Fishing Nest

Maine is quite known for its varied sports & the popular winter activities. Among these Ice Fishing is top on the list. It offers a lot of varieties in terms of the species of the fish. Also it gives you opportunities to fish in the varied lakes & waterways that are otherwise quite inaccessible for the anglers in the summer months.
For instance, deep water fishing in the lakes like Lake Cumberland, Lincoln, Knox etc. require a boat in the summer months, and in the winter months it requires only a sled & a warm pair of the boots.
In the Maine Ice Fishing tournament there are a host of other events. These events are different for the experienced anglers & the new comers in the winter sport. These tournaments include several games played in varied regions of the state like the Jackman & the Moose River Regions. The Sebago fishing derby are also played in the Moose River Regions.
The highlights of the Sebago Derby Winter Season of the Maine Ice Fishing are as follows:
1. This tournament includes some key events that are as follows:
a. Nordic Walking
A great activity for one & all, this is a new means to safely exercise in the colder temperatures.
b. Polar Ice Dip
In this game the individuals has to wear a swimming suit & go for the dip in a lake in the temperatures as low as you’ve never imagined. This surely is a sport for some brave people.
c. Kids Fishing Tourney
Divided in to varied age categories, the children compete in order to see who catches the biggest fish and the longest fish; but the key idea is surely to enjoy the sport as much as they can.
d. Snowshoe Race
This is an interesting & fun race where anybody can join in by simply strapping on their snowshoes.
e. Winterfest
These are a host of fun activities, entertainment & food for all the participants of the tournament & the guests.
2. Entrance in the Sebago derby
a. This is a typical tournament as compared to the other tournaments of Maine Ice Fishing.
b. For its entrance one needs a pre-registration.
c. For that they must pay a flat fee depending on the fact that an individual angler is participating of the entire family does.
d. The participants are allowed to fish in some specific areas during the designated times only.
e. All the participants must have their fish weighed at the weighing stations in the end of the tournament.
f. Also there are limits levied on the quantity of fish of the varied species that are allowed to be weighed each day.
g. This limit does not stand for the Muskie and the Pike.
h. For pickerel the limit is ten per day.
i. Togues’ limit is 2 per day.
j. Through out the derby, all the participants are bound to follow the rules & restrictions as stated by the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.
3. Staying for the Derby
a. Through out the water ways of Maine, Ice Fishing is now considered as the key feature of their winter economy.
b. Several extensive guides, lodges & winter chalets provide accommodation
c. They also provide several fishing trips in several lakes of the area.
d. The fishing lodges also organize tours & trips for the family members who are not interested in being at the lake all through the day.

Tags: Fishing, Important, Maine, Reel, Things, ‘em

Newaygo County is a winter wonderland with many outdoor activities to keep the outdoor enthusiasts happy year round.

Activities include 144 miles of snowmobile trails within the Manistee Forest, 234 natural inland lakes and 2 large dams to offer up some excellent ice fishing.

Hess Lake Rentals welcomes you to the finest trails in Michigan. Enjoy riding on rolling and twisting trails past picturesque lakes and rivers. These trails are brushed, signed and groomed for your safety and riding pleasure.

Unload your sled at one of these staging areas:

1. Newaygo Motor-sports Park north of Newaygo on M-37

2. White Cloud staging area west of M-37 on M-20

3. M-37 in the Village of Baldwin

4. Southwest of Baldwin 76th St. west to staging area at Bozos

5. U.S. 10 in Branch Timbercreek Campground

You will find services you might need on the trail or close by, whether it’s gas, food, lodging, parts etc.

You can obtain trail report from many local snowmobile clubs or the MSA (Michigan Snowmobile Association) at www.msasnow.org or NCSC (Newaygo County Snow Chasers) at www.ncsnowchasers.com

The purpose of the NCSC is to promote the sport, increase quality of the trail system, educate and promote safe operation through safety courses. Memberships are available from $15.00 for an individual and $20.00 for a family.

The sport of ice-fishing is one of the fastest-growing forms of angling. The reasons are obvious. You don’t need a whole bunch of gear to get started. But don’t get me wrong, because we’ve come a long way from the days of chopping a hole with a spud and sitting on a bucket.

Today, ice-anglers have a multitude of new gear available that is designed just for ice-fishing enthusiasts. There are special lines, rods, power augers, shelters and warmer clothing that make ice-fishing not only bearable, but also downright fun. To really get into the sport, though, doesn’t require a huge investment.

Hess Lake Rentals offers modern fishing cottages for rent with a 2 person ice shanty, poles, auger and heater for just $95.00 per day. Cottages are equipment with everything you need to enjoy a day of ice fishing on Hess Lake.

Hess Lake offers up some nice crappies (the size of footballs) right after the first ice and seem to last only 2-3 weeks. You can also expect a Northern Pike or two, but I have not yet seen any caught.

Other nearby lakes includes, Bills Lake and Fremont Lake. Bills Lake has had several recent plantings of Rainbow trout and Walleye, while Fremont Lake is know for its walleye, crappie and bluegills.

While we are covering winter fishing, we can not forget about the awesome winter steelhead fishing on the Muskegon River.

Croton is where the Majority of action starts. For three miles below the Croton dam is solid spawning gravel and expansive riffles. This section is loaded with many resident trout from 12″ to 16″.

The Mid-section, Thornapple access to Newaygo is where large numbers of Great Lakes Steelhead and Salmon migrate to hold and spawn throughout the winter and spring.

The months of November, December, March and April are the best times of the year for Steelhead. Ten pound steelheads are common but there are fish up to 20 pounds!

You may obtain up to the minute fishing reports from Parsley’s Sport and Fly Shop (231-652-6986) located on the banks of the Muskegon River, or contact one of the many local river guides.

Get all the contact information online at www.hesslakerentals.com and check out our links section.

Tags: Explore, Fishing, Newaygo, Roundsnowmobile, Year