Focus on Fishing

Dale Doepker

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

2021 Young Angler's Contest Winner 20th Annual Young Angler’s Contest

Saturday, July 2

CANADIAN LAKES FISHING CLUB will hold their 20th Annual Young Angler’s Fishing Contest on Saturday, July 2. This contest is for Canadian Lakes member’s children, grandchildren, and house guests, 16 years and younger. Prizes will be awarded in each of four age groups. Trophy and prize for largest fish, prize for second largest, and four or more additional prizes by drawing.

Anglers are to provide their own tackle and bait and may fish in any of the Canadian Lake’s waters from shore, a dock, or in a boat. All anglers and/or their parent/ guardian must register at the Main Pavilion west of the CLPOC main office between 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1, or 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Upon registration anglers will be given a bag for the fish, gifts, and instructions.

All fish must be caught on Saturday between sunrise and 10:45 a.m. (honor system). Adults may assist the youth only by baiting the hook, casting it out, and unhooking the fish. All fish entered must be caught and lifted out of the water with a rod in the hand of the youth. Participants are to bring in only their single largest bluegill, pumpkinseed, or sunfish. between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Saturday for weighin. Award presentation will begin at 11:00 a.m. Crappie, rock bass, and perch are not eligible for the contest. All bass, pike 24” and over, and all muskies must be released live.

We will also be filleting entered fish at a separate table for demonstration. Fishing Club caps ($6 or $15) and tee shirts ($12) will be available for purchase. We will not be having a raffle this year, but a donation jar will be available to help the club pay for gifts and awards.

The Mecosta County Optimist Club will provide a free picnic lunch consisting of hot dogs, chips, cookies, and drinks, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Please bring your own chairs and other refreshments if desired.

There is no advanced entry form, but registration is required by the youth or adult on the afternoon before or morning of the event. A parent or guardian must accompany all children to the weigh-in. There is no charge, and anglers 16 years and under do not need a fishing license.

Loon Precautions

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 only three successful baby loons on our lakes and only ten in our entire county.

22nd Annual Canadian Lakes Bass Tournament

Saturday, June 18

THE BASS TOURNAMENT will be held from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Check-in time is 6:30 to 7:00 a.m., with a mandatory meeting at 7:00 a.m. The boat check-in location is White Pine Beach, on Maple Crossing Road North of Sunset Shores, and the director of the tournament is Jason Snyder. The entry fee is $25 for each fisherman in two-person teams, with an optional $10 additional fee per boat to be eligible for big bass awards.

There is a five-fish team limit of largemouth or smallmouth bass and fishing is only on the main chain of interconnected lakes. Ten percent of the entry fees go 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 16. Cancellation after June 16 will result in forfeiture of entry fees.

At least one person on each team must be a member in good standing of Canadian Lakes or parent, sibling, child or grandchild of same. Entry forms are available at the CLPOC kiosk or CLA website. All boats must be registered and display a 2022 Canadian Lakes decal.

For additional information contact Dale Doepker, dtroutman97@aol.com, 972-8663.

17th Annual Bullhead Tournament Friday, August 5 & Saturday, August 6

THE FISHING BEGINS in any of the Canadian Lakes water bodies on Friday August 5th at 8:00 p.m. and ends at 2:00 a.m. Saturday August 6th. (Shore fishing is usually best.)

The entry fee is $10 per person, except youth 16 and under are free and not eligible for cash prizes. The weighin will be 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 6th at the Pines Pavilion.

Forty percent of the total collected will be used to cover cost of snacks, refreshments, and youth. A bullhead wrangler award will pay three places: 15%, 10% and 5%, for heaviest fish. (These awards come first.) A bullhead master award will also pay three places: 15%, 10% and 5% for the most total weight of only fish measuring 9 inches and over. (One award per person, tie breaker is heaviest in the other category.) There will be separate prizes for youth, most total weight, and heaviest fish.

All Canadian Lakes members, members’ families and house guests are welcome to participate. Fishermen can fish together but weigh-in is individual, so fish caught must be kept separate. Gear is restricted to Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) fishing regulations: three rods and two hooks per rod. The minimum size is nine inches to qualify, so please release all smaller fish.

Pack all fish on ice in a cooler for bringing to the weigh-in. This is a catch and keep tournament, and all fish kept will be cleaned and cooked for the participants to enjoy. All fishermen are to bring in their fish, regardless of number! Entries must be received by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 5. Mail or deliver names and money to Sue Glazier, 8339 West Royal, 231-679-1938. Checks should be payable to Sue Glazier.

Bottled water and snack bags will also be provided for participants. Please bring your own refreshments and other food to share if desired. Youth 16 and under are especially encouraged to participate, as this is the easiest way for them to catch fish much larger than bluegill and see how easy they are to clean, plus taste so good.

Photography by Di Schwartz

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. In the entire county last year, we had reports of 18 total baby osprey. We also have reports of six bald eagle nests within Mecosta County.

Canadian Lakes Fishing Club Bass Fun Nights

Wednesday, June 22 & July 27

FOURTH WEDNESDAY of the month from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Just show up before 5 p.m. to register and fish for three hours. At 8 p.m. we enjoy pizza, along with comparing our recorded largemouth bass from catch and release, with artificial lures only. Bring your own refreshments. Awards are given for the longest bass and total number of legal-size bass, with only one award per person. We meet at Pierce Beach and if you do not have a boat, come anyhow and someone will likely take you on theirs. Entry is $7 for Club members and $8 for others. Total award amount will be $3 times number of participants. Youth 16 and under do not pay entry fee but are encouraged to participate for separate prizes. The Fun Night for pike was in May.