Fisherman's landing "Relocation"- Time to speak up!

[smbassman]

Please read the following news article....

http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2012/02/port_development_is_at_the_hea.html

[bigjc]

Well, I am not a westsider, and I have only fished a few tx's out of F/L, but I think that the west side community needs to keep an open mind.  Economic development is key to viable and sustainable communities.  Too often narrowmindedness and personal agendas deter economic development, when mutually beneficial agreements could be made.

Maybe the fishing/recreational community gets a nicer facility on the west end, and the economic development moves forward, and the entire community wins?

[Mike S.]

That is a junk idea. There is plenty of land on Muskegon Lake, the paper mill property for instance. They just figure they will be able to score that land cheaper. People like that suck. That place has been around a long time, its established, and tons of people use it. Why can't they go somewhere that's vacant?  This deal will end up like everything else does around here if it goes through. The landing gets sold, and the money goes elsewhere. Then, fishermen are out of a good launch facility, and campground. That's the only real good site for a place to have tournaments. The state park launch sucks, and nobody else has room to accomodate a decent sized tournament. Hope it fails, would hate to have to tow the boat more than 5 minutes to go fishing.

[smbassman]

I agree this is not good.  Fisherman's landing is one of, if not the best tournament friendly, public access sites in the state.  It should be the model for other access sites, not traded for vacant sand dunes.

It appears the next date to discuss this plan is going to be on April 9th. Anyone in the area should try to attend.

[Mike S.]

It really doesn't surprise me at all that they are thinking about doing that. Lately it seems that everything that brings people, people that bring money, to the Muskegon area is being done away with. They have killed the air show. Summer Celebration is done with. Now, Fisherman's Landing. It's absolutely ridiculous.

I know that place makes a ton of money. It can't be too hard to maintain a bunch of concrete, and a couple of small out buildings. Everyone here knows what kind of cash gets spent during a big fishing tournament. Guys from out of state, other parts of our state, all spend big money to fish here for a weekend. Or, even an entire week because they want to prefish. Gas, food, camping, launch fees at $10 a day. I am really starting to hate this area, and the people who make hasty decisions because it will put a few bucks in their pockets. The businesses around here have all run just fine with Fishermans right where it is now.

There is so much vacant land on Muskegon Lake, due to the paper mill shutting down. They are talking about shutting the Cobb plant down in the next few years. Why don't these businesses try to lock in on some of that property?  Oh, I know, because they don't want to pay the price for premium property like that. No, they would rather shut something down that serves a purpose to many more people in the area than their own business does. This has kind of turned into a rant for me, but it really pi$$es me off.

[bigjc]

What will happen to the area? the region? even the state, when there are no businesses producing anything?  That is what we have witnessed on the east side of the state.  Manufactuing came to a screeching halt and the region is suffering and will suffer for decades.

Once the state economy is completely bust, then there won't be a DNR to maintain the ramps.  I am only suggesting that those "evil" businesses are the backbone to the community, so be careful what you wish for. 

Don't overestimate how much business is driven to an area for a tx, particularly in MI.  That argument is very difficult to sell.

[TCook]

What will happen to the area? the region? even the state, when there are no businesses producing anything?  That is what we have witnessed on the east side of the state.  Manufactuing came to a screeching halt and the region is suffering and will suffer for decades.

Once the state economy is completely bust, then there won't be a DNR to maintain the ramps.  I am only suggesting that those "evil" businesses are the backbone to the community, so be careful what you wish for. 

Don't overestimate how much business is driven to an area for a tx, particularly in MI.  That argument is very difficult to sell.

What will happen to all the businesses that supply lodging, food, and gas to all the anglers that are in the city for one reason? That reason being to fish the larger tournaments that launch out of fishermans landing almost every weekend. What will happen to all the people employed by those businesses if they go belly up? Its simply the biggest tournament location on the west side of the state and that will be a thing of the past if this happens. I think its safe to say Fishermans landing is more important to the muskegon area than sands corp expanding. We simply cannot let this happen you guys over there in that area get your arse to those meetings and speak your mind before its to late!

[bigjc]

I wish you were right, but unfortunately you are eithir kidding yourself, or don't understand economics.

The expansion of a successful manufacturing business will bring far more to a municipality than we anglers could ever dream of bringing.  That is not to say that our ramps are not important, they certainly are.  I am just suggesting that as outdoorsman, we sometimes get a bit shortsighted about thses things.

[TCook]

I absolutley dissagree with you sir, if you could please explain to me how in this case only will sands corp expanding to the land where fishermans landing is currently at instead of another location bring more money and jobs than 100s of anglers spending 2-3 days many times a year in muskegon that they would lose out on.

[Mike S.]

I understand the logic of your argument.  But, they want to expand to give themselves a chance to make more money, which may or may not bring more jobs to the area.  I get it.  But, as I have said earlier, there is plenty of property available for that.  It would probably be pricier than Fisherman's, but worth it if they are going to make more money.  To do away with something that makes money, and a lot of people enjoy, isn't the answer. 

The people around here just aren't right.  They tear down the horse track, which is in a prime spot, and then shoot down the idea of a casino.  The casino was said to create almost 700 jobs or something.  They were worried about the crime rate rising.  Really?  That would have put a lot more people to work than the sand company will. 

Bottom line is, they could put it somewhere else if they wanted to.  Fisherman's is used by more than just fishermen.  When Summer Cel is here, the campground gets packed.  When Bike Time rolls around, guess what?  Fisherman's is packed.  Hot Rod Power Tour?  Guess where they camp?  Fisherman's!  You can't tell me that 1000 hot rods in town doesn't bring tons of money here.  And Bike Time?  TONS of money. 

I remember 2 years ago or so, there was an article in the paper about the elderly couple that ran Fisherman's.  The lady loved it so much, and her husband passed, and she was going to keep his love alive.  Guess it was good on paper.  Sounds like a bunch of crap in my opinion. 

I am totally against this idea.  There are way more possibilities, and I think that everyone who uses Fisherman's should be there for the next meeting about this.  How will they handle 1000 anglers who have something to say about it.  Not just bass fishermen, but salmon and all the other species that draw people and money to Fisherman's Landing.  But, it is Muskegon we are talking about. If this doesn't happen, they will probably try to turn it into a low income housing area next.  I'm ready to move.

[Waterfoul]

Bass anglers aren't the only ones to hold tournaments at Fishermans Landing.  Walleye and Salmon tournaments also run out of Fishermans.  Litterally thousands of anglers use the landing every summer... the place is a goldmine especially when you figure in all the camping.  I'm sure the reason the sand company wants this piece of property is that it's adjacent to their current facility.  But down at the old paper mill would be a great option... it already has the canal needed for their ships and barges and a large section of flat land to make their piles on... but it's on the other end of the lake.

I sure would hate to see Fishermans Landing go away.  I use the ramp a LOT every year.  The next viable launch facility that could handle a decent sized tourney would be the one down by Great Lakes Marina... and in comparison it sucks.  Muddy dirt/gravel parking lot and only a 2 dock ramp.


Closing Fishermans would have a big impact on the angling community, but we all know that big economics will probably prevail.  Sad indeed.

[bigjc]

Well as I said, I am not from the area, and my only real point was that anglers should keep an open mind, and look for productive suggestions rather that approach the situation with a narrowminded-"we're getting screwed," mentality.  That mentality just makes us look foolish and doesn't bring anything productive to the table.

[Waterfoul]

Well, if this happens we (anglers) will have gotten screwed out of the best ramp on the Lake Michigan shoreline.  Simple as that.  I have no problem being selfish about this fact.  Especially since there is a LOT of vacant land on Muskegon Lake that is available, and that the Cobb plant IS closing, making all those nice docks they just built available.

[Mike S.]

Right on Mike. You know, another point is that location is everything, when it comes to Fisherman's. Even if they were to move the landing to the paper mill property, and open it up for camping and everything they offer now, who will want to camp in Lakeside?  How do you camp when the country club is looking down on you, literally?  Heck, let's throw a campground up in the middle of Grand Rapids. How successful will that be?  Fisherman's is perfect where it is. Not around a bunch of homes, just minutes from the highway, and the campground goes right out to the lake. Much more of a camping feel than it would be right off of Lakeshore Drive.

Then you have the launch right by the bait shop on Lakeshore. What a hole. Want to park your truck?  Pick a mound, or a puddle. It's all yours for the day. I'd hate to be there for an 80 boat tournament, or for the state championships. You would have to draw numbers to see who is on their trailer first just to get the weigh in under way in a timely manner. Then you also have to deal with the car ferry when it's in, and all the other boat traffic from Great Lakes Marina. The same scenario if they redid the launch behind Fricano's. Let's camp downtown by a couple of foundries, the YMCA, a bakery, and a bunch of old warehouses that should be torn down.

I could go on and on and on about this. We the fishermen will be taking it in the rear on this one, no matter how selfish or ignorant an outsider would see it to be. Hopefully it gets resolved in a matter that benefits everyone. I have a bad feeling that the man with the fat pockets is going to bone all of us.

[djkimmel]

Fight this tooth and nail! Anglers and hunters impact on our economy always gets shorted, often by business interests that have questionable return to the public interest. Here you have a proven winner in Fishermans Landing, a facility that attracts large numbers of tournament events to the lake with convenient location, camping and public access for large number of boaters. Verses one business interest that says this may be helpful or may be needed some day.

Natural Resources, and quality access to it, pumps billions of dollars into the Michigan economy, providing hundreds of thousands of jobs - http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7-153-38948-121641--,00.html

Why should we take 2nd place to anything?!? Why shouldn't we always be sitting at the head of the table rather than being told to be satisfied with the leftovers?!?

We have done studies in Michigan of spending around tournaments. There have been plenty of economic impact statements done nationally around tournaments and the outdoor sports in general. We found that the direct impact to a local economy of one large state level tournament alone was $140,000 immediately with our own surveys. That was when gas was a buck-something a gallon! That was for the immediate practice and tournament only, not new people coming to the area in the future, and more tournaments coming there because they saw the facilities, lodging, gas and other desirable amenities. That would be like one BFL.

Adjust that amount for today's gas and other prices, and for various tournament sizes, and local verses more traveling (hotels, motels) and it isn't hard to see that tournaments alone pump some serious support into our economy and jobs! Just because it isn't one company with x number of jobs doesn't mean it isn't significant and important to our economy!

The simple fact is that hunters and anglers don't get involved enough or voice their opinions, and these kind of people know we are an easy mark! I can't tell you how many times I've heard how a public access site or a wetlands is such a waste of 'valuable' property from people whose only interest is making more money for themselves.

Look around. Do you see a bunch of new public access sites being made in Michigan? No! You don't! Why would anyone in their right mind want to risk giving up even 1 single site?!? Whether they promise to replace it with something else or not!!

Fishermans Landing is the best facility on the entire West side. It attracts tons of people to Muskegon Lake who spend money in the area throughout the season which supports jobs. Period. For crying out loud - the economy in Michigan NEEDS and screams more public access and promotion for people to use it, not less in any way, or screwing up a proven, good thing.

Our natural resources are this states viable future, not a slightly bigger port that might be useful in the future. We have more prime freshwater and land for people to enjoy than almost anyone else, yet other states, even northern states are way ahead of us in promoting their resources and getting people to travel to and spend in their local economies. New York has goofier bass seasons than we do, yet they seem to get 1 to 3 major bass tournaments every year.

Let this company figure out how to make themselves more money at their own expense, not again at the expense of a proven winner that benefits large numbers of boaters, campers and anglers.

Thank goodness that the MDNR, in general, is more on board than ever in wanting people to actually use their facilities, and that some local governments and influential business people have finally figured out that we have these amazing underutilized resources that can boost a broader range of the economy if we treat it like it deserves, promote it and provide the kind of access people expect to enjoy it!

I expect to have some good news about tournament fishing and fishing promotion in general this year from at least one part of the state, if not all. The last thing we need is to backslide and once again allow hunters, campers and anglers to have to wait in the back room with the table scraps rather than at the big table with everyone else.

In Michigan more than maybe any other state, we should have figured out by now that our natural resources are the MAJOR piece of the economic success pie. The numbers are already there to support that if you actually take the time to look. Quality public access locations, facilities and availability are critical to the future of our state. The shift in how the Michigan economy is powered in the future has already started.

We need to add more and better access, not allow one more company or person to say, 'hey, this land is being wasted on public access. Lets do something valuable with it' because we ALREADY are doing something valuable with it!!! We are providing access to our number one resource - our natural resource! Let them be inconvenienced for a change.

They can go out and find an alternative. Fishermans Landing is a proven winner. Their idea is the one that is unproven and questionable as to the value in jobs and public interest benefits. People have been trying to take away that 'wasted' space for as long as I can remember, and the same happens in other places too.

We need the access sites we have, and more new sites, not to be giving up existing sites for some unproven business interest whether in exchange for some other location or not. You don't take a proven winner and knee-cap it just so you can try something else to see if it might help a few people later.

The issue is simple. For companies like this, it is easier and cheaper to heap on the outdoors people because they usually don't put up much of a fight. If anyone wants to short-change the economic impact of outdoors people, that's their personal business, but the actual numbers say the opposite is true. I intend to do what I can to promote for more, bigger and better access sites, and stop anyone who wants to take away existing public access whether they are offering a 'trade' or not, unless the trade is a true remarkable improvement, and done in a way that does not risk the existing utilization. That pretty much almost never happens.

[Mike S.]

Thank you, Dan.

[Waterfoul]

Hey Mike... when is the next meeting/hearing scheduled?  If I can make it up there you want to try and hit it with me?

[Waterfoul]

Judging by the comments on the article at MLive, most of the people making comments are NOT anglers that use the facility.  We as anglers need to speak up!!

I just posted a lengthy (long winded??) comment.

[Mike S.]

Hey Mike... when is the next meeting/hearing scheduled?  If I can make it up there you want to try and hit it with me?

Oh, for sure!  I will try to find a date and time.

[djkimmel]

Like I said, anglers and hunters don't speak out enough while plenty of other people will. If you want something bad enough, you have to do a little work for it. I don't see why anyone would be in favor of this considering all the possible, maybes behind the reasoning to do it. I think they've done a great sales job because there isn't much substance. I'm sure they are counting on peoples' emotions over the economy wanting to support anything they think means more jobs to drown out the little noise boaters and anglers might make.