The river below Mio received a massive spike in popularity during the 1998 season. In the long term view this is, no doubt, a good thing. The Big Water needs more friends, particularly fly fishing fans who do not abuse the resource. But, short term (hopefully short term), the river suffered some severe negative shocks due to this influx of attention.
There certainly were many more anglers, both afoot and adrift, between Mio and USFS 4001 throughout the 1998 season. And, for the most part, that is a good thing. The Au Sable boats from Gates Au Sable Lodge and The Fly Factory, the drift boats with fly anglers who were trying to learn the water, and the hatchmatchers at Perry Creek Flat, the Sand Hill Flat, the Islands, Comins Flat, Werewolf Bend, and the Bear Hole use and enjoy the river softly.
The negative is that, by the end of the season, the sport angling for trophy-size fish (in my definition a trout from the Big Water reaches trophy, multiple-photograph status at 20") actually suffered in comparison to 1997.
I need to sort and look at issues in a fairly simple way in order not to lose track, let alone comprehension and, it seems to me, that the large measure of this condition is due to poaching. Throughout the course of the season it was boldly apparent that bait was being used heavily in the trophy water stretch from Mio to McKinley. On every float trip we observed those empty, blue containers at every public access. We picked them up.
They were there again the next day. Often we saw worm anglers at work. About half the time these folks would act shocked, surprised, embarrassed when told of the regulations. They would pick up their stuff and leave. The other times often developed into heated affairs with threats of mayhem.
Now, I admit to some responsibility here. I have written about the charms and rewards of the Au Sable, partially to thwart the effects of idiots who have said and written that there are no big fish in the river, partially to get more fly anglers to understand and appreciate the Big Water. Only fly anglers care enough to protect it and it needs protection. But, the widespread press of the renewed, invigorated stocking program is (in my opinion) what attracted the poachers. They came in waves. On the banks. In boats. In broad daylight. Skulking through the trees at dusk and dawn. And my God, did they kill fish! Not just 10-14" rainbows, but a significant number of trophy browns and bows over 20" went into freezers. My guess is that literally thousands of the newly planted fish and perhaps up to 200 trophy fish were stolen from us in the stretch between Mio and McKinley during the 1998 season.
Rich and Peg Ebert, the DNR law enforcement officers in Oscoda County, went after the violators with real vigor and made some spectacular busts throughout the season. And I think they made a very positive impact. But we will have to encourage and support the DNR heavily if we intend to protect the river throughout the entire system, on all branches, in the coming season and beyond.
Citizen support is key. Let the DNR know that you support the officers' efforts to en-force the laws, that you want them to have the tools, resources, and incentives to pursue violators aggressively. Confront poachers. Report them.
After some research, I've discovered that it is illegal to shoot poachers and it is even illegal to beat them to a pulp, so I am going to carry a cellular phone whenever I am on or near the river. The officers will be on speed dial.
I am absolutely, totally supportive of the stocking program. The long range impact will be wonderful. The enforcement of regulations, with our support, will deter the pigs. RWOL
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