OUR BAIT SHOP IS LOOKING BETTER THAN EVER. AFTER MY WIFE AND LORIE GOT DONE PAINTING, AND HANGING PLANTS, THE SHOP IS GOOD TO GO AND WILL BE READY TO REOPEN MAY 8.

WE HAVE MADE NUMEROUS TRIPS AROUND THE LAKE AS WE ALWAYS DO THIS TIME OF YEAR. THE STREAMS HAVE A LOT OF SUCKERS AND PERCH IN THEM RIGHT NOW. AND THEY ARE VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE WALLEYE AND PIKE NEED THE DARKNESS AND A FLASHLGHT TO BE SEEN. REPORTS FROM CUSTOMERS THOUGH TELL US THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF FISH IN THE RIVERS, AND WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT SPRING AND SUMMER FISHING SEASON.

WE HAVE HAD AN UNUSUALY HEAVY AMOUNT OF RAIN THIS PAST WEEK, AND MORE IS EXPECTED. WITH THIS, THE RIVERS AND LAKES ARE HIGH. A LOT OF DOCKS ARE UNDER WATER, AND DIFFICULT TO ACCESS RIGHT NOW. THIS WILL CHANGE SOON THOUGH. THE DNR LAUNCH SITES HAVE HAD THE DOCKS PUT IN THOUGH, AND THEY ARE USABLE ON BOTH LAKES. LONG AND GRAND.

PIKE AND WALLEYE ARE NOW OPEN AGAIN, AND WE DEBATED OPENING EARLY, BUT WE WERE CONVINCED, AND RIGHTLY SO, THAT IT WAS BETTER TO WAIT A FEW WEEKS DUE TO THE WEATHER.

THE LAUNCH SITES IN OUR AREA, AT ALPENA AND ROCKPORT ARE ALL USUABLE RIGHT NOW, BUT AGAIN DUE TO BAD WEATHER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY.

WE WILL OPEN MAY 8, AND STAY OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FROM 8 TO 5, UNTIL MEMORIAL WEEKEND, WHEN WE WILL EXPAND OUR HOURS A BIT MORE.

HOPE TO SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS.

LORIE AND BUDD