LANSING—The DNR’s Fisheries Division has released its draft five-year strategic plan, which will guide its future management activities for 2013-2017. “Charting the Course: Fisheries Division’s Framework for Managing Aquatic Resources” can be found online at www.michigan.gov/fishing. The DNR encourages readers to share input on the draft plan’s proposed strategies for managing Michigan’s aquatic resources.

Erich Ziegler of Crystal Falls MI. with a northern pike speared in an Iron County Lake. (Bill Ziegler photo)
By Bill Ziegler for the Iron County Reporter
IRON COUNTY—Fishing with a spear in the winter is a method of fishing that originated with Native Americans. This historical spearing was first documented in the mid 1700s in Eastern Upper Peninsula Great Lakes waters.

AMASA—A fishing contest for the Amasa 125th birthday party in 2016 is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 12.
Registration continues until Jan. 11 at Tall Pines in Amasa, Crystal Bait in Crystal Falls or the Iron County Chamber of Commerce office in Iron River.

IRON RIVER—    Iron River District Ranger Norman Nass announces a temporary, partial closure of the Ge-Che Trail near Lake Ottawa on the Iron River Ranger District.
“For public safety, the eastern half of the Ge-Che Hiking/Cross Country Ski Trail system will be closed for the 2012-2013 winter season,” states District Ranger Nass.

LANSING—Gov. Rick Snyder has signed legislation that would allow for the establishment of a hunting season for wolves in Michigan and provide fair indemnification payments for livestock killed by wolves, coyotes and cougars. 

Alex Nelson (left) and Jesse Thoreson, members of the Iron County 4-H Sharp Shooters, have been selected to represent Michigan as part of the air rifle team  in the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational in June in Nebraska. (Marvin Hill photo)
AMASA—Two Iron County competition shooters have been selected for the 4-H Shooting Sports National Invitational in Grand Island, Neb.

COVINGTON— The Ponnistus Athletic Club of Covington invites anglers to participate in their 28th annual ice fishing derby. The contest will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5 on Vermillac Lake in Covington.

MARQUETTE—The DNR is reminding snowmobilers of changes to the snowmobile trail signage system on state trails, including the addition of five new sign types and the elimination of 10 sign types used in past years.

The Ice Hawks squirt team took 2nd place out of 13 teams in the Marquette Holiday Tournament held Dec. 14-16.  Pictured are, front Andy Fredrickson; second row, from left, Ryan Piwarski, Nolan Anderson, Drew Alexa, Cole Alexa, Raul Padilla; back row Bink Cline, assistants coach Ken Jager, Drew Hebert, Holden Ross, Isaiah Jager, head coach Jim Anderson, and Danielle Polzin.  Not pictured assistant coach Mary Ann Cline. (Anderson photo)

This truck and angler fell through just upstream of the Bone Lake access site in northeast Iron County during a very cold February a couple years ago.  Some ice is never safe. (Ziegler photo)
By Bill Ziegler for the Iron County Reporter
IRON COUNTY— With many people coming home or to their cabins in Iron County for the Christmas holidays, many outdoors enthusiasts want to know if it is safe to go out on the ice.