Friday, April 30, 2010
Steelhead In The St. Marys
It seems that every few years a writer from some publication gets the urge to head to Sault Ste. Marie and do some early season fishing for steelhead.
The latest is from Eric Sharp. See: St. Marys full of steelhead
The latest is from Eric Sharp. See: St. Marys full of steelhead
Labels: fish, fishing, St. Marys River
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Operation Taconite For The 2009-2010 Season Has Begun
Monday, November 30, 2009
Good News For The Sturgeon
Via GL Echo: Old fish makes new Great Lakes comeback
This is of interest to Neebish Island folks as historically, the St. Marys River has had a self-sustaining population of sturgeon.
This is of interest to Neebish Island folks as historically, the St. Marys River has had a self-sustaining population of sturgeon.
Labels: ecology, fish;, St. Marys River
Thursday, November 05, 2009
A Valuable Lesson With A Happy Ending
It wasn't a November Witch that sunk the hunters' fishing boat but it was close enough.
The Soo Evening News has the story of what happened to a party trying to get back to Barbeau after hunting on Neebish Island.
Munscong Bay storm
9and10News has the video story: 3 Hunters, Dog Survive Boat Capsizing
(as a side note, I first watched this story on 9and10 News' handy iPhone app)
The Soo Evening News has the story of what happened to a party trying to get back to Barbeau after hunting on Neebish Island.
Munscong Bay storm
9and10News has the video story: 3 Hunters, Dog Survive Boat Capsizing
(as a side note, I first watched this story on 9and10 News' handy iPhone app)
Labels: boat, munuscong, rescue, safety, St. Marys River
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Why Doesn't Lime Island Get More Attention?
Right down the river from Neebish Island sits Lime Island, a former site for lime kilns and a freighter refueling stop. And as this article at Michigan.gov states: Lime Island is an Undiscovered Gem.
Now the seasonal caretakers are finally getting the recognition they deserve. See the SooEveningNews: Lime Island ceremony to honor Chilsons
Michigan DNR has camping information here: Lime Island State Forest Campground
Now the seasonal caretakers are finally getting the recognition they deserve. See the SooEveningNews: Lime Island ceremony to honor Chilsons
Michigan DNR has camping information here: Lime Island State Forest Campground
Labels: camping, Lime Island, St. Marys River, toursim
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
St. Marys River Fish Survey
Via SooToday: St. Marys River boaters are asked to watch for this: Fisheries Task Group plans survey on St. Marys River in August
Labels: ecology, fishing, St. Marys River, study
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
'No Body Contact' Advisory
UPDATE: As expected, the Advisory was lifted for all areas August 13th. The water is safe to enter once again. For more on combined sewage overflows see The Free Press: How our lakes get so dirty
And this event serves as another reminder that the more we can reduce runoff the fewer times we'll have sewage in the St. Marys river.
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From 9&10 News: Chippewa County Health Department Issues Advisory After Sewage Overflow
I checked the Chippewa County Health Department web site tonight and the upper portions of the river have had the contact ban lifted so I'd expect E. coli levels to drop enough in the next 24-48 hours that the Neebish Island shoreline will have its ban lifted too.
And this event serves as another reminder that the more we can reduce runoff the fewer times we'll have sewage in the St. Marys river.
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From 9&10 News: Chippewa County Health Department Issues Advisory After Sewage Overflow
The Chippewa County Health Department issued a 'no body contact' advisory for areas along the north shore of Sugar Island within the Lake George Channel and the lower St. Mary's River down to Neebish Island.
I checked the Chippewa County Health Department web site tonight and the upper portions of the river have had the contact ban lifted so I'd expect E. coli levels to drop enough in the next 24-48 hours that the Neebish Island shoreline will have its ban lifted too.
Labels: pollution, St. Marys River
Friday, July 24, 2009
There Will Be A New Soo Lock
But getting a new lock in the Sault may be like saying the Sun is going to burn out eventually. Both may be certainties but there's no reason to wait around for them.
Via DetFreePress: A new Soo lock, maybe
Via DetFreePress: A new Soo lock, maybe
Labels: locks, St. Marys River
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Getting The Fishing Secret Out
The St. Marys River is a great place for fishing. But for some reason, no one outside of Michigan and Ontario knows this.
Eric Sharp at the Detroit Free Press is doing his best to get the word out though.
See: There's nothing fishy about big, numerous steelhead
Eric Sharp at the Detroit Free Press is doing his best to get the word out though.
See: There's nothing fishy about big, numerous steelhead
Last winter I told some California anglers about the great steelhead fishing in the Great Lakes. While they might not have considered it an outright lie, you could see they thought it was an exaggeration.
Labels: economy, fishing, St. Marys River, toursim
Pictures From Around Neebish Island
Here are a couple of links to pictures people have posted from around Neebish Island.
A user by the name of Melnick5 at Flickr has tagged numerous photographs from the St. Marys River.
At PaulRetherford.net see pictures from a Boat ride with dogs around Neebish Island in St. Mary’s River Upper Michigan
A user by the name of Melnick5 at Flickr has tagged numerous photographs from the St. Marys River.
At PaulRetherford.net see pictures from a Boat ride with dogs around Neebish Island in St. Mary’s River Upper Michigan
Labels: pictures, St. Marys River
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Cruising The North Channel
The North Channel of Lake Huron is a freshwater paradise, yet in many places is still pristine and remote. Some of the charts have not been re-surveyed since the original soundings in the early 1800's!
And I consider Neebish Island the perfect home-base for cruising the north channel of Lake Huron by boat.
While daydreaming about cruising around in a Nimble Nomad, Nordic Tug, or C-dory; I came across an article originally posted in 1994 that reminded me about all that the North Channel has to offer.
See continuouswave.com: The North Channel and Manitoulin Island
And I consider Neebish Island the perfect home-base for cruising the north channel of Lake Huron by boat.
While daydreaming about cruising around in a Nimble Nomad, Nordic Tug, or C-dory; I came across an article originally posted in 1994 that reminded me about all that the North Channel has to offer.
See continuouswave.com: The North Channel and Manitoulin Island
Labels: boat, North Channel, St. Marys River
Thursday, June 04, 2009
First Great Lakes Lighthouse Since 1894 Is In Richards Landing
Via the SaultStar.com: Ray of Light — Little could dim Ray Stortini’s dream of a new lighthouse in Richards Landing
The upper portion of the lighthouse is modelled after the historic Peggy’s Cove lighthouse in Nova Scotia.
The lower portion resembles the former area lighthouse, which stood on Neebish Island.
Labels: St. Marys River
Friday, May 01, 2009
Lock Tease
First it was reported that the Soo would finally get a new "superlock". See: Construction of superlock to begin in June
But then the Army Corps of Engineers decided not to fund the project. See: Army Corps shocks shipping industry by rejecting lock project
However, it appears construction of new coffer dams will proceed this summer.
But then the Army Corps of Engineers decided not to fund the project. See: Army Corps shocks shipping industry by rejecting lock project
However, it appears construction of new coffer dams will proceed this summer.
Labels: locks, money, St. Marys River
Monday, April 13, 2009
Restocking Herring
The St. Marys River is the only remaining area of the Great Lakes with a noticeable herring population. But the Michigan DNR is now studying the possibility of stocking this once plentiful fish.
See: DNR Studies Prospects for Sustainable Lake Herring Fishery in Lake Huron
See: DNR Studies Prospects for Sustainable Lake Herring Fishery in Lake Huron
Labels: fishing, invasive species, St. Marys River
Friday, April 03, 2009
Ice News
[I've been in Colorado and Wyoming the past couple of weeks and away from updating the site with new posts. Hopefully I can get back to at least one post per week here]
Sault Boat Watcher on the ice situation around Neebish Island: Ice Still Affecting St. Marys River
Sault Boat Watcher on the ice situation around Neebish Island: Ice Still Affecting St. Marys River
Labels: St. Marys River, weather
Friday, March 06, 2009
Ice Bridge Remaining Open For Now
'Operation Taconite' starts Saturday, March 7th.
See SEN: Operation Taconite
See SEN: Operation Taconite
“On Saturday we will make the initial cuts down by Mud Lake (Munuscong Bay),” said Director of Traffic Services Mark Gill, warning ATV operators, snowmobilers and ice fishermen to avoid any proximity to the shipping channels.
Labels: shipping, St. Marys River
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Freeing The Algosar
The Soo Evening News had a story last week about USCG Icebreakers helping the Algosar get into port.
See: Mission Accomplished
See: Mission Accomplished
Labels: freighter, shipping, St. Marys River
Thursday, January 15, 2009
West Neebish Channel Closing
SooToday: In accordance with 33 CFR 162.117, the captain of the port Sault Ste. Marie will close the West Neebish Channel effective 1400 local time on January 17, 2009
Labels: shipping, St. Marys River, weather
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Stuck At The Rock Cut
The Presque Isle, Roger Blough, and Canadian Enterprise were all waiting in the St. Marys River around Neebish Island. It took three tugs to free up the Presque Isla last night.
See BoatNerd:Ice causing delays in St. Marys River, elsewhere
See BoatNerd:Ice causing delays in St. Marys River, elsewhere
Labels: freighter, St. Marys River
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Paddle-To-The-Sea Redux
'Paddle-To-The-Sea is the book I get for all my friends when they have a baby. Here's a story about a family who released their own version just south of Neebish Island on the St. Marys River:
On July 12, 2007, six-year-old Reading Beardslee and her seven-year-old sibling Jasper launched a toy canoe into the St. Mary's River.
The launch of the tiny vessel, dubbed Paddle-to-the-Sea, took place about halfway between De Tour, Michigan and Drummond Island.
The full story is at the White Lake Beacon: Paddle-to-the-Sea: A small sliver of imagination lives on
Available at Amazon.com: Paddle-to-the-Sea
On July 12, 2007, six-year-old Reading Beardslee and her seven-year-old sibling Jasper launched a toy canoe into the St. Mary's River.
The launch of the tiny vessel, dubbed Paddle-to-the-Sea, took place about halfway between De Tour, Michigan and Drummond Island.
The full story is at the White Lake Beacon: Paddle-to-the-Sea: A small sliver of imagination lives on
Available at Amazon.com: Paddle-to-the-Sea
Labels: books, history, St. Marys River
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Night Shining - Don't Do It
Saw this in the Boatnerd News section:
Ship Shiners Asked to Stop
10/02:
On September 22 The Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie reported that a Coast Guard official said an outbreak of nighttime ship shinnings around three critical turns in St. Mary's River channels are more a case of ignorance than criminal intent. Complaints of high-powered shore lights directed at passing ships have come from ships near Barbeau, Mission Point and the Sawmill Point area of Neebish Island. The Coast Guard suspects that boatwatchers are wielding hand-held spotlights to look over passing ships, unaware of the hazard the lights pose to ships and crew. Very dangerous at any point in night passage, the strong spotlights are especially hazardous in close-quarters channels like the lower St. Mary's. At the moment, the Coast Guard is only interested in seeking cooperation by keeping the lights off the ships, and not interested in filing charges and prosecuting.
Labels: freighter, St. Marys River
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fishing For Pink Salmon In The St. Marys River
The Detroit Free Press has had several stories about unique fishing opportunities in Michigan recently. The latest is about the St. Marys River north of Neebish Island.
See: Fly-fishing for these salmon is simple, fun
See: Fly-fishing for these salmon is simple, fun
Labels: fishing, St. Marys River
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
St. Marys River Water Quality
The levels of organic contaminants and heavy metals in the St. Marys River are showing improvement. See: Water quality in the St. Marys River is ‘definitely’ improving
However, isn't there a saying about when you point a finger three more point back at you? It is revealed that after blaming Soo, Ontario; Sugar Island might have to ask if the beach closings of last year were due to sewer discharge from the Michigan side of the river. See: Sault Michigan does not test storm sewer outfalls; Sault Ontario does
However, isn't there a saying about when you point a finger three more point back at you? It is revealed that after blaming Soo, Ontario; Sugar Island might have to ask if the beach closings of last year were due to sewer discharge from the Michigan side of the river. See: Sault Michigan does not test storm sewer outfalls; Sault Ontario does
Labels: pollution, St. Marys River, water
Friday, July 04, 2008
If You See A Floating Dock That Appears Lost...
SooToday - See this float by?
On June 14, 2008, we moved three starting platforms for the Dragon Boat Races to the Sailing Club.
On Monday June 16, 2008, one went missing.
Would you ask your readers if they have seen the attached dock floating down the St. Marys River to please call Sault Search & Rescue at 759-5878.
As a non-profit group, replacing this dock will cut into our operating budget.
Labels: St. Marys River
