Having grown up in Newaygo County I never really thought about how blessed we are with all the rivers, lakes and streams we have around us for fun, and recreation. After moving to Indiana I was shocked and missed this great natural treasure of Newaygo County.
There are many things we can do with this gift. One is Fishing! I’m sure some will tell you it’s the greatest gift given to them. You will find these people out all times of the year, all weather conditions and all times of the day. I live in Croton and its not unusual to see people fishing off the bridge by the dam or on the causeway all times of the day and night. You see them down stream from the Croton dam when the flood gates are open and they are as close as they can get to the dam!!!!
I also think that fishing is a very social thing. You hardly ever see a person fishing by themselves it’s normally with at least one other person, and that’s just the start. On the way to your spot you have to stop off for coffee and supplies. You’ll stop at one of the gas stations, coffee shops, grocery stores, or….. You go in and run into a few other fishermen doing the same thing. This leads to some talk about where the fish are, what you are using, how long you are out for the day, how it went last time and ……. you get the idea. I call it Newaygo County traffic jams. It’s when you can get down the isle in the store because people are talking to each other, before you know it you are adding to the problem.
We are also blessed with the support of the Free Fishing Day. This is all across Michigan but it is truly in-braced in Newaygo County. It’s not just a one day even it’s an all weekend festival, event, happening. We do it right! There are fish fries, parties, events, beer tents, …… Too many things for me to list, but….I think you are at the right spot for updates. LOL. Plan on making it a weekend with you best friends. You will find more new friends and have lots of fun.
Will we have enough ice? Big question. I will say YES!!! Every year we start out mild and then get hit with a cold snap, then it gets warm for a few day, and, you know the yoyo we call Winter Weather. I will guarantee this, you will have a good time that weekend in Newaygo County no matter the weather.
Plan your trip to go fishing. Maybe I’ll see you out there, and maybe I’ll take a photo of you. Watch out for me early Saturday and Sunday mornings with my camera and say hay!
The photo of the two fishermen was taken the weekend before the free fishing weekend. It’s near the campground heading up stream on the little Muskegon side of the pond. It was early morning just as the sun was coming up to give it that great glow. It had been warmer earlier in the week so some of the ice had melted on top to give it that great reflection. The sun was hitting the bank and lighting up some of the brush on the side. There is a lot of little thing I like about this photo, I hope you find a few thing you like about it also.
Thank you for letting me ramble on about one of the many treasure you find in Newaygo County – Where I live.
Labor Day Weekend Logging Festival
The Logging Festival in Newaygo has been a part of Labor Day weekend for more than 60 years. I have been trying to research the changes throughout the years and have learned that while some of the weekend’s events and activities have changed, the common theme of...
Exploring Challenge: An 8 year old’s adventure
Having a mom that is involved in a million things has its perks every now and then. As Newaygo County Tourism Council President, I had the opportunity to share the new Newaygo County Exploring Challenge with my kids as soon as it was approved. Over the past few...
A Newbie’s Experience With The White River
Like most who grew up in Michigan, water has always been my happy place. From boating on the big lake, jet skiing on the inland lakes, tubing down the Muskegon River, and most recently kayaking, any day in water is a good day. My new found love of kayaking took me on...
Star Parties Return!
Great news from the S.F. Wessling Observatory! Read on to learn more, or visit their new website: http://www.newaygocd.org/kropscott-and-observatory.html We are pleased to announce that the S. F. Wessling Observatory will conduct its first 2021 Star Party on Saturday...
Mountain Biking Saved My Life… an experience with The Dragon!
Mountain biking saved my life….well, that’s an exaggeration, but it definitely improved my overall quality of life. I moved up to Newaygo county last August from Calhoun county, were I thoroughly enjoyed the trails of Fort Custer. However, by this time I was a new...
Hesperia Welcomes ORVs!
It is no secret that Newaygo County is a great place to ride your ATV or ORV, with all Newaygo County maintained roads open to ORV/ATV traffic, but some restrictions apply when you enter City/Village limits. The Village of Hesperia, located on the far western edge of...
Newaygo County Parks: 2021 Updates
As kids embark on summer vacation & families look for ways to enjoy our beautiful Michigan Summer, we caught up with Nick Smith, Newaygo County Parks Director, to see what's new and exciting in the parks this season! Newaygo County has 4 campgrounds, 1 marina, 2...
Kids Free Fishing!
Beginning in 1983, Russell Gilbert Kids Free Fishing is a day where families can gather for fun times and even have a chance to win big money! On the first Kids Free Fishing day, 8 anglers joined in the fun & over the years, they have seen over 400 anglers...
#girlsgonewilderness
Good hiking gear that really works can make the difference between having the time of your life or living through a suffering day on the trail. Along with the gear, who you bring as your company makes all the difference! We set out with five everyday gals from Newaygo...
Farmer’s Market: Friday Fun!
The Newaygo Famers Market is focused on working with local farmers to ensure the residents and visitors to Newaygo County have the opportunity to purchase fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables. At the Newaygo Farmers Market you will find a plethora of local ...
Schindy’s Place
As the weather warms, the trails are calling. Rev the engine & take to the county and seasonal roads and ORV/ATV trails of Newaygo County, and you are bound to end up near Diamond Lake. A 171 acre all-sports lake, surrounded by cottages, national forest & a...
Birthday Hike
Is there even a better way to spend your birthday than trekking through the North Country Trail? I think not. After tackling the stretch from M-20 to Echo Drive, I felt ready to make it all the way to 40th street. My father-in-law even gifted me a decades old...
Advice from a Hiking Trio
Meet Annie Trapp, Linda Trapp, Kathy Broome & pup Novalee, all residents of the White Cloud area. They enjoy hiking the North Country Trail as a trio in their spare time. I caught up with these ladies to ask how this year has been going so far…So far in 2021 they...
Spring Break Day Trips – Outdoors & On The Cheap
Pretty much every year around this time, my wife and I scramble to find exciting, enriching things to do with our kids during spring break. Although she’s fully vaccinated and I’m currently half vacc’d, we are still a bit reluctant to head to the typical spring break...
Modern Workhorse or Adventure Machine?
Back in the day, if you could have looked in a cowboy's saddlebags, you would have seen a few things that every one of them made sure they had whenever they jumped onto their trusty steed. A good rope, a coffee pot and a few tools were part of every cowboy's gear....
Winter Hiking – Questions From a Newbie
Excited to throw 2020 behind me & crush all the goals in 2021, I signed up for the North Country Trail Hike 100 Challenge. Ambitious, as I’ve only hiked a handful of times in my life, but why not make 2021 my year? I embarked on my first hike in the first few...
What do a mousie, a sucker, a spike, and a shiner have in common?
Most people are racking their brains to put these common words together. However, a few winter sportsmen are chomping at the bait to answer this simple question. In our household, these words trigger excitement and remind us of good times with friends throughout the...
Snowshoe Adventure On The Dragon
Being an avid runner from a young age and now a personal trainer, I have spent a lot of time running and hiking over the years. In more recent years, due to my work schedule, I found myself stuck to the convenience of the gym equipment. During the 2020 Quarantine...