Focus on Fishing

BY DALE DOEPKER

For questions about the Fishing Club or about fi shing in Canadian Lakes, contact Dale Doepker at dtroutman97@aol.com or 231-972-8663

STATE LAW REQUIRES:

• Watercraft and trailers must be free of all aquatic organisms and plants before transporting or launching.

• Remove drain plugs and drain all water from bilges, ballast tanks, and live wells before moving watercraft.

• Avoid releasing unused bait into the water.

• Release fi sh only into the same water body where they were caught to avoid the spread of invasive species and fi sh diseases.

LAKE MAPS

Contour maps of the lakes within Canadian Lakes are now available online at www.canadianlakesmgmt.org.

CL Bass Tournament Results

Saturday, June 19, was a great day for bass fi shing, and 22 boats entered the tournament. Here are the results: • 1st place – Tim and Will Ford, 18.98 pounds for fi ve bass • 2nd place – Jason Snyder and Scott Vinton, 18.80 pounds • 3rd place – Cornevale and Cornevale, 18.41 pounds; also largest bass at 4.38 pounds • 4th place – Aaron Eckert and Eckert, 16.95 pounds • 5th place – Justin and Jessica Courtright, 16.84 pounds; also second largest bass at 4.29 pounds

Th e third and fourth places were won by teams that had not placed in the money before! Th e total winning weight of fi ve fi sh was about average for the past 10 years, but the largest fi sh was lower than most years. All boats brought in fi ve fi sh, which were all released live. One boat did not come to the weigh-in. Th anks again to Jason Snyder for serving as director of this event.

Bass Tournament Winners Jason Courtright with tiger muskie he caught during the CL Bass Tournament on June 19

Bass Fun Night Events

Th e next Bass Fishing Fun Night is Wednesday, August 25. Just show up at Pierce Beach before 5 p.m. to register and fi sh for three hours. At 8 p.m., enjoy pizza and compare results from catch-and-release, with artifi cial lures only. Cash awards go to the longest bass and most total inches of bass 14 inches and over. If you do not have a boat, come anyway and someone will take you on theirs. Entry is $7 for club members and $8 for others. If you do not boat from Pierce Beach, you must still register at Pierce Beach and return there. Wednesday, September 22, will be a Pike Fun Night, with rules similar to the Bass Fun Night.

Grace Janowicz, age 5 Mason Eisenberger, age 12 Pierce Mooney, age 11 Wyatt Malder, age 8

Results of 19th Annual Young Angler’s Contest

The Young Angler’s Contest was successful again this year, with more than 120 kids participating. We gave out 120 gift bags and 28 awards to kids who fished, plus free snack bags and bottled water. The CL Fishing Club thanks the 18 or so volunteers who gave of their time and effort to make this annual event a success. We also thank the donors of the gift bags, which helped enable this event. Included in the gift bag, donated by Ace Hardware, which every kid received, was an MDNR fish poster, MUCC Tracks magazine, small flag from Coldwell Banker, a 3-foot tape ruler from Ace Hardware, some miscellaneous fishing items, and a Ziploc® bag for the fish entry. The largest bluegill entered was 8.4 ounces by an 8-year-old; and second was 8.04 ounces, by an 11-year-old. We also sold out all the Fishing Club tee-shirts and most of the caps and received generous donations from attendees. This was our first year without a picnic meal and raffle, but it was still a very well-received event.

18th Annual Pike Tournament Event, Saturday, September 11

This event is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Registration deadline is 6 p.m. Friday, September 10. Eligible are Canadian Lakes members, families, and guests. Multiple people may be in a boat, but this is an individual tournament. Entry fee is $20 each, free for children under 17. Start with a meeting at 7:45 a.m. and end with measure-in at 2 p.m., both at Pierce Beach on West Lake. Only artificial lures are allowed, one rod per fisherman. Trolling is allowed. If you do not boat from Pierce Beach, you must still register at Pierce Beach and return there. All pike and muskies caught are to be measured, documented on a form provided, and released immediately (honor system). Pizza and bottled water will be provided at 2 p.m.— bring your own other refreshments. Cash prizes to those paying the entry fee: longest pike or muskie (photo required), second longest, most total inches of pike 24 inches and over, and most total pike and muskie of any size. Prizes can be won in combination. Tournament director is ineligible. Get your $20 and name to Jeff or Natalie Abel, 9325 Edgewater, 904-753-2596, by September 10. Bulletins with full details are available on the CLA website or in the office kiosk.

Photo credit: Di Schwartz

OSPREY REPORT

Three osprey babies have been sighted on our nesting platform at Buchanan Road, between the Main Lake and Lake of the Clouds. We wish them well and hope they grow up like their parents.

PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

Purple loosestrife is an invasive species that crowds out native plants. We encourage everyone to remove it, wherever you observe it growing. Remove the roots, if possible; but even just removing the flowers and seeds will prevent it from spreading. Cover the top with a garbage bag before removing to prevent any seeds from falling on the ground. Bags of purple loosestrife can be safely disposed of along with any refuse going to a landfill.

Comprehensive eye exams and full optical services provided, including a large selection of sunglasses!

Daggett-Gilbert

Funeral Home Inc.

13985 Northland Drive Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-3611

Christine Daggett Manager-Director Holly Holstrom-Director Gary Gilbert-Director

•Funeral Services •Cremation Services •Pre-Planning •Monuments Bullhead Tournament, 17th Annual Event, August 6

Fishing begins at 8 p.m. Friday, August 6, and ends at 2 a.m. Saturday, August 7. Fish in any of the Canadian Lakes water bodies. Shore fishing is usually best.

The entry fee is $10 per person. Youth 16 and under are free, but not eligible for cash prizes.

Weigh-in is 11 a.m. Saturday, August 8, at the Pines Pavilion.

Forty percent of the money collected will be deducted first to cover the cost of refreshments. Bullhead wrangler award pays three places: 15%, 10%, 5% for heaviest fish. These awards come first. Bullhead master award pays three places: 15%, 10%, 5% for most total weight, 9 inches and over only. One award per person; tie-breaker is heaviest in the other category. For youth, there will be separate prizes for most total weight and heaviest fish.

All Canadian Lakes members, families, and members’ guests are welcome to participate. Fishermen can fish together, but weigh-in is individual, so fish must be kept separate. Gear is restricted to MDNR fishing regulations— three rods and two hooks per rod. The minimum size is 9 inches to qualify—release all smaller. Please measure each to help the weigh-in person.

Pack all fish on ice in a cooler for bringing to the weighin. This is a catch-and-keep tournament, and all fish kept will be cleaned and/or returned to the fishermen. All participants must bring in their fish, regardless of number! Entries must be received by Friday, August 6, at 4 p.m. Mail or deliver names and money to Sue Glazier, 8339 West Royal, 231-679-1938. Checks should be payable to Sue Glazier. Snack bags and bottled water will be available at the weigh-in for participants. A bulletin with full details is available on the CLA website or at the CLPOC office kiosk.

Annual Youth and Largest Fish Contest Reminder

Both the Youth Big Fish Contest and the Largest Fish of the Year Contest run all year, from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. There is one entry form for both. If it is an entry for the Youth Big Fish Contest, 14 years and under when caught, the information for the angler must be filled in as to age and so forth. Every youth who enters, regardless of fish size, will receive a trophy, so long as it is for a species trophy they do not already have. All entries will be eligible for the Largest Fish Contest trophy, if the minimum length is met. Entry forms are available on the website and at the CLPOC office kiosk. Keep track of your catches and take photos if possible, so you can enter them by the deadline of October 10, 2021. Remember to release live all bass, pike 24 inches and over, and all muskies.

Canadian Lakes Optimist Club Forming NOW!

BY MICHELLE KAUFFOLD

Are you a positive person with a desire to help others? If your answer is YES, you will be happy to know there is an Optimist Club coming to the Canadian Lakes area. It is for people like YOU! We are looking for like-minded individuals to better the lives of children in our community.

Optimist International, established in 1919, is one of the world’s largest civic service organizations. Its sole mission is to better the lives of children in every community through one of 2,600 Optimist Clubs. Each year Optimists conduct 65,000 service projects that reach more than six million young people throughout the world.

Many Optimist programs are available to students in our area. One of the original programs created by Optimist International is the oratorical contest, which started in 1928. Others include Essay Contests, Junior Golf, Respect for Law, Youth Appreciation, and Tri-Star Sports. Once fully chartered, our club will decide which programs we can run and work in conjunction with the Canadian Lakes Association to add to “The Good Life.”

The exact schedule of meetings is not set. For August, we’ll meet Tuesdays from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Alpine Haus. Contact Michelle Kauffold for more information: Newmichelle@att.net or 313-510-6300.

Our upbeat outlook and our commitment to creating a more optimistic future for kids is what differentiates Optimist Clubs from any other volunteer opportunity.

There are clubs all over our state, and we would be part of the Michigan District Optimists as well as Optimist International. I have been a past president, member of the Board of Directors, Oratorical Chair, and Club Foundation representative for the Roseville, MI Optimist Club. At the Michigan District level, I have been Lt. Governor, Assistant Governor, Committee Chair for Essay Contests, Optimist of the Year and Personal Growth & Involvement. I currently serve as District Secretary/Treasurer.

I was a charter member of the Roseville, Michigan, Optimist Club since it formed in 1992. I was a music educator for more than 30 years. Through Optimism I discovered a new way to work with students and provide unique opportunities.

Come to a meeting to learn more about the Optimist Club and how you can improve the lives of area children.

LOON PRECAUTIONS

We have two loon babies from the Far West Lake nest and one from the East Lake nest. Please stay at least 100 feet from any loons, so as not to disturb them. If you are idle in the water and they approach you, enjoy them, but be careful when you motor away. The Lake of the Clouds loon nest was not successful this year.

International Service Organization Looks To Help Local Youth

THE WORLD’S FOURTH largest civic service organization has chosen Canadian Lakes as its next venue for helping youth. Volunteer members of Optimist International will be spending the next few weeks in our community with the goal of organizing a new Optimist Club.

“We are excited about helping the children of Canadian Lakes,” said Michelle Kauffold, who is organizing the local expansion effort. “We are looking for some other like-minded individuals who would like to help us improve the lives of children in our community.”

Optimist Clubs are known throughout the world for ‘Bringing Out the Best in Kids.’ Since each Club is autonomous, Optimist volunteers decide how to serve the needs of the children in their community. In some areas, Clubs conduct scholarship programs, sports activities, mentoring programs, after-school programs, and childhood cancer initiatives.

In Canadian Lakes, Kauffold says, the new club will obviously focus on the community’s youngest members, but the club is seeking input from local leaders to identify a specific need and purpose.

“Those who best know what our community needs are those who live here, full or part time," Kauffold said. “If you have an opinion about how we can best serve the community’s youth, please let us know. We will be having ‘Meet ‘n’ Mingle’ events at the Alpine Haus. Everyone is welcome to come!”

Optimist International is composed of 100,000 members in more than 3,100 Optimist Clubs in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and other nations. Carrying the motto “Bringing Out the Best in Kids,” Optimist Clubs conduct 65,000 positive service projects that reach more than six million young people each year. For more information, call 313-510-6300 or log on to www.optimist.org.

Joyce’s

CHOICES

BY JOYCE B. WILCOX

Travelers driving in Michigan are told, “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” This simple state motto affords residents and visitors the opportunity to appreciate experiencing Michigan to the fullest. Everywhere you look, there’s a sight to behold. From lush forests to endless lakes and from sand dunes to sand traps, there’s something for everyone.

Visitors walking into the Wilcox home are told, “If you seek a riveting read, look about you.” Whether you’re family or guest, there’s an opportunity to explore literature and expand your world through the hundreds of books in our home. Every room in the house is decorated with books. From antique desktops to quaint nightstands and from coffee tables to several inviting bookcases, books are on display so there’s something for everyone to read.

When asked to write an article about books for The Canadian Laker, it was not a difficult decision for me. In addition to reading more than 40 books a year, I also collect them. My shelves are lined with books ranging from antiques to new arrivals that are penned by first-time authors, must-have novelists, and old favorites. Throughout much of my adult life, I’ve made notations in reading journals and used sticky notes in books upon discovery of a descriptive passage that hits home. What could be more exciting than encountering an unexpected plot twist or solving a mystery? If nothing else, what could possibly compare to discovering a previously unfamiliar word that has potential to expand your vocabulary? Simply put, I love a well-written book.

For years family and friends have asked me for book recommendations, so sharing my thoughts with you is a natural transition. Books are like friends; and just like the rest

of my dear friends, my books come from many different places and vary in age. Some books are fresh off the new release shelf of bookstores; many are from garage sales and have been around the block a few times; and others are considered classics and are older than my librarian’s grandmother.

Joyce’s Choices won’t critique books, but instead will briefly summarize, highlight, and recommend interesting and compelling reads in a variety of genres. Rather than ranking books on a five-star system, you can safely assume that any book I recommend will be rated from three to five stars. Basically, if I feel a book isn’t worth reading, then I won’t be writing about it. This means that I believe a novel merits reading because the author knows how to grab and hold your interest and has mastered writing a well-developed plot that moves the story along. It also means the novelist knows how to create interesting characters you’d either want as friends, family, or spouses; or there are characters so evil you hope you never meet.

Much like a colorful bouquet of fresh flowers, I will select eclectic books for each article. Since not every book is for every reader, I hope that somewhere along the line you’ll find one that piques your interest. Of course, I also hope you’ll find one that’s your new favorite. Perhaps you’ll also discover one that you just can’t put down. But most of all, I hope there’s one that takes you outside your genre box and opens new possibilities, one page at a time.

Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg

Yes, the author is that Fannie Flagg. The former writer and actor of television’s Candid Camera fame and author of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe is still at her craft. This book is Flagg’s fifth of 10 novels she’s written, and it doesn’t disappoint if you’re looking for an irresistible trip to the heartland spanning 1936 through the 1990s. Just like an irresistible pie fresh from the oven, this book is oozing, but with eccentric characters, small-town life, and Flagg’s wit.

Between laughter and tears the reader is introduced to the families and friends of one of the town’s busiest matriarchs, Dorothy Smith. She’s an enterprising housewife known as Neighbor Dorothy, broadcasting homemaking tips over the radio waves from her living room. We learn of local news and national news through war times and peace times and everything in between. The town itself emerges as a character as it matures and changes through the years, while the reader also becomes fast friends with the rest of the delightful cast of characters of Elmwood Springs, Missouri. Big things can happen in a small town. And with Fannie Flagg’s vivid narration, rich dialogue, and well-paced storyline, the reader can actually hear the music, smell the coffee, and taste the biscuits.

The Fifth Assassin by Brad Meltzer

The world will never seem the same after you’ve indulged your imagination and treated yourself to this political thriller by prolific author and master of suspense, Brad Meltzer. Having

perfected his craft with crisp dialogue, segued storylines, and incredibly short chapters, the author delivers plot punches like a prizefighter. Add to that a remarkably resourceful protagonist, villains you love to hate, and a writer’s resounding grasp of history and you have a novel that doesn’t miss its mark.

While this is the second book of the Culper Ring Trilogy, Meltzer has mastered writing in this genre and the novel clearly can stand alone. Weaving historical facts with historical fiction, the author is able to link the assassinations of Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy while providing a roller coaster ride of intrigue. Enter Beecher White, a current-day archivist working at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the ride begins. Beecher discovers this link and what he believes will be a potential fifth assassin’s attempt to kill the current President. The reader is immediately held captive until the end of the book to discover the actual who, where, when, and why along with Beecher White. With the fast-paced writing and continuous plot twists, you better be prepared to reside comfortably in your reading chair from prologue to last chapter. Of course, books one and three of this trilogy can be considered at a later date.

The Women of the Copper Country: A Novel by Mary Doria Russell

Mary Doria Russell manages to strike gold while telling her historical tale as she digs deep to uncover the unbearable working and living conditions of life in the small mining town of Calumet, Michigan, in 1913. The reader experiences the many hazardous, frustrating, and deadly situations of the men mining underground through the eyes of their wives, mothers, and daughters. Strength of character and will, as well as the talents of a very versatile writer, turn this potentially dark narrative into one of hope and perseverance.

The story brings to light a year in the life of 25-year-old Annie Klobuchar Clements as she grows tired of working hard to make ends meet while her husband labors in the dangerous mines. She lives in constant fear of receiving one of the weekly company calls to wives regarding a mining accident. Annie decides to take a stand for the entire town, rally support, and demand changes from the mine owners. Through obvious extensive research, the author enhances the storyline with authentic moments in history sprinkled with actual participants such as Governor Woodbridge Ferris, President Woodrow Wilson, and Mother Jones. Combining her elegant prose with her compassionate comprehension of the underdog in our society, Mary Doria Russell has achieved a memorable, compelling historical novel.

The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal

If you’re looking for the perfect summer read to quench your thirst, look no further. This enchanting fictional family saga of generations of strong women spotlights the relationship between two sisters, Edith and Helen, born just either side of 1940, and their struggles to come to terms with their father’s decision to leave their expected shared inheritance to just the younger sibling. As Helen takes her inheritance and builds one of the most successful light breweries in the country, Edith struggles in her marriage and in making a living. The stage is set for a fascinating and surprisingly hilarious sibling rivalry spanning 60 years.

As a non-beer-drinker, I was skeptical of enjoying this book when it was randomly suggested by my book club. Stradal needed to prove himself as a writer if he expected me to swallow this storyline, and he didn’t disappoint. Not only was it an interesting and entertaining read, I also learned about the entire craft beer brewing process. Although beer was invented by women, J. Ryan Stradal knows how to serve up a final draft for all that ales you.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

Anne Tyler does what she does best in Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant: portraying the mundane, everyday experiences of life while injecting them with wit, wisdom, and humor. Pearl, the hardened and flawed matriarch of the family, is abandoned by her husband and forced to raise her three children on her own. She does what she can, but the siblings grow apart; and as adults, they all have their own version of their failed upbringing. Youngest son Ezra, the family saint and eternal optimist, stays home to care for his mother while he opens a restaurant, as his siblings go about their reckless lives. As Ezra prepares meals his clients are homesick for, he attempts to create the family environment at work that he never had at home. He tries desperately to host family gatherings, but something always interferes. He seems unable to grasp that as much as he tries to set places at the table for June Cleaver’s kids, it’s Roseanne Barr’s clan who comes to the table. But Ezra keeps trying.

With 23 novels to her credit (most of them bestsellers), a Pulitzer Prize, and a few other novels in contention for that same coveted award, Anne Tyler’s writing is like that gourmet bag of chips of yore. Bet you can’t read just one!

Remember, if you seek a riveting read, look about you.

Second Annual Celebrate the Library Virtual Auction

BY JULIANE SCHAFER AND FRAN VOCI

When: Friday, August 13, 10 a.m. until Saturday, August 21, 1 p.m. Where: The auction link will be posted on the Morton Township Public Library’s website, www.morton.michlibrary.org/.

In 2020, we learned that virtual auctions can be fun, easy, and safe. Join us this August to do it again to support our wonderful, resourceful Morton Township Public Library in Mecosta.

To view the auction items, simply click the link on the library’s website prior to the event. There you will find beautiful color photos of auction offerings with complete lists of basket contents. To bid, you will need to create an account. Once you join the bidding, the virtual auction will alert you by email if you have been outbid and offer you the opportunity to raise your bid. At the conclusion of the auction, you will be notified if you win any items. Items may be paid for with cash, check, or credit card at the library or with a credit card on the auction site.

View auction items in person during normal library hours throughout the auction period: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All auction items have been generously donated by area businesses and residents. Proceeds will help the library in its quest to support literacy and lifelong learning through physical and electronic book collections, technology access and assistance, and educational programming for all ages.

Celebrate with us as we experience a return to full service at this great community resource. If you haven’t visited our library, stop by soon—you will be surprised at this gem in our midst.

Popular Labor Day Weekend Event Returns

BY FRAN VOCI

JOIN US IN welcoming back the hugely popular used book sale at the Castle. It takes place Saturday, September 4, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Sunday, September 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Do not miss this popular event.

Throughout the year, our friends and neighbors donate used books to the Morton Township Library. After the library chooses any materials useful for their collection, the Friends of the Morton Township Library take over. After sorting, the Friends stock the used bookstore, located in the library, with the most popular authors and titles. An inventory is built up throughout the year to bring to the Castle for a huge display of books for all interests. This year we will have a large selection of Civil War books for both the casual reader and the serious student of the Civil War. The book sale is well sorted by categories and is spread out on the main floor of the Castle.

We will have many open windows and ceiling fans to provide a comfortable shopping environment.

Also visit the Friends’ Used Book Store at the Morton Township Library. It’s open year-round, Tuesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a surprising selection of popular authors and titles.