Dave Richey spent 40 years writing outdoor copy, and has written many books, 7,000-plus magazine articles and thousands of columns and features for The Detroit News, where he was the staff outdoor writer for 23 years. Today he writes a weekly column every Sunday for the Record-Eagle.
Dave Richey: Bugs in the air, on water
When Hexagenia limbata (giant Michigan mayfly) emerge or mate in mid-air and fall to the water to release their eggs and die, they may do so in such huge numbers that fishing becomes sporadic at best. A steady hatch is much better because it can drive jumbo brown trout into a voracious feeding frenzy and anglers to the depths of frustration as they try to catch selectively feeding trout at a time when hearing becomes a far more important fishing tool than the ability to see.....more>>
There are times during an active fishing life when things happen that cannot be explained. One special night on the Sturgeon River between Indian River and Wolverine serves as a good example, and it occurred close to the witching hour on a dark pool.
It's already started. A dream came wandering through my brain last night, and there I stood, knees braced against the stern, and a rod bowed almost double from the force of a big muskellunge. It was taking line, and then began circling back to stare at me with an evil look on his toothy shovel-shaped face.
Bob was sitting pretty. He was making about $1,000 per week, and was able to set his own hours. No time-clock punching for him. He owned a boat, motor and trailer, and fished or hunted every day. He was a laid-off factory worker, and was entitled to some rather sizable work benefits. However, Bob's life was a little bent.
Public apathy runs rampant among state anglers and hunters. Ooops, I'm sorry, I thought many of you knew what the word meant. The American Heritage dictionary describes apathy as "a lack of emotions of feelings; a lack of interest in things generally found exciting, interesting, or moving."
Quick now, answer this question. Which area lakes or streams should provide the best walleye fishing over Memorial Day weekend? Would it be Bear Lake, Long Lake or South Lake Leelanau? How about Manistee Lake or Platte Lake? Or Lake Margrethe near Grayling? Perhaps the lower Manistee River between Manistee and Wellston? All are great choices, and any could produce a walleye bite that would satisfy most fishermen.
It's a malady that can knock a grown man to his knees faster than a sucker punch, and it's the type of thing that can happen to anyone, at any time. It can strike young and old alike. It's called seasickness.
My lower back was aching, and felt as if my spine had been permanently bent in the wrong direction. Picking morel mushrooms was the cause for my sore back, but picking morel mushrooms had been on my May list of things to do. There is something about picking morels that make people willingly assume this painful bent-over position.
An important piece of local angling history has gone missing, and it disappeared 10 or more years ago. Where it is or who has the original book called "The Shack Diary" remains something of a mystery.
Anglers for centuries have touted the mental and sporting value of trout fishing. But what is it that makes many anglers dream all winter about catching these lake and river game fish? Why, for goodness sake, would any person count down the days to the opener?
