Category Archives: General
Hex!
Hex were everywhere …on the water, over the water, on the boat, on me, everywhere except where the fish wanted them to be; where ever that was.
My friend Joe Reed had invited me to float for hex on the Au Sable. We vacillated back and forth because of weather, but finally pulled up our skirts and went. Joe’s boat is a comfortable craft with options I don’t have on mine, like an automatic anchor retrieve. Nice Boat.
The trip was great and for most of the seven hours we didn’t see anyone else. Eventually, several guided floats passed us on their way to their favorite spots to await the hex. We weren’t that focused and fished the entire float.
Off again / on again rain kept us scampering for our rain jackets, taking them off as soon as the rain subsided, to keep from sweating in our waders more than we had to. A break for a sandwich and Bloody Mary made the float even more comfortable.
Three fish were seen rising and each one had the same tactic: It rose once, not to be seen again. Three times that happened, once resulting in a hook-up, but only momentarily. Nothing we showed them made a difference.
By 11:15 p.m. the hex appeared and appeared and appeared. They were everywhere. The sound of them buzzing us was a welcome change from the pesky mosquitoes that were unbearable without repellent. It was one of the most prolific hatches of hex I’ve seen; certainly this year.
This next paragraph should describe the sound of trout rising, gorging themselves and the hits and misses of casting to the sounds of their splash, but there were none. For several hours we sat amidst the hatch waiting, listening for anything other than the sound of swarms of hexagenia limbata. It was mindboggling.
By 1: 30 we were off the water. We were off the water but the hex stayed with us. The boat, our gear, waders and coolers were still covered with them. Even when we removed the stuff from the boat, some remained for the ride back.
I can’t account for the lack of interest from the browns, I can only hope the scene of hex blanketing the water will be repeated and trigger a feeding frenzy.
It’s all good. And yes, it was worth the trip.
TD
Category Archives: General
There’s A Price To Be Paid To Go Fishing!
It’s four in the morning and Seamus is snoring, lying curled up against the back of my knees. Occasionally he lets out a whine and a whimper as he’s chasing mice, squirrels or little creepy-crawlers in his dreams.
Occasionally there is work to be done that takes precedence over fishing. (Don’t feel too sorry for me, it doesn’t happen that often.) But when it does, Seamus pitches in and scours the underbrush and piles of leaves left over from last fall and gets mesmerized to the point he loses track of time. In fact, it takes several calls – one at least at a higher decibel level than usual – to get his attention.
Yesterday was a work day at the cabin: cutting grass, running the trimmer, burning small debris – a general cleanup. Never at a loss for something to do, Seamus took on the characteristic of a hog. Using his nose to root beneath the vegetation and leaves in and around the woodlot, he got so intense, his eyes glazed over and was panting as though he just finished a day’s hunt. He had a ball and he must have come across a snake because all of a sudden he jumped straight up like a startled deer, circled the spot and never put his nose beneath the vines again. It was like watching a kid learning to ride a bicycle; falling but not wanting to give up and not sure of what to do next.
We all got our jobs done under the guiding hand of “She Who Must Be Obeyed” (I’ve worked for Drill Instructors with fewer expectations.) and can now get my stuff together for a night float on the Au Sable to take advantage of the hex hatch for browns.
Stay tuned.
TD
Category Archives: General
Happy Forty Fifth Anniversary!
June 21st, 1969, “She Who Must Be Obeyed” married a wide-eyed kid she met in high school after waiting for him to return from Viet Nam. Forty five years of putting up with his shenanigans, raising three kids, spoiling grandkids, hunting dogs and tolerating his “trout bum” ways later, she’s agreed to renew his contract for another year.
Thanks, baby.
TD
Category Archives: General
Priorities!
What happens when you find yourself with the dilemma of the hex being on, Seamus wanting and needing to get some running in, the grass at the cabin needing to be cut and the overwhelming urge to beat brush to my favorite spot on the Jordan? Well, you plan ahead and bring “She Who Must Be Obeyed” to help keep you focused on priorities. The problem becomes, whose priorities?
I bought a lawnmower with a Koehler engine a couple of years ago because they start easy and generally perform exceptionally well and taught “She Who Must Be Obeyed” how to start and run it. And what I discovered was, “She Who Must Be Obeyed” likes cutting grass. One problem solved!
That leaves Seamus …and he’s not as easily satisfied. So we begin at 5:30 and go for a mile and a half jaunt, share bacon and while he’s taking his morning nap, I sneak out and fight the mosquitoes that seem to have taken over the bog I trek thru to get to “Rainbow Bend” where I’ve hit the trifecta several times.
The hex haven’t hit the Jordan yet …as far as I know. So a trip to the Au Sable is a must and is put into the itinerary. Now all I have to do is convince “She Who Must Be Obeyed” it’s refreshing to begin the day at 5:30 and go on a jaunt with Seamus ….so I can sleep in after fishing into the night. Hmm!
I have a feeling, it might cost me dinner at the Argon Supper Club.
TD
Category Archives: General
Conservation Takes a Loss
This obituary was sent by Friends of the Jordan.
Dr. John William Richter, 62, of East Jordan, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at his home. He was born December 2, 1951, in Clare to Charles and Addie (Popp) Richter, and graduated from Midland High School in 1970. John then graduated from Michigan State University as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1979. He partnered with his brother, Dr. Tom Richter at Freeland Veterinary Clinic in Freeland from 1979-1984. In 1984,
John moved to East Jordan with the dream of living Up North, and to pursue his love and respect for the Jordan Valley. At that time, he started the Jordan Valley Animal Clinic where he’s provided thirty years of compassionate care to thousands of animals and their beloved owners.
In his first years of business, John served on the East Jordan Family Health Center Board, became a member of the East Jordan Chamber of Commerce, and served on the committee of the East Jordan Freedom Festival. In 1990, he helped to found and become a devoted member of The Friends of the Jordan River Watershed. Serving as its President, he was instrumental in preventing drilling for oil and gas in the Jordan Valley, and fighting successfully the Alba Well injection of leachate from Bay Harbor into Antrim County.
Dr. Richter was passionate about the preservation of the Jordan Valley, educating the community about bio-mass fuels and fracking, and educating the youth about the environment. In 2008, he was chosen as East Jordan’s Citizen of the Year. He was proudest of his accomplishments in earning the Environmentalist of the Year in 2008 with the Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council, and receiving its Clarence Kroupa Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013, and the Friends of the Jordan Honor Award in 2009.
John is survived by his children, Lisa Christine (Kevin) Dunson-Richter of East Jordan, and Nathan Jarad Richter of Clare; grandchildren, Alicia (Mike) Whiteford, John Richards, Karlee Dunson, Karah Dunson, and Katlynn Dunson; great grandchildren Alexis and Parker Whiteford, brothers Charles Richter of Traverse City, and Thomas Richter of Onaway; nieces and nephew; significant other, Brenda Kirkpatrick of East Jordan. John is also survived by his former wives, MaryJo (Peacock) Richter of East Jordan, and Kerry Ovaitt of Clare. John’s parents preceded him in death. John also leaves behind many close friends, including the staff and clients of the Jordan Valley Animal Clinic, and board members past and present of his beloved Friends of the Jordan.
His family thanks Hospice of Northwest Michigan, and its team of nurses Cindy and Julie and social worker, Bob.
Please join in a celebration of Dr. John W. Richter’s life, from 1-4, Saturday, June 14, at the Friends of the Jordan Watershed Center, 101 Union Street, East Jordan.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Friends of the Jordan Watershed Council, PO Box 412, East Jordan, MI 49727.
The Penzien Funeral Home in East Jordan is assisting the family.
Category Archives: General
Welcome to Terry Drinkwine Outdoors!
Welcome to Terry Drinkwine Outdoors. Pour yourself “two fingers of bourbon” sit back and sink into your favorite chair, close your eyes, relax and let your mind take you back to warm days standing in a river, your favorite fly rod in hand, casting flies you tied, maybe even designed.
You may find yourself smiling, even laughing, as Seamus, my Brittany and best friend, and I share our adventures in the out-of-doors as we tromp the grouse coverts hunting for bonasa umbellus, knowing we could be you and your best friend – your bird dog. Take another sip of bourbon and enjoy.
In the coming days, I’ll share my many days on the Jordan River, the Au Sable and the Manistee, as well as on small creeks – some without names. I’ll remind you of the joy and satisfaction of just “being there.”
I’ll tell you of the exploits of the Ostrich Society, consisting of “rascals” dedicated to “THE TRUTH, WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH …give or take a lie or two.
And, of course, the proof is always in the showing, I’ll share photos and hope you will do the same.
For now, I offer the story behind the 25 inch brown pictured in the header I took on the Lower Au Sable with my friend Rich Merlino. The rest of this site will be up and running in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for tuning in and I’ll see you on the river.
Terry Drinkwine