FOCUS ON
FISHING Canadian Lakes Bass Tournament, Saturday, June 19
BY DALE DOEPKER If you have questions about the Fishing Club or about fishing in Canadian Lakes, contact Dale Doepker at dtroutman97@aol.com or 231-972-8663
OSPREY REPORT
A pair of ospreys has been sighted on our nesting platform at Buchanan Road, between the Main Lake and Lake of the Clouds. We wish them well in hatching and raising two or three baby ospreys as they have in past years. Consumers Energy has responded very positively to our request about providing osprey nesting platforms, to replace the nests they removed elsewhere in our county. We expect to see new platforms installed at three places in Mecosta County before next summer. This will eliminate all nesting on power poles.
The tournament will be held from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Check-in time is 6:30 to 7 a.m., with a mandatory meeting at 7 a.m. The location is White Pine Beach, on Maple Crossing Road north of Sunset Shores. The tournament director is Jason Snyder. The entry fee is $25 for each fisherman in two-person teams, with an optional $10 additional fee per boat for big bass awards. There is a five-fish team limit of largemouth or smallmouth bass. Ten percent of the entry fees goes to the Canadian Lakes Fishing Club, before awards, for youth events. The total weight award pays five places: 30%, 25%, 20%, 15%, and 10%. The big bass award will pay two places: 60% and 40%. The payout may be modified if the number of entrants is too low. The Registration Entry Form must be filled out, accompanied by a check made out to Jason Snyder, 11474 S. Lookout Ridge, and received by Thursday, June 17. Cancellation after June 17 will lead to forfeiture of entry fees. At least one person on each team must be a member in good standing of Canadian Lakes or the parent, sibling, child, or grandchild of same. Entry forms are available at the CLPOC kiosk or on the CLA website. All boats must be registered and have a 2021 Canadian Lakes decal. For additional information, contact Dale Doepker at dtroutman97@aol. com or 972-8663.
Canadian Lakes Fishing Club Pike Fun Night, Wednesday, June 23
Our first Fishing Fun Night is from 5 to 8 p.m. Just show up before 5 p.m. to register and fish for three hours. At 8 p.m. we will enjoy pizza, along with comparing our recorded pike from catch-and-release, with artificial lures only. Bring your own refreshments. Awards are given for the longest pike and the total number of pike, with only one award per person. We meet at Pierce Beach. If you do not have a boat, come anyhow and someone will likely take you on his or her boat. Entry is $7 for Club members and $8 for others. Total award amount will be $3 times the number of participants. This Fun Night is for pike, because bass will normally be on their beds at this time of year and we do not want to disturb them. LOON PRECAUTIONS
Photo credit: Roger Watson Nesting loon at Jehnsen Lake
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T h e C a n ad i a n L a ke r
Our three loon pairs have returned for the summer. They each appear to have nested and hopefully will each hatch two baby loons. Please stay at least 100 feet from any loons and their nests, 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. Last year we had a total of five successful baby loons on our lakes and only eleven in our entire county.
