2

SUMMER 2009 • Vol. 29 • Issue 1 3

PUBLISHER
Dr. Bryan Burroughs

MICHIGAN TROUT MAGAZINE

P.O. Box 442
Dewitt, Michigan 48820-8820
(517) 599-5238
bryanburroughs@michigantu.com

TYPESET & LAYOUT Ron Peckens

Fisheye Internet Solutions & Hosting LLC
60 Cloverport Ave. FEATURES
Rochester Hills, Michigan 48307
ron@fisheyeinternet.com 4 Welcome - 50th Anniversary
ADVERTISING Pat Hughes
5 Michigan Celebration - July 18, 2009
85771 Tim Tam Trail
Flushing, Michigan 488433
7 Michigan Hosts TU 50th Anniversary in Traverse
hughespatrickw@aol.com City - August 17 - 23, 2009
MICHIGAN TROUT 11 Paving the Way
By Wesley Cooper
UNLIMITED
OFFICERS 15 TU launches New Stream Explorer Membership
CHAIRMAN Kimberly Wetton
VICE CHAIRMAN David Smith 16 Thanks Art!
TREASURER Robb Smith Sr.
SECRETARY Mike Lagowski 17 Our Waters have gotten a Lot Cleaner over the last
50 years
MICHIGAN TROUT is the official By Carlos Fetterolf
publication of the Michigan Council of
Trout Unlimited. Copyright 2009. Issues
are mailed to all members of Trout
Unlimited Chapters throughout Michigan.
Copies for free distribution are
made available throughout the State at COLUMNS
various locations. Send all editorial and
advertising correspondence to the editor. 8 Shooting Lines
Advertising rate card is available upon By David Leonard
request. Michigan Trout and Michigan
Trout Unlimited reserves the 12 Scientifically Speaking
right to accept or reject proposed By Dr. Dan Hayes
advertisements at their sole discretion.
Trout Unlimited Chapter members should
send all changes of address for
subscriptions to Trout Unlimited, 1500
Wilson Boulevard, Suite 310, Arlington,
Virginia 22209-2404.

On the Cover: George Griffith in his river boat during

the early years of Trout Unlimimited
Celebrating 50 Years 4 www.michigantu.org

50th Anniversary April 18, 1959 - April 18, 2009

Welcome! Thanks for helping us celebrate 50 years that we are sponsoring, reflective pieces that remind us
of Trout Unlimited in Michigan! This issue of of where we started and what we have accomplished,
MICHIGAN TROUT is devoted to the 50th anniversary some wise and timeless reprints of articles
of TU and the coldwater from the first two years of
conservation TROUT magazine, and more.
ethic in We hope you enjoy – and we
Michigan. In hope you attend one of the
the following two 50th celebrations that
pages you will will be held in Michigan this
find summer. We look forward
information on; to both celebrating our
the two successes with you – and
celebrations that recommitting ourselves to
are planned in all the work that is ahead of
Michigan for us in the next 50 years.
this summer,
some one-of-a-
kind fundraisers
Celebrating 50 Years 5 www.michigantu.org

Michigan Celebrates
TU’s 50th Anniversary - July 18th
The idea for Trout Unlimited was "born" on July 18, alternative statewide celebration for those unable to
1959 at George Griffith’s cabin on the banks of the attend the TU National Event in Traverse City. Trout
AuSable River when Mr. Griffith assembled fifteen Unlimited members will receive special recognition and
likeminded sportsmen to form our beloved organization. other surprises. Canoeists, tubers, kayakers and other
The group included Fred Bear, founder of Bear Archery; river users are also encouraged to attend as the Rayburn
Casey E. Westell, Jr., (TU’s first president); Lon B. site is located right on the River.
Adams, originator of the Adams fly pattern and Art The Michigan Celebration will include food,
Neumann, founding vice president and maker of contests, raffles, displays, games, entertainment,
Wanigas Rods - hot items among those who collect auctions, kid’s activities; fly casting & fly tying
antique tackle. Convinced that Michigan's trout streams demonstrations and
could turn out far much more. There will
superior fish if left to be music, art and
their own devices, this special presentations.
prestigious group of Everyone is invited to
anglers sought to come and learn about
ensure that wild and conservation efforts
native trout from numerous non-
populations would be profit groups
allowed to thrive, as throughout the State,
nature intended. From the Michigan DNR and
the beginning, TU was other government
guided by the agencies. Details are
principle that if “we still being worked out,
take care of the fish, but we expect the event
then the fishing will to be fun, interactive,
take care of itself.” informative and an all
And that principle was
grounded in science. Birthplace of Trout Unlimited around special day.
The Michigan
Fifty years later, TU Commemorative Plaque at the Celebration website,
remains dedicated to
the protection of
Barbless Hook in Grayling, Mi. www.celebratetu.org,
will be updated on a
coldwater fisheries
regular basis.
across America. America's largest coldwater
conservation organization, Trout Unlimited boasts Volunteers are needed to help with the planning of
140,000 members nationally, including almost 7,000 in the Celebration and ensure it runs smoothly. Reserve
Michigan alone. July 18th and be a part of this very special event.
Michigan TU will continue to work to conserve, protect
On July 18, 2009, Michigan Trout Unlimited is and restore Michigan’s coldwater resources. For more
holding a party to celebrate the first 50 years of Trout information, or to volunteer, please visit the Michigan
Unlimited in Michigan. The “Michigan Celebration” Celebration website: www.celebratetu.org or call Bob
will be held at the DNR Rayburn property on the banks Thorsen at (248) 267 3277 or Ron Peckens at (248) 721
of the AuSable River, which is located about two miles
2596.
east of Grayling. The event is free and open to the
public. The Michigan Celebration provides an
Celebrating 50 Years
Contributing to the TU Mission
Trout Unlimited was formed 50
years ago at a meeting of concerned
Michigan anglers and conservationists,
at the home of George Griffith – on the
Au Sable River near Grayling, MI. The
idea for forming this group had actually
begun years before – during many
conversations about the state of
coldwater fisheries (of which we know
George Mason was pivotal). The idea
and rationale grew, and when the time
was right – it came to fruition. We also
know that TU was lucky enough to have
the right people, with diverse skill sets,
all come together and contribute
uniquely and valuably to the success of
the organization during the early years.
George Griffith, Corny Schrems, Casey
Westell and Art Neumann, to name just
a few – all played critically important
roles that they were each able to
uniquely contribute. These
contributions include promoting the
cause, increasing membership,
financially underwriting the
organization, providing strategy for
Michigan Raffle License #R01192
Tickets can also be purchased online @ www.michigantu.org.
6 www.michigantu.org
effective political advocacy, developing ensure that the next generation can
conservation priorities and taking the continue to enjoy all that we hold very
idea of TU from a Michigan idea – to dear. Large or small, we each have a
national conservation organization. All unique means to help ensure the
of the early founders and members conservation, protection, and restoration
played critically important roles in of Michigan’s coldwater fisheries and
getting TU capable of producing the environs that support them.
conservation successes it served for our
coldwater fisheries over the last 50
years. We hope that as you enjoy
Michigan’s coldwater fisheries this
season – you stop and take a moment to
reflect on the
contributions of past
TU members that
have given towards
the cause – so that
we might be able to
enjoy the same
resources today. We
also hope you will
reflect on how you
might be able to
uniquely contribute
to the TU team today
– so that we can
50th
ANNIVERSARY RAFFLE
Original Painting “Adams Fly” by Beth Ward-Donahue
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Trout Unlimited this original
painting “Adams Fly” was created by artist Beth Ward-Donahue and
donated by the Leon P. Martuch Chapter of TU. Traverse City was the
birthplace of this fly. It was created by Len Halladay and named after
Judge Charlie Adams who fished with this fly. We would like you to
support Michigan TU by purchasing tickets for this original painting
which we will be raffled off at the 50th National Convention in Traverse
City August 22, 2009.
Tickets are $ 10.00 each or 3 for $ 20.00. They can be purchased by
contacting:
Robb Smith, 2114 7th Street, Bay City, MI 48708
email – rsmith@michigantu.org
Celebrating 50 Years 7 www.michigantu.org
2009 Annual Meeting Agenda
Michigan Hosts 50th Anniversary Monday – August 17

Celebration of Trout Unlimited 7:30 am – 4:30 pm *Un-hosted Fishing Day

5:00 pm Registration opens
Tuesday – August 18
To celebrate 50 years of Trout Unlimited and its conservation success, 7:00 am Registration opens
TU members and guests will gather at the Grand Traverse Resort in 7:30 am – 6:00 pm *Hosted Fishing Trip
Traverse City August 17-23, 2009. Everyone is invited to attend this 8:00 am – 6:00 pm **Family Activities
special event as we celebrate our history and work for the future. Trout 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Dessert Reception/Ice
Unlimited was formed in 1959 in Michigan along the banks of the Au cream Social 10:00 pm - MI Hospitality Suite
Sable River, near Grayling, but it quickly spread across the United Wednesday – August 19
States and Canada and has grown to 140,000 members and over 400 7:00 am Registration opens
chapters as conservation minded anglers adopted the mission to 7:30 am – 5:30 pm *Watershed Conservation
Tour
conserve, protect and restore our coldwater resources.
7:30 am – 5:30 pm **Family Activities (must
During the celebration, the Michigan Trout Unlimited is responsible for register), other open activities
several activities including the Hosted Fishing Trips on August 18th, and the Watershed 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm BBQ
Conservation Tour on August 19th. If you are familiar with one of the rivers between 7:30pm – 9:30 pm MI Council live auction &
Traverse City and the Pere Marquette River to the south or between Traverse City and raffle
the Au Sable River to the east and you would like to play host to some out of state 10:00 pm MI Hospitality Suite
guests, please contact Brian Kozminski at flyfishbkoz@gmail.com. We are also hosting Thursday – August 20
7:00 am Registration opens
a couple of fundraising events during the week and if you have a unique item or service
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Vendor/Partnership Day,
that you would like to donate, please contact Ross Rosen at rrosenbrock@live.com. All Chapter/Council displays
proceeds from the fundraisers will benefit the Michigan Council in our mission to 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Grill Out Lunch
conserve, protect and restore Michigan’s coldwater resources. 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm Lake Michigan luau
To register for this event, see a complete list of activities or to learn more about the (Chasin' Steel band)
history of TU, please visit www.tu50.org. 10:00 pm MI Hospitality Suite
Friday – August 21
7:00 am – 8:30 am Continental Breakfast
8:30 am – 11:30 am Annual Members Meeting:

Event Registration State of TU 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Volunteers

Awards Luncheon
1:30 pm – 6:00 pm 9-Hole Fly Casting Tourna-
General Registration Fee of $375 includes all standard meals and events ment
Wednesday through Saturday night. (Early Bird Discount, registration before May 1st, 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm Speaker Dinner
for only $300. Early Discount, registration between May 1 and July 15, for only $325) 10:00 pm MI Hospitality Suite
Saturday – August 22
Family Registration Package of $750 will be offered this year. This includes the 7:30 am – 8:30 am Grassroots Breakfast
member, spouse and 1 to 4 children under the age of 18. Includes all standard meals and 8:45 am – 9:45 am Council chairs meeting
events Tuesday night through Saturday night. 10:00 am – 11:00 am NLC meeting
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm Speaker Lunch
Child Registration Fee of $200. For children under the age of 18 attending the annual 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm TBD
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm Banquet Social (Semi-
meeting. Includes all standard meals and events Tuesday night through Saturday night.
formal)
Additional events include a hosted fishing trip ($50/each) with local members, an 8:00 pm – 10:00 pm Gala Banquet (Semi-
formal)
incredible conservation tour ($25/each) and a 9-Hole Fly Casting
10:00 pm - MI Hospitality Suite
Tournament. Please register for these events in addition to your general
Sunday – August 23
registration. There will be a chance to win a fabulous door prize during the conservation 7:30 am – 12:00 pm Board of Trustees Meeting
tour.
*Event not included in general registration, in-
Participants wishing to take advantage of the family activities and all meals need to pay curs additional fees.
full registration for family members attending. For those who wish to pay for their **Each participant must be registered for every
registration per day, please select "Daily Registration" on the registration form. family activities and all meals.
Additional Information
Hotel: Grand Traverse Resort & Spa Registration Fee ($300 Early Bird / $325 Early /
Phone: 800-748-0303 / 231-938-0303 $350 Regular)
Reference: TU Annual Meeting for room block Early Bird ends: June 1, 2009
Rate: $179.00/night Early ends: July 15, 2009
Deposit: One-night deposit required at reservation Registration Closes: August 7, 2009
Cancellation: 24-hour cancellation policy Includes all events Tuesday through Saturday
except hosted fishing trip and conservation tour.
Celebrating 50 Years
One blustery Opening Day several
years ago, I had the pleasure of casting for a
group of half-frozen anglers at the Lovells
Township Historical Society and Fly
Fishing Museum. When a speaker was
unexpectedly taken ill, I also agreed to
lecture on the changes fly angling had
undergone over the last 50 years — a fairly
tall order for someone who
has only recently ascended
to “ol’ timer” status. To the
delight of all I was fortunate
to have a copy of John
Voelker’s movie short
entitled Trout Madness. The
extremely entertaining
fifteen-minute video follows
Voelker on a day of angling
as he gnaws on his Italian
cigar in search of a trout or
two. There was an audible
gasp from the AuSable
angling audience when the
camera focused on a cast
iron skillet with half a dozen
10-inch brookies in it. I
reminded them of the Trout
Unlimited recommendation
to “Limit Your Kill —
Don’t Kill Your Limit” that
the TU founders so
successfully promoted to the
then limit killing angling population.
The most striking difference to
everyone in the audience though was the
amount of preparation that went into a day
of angling in the early 50’s. Voelker’s
journey around Ishpeming demonstrated
how the tasks made the culmination all the
8 www.michigantu.org
more treasured. Grab some ice, load the think about the wader patching ritual that
tackle, pack the gear for lunch, dress the we followed each season.
line, soak the leaders, then after catching a
To no one’s surprise, the process is
few trout, build a fire, set up camp, pour the
much faster today. Waders are more
bourbon and relax for lunch. There was an
reliable, lines seem to last forever and
excitement in the preparation. One
require virtually no care. Knotless leaders
anxiously anticipated the fishing all the
are reliable and stealthy. Fly rods are as fast
more while getting ready.
or slow, long or short, light or heavy as one
wants or needs. So, we rush to
the river, throw on our waders,
put our tackle together, fish
the hatch, release our trophies,
hike back to the car, and head
back to camp. Or so it seemed
to the audience. Perhaps we
simply have more time to fish
with less time to prepare. But I
for one miss the preparation
and anticipation.
I also remember a different
attitude on the river many
years ago. Many late evenings
we quietly and carefully
waded past anglers waiting for
the spinnerfall in the still night
water. Only once in all those
years did anyone answer “No”
when asked if I could wade
through. Most answered with a
detailed account of their
angling successes and near misses and a
Even I remember my mentors showing
sample of their favorite pattern to take with
me how to stretch the memory out of my fly
me. It’s funny how things have changed
line and carefully dress it for the day. While
over the years. This is not to say that
I didn’t have to soak any gut leaders, I did
anglers were any less intense. No, but they
tie my own for a lack of confidence in the
were less territorial. People seem more
knotless nylon leaders of the day. Lively
bothered by canoes today as well. I
discussion about the merits of various leader
(Continued on page 9)
formulae was common too. I shudder to
Celebrating 50 Years
Shooting Lines (Continued from page 8)
remember rafted armadas of aluminum
coming downstream all summer long in the
70’s and early 80’s. As inconvenient and
even dangerous as it was, we were
entertained by it most days and laughed
most of it off. I also remember catching fish
immediately before and after canoes as they
passed. However today we have fewer
canoes and far less drinking in them than we
had in the 60’s and 70’s. But we demand
more solitude and less intrusion today.
Maybe most of the tolerance that I
enjoyed back then came from the role
models and mentors I was fortunate to have
as I learned the sport. Cut from the same
cloth as George Griffith and Art Neumann,
were Tudor ApMadoc, Milt Coulson, Reed
Alexander, Don Valley, Walt Bromley,
Carleton Smith, and Paul Merrill. Let’s face
it, one can only hold in the highest esteem
someone who shares the delight of Stilton
cheese and black currant jam. These were
the guys who shared stories about big fish
but lit up just as brightly when an eight-inch
brook trout came to their fly. These men
and their peers spent countless hours and
dollars to help get TU started, keep it
running when it was failing, and put it to
work in Michigan’s cold water for the better
part of their lives. These are the leaders that forty of TU’s
found the time and bucks to anchor those
logs underneath the bank along your
favorite piece of water. Have you ever
wondered how that fish structure or wing-
dam. Chances are it’s some anonymous TU best fly fishing
volunteer who spent his or her free time one schools in the
weekend sinking cedar posts in the river so world. That’s a
that the cold current could scour sand off of fact. Let’s not
the gravel thirty years ago. Now it’s your
favorite section of river.
I am reminded of the rods that were
brought to the TU School each year and that
I, Mike Traugott and Pat Gossman checked
9 www.michigantu.org
out. Many were fiberglass or bamboo from
the 50’s and 60’s and by today’s standards
very “unforgiving”. Yet, we are always
excited to cast them. Their slow, flexible
action requires that we slow down our
stroke and avoid abrupt actions. It’s a great
reminder of the more relaxed and slower
approach we had toward our fly angling
back then. The “high performance” rod of
the day may have been a Midge, a
Perfectionist, Wonderglass, HMG, ZX,
Helios… it’s all-relative. Heavy, slow,
flexible action rods of the day were just as
capable of throwing a line a long way to a
target. But there’s nothing as forgiving as a
light, fast, stiff action rod to help avoid the
inadvertant tailing loop. The same
principles of fly casting apply regardless of
the rod design, material, or era it was
produced — Move the tip in a straight path
and you’ll create a tight loop. Some
materials and designs are more forgiving
but all are fishable in their own right.
Watching John Voelker roll cast “a wee
midge” to rising brook trout with a cane rod
as flexible as any I have ever witnessed.
What fun he was having catching brook
trout at one of his
secret spots.
For nearly
fifty years, the
Michigan
Council has held
one of the very
forget the finest
fly casting
demonstrations
found at any
school. They
included Pete
Merrill, Bruce Richards, Pat Gossman, and
Ray Flowers. The “Co-ordinator”Paul
Merrill asked us in 1991 to write a column
about fly casting to help remind our readers
that the Michigan Council offers one of the
finest fly fishing schools in the country. As
a result, Shooting Lines was born. Nearly 75
columns later, I am writing this special one
for the 50th anniversary of Trout Unlimited.
It was because of my love of fly casting and
the school that I have written this column.
Over the last thirty-nine years we have
taught nearly 3000 people to fly fish. Names
like past “Co-ordinators” Pat Merrill and
Ron Joyce, and instructors Tom
Whitney, Pat Gossman, Mike Traugott,
Tudor ApMadoc, Wayne Glessner, Tom
Burke, Bill Womack, Bob Carey, Scott
Smith, Bo Brines, Pat Cauley, Russ Cecil,
John Coulson, Ross Rosenbrock, Jim
Craig, Jim Gibbs, Dan Zywocki, Mike
Slater, Dave McCullough, Dave Ward,
Hugh Witham, Dave McCool, Bob Gullo,
Irwin Small, Ed Kulnis, Mike Dettmer,
Rich Gossman, Ed Gossman, Cathy
Seros, Larry Hovland, Chuck Hawkins,
(Continued on page 10)

Rayburn Lodge
Au Sable River - Grayling, Michigan
On the “Holy Waters”

A unique, memorable setting

for a fishing getaway, group outing,
meetings and conferences.
Explore. Relax. Enjoy.

Guided Fly Fishing trips in a traditional Au Sable

riverboat on the beautiful Au Sable river.
Instruction available.
1491 Richardson Rd. info@rayburnlodgebnb.com
Grayling, MI. 49738
www.rayburnlodgebnb.com
989-348-7482
Celebrating 50 Years
Shooting Lines (Continued from page 9)
Mike Harvey, Bob Truman, Irwin Small,
Lou Golob, John Dallas, John Johnson,
George Killat, Jim Newland, Bruce
Richards, Ray Flowers, Paul Merrill,
Rick Saks, Geri Dillon, Sue Janawicz,
Bud Richards, John Vandalen, and Bob
Nelson made the school possible by
volunteering for thousands of hours and
worked tirelessly to make it the best school
in the country. And it has been, for most of
us, the most fun week of each year! These
instructors have worked extremely hard for
many years to become the best instructors in
the country and deserve the respect of fly
anglers everywhere. If you haven’t been,
it’s time you attended the TU School. Even
if you think you know it all, you’ll learn
something, improve your skills, meet lots of
great people, and have a fun weekend.
(Please forgive me. I’m sure I have
forgotten some of the earliest instructors
who deserve a writer with a better memory.
I have only instructed there for about thirty
years. Most have instructed for many more
than that. Incredible. What a bunch of
geezers!)
Let’s remember one important
similarity today while we reflect upon the
past. It’s the local TU members that get the
work done. Local members are the ones
who get in the river improving the resource,
holding banquets to raise funds for stream
improvement, writing newsletters to
encourage participation, and holding
meetings to focus on projects and canvass
members. It is incumbent upon our national
board and administrators to remember who
gathers the forces and accumulates the
resources to accomplish what we do.
Whether we bring another publication to the
Michigan members or not, we must gather
as chapters and share ideas, efforts and
excitement to keep our cold water clean and
protect our self-sustaining trout populations.
AU SABLE NORTH BRANCH
Flies-Only Trout Fishing on the “Holy
Rent our cozy stone cottage with new
“River Room” fully equipped for six
3-DAY WEEKEND $350.00
AVAILABLE THROUGH OCTOBER
Please contact: Ralph Hommel
4610 Roanoke Ct., Midland, MI 48640
10
Self-sustaining trout streams are the
canaries in our cold-water mines. As we all
know, we can raise trout in hatcheries and
stock even marginal water for a sport
fishery. However, only a cold-water
resource that is healthy can sustain wild
trout. Our Great Lakes are dependent upon
this theory. It was the issue in the late 60’s
as it is today. Budgets, bureaucracies, and
fees cannot compensate for volunteer effort.
Indeed, it’s the local TU member that has
the greatest investment in the resource and
has the greatest impact upon it.
Over the many decades of producing
Michigan Trout and Council newsletters,
there have been many dedicated
contributors. First, don’t forget those
chapters that volunteered to produce a
newsletter for Michigan Council when
Council couldn’t afford it. There were many
chapters who stepped up to carry the load of
producing a newsletter. There were many
designers, writers, Council members, and
printers who were responsible for many
great issues. Foremost among those chapters
was the Challenge Chapter in Bloomfield
Hills. Also, let me offer a special thanks to
Bill Walker whose tireless efforts built the
magazine into a working book. Don’t forget
Ed Zebrowski who made the magazine a
beautiful full color effort. Thanks to Ed for
reminding me about my deadlines. Lastly,
and most sincerely, thanks to all of you who
read my column. I wrote it just for you and
hope that in some way I have helped you
enjoy the sport a little more.
As we approach the fiftieth anniversary
celebration, please remember that it is the
local chapters and their members who are
Trout Unlimited. Keep active. Support your
chapters through your banquets,
fundraising and projects. If I can
ever help any of you with your fly
casting or fly angling, please don’t
Waters” near Lovells.
people.
WEEKLY $600.00, or
(989) 835-2988 evenings
blhommel@msn.com
www.michigantu.org
hesitate to contact me at our store in
Traverse City. I love to see you in the store
and on the stream. I am even more excited
to see you at the TU School. As many of
you know I like to conclude my lectures
with my favorite quotation: “My greatest
fear in life is that when I die my wife will
sell my favorite rods to my best friends for
what I told her I paid for them.”
Happy Birthday Trout Unlimited!
Dave Leonhard is a master certified
casting instructor for the Federation of
Fly Fishers, casting instructor for the
Michigan Council TU Fly Fishing
School, a life member of TU, a member
of the Adams Chapter of Trout Unlimited
in Traverse City, Michigan, owner of
Streamside Orvis in Traverse City,
Michigan, and director of instruction for
the Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School
at the Homestead Resort in Glen Arbor,
Michigan.
Dave Leonhard
Orvis Streamside
Orvis Michigan Fly Fishing School
223 E. Front Street
Traverse City, MI 49684
info@streamsideorvis.com
www.streamsideorvis.com
231-933-9300
231-933-9311 fax
Celebrating 50 Years 11 www.michigantu.org
fish census taker came by, saw my

Paving the Way

The time was late spring of 1945,
the European conflict had come to a
victorious end and hopes for a total
victory in Asia held high expectations.
For a seventeen year old boy who
had just graduated from high school,
had already enlisted in the navy, my
thoughts were not on my favorite
pastimes, fishing.
My family had not prospered well
during the war and as a result, the
family’s financial situation was tight.
Therefore, my father’s offer for me to
take his 1938 Oldsmobile on a fishing
trip to the north country was a pleasant
surprise! This gift was better than any
material goods and I will always
remember and be thankful for it.
By Wesley Cooper
Gas rationing was still in
effect which caused me more
concern than the needed
finances for the northern
venture. Fortunately, both of
these concerns were solved
and I was on my way by the
middle of June.
Trout fishing was not on my
mind as I was a bass
fisherman! My first
destination was KP Lake in
Crawford County where I
was planning to spend a
couple of days. I would be
casting from shore as a row
boat was not even
considered.
My first night’s fishing was poor. I
arose the next morning and chatted with
a young fellow who was telling me
about the great trout fishing on the
North Branch of the Au Sable! Being
interested in a new venture, I drove to
Lovells and parked at a fishing site I
later learned was the “Sheep Ranch”. I
parked in an open field and placed my
bait bucket under the car for shade. It
was a very hot afternoon and I decided
to find a shady spot for the car. Yes,
you guessed it. I ran over the bait
and destroyed a bucket of worms! It
was not long and another incident
happened that changed my outlook
on fishing to this very day. A DNR
a contemporary styled. Pins are $5 each.
situation and engaged in conversation. I
explained my plight to him and he
immediately suggested I try Fly Fishing.
I had a fly rod, reel and line with me.
He so graciously gave me a leader, tied
it on and gave me two flies.
Within an hour, I was “hooked” on
this new found manner of exercising my
arm. Yes, I caught two Brookies!
Later in life, I began to realize the
kindly manner in which the census taker
had befriended me and took the time to
teach, help and encourage me. He set a
great example for me.
A new trout season is upon us and
there will be ample opportunities for us
“old pros” to act in such a way as to
encourage a young neophyte to enter the
“Trout Fraternity”. Let us just do it.
Wesley Cooper was on the original
membership list from the articles of
incorporation. He has been a member of both
the Schrems and the Muskegon chapters of
TU and is currently in the Muskegon White
River chapter. Wes is the only winner of the
two Schrems chapter awards, one the C.R.
Evenson Award for "Recognition of
contributions towards preserving the
environment" which was awarded in 1978,
and the Cornelius M. Schrems award for
"Recognition of outstanding service to fellow
fisherman through extraordinary contributions
to the arts, skills, and lore of trout fishing." in
2009.
The Perrin / Lansing Ch ap t er
congratulates Trout Unlimited on fifty proud
years of cold water conservation work;
conserving, protecting and restoring the cold
water fisheries of North America. In
recognition of this special occasion we are
offering several one-of-a-kind and limited
edition items.
The Perrin / Lansing Ch ap t er
commissioned the design of two lapel pins
commemorating the 50th anniversary of Trout
Unlimited. One, a solid gold toned version of
the original Trout Unlimited pin, and the other

Unique commemorative fly boxes made from wood recovered from the
Barbless Hook lodge, George Griffiths’ summer home and site of the
original founding of Trout Unlimited, July 18, 1959. There will be only 50 of
these boxes made, edition numbered. $150 each.

R. W. Summers, famed bamboo rod maker, has teamed up with noted

metal engraver, David Riccardo, to produce a one-of-a-kind commissioned
bamboo rod and case commemorating the 50th anniversary of Trout
Unlimited. Offered as a raffle, tickets being drawn on September 5, 2009,
the 50th anniversary of the first Trout Unlimited membership meeting.
Tickets are $20 each.

Funds raised through the sale of these items will go to cold water
conservation efforts in the State of Michigan. 10% of all net proceeds will
be donated to support The Michigan Trout Unlimited.

Go to, www.lansing-tu.org or contact Jim Bedford gairdneri@comcast.net,

for greater detail, color pictures and to order. Special discounts apply to TU
chapters & conservation groups for banquets and fundraising.
Celebrating 50 Years
With the golden anniversary of
Trout Unlimited at hand, we thought
that it would be interesting to take a
look back to see where fisheries science
has come in the past 50 years. Trying to
cover all of fisheries science is of
course impossible, so we will focus just
on publications from the American
Fisheries Society, which both Bill and I
view as our primary scientific society.
The American Fisheries Society is “the
world's oldest and largest organization
dedicated to strengthening the fisheries
profession, advancing fisheries science,
and conserving fisheries resources.” all
goals that mesh very well with those of
Trout Unlimited.
One of the most striking changes is
the sheer volume of fisheries research
that is published each year. In 1959, the
American Fisheries Society published
two major journals: the Progressive
Fish Culturist and the Transactions of
the American Fisheries Society. The
focus of the Progressive Fish Culturist
was on methods of raising fish and fish
disease, but also included quite a bit of
research on methods of fish capture. In
1959, this publication contained 66
papers totaling 193 pages. The
Transactions of the American Fisheries
Society is the “flagship” journal of the
society, and in 1959 it contained 55
papers totaling 358 pages. A quick
characterization of the papers published
indicates that about 40 of the papers
published in these journals had a focus
on trout, salmon, or cold-water habitats.
Currently the American Fisheries
Society publishes five journals.
Transactions of the American Fisheries
Society remains the “flagship”, now
containing more than 160 articles
(roughly 50+ of which pertain to trout)
with nearly 1900 pages published
12
annually! In addition to Transactions,
the North American Journal of Fisheries
Management was added in 1981 to
emphasize applied aspects of fisheries
management. In 2008, this journal
contained another 1900+ pages of
scientific research, also with a large
contingent of papers focused on cold-
water resources. The Progressive Fish
Culturist was renamed in 1999 as the
North American Journal of
Aquaculture. Although the number of
papers published in 2008 (64) is similar
to that in 1959, each paper is
substantially longer, resulting in
roughly 450 pages per volume.
Beyond the tremendous growth in
the volume of material published
annually, the breadth of topics covered
has also expanded greatly. It is hard to
characterize major trends without giving
short shrift to one area or another. In
the Progressive Fish Culturist, issues of
fish disease, feeding, and the use of
hatchery-raised fish in trout
management were some of the key
questions of the day. In Transactions
of the American Fisheries Society, some
of the major topics on trout included
competition among fish for food, fish
nutrition, methods for ageing trout, and
impact of fish habitat on trout
populations.
Examples of papers published in
Transactions in 1959 include:
¾“Yearling liberations and change of food as
effecting rainbow trout yield in Paul Lake, British
Columbia”
¾“Effects of temperature upon the formation of
vertebrae and fin rays in young chinook salmon”
¾“Trout and hatcheries of the future”
¾“Ability of some salmonids and a centrarchid to
swim in water of reduced oxygen content”
¾“Test of 34 therapeutic agents for control of
kidney disease in trout”
¾“Relationship of size and age to time of annulus
www.michigantu.org
formation in brook trout”
¾“Salmon populations and bottom fauna in the
Wenatchee River, Washington”
¾“Validity of the scale method for aging
hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon”
¾ “Infectious nature of pancreatic necropsis”
¾“Water Temperature reduction in shortened
spring channel of Southwestern Wisconsin trout
streams’
From this list, it is clear that even
the much of the focus of scientific
research was related to hatchery-raised
fish, which is understandable given that
hatcheries were often viewed as the
dominant management tool available.
Today, many of these issues remain as
important topic areas for scientific
research. Understanding and
controlling fish diseases, both in
hatcheries as well as in the wild, are
important concerns for the well being of
salmonid resources. Likewise,
investigations into the diet, growth, and
physiology of fish remain an important
area of study. While basic studies
documenting what fish eat are still
valuable, much more emphasis has
developed on what is called a
bioenergetic approach to understanding
how fishes’ dietary intake balances with
the energy burned by their metabolism,
thereby shaping their patterns of
growth.
In 1959, few of the publications
focused on fish habitat. The last paper,
however, caught our eye. In this paper,
the authors report how the temperature
in a small tributary stream could be
reduced by digging out a shorter,
straighter channel through a wide open
marshy area. Thus, while our reading
of books and articles from that time
and before clearly shows that
scientists of the day understood that
habitat was important for the support
(Continued on page 13)
Celebrating 50 Years
Scientifically Speaking
(Continued from page 12)
of healthy fish populations, there was
relatively little research on this topic.
Thanks in part to the efforts of TU,
the importance of habitat
conservation and restoration has
shown a continuous rise in the
amount of research conducted on this
topic. Today this is an emphasis of
many papers in journals published by
the American Fisheries Society, plus
has been the subject of several books
and symposia.
The connection to historical
research topics shows that much of what
faced conservationists in the late 1950’s
remains of importance and interest
today. We have not, and likely will not
conquer fish disease any time in the
foreseeable future, for example.
Similarly, habitat conservation remains
as a critical need, particularly as new
threats emerge. In the 1950’s the seeds
of research investigating “what” fish
need from habitat were planted, and
continue through to today. Based on the
progress in this area, we have moved to
some extent to the “how” do we protect
or enhance habitats to provide for the
needs of trout and salmon.
In addition to the vastly increased
volume of fishery research being
conducted, many new areas of
investigation have been added. New
technologies and broader understanding
of fishery systems has spawned science
that was unheard of at the time Trout
Unlimited was formed. One of the
clearest areas of growth has been in the
genetics of fish and fish populations. It
is now relatively inexpensive to
determine the genetic composition of a
fish population, and in some cases even
to track baby fish back to their parents.
Our understanding of the genetics of
trout and salmon have raised many
challenging questions about how best to
conserve these fishes. Although anglers
have long recognized different strains of
fish (Loch Leven brown trout for
example), investigations into the
genetics of fish populations has
documented many sub-species and even
13
populations which are now afforded
protection under the Endangered
Species Act. Although this protection
has resulted in the protection of many
streams, it has also raised highly
contentious issues about the scale at
which we manage our fishery resources.
Another area that has grown
tremendously due to technology is the
area of fish tracking (also known as
telemetry) and fish tagging. Both of
these techniques provide access to far
more information that would have been
imaginable in the 1950s. Coded wire
tags, for example, provide fishery
managers with the ability to uniquely
mark many thousands of individual fish
with a tiny piece of wire that can be
inserted into fish as small as 1 inch in
length! Radio tags in fish likewise give
us unique insights into the behavior of
fish. A great example locally are the
studies conducted by Dave Clapp, John
Hudson, Gary Regal, and Michele
DePhilip on the movement and habitat
use of trout in the Au Sable River.
Today, automatic receiving stations
provide the capacity to get information
on a nearly continuous basis. Similarly,
temperature monitors available for
around $100 provide scientists and TU
members with the capacity to record
stream temperatures automatically
every few minutes for time periods of a
year or more!
Perhaps the biggest change in trout-
related fisheries science is in the
broadening of our view of what
fisheries science is all about.
Previously, much of the focus was on
the fish itself - often in artificial systems
such as hatcheries. Today, we use
terms like “ecosystem management” to
describe the scope of activities we strive
for in natural resource management.
Although it has long been realized that
fish populations respond on their
habitat, food, and predators, our ability
to represent these complex interactions
and manipulate ecosystems has
accumulated over time. Moreover, we
are now using terms like “ecosystem
services” to represent the idea that fish
and angling opportunities are just one
www.michigantu.org
“product” that healthy streams provide,
and that a more complete accounting of
the values of streams and the benefits
they provide to humans is important in
protecting these valuable resources.
Included in the broadening scope of
fisheries management is a greatly
increased emphasis and understanding
of how people play into the entire
system that we call a “fishery”. One of
the catch phrases in today’s journals is
“Coupled Human and Natural
Systems”, which was coined to capture
the idea that people depend and use
natural systems, like trout streams, but
we also have an impact on those
streams that can be detrimental to our
own uses. The term “human
dimensions” of fisheries and wildlife is
also often used as a catchall for the type
of research that explores the social,
economic, legal, and policy-related
components of fisheries management.
Early fishery managers, and even many
fishery biologists today, have not come
to grips with the fact that it is not
sufficient to be an expert about just the
fish. Actual fishery management more
often involves swaying the actions of
people; a process that requires skill in
politics and persuasion as much as
scientific expertise. If you don’t believe
this, just attend a Natural Resources
Commission meeting!
Finally, I think that work in the
human dimensions area has in some
way provided more insight into the
“Why” we manage trout. Why is it that
the founders and current members of
Trout Unlimited are so passionate about
our quarry, when others may view them
as “just another fish.” Although not a
scientific publication, I think the answer
is expressed most simply and elegantly
in the quote from Robert Traver,
published in 1960, just after the
founding of TU:
“I fish because I love to; because I
love the environs where trout are
found, which are invariably
beautiful ...”
Celebrating 50 Years 14 www.michigantu.org
every fish you catch or keep every fish

A Righteous Mission you catch, whether you fish for brook

Trout Unlimited’s mission is to
conserve, protect and restore coldwater
fisheries and their watershed’s.
Implicit in this mission is the
assumption of “use” of the fish.
Fisheries are by definition, the fish,
their habitats, and the people that use
the fish. If our mission were perhaps
“the preservation of coldwater fishes”
than we might be more involved with
purchasing large blocks of property and
closing them to angling. This isn’t the
case – and it shows that our mission
implicitly includes recognition of
angling use of the coldwater fisheries.
Explicitly excluded from our
organization’s guiding mission is
mention of “angling methods” or
“harvest practices”. This means that we
are not a fly-fishing or bait-fishing only
organization, and we do not universally
promote catch and release. Our
organization instead, focuses on
ensuring that there is plentiful and
healthy fisheries for everyone to enjoy –
“take care of the fish and the fishing
trout, brown trout, steelhead, salmon or
don’t fish at all – TU is your outlet to
help conserve coldwater fisheries so
will take care of itself”. that everyone can continue to enjoy
these resources however they desire, far
Also explicitly absent from the into the future. That’s a beautiful and
mission is mention of particular species righteous mission statement that our
of coldwater fish, or mention of priority founders made – thanks!
given to any particular species over
others. Implicit in the words of our
mission – is that again – we will focus
on creating the healthiest coldwater
habitats so that all types of coldwater
fisheries can flourish.
What point is being made here? Its
that the mission of Trout Unlimited was
crafted carefully and with great wisdom.
It gives us focus on the large issues of
coldwater fisheries health, and helps us
avoid arguments amongst groups of
coldwater conservationists (fly fishing
versus bait fishing, salmon versus
stream trout) which would only serve to
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Specializing in custom hand tied fly patterns
coldwater fisheries conservation – the
threats we face are severe and abundant
– and will require all of us to meet the www.streamersflies.com
challenge. Whether you fish with bait, For wholesale opportunities fly shops please call
tackle or flies, whether you release (231) 468– 8531

50th
ANNIVERSARY RAFFLE
Original Painting “Fifty Years” by David Ruimveld
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Trout Unlimited this original
painting “Fifty Years” was created by artist David Ruimveld and
donated by the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of TU. This original painting
depicts the birthplace of TU at the Barbless Hook, other relics from the
past and fly fishing being passed on to the next generation. We would
like you to support Michigan TU by purchasing tickets for this original
painting which we will be raffled off at the 50th National Convention in
Traverse City August 22, 2009.

Tickets are $ 10.00 each or 3 for $ 20.00. They can be purchased by

contacting: Michigan Raffle License #R01192
Robb Smith, 2114 7th Street, Bay City, MI 48708
email – rsmith@michigantu.org

Tickets can also be purchased online @ www.michigantu.org.

Celebrating 50 Years 15 www.michigantu.org

TU Launches New Stream Explorer

Membership for Youth
This year, as we look back at TU’s great Stream Explorers membership,
success over the past 50 years, we are also hard at which also includes a sticker
work ensuring that the next 50 are just as and the TU calendar,
successful. A key to complements the great youth
education programs that
chapters and councils deliver
across the country. Now at
the end of a youth
conservation camp or a
chapter-run fly-tying class, a
kid can receive a Stream
Explorer membership to
maintain an on-going
connection to trout,
coldwater conservation
and TU. To give a Stream
Explorer membership
visit www.tu.org/gift or
call 1-800-834-2419.

TU’s future
conservation work will be recruiting the
next generation of coldwater stewards. With each
passing year, kids have less free time, spend more
time inside in front of screens and are more
disconnected from the habitats that sustain trout.
To address this problem and to pass on our passion
for coldwater resources, TU chapters and councils
have been teaching kids about trout, conservation
and fishing through local programs since TU’s
inception. Now, for the first time, TU has
introduced a membership with youth-specific
benefits called Stream Explorers.
The new Stream Explorer membership is for
kids 18 years and below and costs $12 per year.
For kids younger than 14, TU has a new quarterly
magazine called Stream Explorers (kids 14-18 will
receive Trout magazine). Each issue is filled with
information about trout and their habitat, TU’s
conservation work and activities and projects that
encourage kids to get outside. In addition, TU has
launched a new website (www.streamexplorers.org)
which engages kids on the same topics. This new
Celebrating 50 Years
Thanks Art
Trout Unlimited owes many thanks
for the dedication, wisdom and
leadership of many of its early
founders and members. Among
them, is Art Neumann. Art was a
founder of TU, an early officer of
the organization, and was the
Executive Director during the period
when TU blossomed from a
“Michigan Idea” to a national leader
in aquatic conservation. Few people
have given as much to TU’s success
as Art, and he continues to
contribute to this day. Art -
Michigan Trout Unlimited sincerely
thanks you for all that you have done
to ensure the health and
perseverance of the coldwater
fisheries that we all hold so dear.
Thank You.
Art Neumann article taken from TROUT,
Unlimited Quarterly dated Winter 1960
16
COMMISSION HEARS
Art Neumann Give Reasons
For T.U. Recommendations
Speaking for TROUT, Unlimited at the September meeting of the Michigan Conservation
Commission Vice President Arthur C. Neumann said:
Before I get into each specifically, I’d like to
provide a little background for why these regulations
and proposals were suggested. To begin with, this is
not an effort to dictate or demand but rather a request
to suggest and assist.
These recommendations are the convictions of
sincere and dedicated fishermen who are not
concerned with themselves personally or with
fishermen generally but with the welfare of the
trout. They are based on the proposition that what is
good for trout is good for trout fishermen – that, if we
take care of the trout, the trout will take care of the
trout fishermen – that as long as you have trout you
will have trout fishermen.
By the same token, none of the regulations
recommended are designed to discriminate against
one group while favoring another but again only to
favor trout. Some of the regulations will serve more
than one purpose. In some cases they will educate, in
other cases they will educate and regulate and in still
other cases they will educate, regulate and eliminate.
But in no case will they eliminate any true sportsman
or true fisherman.
Any suggested regulation that might interfere
with some fisherman’s normal fishing practice is not
directed at him personally but is suggested only
because that practice is deemed detrimental to the
welfare of the sport. The simple truth of the matter is,
over the years we have indulged in many practices
which have not been beneficial to trout fishing and it’s
high time we identified them as luxuries we no longer
can afford and still have trout. We must also
acknowledge trout fishing as sport fishing rather than
food fishing.
In the complicated way of life we live today it
becomes more and more important that we have
relaxation and recreation away from the pressures
of everyday life and trout fishing provides the
perfect opportunity so to do. We must also bear in
mind that trout are a natural resource and we should
never deplete them to the extent that they must be
replaced by a manufactured resource. I think we
should use them and maybe re-use them but never to
the extent that we abuse them. I think that any
regulation that is beneficial to trout should be
encouraged and that anything that is detrimental to
trout should be discouraged.
I think that this necessitates leadership and it
is in this capacity that you gentlemen can serve your
greatest good – by leading the public rather than
having the public lead the commission.
Now I’d like to comment briefly on the things
that Casey mentioned. First – fishing for fun. This is
not new. As a matter of fact, it has been tried in
several places across the country and has met with
tremendous success and universal acceptance and
support. It is indicative of the national trend and we in
Michigan are a little behind. It not only improves the
fishing and conserves the resource, it costs no money.
But best of all, it educates while it regulates. The
abundance of trout provides a perfect training ground
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for the beginner while enriching his appreciation of the
sport and preparing him psychologically for the rigid
regulations of the future.
I might also mention that fishing for fun is
probably one of the medicines we need today to
stimulate license sales. We might profitably take a
long look at the businesses who have stolen our license
buyers from us and borrow the system they used to
steal them. Maybe we need something new and
different in fishing, something that will create new
interest, new excitement and new enjoyment.
Let’s bury the outmoded practice of trying to
sell a dollar’s worth of fish (which we no longer can
afford to provide) for a dollar’s worth of license
(which no longer cost a dollar) and replace it with a
fresh, progressive program of making fishing
attractive, desirable recreation thereby creating the
incentive essential to license purchasing. I think
that fishing for fun would be one of these incentives.
On the proposed “any – lure” regulation, I think
that spinning has come in for an unfair amount of
criticism principally because most people think of
spinning tackle which is not the case at all. True
spinning is spinning with artificial lures. Research has
proven that artificial lures are no more harmful, so
far as killing undersize fish is concerned, than are
flies so it is reasonable to assume that an “any-lure”
regulation, with proper size and creel limits, could
be as beneficial to trout as are the flies only
regulations. Only by the creation of such a regulation,
on an experimental basis, will the true answer be
known and spinning’s station in the fishing world
definitely established.
Arthur C. Neumann
Vice President Arthur C. Neumann is a
toolmaker and in addition owns and operates the
Wanigas Rod Company at Saginaw, Michigan, a
small custom tackle shop where Art builds fine
glass and bamboo custom rods and sells other
related fishing tackle.
Art is a former director of the Caro
Conservation Club and has been active for many
years in conservation matters locally and
throughout the state.
Neumann served two years in the Navy
during World War II as a radioman aboard the
USS Montpelier, a light cruiser in the 3rd, 5th and
7th fleet.
Art is an ardent trout fisherman who has
written considerably about the sport. He is an
amateur photographer and has made numerous
appearances with his outdoor films before
sportsmen and service groups. He is also a
golfer but trout fishing is his first love.
Celebrating 50 Years
Many Water Are Cleaner Now
than 50 Years Ago By Carlos Fetterolf
Editor’s note: Mr. Fetterolf has had a
long, accomplished career being highly
involved in conservation in Michigan. He
was fully at work during the not-so-distant
decades when gross-level pollution was a
primary concern for all conservationists.
Carlos was asked to write an article for this
issue, reflecting for our readers about
where aquatic conservation has come from
in 50 years time. He provides a few
illustrations here from the Boardman and
Au Sable Rivers – where TU ‘s 50th
anniversary celebrations will take place this
summer.
The Boardman River
The Boardman River system above
Boardman Lake is Blue Ribbon trout water. mainstem of the Boardman River. This
There is more than a mile of river that holds decision was a longtime coming, and a
resident trout between the Boardman Dam
and the West Arm of Grand Traverse Bay,
Lake Michigan. This lower river supports a see the Traverse Community once again
strong run of steelhead in the spring and
lesser runs of steelies, Chinook salmon, lake natural resources.
trout and browns in the fall.
Way back in 1963, a local
conservationist, Dr. John Spencer, asked me
to tour some of the area’s trouble spots with
him. We focused on the lower Boardman
and adjacent lake front. I’ll never be able to
understand why the Regional Engineer of
the MI Water Resources Commission,
Sewage Treatment Specialists of the MI
Department of Public Health, or
Conservation Officers and Fishery
Biologists from the MDNR hadn’t reported
the sources of the gross pollution I
observed. I observed storm sewers flowing
like small streams across public beaches, an
inadequate sewage treatment plant, a cherry
processing plant discharging waste and
wash water directly into the river, and
growths of Sphaerotilus (commonly called
sewage fungus) in the river. Why didn’t
they see the rotting, sloughed fungus on city
beaches and on the shoreline fronting the
Holiday Inn and other facilities? Visitors
observing the river from bridges in the city
thought the sloughed fungus was toilet
paper.
After listening to my report at its next
meeting, the MI Water Resources
Commission, together with other state
17
agencies and city officials took early action
to improve the city’s sewerage system.
Traverse City citizens have since developed
a strong pride in their setting and a very
strong environmental ethic to protect their
river and their bay. I hope visitors will SEE
for themselves the well cared-for river and
beaches. The city’s newest sewage
treatment facility, constructed in 2004, is a
state of the art high tech filtration system
featuring membrane bioreactor technology.
No one is complaining, but there’s always
concern for the bay.
Note: Officials from Traverse City and
Grand Traverse County recently voted to
remove three of four dams located on the
result of the hardwork from a lot of people -
many TU members included. We are glad to
showing leadership in stewardship of their
Au Sable River
In the early 1960’s Dr. Howard Tanner,
then professor at Michigan State University,
and I, then Supervisor of Water Quality
Appraisal for the MI Water Resources
Commission, addressed an audience of
elected officials and citizens from the Au
Sable River Basin. The group’s major
concern was the welfare of the river system.
Howard, aware of the system’s problems
and gradual deterioration, emphasized the
future increase in “people pressure”. He
stated, “two major highways have been
modernized and both are pointed right at
you. What can you do in preparation?”
Of course, one answer was to upgrade
the municipal sewage system to reduce the
input of organic matter and phosphorus
supporting the unnaturally high production
of aquatic plants and accompanying
invertebrate fauna….fish food. My major
point was that reduction in productivity
translates to reducing the river’s world class
trout fishery. I emphasized the delicate
balance between enrichment and pollution,
stressing that given the anticipated
population growth – without more advanced
wastewater treatment, serious water quality
and fishery problems could be expected.
www.michigantu.org
A rump session was held at George
Griffith’s cabin, The Barbless Hook, where
TU was born. My notes tell me that
George, Hazen Miller (author of The Old Au
Sable), Tudor Apmadoc, Chuck Kroll, Bill
Carey, Howard and I discussed organizing a
drive to raise $150,000 to help Grayling
achieve better management of its sewage
treatment system. I advised waiting to see
what action the State would take now that
the public was concerned of a new term
“Cultural Encroachment”, something we all
have experienced.
Before I left town I recalled that local
folks swam in the river at a particularly
attractive spot below Grayling. There was a
large influx of vacationers every summer
weekend. Could the sewage treatment
system keep up with the increased load? I
sent a biologist over to Grayling over the 4th
of July. He collected water samples for
bacteriological analysis downstream from
the sewage treatment outfall and just above
the swimmers. Wow! We had found the
smoking gun needed for immediate action.
The MI Department of Public Health
determined that the chlorination equipment
at the wastewater treatment facility was
inadequate. Immediate action was taken to
replace the faulty machinery. More
importantly, the incident triggered the start
of studies to determine the condition of the
Au Sable River system.
While our resources still face some old
threats as well as a continuous on slot of
new ones – we have indeed come along way
over the last 50 years! Thanks to all those
that helped along the way.
Carlos is a member of the Ann Arbor Area
Chapter of TU; a past president of the American
Fisheries Society, the North American
Benthological Society and the International
Association for Great Lakes Research; was
MDNR’s Chief Environmental Scientist; was a
Science Coordinator for the National Academy
of Sciences for development of water quality
criteria; was an advisor to the National Sea Grant
College program; was Executive Secretary
(CEO) of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission;
and is a proud alumnus of Michigan State
University. Carlos can be reached at 734-433-
2661, or at fetcarnor@comcast.net.
Celebrating 50 Years 18 www.michigantu.org
The more things change, the more things stay the same. During the first two years of Trout, Unlimited Quarterly,
the pages were filled with discussions of new fisheries research and its implications, and discussions of current
important topics. Some of the prevalent ones were; MDNR budget needs and proposed license fee increases,
drops in angler recruitment and retention, and newly proposed trout fishing regulations. While some of our
conservation priorities today are uniquely new (e.g., climate change and dam removal), others are longstanding -
and the details today are earily similar to discussions held 50 years ago!

suburbs and what this means in

“The Complete Angler” responsibilities to take care of yards and
Address By Dr. Stanley A. Cain at the Annual Meeting gardens, to cook on the terrace, and to
Dinner of TROUT, Unlimited do family entertaining. I’m sure there’s
a good many fishermen that have to stay
I’m especially interested in whether the streams. It certainly has an effect. home on account of this sort of thing.
young people are learning to fish and I’m sure, also, that television has an I’m sure that when people first move to
hunt and in other ways enjoy the effect and I’m sure that when the kids the city from rural locations that a good
outdoors. I’m not saying that they get a little older the fact that they can many of them take the trouble to go out
shouldn’t be interested in fast buy a jalopy and make a hot rod out of and hunt and fish and leave the city for
motorboats, water-skiing, or swimming, it keeps a good many of them off the this kind of recreation. I think their
-- these are perfectly legitimate uses of streams and lakes. I think that the only sons are less apt to. I think the third
water but they are quite a different sort thing happening here that is apparent is generation probably doesn’t fish very
of activity from fishing. A great many that some of them are now aquatic hot- much. The percentage fishing probably
people would feel that there’s a real loss rods, instead of on the highways. goes down with the length of time that
if the new generation grows up without Another sort of development that people have been urbanized.
appreciation of what fishing can mean. I’m sure is impinging upon recreational Since our population now has
Let’s look at some of the things that activities of the type that we’ve been become predominantly urban, since
are happening in connection with the talking about is the post-war trend to industrial southeastern Michigan
growth of urbanized life. Kids, who early marriages and early family contains over 50% of our state
would ordinarily or formerly be development. These people in their late population, although it produces a lot of
learning to fish or hunt, have a great teens and early twenties and late fishermen, I don’t think it produces a
many other things to do. Look at the twenties just haven’t got time to go proportionate amount in terms of the
tremendous growth in the organization fishing.
total population.
of Little League Baseball and you have Then look at the outward migration
to guess how many kids this keeps off from the heart of the cities to the
Celebrating 50 Years
TROUT, Unlimited Quarterly
Vol 1 No. 1 Official Publication of TROUT, Unlimited, Inc.
This is the first “Ye Olde Angler” column that your editor will write for
TROUT, Unlimited Quarterly and it is well that at the start that you be advised
that the observations and opinions viewed herein are the personal views of the
editor and not necessarily that of TROUT, Unlimited as an organization.
Let’s look as these facts. This
is a democracy. We elect Legislators
and give them the power to set fish
and game regulations, determine
license fees, determine the power and
authority of the Conservation
Commission and Department and
appropriate money to pay for fish and
game management. We elect a
Governor who names the members of
the Conservation Commission, with
the approval of the State Senate.
The Legislators and Governor
hold their offices by pleasing the
people, and that includes the
sportsmen. It is all well and good that
they should hire experts to run the
government (and that includes fish
and game management) to the best of
their ability without hindrance from
the electorate. But does it work out
that way? There are mighty few
Legislators who will back a fish or
game administrator (who he
personally knows is on the right track)
against a group of vociferous
constituents demanding the opposite
of what the biologist administrator
proposes to do. And without the
backing of the Legislator that controls productive and retentive
his destiny the biologist-administrator capacity and how it can be
back is up against the wall.
What then is the answer?
It is nothing more or less than
bringing about a well informed public
– in our case a well informed public
on fish management. In our case it
means well informed sportsmen since
they are the faction of the public that
will in the main determine public
acceptance of sound fish management.
This boils down to simply to
conservation education, in our case,
trout conservation education.
Here then is our important
task for TROUT, Unlimited. It is
Ye Olde
Angler
by
Vic Beresford
our hope that we can do this, at least
in part, through TROUT Unlimited
Quarterly and news releases to the
press pointing up the points we wish
to make. I think we have made a good
start. The cooperation from the press
has been wonderful. How well we
succeed will depend upon how much
and how well trout fishermen support
TROUT Unlimited. If the present
officers are not doing the job they can
be replaced by those who will. If they
are, they can be supported. When all
is said and done it is up to YOU
whether we can conserve trout as the
great game fish they are and preserve
the ancient and honorable sport of
trout angling with all its glorious
tradition.
Directors Ask
Trout Survey
A complete and thorough
survey of all Michigan trout
waters to determine their
maintained was called for by
the TROUT, Unlimited board
of directors, at their October
2, 1959 board meeting in
Lansing.
The directors took this
action when they discovered
that the Conservation
Department, Fish Division
lacked this basic knowledge
upon which to base sound
trout management.
19 www.michigantu.org
WINTER, 1959
President’s Message
Trout, as game fish, have such exceptional
qualities that they have earned for themselves
the unchallenged distinction of being the
“ultimate” for sport fishermen.
Also, trout fishermen have such a proud
heritage in the sport, such a unique comradery,
and such a lusty love of the sport that it seems
only natural that when the cry goes out to help
trout that they should rise as a single body to
protect that which is so dear.
Almost anyone who has been trout fishing Here’s your New
during the past few years knows that not all is Trout, Unlimited emblem
well with the sport and the cry is out. Help
trout! Join TROUT, Unlimited!
Conceived and organized by trout fishermen TROUT, Unlimited promises to be the
most powerful and effective way an individual can help trout, because the serious
problems require the serious thought and the positive well organized action that can
come only when a great number of interested people work together.
At this time your officers are busy with the most important work of establishing the
foundations upon which will be built an organization that will function smoothly and
effectively. Good progress is being made.
I have been inspired by the dedicated enthusiasm of the members and officers of
TROUT, Unlimited, and I’m sure that these qualities will carry our new organization on
to wonderful success.
The high ideals of the members plus the spirit and willingness to work will
combine to make TROUT, Unlimited one of the most significant conservation groups
and one that every ardent trout fisherman will be proud to support.
Casey E. Westell, Jr., President
TROUT, Unlimited
The Challenge of TROUT, Unlimited
Is TROUT FOREVER
The management of any living resource has its greatest chance for meeting its
expectations only when based on the most exhaustive, precise knowledge and under-
standing of the ecology of the key organism. The basis for trout management is thus
trout ecology – an understanding of the lifeways and requirements of trout and the rela-
tionships of trout with all of their surroundings. The fact that trout management so often
does not live up to its expectations must thus first be blamed on inadequacy of basic
knowledge.
Next to the trout themselves, people are the biggest concern in trout management.
Lay people and technical people. Administrative people and political people. Tourist
people and native people. Industrial people and home people. Half-informed people and
uninformed people. Articulate people and inarticulate people. Selfish people and altru-
istic people. And people who produce more people and people who make people live
longer and have more leisure time.
The way to the perpetuation of trout fishing in America is clearly through
SCIENTIFIC management of trout, their environment, and people. Obviously, this
is a big picture. Parts of it are bound to get out of proper focus. The real objective of
TROUT, Unlimited must be to press for good and balanced focus – to let no facet of the
search for basic facts and for communication among sportsmen, administrators, and
scientists become fuzzy or dimmed through the perpetuation of half-truths or through
neglect. Only in this way can TROUT, Unlimited hope to achieve what it really stands
for – TROUT FOREVER.
Dr. Karl F. Lagler
University of Michigan
Celebrating 50 Years 20 www.michigantu.org
50 years ago we were concerned with state regulations governing the withdrawal of water from our watersheds.
Today, this topic remains on the top of our list of conservation priorities. While our laws have changed, the
threats are still generally the same, and they require our constant involvement and attention.
Below are two excerpts from the early years. One is from a keynote address given at an early annual meeting; the
other is a short news clip from an experimental idea on how to augment cold waters in our marginal trout streams
- this idea may be worth looking into again!

“The Complete Angler”

Address By Dr. Stanley A. Cain at the Annual Meeting
Dinner of TROUT, Unlimited

The second general area is this – I don’t
think that the state laws are anyway near as
good as they should be. I think that
Michigan and any other state that TROUT,
Unlimited members are interested in
probably has laws that need changing
relative to the aquatic resources. These
laws should be searched. If you find that
anything that ought to be done to the law,
seek its change. I think that one of the most
important responsibilities of any association
of citizens and one of its rights is to lobby,
to be a pressure group for what it thinks
should be done by the government that
represents the citizens.
Let me give you a quotation at this
point which comes from Senator Kerr “State
water laws generally do not adequately
support state responsibilities to the
conservation of fish and wildlife resources.
The states have primary jurisdiction over all
these resources except migratory birds.
These laws give a very low priority, if any waters by fish and other wildlife must
to all, to the water needs of fish and wildlife always in all cases be recognized as a public
installations like fish hatcheries and wildlife interest and a natural use equal with any
refuges. The laws are generally oriented domestic use.” This is a state where
toward dividing up the waters of streams riparian law prevails, so I’m sure tht there’s
and lakes among interests who can put these plenty of room for a second look, and a
water suppliers to various economic uses. close look at the legal situation in Michigan
The primary purpose of state water laws and other states.
seems to be to divide up the water of
streams and lakes among this industry and
that farm and the other town and there has
been little recognition of the substantial
needs of the public water to remain in
streams and lakes and other bodies of water
to support fish and wildlife and related
outdoor recreational needs.”
Let me refer you to a recent action of
the Wisconsin Conservation Commission
which now has be to power in cases of
application for diversion of water from trout
streams for purposes of irrigation. The
Commission policy said “the use of public

Consider Test Artesian Well

To Rehabilitate Trout Stream
TROUT, Unlimited members Roy
Osmun and G. Ralf Jennings of Midland,
and the Trout, Unlimited Executive Director
met with representatives of the Water
Resources Commission, Conservation
Department and U.S. Geological Survey
recently to discuss possibilities of
rehabilitating tributaries of the
Tittabawassee river as trout streams by
drilling artesian wells.
Osmun suggested the drilling of a test
well on the west branch of the river 20
miles north-east of Gladwin in Roscommon
county just below the Benmark club. He
has uncovered records of an old capped well
in the area that produces a remarkable cold
water supply.
Many questions are unanswered, such
as the effect of such a well or wells on the
ground water levels and whether a well or
wells would materially improve stream
temperatures and water quality. However
such information would be most valuable to
everyone concerned which counts in favor
of at least one test well.
The idea points attention to the fact that
private individuals are tapping Michigan’s
artesian water resources for their own use
indiscriminately and without regard to
consequences because we lack any law
controlling or regulating such drilling.
Although Osmun says he has been
assured by Dow Chemical Company that
they would pay for drilling such a well,
neither he nor they would do so without
approval by the Water Resources
Commission and the Conservation
Department. Such approval is now being
considered.
Those attending the meeting besides
TROUT, Unlimited representatives were
John G. Rulison, in charge of the water
resources sections of the Geological Survey
Division of the Conservation Department,
M.J. DeBoer, supervisor of field
management for the Fish Division, Norman
F. Billings, chief of the hydrology division
of the Water Resources Commission, and
Morris Deutsch, district geologist of the
ground water division of the U.S.
Geological Survey.
Celebrating 50 Years 21 www.michigantu.org

Our Deepest Appreciation …

…goes to the following list of people that have donated to
Michigan Trout Unlimited’s mission since January 2008
Paul Adesko John Frey John M. LeClaire Mark & Mary Shantz
Stephen & Mary Allen Bartley & Cheryl Frueh Peter & Michelle Leiterman Darin Sharkey
Daniel & Sharon Altier John Fuerstnau Michael & Mary Beth Magnuson Kenneth & Merry Sink
Edwin Anderson T. Eduardo Garcia Bruce Maguire R.K. Skay
James Anderson Jerome Gates Mark B. Mahacek Tony & Carla Skiba
Bruce Arndt John R. Gledhill William Main James & Elsa Skipper
Richard & Marilyn Augustine Edward & Linda Goodman John & Sheila Marsh Richard Skutt
Charles & Carolann Ayers Robert & Linda Gorashko Bill Martindale Bruce Smith
James Barackman Ken Gottschlich Jane Martindale Cerano Jeffrey Smith
Linda Barthel Derek & Dorothy Grossman Mary Martindale Johnston John & Patricia Smith
Adam Bickel David Guilford Fred Martindale, Jr. Robert Smith
John Blom Darryl & Kathleen Hahn John Marx Kathleen Sneden
James Bos Hugh Harness Michael D. Mathieu Peter Stano
Robert & Martha Boughner Daniel Hayes Paul & Susan Maxbauer John Stegmeier
Gregory Bovee David & Patrice Hayes David Mayotte Curtis Strickland
Gary and Marcia Boyd Madison Hayes Leonard Mazur Lawrence Swantek
Michael Brock Lauren Heck Jeffrey McDonald Joseph Swantek
Michael & Robin Brooks Donald L. Hecker Edward C. McElligatt Lynne & C. T. Symons
Peter Brown Donald Henning Michael McGraw Mary & T. W. Thompson
Joseph & Kathleen Bruce David Hilton Edward McNiff Robert and Kimberly Thorsen
A & D Buchanan Craig & Jody Hinkle William & Sally McRoy Christopher & Eija Tipton
William & Janice Buck Craig Hitchcock Hank & Terri Milius Christopher Tipton
Thomas Buhr P. T. Hoelderle Joseph & Shirley Mitchell Eija Tipton
Keith Bumgarner J S & M Holden Michael & Colleen Monahan Leland Todd
Bryan Burroughs Thomas Holstrom Michael Moran Janet Tull
Richard & Bettie Buss Bonnie and Ralph Hommel Allen Murphy Robert Tull
Michael Caparon Edward & Lynn Hoover Philip & Patricia Mutch Marc Twinney
Richard Chamberlin Charles & Ruth Ann Houff Scott & Barb Myckowiak Dale & Monique Ulman
Thomas & Johanna Chapel Carl Hubinger David Neal Gregory & Diane Umstead
Joseph & Jan Conners Arthur Hudson JoAnn Neuhalfen Samuel Van Boven
John & Pamela Davis Joseph L. Hudson Kristin L. Nichols Martin & Maria Van Fossan
Louis & Dawn DeBenedet Carl Hueter Thomas & Melinda Niemann James & Marsha Vanderveen
Mark Delaney Charles & Irene Hurbis Richard & Susan Nyce James & Mary Jane
Richard & Barbara Dew John Hutto John & Lani Ochs VanPaepeghem
MacDonald & Carolin Dick Shane & Ruth Isenhoff H. Lawrence & Anne O'Donnell Tommy & Maria Vaughan
James & Carolyn Dillinger Stewart Isley John & Patricia Ojala Ryan Waddington
James & Loretta Distefanis Todd Janson Leslie A. Osuch Richard Walle
John & Tara Dolbee Robert & Peggy Jensen Kenneth Pickl Howard & Kyoko Wandel
Broderick & Michelle Donaldson Tom & Diane Jobson Ronald & Julie Porritt Thomas Warren
Terry Dupuis Robert & Narda Johnson Nicholas Posak Clare & Debra Wasek
Justin Durrance Donald Johnson Jr. Michael & Nicole Prevo John & Mary Weber
Frank & Julie Eaman Akira & Taeko Kataoka Stephen and Kimberlee Priestap Stephen & Karen Werner
John & Jan Eichel Merrill & Jody Katz Edward Proctor John Westerheide
David W. Elliott Daniel & Heidi Keifer Armando Quaglia Randy and Kimberly Wetton
Douglas Enslen Peter King Richard & Alice Rainville John & Juliana White
Jefferson Eyke Harold & Marilyn Kleinert Marlin & Eleanor Rickey Daniel & Beverly Wilcox
Roger & Mary Fechner Patrick and Janna Kochanny Paul & Carol Rose Larry C. Willey
A. K. Felter Roger & Irene Konyndyk Ross Rosenbrock Alfred Woody
Toni Felter Derrick & Karen Kooistra Henry & Carol Ross Jerry Yonker
Carlos Fetterolf Donald Kopka Nathaniel Rowe Glen & Jane Young
Jason & Renee Fettig Robert Kroeger James Rutledge Ronald & Nancy Young
James Fish James & Barbara Kurbel Katharine Ryan Stephen & Mary Zulczyk
Richard & Erva Fitzgerald Michael & Jeanette Lagowski Neil & Joan Satovsky
Robert & Joan Flickinger George Lane Dennis Schrantz
Tim Fortier Wayne Larrow Stanley & Pauline Schroeder
Keith & Mary Frame Ronald & Ruth Ann Lebarre Bernard & Phyllis Senske
Celebrating 50 Years
Our Deepest Appreciation …
…goes to the following list of organizations that have donated to
Michigan Trout Unlimited’s mission since January 2008
Our own local Chapters
Adams Chapter
Ann Arbor Chapter
Arnold Copeland Chapter
Challenge Chapter
Charles A. Fellows Chapter
Clinton Valley Chapter
Copper Country Chapter
Fred Waara Chapter
Fly Fishing School
Headwaters Chapter
Kalamazoo Valley Chapter
Martuch Chapter
Mason-Griffith Founders Chapter
Mershon Chapter
Miller Van-Winkle Chapter
Paul H. Young Chapter
Frank “Bob” Perrin - Lansing Chapter
Pine River Area Trout Unlimited
State of Michigan Archives to
house the History of Michigan TU
The Archives of Michigan is
responsible for preserving the records of
Michigan's history and government. In
fulfilling this primary mission, it serves as
the collective memory of Michigan state
and local government departments. The
Archives of Michigan also accepts papers
from private individuals and organizations.
The number of private collections is
growing.
In 2006, the State Archivist began
discussing the opportunities of Michigan
Trout Unlimited storing their historic
records in the Archives. The final
agreements are nearing completion that will
place the records of MCTU, Art Nuemann
and TU national in the Archives of
Michigan. It only makes sense that the
records of the organization that began in
Michigan, stay in Michigan. Researchers,
scholars, students and enthusiasts will enjoy
the benefits of being able to access the TU
22
Schrems West Mcihigan Chapter
Vanguard Chapter
Organizations
Earth Share
Elliott Donnelley Chapter of T U
JustGive
Michigan Environmental Council
Michigan Fly Fishing Club
Michigan River Guides Assn.
Mott Foundation
Trout Unlimited National (Embrace-A-
Stream Program)
W. Tom Zurschmiede Foundation
United Way of Washtenaw County
Business Sponsors
A M Sales & Marketing
Alder Creek Ent Inc
Bud's Cabins and Motel LLC
records along side the records of the
Department of Conservation and the
Department of Natural Resources.
Staff is now working with Mr.
Nuemann to write the first published history
of TU based on all available original records
and photographs.
The records preserved by the Archives
of Michigan are one-of-a-kind and
extremely important. The records receive
impeccable care. They are placed in a
secure, fire-resistant area and stored in
shelves, drawers or filing cabinets designed
for record preservation and efficient use of
space.
Humidity and temperature levels are
also carefully controlled to ensure longevity
of the records. All of these measures are
taken so the public has long term access to
these important and interesting materials.
www.michigantu.org
Creative Group
Dave Moyette Builders
FBH Corporation
Frank's Great Outdoors
Gates AuSable Lodge
Hartman's Fly Shop
Homewaters LLC
Human Relations Consultants, Inc.
Lean Manufacturing Solutions, LLC
Little Forks Outfitters
North Branch Outing Club, Inc.
PLR Solutions LLC
Quality Bamboo Fishing Rods
Rayburn Lodge LLC
Red Moose Lodge LLC
RW Summers Co.
Schmidt Real Estate, Inc.
Silent Sport Lodge B and B
Steelcase
Mark Harvey is the State Archivist at the
Archives of Michigan and is a member of
the Perrin Chapter of TU in Lansing, MI.
Fly Fishing Enthusiasts:
Would you like to stay in a nice
riverfront cottage in a secluded,
wooded setting?
Quality fishing on South Branch
Au Sable River near Roscommon.
Weekly/Monthly rentals
989-821-3434
Celebrating 50 Years 23 www.michigantu.org

Baldwin, Mi.
MODERN ROOMS

GUIDE SERVICE
Salmon Steelhead
Trout
888-939-6667
Or 231-745-6667
www.redmooselodge.com

On The Scenic Pere Marquette River

Owners: Clint & Debi Anderson

The Members of the Michigan Fly Fishing Club wish

to extend a warm “Congratulations” to Trout
Unlimited and the Michigan Council for their
first Fifty Years of dedicated focus to “conserve,
protect and restore cold water fisheries and their
habitats.” The environment, streams, watersheds,
fish and all of us in the Fishing Community have
greatly benefited from the application of the
Trout Unlimited Mission.

Thank You...Thank You...Thank You!!!

The Michigan Fly Fishing Club is an organization of fly fishers dedicated to the promotion of fly fishing,
the preservation of the arts of fly tying and rod building and the protection of game fish and their
natural habitats. Please visit us at:
www.mffc.org
to find out more about our Purpose, our History, our Club Organization and our Activities.
 24

Michigan Council of Trout Unlimited

MICHIGAN TROUT Non Profit
P.O. Box 1005 U.S. Postage
Mt. Pleasant, MI 48804-1005 PAID
TIME DATED MATERIAL Mt. Pleasant, MI
48858