April  24, 2009

 

 

Hi All

 

The fishing is still good on the PM and the Muskegon. I have been on both as of late and they still have plenty of steelhead to play with. The best fishing has been early morning and late evening with a few hookups during the day. The streamer bite has been slow on the commitment end of the deal but lots of fish chasing, swiping, and rolling on them. The river out back is still in need of more rain which I hear we are suppose to get this weekend. All the rain for the past week has only amounted to about 3/4 of a inch on the rain gauge around here. Other areas of the system may have received a little more than we did here because it did get a little stain and some increased flow this week. That will not last long without another shot of water. The ground will soak up much of the rain when it is dry. The good news is that rain was great for the woods to get our Mushroom season going and decreased fire danger for the area for this coming weekend of the Trout Opener.

 

It will be a busy weekend in general. The majority of people are turkey hunters, and trout fishermen but there is also a good mix of ORV and ATV riders and mushroom hunters as well. I Have been seeing a few paddle sports people going for a float down the beautiful Pere Marquette. Last weekend a kayaker went for a swim out back a very cold way to start a float. The water temps today are 53 deg. and the air is 74 deg @ 1:30 P.M. I still wouldn't want to take a swim even today. Spring is here get out and enjoy it...

 

April 17,18,19  I started a 3 day trip with Scott and Tom. We started late and finished late for 2 of the days on  the PM. The afternoon fishing was ok with a few trout and steelhead on each day but the evenings finished strong when the fish started coming out of the wood work literally. Each evening we had plenty of fish around to play with and we had a great time just before getting off the water. On the last day we did the A.M. on the MO. and did very well till the sun got up high and everyone started moving around in there boats to find fish. Then the bite got slow and we were off the water by 11 A.M.

 

April 20 , Went fishing with a friend on the Little Man walking around plenty of fish up there as well with rain showers all day.

 

April 21,  Went streamer fishing with Steve from BBT. Had a great time rowing and pulling streamers for a short float with rain showers all day as well.

 

April 22, had a 1/2 day trip on the MO. with a 12 P.M. start to 4 P.M. in the afternoon not the best hours to do a trip but we managed 4 or 5 trout along with a couple steelhead hookups. Only landed the trout that day the steelhead we had on briefly.

 

April 23, went Turkey driving in the A.M to scout from some of the back roads with Johnny Matson. We did some calling along the way. Lots of girl turkeys out and about but the boys were road shy and didn't answer a single call. Then went fishing down on the lower P.M.with John Robinson. to try to hookup some of the newer fish coming into the system. Another screwy start time 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. we had a couple on and one to the net that was a drop-back hen. We released it quickly to not stress it any further. Really hoped to get into some fresh butt kickers but it is very hit or miss this time of year down in lower PM. 

 

Some slow reports on the mushroom front but it will peak soon. Passed up a opportunity to go mushroom hunting this morning but herd I didn't miss much as they are still small and hard to find. Also had a report of 2 hunters that got busted by a hen that spoofed there shots at a true double on 2 toms at 20 yards. I don't know how they didn't even get a shot off but they learned allot. DON'T  MOVE and if you do need to move do it slowly and when there not looking. Try to get your gun up before they are on top of you and I always try to find some dead fall to crawl into to break up my outline and hide some movement. Just with your back against a tree you don't get away with much without ferns, grass, or some dead fall to help. That was my week after tax week. Get outdoors spring has sprung. 

 

Tight lines and Shoot Strait 

 

Clint 

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