Near or Far?

Readers, I'd like your input. I begin teaching next week, but my schedule for the first week is such that I won't have to be on campus Thursday or Friday. So guess what I was planning to do those days.....?

The problem is where to do it. Ordinarily at this time of year, my plan would be to camp somewhere near Mio and fish the Ephoron hatch on the Au Sable in the evenings and head somewhere upstream for morning and afternoon fishing. I thought maybe this year I'd take my new boat along and fish for bass and pike one morning at a lake reputed to hold trophies for the taking (and which closes for the year on Aug. 31st--have to go now, or wait another year).

Why not go? You may have already guessed: gas prices. Usually a trip up to the Au Sable will take about 2 to 2.5 tanks. I often drive around quite a bit while I'm there, roving between favorite spots. This getting back to nature stuff racks up quite a bill anymore. And it's not good for air quality, either, never was. Gas prices today are making me think not only about the higher cost of commuting and recreating, but about my fossil fuel habits generally. Is my happiness that dependent on gasoline? Addiction may be more than just a metaphor in this case.

So I began considering an alternative to a Mio run. Like I was saying a couple weeks ago, I want to start doing more fishing locally. I also want to test out my new boat. So perhaps I could camp and fish someplace nearby. Do a trip on one tank or less. When we lived in Fenton, I was always pretty impressed with 7 Lakes state park, and there are lakes there I've wanted a shot at ever since. I could fish those in the morning, then maybe run to the Shiawassee river in the evening to fish for smallmouth. Or maybe camp out by Waterloo and fish some of the lakes there. From Waterloo, I could even dash back to the Huron river for evening smallmouth fishing. This started to look like a really good idea by the middle of this week.

But last night, trout fever started to kick in again. I felt like I would be a fool to pass up the last big mayfly hatches of the year. Little, nagging misgivings remained though. The price of gas, the time on the road (which I have too much of already with this new school year), also the sense of being stuck in rut, albeit an enjoyable one. Back to square one.

Despite high gas prices, going up north wouldn't be any more expensive than a trip closer to home. I calculated I'd pay about $30 more for gas than I would have a year ago on a comparable trip. Not an inconsequential amount on my budget. But camping at 7 Lakes (in a setting resembling an Auburn Hills subdivision) would cost $34 (2 nights @$17). I could camp for free at a Forest Service campground by Mio, where the loudest sound I'd hear would be a barred owl. Though said owl might be complaining, in owlish, about choking on the tailpipe emissions of downstate fishermen.

I'd like to see how some others would weigh these choices. Continue a beloved but increasingly pricey tradition, or strike out on a new, lower eco-impact adventure that, at its best, will probably not be as satisfying as even a medicore trip north. If you don't fish, substitute your favorite outdoor recreation. I won't make up my mind based on the votes for one choice or another, but I'd appreciate some friendly conversation about these options. How say you?