Hamlin Lake education
Murray Lake is a small lake with several years of experience and is still having muskie PR problems. I'm looking forward (with uneasy feeling) to the future of Hamilin Lake where all the challenge factors are larger (lake size, strong association, many tourist). At the same time Hamlin Lake has the potential to be a good regional muskie fishery for West Michigan. Year 2010 would be a good year to start the MMA Ludington educational seminars with the first stocking now coming into legal size. Can we take the experiences of Murray Lake and somehow formulate a good educational program possibly in partnership with DNRE Mark Tonello for a 1-3 part series. This could also have some fun time as we explore the lake and teach proper fishing methods on the water with key individuals of the area that will be our future MMA members.
I am interested in having a seminar in Ludington where MMA , my lure company and the entire Musakies inc angle is employed to recruit members and educate the public. I also want to get lures in the local tackle shops. My wife , Will and myself being mofc top 5 finishers can give short programs on tactics and lure demonstrations. I would be open to sharing costs with MMA on a small hall or sport shop conference room. Maybe Dunhams has a room we could use free? Couls also use the Pavilion at Victory park or the State park with on the water demos of tactics and lures. Include DNR PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN HOW LONG IT TAKES TO GROW A TRUE TROPHY MUSKY AND EXPLAIN GENETICS AND FORAGE PREFERENCES .Mike
I think we as a club should feel somewhat obligated as the MMA to develop and offer educational programs focusing primarily on identification, KTD, musky biology, growth rates and just how fragile a resource this is, catch and release tactics and tools. I think lure demonstrations would be useful but wouldn't be the primary focus.
If our primary focal points as a club are to develop a quality musky fishery in the state of Michigan via stocking, regulation changes, and public education then I feel that it is our duty to help educate the novice and non musky fisherman in the state. We work with the DNRE and invest time and money to this cause so that we can go out and fish for musky and have an opportunity to catch musky and even trophy musky. We are a small percentage of the total fishing population and many others don't know or care about musky. They certainly don't have "musky fever' like we do. We certainly don't want to see our musky lakes negatively effected by ignorance and although we are not responsible for others ignorance of fishing regs. we could be more pro-active using education to help protect the musky resource that our club has worked so hard to help build and maintain.
Everyone that fishes should be aware of the local and state fishing regulations but we know that is just not true. If we as a club can help educate some and hopefully many I think it can go a long way in protecting our "investment" and our resource.
PM Sports Center in Ludington is interested in helping with any future muskie education program you wish to put together. They have used the Hamlin Twp Hall for meetings and Hamlin Lake fishing events. It is large enough, cheap or free, and easy to find in route to Hamlin Lake. Bob Viglietti is also on our MCWA walleye board supportive of the muskie program.
Pere Marquette Sport Center, 214 W. Ludington Ave., Ludington, MI 49431. Ph. 231-843-8676, <url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
">** you do not have permission to see this link **
I checked out Hamlin Lake Thurs, 5/27, and found 6 places I can launch my small boat not counting the state park. Hamlin Lake with the Lake Michigan winds can be a challenge to fish for small boaters as I noted the white caps. While talking with local residents they have caught small muskie (15") probably after stocking, and two reports of SSS (See-Spear-Shutup) darkhouse muskie being speared. North Bayou Marina will help MMA as needed. Talked with Mark Tonello and they have not heard anything from Hamlin. They do need positive reports to justify continuing the program.
Well Michelle and I moved three and one was mid to upper 30's. I think we need a kind of musky show up there. Muskies inc/MMA, Fishing seminars, tackle, guide services, D.N.R. and the focus on catch and release fishing and what the Muskies will do to help Hamlin lake. Just the sheer numbers of real small Pike tell me that the extreme weed growth is influnecing thier numbers. If the Muskies can start contolling those small pike we can also expect some bigger Pike in the Future. Tom, if you would like to join us for a day at Hamlin let me know. We are going up next week. Mike and Michelle
Being a Metro Detroit guy I'm not familar with Hamlin Lake. What's the size of lake? Depth? Etc…. I think what you guys are trying to do is great. Protecting that lake and making it an awesome fishery. Lately I've been fishing lakes where I've noticed lots of crappie/panfish guys and I've also noticed lots of dead panfish/crappies on the surface. I wonder if there's a connection??? Awareness is great and it scares me on how many accidental muskies are caught and possibly in danger.
144
31