10 minute read
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
Last Year’s Fishing Fun: 2021 Canadian Lakes Fishing Club Activities
• February 13, 60 kids participated in 17th Annual Ice Fishing Derby, in honor of Augie Panozzo. Canadian Lakes Fishing Club furnished all tackle, bait and holes, hot chocolate and 15 raffl e prizes. • Th e 19th Annual Young Angler’s Contest, on Saturday, July 3. 120 kids entered, no picnic or raffl e due to COVID. Prizes given to all kids, plus awards to 28 kids. • June 19 Bass tournament, 22 boats. Total weight winner for fi ve bass was 18.98 pounds. Largest bass was 4.38 pounds. • August 6 & 7, 17th Annual Bullhead Tournament with 17 fi shermen. Winner had 25 bullhead, 17.37 pounds, largest was 1.26 pounds. • Sept 14, 18th Annual Pike tournament, 24 anglers. Largest was 35.5 inches, most total caught was ten. – Seven 3-hour Fishing Fun Nights were scheduled, May thru September. – Little Pine Island Salvation Army Youth Camp was closed all Summer. • Purchased 25 subscriptions to MUCC Tracks Magazine for area kids. • Donated 4 fi shing rods to Salvation Army Angel Tree. • Donated fi shing rod/reels to God’s Helping Hands clients. • Youth And Big Fish, Year Around Contest, 8 trophies awarded. • Annual Membership in Muskegon River Watershed Assembly and Keep America Fishing. • Pizza was provided to entrants in the Fun Nights and Pike Tournament.
Year-Round Big Fish Contest Reminder
Th is year’s contest runs from October 1, 2021, to September 30, 2022. Th ere is one entry form for both youth and adults. If the entry is a young angler the information for the angler must be fi lled in as to age, etc. All entries are eligible for the Largest Fish of the Year award if the minimum length is met. Th e NEW entry forms are available on the web site and at the CLPOC Offi ce. PLEASE make sure that the form used is for the current year, 2021 to 2022.
Ice fishing in Canadian Lakes.
18th Annual Youth Ice Fishing Derby
Saturday, February 12, 2022, 9:00 a.m. to noon. Bring the kids for a fun time ice fishing, whether they have done it before or not. No registration needed, just show up. Fishing rods, bait, holes and bonfire provided by Canadian Lakes Fishing Club. Hot chocolate and donuts provided by the Optimist Club. Fishing Club members will give instruction and assistance in catching fish. In past years, many kids have caught hundreds of bluegill, perch, and several pike. Location is on the Main Lake, just south of Buchanan, off West Royal, with parking alongside the pickleball courts. We will also have a free raffle for the kids with over a dozen great prizes at 10:30 a.m. Adults are welcome to come and learn the techniques. Questions, call Dale Doepker, dtroutman97@aol.com, 972-8663.
Donate Surplus Fishing Tackle
If you have any surplus usable fishing rods or reels, please consider donating them to the Canadian Lakes Fishing Club. Don Charles (359-1367) reconditions them as needed and they are donated to worthy causes. The club also purchases new reels as needed, to put on the used rods.
Fishing Club Meetings
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month from April to October, 7:00 p.m., at the Alpine Haus. The 2021 officers are continuing for 2022. Everyone interested in fishing is invited to attend.
MEET Kristin Wilcox
By Lindsay Halcomb
Meet Kristin Wilcox, your new Safety Director. I personally believe we have found the right woman for the job, and I am certain everyone who meets her will feel the same way. Kristin is more than qualifi ed for the Safety Director position. Kristin is a retired Intelligence Offi cer from the Coast Guard. She took on various jobs throughout her career with the Coast Guard, like boarding offi cer, landing offi cer, and paramedic. I will spare the squeamish details from Kristin’s paramedic days, but it’s because of those days she is able to stay calm in any situation. She has been trained to remain calm during the most strenuous circumstances while also being prepared to take command of the situation. Th ese roles have made Kristin confi dent, organized, and great with people. Kristin is a people-person and likes meeting new members. Th at’s a characteristic of hers I noticed right away. She’s friendly, honest, and is a problem-solver which is great for the community. Certainly, sounds like the kind of attributes a Safety Director should have, doesn’t it?
Kristin has lived here off -and-on since 1991 and ultimately became a full-time resident in 2015.
She has a stake in our community and loves it as much as we do. If ever Kristin will get a day off , you might fi nd her out and about. Depending on the season, she could be cross country skiing, boating, or even fl ying down the tubing hill. Kristin’s true passion is traveling and its one of the things she misses most from her Coast Guard days. Well-traveled doesn’t even cover Kristin’s past travels. She has been to every country in North, South, and Central America. She’s also been to Germany, Russia, and the North and South Pole. I am certain I have missed a place or two as I got lost imagining being at some of these amazing places. You are one lucky person, Kristin.
Kristin isn’t leading the Safety Department alone. Kristin’s safety team consists of retired police offi cers, a former sheriff , and college students. Kristin has a new team of strong, hard workers. Th ey are learning the job right alongside her and she wouldn’t have it any other way. One duty that Kristin is working hard on is enforcing the rules our community has in place for our protection and for our preservation. Kristin, along with a fresh, new team are getting the job done, one day at a time.
A few things Kristin wants you to know about the job—fi rst, is that change will not happen overnight. She is a new director with a new team. Th ey are working to make sure rules are being followed and are starting off where someone else left . Not a small job by any means, but a job she can do. Second, Mobile Watch is critical to the success of the Safety Department. She is grateful of the Mobile Watch and all its volunteers. Th ere are over 500 miles of roads in our community and the Mobile Watch volunteers cover all 500 miles each day. What amazing support this community has, we are so grateful. Lastly, there may be obstacles and hurdles to overcome as she gets the job done, but she is prepared to do a great job regardless. I’d say Kristin is a great fi t to the CLPOC and is a great Safety Director. Please welcome fellow member and new Safety Director, Kristin Wilcox, when you meet her. She’s a great gal and we are lucky to have her on our team.
2021 Salvation Army Red Kettle Results
By Dale Doepker
While Red Kettle results for all Big Rapids Salvation Army were down a little, the Christmas mail appeal and internet donations pushed total Christmas donations above last year and above the goal established for this year.
Canadian Lakes Results
Total all locations for 2021 = $6806, compared to $7195 for 2020, and $5837 for 2019. Refuse Center Only = $4606 vs. $5202 last year, (11/26 to 12/24/2021). Lakeside Motorsports Open House = $920 vs. $906 last year, (12/4/2021). Hixson’s Counter Kettles = $1280 vs. $1036 last year, (11/24 to 12/27/2021).
Thank You, Business Owners
We had 26 different Bell Ringers who attended the kettles for 76 total hours this year. Thanks to all who helped ring this year, and especially Tim Cook at the Refuse Center for all his help, plus approval and help from the owner, Bob Doerr. Also, thanks to Ed Richter at Lakeside Motorsports for allowing us to ring at his open house and his $500 matching donation to that kettle. Thanks to Gail Hixson for encouraging his counter kettles.
It Takes A Village
Bell Ringers who could not make it to the group photo above were Gloria Parker, Frank & Karen Schultz, Jim & Joni Sandy, Tim & Barb Collinge, Lee Wolken, Theresa Frederick, Lillian Bukowski, Cheryl Fairbrother, Rick Kempton, Tim & Karen VanAntwerpen, Jim Williams, and Mike Sylvester. The Bell Ringers who could make the photo op: from left to right are Bob Bellomo, Ian Givens, Pete Aleksnyas, Mike Lieckfelt, Sandy Wier, Peg & Ken Grybel, Michelle Kauffold, Don Charles, and Dale Doepker.
