Sturgeon season celebrated on Black Lake this weekend

by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor

Plans are still in place for the Black Lake Shivaree.

Organizers are hopeful the ice conditions will continue to improve as the annual event approaches Friday and Saturday in front of the former Black Lake Hotel (1701 Winifred Street, Cheboygan).

Weekend rain weakened ice conditions across the state. Case in point, a pickup and a woman fell through the ice on Houghton Lake during Tip-Up Town USA this past weekend. Organizers do not want a repeat of those incidents when the Shivaree and sturgeon season get underway.

As of early this week, the lake was not safe in spots.

THIS IS the pose many anglers hope to be making during this weekend’s sturgeon season on Black Lake. (File photo)
THIS IS the pose many anglers hope to be making during this weekend’s sturgeon season on Black Lake. (File photo)

Plans are still to go forward and set up the tent several yards from shore in an area that’s only about one foot from the bottom.

“We have colder weather coming. We are hoping it will stiffen up the ice right there,” said Brenda Archamabo, president of the Sturgeon for Tomorrow. “I’m not sure about people driving and parking vehicles on the ice. It terms of logistics, people may have to walk out.

“Hey, we’re in northern Michigan, we go with the flow. We’re planning everything ahead.”

The tents will be going up today (Thursday).

Friday the Shivaree tent opens at 3 p.m. with live entertainment until 10 p.m. Charlie Rager performs from 3 to 6 p.m., while Billy Jewell and His Bad Habits play from 6 to 10 p.m.

People who want to register for the fishing contest and poker run can do so. The fishing contest includes sturgeon, muskie, pike, walleye and perch.

From 2 to 7 p.m., anglers can register for the sturgeon season at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) field office along M-211.

The 2016 total harvest limit for Black Lake is seven lake sturgeon. However, to reduce the chance of exceeding the harvest limit, officials will close the season when one of two scenarios occurs:
1) once the sixth fish is harvested, or
2) If five fish have been harvested at the end of any fishing day.

Fishing hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day of the season. The season will either

end at 2 p.m. Feb. 10, or when one of the above scenarios is met, at which point anglers will be notified on the ice by DNR personnel that they must immediately stop fishing for lake sturgeon.

The quota was reached on the first day in 2015.

Other events planned for Saturday include a youth outdoor education presentation with Maureen Stine.

Soloist Evan Archambo continues the entertainment Saturday (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) EA Enterinment will provide DJ services from 2 to 6 p.m. and then The Blitz performs to close out the event.

Ice fishing and poker-run winners will be announced Saturday.

Proceeds from the Shivaree fund the lake sturgeon hatchery.