Escanaba River Association

Escanaba River Association The ERA is the primary steward in managing the Quality Tour Water section of the Escanaba River. We

A Chronology of the

Escanaba River Association

1961-2009


1961—Founded by 15 fishermen and property owners to monitor and to improve the quality of the Escanaba River fishery.


1970s—Met only annually yet began to pressure the MDNR to stock trout.


1984—Began habitat improvement work by placing 50 wooden pallets below Hunter’s Brook in cooperation with the MDNR.


1984—Opposed the constructio

n of a bridge proposed to cross the river just below Boney Falls.


1988—Excavated a trench 125 feet long by 40 feet wide by 6 feet deep using explosives in cooperation with the MDNR and with the support of Wildlife Unlimited and the Mean Paper Corporation.


1989—Worked with the MDNR to excavate three additional deep pools.


1990-- Earned a “quality trout waters” designation for the section of the Escanaba River from below Boney Falls


to the mouth of Silver Creek with the support of the MDNR and Mead Paper.


1990-1993—Dredged the river below Boney Falls to improve trout babitat with the support of the MDNR and Mead Paper.


1994—Enhance trout habitat above Squaw Creek by creating several large rock piles.


1995—Worked with the MDNR to establish “artificial lures only” regulations for the Quality Trout Waters sections of the river.


1997—Entered into a contract to purchase the Robert Karas property on the Escanaba River and launched a capital campaign that successfully raised $85,000.


1998—Completed the purchase of the Karas property so that access to the river would remain open to the public in perpetuity.


1998—Placed 240 tons of rock, each weighing approximately two tons, in the river to form an inverted V to continue to improve river habitat.


2001—Continued the boulder project by placing 30 more two-ton rocks in small groups at strategic places in the river.


2003—Obtained a court restraining order to force the MDNR, the BEQ UPPCO and the Great Lakes Transmission Company to postpone the proposed August 1st drawdown of the Boney Falls impound- ment until October.


2011—Excavated the river near the gravel pit to enhance habitat.


2011—Worked with the Fred Waara Chapter of Trout Unlimited to study trout habitat and to stock trout on the upper river.


2011—Sponsored a salmon in the classroom with Escanaba Middle School.

The Big River giving up some beautiful October love.
10/19/2017

The Big River giving up some beautiful October love.

The big water is still producing much love!Huge caddis hatches are going on along with some BWOs. Do not forget about th...
09/23/2017

The big water is still producing much love!
Huge caddis hatches are going on along with some BWOs.
Do not forget about the awesome streamer fishing that is available as well!!

There is still plenty of time/ great opportunity for the dry fly/ streamer Fisher person on the big river.
09/17/2017

There is still plenty of time/ great opportunity for the dry fly/ streamer Fisher person on the big river.

Some great fall fishing still to be had on the big river. Photos courtesy of Big J!!
09/12/2017

Some great fall fishing still to be had on the big river. Photos courtesy of Big J!!

08/09/2017
A good night on The Big River last night. Water temps are running cool flow levels or fantastic and there are a few bw's...
08/09/2017

A good night on The Big River last night. Water temps are running cool flow levels or fantastic and there are a few bw's, stoneflies, light Cahill's around. And don't forget within the next couple of days the white Ephron should take off!

08/01/2017

Good evening all!
A guy by the name of Luke contacted me and he asked my opinion on when the river is too hot to fish. Right now in my opinion the river is too hot. At 2:45 Eastern Standard Time p.m. The river was running at 80 degrees Fahrenheit which in my opinion is too hot. The trout especially the rainbow trout after being hooked played / fought and landed then released usually belly up about 30 to 50 ft down river. Sure they swim right away but then they just float to the surface they are in my opinion broken and cannot survive their bodies have overloaded with nitrous oxide and they have no way to get rid of it which in the end kills the fish. If you are going to fish the Escanaba the one good thing that the river has going for it it is still dipping down into the low-to-mid 60s at night so fish the river at first light early in the morning when the water is still very cool and highly oxygenated just my two cents everybody have a great night.

Some good river love today.
07/26/2017

Some good river love today.

Hey guys/ladies don't worry you can just leave your trash on the river bank and I will pick it up.
07/24/2017

Hey guys/ladies don't worry you can just leave your trash on the river bank and I will pick it up.

Chasing brown's and dodging rain drops on the river this morning.
07/23/2017

Chasing brown's and dodging rain drops on the river this morning.

BIG ER Brown's love BIG triple doubles.
07/23/2017

BIG ER Brown's love BIG triple doubles.

Address

Forest 29. 5 Lane
Cornell, MI
49818

Telephone

(906) 280-8791

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