Boatnerd Discussion Forum

This may be off subject somewhat but, here in the Detroit-Metro area if you have not gotten out to see any fall tree color and also taken any pictures you better do it soon! Next week they say we are in for "four days of windy conditions that will bring down surely most of the leaves." Enjoy them while you can folks!

We fished Sunday in a small pond near my home and figured out the Largemouth Bass pretty quickly. They were way deeper than we thought they would be for it being early fall. So this has me wondering about the lake and the river am I not fishing deep enough? or are they just not there yet?. As far as your slime problem goes I've seen it in Lexington before but not to the extent that Lake Erie has. I can't imagine having the whole west end of the lake covered I would be a sad fisherman. Hope it works out for the better for Erie it's already been through enough.

It was mentioned in the morning TV news in Erie Pa today with a warning to not let your pets drink the water. The bay was not covered as much as you saw on the Western end of the lake but just spots on the rocks and such. All the city's and towns along the Lake take there drinking water from offshore cribs.

Went fishing in western lake Erie yesterday ( 9-29-2014 ). The sight of green algae blooms covering the entire western part of the lake would bring tears to anyone's eyes ! The spray from our boat was cast in green as we made our way out into the lake. It looked as if we could almost walk across the lake on the green slime. We traveled over 25 miles looking for clean water but, the green slime was everywhere. It's sad to see the lake dieing a slow death as the oxygen is being taken from the lake and being replaced by the green slime. Climate change is upon the lake and I don't think I'll return for another trip.

That sure does sound like a change in the forecast there for you garbear as we here in the Detroit area will see an end and change to our glorious weather pattern as well. That dreaded R word for Rain is in the forecast this week with temps dipping as well when a cold front arrives by late next week. However from the looks of the long range 7-10 day outlook, the week after this one we are supposed to bounce back into the 70s although they also say by the middle part of October it will definitely start to feel like fall here in the Detroit area. I just wish we could hold onto this pattern of nice warm sunny days forever as I do not adjust and deal with the cold weather stuff very well unfortunately.

I think many of the weather phenomenons that have been happening lately may be a part of a just another climate change that our planet is going through as it has in the past, present, and the future. Whether or not we have an impact on some of the climate, I do not think that we can attempt to control or reverse it. Just because we have people saying that it was never like this in the good old days, does not necessarily mean that it was normal then or just for the plain fact that media reporting was nowhere near what it is today.

As for the winter, it is a wait and see. I don't think it will be as bad as the last one, but I believe that we may be in the path of some fall gales that may rival those of the past.

Denny wrote:Ah, Tim you sound just like my Dad once did regarding what you said about "To find out the weather forecast, just step outside and see for yourself!" That is what my Dad always used to say as far as telling what the weather was like. My Dad also hated it when we would have "Overcast and cloudy days all day long to where they would predict rain and it takes forever to have it rain!" He would always say "Just rain or do something already and then get it over with and why have it look yucky and overcast all day and not do anything?" He just hated with a passion weather days that were like that. The thing that I don't get in some ways is the fact that now they have to put in the 30-50% chances for rain where before, they would just say "Yeah, it is either going to rain or it is not." Can't figure out why they have to use the percent deal but, I guess that is so they are covered and they don't get any feedback from people otherwise.

80 and sunny here in Duluth today. Supposed to be 47-50 tomorrow. I forecast a change in the weather:)

Ah, Tim you sound just like my Dad once did regarding what you said about "To find out the weather forecast, just step outside and see for yourself!" That is what my Dad always used to say as far as telling what the weather was like. My Dad also hated it when we would have "Overcast and cloudy days all day long to where they would predict rain and it takes forever to have it rain!" He would always say "Just rain or do something already and then get it over with and why have it look yucky and overcast all day and not do anything?" He just hated with a passion weather days that were like that. The thing that I don't get in some ways is the fact that now they have to put in the 30-50% chances for rain where before, they would just say "Yeah, it is either going to rain or it is not." Can't figure out why they have to use the percent deal but, I guess that is so they are covered and they don't get any feedback from people otherwise.

Denny, forecasting the weather is not an exact science and probably wont be at least in our life time. Most of it is all done from computer models so its more or less like simulating a video game. They put a projected forecast in a computer and run the outcomes over and over then base a possible forecast from the info they get. I like the old method of just stepping out the door of my home to get a forecast. Ed, I am very worried over the state of the marine life in the Great Lakes area. The changes are happening very quickly and I'm not sure how the fish and other wildlife are adapting. I would like to hear some input from the people that dive the lakes and rivers to see what they might add.

Tim- we fished Lake Erie all summer for perch for the last 45 years. This year has been our worst year. When we get an East wind, the fishing is very bad. This year we had winds out of the East most days. Usually an East wind brings rain but, not this year. We are fishing out near the channel this week and we are usually in close to shore this time of year. Yes - one strange year !

Well folks I have another one for you on the weather stuff and that is all of this stretch of nice sunny days that we have been having lately. The big shots that predict the weather always say that "This is not an official Indian Summer yet as we have not had any hard frost or freezes that comes before that!" Okay while I might agree to that statement, I have also heard that you have to have an abundance (many consecutive days) of nice sunny weather for an Indiana Summer in the Fall. So if all that is true from the weather forecasters, I question What then is the type of warm weather and sunshine that we have been having for more than a week and continuing into next week? I am calling that one as close to an Indian Summer as you are ever going to see and get around here! Also, you ever notice they don't officially say or call it an Indian Summer in the Fall like what they used to as like anything else with the weather now they have another term they use to describe things. Last winter I never heard of the saying the "Polar Vortex before!" Up until a few short years ago also, I have never heard of the saying "Dewpoints for measuring the level of humidity in the air either." All new toys and gimmicks now that the weather people have to use in forecasting and predictions.

Denny,I agree with you that it has been a crazy year for weather. Being an avid fisherman I've noticed that the fish that are in shallow water at this time of year are much deeper than years past. Over all it has been a poor season numbers wise but on the other side of it I've caught some of my largest fish ever this year. So is Weather a factor I can't really say but it's not the normal pattern that I am used to.

Climate change protests have filled the news lately. Folks are trying to draw attention to our carbon footprint and the need to reduce toxic emissions from coal. The Canadian government has reduced their dependance on coal by almost 30 %. I can look across lake Saint Clair on a clear day and see a host of windmills that were not there two years ago. Pressure is starting to build on China and a few European countries to reduce their carbon footprint. The good news is that the ozone layer, which protects us from radiation given off from the sun, is starting to rebuild itself because we have stopped using spray cans filled with toxic sprays. I think it's time we all look around a bit and see just what we're leaving behind for future generations to clean-up. ( Just my 2 cents worth here ) !

This is off subject here but, early yesterday morning there was a confirmed EF1 Tornado with winds of 90 mph touched down near Rochester Hills, Michigan that caused some damage. It could not be picked up by radar apparently has it happened so fast and suddenly as well. Fortunately, though no one was either injured or killed from it. It sure has been one weird and also crazy year for weather that is for certain. Sure will be interesting to see what the rest of fall and the winter holds for us that is for sure. BTW Ed, you are correct regarding the lawns being really green this year. Both my Mom and I don't ever remember seeing the grass this green for this late into the season. Usually by now, the grass is so brown and burned up from all of the summer heat that we sometimes get. In years past, my township would also put an "odd-even water restriction on us from Memorial Day to Labor Day!" Not so this year with all of the rain we had and also luckily not too much heat either this summer to dry things out.

I hear you Ed as we also had issue with our Windows as well this past winter. In fact during a severe storm this Spring sometime, we got hail and it turned the ground as white as snow believe it or not. It hailed so heavy and hard that it actually put the screen out of my Mom's window. We were in shock and just could not believe it. I don't recall ever seeing the ground around my house all in white from hail and if it happened before, I must have been awful young and could not remember it. Regarding last year and the harsh winter, I shoveled wet heavy snow on Super Bowl Day and was in a hurry to get it done! I was having a party and was afraid of somebody getting stuck! My point is, I shoveled so much and it was wet heavy snow, that I almost broke my two arms from all that shoveling! It took me months this year before the pain in my arms finally went away. I thought I would have to go and have surgery on my arms and therapy as well. Thank goodness the pain went away and I feel better now. Bottom line Ed, I am "Never going to shovel wet heavy snow again!" Better to pay somebody to do it then to risk your own life and limbs and have something happen to you in the process. Whatever happened to the days when kids in the neighborhood would go around and shovel the snow and ask for money? Blame the modern tech stuff for that era and we need to go back to those days. At least that would give the kids something to do and get them out of the house and also to exercise as well. Just my thoughts and two bits on this one!

Denny - it was so cold last winter that the weather folks had to invent a new word - polar vortex. In years past they called cold weather a - cold snap. It was so cold that one of my windows cracked from the cold. I've had these same windows for almost 40 years. I'm looking for another cold long winter as climate change takes hold of our weather. It was so wet this past summer that all the lawns were deep green in color all summer. I can't remember having to cut my lawn so much in years past. Road salt prices have gone up and towns are having trouble getting enough for this winter. YUP - climate change is here !

Every El Nino is different. It depends on its strength and location. For example, the winter of 1976/77 was an El Nino. but the winter was very cold. The next El Nino in 1982/83 was quite strong and we had a warm winter.

The lakes, except for Lake Erie are running slightly below to much below average. Check out the 20-year average versus current water temps for Lake Superior. It is way below average: http://coastwatch.glerl.noaa.gov/webdat ... 2-2013.gif

Heat storage factor for the lakes (the amount of heat stored in the lakes from summer heating) is not as high as in previous years. That means with cold air outbreaks and high winds from storms (heat is removed from the lakes), ice can form quickly.

Gentlemen, I thank you all for your comments regarding thoughts and predictions for the upcoming winter season. I must admit and agree, that I have also heard "conflicting reports about the winter as far as the Farmers Almanac along with the WXYZ TV Channel 7 story and prediction as well." It is sort of like "Who and what story do you want to believe?" As much as I hate to say it, we could be in for another long hard and cold winter sorry to say. I have some evidence don't know if is true or not but, we had an abundance of squirrels around my house this fall and we also have tons and tons of acorns around as well. We have had a few hickory nuts not too many but, lots of acorns. The point is, whenever there are lots of acrorns or hickory nuts I think that is a sign of a hard winter yet to come. I have also heard that "If a squirrel's tail is real bushy that is another sign of a hard winter as well." Diesel, I agree with what you said regarding the lakes not warming up this year as we here in Detroit did not see a really warm summer with lots of days in the 90s and 100s. As you said, the lakes did not really warm up this year. Ed, I agree with your comments about the climate change thing as yes you take a look at all of the severe weather this year and all the rain we have had this year as well. Tim, I also agree with your comments and I also don't like to shovel the snow either. I am also one for not liking any humidity during the summer and it seems we have had a lot of that the past two summers as well more than I can remember in the past. So, yes I would agree that climate change is here and our weather pattern is definitely changing as well. Guess we will just have to wait and see what the upcoming winter holds. I am crossing my fingers and praying for a warmer and milder winter and not another cold and hard one.

With climate change in full swing - the old weather patterns are being changed almost daily. 96 inches of snow last year, 6-7 inches of rain from one storm during this summer all support climate change is here. 2014-15 weather will set more records for severe weather. I've serviced my snow blower this past summer, between rain storms, and am ready for another hard winter.

The guys on the freighters are betting we see ice in November especially around Duluth, Silverbay. Lake Superior never really got a chance to warm up. Actually none of the lakes did. We get ice coverage early that will keep the lake effect snow down.