The Ultimate Romance Package!  Lake Michigan beachfront, Jacuzzi and hot tub, fireplace, bottle of wine, $5 Little River Credit per person ($50 off regular rate)  for Monday-Thursday nights. For more information, call (231) 723-6707. Not valid holiday weeks.

Endurance hikers can hike traverse more than 200 miles on the Shore-to-Shore Trail that connects Lake Huron to Lake Michigan. But there is a trail in Michigan that fits any interest or stamina level. 

The city of Lowell near Grand Rapids is the home of the Michigan chapter of the North Country Trail Association. The North Country Trail connects 7 states via 4,600 miles of hiking trails. The Michigan portion of the trail is 1,105 miles and begins at Pittsford near the Ohio border, and travels southwest, then north to Cheboygan. The trail continues in St. Ignace and extends across the Upper Peninsula to Iron Mountain. 

Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (ABC News: the Most Beautiful Place in America) offers a combined 100 miles of hiking on 13 trails. The Bay View Trail is a hilly hike of 7.5 miles and offers a spectacular view of Lake Michigan. Catch the ferry boat to the South and North Manitou Islands, both part of Sleeping Bear. On South Manitou you can hike past Florence Lake, take in the wreck of the Francisco Morazan or enjoy a ten mile hike around the island. Experience nature and hike along the bluffs on North Manitou.

Plan a trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in the Upper Peninsula. Hike the 90 miles of trails within Pictured Rocks 73,000 acres along 42 miles of Lake Superior's south shore. You can also take a tour of the Au Sable Point Light Station, about 12 miles from Grand Marais; it’s a 1.5-mile hike between the parking lot and the lighthouse. Summer tours are Wednesday – Sunday through September 15 as staffing permits. The 30-40 minute tour is just $3 for those six and older. 

The Hoist Lakes Foot Travel Area is part of the Huron-Manistee National Forest and managed for hikers. There is plenty to see including wetlands, wildlife and rich forestry. Hoist offers 20 miles of trails for intermediate and advanced hikers with steep hills that rise up to 1,000 feet. If you are looking for solitude, this is the place you want to be.  

Combine a hike with birding and visit one of many wildlife refuges and wilderness areas. Near Saginaw is the 9,400-acre Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge.  The refuge includes a 5.5-mile trail where you can hike and observe Canada Geese, deer, muskrats, beavers, ducks and turtles and more than 200 species of birds including great blue herons, great egrets and bald eagles. Interpretative signs help identify areas and four observation decks allow you to take in breathtaking views. If your feet get tired, hop in the car and drive the new 7.5-mile Wildlife Drive that opened in July 2011.

Waterloo-Pinckney Recreation Hiking Trail is a 36-mile point-to-point trail located between Chelsea and Pinckney. The trail is rated as moderate and includes the picturesque Pond Lily Lookout and Sackrider Hill, a climb 1,200 foot climb. Take a rest at the Gerald E. Eddy Discovery Center mid-way along the trail to learn about the area’s unique natural communities, cultural history and to participate in the interactive geology exhibits. The Waterloo Recreation Area is the third largest park in Michigan with more than 20,000 acres. 

Even urban dwellers don’t have to go far for a good hike.  Southeastern Michigan’s Island Lake Recreation Area in Brighton offers a scenic trail following the Huron River. Seven miles of the 12-mile trail have been designated a part of the National Scenic River program; Michigan has 13 designated scenic rivers. Camping is available at Island Lake.  Proud Lake Recreation Area in Commerce Township has a 21-mile hiking trail good for all skill levels.  Two trails run parallel to the Huron River with excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. 

Most anglers have put their rods away and taken out the bow, shotgun, or rifle. Don’t be one of these. There is nothing like fall steelheading in Michigan

I like to hunt. The CEO would say I’m obsessed. I feel the same way about fishing and the CEO again would say obsessed. The fall brings decision problems. Hunting often rules out due to its short season, there are always brisk fall days when you’ll find me freezing my finger tips and watching ice build in the guides of the rod while the water pulls at the waders which are doing their best to keep me dry and at least somewhat warm.

Steelhead is the species of my desires.

Far be it from me to discount trolling as a dynamite method of taking steelhead. I do it; it works great and can be a whole lot of fun.

There is a caveat, however. Trolling is also rather impersonal. Unless you have one of those new-fangled underwater cameras attached to your downrigger cable you never see the fish until it comes to the surface.

Kinda like a bomber pilot dropping his load on a target he never sees.

That’s why, when it comes to steelhead, I live for the fall. Fall fish fight harder than the spring fish, you are generally alone on the river, and if you choose to keep one for the table, fall fish are much better than spring fish.

I live for the time when I can stuff myself into a pair of waders, feel the water pressing against my legs, and together with a rod and reel, along with a concoction of eggs or hardware, do battle up close and personal on the fish’s home turf. Making the picture even better- actually spotting the darn things and fishing for specific individuals I can actually see, rather than impersonal arcs on a screen.

Kinda like an infantryman picking his targets. And that’s about as personal as a fella can get.

A 6- to 8-weight fly rod is my method of choice. Coupled with some gaudy streamers and more than a few egg and nymph patterns and you are all set. Your reel needs a dependable drag and line capacity should be at least 100 yards.

A good, medium light spinning rod in the 7-foot or better length comes in real handy on the big rivers like the St. Marys and Carp in the UP,along with the downstaters of fame, notably the PM, Manistee and Muskegon. Coupled with a high quality reel that is capable of holding 150 yards of 8-pound test and a superior drag system, you’ll be all set up.

For hardware I’ve become a big fan of in-line spinners, with the Vibrax brands being my top choice. Sizes two and three seem to outproduce the larger and smaller models. Colors that come highly recommended by guides and some personal experience are blue or orange bodies with silver blades.

Serious steelhead addicts using hardware also tend to put a small piece of color tape in the inside of the blade. The color is generally a hot red or yellow but bright green is favored by some. Throwing these at the fish is a lesson in speed.

The best results come not from casting across the rivers and letting it drift downstream. Rather, you’ll catch more fish if you toss it upstream alongside a bank-side hole or above a reed and then retrieve it back to you. The trick is to retrieve it slightly faster than the current so the blade pulses and spins through the water. You should feel the blade tick the bottom every now and again. And, yes, you’ll lose a few of these. Get used to it.

When it comes to using spawn there is always the tried and true method of using an egg sinker ahead of the spawn sac or piece of skein. This works, but you’ll lose a lot of tackle as the weight gets caught up in the rocks. You can do better.

Instead rig up a slip float and very small split shot– the round ones, not the eared variety– so that the spawn is drifting within a half foot or so of the bottom. Each new hole or run will require adjusting the depth of the float system but with slip bobbers this is very easy.

Like the spinners, toss these upstream and let the float glide with the current. You’ll be slowly reeling in slack as once the bobber stops, shivers or goes down you’ll need a tight line to set the hook.

Be prepared for a tussle with these fish. Fall fish are much more feisty than their spring cousins. And, please, do yourself a favor and save a male or two for the table. Remember, fall fish are also one heck of a lot better on the table than those of the spring, too.

Hot Spots

Upper Peninsula

Carp River; Mackinac County
St. Marys River; Chippewa County
Two Hearted River; Luce County

Lower Peninsula

Muskegon River; Muskegon/Newaygo Counties 
Pere Marquette River; Mason/Lake Counties  
Manistee River; Manistee County 
Au Sable River; Iosco County  

Written by Dan Donarski, a noted professional outdoor and travel journalist, September 2010

Northern pike, and particularly big northern pike, are truly worthy adversaries in the fishing world. Violent head shakes, swift thrusts of power that will bring your drag into the extreme level and will break a rod easily if that drag isn’t perfect, a fair chance at some tail-walking. And then those teeth to mind when you bring that fish on board.

If you look hard enough, and often enough, you will find another group of anglers, albeit a much smaller group. It is also a group that tends to be rather solitary in the pursuit of this fish. You won’t find them grouped up over one certain piece of water. More often than not they will be fishing alone, or maybe with just one other angler on board. And, like the most silent lipped trout angler, they will certainly not be giving up any particular location for you to try.

I have to admit, hammer handle pike are a nuisance– kind of like a room full of five-year-old children on a sugar buzz. Then again, those little pike could just grow up to be big pike if given a chance. Chastising these is no different than getting all upset over trout that are small or undersized bass.

As for getting cut off, just learn to deal with it. Use heavier mono leaders, say in the 50-pound range or steel leaders and your cutoffs go way down in frequency. Their slime? Get over it. It is their protection from a number of pests.

With the amount of good to superior pike waters available in this neck of the woods, if you are not a piker, maybe you ought to try becoming one. Dr. Teeth is a most worthy opponent.

As June starts winding down into full-blown summer northern pike retreat out of the shallows and head for deeper water. These fish can’t stand warm water and look for depths for some relief. In the dog days look for pike to be anywhere from 10 to 20 feet of water.

Specifically look for fish in these depths where there is a good deal of weed growth. While pike do favor some weeds more than others, they will seek out any that provide then both shade and camouflage. Besides staying a bit cooler, they are hiding in these weeds to ambush their prey.

If you look at a pike you’ll see that a pike’s eyes cannot look down, they are engineered to look straight out ahead and up. Knowing that, you’ll be wise to get baits that work the top 50 percent of the water column. Why? Because a good number of fish won’t even see your bait if you work it any deeper. And, a pike will launch himself like a cruise missile straight up to get after a likely looking piece of food.

The weed beds are important as it gives pike a place to wait in for food to come swimming by. Like a tiger in the jungles they ambush their prey. While not known for sustained long and speedy runs, pike have a sprinters metabolism– they get the afterburners lit in an instant to catch their dinner inside that tooth-filled mouth.

Those teeth are uniquely fit for a predator. Thin and needle sharp, they are also angled back towards the throat. That way, when a pike latches on to a fish and the soon to be eaten fish tries to get away it simply impales itself deeper into the pike’s teeth. The teeth are also finely serrated, making quick work of your line, or your fingers if they get too close.

Big spinnerbaits in either all white or hot orange, and Magnum Shad Raps in fire-tiger or perch finish are good baits to start with. Pike seem to like hot colors, or at least get aggravated by them to the point of striking out in anger. Big, as in magnum-sized stickbaits are another good option with suspending baits generally working better than the floating or sinking variety.

The best place to work these are right on the edges of the weedbeds and into the small cuts and openings when the weedbeds are expansive.

Fly rodders should begin with an 8-wt fly rod and matching reel. A short leader is all that is needed, and like in casting lures, you’ll want a beefy mono tippet or a steel leader at the terminal end. Big gaudy streamers seem to be the summer ticket to success.

Now, it takes truly special waters for pike to grow consistently large. Yes, some smaller bodies of water will have a few of the bruiser variety, but day in and day out, big pike need big water.

Hot Spots
Southern Lower Peninsula
Lake Muskegon; www.visitmuskegon.org
Lake Macatawa; www.holland.org
Lake St. Clair; www.visitdetroit.com

Northern Lower Peninsula
Manistee Lake; www.mansitee-cvb.com
Houghton Lake; www.visithoughtonlake.com
Thunder Bay; www.alpenacvb.com

Upper Peninsula
Portage/Torch Lake; www.keweenaw.info
Les Cheneaux Islands; www.lescheneaux.net
Green Bay; www.cityofmenominee.org

Written by Dan Donarski, a noted professional outdoor and travel journalist, July 2010.

Detroit

Book a room at the striking blue 30-story tower of the 400-room Greektown Casino hotel and then check out the 2,500 slots and video poker machines, more than 60 tables of gaming fun and a Poker Room. Satisfy your appetite at Bistro 555, International Buffet, or Shotz Sports Bar & Grill, or step outside and enjoy a choice of ethnic restaurants and nightspots in the heart of Greektown. Eclipz features live entertainment every Friday and Saturday night along with food and drink specials.

The dramatic Art Deco exterior of the MGM Grand Detroit makes a grand impression that continues throughout the million-square-foot casino, hotel, and spa. Original art and striking decor sets the scene for some 4,000 slots and video poker, over 100 table games and Poker Room. Indulge in a treatment at IMMERSE spa and dine at one of three signature restaurants: Wolfgang Puck’s Grille, Bourbon Steak and Saltwater by Michael Mina. Or relax at one of the casual dining spots, Palette or Breeze. Sip something of your choice at five lounges or high energy nightspots, or take in live entertainment before retiring to one of the 400 plush rooms or suites. Ask about the spa and hotel packages for a pampered stay.

Colorful strips of neon wrap around the exterior of MotorCity Casino and signal the electricity inside at the 2,800 gaming machines plus table games and Poker Room. The 400 guest rooms and suites are AAA Four Diamond rated, as is the beautiful 2011 Hour Detroit magazine Restaurant of the Year, Iridescence, atop the hotel tower with an amazing view. Amnesia Ultra Lounge on the 16^th floor boasts the hottest DJs on weekends, and there’s live music and DJ entertainment at three additional clubs. You can also please your appetite at the Assembly Line Buffet, Pit Stop for sandwiches and burgers, Grand River Deli and the D.Tour Spa with luxury services to soothe any traveler.

Southwest Lower Peninsula

Four Winds Casino in New Buffalo, just 75 miles east of Chicago, boasts the Midwest’s only World Poker Tour Poker Room on top of 3,000 slots and 100 gaming tables. Enjoy a great meal at the Copper Rock steakhouse or choose one of the casual dining spots and relax over a beverage at one of four bars. Take in live entertainment or do some boutique shopping in a beautiful setting of stone and wood, and retire to one of the 165 deluxe rooms or suites.

There are poker tournaments every Wednesday at FireKeepers Casino in Battle Creek, plus 2,680 slot machines, a 120-seat 24/7 Poker Room and 78 game tables. Satisfy your sweet tooth at the chocolate fountain on the dessert bar at the Mijem (food) buffet, one of five eateries. Hear live music and DJs at Kabaret or sip a local micro brew and watch the 14 large screen TVs at Dacey’s Sports Bar.

Gun Lake Casino is in Wayland Township, halfway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. The contemporary casino offers 1,200 slot machines, 36 tables, entertainment at Stage 131 and casual dining at the Sandhill Café. Crossroads features beverages and big screen sports.

Northern Lower Peninsula

The stunning décor of Petoskey’s 50,000 square-feet Odawa Casino Resort includes a 16-foot tall wine tower in Sage Restaurant, known for seafood and prime beef. Waas-no-de (Northern Lights) Buffet offers more than 100 choices from sandwiches to wood-burning pizza. The sleek O Zone night club “party pods” are hot spots and top names perform at the 1,000-seat Ovation Hall. The Rendezvous Lounge is convenient for drink on the casino floor which, by the way, offers 1,500 machines, 17 table games and Poker Room. Nearby, half of the Odawa Hotel’s 127 guest rooms boast views of Little Traverse Bay and offers a shuttle to the casino.

Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort in Mt. Pleasant is one of the largest casinos in North America, with 4,400 slots, 70 tables, 24/7 Poker Room and High Stakes Bingo on the weekends. The AAA Four Diamond hotel has 514 rooms and suites, a full service spa, and dining choices include Isabella’s for Italian specialties, Siniikaung Steak and Chop House, Firefly Buffet, Water Lily Lounge and the Native Grind Coffee Shoppe. The indoor pool has Italian glass tiles and underwater music and lights, and for the family there’s Kids Quest hourly childcare and Cyber Quest entertainment center.

Not far away in Standish, the Saganing Eagles Landing Casino brings over 800 slot machines including high limit slots and a variety of electronic table games to Michigan’s Sunrise Side.

In the Traverse City area the contemporary Turtle Creek Casino & Hotel in Williamsburg offers 650 slots from one cent  to $100, plus popular table games and a Poker Room. The casino is redesigning the game floor and will include a new High Limit area. Savor international flavors at Seasons Buffet plus the Coffee Spoon and Deli. Turtle Creek offers comedy and live music, and an outdoor patio for a change of pace. Some of the hotel’s spacious rooms or suites have balconies overlooking the rolling Grand Traverse terrain.

Play and stay on the eastern shore of the Leelanau Peninsula at Leelanau Sands Casino & Lodge in Suttons Bay. Favorite tables and 480 slots entertain along with comedy and music in Elements Lounge, and touring performers at the 1,000-seat Leelanau Sands Showroom. Sleep at the 51-room Lodge, 2-bedroom Chalet, or Cedar View cottage.

There’s a northern lodge resort air about the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee with 1,500 slots, popular table games, three dining choices, entertainment at The Grove and big name acts performing in the 1,700-seat event center. In addition to the 292 hotel rooms, guests can stay at the resort’s full-service 95-site RV Park, and have access to the hotel’s pool, sauna and fitness center.

Upper Peninsula

Visit the Kewadin Casinos with non-stop entertainment including national talent headliners at the Sault Ste. Marie Casino. Kewadin’s five locations across the UP, from Hessel to Christmas and Manistique, offer a combined 86,000 square feet of gaming space with 2,000 slot machines and 50 game tables, seven restaurants and delis, eight lounges, four gift shops, two on-site hotels and 25,000-square foot convention facility. The St. Ignace location has 820 machines, 22 tables, entertainment and an 81-room hotel on Lake Huron with pool and fitness center. Sault Ste. Marie has 700 slots, 19 tables, and 400-seat Bingo, plus a 318-room hotel and 1,500-seat Dream Makers Theater.

On the banks of the St. Mary’s River in Brimley, the Bay Mills Resort & Casino Brimley has nearly 1,000 slot and video poker machines, many game tables, and Poker Room. There’s a 76-space RV Park within walking distance of the casino and the 142-room hotel nearby at Waishkey Bay has a Jacuzzi in every suite. A shuttle bus services both to the Bay Mills and Kings Club Casino, also in Brimley. Kings Club, with 250 machines, was the first tribally-operated blackjack casino in the US. Be sure to try the local whitefish dinner basket at Chums Café. In addition, golfers will enjoy the 18-hole Wild Bluff golf course, rated tops in the UP.

The 18-hole golf course at Lac Vieux Desert Resort Casino in Watersmeet also gets great reviews for its beautiful setting in the Ottawa National Forest—and there’s a mini casino in the course clubhouse. The main casino features 670 slots, favorite tables, Poker Room on weekends and Cribbage on the third Saturday each month, Bingo every Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday, plus bars and theme dinners at the full-service restaurant. Stay at the 132-room Dancing Eagles Hotel that offers an indoor heated pool, or hitch-up at the 14-space RV Park/Campground.

The UP offers gaming fun at two Ojibwa Casinos, in Marquette and Baraga. The Ojibwa Casino Marquette offers a 7-site RV Park and is convenient to the variety of dining and lodging in that city. The casino has slots, table games and bi-weekly Texas Hold ‘em tournaments. Ojibwa Casino Baraga has a 40-room hotel plus 12-site RV Park, on site bowling lanes, lounge and sports bar. Enjoy a meal at the Red Apple Family Restaurant or the Press Box Sports Bar. Play at 300 slots or at popular table games.

Escape to the tropics at the Island Resort & Casino in Harris, west of Escanaba. There are 1,400 state of the art slots including the new virtual horse racing, plus top table games, Live Poker five days and Bingo seven days a week.

Stay at the 275-room hotel or 53-site RV Park and dine at Firekeeper’s, Coral Reef Grille or Beachcomber Restaurant. Top entertainers regularly visit, and Club Four One offers music and comedy nights. The resort’s Sweetgrass Golf Club was recognized with “best course” honors by three top golf magazines in 2009.