A large catch of crappie and walleye.
(Photo credit Jack Payne)
By Jack Payne
The 17-foot Grumman canoe with the square back glided slowly along, being pushed by the small Johnson 2.5-horsepower motor.
We would go maybe 50 yards, cut the engine, throw out a bobber with a creek chub minnow on one rod, and cast a Daredevle Spoon with another.
As seniors in high school, we wanted to get away from Tulip Time in Holland. This was my second trip to Hamlin Lake, and it quickly became my favorite lake in the state.
Hamlin Lake, near Ludington, is basically two distinct bodies of water joined together by what we call “the narrows.” The western and southern area is what we call Lower Hamlin. The northern section is called the Upper.
The Lower has much deeper waters with some bordered by towering sand dunes. Walk the dunes to the west, and you will hit Lake Michigan. The lower is home to the South, Middle, and North Bayous. The bayous are an excellent place to fish in the spring. Bass, bluegill, crappie, and pike hang out there.
Upper Hamlin is shallow and weedy except for the western end, where it meets the narrows and the lower portion of the lake. The upper offers the best bass, crappie, and bluegill fishing. It also holds tons of small to medium-sized pike.
Much of the Upper has depths of 6-to-10 feet, with plenty of cabbage weeds. Bluegill and bass spawn in the areas void of weeds.
Area 1 starts at the public launch off of Barnhart Road. From this point, going north and then east is prime bluegill spawning grounds and early-season pike. Before the weeds get too thick, the pike roam this area after their spawning duties, and the bluegill move in to spawn.
Area 2 starts at the launch, heads north, and then west to the narrows. This area is good all season for walleye, pike, largemouth bass, and huge schools of summer bluegills.
Area 2 is the premier bluegill location during the summer. My son and daughter spent countless hours fishing with me on the west end of the Upper. In my opinion, the west end of the Upper is the best summer bluegill fishing in the entire lake.
Drift fishing between 18 and 30 feet of water is the best technique. A graph comes in handy for the suspended fish, and one rod just ticking the bottom covers the bottom-hugging fish.
Once the thermocline sets in, keep your deepest rod at this level and a second rod up higher.
Area 3 covers the three bayous on the East Side of Lower Hamlin. All three bayous are prime spawning areas for bluegills and bass. The North Bayou is loaded with stumps, some of which are in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Area 4 is the area near the Ludington State Park on the West End of Lower Hamlin. This area is easy to locate because of the huge sand dunes. Smallmouth bass, crappie, and walleye make up the majority of the catch here.
Cabbage weeds grow between the 8-and-12-foot depths. This weed bed starts near the State Park and runs three-quarters of the distance to the narrows. The narrows are the area where the lake makes an L shape.
Area 5 is the most difficult to fish and the only area without fishing pressure. Giant channel catfish with some pushing the twenty-pound range are caught here during the mid-day hours. This is also one of my favorite walleye locations.
This area is the old riverbed that starts near the narrows and ends at the dam by the State Park. This riverbed has more twists and turns than any pretzel. The prime depth to focus on is between 60 and 80 feet.
Midday hours, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., produce the most fish. I questioned this theory until I saw the photos and fish of an old timer that I met. One midday trip proved to me that he was spot-on. This area gets really good starting in mid-July and lasting into October.
And yes, we caught plenty of pike in the 24-28 inch range. For more information on lodging or camping, contact the Ludington Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-542-4600.
The 17-foot Grumman canoe with the square back glided slowly along, being pushed by the small Johnson 2.5-horsepower motor.
We would go maybe 50 yards, cut the engine, throw out a bobber with a creek chub minnow on one rod, and cast a Daredevle Spoon with another.
As seniors in high school, we wanted to get away from Tulip Time in Holland. This was my second trip to Hamlin Lake, and it quickly became my favorite lake in the state.
Hamlin Lake, near Ludington, is basically two distinct bodies of water joined together by what we call “the narrows.” The western and southern area is what we call Lower Hamlin. The northern section is called the Upper.
The Lower has much deeper waters with some bordered by towering sand dunes. Walk the dunes to the west, and you will hit Lake Michigan. The lower is home to the South, Middle, and North Bayous. The bayous are an excellent place to fish in the spring. Bass, bluegill, crappie, and pike hang out there.
Upper Hamlin is shallow and weedy except for the western end, where it meets the narrows and the lower portion of the lake. The upper offers the best bass, crappie, and bluegill fishing. It also holds tons of small to medium-sized pike.
Much of the Upper has depths of 6-to-10 feet, with plenty of cabbage weeds. Bluegill and bass spawn in the areas void of weeds.
Area 1 starts at the public launch off of Barnhart Road. From this point, going north and then east is prime bluegill spawning grounds and early-season pike. Before the weeds get too thick, the pike roam this area after their spawning duties, and the bluegill move in to spawn.
Area 2 starts at the launch, heads north, and then west to the narrows. This area is good all season for walleye, pike, largemouth bass, and huge schools of summer bluegills.
Area 2 is the premier bluegill location during the summer. My son and daughter spent countless hours fishing with me on the west end of the Upper. In my opinion, the west end of the Upper is the best summer bluegill fishing in the entire lake.
Drift fishing between 18 and 30 feet of water is the best technique. A graph comes in handy for the suspended fish, and one rod just ticking the bottom covers the bottom-hugging fish.
Once the thermocline sets in, keep your deepest rod at this level and a second rod up higher.
Area 3 covers the three bayous on the East Side of Lower Hamlin. All three bayous are prime spawning areas for bluegills and bass. The North Bayou is loaded with stumps, some of which are in 6 to 8 feet of water.
Area 4 is the area near the Ludington State Park on the West End of Lower Hamlin. This area is easy to locate because of the huge sand dunes. Smallmouth bass, crappie, and walleye make up the majority of the catch here.
Cabbage weeds grow between the 8-and-12-foot depths. This weed bed starts near the State Park and runs three-quarters of the distance to the narrows. The narrows are the area where the lake makes an L shape.
Area 5 is the most difficult to fish and the only area without fishing pressure. Giant channel catfish with some pushing the twenty-pound range are caught here during the mid-day hours. This is also one of my favorite walleye locations.
This area is the old riverbed that starts near the narrows and ends at the dam by the State Park. This riverbed has more twists and turns than any pretzel. The prime depth to focus on is between 60 and 80 feet.
Midday hours, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., produce the most fish. I questioned this theory until I saw the photos and fish of an old timer that I met. One midday trip proved to me that he was spot-on. This area gets really good starting in mid-July and lasting into October.
And yes, we caught plenty of pike in the 24-28 inch range. For more information on lodging or camping, contact the Ludington Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-542-4600.
_________________________________________________
Shawn Smith, of Roseville, fishes in downtown Detroit. April 1 marked the beginning of 2026 fishing regulations in Michigan, which means it’s time to buy a new fishing license. The number of people buying fishing licenses has gradually increased over the past 10 years, but decreased between 2024-2025.
(Photo by Laura Herberg/Bridge Michigan)
More People Fishing in Michigan as
State Considers License Fee Hikes
(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
Bridge Michigan
The number of people buying fishing licenses has trended upward in Michigan.
According to data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 1.2 million customers bought fishing licenses in 2025, up 5.8 percent from 2015, when there were 1.1 million customers.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why that might be,” said Lucas Nathan, Aquatic Species and Regulatory Affairs Unit manager for the DNR Fisheries Division. But he said the coronavirus pandemic might have something to do with it.
Looking at the last 10 years, the number of customers buying fishing licenses peaked in 2020, after the pandemic hit. Some of those customers who were lured to fishing when hanging out indoors was risky may still be fishing, accounting for some residually high numbers.
Despite the gradual upward increase in customers, the number of people buying Michigan fishing licenses went down in 2025 by 1.9 percent compared to the 2024 total.
Fishing license fees bring in approximately $30 million annually, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and some lawmakers want more.
The state Senate approved legislation last fall that would raise the fees, but that legislation has stalled in the state House. Separately, Whitmer has asked lawmakers to raise the fees as part of the 2027 budget process, but it wasn’t clear if lawmakers would grant that ask. Negotiations on the 2027 budget have just begun.
April 1 marked the first day of 2026 fishing regulations in Michigan, which means anglers will need to have a 2026 fishing license to go out.
James Redmond, of Detroit, caught a pike within minutes Monday after casting out along the Detroit riverfront. The 74-year-old, who’s been fishing since he was a kid, said he thinks more people might be participating in the pastime because of the Detroit River walleye run.
“By May or June, there’s going to be 100 boats out here,” he said. “Ten to 15 years ago, you didn’t see all the boats out here.”
In the Upper Peninsula, at the Bay View Bait & Tackle shop outside Escanaba, shop owner Diane Carlson said the upward trend in people fishing hasn’t meant more customers for her shop. If anything, she said, fewer and fewer people are coming in to buy their licenses there.
“I get more people telling me that they’ve done it online,” she said.
As for bait and tackle customers, she said it changes day to day.
“If they’re catching fish, I see more people. If nobody’s catching anything for a while, then they just don’t go out,” she said.
—————
Notable regulation changes for the 2026 fishing season
New burbot protections
Fishing for burbot, sometimes nicknamed “freshwater cod,” is increasing in popularity, the DNR’s Nathan told Bridge. At the same time, there are concerns the coldwater species may be impacted by warming water. For those reasons, there’s a new statewide daily possession limit for burbot of five fish per day.
Additionally, there had been an opportunity to apply for a permit to use hoop nets to catch burbot in the winter on the Au Train, Sturgeon and Peshekee rivers in the Upper Peninsula. Nathan said there were some concerns that, due to the timing of that opportunity, it could pose some risks to spawning burbot, so it’s no longer available.
—————
New limits at Stannard Rock and Big Reef
Stannard Rock and Big Reef are underwater rock formations in Lake Superior. Stannard Rock is located north of Marquette and Big Reef is located northwest of Newberry.
‘They’re destination fisheries for catching some really big lake trout,” said Nathan.
To try to protect the lake trout in those areas, there is a new daily limit of one lake trout or splake.
“The target there is really lake trout but the way we manage lake trout and splake, it’s a combined limit,” Nathan said.
—————
Walleye limits on Teal and Independence lakes
There are new limits for walleye caught in Teal and Independence lakes in the U.P. Walleye caught in those lakes between 18 to 23 inches long will need to be released. Walleye between 15 inches and 17 inches or larger than 23 inches are OK, but there is a daily possession limit of five and only one walleye can be bigger than 23 inches.
According to Nathan, walleye have been seeing some declines in their ability to naturally grow their population in those lakes and some other areas of the state. The hope is that by protecting the 18- to 23-inch fish, the number of fish that can reproduce will increase and the walleye population will become more self-sustaining.
Teal and Independence lakes were picked in part because the DNR has information on the current population so it can measure changes after the regulation’s implementation.
—————
Underwater spearfishing
Since 2022, people who spearfish underwater have been allowed to go after three kinds of gamefish — lake trout, northern pike and walleye — but only in limited areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Underwater spearfishing participants argued that wasn’t fair because they buy the same fishing license as hook-and-line anglers.
In November, the Natural Resources Commission voted that, starting in the 2026 season, underwater spearfishers can go after lake trout, northern pike and walleye in additional waters: parts of Lake Erie and Lake Superior and expanded portions of Lake Michigan.
By Laura Herberg
Bridge Michigan
The number of people buying fishing licenses has trended upward in Michigan.
According to data from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources 1.2 million customers bought fishing licenses in 2025, up 5.8 percent from 2015, when there were 1.1 million customers.
“It’s hard to pinpoint exactly why that might be,” said Lucas Nathan, Aquatic Species and Regulatory Affairs Unit manager for the DNR Fisheries Division. But he said the coronavirus pandemic might have something to do with it.
Looking at the last 10 years, the number of customers buying fishing licenses peaked in 2020, after the pandemic hit. Some of those customers who were lured to fishing when hanging out indoors was risky may still be fishing, accounting for some residually high numbers.
Despite the gradual upward increase in customers, the number of people buying Michigan fishing licenses went down in 2025 by 1.9 percent compared to the 2024 total.
Fishing license fees bring in approximately $30 million annually, but Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and some lawmakers want more.
The state Senate approved legislation last fall that would raise the fees, but that legislation has stalled in the state House. Separately, Whitmer has asked lawmakers to raise the fees as part of the 2027 budget process, but it wasn’t clear if lawmakers would grant that ask. Negotiations on the 2027 budget have just begun.
April 1 marked the first day of 2026 fishing regulations in Michigan, which means anglers will need to have a 2026 fishing license to go out.
James Redmond, of Detroit, caught a pike within minutes Monday after casting out along the Detroit riverfront. The 74-year-old, who’s been fishing since he was a kid, said he thinks more people might be participating in the pastime because of the Detroit River walleye run.
“By May or June, there’s going to be 100 boats out here,” he said. “Ten to 15 years ago, you didn’t see all the boats out here.”
In the Upper Peninsula, at the Bay View Bait & Tackle shop outside Escanaba, shop owner Diane Carlson said the upward trend in people fishing hasn’t meant more customers for her shop. If anything, she said, fewer and fewer people are coming in to buy their licenses there.
“I get more people telling me that they’ve done it online,” she said.
As for bait and tackle customers, she said it changes day to day.
“If they’re catching fish, I see more people. If nobody’s catching anything for a while, then they just don’t go out,” she said.
—————
Notable regulation changes for the 2026 fishing season
New burbot protections
Fishing for burbot, sometimes nicknamed “freshwater cod,” is increasing in popularity, the DNR’s Nathan told Bridge. At the same time, there are concerns the coldwater species may be impacted by warming water. For those reasons, there’s a new statewide daily possession limit for burbot of five fish per day.
Additionally, there had been an opportunity to apply for a permit to use hoop nets to catch burbot in the winter on the Au Train, Sturgeon and Peshekee rivers in the Upper Peninsula. Nathan said there were some concerns that, due to the timing of that opportunity, it could pose some risks to spawning burbot, so it’s no longer available.
—————
New limits at Stannard Rock and Big Reef
Stannard Rock and Big Reef are underwater rock formations in Lake Superior. Stannard Rock is located north of Marquette and Big Reef is located northwest of Newberry.
‘They’re destination fisheries for catching some really big lake trout,” said Nathan.
To try to protect the lake trout in those areas, there is a new daily limit of one lake trout or splake.
“The target there is really lake trout but the way we manage lake trout and splake, it’s a combined limit,” Nathan said.
—————
Walleye limits on Teal and Independence lakes
There are new limits for walleye caught in Teal and Independence lakes in the U.P. Walleye caught in those lakes between 18 to 23 inches long will need to be released. Walleye between 15 inches and 17 inches or larger than 23 inches are OK, but there is a daily possession limit of five and only one walleye can be bigger than 23 inches.
According to Nathan, walleye have been seeing some declines in their ability to naturally grow their population in those lakes and some other areas of the state. The hope is that by protecting the 18- to 23-inch fish, the number of fish that can reproduce will increase and the walleye population will become more self-sustaining.
Teal and Independence lakes were picked in part because the DNR has information on the current population so it can measure changes after the regulation’s implementation.
—————
Underwater spearfishing
Since 2022, people who spearfish underwater have been allowed to go after three kinds of gamefish — lake trout, northern pike and walleye — but only in limited areas of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. Underwater spearfishing participants argued that wasn’t fair because they buy the same fishing license as hook-and-line anglers.
In November, the Natural Resources Commission voted that, starting in the 2026 season, underwater spearfishers can go after lake trout, northern pike and walleye in additional waters: parts of Lake Erie and Lake Superior and expanded portions of Lake Michigan.
_________________________________________________
Outdoor Truths
By Gary Miller
If one has been hunting or fishing long enough, he has a few stories that fit into the category of either questionable or unbelievable. In fact, those tales are so unbelievable that without a witness to confirm the event, most would not only question their veracity but would deny the outcome.
I can quickly think about three such stories; all of which involve fishing.
One night I was fishing with a friend from a covered pontoon when a fish jerked my rod into the water. The next morning, we woke up, cast, and reeled in the lost rod, along with the fish that was still attached. Again, I have witnesses.
Another time, while fishing in the late summer, my friend dropped his glasses in the lake. He went back to what he thought was the approximate place during the winter when the lake authorities lower the lake levels. There on top of a stump were his glasses.
And lastly, just a few years ago while fishing in the river, I cast my lure and caught two smallmouths at the same time; both hooked to my tiny torpedo. What I remember about that was not only the two that were hooked but a third that was trying to get its part as well.
Yep, there’s no doubt each of those stories can conjure up some serious misgivings even though all of them can certainly be deemed possible.
A story that is humanly impossible, however, could only be designed by God. And that is what the story of the resurrection is – a humanly impossible story that is so inconceivable, it can only be designed by God.
One of the greatest proofs of Christianity is not just the fact of the resurrection. In fact, non-Christians do not believe that something like that actually happened.
But perhaps what a person ought to come to grips with first is just who would design such an odd way to save the world. What human would come up with the crazy idea of a death on a cross, a burial, and then a resurrection to defeat sin? What man would really take something as historically inhuman and cruel as a cross and decide they can make it become a universal symbol of hope and redemption?
The answer is no man. Only God would think of something as cruel as a cross and as impossible as a resurrection, marry them together, and design a plan for mankind to be made right with his Creator.
My friend, if you’re stuck on the reality of a resurrection for you to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, perhaps you just need to decide if anyone other than God could have come up with such an unlikely story.
—————
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.
If one has been hunting or fishing long enough, he has a few stories that fit into the category of either questionable or unbelievable. In fact, those tales are so unbelievable that without a witness to confirm the event, most would not only question their veracity but would deny the outcome.
I can quickly think about three such stories; all of which involve fishing.
One night I was fishing with a friend from a covered pontoon when a fish jerked my rod into the water. The next morning, we woke up, cast, and reeled in the lost rod, along with the fish that was still attached. Again, I have witnesses.
Another time, while fishing in the late summer, my friend dropped his glasses in the lake. He went back to what he thought was the approximate place during the winter when the lake authorities lower the lake levels. There on top of a stump were his glasses.
And lastly, just a few years ago while fishing in the river, I cast my lure and caught two smallmouths at the same time; both hooked to my tiny torpedo. What I remember about that was not only the two that were hooked but a third that was trying to get its part as well.
Yep, there’s no doubt each of those stories can conjure up some serious misgivings even though all of them can certainly be deemed possible.
A story that is humanly impossible, however, could only be designed by God. And that is what the story of the resurrection is – a humanly impossible story that is so inconceivable, it can only be designed by God.
One of the greatest proofs of Christianity is not just the fact of the resurrection. In fact, non-Christians do not believe that something like that actually happened.
But perhaps what a person ought to come to grips with first is just who would design such an odd way to save the world. What human would come up with the crazy idea of a death on a cross, a burial, and then a resurrection to defeat sin? What man would really take something as historically inhuman and cruel as a cross and decide they can make it become a universal symbol of hope and redemption?
The answer is no man. Only God would think of something as cruel as a cross and as impossible as a resurrection, marry them together, and design a plan for mankind to be made right with his Creator.
My friend, if you’re stuck on the reality of a resurrection for you to believe that Jesus was the Son of God, perhaps you just need to decide if anyone other than God could have come up with such an unlikely story.
—————
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.
_________________________________________________
Add Some Homegrown Flavor
to Your Gatherings This Season
By Melinda Myers
Fill your crudités platters with vegetables grown in your own garden and containers. Arrange the raw vegetables neatly on a platter or board and add a homemade dip seasoned with fresh herbs. Your family and guests are sure to enjoy the selection and fresh flavor.
Look for opportunities to grow and share your favorite vegetables at gatherings with friends and families. Many vegetables work well in containers and small compact varieties make it easy to include them in just about any size garden.
Create an attractive display with seasonal bite-sized vegetables that are easy for guests to enjoy. Snap peas, radishes, and carrots are most readily available during the cooler months of spring and fall.
As the season progresses, include broccoli and cauliflower florets. Try growing some purple varieties like purple magic broccoli, purple crush and amethyst purple cauliflower. Blanch them in cold water to bring out the color.
By mid to late summer, you’ll have tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to include. Grow some colorful cherry tomatoes like sunset torch with excellent flavor and unique yellow with orange striped fruit. The compact patio choice yellow and fantastico red cherry tomatoes are the perfect size for containers and fit in any size garden.
Plan to grow a few small peppers like pick-n-pop, lunchbox, just sweet, and yum yums or include slices of your favorite sweet peppers. Make room in your garden to grow a few miniature cucumbers like Persian and green light with thin skins and crispy mild flavor.
Fill your crudités platters with vegetables grown in your own garden and containers. Arrange the raw vegetables neatly on a platter or board and add a homemade dip seasoned with fresh herbs. Your family and guests are sure to enjoy the selection and fresh flavor.
Look for opportunities to grow and share your favorite vegetables at gatherings with friends and families. Many vegetables work well in containers and small compact varieties make it easy to include them in just about any size garden.
Create an attractive display with seasonal bite-sized vegetables that are easy for guests to enjoy. Snap peas, radishes, and carrots are most readily available during the cooler months of spring and fall.
As the season progresses, include broccoli and cauliflower florets. Try growing some purple varieties like purple magic broccoli, purple crush and amethyst purple cauliflower. Blanch them in cold water to bring out the color.
By mid to late summer, you’ll have tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers to include. Grow some colorful cherry tomatoes like sunset torch with excellent flavor and unique yellow with orange striped fruit. The compact patio choice yellow and fantastico red cherry tomatoes are the perfect size for containers and fit in any size garden.
Plan to grow a few small peppers like pick-n-pop, lunchbox, just sweet, and yum yums or include slices of your favorite sweet peppers. Make room in your garden to grow a few miniature cucumbers like Persian and green light with thin skins and crispy mild flavor.
Fill the voids in your platter with seasonal and colorful fruit like grapes, raspberries and strawberries. Add a little crunchy, flavorful food confetti to the mix with homegrown microgreens. Sunflower microgreens remain firm and have a nutty flavor that is similar to the seeds. Spice things up a bit with radish greens and add welcome color with red cabbage and bull’s blood beet greens. Your microgreens are ready to harvest in just 10 to 14 days after planting. Also use them to add some of your own homegrown flavor when you have to purchase vegetables at the farmer’s market or grocery store.
Anchor the platter with a bowl of dip. Even a simple dip of sour cream, mayonnaise and chives will work. Add more complex flavor by adding additional homegrown herbs like basil, dill and oregano to your favorite dip base. Experiment with various combinations of what’s available from your container and in-ground gardens.
Be flexible. As a gardener you know plants do not always follow the descriptions on the seed packet or label. Cooler than normal weather can delay the harvest while hotter than normal weather can speed things up. Just enjoy what is ready and supplement with what you purchase at the farmer’s market or grocery store.
—————
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 TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is MelindaMyers.com.
Anchor the platter with a bowl of dip. Even a simple dip of sour cream, mayonnaise and chives will work. Add more complex flavor by adding additional homegrown herbs like basil, dill and oregano to your favorite dip base. Experiment with various combinations of what’s available from your container and in-ground gardens.
Be flexible. As a gardener you know plants do not always follow the descriptions on the seed packet or label. Cooler than normal weather can delay the harvest while hotter than normal weather can speed things up. Just enjoy what is ready and supplement with what you purchase at the farmer’s market or grocery store.
—————
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 TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Wild Valley Farms for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is MelindaMyers.com.
_________________________________________________
Open House Set for Sunday at
Kellogg Sanctuary, Manor House
The W.K. Kellogg Bird Sanctuary and W.K. Kellogg Manor House are offering free admission in honor of W.K Kellogg’s birthday, on Sunday, April 12, during Kellogg Biological Station’s annual Sustaining the Vision open house.
Enjoy a spring walk on the shores of Gull Lake and tour the historic Manor House, which was completed in 1927 as a summer home for W.K. Kellogg and his wife, Dr. Carrie Staines Kellogg.
Docents will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to share details of the estate’s construction and the Kelloggs’ lives.
The Manor House is located at 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., in Hickory Corners.
Then, visit the nearby Bird Sanctuary to walk the beautiful trails and learn about the environmental challenges that moved W.K. to create the Sanctuary. The Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 E. C Ave. in Augusta. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 12, with free admission offered all day.
To learn more, visit conference.kbs.msu.edu and birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to the Manor House at 269-671-2400 or email conference @kbs.msu.edu, or to the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at 269- 671-2510 or email birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu.
Built beginning in 1925 and completed in 1927 on the highest point overlooking beautiful Gull Lake, the Manor House was once the summer home of W.K. Kellogg.
The Manor House's mission is to share with the public Kellogg's legacy of philanthropy as well as information about the research undertaken at the Kellogg Biological Station. The Manor House hosts special events to further support KBS's research and education mission, and is available to tour independently year-round or with a docent by appointment.
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.
As Michigan State University’s largest off-campus educational complex, Kellogg Biological Station has put its land-grant values into practice for nearly a century, providing the public with examples of science’s crucial role in sustaining natural and managed communities. KBS students and faculty work to understand and solve real-world environmental problems for a better tomorrow.
To learn more, visit kbs.msu.edu.
Enjoy a spring walk on the shores of Gull Lake and tour the historic Manor House, which was completed in 1927 as a summer home for W.K. Kellogg and his wife, Dr. Carrie Staines Kellogg.
Docents will be on hand from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to share details of the estate’s construction and the Kelloggs’ lives.
The Manor House is located at 3700 E. Gull Lake Dr., in Hickory Corners.
Then, visit the nearby Bird Sanctuary to walk the beautiful trails and learn about the environmental challenges that moved W.K. to create the Sanctuary. The Bird Sanctuary is located at 12685 E. C Ave. in Augusta. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 12, with free admission offered all day.
To learn more, visit conference.kbs.msu.edu and birdsanctuary.kbs.msu.edu. Direct questions to the Manor House at 269-671-2400 or email conference @kbs.msu.edu, or to the Kellogg Bird Sanctuary at 269- 671-2510 or email birdsanctuary@kbs.msu.edu.
Built beginning in 1925 and completed in 1927 on the highest point overlooking beautiful Gull Lake, the Manor House was once the summer home of W.K. Kellogg.
The Manor House's mission is to share with the public Kellogg's legacy of philanthropy as well as information about the research undertaken at the Kellogg Biological Station. The Manor House hosts special events to further support KBS's research and education mission, and is available to tour independently year-round or with a docent by appointment.
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.
As Michigan State University’s largest off-campus educational complex, Kellogg Biological Station has put its land-grant values into practice for nearly a century, providing the public with examples of science’s crucial role in sustaining natural and managed communities. KBS students and faculty work to understand and solve real-world environmental problems for a better tomorrow.
To learn more, visit kbs.msu.edu.
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DNR: Natural Fish Kills May Be
Common During Spring Thaw
After a winter with variable temperatures and lots of snow, you may see dead fish or other aquatic animals in Michigan lakes and streams as water warms up and ice and snow cover melt.
The Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that, while such sights can be startling, it is normal for winter conditions to cause the death of some fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish.
“Winterkill is the most common type of fish mortality event,” said Aaron Switzer, DNR fish production program manager. “It can be particularly common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals during seasonal changes. It’s a natural phenomenon, and these events are localized. They typically do not affect the overall health of fish populations or fishing quality.”
Shallow lakes with a large amount of aquatic vegetation and soft bottoms are more prone to winterkill, particularly when thick ice and deep snowpack reduce sunlight for the plants. Canals in urban areas also are quite susceptible, due to the large amounts of nutrient runoff and pollution from roads, lawns and septic systems that flow into these areas, especially after large storm events.
Fish also may be affected by rapid changes in water temperature due to unseasonably warm or rapidly warming temperatures, leading to stress and, sometimes, mortality. Fish can become easily stressed in winter due to low energy reserves because feeding is at a minimum in winter. They are then less able to handle low oxygen and temperature swings. That could be the case this year, with record or near-record cold temperatures and the large snowfalls Michigan experienced and the potential for rapid warming in the coming months.
Dissolved oxygen is required by fish and all other forms of aquatic life. When daylight is greatly reduced by ice and snow cover, aquatic plants stop producing oxygen, and many die. The bacteria that decompose organic materials on the bottom of the lake use the remaining oxygen in the water.
With oxygen reduced, other aquatic animals die and start decomposing, and the rate that oxygen is used for decomposition is additionally increased — leading dissolved oxygen levels in the water to decrease even further, creating a cycle of increasing winterkill.
Fish and other aquatic life that die in late winter may not be noticed until well after the ice leaves lakes, as the animals may be temporarily preserved by the cold water.
“If you see dead fish as a result of winterkill, the fish may appear fuzzy. This is because of secondary infection by fungus, but the fungus was not the cause of death,” Switzer said. “The fish actually suffocated from a lack of dissolved oxygen from decaying plants and dead aquatic animals under the ice.”
You can report fish kills at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField; these reports are valuable to the DNR’s management of aquatic resources in Michigan. If you suspect a fish kill is due to non-natural causes, call the nearest DNR office or Michigan's Pollution Emergency Alert System at 800-292-4706.
The Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone that, while such sights can be startling, it is normal for winter conditions to cause the death of some fish and other creatures such as turtles, frogs, toads and crayfish.
“Winterkill is the most common type of fish mortality event,” said Aaron Switzer, DNR fish production program manager. “It can be particularly common in shallow lakes, ponds, streams and canals during seasonal changes. It’s a natural phenomenon, and these events are localized. They typically do not affect the overall health of fish populations or fishing quality.”
Shallow lakes with a large amount of aquatic vegetation and soft bottoms are more prone to winterkill, particularly when thick ice and deep snowpack reduce sunlight for the plants. Canals in urban areas also are quite susceptible, due to the large amounts of nutrient runoff and pollution from roads, lawns and septic systems that flow into these areas, especially after large storm events.
Fish also may be affected by rapid changes in water temperature due to unseasonably warm or rapidly warming temperatures, leading to stress and, sometimes, mortality. Fish can become easily stressed in winter due to low energy reserves because feeding is at a minimum in winter. They are then less able to handle low oxygen and temperature swings. That could be the case this year, with record or near-record cold temperatures and the large snowfalls Michigan experienced and the potential for rapid warming in the coming months.
Dissolved oxygen is required by fish and all other forms of aquatic life. When daylight is greatly reduced by ice and snow cover, aquatic plants stop producing oxygen, and many die. The bacteria that decompose organic materials on the bottom of the lake use the remaining oxygen in the water.
With oxygen reduced, other aquatic animals die and start decomposing, and the rate that oxygen is used for decomposition is additionally increased — leading dissolved oxygen levels in the water to decrease even further, creating a cycle of increasing winterkill.
Fish and other aquatic life that die in late winter may not be noticed until well after the ice leaves lakes, as the animals may be temporarily preserved by the cold water.
“If you see dead fish as a result of winterkill, the fish may appear fuzzy. This is because of secondary infection by fungus, but the fungus was not the cause of death,” Switzer said. “The fish actually suffocated from a lack of dissolved oxygen from decaying plants and dead aquatic animals under the ice.”
You can report fish kills at Michigan.gov/EyesInTheField; these reports are valuable to the DNR’s management of aquatic resources in Michigan. If you suspect a fish kill is due to non-natural causes, call the nearest DNR office or Michigan's Pollution Emergency Alert System at 800-292-4706.
