I've finally been able to confirm the dates for this year's Michi-Glass gathering. It will be held on June 23rd and 24th. All the particulars are yet to be sorted out, but the date is locked in so if you are planning to attend, make room for it on your calendar. I will have the agenda posted within a few days.
Mark McKellip
UPDATE
This year our gathering will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 23d and 24th at Warbler's Hideaway, 2704 Lovells Road, Grayling MI. 49738.
This year will be similar to last year with a casting competition to be held on Sunday morning. Prizes are yet to be determined, but I'm sure that something will be provided. When I find out what they will be I will post here as to what they are.
!! FIRST ORDER OF IMPORTANCE !!
BRING YOUR OWN COMFORTABLE CHAIR, NONE WILL BE PROVIDED.
(There are picnic tables though).
Saturday June 23rd.
9:00 AM
Coffee and condiments served in the morning by my wife Sandy and I.
Registration with name tags given to attendees.
Getting acquainted, reunited, casting, comparing, "shootin-the-breeze", and "spreadin the bull" as usual.
********************************************SPECIAL NOTE*****************************************************
Pete Magas will be manning a table or two that will be used to display rods, reels or any paraphernalia that you want to sell or trade, and monitor the tables for security while you are doing other things. this worked out very well last year. He will tag each item with the owners name and asking price. If there is an interest in an item by an attendee, he will inform the owner of the item so they can talk, dicker, or complete a sale or trade.
If you should choose, you may set up your own table to "hawk your own wares" if you want, but please bring your own tables and chairs if you do.
NOON:
Lunch. There will be a lunch provided by my wife and I both days. In all likelihood cold cut sandwiches, chips and the like and bottled water to wash it all down. Bottled water kept on ice will be available all day as well.
POST LUNCH:
Picking up where we left off in the morning. Casting, comparing, shootin-the-breeze, horse-tradin, or whatever suits your fancy.
5:00 End of the first day. IT'S TIME TO GO HEX FISHING! !
Sunday June 24th.
9:00 AM
Coffee served in the morning.
10:00 AM
Au Sable River Casting Championship.
Because the morning is typically the least windy part of the day, we hold it in the morning. So try and be there relatively early to get any practice in.
HERE ARE THE RULES:
Casting order of participants will be determined alphabetically by last name beginning with "A".
RODS TO BE USED:
Whatever fiberglass rod that you want to use, new or old, with a maximum length of 9 feet. Seven weight line is the largest that is allowable. A leader of at least 7 1/2 feet must be used as well. You can use 2 rods if you wish in any way that you want to (you may cast one rod more accurately than the one you use for distance, so this is your choice). I will supply the material to tie on your leaders as a fly, but you must tie it on yourself. Just make sure it's ready to go by the time the casting competition is to begin.
COURSE
All casting will be done on a grass course. There will be a sizeable staked down tarp provided for casters to stand on, to eliminate the entanglement of line in the grass at your feet.
The accuracy course will consist of 4 targets approximately 24" in diameter placed at measured distances of 15', 20', 25' and 30'. Beyond 30 feet there will be 4 targets that are 30" in diameter, and will be at 35', 40', 45' and 50'.
ACCURACY CASTING.
Each caster will cast two rounds. Each round will consist of one cast at each accuracy target starting with the closest target and continuing in order to the longest target. As much false casting as you want prior to each cast is permitted.
Each target has a different point value based on the distance of the target.
A bonus score of 30 points will be awarded to any casters score if he or she hits all four of the 24" targets within a given round.
A bonus score of 50 points will be awarded to any casters score if he or she hits all four of the 30" targets within a given round.
If a caster should hit all of the targets in a single round, he or she will be awarded another bonus of 100 points on top of the bonuses already awarded.
It goes without saying that if you are an accurate caster there is a great opportunity here to enhance your scores to be competitive with the contestants who have greater distance casting skills than you may have.
Accuracy casting point values:
15' is worth 5 points. (24" target)
20' is worth 10 points. (24" target)
25' is worth 15 points. (24" target)
30' is worth 20 points. (24" target)
35' is worth 25 points. (30" target)
40' is worth 30 points. (30" target)
45' is worth 35 points. (30" target)
50' is worth 40 points. (30" target)
A caster will be given the above stated points for each target if: 1. Their fly lands inside the target. 2. Their fly hits inside the target and bounces out. 3. Their fly hits the ring of the target and bounces off. Judges will be stationed at each target on each cast to assure these rules are met.
A caster will receive a zero score if: 1. Their fly lands outside the target. 2. Their fly hits the ground outside the target and bounces in. 3. Their fly contacts the ground IN FRONT of the caster on any false cast. 4. The caster moves the fly before it can be scored.
All judge's decisions are final.
DISTANCE CASTING.
Distance Scoring:
Distance casts will be scored as one point for each foot from the leading edge of the tarp to the location of the fly. Each caster can make up to 2 practice casts prior to the 3 casts that count for their score. Each caster will make three measured casts in succession, with the two longest casts being added together to calculate their total distance score.
TOTAL SCORING:
Each caster will receive a final score equal to the total of all accuracy casts plus the total from their two longest distance casts to determine who the winners are.
The actual tournament will begin at around 10:00 AM.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 Noon or thereabouts depending on the casting competition.
POST LUNCH:
Results of the casting competition announced and prizes awarded.
Rod casting, comparing, ogling, buying, selling, trading, story telling, spreading the bull, the outright telling of lies, tall tales and such, as usually accompanies this gathering. Anyone is welcome to chime in and add their own.
4:00 or so:
End of gathering.
IT'S TIME TO GO HEX FISHING! !
The price for admission this year is $20.00.
REGISTRATION
To register for this gathering please contact me by phone, email or mail so that we can make the necessary arrangements "food-wise". We want to make sure that we have enough for all who attend and not be short in our food purchases. I can't emphasize enough to you how important this is. It doesn't hurt either to send in your fee to me early. Making out name tags and taking fees from a bunch of people the morning of the gathering's first day is a lot of work. So PLEASE send in your registration early! !
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Send check or money order, along with your name, address, phone number and email address to:
Mark McKellip
1306 Wilson St.
Bay City, MI. 48708
989-893-5938
989-891-6691 cell
Make checks or money orders payable to me, NOT Michi-Glass ! !
I will email, and or call you to confirm your registration upon your remittance.
HERE IS A LODGING LIST IN THE GENERAL AREA.
There are others in the city of Grayling, but these are closest in proximity to the gathering site.
Gates Au Sable Lodge
471 Stephan Bridge Road
Grayling, MI. 49738
989-348-8462
http://www.gateslodge.comAt Stephan Bridge on the Au Sable mainstream "Holy Waters"
10.4 miles to gathering site.
Jim's Cabins
1706 S. Wakely Bridge Road
Grayling, MI. 49738
989-348-3203
http://www.jimscabins.comAt Wakely Bridge on the Au Sable mainstream "Holy Waters"
9.9 miles to gathering site.
Bud's Cabins and Motel
8378 Twin Bridge Road
Grayling, MI. 49738
989-348-8400
http://www.budscabins.comOn the North Branch of the Au Sable in Lovells
8.1 miles to gathering site.
Riverview Lodge and Cabins
855-687-9501 Toll free
http://www.ausablecabins.comOn the mainstream of the Au Sable
About 8 miles to gathering site.
Fullers North Branch Outing Club
6122 E. County Road 612
Grayling MI. 49738
989-348-7951
http://www.fullersnboc.comOn the North Branch of the Au Sable in Lovells
7.9 miles to gathering site.
Lovells Lodging
6530 County Road 612
Grayling MI. 49738
989-889-5409
517-316-6369
7.8 miles to gathering site.
Whispering Pines Resort
11763 W. County Rd. 612
Frederic, Mi. 49733
989-348-2044
http://whisperingresort.com/On the Manistee River
31 miles from gathering site.
Bear Paw Cabins
3744 M-72 West
Luzerne MI. 48636
989-826-3313
http://www.bearpawcabinsandcanoes.com15.7 miles from gathering site.
If you have any interest at all in bamboo rods you may want to consider taking in the "Rodmakers at Grayrock" gathering that is being held this year on June 21st, 22nd and 23rd just prior to our gathering. A good number who primarily attend the fiberglass affair also attend this gathering. As well, a fair amount of bamboo rod makers attended Michi-Glass last year and they said that they will be back again this year. Attending both gatherings would add a lot of "flavor" to your trip if taken advantage of.
For detailed information on the Grayrock Gathering, go to:
http://www.rodmakersatgrayrock.orgSo set the time aside, make your plans and try to make it here for this year's Michi-Glass Gathering.
Thanks,
Mark McKellip.