Many areas in Michigan have seen their first snow fall for this winter, and we certainly had ours. It was a wet and windy day with a lot of snow and a reminder of what is ahead. Today, Nov. 2 we have a cold 21 degrees in Alpena, and are looking forward to an early winter. Whether that will happen or not is just a guess but we’re ready if it happens.

Yesterday when I was at the gas pump, enjoying a nice low price for gasoline, a customer of ours came over and asked if we were ready for the new season. The answer is yes. All we have to do is put minnows into our new minnow tanks and open the door. Realistically that is still a month off though.

We have noticed that the woods have a very thin veil of leaves left here. You can see right through areas that only a few weeks ago were impenetrable. This should really be good for hunters.

If you are still looking forward to a fall fishing adventure I’d like to remind you that prime Whitefish season is about to happen in our area. The ninth street bridge in past years has yielded a fantastic amount of nice fish right off the bridge and off the river shoreline. We have found the prime time to be generally right about Nov 15, just when rifle deer season opens. Night time is the best time for this treat, and you only need to have spawn bags or wax worms for bait. The catch doesn’t last long, but it is intense when they are in the river. Have fun, and enjoy the feast.

Right now Long and Grand lakes are pretty quiet, except for an occasional burst of shot guns going off at dawn from waterfowl hunters.

That’s it for now, I’ll keep you posted as to our opening date for winter ice fishing. Hope you have a very good Thanksgiving, hunting season, and we’ll see you this winter.