The weather forecast seems to be playing Jekyll & Hyde with our emotions and biorhythms trying to find a window of opportunity to hit some favorite water. You just have to go, simply because you won’t catch anything watching re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show. April is next week, spring break for many students and a perfect opportunity to bring your kids on a trail hike along a favorite stream to check on steelhead movement, perhaps wet a line as well. We look forward to April for all the promise of a new season, spring rains wash away all the dirty snow and begin the process of awaking Mother Nature as she shows glimpses of her soft side with crocus and iris blooms in between the harshness of freezing rain tantrums.

Hotel Walloon Hosts Hemingway Weekend- The Last Good Country

Hotel Walloon Hosts Hemingway Weekend- The Last Good Country

Trout Opener is April 29 and events across northern Michigan to celebrate another season chasing secluded trout in beaver dams and skinny water are on the books. Hotel Walloon is hosting the second annual Hemingway Weekend, a great package at a premier hotel on the shores of Walloon Lake in Walloon Village which includes a two days packed with local historians, a boat tour, Wine dinner, presentations from Hemingway Society president Chris Storable. True North Trout is honored to be doing a  fly tying presentation Sunday morning. Last year, I searched for flies of Hemingway era, and found very little, so I tied large nymphs like the Tellico and Pheasant Tail and a few ‘Hemingway Caddis’ simply for nostalgia and namesake. I would guess bucktail streamers and Wulff style dries may have been the order of the day. I am fairly certain these were not flies found in his creel, since their inventors came after 1910, and seriously doubt Papa was an early advocate for C&R , since most stories recollect the bounty and harvest of his younger days in The Last Good Country. If anyone has any suggestions for flies he may have used, please send me some intel.

Fly Swap Birch Run

Fly Swap Birch Run

The Fly Swap in Birch Run promises to be not only a tremendous gathering of anglers looking to pass on some gently used fly fishing equipment, but also a well attended garage sale for anglers looking to score on some unique and hard to find fly fishing gear. The event is held from 10-3pm at Birch Run Expo Center. I will make no predictions on how many will be on hand, but early reports tell me there will be plenty of local guides and fly shops looking to swap or sell some quality gear. If interested in a table, contact Jeff Johnson at 313-510-0928 or email jeffjohnsonriverguide@yahoo.com. True North Trout will be on hand will a limited run of our new T-Shirts, long sleeve in Sport Grey and short sleeve Compass Design in Blue. These can be found on our new Merchandise page and we are currently working with Mr. Williams from Green Bus Design for a Brook trout inspired design and limited run of Hex fishing shirts. First we would like to find how much interest there would be in a Rivers of the North T-shirt design. There is much at stake right now with the debate of Fish Farming not only in Grayling but also the Great Lakes. We have collaborated with Line-45 for a pretty cool design which will go to print in the coming month. Look for it.

Farm Dirt, Not our Water.

Farm Dirt, Not our Water.

Trout opener at Fullers North Branch Outing Club is always a festive and nostalgic event. This year promises to be exciting and special. Lovell Museum will be hosting events of the day, which will include the Leaky Wader 1K and Art Neuman Dedication.  This should draw few Trout Unlimited members from across the region.

True North Trout will be offering a place to stay after those early season drake hatches or the late night mouse adventures. Check out TroutBum Lodge on the North Branch while you are in Lovells for Trout Opener, we would love to have you stay for a weekend or a full week.