APRIL 7, 2008

LORIE IS GETTING HER BOAT READY FOR CORMORANT HUNTING, THE MINUTE THE ICE IS GONE SHE’LL BE OUT THERE WITH HER TEAM, PROTECTING THE LAKE FROM THOSE FISH EATING SOB’S.THERE HAS BEEN A MEETING TO SIGN UP VOLUNTEERS AND THIS YEAR THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF INTEREST IN PROTECTING THE LAKE’S ABUNDANT FISH POPULATION. THANK’S TO ALL OF YOU WHO VOLUNTEERED. REMEMBER, YOU MUST BE SIGNED UP WITH A LEGAL TEAM, SANCTIONED  BY THE U.S.D.A TO HUNT THESE BIRDS. IT IS ILLEGAL TO HUNT THEM ON YOUR OWN. WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN OPEN SEASON JUST LIKE YOU WOULD BUT THAT ISN’T GOING TO HAPPEN ANY TIME SOON.

  THERE IS STILL AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ICE ON THE LAKE, WITH NO OPEN WATER SHOWING YET, ON LONG OR GRAND LAKE. SO WE HAVE TO HOLD ON FOR A WHILE LONGER.

LAKE HURON THOUGH, IS THAWED IN THE THUNDER BAY AREA. WE SAW A FEW BOATS IN THE WATER YESTERDAY. THEY HAD LAUNCHED FROM THE DOCK BEHIND THE POST OFFICE. THE DOCK THERE IS IN, AND THE RIVER IS OPEN. I HAVE NO WORD YET ON THE FISHING THOUGH. WE DID CHECK OUT THE NINTH STREET DAM, AND THERE WERE NO FISHERMEN IN THE  WATER, BUT THERE WAS ONE CHUTE OPEN, AND THE CURRENT WAS QUITE FAST. THERE WERE ALSO A FEW GUYS PERCHED ON THE ROCKS AT THE HARBOR, FACING THE LAKE, AND FISHING. ONE GUY SAID HE WAS FISHING FOR BROWN’S,WALLEYE. AND ANYTHING THAT WOULD BITE. A TYPICAL RESPONSE FROM A DEDICATED EARLY FISHERMAN. HAT’S OFF TO YOU.

AND HE JUST MIGHT PICK UP A FISH TOO. REMEMBER, IN LAKE HURON, THE ONLY FISH CLOSED TO FISHING WOULD BE LAKE TROUT, AND HE PROBABLY WOULD NOT GET ONE OF THEM IN SHALLOW  WATER.

WELL, MY SURGERY ON MY RIGHT KNEE REPLACEMENT WENT VERY WELL, AND I WILL BE OPENING THIS SHOP FOR THE LAST SATURDAY IN APRIL, ICE OR  OPEN WATER. THAT’S NOT TOO FAR AWAY NOW. THERE IS STILL A LITTLE SNOW IN THE WOODS, BUT VERY LITTLE. MOST AREAS ARE FREE OF SNOW, EXCEPT FOR WHERE THE PILES ARE FROM PLOWING. SO OUR APRIL SHOWERS WILL BRING MAY FISHING.

HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GOOD SPRING BREAK, SEE YOU SOON. MORE EXCITING TOURNAMENTS THIS SUMMER. WITH BIG PAY OUTS. THERE WILL BE LOT’S OF ACTIVITIES AROUND HERE ALL SUMMER, WITH HOLIDAYS, LONG LAKE FISHING DERBY, BUCK’S BAIT AND TACKLE TOURNAMENTS, B.A.S.S TOURNAMENTS, AND LOTS OF FUN TIMES OUT ON THE WATER.

WE NOW HAVE TWO MARINAS . DODGE MARINE ON THE EAST SHORE, AND BURTON’S LAST RESORT ON THE WEST SHORE. BURTON’S ALSO HAS A FINE RESTAURANT OPEN YEAR ROUND, WITH DOCK’S AVAILABLE TO  TIE UP TO SO YOU CAN GO IN AND GET A COFFEE OR A FULL BLOWN MEAL, AND SPIRITS ARE AVAILABLE ALSO. THE RESTAURANT  AND BAR IS OPEN NOW, SO YOU SHOULD GO CHECK IT OUT IF YOU ARE IN THE AREA. ALSO ON THE EAST SIDE, WE HAVE THE HIDEWAY BAR/RESTAURANT, OPEN YEAR ROUND, AND NORTH OF THAT ON LONG LAKE, WE HAVE THE PARKER HOUSE RESTAURANT AND  COTTAGES. SO THERE ARE AN ABUNDANT CHOICE OF PLACES TO EAT AND RELAX.

WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!

BUDD AND LORIE