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Shrems West Michigan Trout Unlimited To conserve, protect and restore coldwater fisheries Annual Wa Wa Sum Lodge Gathering - June 19-22, 2008 The bunkhouse at Wa Wa Sum. An empty porch? Everyone must be fishing! Early morning on the river, just steps from the lodge. Seeking a wilderness experience on the North Branch. We are now taking reservations for our annual membership outing at the Wa Wa Sum Lodge. The lodge is located on the banks of the main stream of the AuSable River’s fabled “holy waters”, near Grayling, Michigan. The annual membership meeting to elect officers and new board members will be held during the weekend, exact time to be determined. Past participants will tell you this is a great time. The lodge is an historical log building with a great porch along the front looking out over the river. Sleeping arrangements are dorm style, so bring your own bedding or sleeping bag and towels. A cold breakfast will be provided along with other snacks, lunch items and a dinner on Saturday afternoon. BYOB. If you have not been before and have any questions, please give Larry Risbridger a call. This is a outstanding opportunity to fish multiple rivers, experience a truly historic lodge, meet new friends and have a wonderful fishing weekend. Arrival is anytime after noon on Thursday, June 19, with departure on Sunday, June 22. You may come for one, two or all three nights. This year’s nightly rate has increased slightly to $150 for three nights, $100 for two nights and $50 for one night. Please RSVP by June 12, 2008. Contact Larry Risbridger at either elrisbridger@charter.net or by phone at 616.890.8327 (cell) or 616.891.0148 (home). Please give your name, which nights we can expect you and your phone number. Again, give Larry a call if you have any questions. The Fishing Mid June is traditionally a super time to meet some of the best hatches of the season: yellow and olive stones, drakes and caddis flies. There's a good change at big trout rising to a hex hatch at dark. Fishing opportunities aren't limited to trout; Wakeley Lake offers anglers fine bass and bluegill fishing. The location is a great jumping off place beyond the Au Sable mainstream. The north and south branches, and the Manistee, are minutes away. Canoes are available if you want to explore any area streams or lakes. If you're unfamiliar with Grayling-area fishing opportunities, we'll be happy to point you in a good direction or let you tag along. More information on Wa Wa Sum (courtesy of MSU) Wa Wa Sum is a Michigan State University research and conference facility located on the Au Sable River six miles east of Grayling. The name Wa Wa Sum means "Plain View" in the Ojibwa language and was given to the camp in 1905 by Chief David Shoppenagon, an Au Sable guide and woodsman. At that time, because of the extensive logging of the region's pine forests, the view from the high bank on which the camp is built was unobstructed for miles to the south. Since then, the forests have regenerated, slowly obscuring the view beyond the river. Chief Shoppenagon built the first building at the camp, now known as the Dining Room, in 1880. In 1897, Rubin Babbit, an Au Sable woodsman who later becam Michigan's first wildlife officer, built a second structure, now the Administration Building. These first buildings were constructed of red pine and tamarack logs and used as a fishing camp for a group of Toledo businessmen. Other cabins of various sizes were added in later years: the Bullpen (1907); the Big Camp (1921/22); the Barn and the Guide's Cabin (early 1930s). The buildings and 251 acres of land were deeded to MSU in 1980 by owners Virginia Secor Stranahan and Frank Bell, descendants of two of the camp's six original owners. Kevin Gardiner, a descendant of Rubin Babbit, is the camp's present caretaker. He is the third generation of his family to perform these duties.