February 15 and 16 marked the first free fishing weekend of 2014 by the Michigan DNR where fishermen and women could throw lines without a license.
The next weekend is June 7 and 8.
Bob Dudis pulled a 5 inch blue gill from his ice-hole at Trout Lake Saturday, from about a two-foot thick hole, enough to drive a semi-truck on he said. “You only need about six or eight inches to walk on,” he said.
Ken Geistler and son Kent Geistler of Royal Oak unpacked their shanties, joining Dudis, and drilled their 8 inch in diameter holes.
Both Dudis of Lake St. Claire and Kent Geistler caught a 30 inch pike and 38 inch pike respectively last year. ‘They have big fish here,? Ken Geislter said. Geistler augers muiltiple holes in a day of fishing, fishing from hole to hole until he finds a sweet spot.
Ken Geistler mentioned he was surprised more people were not out for the free fishing weekend, but that he hoped to catch a “mess of blue gills” for supper.