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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) Program is offering separate Beyond BOW backpacking and steelhead fishing workshops for women.
Both workshop events are scheduled for Oct. 27-29. The backpacking outing will be at Craig Lake State Park in Baraga County and the steelhead clinic will be held at the famed Two-Hearted River in northern Luce County.
A registration deadline for the workshops is Oct. 1. Class information and registration materials are available online at www.michigan.gov/bow. Both workshops will be rain, shine or snow events.
Backpacking
The backpacking trip is open to 12 participants. Craig Lake State Park is the most remote of Michigan’s state parks and accessing it can be an adventure. The park contains six lakes and a variety of wildlife, such as white-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, common loons and moose.
Participants will hike about two miles, with full backpacks, to a wonderful 14-bed rustic cabin. The cabin is heated with a stone fireplace, and also has a woodstove with a cook top. This is a base-camping trip, which means participants will backpack to the rustic cabin, staying in the same location both nights.
This is will be a beginner workshop, no experience necessary.
The trip will start with a gear check/trip orientation at Van Riper State Park in Champion at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27. From there, participants will drive to the trailhead and head out backpacking. The road to the trailhead can be pretty rough, with slow travel.
“We hope to be in camp with plenty of time for dinner and an evening of relaxation,” said Sharon Pitz, DNR BOW coordinator. “Saturday will provide a variety of options such as a day hike, of up to 8 miles, fishing and more relaxation.”
Cost for this event is $135.
Steelhead fishing
The Two Hearted River steelhead fishing workshop will include overnight accommodations at the Tahquamenon Falls State Park lodge. This event is open to eight participants.
“This Beyond BOW fishing event is designed to introduce or further enhance your steelhead (lake run rainbow trout) fishing skills in a wild, remote river setting,” said Michelle Zellar, assistant DNR BOW program coordinator. “Beginners are welcome, but some sort of prior basic fishing experience is preferred. There are new skills to be learned, great fun to be had, all amongst the beautiful outdoors of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.”
Class will start promptly at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 in the Tahquamenon Falls State Park Headquarters conference room, which is located directly across M-123 from the lodge.
“We will cover history, identification, equipment set-up, regulations, casting practice and first-hand experience fishing for steelhead on the Two Hearted River with our passionate and experienced instructors,” Zellar said.
Saturday will be spent fishing along the river with lunch cooked over an open fire at the Two Hearted State Forest Campground. S’mores included.
Participants must be 18 or older. Those attending the workshop are responsible for their own Recreation Passport, which is required for entry into state parks and recreation areas. A Michigan fishing license is also required.
Cost for this workshop is $110.
For further information on either of the workshops, contact Michelle Zellar at 906-293-5131 ext. 4004, email zellarm@michigan.gov or Sharon Pitz at 906-228-6561 or email at pitzs@michigan.gov.
For more information on Becoming and Outdoors-Woman, visit the DNR’s webpage at www.michigan.gov/bow.
