OCTOBER 29, 2011, THE LONG LAKE IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS PLANTED ABOUT 3,500 WALLEYE IN LONG LAKE. THESE FISH WERE ABOUT 4 TO 7   INCH FISH.

THE WATER  TEMPERATURE WAS PERFECT FOR THE PLANT AND THERE WAS NO WIND. THE FISH WERE HAND PLANTED IN FIVE GALLON PAILS, FROM A COMMERCIAL FISH STOCKING TRUCK. AND THERE APPEARED TO BE NOT ONE DEAD FISH. ALL THE FISH WERE OBSERVED LEAVING THE AREA WHICH WAS THE MAR-RAL DNR LAUNCH.  THIS WAS A LEGAL PLANT, WITH A PERMIT OBTAINED FROM THE MDNR IN GAYLORD.

THE FUNDS FOR THIS PRIVATE PLANT WERE OBTAINED THROUGH DONATIONS OF OVER 200 LONG LAKE ASSOCIATION  MEMBERS, AND A GENEROUS DONATION FROM THE THUNDER BAY WALLEYE CLUB, AND THE ALPENA COUNTY PARKS COMMISSION.THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE HELPING WITH THE STOCKING OF LONG LAKE, THERE IS A PLACE ON YOUR MEMBERSHIP CARD TO DESIGNATE A DONATION. ALSO YOU CAN DO THIS AT BUCK’S BAIT SHOP, 365 DAYS A YEAR. THANKS AGAIN.

AFTER THE WALLEYE WERE PLANTED THE BOARD MEMBERS THEN WENT TO THE DAM AT THE SOUTH END, AND RAISED SOME OF THE SECTONS TO ALLOW EXCESS WATER TO DRAIN THAT HAS ACCUMULATED FROM THE HEAVY OCTOBER RAINS.  ONE GOOD NOTE, WHEN THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN IN OCTOBER, THERE IS USUALLY A GOOD AMOUNT OF WHITE FISH TRAVELING UP STREAM INTO LONG LAKE, PROVIDING YOU WITH A GOOD SOURCE OF SPORT FISHING. WHITE FISH ARE A GREAT FOOD VALUE IN THE WINTER, AND MOST OF OUR CUSTOMERS USE WIGGLERS AND VERY LIGHT GEAR FOR THE CATCH THE BEST AREAS SEEM TO BE IN THE DEEPER HOLES, AROUND THE 25 FOOTMARK.

I’D LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING STOCKING. WHENEVER  THERE IS A STOCKING IN LONG LAKE, I USUALLY GET SOME SORT OF COMMENTS WONDERING WHY WE DON’T STOCK GRAND LAKE ALSO. I DO NOT STOCK LONG LAKE, THE LONG LAKE ASSOCIATION DOES. THEY OBTAIN THE PERMIT AND DO THE FUND RAISING, AND PHYSICALLY PLANT THE FISH . GRAND LAKE AND VIRTUALLY ALL OTHER LAKES ARE RESPONSIBLRE FOR THEIR OWN PLANTS. AND THESE CAN ONLY BE DONE LEGALLY THROUGH DNR. IF YOU HAVE A COMPLAINT, OR A QUESTION,  YOU NEED TO CONTACT DNR IN GAYLORD. WE PERSONALLY AT BUCK’S BAIT SHOP WOULD LOVE TO SEE ALL THE LAKES PLANTED THAT NEED IT, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO SELL MORE BAIT. DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY. WE ARE HAPPY TO SAY  THOUGH,  THAT OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS GRAND LAKE HAS SHOWN A REMARKABLY GOOD REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM,  WHICH INDICATES A VERY HEALTHY LAKE. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING  THE  RESULTS FROM BOTH LONG AND GRAND THIS WINTER.

THE SHOP IS CLOSED  RIGHT NOW, AND WE ARE DOING SOME NEEDED REPAIRS AND  PREPARING FOR WINTER WEATHER..

WE EXPECT TO BE FULLY STOCKED SOON FOR WINTER, INCLUDING SOME ICE SHANTIES AS WELL AS  A LOT OF ICE TACKLE. WE MAY OPEN SOONER, BUT OUR TARGET DATE IS NOVEMBER 26. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DO NOT KNOW THIS ALREADY, WE NOW ACCEPT VISA , MASTERCARD, ETC. IN THE SHOP. WE NO LONGER SELL DNR LICENSES, BUT THE PARTY STORE JUST NORTH OF US, ABOUT 1/2 MILE HAS AGREED TO SELL THEM. SEYMOURS PARTY STORE, AND IT IS A GOOD CLEAN STORE, WITH LOT’S OF SNACKS, BEVERAGES, [beer and wine and liquor]AND GASOLINE.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN NOVEMBER AND FOR THE REST OF THE WINTER. WE ARE PLANNING A WINTER ICE FISHING CONTEST IN JANUARY, BUT WE WILL LET YOU KNOW THE DETAILS OF THAT AS THE LAKES FREEZE AND WE ARE MORE PREPARED WITH SOLID FACTS. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WILL BE  THREE GOOD ICE FISHING CONTESTS THOUGH, IN THIS AREA FOR SURE. OURS, THE GRAND LAKE  FAMILY FUN DERBY, AND THE 1,000 HOLE CONTEST ON GRAND LAKE AS WELL.

I HAVE  UPDATED  MY SITE AND E-MAIL RESPONSE. I HAD NOT BEEN RECEIVING A HUGE AMOUNT OF MAIL THESE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS,  DUE TO A GLITCH WITH MY E-MAIL SERVER, BUT THEY WILL COME THROUGH NOW.IF YOU WRITE I WILL RESPOND . THANKS

GOOD LUCK HUNTING, AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING IF WE DO NOT SEE YOU SOONER.

LORIE AND BUDD