of these folks will share everything if you show up without a fishing pole.
Most of them are helpful to any angler, but some get tight-lipped at the mere thought of competition. You can also learn by observing. Some of these folks are methodical and extremely precise about how they rig their rods and the length of their leaders.
Where to place a sinker, the size of a hook, and the list goes on and on.
There are days when I say that I could sell my boat and fish the piers and the rivers. It's relaxing, friendly, productive, and for the most part, fairly basic in the tackle required arena.
The piers start off with steelhead, suckers, and brown trout. Then the coho jacks show up. Some of the piers offer the Skamania steelhead during the summer. King Salmon are present in the spring but are more prominent in the fall.
Some steelhead and coho anglers throw spoons. The Little Cleo has been a favorite for many decades. Something with a glow pattern to it is very effective.
Other anglers, and most likely in the majority, use some spawn. Some days, a single egg works well; many days, a small sac of three or four eggs is best.
Fresh is always the best, and that can be a problem. Talk nicely to a successful angler, and you can gather some fresh spawn. Some anglers add a piece of colorful yarn. I know of a few anglers who soak the yarn in anise oil.
Sinkers can be placed above a barrel swivel to reduce resistance. The sinker can slide up and down, and the angler adjusts the length from the swivel to the hook. A calm day, a longer lead. A windy day, a shorter lead.
Great bass fishing and some darn good bluegill fishing take place on the piers. There are a few anglers who chase the bass, but hardly any bluegill anglers. The best bluegill fishing starts in early July and will last into October.
Tube jigs and pier bass fishing go hand in hand. Nearly all of the dedicated pier bass anglers walk up and down the pier, lifting the tube jig up, letting it fall. Just a slow lift and drop and a very slow walk along the pier. Fish the rocks and the rip-rap for the best success.
In addition to the listed species, catfish, walleye, sheepshead, and an outstanding carp fishery are present. So, if you don't have a boat or don't want the hassle of towing and storing it, consider the piers.
We make time each spring and summer to fish for the sheepshead/freshwater drum and the carp. The sheepshead fight really hard; they smack a lure and are present in large numbers. And they get large. I really don't understand why anglers ignore this fun fish.
Sheepshead is not picky. You can cast Husky Jerks, but I wouldn't. They will destroy it. Find a cheap crankbait or go with a spoon, a crawler harness, or a small spinner. Blade baits excel when chasing pier Sheepshead.
Slip bobbers are deadly on the summer bluegill. A glow-in-the-dark teardrop tipped with a spike or a cricket is all that you will need.
Carp are cautious. And they can easily surpass the 20-pound range. A 30-pound fish is possible, and a true trophy is rare but a worthy goal.
Our favorite carp rig is the hair rig using corn. A cautious carp will nibble the corn on the line or thread portion. Feeling no resistance, they get greedy and eat the remaining corn kernels.
Try the piers this summer and visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
Photo courtesy Michigan Department of Natural Resources
By Jack Payne
Finally, fishing opportunities are expanding. The piers will come alive with the regulars. The regulars are what I like. I just love listening to the regulars talk. Some of these anglers fish just one pier; others roam up and down the coast.
If you really want to learn about pier fishing, get there at daybreak. What I found is that diehard, experienced anglers will beat the sunrise. The other thing I found is that most of these folks will share everything if you show up without a fishing pole.
Most of them are helpful to any angler, but some get tight-lipped at the mere thought of competition. You can also learn by observing. Some of these folks are methodical and extremely precise about how they rig their rods and the length of their leaders.
Where to place a sinker, the size of a hook, and the list goes on and on.
There are days when I say that I could sell my boat and fish the piers and the rivers. It's relaxing, friendly, productive, and for the most part, fairly basic in the tackle required arena.
The piers start off with steelhead, suckers, and brown trout. Then the coho jacks show up. Some of the piers offer the Skamania steelhead during the summer. King Salmon are present in the spring but are more prominent in the fall.
Some steelhead and coho anglers throw spoons. The Little Cleo has been a favorite for many decades. Something with a glow pattern to it is very effective.
Other anglers, and most likely in the majority, use some spawn. Some days, a single egg works well; many days, a small sac of three or four eggs is best.
Fresh is always the best, and that can be a problem. Talk nicely to a successful angler, and you can gather some fresh spawn. Some anglers add a piece of colorful yarn. I know of a few anglers who soak the yarn in anise oil.
Sinkers can be placed above a barrel swivel to reduce resistance. The sinker can slide up and down, and the angler adjusts the length from the swivel to the hook. A calm day, a longer lead. A windy day, a shorter lead.
Great bass fishing and some darn good bluegill fishing take place on the piers. There are a few anglers who chase the bass, but hardly any bluegill anglers. The best bluegill fishing starts in early July and will last into October.
Tube jigs and pier bass fishing go hand in hand. Nearly all of the dedicated pier bass anglers walk up and down the pier, lifting the tube jig up, letting it fall. Just a slow lift and drop and a very slow walk along the pier. Fish the rocks and the rip-rap for the best success.
In addition to the listed species, catfish, walleye, sheepshead, and an outstanding carp fishery are present. So, if you don't have a boat or don't want the hassle of towing and storing it, consider the piers.
We make time each spring and summer to fish for the sheepshead/freshwater drum and the carp. The sheepshead fight really hard; they smack a lure and are present in large numbers. And they get large. I really don't understand why anglers ignore this fun fish.
Sheepshead is not picky. You can cast Husky Jerks, but I wouldn't. They will destroy it. Find a cheap crankbait or go with a spoon, a crawler harness, or a small spinner. Blade baits excel when chasing pier Sheepshead.
Slip bobbers are deadly on the summer bluegill. A glow-in-the-dark teardrop tipped with a spike or a cricket is all that you will need.
Carp are cautious. And they can easily surpass the 20-pound range. A 30-pound fish is possible, and a true trophy is rare but a worthy goal.
Our favorite carp rig is the hair rig using corn. A cautious carp will nibble the corn on the line or thread portion. Feeling no resistance, they get greedy and eat the remaining corn kernels.
Try the piers this summer and visit Bob's Gun and Tackle Shop.
Annual Survey on Great Lakes Fish Completed
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources surveys the diverse and important Great Lakes fisheries every year between April and November. Crews from research stations in Marquette, Charlevoix, Alpena and Harrison Township gather data on fish populations, fish health and the presence and effects of invasive species.
This information directly informs fisheries management decisions - such as stocking levels or regulated catch limits - and provides data on the success of past actions.
Surveying for 2025 has concluded, and DNR fisheries biologists are now synthesizing the findings and preparing for next year’s surveys.
—————
Lake Michigan – Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station
Three surveys accounted for the majority of the Great Lakes survey work for the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station staff and the survey vessel Steelhead in 2025: the spring gill net survey, lakewide acoustic forage fish survey and bottom trawl survey.
Since 1997, the DNR has participated in a spring gill net survey in collaboration with other agencies responsible for fisheries management in Lake Michigan. The objective is to assess recreationally, commercially and ecologically important fish populations, with a focus on lake trout, burbot, lake whitefish and yellow perch in Michigan waters. Due to the broad area covered and multispecies focus, this survey provides the most comprehensive information on the status of Lake Michigan adult fish populations.
The spring gill net survey was conducted at eight ports this year: St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Arcadia, Leland, Elk Rapids and Charlevoix. Across all ports, more than 100,000 feet of experimental bottom gill net was deployed, and data was captured on more than 5,000 fish - including a 42.5-inch, 35-pound lake trout that researchers believe to have been stocked in 1995.
From late August to early September, the SV Steelhead and crew conducted the prey fish survey, a multiagency effort measuring the abundance of alewife, rainbow smelt, bloaters and other prey fish throughout Lake Michigan. This survey uses hydroacoustic (high-precision, recordable fish finder) gear.
Results inform research and trout and salmon management in Lake Michigan, including the lakewide “predator-prey ratio” analysis to ensure prey fish can support the lake’s salmon and trout populations.
The hydroacoustic survey was comprised of 25 sections spanning nearshore and offshore regions around the basin. Areas surveyed this season by the SV Steelhead stretched around the Michigan shore from waters offshore of Beaver Island in the north to St. Joseph in the south.
Initial observations from this survey suggest that abundance of yearling and older (more than 1 year old) alewife is similar to that of recent years. However, numbers of young-of-year (less than 1 year old) were low at most ports except those in southern Lake Michigan.
Unlike young-of-year alewife, other fish - including bloater, rainbow smelt, yellow perch and stickleback - seemed to have experienced above-average recruitment in 2025, with higher abundance than typically observed in the acoustic survey.
The SV Steelhead crew completed the annual bottom trawl survey in September and October at three ports (South Haven, Grand Haven and Pentwater). Ten trawl samples were collected at each port, covering a range of water depths from 25 feet to 120 feet.
This survey provides information on the overall status of the nearshore fish community, including the presence, range expansion and effects of invasive species, and the status of yellow perch recruitment. This year had the highest catch of yellow perch since 2012 for this survey, which, with luck, could portend an improved yellow perch fishery over the next several years.
Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station staff also used small vessels for targeted surveys in 2025. Staff assisted Central Michigan University researchers with scuba surveys of native freshwater mussel populations in large rivers. Staff also used long-term deployment of egg sampling equipment to enumerate lake whitefish egg deposition on spawning shoals in Big Bay de Noc and in Good Harbor Bay.
In addition to egg sampling, staff partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to tag adult lake whitefish in Bay de Noc with acoustic transmitters to determine spawning behavior and site selection.
—————
Statewide Angler Survey
Every year, DNR staff known as “creel clerks” survey Great Lakes anglers to collect valuable information that help inform decisions for managing Michigan’s fisheries.
In 2025, 27 creel clerks conducted angler surveys from January to November at 84 locations across lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie. During the survey period, clerks interviewed more than 20,000 angler parties and collected nearly 6,000 biological fish samples for age and growth analyses.
The survey found that anglers spent more than 4 million hours fishing in the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Approximately 3.22 million fish were caught, of which 1.58 million fish were kept and 1.64 million fish were released.
The most fishing effort occurred on Lake Huron, followed by lakes Michigan, Erie and Superior. Angler harvest in the Great Lakes was dominated by walleye and yellow perch, followed by Chinook salmon, lake trout, coho salmon and rainbow trout.
For further information on DNR research stations, vessels and fisheries research, visit Michigan.gov/FishResearch.
This information directly informs fisheries management decisions - such as stocking levels or regulated catch limits - and provides data on the success of past actions.
Surveying for 2025 has concluded, and DNR fisheries biologists are now synthesizing the findings and preparing for next year’s surveys.
—————
Lake Michigan – Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station
Three surveys accounted for the majority of the Great Lakes survey work for the Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station staff and the survey vessel Steelhead in 2025: the spring gill net survey, lakewide acoustic forage fish survey and bottom trawl survey.
Since 1997, the DNR has participated in a spring gill net survey in collaboration with other agencies responsible for fisheries management in Lake Michigan. The objective is to assess recreationally, commercially and ecologically important fish populations, with a focus on lake trout, burbot, lake whitefish and yellow perch in Michigan waters. Due to the broad area covered and multispecies focus, this survey provides the most comprehensive information on the status of Lake Michigan adult fish populations.
The spring gill net survey was conducted at eight ports this year: St. Joseph, South Haven, Saugatuck, Grand Haven, Arcadia, Leland, Elk Rapids and Charlevoix. Across all ports, more than 100,000 feet of experimental bottom gill net was deployed, and data was captured on more than 5,000 fish - including a 42.5-inch, 35-pound lake trout that researchers believe to have been stocked in 1995.
From late August to early September, the SV Steelhead and crew conducted the prey fish survey, a multiagency effort measuring the abundance of alewife, rainbow smelt, bloaters and other prey fish throughout Lake Michigan. This survey uses hydroacoustic (high-precision, recordable fish finder) gear.
Results inform research and trout and salmon management in Lake Michigan, including the lakewide “predator-prey ratio” analysis to ensure prey fish can support the lake’s salmon and trout populations.
The hydroacoustic survey was comprised of 25 sections spanning nearshore and offshore regions around the basin. Areas surveyed this season by the SV Steelhead stretched around the Michigan shore from waters offshore of Beaver Island in the north to St. Joseph in the south.
Initial observations from this survey suggest that abundance of yearling and older (more than 1 year old) alewife is similar to that of recent years. However, numbers of young-of-year (less than 1 year old) were low at most ports except those in southern Lake Michigan.
Unlike young-of-year alewife, other fish - including bloater, rainbow smelt, yellow perch and stickleback - seemed to have experienced above-average recruitment in 2025, with higher abundance than typically observed in the acoustic survey.
The SV Steelhead crew completed the annual bottom trawl survey in September and October at three ports (South Haven, Grand Haven and Pentwater). Ten trawl samples were collected at each port, covering a range of water depths from 25 feet to 120 feet.
This survey provides information on the overall status of the nearshore fish community, including the presence, range expansion and effects of invasive species, and the status of yellow perch recruitment. This year had the highest catch of yellow perch since 2012 for this survey, which, with luck, could portend an improved yellow perch fishery over the next several years.
Charlevoix Fisheries Research Station staff also used small vessels for targeted surveys in 2025. Staff assisted Central Michigan University researchers with scuba surveys of native freshwater mussel populations in large rivers. Staff also used long-term deployment of egg sampling equipment to enumerate lake whitefish egg deposition on spawning shoals in Big Bay de Noc and in Good Harbor Bay.
In addition to egg sampling, staff partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey to tag adult lake whitefish in Bay de Noc with acoustic transmitters to determine spawning behavior and site selection.
—————
Statewide Angler Survey
Every year, DNR staff known as “creel clerks” survey Great Lakes anglers to collect valuable information that help inform decisions for managing Michigan’s fisheries.
In 2025, 27 creel clerks conducted angler surveys from January to November at 84 locations across lakes Michigan, Superior, Huron and Erie. During the survey period, clerks interviewed more than 20,000 angler parties and collected nearly 6,000 biological fish samples for age and growth analyses.
The survey found that anglers spent more than 4 million hours fishing in the Michigan waters of the Great Lakes. Approximately 3.22 million fish were caught, of which 1.58 million fish were kept and 1.64 million fish were released.
The most fishing effort occurred on Lake Huron, followed by lakes Michigan, Erie and Superior. Angler harvest in the Great Lakes was dominated by walleye and yellow perch, followed by Chinook salmon, lake trout, coho salmon and rainbow trout.
For further information on DNR research stations, vessels and fisheries research, visit Michigan.gov/FishResearch.
County Parks to Host Spring Break Camp
Looking for something for your kids to do during spring break?
Ottawa County Parks is offering a Spring Break Camp the week of April 6-10 at Hager Park in Georgetown Township.
Perfect for young explorers aged 6 to 13, this camp offers a week packed with exciting outdoor activities and hands-on learning that will spark curiosity and foster a love for nature. Each day brings new discoveries, from examining tiny microorganisms in the creek to spotting majestic bald eagles soaring above. Campers will dive into a week of outdoor adventures, emerging as budding wildlife experts.
Hager Park is a popular 104-acre destination known for its scenic trails through mature hardwood forests and engaging play areas like the Age of Discovery playground. The park is located at 8134 28th Ave.
Fees for the camp are $225 for county residents and $250 for non-residents. Sibling discounts apply at checkout with 10 percent off each additional sibling.
If your child falls outside the designated age range or you need assistance with registration, please call the camp director at 616-994-4773 or the Nature Education Center at 616-786-4847. For more information, visit miottawa.org/parks and click on the “reserve your spot” button for Spring Break Camp.
Ottawa County Parks is offering a Spring Break Camp the week of April 6-10 at Hager Park in Georgetown Township.
Perfect for young explorers aged 6 to 13, this camp offers a week packed with exciting outdoor activities and hands-on learning that will spark curiosity and foster a love for nature. Each day brings new discoveries, from examining tiny microorganisms in the creek to spotting majestic bald eagles soaring above. Campers will dive into a week of outdoor adventures, emerging as budding wildlife experts.
Hager Park is a popular 104-acre destination known for its scenic trails through mature hardwood forests and engaging play areas like the Age of Discovery playground. The park is located at 8134 28th Ave.
Fees for the camp are $225 for county residents and $250 for non-residents. Sibling discounts apply at checkout with 10 percent off each additional sibling.
If your child falls outside the designated age range or you need assistance with registration, please call the camp director at 616-994-4773 or the Nature Education Center at 616-786-4847. For more information, visit miottawa.org/parks and click on the “reserve your spot” button for Spring Break Camp.
Outdoor Truths:?Mono-Tasking
By Gary Miller
The last couple of months have only had a few nice days and hardly any nice ones in a row.
This week has been different. March has started off warm and sunny even though a long period of rain is in the forecast. My intentions of perusing the woods to determine last year’s deer activity never came about.
That will change almost forcibly. Why? Because turkey season opens in a month and for the first few weeks the leaves will not be in full bloom. I will be able to gain deer information while I’m turkey hunting.
There’s also a third layer. This will also be a good time to look for antler sheds. Not only are these neat finds, but they also give me great hunting information for next deer season. This all means I need to be a multi-tasker when turkey season opens.
I often tell people that I’m not a very good multi-tasker. I’m more of a mono-tasker. And while that isn’t totally true, I do function better when there are only two or three things I’m doing at the same time.
I compare this to a friend and former colleague of mine. He is a true multi-tasker and great administrator. He shines by getting so many things done simultaneously. We worked well together. I knew what I wanted to accomplish, and he knew how to accomplish it, down to the sickening details.
I always noticed the words that the Apostle Paul said. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” And there you go. He says he does one thing and then lists two things. And that’s how I feel. I do one thing – everything on my to-do list. See?
The truth is that the Christian life is exactly this way. It’s one thing done in many different ways. Jesus was once asked what the most important commandment was. Out of all the commandments, laws, and expectations that people debated endlessly, He boiled it all down to one thing: love. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else flows out of that.
I know it sounds simple and too emotional or (for a man) too feminine. But I didn’t make up the rules. Love is my mini-legal pad. And on that pad are a lot of to-dos. If you’re a mono-tasking Christian like me, don’ t let yourself get overwhelmed by all the religious minutiae. Just find ways to love people. Because in doing that, you are loving God.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 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@outdoor truths.org.
The last couple of months have only had a few nice days and hardly any nice ones in a row.
This week has been different. March has started off warm and sunny even though a long period of rain is in the forecast. My intentions of perusing the woods to determine last year’s deer activity never came about.
That will change almost forcibly. Why? Because turkey season opens in a month and for the first few weeks the leaves will not be in full bloom. I will be able to gain deer information while I’m turkey hunting.
There’s also a third layer. This will also be a good time to look for antler sheds. Not only are these neat finds, but they also give me great hunting information for next deer season. This all means I need to be a multi-tasker when turkey season opens.
I often tell people that I’m not a very good multi-tasker. I’m more of a mono-tasker. And while that isn’t totally true, I do function better when there are only two or three things I’m doing at the same time.
I compare this to a friend and former colleague of mine. He is a true multi-tasker and great administrator. He shines by getting so many things done simultaneously. We worked well together. I knew what I wanted to accomplish, and he knew how to accomplish it, down to the sickening details.
I always noticed the words that the Apostle Paul said. “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” And there you go. He says he does one thing and then lists two things. And that’s how I feel. I do one thing – everything on my to-do list. See?
The truth is that the Christian life is exactly this way. It’s one thing done in many different ways. Jesus was once asked what the most important commandment was. Out of all the commandments, laws, and expectations that people debated endlessly, He boiled it all down to one thing: love. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else flows out of that.
I know it sounds simple and too emotional or (for a man) too feminine. But I didn’t make up the rules. Love is my mini-legal pad. And on that pad are a lot of to-dos. If you’re a mono-tasking Christian like me, don’ t let yourself get overwhelmed by all the religious minutiae. Just find ways to love people. Because in doing that, you are loving God.
—————
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for 23 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@outdoor truths.org.
2026 is Year of the Azalea
Double purple Perfecto Mundo azalea brings bright color to spring and late summer-fall gardens.
Photo courtesy National Garden Bureau
Photo courtesy National Garden Bureau
By Melinda Myers
Azaleas add welcome color to the spring garden and some, like Encore®, Perfecto Mundo® and ReBLOOM™ offer additional blooms in summer and fall. With beautiful flowers in an array of colors and sizes and a variety of growth habits it’s no wonder the National Garden Bureau has declared 2026 the Year of the Azalea.
The keys to success are selecting azaleas adapted to the climate, placing them in a suitable location and of course, providing proper care. Azaleas need slightly acidic soil with good drainage and prefer light to moderate shade. If shade is limited, consider growing Encore® Azaleas, Sweet Reward® Coral azaleas or one of the more sun-tolerant varieties.
Once the perfect location is identified with adequate space for the plant’s mature size, it’s time to prepare the soil. Start with a soil test and follow any recommendations for amending the pH as needed. Incorporate compost or other organic matter into the planting bed, not just the planting hole, to improve drainage and moisture retention of the existing soil.
Dig a hole that’s the same depth as the root ball and two to four times wider with sloping sides. This loosens the surrounding soil as needed, allowing roots to extend beyond the planting hole. Do not dig a deeper hole as this leads to settling and the plant will end up in a low spot where water collects and can lead to root rot. If amending the soil, firm the bottom of the hole to prevent settling.
Loosen any circling pot-bound roots prior to planting or shave off the outer 1 inch of roots then gently tease out the roots along the edge. This encourages the roots to grow out and away from the root ball. When circling roots remain intact, they continue to grow around the original root ball, limiting moisture and nutrient uptake, plant stability and eventually end up girdling the stem.
Make sure the crown of the plant, where the stems meet the topmost roots, is at or slightly above the soil surface. Create a raised planting area if gardening in heavy, slow-draining soil.
Water thoroughly, moistening the top eight to twelve inches of soil. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet which can lead to root rot. Mulch the soil with leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips. Pull the mulch a few inches away from the stems. Organic mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as it decomposes.
Wait a year to fertilize and follow soil test recommendations. Most azaleas only need one fertilization in spring while repeat bloomers may benefit from a second application mid-summer. Do not fertilize after the start of August as this can promote late season growth that is more susceptible to winter damage. Use slow-release fertilizer according to label directions. Avoid overfertilization that can prevent flowering and promote lush growth, which is more susceptible to insect damage.
Those gardening in zones 5 to 7 and interested in adding native plants may want to add a Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) to their landscape. This azalea is native to the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia and grows 4-to-8 feet or more tall and 8-to-10 feet wide.
Look for opportunities to add an azalea or two to the landscape. Prepare the site and get busy planting this spring or fall.
—————
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 MelindaMyers.com.
Azaleas add welcome color to the spring garden and some, like Encore®, Perfecto Mundo® and ReBLOOM™ offer additional blooms in summer and fall. With beautiful flowers in an array of colors and sizes and a variety of growth habits it’s no wonder the National Garden Bureau has declared 2026 the Year of the Azalea.
The keys to success are selecting azaleas adapted to the climate, placing them in a suitable location and of course, providing proper care. Azaleas need slightly acidic soil with good drainage and prefer light to moderate shade. If shade is limited, consider growing Encore® Azaleas, Sweet Reward® Coral azaleas or one of the more sun-tolerant varieties.
Once the perfect location is identified with adequate space for the plant’s mature size, it’s time to prepare the soil. Start with a soil test and follow any recommendations for amending the pH as needed. Incorporate compost or other organic matter into the planting bed, not just the planting hole, to improve drainage and moisture retention of the existing soil.
Dig a hole that’s the same depth as the root ball and two to four times wider with sloping sides. This loosens the surrounding soil as needed, allowing roots to extend beyond the planting hole. Do not dig a deeper hole as this leads to settling and the plant will end up in a low spot where water collects and can lead to root rot. If amending the soil, firm the bottom of the hole to prevent settling.
Loosen any circling pot-bound roots prior to planting or shave off the outer 1 inch of roots then gently tease out the roots along the edge. This encourages the roots to grow out and away from the root ball. When circling roots remain intact, they continue to grow around the original root ball, limiting moisture and nutrient uptake, plant stability and eventually end up girdling the stem.
Make sure the crown of the plant, where the stems meet the topmost roots, is at or slightly above the soil surface. Create a raised planting area if gardening in heavy, slow-draining soil.
Water thoroughly, moistening the top eight to twelve inches of soil. Keep the soil moist but not overly wet which can lead to root rot. Mulch the soil with leaves, evergreen needles or woodchips. Pull the mulch a few inches away from the stems. Organic mulch helps conserve moisture, suppress weeds and improve the soil as it decomposes.
Wait a year to fertilize and follow soil test recommendations. Most azaleas only need one fertilization in spring while repeat bloomers may benefit from a second application mid-summer. Do not fertilize after the start of August as this can promote late season growth that is more susceptible to winter damage. Use slow-release fertilizer according to label directions. Avoid overfertilization that can prevent flowering and promote lush growth, which is more susceptible to insect damage.
Those gardening in zones 5 to 7 and interested in adding native plants may want to add a Flame azalea (Rhododendron calendulaceum) to their landscape. This azalea is native to the Appalachian Mountains from Pennsylvania to Georgia and grows 4-to-8 feet or more tall and 8-to-10 feet wide.
Look for opportunities to add an azalea or two to the landscape. Prepare the site and get busy planting this spring or fall.
—————
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 MelindaMyers.com.
Michigan Fishing Regulator Opposes Consumers Dam Sale
(Ed. Note: This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. Visit the newsroom online: bridgemi.com.)
By Laura Herberg and Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Michigan fish and game regulators appear poised to wade into the controversy over Consumers Energy’s proposal to sell its 13 aging hydropower dams to an out-of-state private equity company.
On March 11, following a presentation from critics of the sale plan, members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission discussed introducing a resolution to formally oppose it, with one member saying he fears selling the dams could leave Michiganders on the hook if they fall into disrepair.
“We don’t have a vote, but we have a voice,” said Commissioner Brandon Fewins, who told Bridge Michigan he intends to introduce the resolution at the next commission meeting on April 8.
To take effect, the resolution would need support from a majority of the commission’s seven members. None of them clearly indicated last week how they would vote if the matter moves forward.
The commission’s interest in the dams comes as regulators at the Michigan Public Service Commission and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ponder whether to authorize the proposed sale.
State utility regulators, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and several ratepayer and environmental advocacy groups have urged the Public Service Commission to reject the deal or impose conditions. They argue the current sale terms expose the public to financial and public safety risks by failing to ensure new owners will invest in needed maintenance on the structures.
Consumers disputes those arguments. An executive at the utility recently said if the deal isn’t approved as-is, Consumers will look to decommission all 13 dams — a move that would likely anger those who live along or recreate in the structures’ vast reservoirs.
For years, the utility has been looking for a way out of the hydropower business as it faces hundreds of millions in upcoming costs to maintain dams that generate little power or revenue. Last fall, officials announced plans to essentially give the dams away to Confluence Hydro LLC, a newly-created subsidiary of Maryland private equity firm Hull Street Energy.
Consumers would then buy back the dams’ power at double the market price. The company estimates that arrangement would cost it and its customers $1.25 billion in today’s dollars — a hefty sum, but hundreds of millions cheaper than keeping or decommissioning the structures by the company’s estimate.
But critics including Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff have accused the company of dramatically overestimating the cost of alternatives, while striking a deal that contains too few protections for ratepayers and the public.
The department, which typically favors dam removal, has taken the unusual step of getting involved in deliberations over the proposed sale, with its director, Scott Bowen, warning Wednesday he fears the arrangement would ultimately lead to taxpayers inheriting the expensive structures.
In a statement, Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler maintained that selling the dams is “the best and most affordable” option for the utility’s customers.
“We firmly stand by our sale agreement for the dams, and we’re focusing our work on achieving that goal,” Wheeler said. “The views that were expressed at today’s NRC meeting are out of step with what we have heard from communities and most stakeholders regarding the future of these sites.”
The presentation at the Natural Resources Commission meeting came from representatives of three groups that have filed testimony before the Public Service Commission opposing the sale.
Among their chief concerns is Confluence Hydro’s plan to divvy up dam ownership among 13 separate limited liability companies.
Tom Baird, a former Natural Resources Commission chair who now represents river conservation groups Anglers of the Au Sable and the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition, argued that arrangement is designed to shield the parent company from liability if its subsidiaries fail to maintain the structures, leaving the public to fund repairs or risk another failure like the 2020 Midland dam breaks that flooded vast areas of mid-Michigan and inflicted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage.
That concern seemed to resonate with Commissioner John Walters.
“It’s very evident to me that, if this sale goes through and they create 13 different LLCs, and they walk away from all those, the state of Michigan and the citizens of Michigan are on the hook for this,” Walters said. “I find that to be completely appalling.”
Other critics of the proposed sale told fish and game regulators on Wednesday they fear new owners would fail to address longstanding water quality issues caused by the dams. The structures warm and fragment rivers to the detriment of coldwater fish, a reality that has fueled longstanding head-butting between conservation groups, environmental regulators and Consumers.
“If Consumers won’t clean up their mess, then why would I think that a Maryland private equity firm would give a damn?” asked George Heartwell, a consultant for the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition.
In a statement to Bridge Michigan, Confluence Hydro spokesperson Natalie Joubert countered that the company has a track record of maintaining hydroelectric dams “on schedule, on budget and in compliance with all regulations.”
Mark Eyster, the newest Natural Resources Commission member and a former administrative law judge within the Public Service Commission, seemed skeptical that opponents of the sale could influence the commission.
“Good luck,” he told them during Wednesday’s meeting, adding that it will be “an uphill fight.”
In testimony filed in the Public Service Commission case, DNR staff have argued that Consumers overestimated the cost of decommissioning the dams.
“This is a rare thing for us,” Bowen said of the agency’s involvement in the sale deliberations. “I don’t think, historically, the DNR has ever intervened in one of these cases and we didn’t come by it lightly.”
Although the agency hasn’t taken a formal stance on the sale, it has long supported dam removal wherever possible as a means of addressing the structures’ negative impacts on rivers and their high maintenance costs.
Bowen noted Wednesday that the DNR owns more than 200 small dams, many of which it inherited from previous owners.
Noting that the agency has struggled to cover the cost of needed repairs on those structures, he said he sees the potential sale to Confluence Hydro as “a long-term way of us getting 13 more of them with bigger, bigger problems.”
By Laura Herberg and Kelly House
Bridge Michigan
Michigan fish and game regulators appear poised to wade into the controversy over Consumers Energy’s proposal to sell its 13 aging hydropower dams to an out-of-state private equity company.
On March 11, following a presentation from critics of the sale plan, members of the Michigan Natural Resources Commission discussed introducing a resolution to formally oppose it, with one member saying he fears selling the dams could leave Michiganders on the hook if they fall into disrepair.
“We don’t have a vote, but we have a voice,” said Commissioner Brandon Fewins, who told Bridge Michigan he intends to introduce the resolution at the next commission meeting on April 8.
To take effect, the resolution would need support from a majority of the commission’s seven members. None of them clearly indicated last week how they would vote if the matter moves forward.
The commission’s interest in the dams comes as regulators at the Michigan Public Service Commission and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ponder whether to authorize the proposed sale.
State utility regulators, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and several ratepayer and environmental advocacy groups have urged the Public Service Commission to reject the deal or impose conditions. They argue the current sale terms expose the public to financial and public safety risks by failing to ensure new owners will invest in needed maintenance on the structures.
Consumers disputes those arguments. An executive at the utility recently said if the deal isn’t approved as-is, Consumers will look to decommission all 13 dams — a move that would likely anger those who live along or recreate in the structures’ vast reservoirs.
For years, the utility has been looking for a way out of the hydropower business as it faces hundreds of millions in upcoming costs to maintain dams that generate little power or revenue. Last fall, officials announced plans to essentially give the dams away to Confluence Hydro LLC, a newly-created subsidiary of Maryland private equity firm Hull Street Energy.
Consumers would then buy back the dams’ power at double the market price. The company estimates that arrangement would cost it and its customers $1.25 billion in today’s dollars — a hefty sum, but hundreds of millions cheaper than keeping or decommissioning the structures by the company’s estimate.
But critics including Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff have accused the company of dramatically overestimating the cost of alternatives, while striking a deal that contains too few protections for ratepayers and the public.
The department, which typically favors dam removal, has taken the unusual step of getting involved in deliberations over the proposed sale, with its director, Scott Bowen, warning Wednesday he fears the arrangement would ultimately lead to taxpayers inheriting the expensive structures.
In a statement, Consumers spokesperson Brian Wheeler maintained that selling the dams is “the best and most affordable” option for the utility’s customers.
“We firmly stand by our sale agreement for the dams, and we’re focusing our work on achieving that goal,” Wheeler said. “The views that were expressed at today’s NRC meeting are out of step with what we have heard from communities and most stakeholders regarding the future of these sites.”
The presentation at the Natural Resources Commission meeting came from representatives of three groups that have filed testimony before the Public Service Commission opposing the sale.
Among their chief concerns is Confluence Hydro’s plan to divvy up dam ownership among 13 separate limited liability companies.
Tom Baird, a former Natural Resources Commission chair who now represents river conservation groups Anglers of the Au Sable and the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition, argued that arrangement is designed to shield the parent company from liability if its subsidiaries fail to maintain the structures, leaving the public to fund repairs or risk another failure like the 2020 Midland dam breaks that flooded vast areas of mid-Michigan and inflicted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of damage.
That concern seemed to resonate with Commissioner John Walters.
“It’s very evident to me that, if this sale goes through and they create 13 different LLCs, and they walk away from all those, the state of Michigan and the citizens of Michigan are on the hook for this,” Walters said. “I find that to be completely appalling.”
Other critics of the proposed sale told fish and game regulators on Wednesday they fear new owners would fail to address longstanding water quality issues caused by the dams. The structures warm and fragment rivers to the detriment of coldwater fish, a reality that has fueled longstanding head-butting between conservation groups, environmental regulators and Consumers.
“If Consumers won’t clean up their mess, then why would I think that a Maryland private equity firm would give a damn?” asked George Heartwell, a consultant for the Michigan Hydro Relicensing Coalition.
In a statement to Bridge Michigan, Confluence Hydro spokesperson Natalie Joubert countered that the company has a track record of maintaining hydroelectric dams “on schedule, on budget and in compliance with all regulations.”
Mark Eyster, the newest Natural Resources Commission member and a former administrative law judge within the Public Service Commission, seemed skeptical that opponents of the sale could influence the commission.
“Good luck,” he told them during Wednesday’s meeting, adding that it will be “an uphill fight.”
In testimony filed in the Public Service Commission case, DNR staff have argued that Consumers overestimated the cost of decommissioning the dams.
“This is a rare thing for us,” Bowen said of the agency’s involvement in the sale deliberations. “I don’t think, historically, the DNR has ever intervened in one of these cases and we didn’t come by it lightly.”
Although the agency hasn’t taken a formal stance on the sale, it has long supported dam removal wherever possible as a means of addressing the structures’ negative impacts on rivers and their high maintenance costs.
Bowen noted Wednesday that the DNR owns more than 200 small dams, many of which it inherited from previous owners.
Noting that the agency has struggled to cover the cost of needed repairs on those structures, he said he sees the potential sale to Confluence Hydro as “a long-term way of us getting 13 more of them with bigger, bigger problems.”
