Hot TR

It was hot. Very hot. Too damn hot.

But me and Kipper managed to find some nice water and some
nice brookies. We camped at the Paint River Forks campground
where the North Branch and the South Branch of the Paint
River meet. When we arrived the North Branch was running
71-72 degrees and the South Branch 63-64 degrees. Our
campsite was located on the North Branch so I tied on a
popper and fished it first (didn't want to anger the fishing
gods by ignoring the water right next to my tent). I caught
a nice smallmouth soon enough, the first fish of the trip,
and figuring I'd done right by the fishing gods immediately
switched rods, tied on an Adams and walked over to the South
Branch to fish for trout.

I decided to wade in shorts and Teva sandals because the
thought of pulling on wool socks, neoprene booties and wading
boots seemed too ludicrous for words in the godawful heat.
They say the definition of insanity is doing the same things
over and over and expecting a different outcome. So when I
pulled off the sandals and found leeches under the straps
gorging on my life blood I knew I was insane and after that
I wore the wading boots.

I fished the South Branch of the Paint, Cook's Run, the Iron
River, the East Branch of the Net, Deer Lake and I would have
wet a line in the Fence River if I could have ever found it.
You see, my maps were no good up there. I had the Michigan
DeLorme, an Ottawa National Forest map and an Iron County map
all of which had serious shortcomings. It wasn't so bad in the
National Forest, the feds do a pretty good job of marking the
roads but in Copper Country State Forest it's all unmarked
logging roads and the most recent ones look well-traveled
while the one you're looking for appears overgrown and unused.

I wanted to go about six miles east as the crow flies and I
had some success with the Iron County map so I decided that
instead of driving 10 miles south to Hwy. 2, 6 miles east on
2, then 10 miles north on 141, I'd go the backcountry route
on the logging roads. I met a friendly Yooper on the way who
seemed surprised to see me. He rolled down his window and asked
me where I was going. I told him and added that I had a map.
"Your map's no good there, yah" he said and then he proceeded
to give me detailed, 16 point directions that included beer cans
mailed to trees, a purloined I 485 sign, also nailed to a tree,
a meadow, (drive right through), a rock quarry (ditto), and
creek crossing (ditto). I asked him if I was gonna stuck back
there and said, "No, good solid road all the way, yah". Easy
for him to say sitting in a two-story truck with tires taller
than Volvo. I must have screwed up around point 8 or 9 because
I never did find my way to 141 from Ponozzo Road (at some point
north of Gibbs City *all* the roads become Ponozzo Road ;-). I
finally figured I may be saving 20-30 miles but I wasn't saving
any time, so I took the long way around. I did eventually get to
Luke's Road and the East Branch of the Net River (Luke's Road
isn't marked of course, but there are three pennants, red, white
and blue, hanging from a tree where it intersects 141).

But at least I actually found and fished the East Branch of the
Net. No such luck with the Fence River. Pretty much the same
story, I was trying to get to the Fence from the Amasa side off
the Amasa Grade instead of driving all the way around to Witch
Lake. Next time I'll drive around. We never left Iron County
except for a trip to check out the Ottawa National Forest HQ
in Watersmeet and the campsite at Burned Dam where I decided
not to camp. I made a good choice, the campsite at Paint River
Forks costs exactly the same, nothing, and it's less crowded.

Cook's Run is overrated I think, too damn many Tag Alders.
Sung to the tune of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald":

Tag Alders we cry never give up their fly
From a cast that is errant or lazy

Damn those things are tough, I had an almost 100% loss rate
on anything that made contact with a g**damn Tag Alder.

The South Branch of the Paint fished OK but there were a lot
of spots along the Gold Mine Road where the water was too warm
to fish. The nicest, most productive water I fished was the
Iron River itself. What a pretty little stream and the brookies
from there were spectacularly colored and strong. I posted a
pic of the "secret spot" on the Iron River. Between the parking
and the river runs an old railroad grade that has been turned
into an OTR road. It makes for fairly easy access.

I'll recommend three books as being the most useful of the
bunch that I bought and the map of Iron County from the Chamber
of Commerce in Iron River.

Fish Michigan: 50 Rivers by Tom Huggler
Fish Michigan: 50 More Rivers by Tom Huggler
Trout Streams of Michigan: A Fly-Angler's Guide by Bob Linsenman

The Forest Service map is OK too but at $6 not really necessary.

I'll also recommend the Wooden Nickel Pub and Grill hard by
the Iron River on the Gibbs City Road. As neat and friendly a
little bar as you're likely to encounter and the grill is quite
good too.

Pics on abpf.

--
Ken Fortenberry