The Michigan Outdoor Writers Association (MOWA), of which I am a member, was planning on having a conference at Houghton Lake in mid-May, 2020. It was something I had been truly anticipating because I had never sampled what the Houghton Lake area has to offer in regards to outdoor pastimes.
There was an amazing list of activities for MOWA members to opt for, which really impressed me. I made reservations immediately by paying the full freight for lodging at the Ohana Resort for my wife, Ginny, and me, and had opted for a walleye fishing excursion as well as a canoeing adventure.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic and all of its restrictions put a kibosh on the MOWA conference. There is no question that the pandemic restrictions have had a serious financial impact on businesses associated with the tourism industry.
Instead of asking for a refund, I requested a “rain check” from the Ohana Resort, for which they were grateful. I had not given up on my desire to see and experience what the Houghton Lake area has to offer; however, it would be nearly a year and a half before I could take advantage of my rain check that the Ohana Resort recently honored without question, which I truly appreciated. The resort rests right next to the lake and offers a quaint and rustic setting that Ginny and I much enjoyed.
Prior to going, I contacted Theresa Ekdom, administrative assistant for the Houghton Lake Area Tourism Bureau, which covers all of Roscommon County. She enlightened me on all sorts of places and people to look up (a key part of my profession I much enjoy).
When I mentioned I was interested in fishing on Houghton Lake, she told me to contact Lyman’s on the Lake Bait and Tackle Shop, which I did, and I arranged to have a fishing guide lined up.
We drove up to Houghton Lake during midweek, and despite the weekend before having offered spectacular sunny and balmy weather, that would all change literally overnight into some nasty “monsoon” type weather which entailed a strong, rain-filled wind out of the north. Just the same, it didn’t dampen my spirit any because I’ve learned to adapt and enjoy new experiences.
I was about to learn something new about Houghton Lake, which I had originally assumed was a town but really isn’t. It is actually a number of townships covering an almost eight-mile-long, winding strip along the southern edge of Houghton Lake, which happens to be the largest inland lake in Michigan.
The Ohana Resort is in Prudenville on the east end of the strip, and Lyman’s on the Lake is on the west end, in I’m not sure what township! It did give Ginny and me a chance to observe the fact that Houghton Lake has a whole lot to offer with a wide array of very unique local businesses (which Ginny made a point of later checking out). I would discover that Houghton Lake entails quite a friendly and close-knit community.
Lyman’s on the Lake Bait and Tackle Shop is certainly my kind of place, which I sensed right away when I walked through the door. Besides offering everything you might need to go fishing, it is also a well-stocked party store and definitely offers a very warm and friendly atmosphere. It also has rental cottages right on the lakeshore. When winter arrives, Lyman’s rents out ice fishing equipment and shanties.
The man working behind the counter was Wayne Jaworski, who was going to be our fishing guide the following morning. I also met Kurt Beachnau, owner of the establishment. It was a real pleasure getting to know these folks and I was about to find out a whole lot more.
Kurt showed me a large wooden plaque with brass nameplates, some with names, some yet vacant, called the Junior Anglers Club Hall of Fame, which was designed to get kids 16 and younger to go fishing.
When a kid fills out a catch card featuring various fish species (photos are used as proof, and the fish can be caught anywhere, even in a farm pond), her or his name goes on the plaque. The original wish was to get 50 or so kids interested, but the plaque now has over 300 involved in devotedly going fishing.
It was near closing time when Ginny and I got there, so we made our arrangements for fishing the following morning. That is when we found out Wayne had a client to guide for night-time salmon fishing at the Tippy Dam about 70 miles to the west, something he specializes in, but he assured us he would be ready and waiting to guide us in the morning back on Houghton Lake.
Well, folks, by the next morning the rain had let up a bit, but the wind had not, and had even picked up speed on a dreary, chilly and gray dawn. As we drove to Lyman’s on the Lake, we had occasional glimpses of the water, which featured some respectable whitecaps. Going fishing, especially in a boat, was without question a no-go.
Despite a nearly full night of salmon fishing, Wayne Jaworski met us at the door as promised. He and his client had hooked into 17 fish, and due to the fierce fight the salmon put up, they had only landed three. He showed us the special equipment being used, which entailed a reel (which resembles a fly-fishing reel) called a “center-pin,” which has no drag but offers a great presentation of the lure. I had heard of it, but this was my first introduction, and I could see landing big fish with this rig could be a tad challenging and, according to Wayne, a whole lot of fun!
Instead of fishing, we went and did the next best thing on a nasty and dreary day and had breakfast instead, and got to know each other better. It turns out Wayne is a veteran and served two tours in Iraq as an Army sniper. Originally from Georgia, he moved north to Houghton Lake six years ago and began his career as a fishing guide, as well as working at the bait and tackle shop, and has never looked back.
He specializes in night-time fishing, especially from shore, for not only salmon, but walleye as well. He showed me a picture of a (Houghton Lake) 27-inch walleye, a real “hawg” that he recently caught while fishing from shore at night.
According to Wayne, the majority of fishermen are “day-trippers” and don’t know what they are missing. He also specializes in catching northern pike (a favorite fish of mine), as well as guiding and even providing equipment for night-time bowfishing for carp.
Working by day at the bait and tackle shop and fishing at night, gives me the impression that Wayne Jaworski (who goes by the nickname “Jaws”) puts the Energizer Bunny to shame. There is no question that I’m looking forward to using his services in the future.
I would later meet Jacinda Dady, who works at Lyman’s and also owns and operates “Be Water Rentals,” which offers everything from kayaks and paddleboards to pontoons, fishing boats and even party barges. Jacinda likes to say she traded her lab coat for Muck Boots three years ago when she left her career as a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Also offered are boats on trailers to go to places elsewhere, and they even deliver rental boats to cabins and resorts. Handicap accessibility is also available.
During the winter, Jacinda also rents out a whole fleet of snowmobiles of all makes and models, offers guide service for trail riding, ice fishing equipment, and even has a mechanic who can come to the rescue if there are any equipment breakdowns. She also fully supports the Junior Anglers Club and is going to have a free ice fishing clinic for kids this winter, with a focus on safety, equipment to be used, and hands-on of how to do it properly.
Needless to say, folks, interviewing this amazing lady with a passion for the outdoors and her chosen lifestyle left me, well, a bit awestruck! All I can say is, it was a distinct honor meeting and getting to know all the folks associated with Lyman’s on the Lake Bait and Tackle Shop.
With winter all too soon going to be here, I am definitely pondering attending “Tip-up Town,” which is held every year on Houghton Lake and is scheduled for Jan. 22, 23 and 29, 2022. I might even get lucky and catch one of those tagged fish in the local fishing contest that runs from March 16, 2021 to March 15, 2022 and features some amazing prizes.
And if I need any ice fishing equipment, shanty or snowmobile, I know for a fact where I will be stopping by.
Email Tom Lounsbury at tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com
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