Shanty - shan't we? A lesson in patience

Tomorrow is the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. We need to come up with a name for the gray days like the weather service names storms. I think we are already on the Zs, but that's okay because tomorrow is a good day for taking that long winter nap.

Now, onto the theme of this blog. I am sure everyone remembers the family vacation and these famous words - "Are we there yet?". About the fifth time you heard them, the reply got more blunt and agitated.

Today's question is "Is there ice yet?". It is being asked everywhere - Facebook, Twitter, bait shops, tourism bureau and chambers. Houghton Lake, a shallow lake, freezes first in our area, along with Lake St. Helen. Higgins Lake usually follows a couple of weeks later.

Why the furor? As soon as the first ice forms you can expect an outbreak of "shanti-itis." It starts with locals gathering at the bait shop discussing ice color, thickness, what part of the lake is safe. Finally the employee who draws the short straw goes out with the spud to check the thickness and condition of the ice. Mind you, if he goes through the water it is probably just knee deep at this point. But facts are facts.

This is where the lesson in patience comes in. The docks have been hauled in since the middle of November, beginning the waiting time for good ice to get back out on the lake and fish through the hard water. The wait is like driving the Seney Stretch. The speed limit was raised on M-28, so it is a bit faster now, but there is no way to speed up cold weather. It is what it is to repeat another often used phrase.

Sometimes it is hard to tell who is more anxious for the ice - the anglers or the local merchants who rely on good winter weather to make a decent income. Patience.

I cannot offer any good ice fishing tips. I leave that to our local experts which is anyone out there setting their tip-ups. Seriously, there is a lot of good advice shared from shanty to shanty, on Facebook, or around the minnow tanks.

Mark Martin will be conducting his ice fishing school on Houghton Lake January 6-9, 2019. He and his pro staff even host a free seminar, sharing their tips on how to ice fish like a pro. The seminar is at noon at H&H Fireworks January 6.

So don't be surprised, even though the ice shanty towns are not popping up all over the lakes, there are a few with terminal shanti-itis braving the wind, the cold, the challenge as they spud their way off the shore. Relief and a cure comes only after the first hole is drilled as they sit patiently and wait for the first tip up to pop.

The cure for shanti-itis is ice fishing in Roscommon County. Our Catch Us If You Can contest continues through this season. And if you call to find out about the ice conditions, and no one answers, we are all out on the ice. Come drop your line. Lodging can be found here.

Roscommon - for rest and relaxation

The Fourth is over and what a party it was in Roscommon County - fireworks, fun on the lakes, craft shows and more. Busy, busy, busy...glad you could celebrate here.

Now, it is time to come back to the REAL vacation paradise of Michigan's Other Great Lakes. Of course, there are plenty of activities to keep your vacation busy, but what if you just need to get away, relax and re-create yourself?

Let me begin with a story. I live near Higgins Lake and this summer I have seen a couple on their bicycles that made me raise my eyebrows. Everyone is familiar with tandem bikes where one person sits behind the other. Well, there is a couple on the west side of the lake who sit side-by-side on their bike. You see, the wife is legally blind and had always enjoyed her bike rides around the lake. Her husband wanted her to be able to continue her exercise in the fresh air and cooling breeze so for want of a better word, he made a contraption that joins their bikes near the steering wheel. Now they both get out and enjoy a summer ride at Higgins Lake. They share the pedaling and he steers.

Janisse and Gary

Now what does that story have to do with coming to relax in Roscommon for your vacation? I just wanted to highlight the atmosphere created by the wonderful people who live and work here.

It is quiet and uncrowded (except for the Fourth) and you can safely enjoy a bike ride on peaceful, light traffic roads. If you need a few groceries or something from the hardware store, stop in any of the locally owned, family run businesses. You are so important to them they are up before dawn ready to greet you bright and early.  You are so important to them they carry just about every item you can think of and always go that extra step in customer service (I have yet to carry anything out to my car from the hardware store on the West side of the lake).


Oh, yes, the birds are noisy and may wake you up before the crack of dawn. But their calls replace the blare of sirens and honking of horns.

Don't feel like cooking? Stop in for some real home cooking at our area restaurants.

Come, relax in Roscommon County on your next vacation. It is in our nature to treat you as guests and welcome you like family as you stay in our natural settings and re-create yourself. Come soon, come often. For more information visit www.visithoughtonlake.com.

Now, a walk or a nap? I think I will do whatever comes naturally.

Spring - a beautiful time to Rediscover Roscommon

Last month after our LAST snowstorm I was able to take a vacation trip to Florida. The parts of my trip I liked most were the areas that reminded me of Michigan (sans alligators).

There is nothing that compares to spring in Michigan, especially Roscommon County. It is amazing to watch the springtime flowers come up out of the ground (yes, you can literally watch them grow if you are patient enough). The buds on the trees are unfurling into shiny new leaves, shades of green that rival the fall palette of color.

There are many signs of spring in Roscommon County, including the delight you see as families and people are out enjoying the warmer weather, whether dipping their lines in the lake, launching their boats or just enjoying the clean, fresh air and sunshine.

Another sign of spring is the bird migration and baby geese. So many look at geese as a nuisance but in their own habitat they are a pleasure to watch. If you are driving on Old 27 between Higgins Lake and Houghton Lake be sure to be on the alert for the new families as they love to hug the shoulder.

Speaking of birds - be sure to take yourself (and camera and binoculars) on the self guided Ausable Birding Trail.  From the tiniest of warblers to the herons and cranes, you can cross a number of birds off your checklist. Hawks, eagles and osprey nest throughout the county (fishing is good for them).

Whatever your delight, rediscover Roscommon County and Michigan's Other Great Lakes this spring. It's in our nature to welcome you. Lodging can be found here.

Directions

It has been awhile - hope you all had a wonderful summer. This month is an anniversary for me - 10 years in Roscommon County. I have the enviable job of telling people how wonderful a place this is to live and visit.
But 10 years is causing me some trouble. I have been here long enough to forget the names of roads and when people ask me for directions my mind automatically goes to the visual.
I saw an old deed one time that included in the description of the property line "by the tree where the bear was shot." That was acurate enough for those days, but when all that pops in my head today is "down the road a bit, around the second curve, make a left, and it is just past the doggie park" I get the strangest look.
Even GPS coordinates are almost passe. Navigation on our smart phones or in our vehicle make it nearly impossible to get lost, but that still doesn't answer the question where can I go swimming or fishing or hiking or biking.
Another challenge coming up is our newly-established AuSable Birding Trail. One of the best sites to see birds is to take the trail just past the tree with the sneakers hanging on it. Oh, there I go again...take M18 to just north of the short road, no, I mean take M18  to just north of M157 and there is a seasonal road to the east, follow that (keeping to your left and watching for the signs) and you will come to the flooding and dam
But now you see my quandry - so many wonderful sights are to be found on our back roads, seasonal roads. There is a solution, though. Maps! Be sure to stop in the office, ask for our snowmobile/orv trail map, and I can point you anywhere!
It is such an exciting month for us here in Roscommon County. The Firemen's Memorial is this weekend and if you have never attended I really encourage you to come - free entrance and parking! There is so much to do for the entire family.

Monday and Tuesday following that we are very privilleged to host Michigan Cares for Tourism. This wonderful group of tourism people are actually paying to come do a clean up and restoration of the RAM Center and CCC Museum. I am sure I will have a blog next week about that event.
Today is bright and sunny and I am about to jump ship - it is too beautiful to sit here in the office and not be outside with my camera, hiking through the woods.

Wouldn't you like to join me? Be sure to visit this fall and enjoy our trails, migrating birds, and fishing at Michigan's Other Great Lakes.

Sunny thoughts for a grey day

Winter 2016-17 mainly has been described as "weird." Now that it is officially over and spring is trying to arrive, it is time to look forward and spring ahead to all that it is in store for our area. I hope you find these newsworthy and noteworthy events as exciting as I do!

Tuesday Roscommon County received great news - +Michigan Cares for Tourism has chosen Roscommon for its 2017 #MC4T volunteer clean-up event.  They will be joined September 18-19 at the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) Museum and R. A. MacMullan Conference Center (RAM Center) in Roscommon by nearly 200 tourism professionals volunteering their time for the project. More details will follow, but what an opportunity for us to be gracious hosts and let them see what Roscommon County has to offer.

Earlier this month we received notice that Roscommon County was awarded an Iron Belle Trail feasibility grant. Biking is becoming ever more popular in the area and eventually be tied in with the State's Iron Belle Trail could mean a boost to our economy as well as give local residents a great bike path. What do you think about it?

Local chambers of commerce are busy setting up their summer events - we are looking forward to the summer kick off in St. Helen and its Blue Gill Festival; the Roscommon Art Show; and Houghton Lake Chamber business expo. Please be sure to visit the tourism bureau event calendar for all the events and details.

It is exciting to see new restaurants, a distillery, and more trails (including a birding trail) being developed. Fishing reports have been fantastic.

SAVE THE DATE - April 23 is the Catch Us If You Can drawing at Spicer's Boat City. FOURTEEN tagged fish were caught in all three lakes this year - will 7  year old Marisa be the one to walk away with $100,000 and a new boat? Or will it be Marianne whose husband caught a tagged fish a few years ago? So many stories to tell with this year's winners. Come share them with us on the 23rd.

On a personal note, it is great to open the windows in the morning and hear birds singing. So far I have seen geese, ducks, and red wing blackbirds return. Have you seen a red robin in Roscommon County yet? 

Ice is HOT!

There is a ragtime song from the 1890s - "A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." At Michigan's Other Great Lakes the title should be changed to "A Hot Time in Shanty Town Tonight."

I say that after spending some quality time with ice anglers and outdoor writers this week. Mark Martin has brought his Vacation Ice Fishing School to Houghton Lake for the second year in a row. Knowing he was coming a few weeks ago I spent a lot of time nervous about ice. No worries. And just to put the seal on it we have been suffering single digit temps and below zero wind chill for a few days.

Does that stop the guys from going out on the ice? H*** No! If yesterday was any indication, a day on Houghton Lake ice fishing is worth any frostbite. In all reality, these guys know what they are doing. They have proper attire, transportation, shanties and equipment. Their success tells the rest of the story.

During the pre-school fishing Martin said "(We are) starting the Mark Martin's ice fishing vacation school out right Walleye's Northern Pike, panfish."

When asking anglers what they like about ice fishing one said - "It's fishing." Another added it is a lot more than that. "When you are ice fishing, you really get to interact with the fish."

I am having such a good time with this great bunch of guys. Not on the ice, of course, I leave that up to the true sportsmen. But joining them after their day on the ice is giving me real pleasure. The stories they share, the pictures shown. The banter and cajoling. And I have not heard one fish tale I do not believe.

What is really impressive, too, is how much they love Houghton Lake. The fishing. The community. Well done all who have been hosting them for their stay and meals. 

It is not just Houghton Lake ready for ice anglers - since the wind died down Higgins Lake is reportedly iced over and Lake St. Helen has been welcoming tip-ups and jiggers for a while now.

You are all invited to have a "hot time" at Michigan's Other Great Lakes this winter. Stay warm. Stay safe. Visit Houghton Lake Fishermen, Higgins Lake Angler  and Lake St. Helen Fishing facebook pages for updates on ice and where the fish are biting. Find a list of bait shops on our website who will have the latest on ice conditions http://www.visithoughtonlake.com/fish.shtml#ice.

What's Snoo?

What's Snoo?
Oh, I don't know, not much.
What's new with you?

Well, folks, I do not know about you, but I think it is high time to start the "Snow Dance."

Snowmobilers, skiers, ice fishermen - patience is starting to run thin. Not to mention students who have gone nearly nine months without a snow day. Perhaps they are the first ones we should ask for help.

A traditional "student" snow dance consists of

• Putting  your pajamas on inside out,
• brushing you teeth with the opposite hand,
• flushing a minimum of 6 ice cubes down the toilet, and
• sleeping with a spoon under your pillow.

What do you say Roscommon County students? Send a picture or you tube of your favorite snow dance to info@visithoughtonlake.com and we will post it on our Facebook page.

Stu Colie at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters gave it his best effort with a pair of skis in hand, jumping and jousting. They are ready to rock and roll and will keep hosting classes and seminars until they can make some of the white stuff and groom the trails.

The St. Helen Snowpackers Club is well aware December 1 is the opening of snowmobiling in Michigan. Do not be surprised if you catch them out and about singing The Heikki Lunta Snow Dance Song--Written by David Riutta (P) 1970 WMPL Radio--Hancock, Michigan

It’s Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song,

Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song.

Snow, snow, snow!

Now I’ll dance some more,

And I’ll really know the score

How to make it snow, 

Come on, man, go, go, go!

Don’t even slow down 

till the snow starts falling down

Check it out on you tube and sing along!

Whomever you want to implore - Jack Frost, Frosty the Snowman, Old Man Winter - let's get some real snow coming (and I am not referring to that pre-Thanksgiving slushy driving mess). The calendar says it is still fall, but next time someone asks you "What's Snoo?" wouldn't it be great to say "SNOW" before you ask them what's new with you?

For lots of winter fun ideas at Michigan's Other Great Lakes, check out  http://www.visithoughtonlake.com/winter.shtml.