We were in TC this afternoon meeting with the Regional owners of Exit Realty Michigan. After the meeting we went over tot he Boardman and watched the Steelheaders for awhile. The fish are running and running strong. The weather is great and getting better everyday…thank god. I guess I’ll have to get my license and get out there next week. I need top take a break from real estate. Things are getting busy in the market and we are doing very well thank you!

Time to Fish

It is about three weeks now until Trout opener in Northern Michigan. Inasmuch as it snowed as recently as the day before yesterday, I am not to sure about the possibility of good weather for opening day.

We attended the Fly Fishing Film tour sponsored by “The Drake” magazine this past Sunday. It was held at the newly renovated State Theatre in downtown Traverse City. What a Gem! Like walking back in time to the movie shows of the 50’s. And the movie was pretty good too. It is actually a compliation of a number of new & yet to be released Fly Fishing films. We are talking extreme fly fishing here, from Kamchatka to New Zealand to the California flats for Bass no less. The house was full and it is all going for a good cause…the newly formed Michigan Anglers for Conservation. Kudos to Chad Brown from Homewaters Realty and Kirk The from The Northern Angler, as well as several other sponsors who worked to bring this event to Northern Michigan. We had a good time with a bunch of good people!

The Michigan DNR announced this morning a complete and total ban on fishing on all Northern Michigan rivers using worms as bait. The announcement comes on the heels of a recent study that indicates wild trout are becoming sick at an alarming rate from Hurling disease. Hurling is a rare but non-fatal disease that attacks the digestive system of the fish and results in Hurling or more commonly known as acute fish vomiting.  Apparently the ban does not affect fly-fishing, a somewhat over-rated sport that utilizes artificial bait. These artificial baits consist of a myriad of hairs, hides, hackles, and other humdrum hodads usually gleaned from the carcass of a dead animal or bird. The study did not cite a reason why the trout do not “hurl” following a meal of this artificail bait.

The study was initiated by the DNR and the DEQ as a result of a recent well publisized fishing trip where photos were taken of a well hurled pair of hip waders used by the former vice-president. At the time of the incident, a visibly angered Cheney assailed the Obama and Granholm adminsitrations for a deliberate “smear” tactic. Following a subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Cheney had been using worms grown at a Crawford, Texas ranch that used manure from Bulls as well as waste from the septic sytem, to expedite the growth of the worms.  The result has been determined to be a toxic combination of Bulls–t and Bushs–t.  When asked how this could have happened, an Obama adminstration official replied ” That would only open up a can of worms so I won’t comment further other than to say you can put lipstick on a worm…but it’s still a worm”.

Aooriximately 7000 new DNR officers will be stationed at all public access points on all rivers north of the Zilwaukee bridge using funds from the Obama stimulas package. The officers will be looking for fisherman carrying a spinning rod and a red Hills Brothers coffee can filled the Crawford worms that are full of s–t, in an effort to prevent literally tons of hurled Bull/Bushs–t from flowing into the Great Lakes.

February 23, 2009

Winter persists vigorously in Trout  Country. Although we had a significant melt-off a week or so ago,
it all returned this past weekend. It is none-the-less beautiful and has been
one of the most stunningingly beautiful winters in many years. There have been
many, many, days when I said “another photo op” and have taken several
excellent winter scenes. We went snowshoeing along the Cedar yesterday. Obviously,
it was quiet and full of natural wonder. I see the fishing shows are starting
up in the next few weeks so it is not long to spring. I hope we have a spring
as we did when fall fell to winter…literally overnight. I suspect that we will
have snow on the ground one day and warm spring weather the next. Our lakes
& streams should benefit from all of the snow we have had and hopefully,
the late (and wet) ground will be good for Morel hunting as last year proved
far too dry. Should be good for a reduction in wildfires as well.

Pan-Fried Trout with Bacon

Bon Appétit |  April 2001

 yield: Makes 2 servings; can be doubled

Steamed spinach and parsleyed baby red potatoes round out this seasonal plate. Chocolate cream pie is always in season.

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Ingredients

• 4 bacon slices
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 2 8- to 10-ounce trout, boned
• All purpose flour
• 1 cup thinly sliced green onions
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 4 teaspoons drained capers
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon

Preparation

Cook bacon in large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Crumble bacon. Pour off all but 3 tablespoons drippings from skillet. Add 1 tablespoon butter and stir to melt. Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper. Coat flesh side of fish with flour; shake off excess. Add fish, flesh side down, to skillet. Cook 2 minutes. Turn fish over. Cook until just opaque in center, about 2 minutes. Transfer fish to 2 plates. Pour off drippings from skillet; wipe skillet clean. Melt 4 tablespoons butter in same skillet over medium heat. Add all but 2 tablespoons onions; sauté 3 minutes. Stir in bacon, lemon juice, capers, and tarragon. Season sauce with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over fish. Sprinkle fish with 2 tablespoons green onions.

Although I don’t keep any trout that I catch, and truth is I don’t catch that many, I still like to have trout on a plate every so often.  Here then are some of my favorite recipes. I’ll include more in the future…after I’ve tried them of course.

Camping Food Ideas from FamilyFun

 Pan-Fried Trout

After a long day of outdoor activities, nothing satisfies appetites as much as a meal cooked over a hot campfire. Here are our tried-and-true favorites–pan-fried trout and three campfire breads–sure to please even the choosiest of campers.

Here is a quick fish-coating mix to pack and take along on a fishing trip. Young anglers who like extra crunch could use cornmeal instead of flour.

Ingredients

1/2 cup all-purpose flour or cornmeal
2 tsp. dried parsley
1 tsp. dried minced onions
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. dried lemon peel
1/4 tsp. pepper
A pinch of cayenne
2 9-oz. trout, cleaned and filleted
1 tbsp. butter or oil

At home, mix the dry ingredients in a large sealable plastic bag. At the camp, shake the cleaned fish in the bag of dry mix. Heat the butter or oil in a heavy frying pan set on a grill about 1 inch above hot coals. Cook the coated fish for six minutes, flip it over and continue cooking until it flakes. Serves four. 

SNOW!!!! Not stop snow here in Northwest Michigan. This is the first winter in ever that has required me to have my roof shoveled…three feet as of today and it is only the 6th of December! But we were ready this time so we are having some fun. It is beautiful. We are snowshoeing and X-country skiing. Lots of photo ops.

Shanty Creek Resort opened the slopes on Thanksgiving Day and the skiing is superb. The village (Bellaire is all decked out for Christmas and there are tons of people shopping and going to the eateries in town. We just got back from a coffee at Moka, our local (and cool) coffee shop & gourmet deli/bakery.

I expect that if the snow keeps up, we’ll run out of room to push it and have to bring in dumptrucks to cart it off. But that is what makes this area one of the best in the lower peninsula for winter sports. We are the Snowbelt and get all of the lake effect snow. There is a brand new snowmobile trail being built that comes from the main trail in Mancelona right into Bellaire for the first time in history, so we expect to get a serious amount of business from that. I am seeing more sled dog teams as well.

Hello & Welcome

This is the first Blog and obviously the first post that I have written. Trout Country Properties is the very first real estate website devoted solely to properties that are on rivers, streams, brooks, and any other form of moving water that hold trout, and more specifically, waters that are in Northwest Michigan. I own and am the broker of Exit Chain-O-Lakes Realty in Bellaire Mi. the heart of the pristine Chain of Lakes region. I decided to focus on a niche that I have a passion for…trout, rivers, & fly-fishing. Now, I’m going to have some fun and show properties that, when I’m done showing, I’ll be right where I can fish for awhile.  I am adding an image gallery that will be very relaxing and enjoyable for those of you who are sitting at your desks or in your office. There will also be a “Buy Stuff” thumb that will feature cool products and local art that are realted to trout,rivers, & flyfishing.

Again, this is something different for a real estate site because as I said, I want to have some fun!

Please let me know your thoughts about the site, the idea, or anything that you would like to see or see improved

Bob Edwards