Opening day for trout on Paint Creek.

Fished upstream of Clarkston Rd in Lake Orion. No trout but I did see lots of fly fishers.

Fiberglass Art!

Fiberglass Art!

Check out my beautifully rebuilt Fiberglass fly rod, thanks to James DeLoria of Petosky Michigan.

I met James at the Michigan Fly Fishing Show this year, and sent him my old Wright & McGill 8-ft glass rod that had half of its guides missing. Little did I realize what a talented artist James is. He did a masterful job, don't you think?

My new rod now sports a freshly scraped blank with a clear-coat finish. James told me that my rod has an uncommon grip shape. I have since learned that the shape is called a "Hammer Handle" because it has an elliptical cross-section. James cleaned and filled the cork. He replaced the missing and damaged guides with new titanium ones, and added 3 additional guides to bring the total number to 9. The extra guides add both beauty and function. A new hook-keeper replaces my old rubber band. New red wraps and a spiral flourish makes the rod look great.

The best feature is the logo. James re-touched the worn "Wright & McGill Fre-Line FLR-8" logo and added "DeLoria rebuild 4/2013". This really makes my rod unique. I am definitely going to call it my "deLoria" when talking to it in the future. (yes, I talk to my fly rods)

Now all I need is for Bass season to open up and the recent flooding to subside, and I will be heading down to Dexter/Ann Arbor to fish the "Book Section" of the Huron River. Hopefully I will get a nice photo to post here of a big smallie next to my lovely glass rod.

To see some other wonderful art by James deLoria, and to check out some unique canoes that James also converted to art, click this post on the Fiberglass Manifesto Blog: http://bit.ly/XX9u14 and this post http://bit.ly/YChJus on The Graphic Weekly.

Oh, and here are a couple of photos of me using my fiberglass rod on the Hershey River in pre-rebuild condition: http://bit.ly/Z70AwB

And here is a link to a really dumb video I made while standing in the middle of Johnson Creek -the first time I ever fly-fished. Be sure to turn your speakers on. http://bit.ly/17BY3L4 Yeah, I was using my deLoria.

The "Hammer Handle" grip.

Wright & McGill "Fre-Line" - 8ft.  No. FLR-8

de Loria rebuild 4/2013 and a nice new spiral flourish.

The business end - featuring a new hook keeper.

Nice new red wraps and titanium guides.

Additional snake guides.

A new tip to replace my old cracked one.

Michigan Catch & Cook

Catch & Cook allows charter fishing clients who catch fish from Michigan’s Great Lakes an opportunity to take their fresh catch to a participating Michigan restaurant to cook and serve those fish to those clients. http://www.michigancatchandcook.com/

Catch one of these Michigan fish.

Sign at the Union Lake Michigan DNR boat launch.

Trout Fishing Today in SE Michigan

2OI3 ADULT TROUT STOCKING PROGRAM
HURON RMR - Proud Lake Recreation Area
SPRING MILL POND - Island Lake Recreation Area
Our hatcheries maintain broodstock for rearing the trout needed around the state. Every year
they have a certain amount of these larger fish that are surplus to their needs. These are the fish
stocked in these special regulation areas. The number of fish varies each year. This year there
are good numbers of both brown trout and rainbow trout. ENJOY!
The numbers and sizes of trout to be stocked this year are listed below.
Water bod)' Number - Species Averase Lensth (weieht)

Huron River 
1000 Brown Trout 13-14 inches (1 lb)
1000 Brown Trout 16-19 inches (1-3 lbs)
100 Brown Trout 24-26 inches (6-8 lbs
400 Rainbow Trout 14-16 inches (1-2 lbs)
500 Rainbow Trout 20-22 inches (3-5 lbs

spring mill pond 
150 Brown Trout 16-19 inches (1-3 lbs)
50 Brown Trout 24-26 inches (6-8 lbs
200 Rainbow Trout 14-16 inches (1-2 lbs)
200 Rainbow Trout 20-22 inches (3-5 lbs)

SPECIAL FISHING REGULATIONS APPLY:
Huron River in Proud Lake Recreation Area
Closed to fishing October 1 through March 31. From April I through Apri|26,2013, anglers are
limited to flies-only , catch & release. Youth under 12 years old may keep one fish between 8-12
inches. Beginning Aprll27 ,20L3, all baits are allowed and anglers may keep up to 5 trout over 8
inches, but only 3 over 15 inches, from the Huron River.
Sprins Mill Pond in Island Lake Recreation Area
Closed to fishing from March 15 through March 31. From April 1 through Aprll26,2013,
anglers are limited to artificial lures only, catch & release. Youth under 12 years old may keep
one fish between 8-12 inches. Beginning April27,2013, allbaits are allowed and anglers may
keep up to 5 fish over 8 inches, but only 3 fish over 15 inches, from Spring Mill Pond.
See the 2013 Michigan Fishing Guide for complete special regulation details. For additional
information about this program please feel free to contact one of the following Michigan DNR
Offices:
Proud Lake Recreation Area Headquarters 248'685-2433
Island Lake Recreation Area Headquarters 810-229-7061
Southeast Michigan DNR District Office 248-359-9040
SEE CURRENT FISHING GUIDE FOR COMPLETE DESCRIPTION OF REGULATIONS

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/showthread.php?t=460106
http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10364_63235-274824--,00.html