Summer 2016 President Report
From the Helm . . .
On the spring of this year Captain Rich Haslett MCBA Vice President, Captain Bill Winowiecki, MCBA Northern Lake Michigan Director, Past President Captain Denny Grinold and myself had the honor of attending a 50-year anniversary of the Platte River MDNR hatchery, located a few miles east of Honor, MI. The dedication mark the introduction of coho salmon to Lake Michigan some 50 years ago. Special guest speaker was the man who started it all, Dr. Howard Tanner. Attending were Dr. Tanner, MDNR Fisheries Chief Jim Dexter, several state congressmen, MDNR chief Bill Moritz and MCBA. As a group we performed a “symbolic dumping ” of Coho salmon into the Platte River to mark this anniversary. Coming away from this dedication, I had time to reflect on the day’s event and thinking about how much our association is respected to be invited to this special 50-year dedication by Michigan’s DNR fisheries people. In May our association was present at the new fisheries research boat dedication named the ” Tanner “, which only supports that respect and team work we have with our fisheries people.
This spring, at Michigan State University, I had the honor to award our yearly MCBA scholarship to two students from the fish and wildlife studies at MSU. Each year MCBA gives out two scholarships to fisheries students. The students are Topio Knutson from Brooklyn, MI and Katie Kierczyaski from Boyne City, MI. Katie is spending her summer this year in Utah working on Cutthroat trout restoration, and Topio is spending his summer working with the Fish and Wildlife service on pheromones regarding sea lamprey in Northern Lake Huron. Both students come from a fishing background with parents in fishing related businesses and are planning on a lifelong career in fisheries management. We wish them long and successful careers in their fisheries related occupations.
Summer is here and I hope your coolers are full of fish with many happy customers. Stay safe out there. Hope to see everyone at our Annual Fall Workshop and Banquet at the Tree Tops Resort located just northeast of Gaylord, MI.
Captain Eric Andersen – President MCBA
