WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, AT 7PM AT THE HINKS SCHOOL THERE WILL BE A SIGN UP PROGRAM FOR CORMORANT CONTROL. THE HINKS SCHOOL IS ON US 23 NORTH, ABOUT 6 MLES NORTH OF ALPENA AND ABOUT A MILE SOUTH FROM BUCK’S BAIT SHOP. IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE PROGRAM, YOU NEED TO ATTEND THIS MEETING TO SIGN UP WITH THE USDA. THIS MEETING IS FOR LONG LAKE, GRAND LAKE AND LAKE HURON, ALPENA AREA, COMBINED. YOU CANNOT BE A PART OF THE PROGRAM WITHOUT SIGNING UP. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE RIGHT FOR YOU TO SHOOT CORMORANTS WITH SHOT GUNS, AND TO USE PYROS TO SCARE THEM OFF OF THE WATERS. THERE IS NO PROGRAM AVAIALABLE FOR PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO HUNT THEM ON THEIR OWN. YOU WILL BE ASSIGNED TO A TEAM, AND THERE WILL BE A TEAM LEADER FOR EACH LAKE. THERE IS PAPERWORK TO BE FILLED OUT WHILE YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT, AND A RECORD OF YOUR DAILY ACTIVITIES IS TO BE KEPT. THE PROGRAM TYPICALLY RUNS FROM THE FIRST DAY THE ICE MELTS, TO ABOUT MAY 15. THE PROGRAM IS THEN TERMINATED FOR THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE NOT IN THE PROGRAM, WHO WISH TO BE OUT ON THE LAKES FISHING, OR JUST ENJOYING OUR BEAUTIFUL LAKES.
OUR BAIT SHOP IS CLOSED NOW UNTIL MAY, AND LONG AND GRAND LAKES STILL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF ICE, AS OF YESTERDAY, MARCH 30.
THE DOCK BEHIND THE POST OFFICE IN TOWN IS OPEN. THE COUNTY DUG A PATH THROUGH THE SNOW BANK, AND PUT THE DOCK IN THIS WEEK. YOU CAN ACCESS LAKE HURON THROUGH THIS DOCK, AND ENJOY SOME FISHING IN THE THUNDERBAY AREA. WALLEYE AND STEELHEAD,AS WELL AS BROWN TROUT WOULD BE THE TRAGETS FOR THESE BOATS. THE ALPENA HARBOR IS STILL FROZEN OVER.
WE DID NOT SEE ANY ICE FLOW IN THE WATER YESTERDAY, BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THERE MIGHT NOT BE SOME LATER THIS SEASON, SO WATCH FOR ICE WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN THE LAKE.

HAVE A GREAT EASTER FOLKS