'One of those days to remember' for Flint Steelheaders

[Hamilton Reef]

'One of those days to remember' for Flint Steelheaders

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1157037629317910.xml&coll=5

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Thursday, August 31, 2006
By Elizabeth Shaw eshaw@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6311

FRANKFORT - Lake Michigan once again gave up its wealth as anglers from the across the state flocked to its shores last weekend for one of the final big tournament fishing weekends of the year.

The Flint River Valley Chapter of the Michigan Steelheaders vied with the Benzie Frenzy and at least one other local tournament to bring in a share of the lake's highly prized Chinook, or king salmon.

The weather started out rocky Friday but cleared to blue skies and plenty of action beneath the waves.

"We had a ball, one of those days to remember. We had 21 boats and just about every boat weighed in fish," said Steelheaders president Norm Anderson. "Altogether there were probably 500 boats out of Frankfort and everybody was catching good fish.

"Lake Michigan this year has probably had the best fishery we've seen in the last four or five years. We're not catching a lot of huge fish but there's been a few 27 and 31 pounders, and that's a really good sign."

In fact, the club's tournament catches on Lake Michigan in the past five years have been fairly steady both in numbers and weight of sport fish caught. This year they boated almost 700 fish for a total weight of about 6,500 pounds. Eighty percent of the catch was king salmon, with the average weight up 1.75 pounds over last year.

The 2006 Captain of the Year was Mike Wheeler on Finding Nemo, who also won at Frankfort with six kings and four steelheaders weighing in at 106.5 pounds.

Like many clubs, the Flint Steelheaders shifted most of their tournament schedule to the state's west side last year because of the decline of the salmon fishery on Lake Huron.

"If you really want to see firsthand what happens when something gets out of control, look at Lake Huron," said Anderson, referring to the booming cormorant population that has devastated that lake's baitfish supply.

Recently, the Steelheaders played a role persuading state officials to allocate $150,000 to fund a joint cormorant research and control effort by the USDA-Wildlife Service and state Department of Natural Resources.

There are signs the lake's health might be slowly returning. But meanwhile, it's taken with it much of the eastern shore's economic prosperity - a stark contrast to places like the Betsie Bay Marina in Frankfort, where open slips are virtually nonexistent.

"Lake Michigan hasn't really declined much yet and hopefully with what we're doing with cormorant control now, it won't happen at all," said Anderson.

[Hamilton Reef]

King salmon tournament a royal pain for ailing angler

http://www.mlive.com/outdoors/fljournal/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/1157037638317910.xml&coll=5

THE FLINT JOURNAL FIRST EDITION Thursday, August 31, 2006
By Elizabeth Shaw eshaw@flintjournal.com • 810.766.6311

FRANKFORT - This was supposed to be a story about the Flint River Valley Steelheaders and their end-of-year tournament out of Frankfort on Aug. 26.

But first let me tell you another tale: about raging winds and heavy rain, heaving black waves and the great, silver-bellied king salmon I didn't catch. It's a story we'll call "The Outdoor Writer and the Sea."

It all began back in June, when Steelheaders President Norm Anderson and I met up at a kids' fishing derby on Mott Lake. I had just done a report about the Steelheaders' efforts to fund cormorant control on Lake Huron and so the meeting was a good one, with plenty of handshakes and friendly swapping of future story ideas.

Anderson invited me to join the group on one of its annual fishing tournaments - most of which, sadly, have moved to the west side of the state because of the salmon fishery decline on Lake Huron in recent years.

I accepted the offer eagerly. I've done my share of inland lake fishing over the years, am an avid student of fly fishing, and there's little I like better than staring down through a six-inch hole in the ice waiting for a half-frozen bluegill to come by. But, save for one-barely-recalled outing years ago, I've never had the opportunity to go out sport fishing on the Great Lakes.

The plan was for me to go out with Anderson and Steelheader program Chairman Jerry Romanowski on his boat, the Chip In II, on Friday, the morning before the actual tournament. It would give me a chance to see what sport fishing the Great Lakes is all about, and get to know a few of the gang. It was also the weekend of the Benzie Frenzy, a big local tournament that promised a flotilla of avid anglers.

I headed up late Thursday with a wary eye on the murky, overcast sky and an uneasy rumbling in my gut that warned of a nasty intestinal bug that had recently hit several friends and family members. I ignored both signs, of course. I wasn't about to miss my last chance of the year because of a little rain or something discreetly referred to as "traveler's trots."

Big mistake.

By the time the alarm sounded at 4:30 a.m., the pitch-black sky had had bloomed into a gusting, 16 mph wind-driven rain that made it feel much colder than 59 degrees.

"It's not the rain that worries me. It's the wind," Romanowski said, scowling, as he lit up a smoke and pulled away from the dock. The boat rocked and heaved as he muscled us out into a slick, inky black void that seemed to swallow the hull in front of us.

"Attention all fishermen heading out for the Benzie Frenzy. We're delaying the start of the tournament until 8 a.m. We don't want anyone hurt out here," a voice announced on the harbor frequency on the boat's radio.

Off to either side, the scattered lights of a few other boats bobbed in the darkness with us.

"How bad does it have to be before you don't go out?" I asked, hanging onto the railing to keep from falling downstairs as the deck rose and crashed back with each wave.

Romanowski barely glanced my way.

"We wouldn't be out right now," he said, shrugging. "Maybe back in our younger days. We're too old for this kind of weather now."

Uh huh.

I swallowed at the bile building up in my throat and tried not to think about the black coffee and blueberry muffin I'd just eaten down in the galley below.

Not gonna get seasick, I told myself. Not-gonna-get-sick.

Just then, the fish finder hit a depth of 52 feet, with a jagged spray of dashes indicating a big school coming up fast beneath us. Romanowski knocked back the engine and shouted:

"Let's go fishing!"

The next few minutes were a kind of controlled, practiced pandemonium as the two men scrambled to get all the rigs in the water while the deck heaved and swayed and I kept watch for any boats getting too close ahead. They barely had the fifth lure in the water when the first fish hit.

"Got one on!" Anderson shouted as Romanowski clambered around me to grab the taut rod.

And that's when both ends of my digestive tract decided to declare open warfare at the same time.

"Got-to-go-to-the-bathroom," I mumbled, half-falling, as I struggled to get down below.

"Hurry back! We're gonna need all the hands we can get!" Jerry yelled into the rain and wind as another line sang.

I'm not sure how long I was down there, maybe a decade or two - head banging from door to sink as I clung to the towel rack, fighting to keep from falling back out into the galley as everything I'd consumed in the past week made a mad dash to get out, like a panicked mob crashing against the movie theater exits after someone shouts "Fire!"

"Liz! We got three on! We got three on!"

I could hear Anderson shouting up on deck but he couldn't hear my muffled reply - something profane about fish and what he could do with them.

"Liz! We need you! Get up here, quick!"

Desperately, I fought to pull myself together enough to get back topside. It was still pitch black and blowing rain, the deck heaving as I made my way back to where the two men were grappling now with five rods all at once. I'd barely got my footing against the railing when Norm thrust a rod in my hands.

"Looks like a big one here! I'll help pull back and soon as I let up, start reeling fast!" he shouted. I nodded, unable to open my mouth and speak for fear what else might come out. I was so weak from being sick I could barely wind the reel as the fish ripped out line away. He was still hauling the king in over the side when Jerry shoved another rod in my hands.

"Push your knees into the boat and shove the rod into your leg!" he ordered, grabbing me by the waist to keep me from pitching forward.

For a few brief, exhilarating moments, I forgot being sick as I fought to land it.

"Reel harder! Harder!" Jerry shouted.

Too late: The drag let up entirely. I'd lost my first king.

Just in time to be sick again.

I hardly noticed when the dark gave way to a gray and windy dawn. I couldn't even muster a comeback as my two hosts offered endless rounds of sympathy and sadistic glee, doled out in equal shares - from heroic tales of past seasick sailors, to "Hey, Liz, come on out! We got tacos waiting!"

It might sound crazy, but it just might have been one of the absolute best - and worst - experiences I've had since taking on the outdoors beat. And I can't wait to get back out there with them.

I'm not sure what time it was when they finally poured me out on the dock, weak in the knees and wobbly, and all too ready to head for home. I do remember the sun was shining by then though the wind was still gusting hard. I even remember some good-natured hugs and a promise to do it all again.

Well, maybe not all of it. Next time, the blueberry muffin stays at home.

[Hamilton Reef]

For those that may like to meet some of the Flint River Valley Steelheaders

Flint River Valley Steelheaders
General membership meeting, Sept. 20
Walli's Restaurant, 1341 S. Center Road, Burton.
Social hour: 6:30 p.m. Meeting: 7:30 p.m.
Guest speaker: Professional walleye fisherman Gary Bowman
Details: www.mssfa.com/flint

[Spanky]

hehehe, thanks for the stories Tom, I had to LOL at the second one. Good to see the king catches are still as strong or stronger than last year.
In the last few weeks, I have heard alot of feedback about king stomaches packed full of big alewives, some up to 7-8 inches long. These reports have been mainly in the southern areas of the lake, but I have heard good reports from the Man, Lud area too.

Maybe I'll see you at the next advisory meeting on the 19th at spring lake!
:)

[Hamilton Reef]

Give credit due. Once in a while a outdoor writer will be honest to poke fun at themsevles. They gain acceptance to the group when they admit they once got sick like most of us at one time or another.

[fishinmachine2]

The Flint Steelheaders was started in my mom and dads basement by my brother and 4 other guys. Its a great club to join and they donate alot of money to our fishery.

Scott