Camping News & Reviews
On Lake Erie, or more specifically its western basin, the walleye population is reaching what scientists have described as “unprecedented” heights and is leading to incredible catch rates for anglers. And it could be getting even better. For the story, click here.
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The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department recently certified a record fish entry for a 19.36-pound lake trout caught in Lake Champlain in August. Department officials say this demonstrates the positive impact long-term sea lamprey control efforts are having on the lake’s quality fishing opportunities.
Angler Jeffery Sanford, of South Burlington was fishing alone the day he jigged up the 36.5-inch lake trout from over 100-feet of water.
“I just got my first boat this year, and it was my first time out alone,” recounted Sanford. “It hit on my first cast of the day. Once I netted it and got it in the boat I was astounded at its size and lack of any lamprey scars or wounds.”
Sanford said he wanted to release the lake trout alive but was unable to revive the fish, so he brought it in to be weighed officially as part of Lake Champlain International’s Basin Derby, and he also entered it into the Fish and Wildlife Department’s record fish program. The fish currently sits in first place for the derby’s lake trout category.
According to department fisheries biologist Shawn Good, who oversees the Vermont State Record Fish Program, Sanford’s catch is a reason for celebration.
“Jeff’s fish is the largest lake trout from Lake Champlain entered in the Record Fish Program since the department started keeping fish records in 1969,” said Good. “There have been much larger lake trout caught in other Vermont waters, but this Champlain fish is a big deal.”
According to Good, it is a direct result of good lake trout habitat in Lake Champlain and ongoing sea lamprey control efforts.
In Lake Champlain, nuisance sea lamprey prey on lake trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, brown trout, steelhead, walleye, lake sturgeon, and other fish species. High attack rates and sea lamprey wounds can result in lower growth, smaller size, shortened life expectancy, and decreased fishing opportunities.
To counter this, the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative, comprised of the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, initiated an experimental sea lamprey control program in 1990. A long-term control program that began in 2002 continues today.
Sanford’s observation of no sea lamprey wounds on his record catch is significant, says Good.
“We’re seeing lower overall wounding rates on many of these fish, and the fact that anglers are catching older, larger lake trout, salmon, and other fish species is proof that continued long-term sea lamprey control is working, and resulting in improved fishing opportunities on Champlain.”
Elizabeth Ehlers, Tournament Director of the LCI Fishing Derbies, says the annual Father’s Day Derby and year-long Basin Derby have seen bigger and bigger fish in recent years. “There’s been an upward trend in size for many of the species entered in our derbies. Over the past 10 years, we have seen several record-breaking fish in cold, cool and warm water species divisions.”
“While our anglers are incredibly dedicated and skilled, these catches are not just by chance or luck. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has worked tirelessly to protect and restore the Lake Champlain fishery. Their management efforts – including lamprey treatment, control of invasive species, and fish stocking – have benefited all who enjoy this resource. The impact of their efforts extends far beyond the angling community, as Lake Champlain anglers contribute over $ 200 million dollars annually to local economies.”
Jeff Sanford says he’s grateful for the fishery that continues to improve on Lake Champlain.
“It was an amazing fish and quite the battle. I’m extremely excited for next season! We have such an incredible fishery here.”
Sanford says he credits the openness of other anglers in the lake’s fishing community with helping him catch the lake trout and becoming a better angler.
“I just learned how to jig for lake trout this year from friends like Will Nolan, Ryan Carpentier and Jamie Shiekone. They provided the mentorship and tutelage I needed to learn a new technique. Everyone’s so open and friendly, and willing to help you learn something new.”
Good says that is heartening to hear.
“To maintain and grow participation in the sport we all love, it takes a village. I’ve always encouraged avid anglers to take newcomers out and show them the ropes. It can be challenging for a new angler to learn techniques that will help them be successful. I hope more anglers step up and become mentors to friends, family, even strangers.”
This fall, the Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative is conducting sea lamprey control treatments on four Vermont rivers containing spawning populations of sea lamprey. The Winooski River was treated on October 2, the LaPlatte River will be treated on October 14 or 15, and control treatments will take place on the Lamoille and Missisquoi rivers within the next month.
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The bobcat kitten found in a Carroll County campground in late June and nursed at the Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glen Wildlife Center in Kirtland has a feline friend.
Another female bobcat kitten preceded the Carroll County cat into the center by several weeks and is also being successfully nurtured there. The two have become fast friends, according to Tammy O’Neil, the animals’ care manager.
Daily shenanigans of the two young bobcats can be viewed live online at lakemetroparks.com/webcams
The earlier kitten was found sleeping on a roadway in Harrison County with no parent in sight. It was about three weeks old at the time. A local vet checked it over before ODNR wildlife staff took over the job of transporting the little bobcat to the experts at Penitentiary Glen.
“Overall, it looked pretty healthy, just thin and weak,” O’Neil said. “She (the kitten) had a pretty voracious appetite right away and didn’t wean off milk as easily as other bobcats we have raised.”
Gradually, the staff worked at tapering the tiny critter off milk and onto solid food. Venison has now become her favorite staple, O’Neil noted.
She is getting stronger by the day and appears curious about everything.
It’s important for the two young bobcats to be together and socialize since that is how they learn and practice the natural behaviors that will help them survive in the wild. They must learn to fight, stalk, and chase, O’Neil said.
Metroparks staff expect to release both bobcats into the wild next May.
They will be careful to release each in the county where it was found in order to prevent any possible spread of disease, O’Neil said.
Bobcats are on the rebound in Ohio and have been sighted in 40 of the state’s 88 counties. They have moved north and west from two populations in the southern and southeast portions of the state, biologists said.
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I hadn’t been on the Big Pond in more than a year and hadn’t been to Port Washington in several years, so when Capt. Ruben Ojeda offered to take me, my son, Hunter, and his friend, Bennett Connelly of Richfield, I was happy to accept.
“We’ve been doing well. It sort of shut-off for a day, but we’ll get on some fish,” he said.
Along with being a charter captain, Ojeda, of Waukesha, 50, has also been a police officer for 15 years in East Troy.
“I enjoy being a cop but it was always my dream to be a fishing guide,” he said. “It takes a lot of persistence and it helps to share information with other trusted captains. We have a group of captains who work together, which helps put customers on fish. The key for anyone fishing Lake Michigan is to network and share information to locate fish.”
We started out in about 130 feet of water and went out as the day went on. Before too long, Hunter had one on. Soon after so did Connelly.
“That’s my first fish ever out here,” Connelly said. “Fought pretty well!”
Within the first hour we had a coho and a king in the box.
Ojeda’s rig, at 21 feet, isn’t the biggest on the lake, as he uses the same Lund he has all over the state chasing walleyes and other species, but we didn’t get a drop of water on us even when the waves got a little choppy.
“The boat really runs dry,” he said. “One of the reasons I like Port Washington instead of Milwaukee is that it drops off more quickly, so a person doesn’t have to run as far to get to deeper water. I can get in quick if I ever have to.”
We fished a couple hours and had six more bites but we didn’t get them in the net.
“The guys aren’t doing anything wrong,” Ojeda said. “It just happens sometimes. The lines are so far out that they have a lot of opportunity to get off.”
While Ojeda does love his job, he said fishing is fishing and they just don’t always cooperate.
“I like to provide an accurate report of what’s happening on the lake before we head out. This gives the customer a realistic expectation on their trip,” he said.
Hunter was the next to hook up with a lake trout, which Ruben specifically targeted halfway into the trip when some other species weren’t cooperating.
“The depth makes such a huge difference in this game,” he said. “One minute you have to go down 100 feet for lakers and then then next minute you’re getting rainbows hitting on baits nearly on the surface.”
Wind makes a huge difference and if you’re fishing from the breakwalls in the harbor, it makes an ever bigger difference.
“Right now, it’s a bit tough for the shore guys,” he said. “The water is too warm in there. You need a few days of the wind blowing from the west to get them. The best months to shore fish are September and October. Once you get in those months it still helps to have a west wind, but the fish will move into the harbors to spawn. It can give the shore anglers a really nice opportunity at some big fish. Rainfall is also helpful to get the rivers flowing which triggers fish to move in.”
As I listened to Ojeda chat back and forth on the radio with other captains, most were struggling but we felt pretty good about our day. Three nice fish and at least seven other fish on. Some of the other boats didn’t have a fish.
“I really do just love being out here,” he said. “I guess I’m most happy when I get someone their biggest fish. I have that happen a lot and it could be a 25-pound king or a 10-pound rainbow. There’s just such an opportunity out here, close to home, for catching a true giant. And when it’s a little kid that does it, it’s even better.”
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The best opportunity in years to renew, or begin, your acquaintance with drifting and casting for western Lake Erie walleye should occur in the next couple of weeks.
That is because Erie’s walleye numbers, something like 116 million, are at or near all-time highs, and because the basin’s famous – or infamous – mayfly hatch has not yet begun in earnest. Post-spawning fish are spent of energy, they are prowling for calories, and the mayfly feast has not yet begun. But once the “hatch” gets on with a vengeance, the fish quickly can grow so gill-full stuffed with emerging mayflies that they typically get lockjaw when it comes to proffered angler offerings.
Right now, drifters and casters are using time-tested “mayfly rigs,” a hybrid of the traditional weight-forward spinner and a worm harness to good effect, especially in western Lake Erie. That shallow basin, barely 30 feet deep at most, its reefs the greatest spawning-ground for walleye in the world, is eminently fishable with casting setups. Indeed, weight-forward spinners and worm harnesses and mayfly rigs were designed – “hatched” if you will – just with this fishery in mind over the last 60 years.
Nightcrawlers, a standby live bait, are used for dressing these rigs, but half of a “worm” will suffice for casting. My longtime fishing buddy, Steve Hathaway, and I proved as much just the other day, boxing a limit of chunky 17- to 19-inch ‘eyes in five hours southwest of the Islands. We actually sorted through about 36 fish, the rest undersized and quickly, carefully released for now but promising more good fishing in the years to come.
The sheepshead, white perch, and channel catfish – even a goby – didn’t count in that tally, but each fish, regardless of species, was fun to catch, keeper or not. We probably landed 70 to 75 fish overall in the our time on the lake. And we kept a couple cats for Hathaway’s buddy, Gene, who is said to make the best smoked catfish on Earth.
Mind you, these thoughts are not a slam on trolling, now by far the preferred method of sportfishing for walleye. Trolling indisputably is more productive in terms of catching walleye, including in deeper waters often unreachable by casting methods. But for anglers whose leanings are more traditional than technical, drifting and casting is the way to go.
For some anglers, it is more important to have rod and reel in hand, succeeding or failing by one’s personal experience and skill. Trollers clearly are skilled as well, but use the boat and electronics and an array of other gear and gadgets in a complex angling dance to hook fish. A boat-hooked walleye is simply wound in, lest it interfere with the trolling array astern. The trolling “kick” is in figuring out and executing the gadgetry involved, not in the mano-a-mano that comes with simple rod and reel.
I see and hear of plenty of trolled-up “hogs” now, Down East (in Erie’s central and eastern basins), this when I must satisfy myself with somewhat smaller fish remaining here in western Erie. So be it. Let me suffer. And if you are a skilled “rock picker,” who can tiptoe among the shallower rocky reefs and islands area of the western basin, and cast quietly just here and there. You might be surprised that not all of the hog walleye have moved East.
In any case, too often we have become conditioned to think that “trophy” big is the only thing, whether it be an 8-pound so-called Fish Ohio walleye or a massive 10-point Ohio Big Buck. My point is that any fish fairly caught, or any deer, fairly chased, is worthy of the angler and hunter.
If you are reading between the lines here, you probably have gathered that I am an old-time drifter and caster. True. Nearly 50 years of it is in my blood. I like finessing the fish, rod in hand, failing or winning directly. That’s me, that is my “program.” And now is my time. Color me happy.
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LANSING, Mich. — An invasive grass carp capable of reproducing has been discovered in a Lake Huron tributary, Michigan officials said Friday.
The state DNR said the fish was found March 17 during a routine survey of the Tittabawassee River below the Dow Dam in Midland County. The river flows into Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay.
The DNR says it’s the first documented capture of a grass carp from the lake that was diploid, or able to produce offspring.
Crews used electrofishing boats to search the area but found no other grass carp.
The department says it and partner agencies will conduct more surveys when this year’s field season resumes. It was halted because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The carp’s ear bones will be analyzed to determine if it originally came from the Great Lakes or a fish farm.
Grass carp have been prohibited in Michigan for nearly 50 years. Thirteen have been found in Lake Huron and its tributaries since 1989. All were sterile.
Grass carp are among four Asian species that scientists say could do environmental damage if they become established in the Great Lakes. Grass carp eat large quantities of aquatic vegetation that provide habitat for fish and waterfowl.
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Rob Drieslein goes over the few new open water fishing regulations for Mille Lacs Lake for 2020. Changes for walleye, bass and pike are ones we should all be aware of.
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CHICAGO — Environmental groups in Illinois and Indiana have filed a federal complaint in hopes of forcing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to complete a review that could designate lake sturgeon as a federally endangered species.
Lake sturgeon are a prehistoric fish that were once plentiful in the Great Lakes but have been reduced to extremely low levels by pollution, overfishing and habitat destruction. The species are already listed as an endangered in multiple states including Indiana. A federal designation would mean more protections, including funding.
Last year federal regulators said there was “substantial information” on continuing threats to sturgeon, which would warrant a larger study about whether they should be listed under the Endangered Species Act. However, it could take years as hundreds of other species are awaiting similar studies.
According to the lawsuit filed last month in Chicago, federal officials didn’t meet a key deadline in making the determination.
“The lawsuit is an attempt to speed up that timeline,” Jeff Miller of the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Herald-Times.
Other groups bringing the lawsuit were Fishable Indiana Streams for Hoosiers, the Hoosier Environmental Council and the Illinois-based Prairie Rivers Network.
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Escaping the darkest, coldest days of winter isn’t easy for most people. But for RVers like us, it can be as simple as pointing our rigs to Arizona’s “West Coast” playground, Lake Havasu. RV parks and public campgrounds in this snowbird destination make a great base camp to explore one of America’s best year-round hot spots for water sports, golf, hiking and off-roading fans. Near the water’s edge and in the surrounding desert, Lake Havasu RV Parks roll out the welcome mat.
This Desert is as Real as It Gets
The Mojave Desert doesn’t miss an opportunity to play tricks on your eyes, but this stretch of the Colorado River is as real as it gets. With nearly 450 miles of river and lake shoreline created by nearby Parker Dam, water sports are a way of life on the massive reservoir that straddles the border between Southern California and Arizona. Lake Havasu is big on boating of any kind, from Tiki Boat Cruises to kayak rentals, powerboat racing to bass fishing.
Spring break on Lake Havasu. Photo: SoCali
The river is the centerpiece of Lake Havasu living, but there’s still so much to do on land for desert rats like me and my husband. Although many people think of the famous London Bridge tourist attraction when they hear the words “Lake Havasu,” the rugged Mojave Desert terrain offers so much more to RV snowbirds and thrill-seeking visitors. The endless terrain makes a great jumping-off point for off-road adventures lasting a day, a night or longer. Jeepers, mountain bikers and hikers like us have plenty of outdoorsy things to do in and around the Mojave’s dunes and canyons, like:
Oatman, on Route 66. Take a day trip 54 miles north of Lake Havasu for the only town in America where wild burros roam the streets and gunslinger shoot outs entertain visitors in search of the Old West around Lake Havasu. Spend a day-time tripping to enjoy the burros (descended from Oatman’s mining heyday), walk along wooden sidewalks and pop into historic buildings with thriving restaurants and gift shops that keep tourists happy.
Burro in Oatman, Arizona, near Lake Havasu. Photo: Go Lake Havasu.
Standard Wash OHV Area is an OHVer’s dream that the Bureau of Land Management calls an “unrestricted playground for OHVs, ATVs, UTVs, Jeeps and other off-highway vehicles.” There’s easy access to the Lake Havasu Travel Management Trail System and overnight camping too.
Swansea Townsite. All passenger cars and OHVs can make this fun day trip leading to an old mining site with interpretive displays and picnic facilities. Overnight camping is also allowed.
The Desert Bar is another old mining site but this one is special. It’s an off-grid party bar in the desert, accessible only to intrepid travelers who don’t mind the long, dusty road to enjoy food, drinks and fun in an old west setting.
London Bridge connects Lake Havasu City with an island in the river. Photo: Getty Images
Winter Sizzles at Lake Havasu RV Parks and Campgrounds
On our first visit, we could see why thousands of snowbirds call it home each winter. From the eco-friendly Campbell Cove RV Resort to the popular Lake Havasu State Park, this desert playground caters to visitors in any season. Over 700,000 people play in the area each year, and Lake Havasu’s RV parks and campgrounds can accommodate all of them.
Located less than three hours south of Las Vegas, the city’s seven RV parks and campgrounds might be surrounded by one of the harshest desert terrains on the continent, but they all have everything you need for seasonal RVing or a weekend getaway. Since it’s the biggest shopping hub between Las Vegas to the north and Phoenix to the south, people drive for miles to stock up when they visit. Each time we do the same, we are grateful that such a remote place can have big-city services with everything we need to be comfortable and well-fed.
Leisurely boating on Lake Havasu. Photo: Armando Bracamonte/ Getty Images
The abundance of goods, services and things to do in Lake Havasu City are exactly what the community’s founders had in mind when they peered into the vast, open desert and saw a blank canvas primed for the perfect waterfront desert community. Founded in 1963 by an automotive industry entrepreneur named Robert McCulloch, it didn’t take long for the undeveloped landscape to attract thousands of snowbirds in search of sunnier, warmer winters. Many of them decide to stay and today, over 52,000 people make this desert community their year-round residence.
Lake Havasu knows how to party. The following events bring revelers from across the world to the lake’s shores.
On February 14-16, rockers from across the world gather to grease up their hair, rev up their hot rods and pluck their guitars. The retro Lake Havasu Rockabilly Reunion plays host to the nation’s largest ’50s-themed car show. There’s also live music, one of the West’s largest “Pin-Up Pageants,” and appearances by local and national celebrities.
The Hot Rod Trio perform during Lake Havasu’s Rockabilly Reunion.
Lake Havasu rolls out the red carpet in March for rollicking college kids taking a break from their studies. Running March 1-30, the Lake Havasu Spring Break Party sees legions of young people enjoying fun on the water and the beach. People who are averse to hard-partying are advised to stay away.
On March 6-8, the Bluegrass on the Beach Music Festival draws bluegrass stars for three days of music, dancing and jamming classes. Outdoor concerts under blue skies give music lovers a chance to appreciate acoustic performances.
The audience of Lake Havasu’s Bluegrass on the Beach.
In October, Lake Havasu hosts the International Jet Ski World Finals, an event that sees racers from 40 nations rev their engines to see who’s fastest on the water. The event also features freestyle competition, in which performers put their jet skis through daring maneuvers.
Lake Havasu’s Balloon Festival lifts off every January. Photo: Getty Images
January’s Lake Havasu Balloon Festival features colorful craft floating over the water. Balloon glows, vendors and a carnival make this a must-see event.
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MADISON, Wis. — To enhance fishing success and opportunities for all Lake Michigan anglers, while sustaining a balanced and vibrant fisheries community, the Wisconsin DNR has released a new Lake Michigan fish stocking plan.
Lake Michigan is home to a world-class fishery, and there are anglers, businesses, stakeholder groups and communities that have a deep commitment to developing management strategies that will benefit this fishery for current and future generations, according to Todd Kalish, Deputy Director of DNR Fisheries Management.
Throughout 2019, DNR fisheries staff conducted an open and inclusive process to gather input on management options for the Lake Michigan fishery.
For 2020, 2021 and 2022, chinook salmon stocking numbers will increase to 1,200,000 fish annually, coho stocking will increase to 500,000 annually, steelhead stocking will increase to 460,000 fish annually and brown trout, a popular fish, caught off piers and in harbors, will increase to 450,000 fish annually.
“In meetings and in comments we received about this plan, there was strong interest in increases in stocking not just for chinook salmon but for coho salmon, steelhead and brown trout,” said Brad Eggold, Great Lakes District Fisheries Supervisor. “This plan accomplished that goal and contained increases for every type of fishermen.”
Fisheries managers will assess potential changes to stocking numbers for 2023 and beyond based on traditional and new data and metrics collected and evaluated in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The DNR will also begin the development of a Lake Michigan brook trout stocking initiative in 2020. Brook trout are a revered native species that could produce critical near-shore angling opportunities.
In addition to the 2020-2022 stocking plan, department staff, in collaboration with charter, commercial and sport fishers, plan to:
To learn more about Lake Michigan fisheries, visit the DNR website.
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