Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree on tap for this weekend
Sturgeon for Tomorrow is hosting the Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree Feb 1-2 and activities for the event will be held on Black Lake in front of the former Black Lake Hotel and will coincide with the opening of the Black Lake Sturgeon season, which opens on Saturday.
“For several years, we’ve discussed bringing the Shivaree back, and refine it so it is focused on the lake sturgeon,” said Sturgeon for Tomorrow president Brenda Archambo.
Proceeds from the Shivaree will fund the lake sturgeon hatchery, research, and habitat conservation and outreach programs. Events begin Friday at 12 p.m. with registration for the fishing contest and poker run as well as registration for sturgeon fishing at the M-211 Department of Natural Resources (DNR) field office.
“We’ve put a lot of work into the population, not only in Black Lake, but the Mullet and Burt systems as well. We’ve taken an eco-system to rehabilitation. It was last year, we decided that this year, we would resurrect the Shivaree and start out very slow and initially have a gathering place for people to bring the fish in, which is going to be in proximity to our tent, where the DNR station is. It will be more of an atmosphere of being stewards and sharing the conservation success,” said Archambo.
Manzana’s Deli will be providing food for purchase and the Gathering Place bar will be open. A Native American drum sturgeon ceremony will be held by candlelight led by Jimmie Mitchell, director of Natural Resources for the Little River Band of Odawa Indians.
From 8 p.m. until 12 a.m. an entertainment tent for those 21 and older will be open and feature disc jockey Dan Frasier of Northern Light Music. The sturgeon season opens at 8 a.m. Saturday. Registration to fish will be held Friday from 2 until 8 p.m. at the DNR field office on M-211. Registration will also begin at 7 a.m. on the day of the season.
The total 2013 harvest limit for the state of Michigan is six sturgeon, however, to reduce the chance of exceeding the harvest limit, officials will close the season once the sixth fish is harvested or if five fish have been harvested at the end of any day of fishing.
Fishing hours for the sturgeon season are from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and the season will either end at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 6 or when one of th
Manzana’s will again be offering food. From 6 a.m. until 7:15 p.m. a fishing contest for sturgeon, muskie, pike, walleye and perch will be held, those wishing to participate must register before 10 a.m.
From 9 a.m. until 7 p.m. a poker run will be held and the deadline to register is 11 a.m. Maureen Stine of Natureology will host kids games from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Mike Ridley will perform from noon until 3 p.m. followed by entertainment by Evan Archambo from 3-6 p.m. The North Star Figure Skating Club will perform a laser light skating exhibition beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The winners of the poker run and fishing contest will be announced from 7:30-8 p.m. followed by the Blitz in the 21 and older entertainment tent from 8 p.m. – 12 a.m. where the Sturgeon for Tomorrow raffles will be held.