It’s time to reel in summer

MACOMB COUNTY — As the temperatures rise, local fishing stores prepare for the new season by stocking up and hoping for good weather.

Julie Beltowski, owner of Lakeside Fishing Shop in St. Clair Shores, said she’s been preparing all year for different seasons.

“We close out all the winter stuff and we start getting into all our spring stuff, and they prepare for the walleye and the perch fishing,” Beltowski said.

She said they are ready for the summer season.

“That’s our favorite, is the summertime,” Beltowski said.

She’s worked at Lakeside for 38 years. The shop has been in operation since 1968. They carry rods, reels and more.

Beltowski said summer is their busiest season with anglers fishing for walleye in local rivers and Lake St. Clair.

“And then we have a huge industry for bass,” Beltowski said.

She said that pretty much every weekend in the summer they had a bass tournament somewhere. While there is no specific day fishing season starts this summer, Beltowski said it all has to do with the weather. She said the store is completely full and that they’re ready to “rock and roll.”

John Bacarella, owner of Sportsmen’s Direct in Harrison Township, said their seasons start with supply orders made six to nine months before the season starts. There are several different seasons, including walleye season, open water season and ice fishing season.

Bacarella said that in the winter once the lake freezes over, they’re busy every day, but during the summer it’s dependent on the weather.

“It’s an interesting business,” Bacarella said. “You’re at the mercy of the weather. Or you’re at the mercy of the weatherman, more importantly.”

He explained that if the forecast calls for turbulent weather, out-of-state fishermen will not make the trip out.

Bacarella said panfish like perch are the easiest to fish for and don’t require a lot of expensive equipment. Perch fishermen typically use live bait.

“They’re either using minnows or they’re using worms and just very simple two hook systems,” Bacarella said.

Bacarella said that Lake St. Clair Metro Park is one of the best public access spots on the lake.

“Then you have the different boat launches, but they’re not truly a fishing access,” Bacarella said. “You can fish there, but they’re not designed specifically for that as an access.”

A resident or nonresident needs a license to fish in Michigan. Sales for these started March 1, and the licenses will last from April 1 of this year until April 1 of next year.

Those 17 and older must get their own fishing license, and Bacarella said the state is trying to lower the required age for fishing licenses to 16.

“It didn’t make it through the Legislature in time,” Bacarella said. “So everybody got a break, because they were talking about raising the license fees substantially for this year, but they didn’t.”

Those found fishing without a license can expect fines and other consequences.

“I would encourage everyone to get a fishing license,” Bacarella said.

According to the state’s website, all-species licenses cost $11 for seniors. An all-species day pass for residents and nonresidents is $10. An all-species annual license is $26 for residents and $76 for nonresidents. An all-species annual youth license is $2.

Though Bacarella gets more excited for the winter season, he’s hoping for nice weather during the summer.

“The fish populations are good right now,” Bacarella said. “(The) perch population has been fantastic. I mean, hopefully, we have good weather. It’s the whole thing. It’s all about the weather.”