It took the course of a year to bring me back to The Thumb. To be more precise, it took the spawning of smallmouth bass to bring me back to The Thumb … Port Austin to be exact.
To some it might seem strange for grown men and women to follow the mating habits of fish, but spawning smallmouth in waddable Eagle Bay and Grindstone Harbor have that allure. So 50 plus anglers – fly fishers to be exact – members of the Michigan Fly Fishing Club took over the Blue Spruce Motor Lodge and the several restaurants in the not so busy town that will assuredly go through a transformation after Memorial Day and swell in population.
Port Austin is one of those little towns along Lake Huron that, at one time, were fishing villages or places where Michigan’s natural resources gave residents a livelihood.
Today, after losing the industry, those hamlets have beautifully transformed harbors for pleasure boaters and sport-fishers. From perch to salmon, The Thumb is a destination for vacationers wanting a two hour or less trip from the Detroit area.
The fish were there, the town was hospitable and a little restaurant next to the harbor, served the best breakfast I’ve had anywhere. Couple that with friends and it doesn’t get any better.
See you next year.
TD