The Michigan Tech Fishing Club was established two years ago by Jordan Pontoni and Mitchell Murphy. They both love fishing and felt like Michigan Tech didn’t have enough to offer in the way of fishing. They decided to take the initiative to start a club so they and others who are also interested in fishing could have opportunities to go out and catch some fish.
A member of the Michigan Tech Fishing Club shows off his catch.
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Limberg
Two years later, the fishing club has 73 members, 25 who are involved regularly, and is continuing to grow. The club recruits members by having booths at K-Day and Spring Fling, along with advertising every event with flyers and table tents. A lot of members have joined because they have heard positive things from current members.
The club meets every Thursday in Fisher 131 at 7 p.m. to plan for weekend events and to talk about fishing.
The club takes fishing trips almost every weekend. On Saturday, April 13 the club went to Chassel Bay to fish for crappie and perch. Eight people went on the outing, leaving at 7:45 a.m. and staying until 4 p.m., which is an average day for the fishing club. The club is usually not ice fishing in April, but the fishing all depends on the weather.
Neil Noack shows off a Northern Pike at Boston Pond during O-week 2012.
Photos courtesy of Courtney Sian
On Sunday, April 14 the club hosted a fly fishing class where they learned how to cast a fly rod. The club has fished in Copper Harbor all the way to Huron Bay, and they have attended tournaments in Wisconsin before.
A member of the Michigan Tech Fishing Club shows off his catch.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Sian
Mitchell Murphy said, “I enjoy the members and the opportunities we have to get out and explore the great landscape and fishing that the UP has to offer,” when he was asked what his favorite thing about being in the fishing club was.
Benjamin Limberg has had many positive experiences with the fishing club at Michigan Tech. He was unable to pick his favorite part of being in the club. Coming to school can be a really hard transition, so the fishing club is a way to help people get out and do things. “When you are new to an area it is hard to go fishing right away because you don’t know the spots, bait shops, bodies of water, and so on. The club really helped me with that. I learned from people who already know the area and it really helped me adjust.”
A member of the Michigan Tech Fishing Club shows off his catch.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Sian
To be in the fishing club you do not even need to have your own equipment. Limberg said, “We have a ton of gear for both regular and ice fishing, and we will be getting a boat soon; being a member gives you access to all of this. This is so nice because in college it is hard to afford the basic stuff let alone fancy fishing rods and gas powered augers, so it gives members a chance to fish even if they can’t afford the equipment.”
A member of the Michigan Tech Fishing Club while ice fishing.
Photo courtesy of Courtney Sian
A lot of people are skeptical about joining a club for fishing because they don’t want to share their fishing spots or they don’t want to have to fish with other people, but Limberg disagrees. He said, “The reason why I love being in a fishing club in the first place is the combined, fishing based knowledge of a large group of fishermen allows you all to really get out and share info, catch them, learns spots, which is what we’re after. As for sharing your fishing spots; just because some people share all their spots doesn’t mean you have to share all yours and you can learn about a ton of new hot spots without giving up all of yours.”
The fishing club at Michigan Tech is a great way to get outside, go fishing and meet people with the same interests as you. The club is always looking for new members and if you love fishing and exploring the Upper Peninsula, or just want to learn more about the sport it could be the thing for you.
A member of the Michigan Tech Fishing Club fishes in a river in the Keweenaw.
Photos courtesy of Courtney Sian