HOOK on the
Fall 2012 guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
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ON THE HOOK
“
PAGE 2
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
Fish are biting
Hunting and fishing license vendors Berrien County n A & J Hardware Inc. 1745 W. Shawnee Rd Baroda, MI 49101-9777 (269) 422-2489 n Dunhams #9074 1000 E. Napier Ave. Suite G Benton Harbor, MI 49022-3928 (269) 927-9969 n Meijer Inc Store # 41 1920 Pipestone Rd. Benton Harbor, MI 49022-2315 (269) 926-7204 n Quality Marathon 8151 E. Napier Ave. Benton Harbor, MI 49022-9481 (269) 944-3228 n Tackle Haven Inc. 741 Riverview Drive Benton Harbor, MI 49022-5021 (269) 925-0341 n Wal-Mart #2062 1400 Mall Drive Benton Harbor, MI 49022-2312 (269) 927-6025 n Mr Small Engine 9549 U.S. Highway 31 Berrien Springs, MI 49103-9516 (269) 471-5868
If a guy (in your backyard) has his own boat, it’s the You don’t have to travel good places to better farfishtoin find southwest Michigan. way to fish. By CRAIG HAUPERT craig.haupert@leaderpub.com
”
Berrien and Cass counties are home to hundreds of inland lakes of varying shapes and sizes and all within a short drive. Lake Michigan is nearby and the St. Joseph River
offers anglers an opportunity to catch a wide variety species throughout the year. Capt. Gary DeRosa has been fishing in the area for more than 30 years. He has been running Golden Eye Fishing Charters of Niles for the past 20 years and spends most of his time fishing the St. Joseph River, while bouncing around to various inland lakes. BITING — Continued on page 3
— Capt. Gary DeRosa
Submitted photo
Steelhead, such as this 17.5 pounder caught last fall on a Golden Eye Fishing Charter, are prevalent in the St. Joseph River as the weather begins to cool.
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OCTOBER 2012 — PAGE 3
Hunting and fishing license vendors n Speedway 105 N. Cass St. Berrien Springs, MI 49103-1162 (269) 473-2557 n Village Hardware 106 W. Ferry St. Berrien Springs, MI 49103-1155 (269) 473-5811 n Aalfs Amoco 301 River St. Buchanan, MI 49107-1433 (269) 695-2266 n Coloma True Value Coloma, MI 49038 (269) 468-3462 n Harding’s Market 6577 Paw Paw Ave. Coloma, MI 49038-9519 (269) 468-6702 n Metzger’s Fishin’ Hole 2 5605 Paw Paw Lake Rd. Coloma, MI 49038-9628 (269) 468-7522 n Captain Cook’s Sports 400 S. Whittaker St. New Buffalo, MI 49117-1764 (269) 469-4510 n Knoll Bros. of Michigan Inc. 127 W. Buffalo St. New Buffalo, MI 49117-1801 (269) 469-2725 n Wal-Mart #2010 2107 S. 11th St. Niles, MI 49120-4060 (269) 683-2773 n BJ Sports 4298 Niles Rd. Saint Joseph, MI 49085 (269) 408-8398 n BroadLows Fishin Hole 1127 Main St. St. Joseph, MI 49085-1509 (269) 982-3474 n Meijer Inc. Store #251 5019 Red Arrow Highway Stevensville, MI 49127 (269) 556-2498
n D & J Auto & Hardware 8 N. Elm St. Three Oaks, MI 49128-1118 (269) 756-2044 n Deer Creek Hunt Club 18000 S. Basswood Rd. Three Oaks, MI 49128-9132 (269) 756-6600 Cass County n W. B. Hayden & Sons 125 S. Broadway St. Cassopolis, MI 49031-1242 (269) 445-2801 n Guntle’s Outdoor Outfitters 101 Singer St. Dowagiac, MI 49047-1030 (269) 782-7353 n Hale’s True Value Hardware 56216 M-51 South Dowagiac, MI 49047-9762 (269) 782-3426 n Hook’s Live Bait-Tackle 50463 M-152 Dowagiac, MI 49047 (269) 424-5478 n Mantke’s Mini Mart Corp. 60893 M-51 South Dowagiac, MI 49047-9769 (269) 684-0027 n Sister Lakes Hardware 67648 M-152 Dowagiac, MI 49047-9028 (269) 424-5775 n Lunker’s Inc. P.O. Box 246 Edwardsburg, MI 49112 (269) 663-3745 n The Trading Post 71077 M-62 Edwardsburg, MI 49112-9159 (269) 663-8802 n Carlton Hardware 115 E. Main St. Marcellus, MI 49067-9501 (269) 646-2021
n Yummies and More Inc. 52990 M-40 Marcellus, MI 49067-9702 (269) 646-3202
n MS Outdoors Inc. 2634 Detroit Rd. Niles, MI 49120-9488 (269) 445-8903
n Hall’s Bait & Tackle 15573 U.S. Highway 12 Union, MI 49130-9622 (269) 641-2304
n Sunrise-Sunset-Party Store 1009 Huntly Rd. Niles, MI 49120-3989 (269) 683-4220
n Trails End Sports 18171 W. State St. Vandalia, MI 49095-9701 (269) 476-9610
Fishing at Riverfront Park in Niles
Leader photo/KIMBERLY WYNN
Two boys missed this summer’s “Spiderman” blockbuster, but their dad found a better way to spend the afternoon: fishing along the St. Joseph River at Riverfront Park in Niles.
BITING — Continued from page 2
DeRosa prefers fishing on the St. Joseph River due to the large amount of fish species that can be caught depending on the time of year. “There’s not too many places you can fish year round in a boat and be comfortable with a cabin and a heater,” DeRosa said. In the fall, the St. Joseph River is popular for people looking to catch the large, migratory species, such as salmon, skamania and steelhead. Walleye can be caught year-round as well. “I fell in love with the river because it is a multispecies fishery,” DeRosa said. “There is such a variety of fish species to be caught all year in a variety of places.” DeRosa recommended fishing the river by boat, although there are areas good for shore fishing, namely between the dam and bridge in Berrien Springs. “If a guy has his own boat, it’s the better way to fish, but you have to make sure you know the river,” he said. “The main thing is safety first. There are a lot of shallow spots where you can get into trouble.” There are many inland lakes within a short drive offering good boat fishing, according to Randy Jesensky, a salesperson at Lunkers in Edwardsburg. Some of his favorites include Corey Lake (west of Three Rivers), Stone Lake in Cassopolis and Chain Lake (south of Vandalia). “All three are very good fishing lakes and they aren’t huge, huge lakes where people will feel lost on,” he said. “You’ll find bluegill, bass, crappie and perch in this area.” Jesensky also recommends the larger Diamond Lake in Cassopolis for more experienced boat fishing. For shore fishing, Jesensky recommended Worster Lake inside Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, Ind. (west of South Bend). “You have fishing piers there in two to three different areas of the lake where you can take your kids and it offers them an opportunity to fish off the piers,” he said. “There’s no homes on the lake so you have the shoreline to yourself and it is accessible in so many different areas.”
ON THE HOOK
“ Every deer
head is
different.
PAGE 4
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
Trophy work
(master taxidermist You have cultivates art form) to think outside the box for it to turn out
” well.
In sights
Second time around Two hunters got a pilot to fly them into the far north for elk hunting. They were quite successful in their venture and bagged six big bucks. The pilot came back, as arranged, to pick them up. They started loading their gear into the plane, including the six elk. But the pilot objected and he said ... “The plane can only take four of your elk; you will have to leave two behind.” They argued with him; the year before they had shot six and the pilot had allowed them to putall aboard. The plane was the same model and capacity. Reluctantly, the pilot finally permitted them to put all six aboard. But when the attempted to take off and leave the valley, the little plane could not make it and they crashed into the wilderness. Climbing out of the wreckage, one hunter said to the other... “Do you know where we are?” “I think so,” replied the other hunter. “I think this is about the same place where we landed last year!” — scribd.com
A price to pay
— Ron Bond
Leader photo/JOHN EBY
Grand Master taxidermist Ron Bond in his Union studio in southeast Cass County. By JOHN EBY john.eby @leaderpub.com UNION — Grand Master taxidermist Ron Bond credits his skill creating mounts to God-given natural artistic ability. He sculpts muscles for trophy bucks’ necks. When the former federal meat inspector from Iowa started in 1969, there was no International Guild of Taxidermy. It formed in 1984, two years after his transfer to Michigan.
Its former vice president became its sixth Grand Master. His rustic award-winning studio with office and showroom at 13222 Michigan Ave. is west of Sunset Boulevard between Zimmy’s Tavern and Baldwin Lake’s north shore. It’s no place for the self-conscious, watched by all those lifelike eyes. “Some people have natural ability to play piano with very little training,” he said. “I liken it to a piano teacher. You might teach a student
the basics, but, if they don’t have the ability, they will never excel. You see a lot of rough work out there. You can learn basics, but is it going to look lifelike? Every deer head is different. You have to think outside the box for it to turn out well.” His studio contains more trophies and ribbons than any 4-H fair sensation. “Masters have to compete in TROPHY — Continued on page 5
Two redneck guys go on a fishing trip. They rent all the equipment: the reels, the rods, the wading suits, the rowboat, the car and even a cabin in the woods. They spend a fortune. The first day they go fishing, but they don’t catch anything. The same thing happens on the second day, and on the third day. It goes on like this until finally, on the last day of their vacation, one of the men catches a fish. As they’re driving home they’re really depressed. One guy turns to the other and says, “Do you realize that this one lousy fish we caught cost us $1,500?” The other guy says, “Wow! It’s a good thing we didn’t catch any more!” — mdrangler.com
OCTOBER 2012 — PAGE 5 TROPHY — Continued from page 4 every category — birds, fish, game heads, mammals , reptiles. Until you’ve won first place in every division, you’re not a Grand Master. It’s comparable to being a fair grand champion, if you won this year with a calf, next year with a sheep, then a chicken. I worked on it four to five years. I’ve been at that level about 15 years.” “I didn’t do it so I could say I’m a Grand Master,” Bond said, “but to get better. I can apply everything I’ve learned competing into my customers’ work. I won with a lot of my customers’ pieces. I’ve judged the international championship twice, New York state shows, Indiana. Ohio had a reptile division, so I took a turtle mount I did 18 years ago two years ago. If you do something right, it lasts. I don’t ‘stuff’ things, I mount them.” “I’ve had people work for me before,” he said, “but I can’t get the quality
I want unless I do it myself. All my work is within 10 months. Most of it is a lot sooner, but at the end of deer season 90 heads might come in. By August, they’re done. I don’t believe in two to three years. By then, it’s lost its appeal.” Skins he sends to a tannery to turn into stretchy, supple leather. Fish, he developed his own comparable process. “Home tans dry hard,” Bond said. “You can put a deer head out the door in four weeks and the hair will hold, but in a couple years it starts to crack. It splits around the eyes and starts to open up in the back. I don’t do fast, cheap methods.” A sign behind a bear climbing a tree says the bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. “I’ve always hunted and fished and loved the outdoors,” said Bond, who recently hunted elk in New Mexico. “The first thing I did was a pigeon. I’d laugh at it now, but I
thought it was fantastic.” He taught himself with taxidermy books ordered from a hunting magazine. “I grew into the business,” he said. “I did them for friends and learned. Going to shows and having judges and other taxidermists look at your work and critique it, you improve. Products have improved, such as forms. I make my own habitat. I made the rocks for the bear with plaster, molded around wire, paint it and work in moss. It makes it more realistic.” One job will be shipped to a border patrol agent in Tucson, Ariz. He just finished measuring a bear skin. He mounted a 120-pound sturgeon caught in Lake Michigan. He has an extensive website, www.ronstaxide my.biz, but most of his busines is by word of mouth. The internet is a good tool because people can look at my work,” including duiker, albino iguana, Russian boar, African sable, impala, warthogs, wildebeest, hartebeest, aoudad and Corsican ram.
GEAR UP
Ron Bond’s wife, Trish, shot this bird in 1997. He creates habitat for mounts to enhance realism. Leader photo/JOHN EBY
FOR YOUR BEST
HUNTING SEASON
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ON THE HOOK
PAGE 6
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
Rock the boat
“
(Capt. Mel keeps it afloat)
Lake Michigan is rougher than the ocean.
By KATIE ROHMAN katie.rohman @leaderpub.com
THREE RIVERS — After 30 years of sport fishing, Capt. Mel LaFrance can say he’s an expert in reeling in a few fish. “I started fishing in 1977 on Lake Michigan,” LaFrance said.
Experienced angler The Grand Rapids native and owner of My Mistress Charters began making his hobby a business in the Ludington area in 1981. He became a licensed mariner in 1984. He moved to Three Rivers in 1989,
— Capt. Mel LaFrance
a
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OCTOBER 2012 — PAGE 7 when he married his wife, Carole. They still live there with their three dogs. Mel also owns M&C Builders, a construction company. After LaFrance moved to Three Rivers, he began fishing Lake Michigan at St. Joseph. He started with a 28-foot Flybridge boat; bought at 21-foot Starcraft in 1995; and purchased his current boat, a 30-foot Sea Ray, in 2001.
Industry changes LaBrance said it is important to know the history of Lake Michigan fishing to understand where it is today. “The ecosystem of Lake Michigan has drastically changed,” LaFrance said. The alewife, a species of herring and an invasive species, had few predators in Lake Michigan in the 1950s. They were so overpopulated, the dead fish would wash up on the shorelines. Coho salmon were brought in to keep the alewife under control. “That’s when the fishing
business started,” LaFrance said. There are now 30 fishing charter boats in St. Joseph, 500 in Michigan and 1,500 on the Great Lakes. LaFrance lives about 30 miles from the lake, and goes on about 65 fishing trips a year with his business; he was doing about 120 trips a year before the internet. Although he has an updated website, he said the business is very competitive online, and Websavvy charter owners ensure their businesses make the top of everyone’s internet searches. “Back when I started, you put a stamp on a letter and sent it to your customer,” LaFrance said.
No fish, no fee My Mistress typically operates from April 1 — Coho season — to mid-October. LaFrance said the best fishing is usually in July because the water isn’t as warm as in August and September. “A lot of people think the only time you can get fish is in September,” LaFrance
My Mistress Charters uses a 30-foot Sea Ray boat, which includes all rods, reels and tackle, all safety equipment, a GPS, video fish finder and marine radios. Capt. Mel LaFrance, of Three Rivers, began his fishing charter service on Lake Michigan in 1982. Photos provided by Mel LaFrance
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said. “Ice in, fish in.” LaFrance and his first mate, Joe Dudding, of St. Joseph, put away the boat early this year — late September — because fishing was slow. LaFrance guarantees his customers a free trip if they don’t catch a fish. He said they could get a limit of spring Coho in two hours or less.
“Overall, we average about 12 fish per trip,” he said. His biggest lunker was a Chinook salmon weighing 34.7 pounds, caught in 1989. LaFrance will clean, filet and bag the fish, and also provide recipes and take photos for the customers. BOAT — Continued on page 8
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ON THE HOOK
PAGE 8
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
Recipes
(from the woods) Pete’s cajun fish bake 6 bacon strips 4 tablespoons onion 4 cloves minced/crushed garlic
5 squirts Tabasco sauce 5 squirts Louisiana Hot Sauce 3 sticks of butter 3 teaspoons Grey Poupon (Dijon) ideasinfood.com photo
Let come to boil for 3 minutes.
Saute in pan until golden brown. Add : 1 teaspoon oregano 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper 1 1/2 teaspoons Old Bay (crab oil seasoning) 1/2 teaspoon thyme 1/2 teaspoon basil
Add 3 pounds meat, chunked. Could be Fried deer heart catfish, shrimp, gar steaks, meat must be firm — no panfish or small/thin filets. 1 heart of deer Must be thick pieces (nuggets). Stir, let Flour boil 3 to 5 minutes. Bake in casserole dish Salt, pepper, garlic powder (to season for 30 to 35 minutes at 375 degrees. flour with) Serves six to eight. Egg(s) — Courtesy Adam Petersen Crisco, butter flavored Soak heart in saltwater bath for 10 to 12 hours. Rinse all coagulated blood off and
Pheasant & Chukar hunting
BOAT — Continued from page 7
• No membership • Open August-April • Bring in this ad and get an extra chukar for $10
His customers come from all over the country, particularly large cities like Indianapolis, Chicago, Cleveland and Cincinnati. “Basically, everything below Michigan,” he said with a laugh. “A lot of guys are just hard-core fishermen; families, corporate trips. A lot of companies have cut back quite a bit. A lot of families can’t afford a $600 trip.” A seven-hour trip with four people costs $600; he can take up to six people per trip.
Rough seas
McKenzie St. • Marcellus, MI (269) 646-9164 • www.rollinghillshunting.com
out of heart. Cut in half, exposing valve and stuff inside. Clean all silver and white skin and fat from heart. Cut heart into strips, maybe an inch or so wide. Flour, egg dredges and flour again. Toss battered strips into hot pan of butter Crisco (medium-high heat). Fry until golden brown, turning to cook both sides evenly. No pink/red meat; cook thoroughly. Drain on paper towels and enjoy when warm/hot. — Courtesy Adam Petersen every trip, but strongly recommends customers know what to expect. They should bring sunscreen, bug spray and be properly clothed. “Lake Michigan is rougher than the ocean,” LaFrance said. “Lake Michigan can get rough. Anyone considering going out on Lake Michigan should consider taking medicine for motion sickness. “It can go from dead-flat to 15-foot waves,” he said. My Mistress Charters is located at Harbor Isle Marina, Dock 95, 143 Anchors Way, St. Joseph. Reach Capt. Mel LaFrance at (269) 269-9218 or mymistress2@ aol.com. Visit stjosephcharters.com.
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Always wear a seat belt on ROVs. We recommend all ROV operators have a valid driver’s license. Never carry a passenger in the cargo box; the passanger must be able to place both feet on the floor while keeping their back against the back of the seat. Arctic Cat recommends that all riders take a training course, and that they read and understand their owner’s manual before operation. For safety or training information, see your dealer or visit http://cdt.rohva.org.©2012 Arctic Cat Sales Inc., ®TM Trademarks of Arctic Cat Inc., Thief River Falls, MN 56701
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OCTOBER 2012 — PAGE 9 A careful watch
In sights
Two guys are out hunting deer. The first guy says ... “Did you see that?” “No,” the second guy says. “Well, a bald eagle just flew overhead,” the first guy says. “Oh,” says the second guy.
A couple of minutes later, the first guy says... — www.joles4us.com “Did you see that?”
“See what?” the second guy asks. “Are you blind? There was a big, black bear walking on that hill, over there.” “Oh.” A few minutes later the first guy says... “Did you see that?” By now, the second guy is getting aggravated, so he says ...
“Yes, I did!” And the first guy says ... “Then why did you step in it?” — scribd.com Quick catches
Q: What did the fish say when it hit a concrete wall A: “Dam!”
Q: How do you communicate with a fish? A: Drop it a line! Q: Why did the fish cross the road? A: Cause it was hooked! Q: Why did the vegan go deepsea fishing? A: Just for the halibut!
Ice fishing: the coolest sport around Michigan Department of Natural Resources For many people, fishing is the most relaxing way to spend the day. And in the winter months, the most popular angling activity is ice fishing. To those who have never tried it, ice fishing is sometimes looked upon as an oddity, but, for others, ice fishing is the best kind of fishing. Although it doesn’t appeal to all, many anglers prefer fishing through the ice to open-water fishing. For one thing, anglers can get just about anywhere on the lake during ice fishing season, something they can’t do without a boat during the open water season. Virtually every fish that’s available to anglers in the summer can be caught through the ice — some are even caught more frequently in the winter. Once you’ve spent a little time on the ice, you’ll soon see a different picture. Ice fishing is more than just a way to fill the long days of winter. It’s a
chance to breathe the cold, clean winter air, to spend quiet time outdoors with family and friends and to relax and collect one’s thoughts away from the hustle and bustle of a busy world. Just walking on the ice can be a unique experience, especially when no snow obscures the view of the water below. However, as with any outdoor activity, safety should be a concern. When it comes to ice safety, steer clear of dark spots or places where the snow looks discolored.
Rules to follow
n Never fish alone. n Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. n Always test the ice with a spud (described later). n Take the appropriate emergency items, such as a lifejacket and ice picks. n Take a cell phone with you in case you need to call for help. Dress in your warmest winter
clothes; fill a thermos with hot coffee, chocolate or tea; and bring an empty bucket or old lawn chair to sit on.
Equipment
To get started ice fishing, you’ll need the basics: something to make a hole in the ice, something to clear the hole and keep it open and ice free, and something to fish with, or equipment. The two basic tools used to make holes in the ice are spuds and augers. A spud features a long-shank with a chisel-like end that’s used to chip a hole in the ice. A spud is a tool you use when the ice isn’t too thick. An auger is a corkscrew-like device with a cutting blade that operates like a hand drill to make a hole in the ice. For extremely thick ice, power augers that run on batteries or small gasoline engines are available and make creating holes much easier. Once the hole is created it needs to be cleared of
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ice chips or slush. A skimmer (or a slush scoop) is a small cup with holes in it (to let the water run out) on a long handle. It is inexpensive and perfectly suited for the job. A skimmer is used to clear the hole right after it’s made, as well as throughout the day if it’s particularly cold and if additional ice forms. Please note the size of the hole is important. The hole must be big enough you can get a fish out, but not too large of a hole that it may endanger someone’s life. Anglers are recommended to keep their holes to a maximum of eight to 10 inches in diameter which would accommodate the size of most fish species. When abandoning fishing holes, anglers should mark them with a tree branch, sticks or chunks of ice to alert others of their presence. Ice fishing equipment can be divided into three basic categories: hookand-line, tip-ups and spears. Most hook-and-line anglers use short, limber
rods with reels or simple spring-tension spools to hold the line. Sometimes they may use something as simple as a couple of pegs on the rod handle used to wrap the line around. Limber rods allow the use of light line, which usually results in better fishing and absorbs more of the shock when fighting fish. Hook-and-line anglers use live bait, artificial lures or sometimes both to catch many different species of fish. Anglers often use small lures, such as teardrops or flies, with live bait — such as wax worms (bee moth larva), spikes (fly larvae), wigglers (mayfly larvae) or minnows — attached to the hook for better action. The bait can be fished without movement or jigging can be used to attract the fish. Jigging is most successful if a lure of any kind is used. Hook-and-line anglers have the choice of using a bobber on the line, just as they would while fishing in the summer.
Some may also fish with a tight line and use a spring bobber, which is a small strip of metal or wire that extends off the rod tip like an additional eye on the rod. Any motion alerts anglers to the bite, a bonus for small fish or light-biters. Generally, anglers begin by fishing near the bottom and work their way up in the water column until they locate the fish, then continue to fish at that same depth. Anglers can use bobbers to set their baits at a preferred depth or fish a tight line, either fishing without movement or jigging. For bigger fish, anglers use heavier gear with larger lures or bigger hooks, which allows them to use larger baits — minnows, smelt, salmon eggs or spawn bags. Anglers generally start at the bottom and gradually move up in the water column when jigging, while those fishing with live bait, spawn bags or salmon eggs generally fish right off the bottom.
ON THE HOOK
“ ”
If you can find it in Michigan, I’ve done it.
— Scott Wilson
PAGE 10
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan
Competing in a wild world (a niche market)
By KATIE ROHMAN katie.rohman@leaderpub.com
Businessman Scott Wilson’s fourth endeavor started as a hobby he picked up in the Army. Wilson was stationed in Germany shortly before the start of the Gulf War when a Frenchman taught him the art of taxidermy. “No fur, no feathers” was the rule in the barracks, so he honed his skills on fish. He continued to mount fish as a hobby when he returned to the U.S. “Fish are the hardest,” said Wilson, who learned how to do waterfowl and mammals as well. “If you can find it in Michigan, I’ve done it,” he said. Wilson wanted to expand his education, so he attended advanced taxidermy school in Montana last year.
Leader photo/KATIE ROHMAN
Scott Wilson opened Bussero Bottoms Taxidermy recently at 225 E. Main St., Niles.
OCTOBER 2012 — PAGE 11 He opened his business, Bussero Bottom Taxidermy, recently in the back of his wife’s business, Colorful Stitches, at 225 E. Main St., Niles. “There aren’t a lot of taxidermists, and it’s a niche market,” he said. “It’s a competitive world out there, and I’m always looking for a niche market.” The unusual name for
In sights
Smart pills One morning, a father and his young son were in the woods hunting rabbits. After about an hour, they finally came across some rabbit tracks. In
the business has family ties. Wilson’s relatives were poor sharecroppers in southern Indiana. They lived in the marshland — referred to as the “bottoms.” His family lived in Bussero Creek. Wilson is known most for his first business, Scott A. Wilson Heating & A/C, which he started 18 years ago in his hometown of
Mishawaka. He relocated to Niles eight years ago. His second business is Scott A. Wilson Real Estate Investment, which specializes in rental properties in Mishawaka and in northern Michigan. His wife relocated the third business, Colorful Stitches, five years ago from Alpena, Mich., to Niles. Wilson said customers
between the tracks, there were these little round brown pellets, and the son said to his father, “Dad, what are those?” The father replied, “Those are smart pills. Try a couple.” The boy grabbed a couple of them and put them in his mouth. The boy made a funny face and said to his father, “They taste awful.” The father replied, “See, you’re getting smarter already.” — thejokeindex.com
Marketing plan
(269) 782-7808 • Hours: M-W&F 9-5:30, Th 9-7, Sat 9-5 147 S Front St., Dowagiac, MI 49047
Bussero Bottoms Taxidermy is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and evenings and weekends by appointment. It can be reached at 6837501 or scott@nilestax idermy.com. Visit it online at nilestaxidermy.com.
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are too fatty. He receives many raccoons, which are shot or trapped. “Believe it or not, the smaller the animal, the more difficult it is to do,” Wilson said. Customers select the form, and a catalog is available. He also customdesigns the base of the mount to look like a natural environment. “We remove the skin
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A company in California has started to market “camouflage toilet paper” for use in the woods and plans to run testimonials from hunters who claim they have been shot at while using ordinary toilet paper (by hunters who mistook them for white-tailed deer). — News of the Weird
Come to
can expect a mount to take six to nine months to complete. Mounts are sent to a tanner; he doesn’t do that part of the process inhouse. Fall is the busiest time of the year for Wilson because it is hunting season. Everything on a mount is original except for the eyes and tongue. Coldwater varieties of fish require an artificial head because they
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ON THE HOOK
PAGE 12
Guide to hunting and fishing in southwest Michigan Conservation clubs n Bend of the River Conservation Club 900 Mayflower Drive Niles (269) 695-5732 www.borcc.org n Howard Township Conservation Club 2601 Terminal Rd. Niles (269) 683-9707
n Dowagiac Conservation Club 54551 M-51 North Dowagiac (269) 782-5508 n Edwardsburg Conservation Club 26524 Pine Lake St. Edwardsburg (269) 663-2776 www.edwardsburgcon servationclub.org
n Cass County Conservation Club 13710 U.S. 12 Union (269) 641-5439 www.casscountyconser vationclub.org
SW Michigan game processors Cass County n Vlasicak’s Meat Market 63490 M-62 Cassopolis (269) 445-8763
n Gary’s Custom Meat Processing 16237 Mason St. Union (269) 641-5683
Berrien County n Zick’s Specialty Meats 215 N. Mechanic St. Berrien Springs (269) 471-7121
On the cover Top left: Cameron Diaz, 12, of Dowagiac and a member of the Pokagon Tribe, says he fishes often. Middle left: Tim Ingle, 27, of Niles, says he fishes occasionally. Bottom left: Salvador Chavez, 9, of Niles, says one of his favorite activities is fishing on the St. Joseph River. Middle: Lisa Grant, 50, of Niles, doesn’t do much fishing, but she did catch a small hammerhead shark at Daytona Beach, Fla. At right: Mitch Hannafius, 45, of Niles, says he doesn’t fish very often, nor does he catch much. Leader photos/KIMBERLY WYNN
The staff Leader photo/KIMBERLY WYNN
Managing editor: Katie Rohman
Eric Mykamp, 31, of Longview, Texas, spent a day fishing with his cousin, Scott Mykamp, Reporters: Craig Haupert, John Eby, Aly Gibson 30. of Benton Harbor, on the pier in St. Joseph. Despite arriving at 4 a.m., they didn’t catch Design: Kimberly Wynn anything, but that was all right. “It’s always nice out here,” Eric said. “It’s therapeutic.”
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