MCCALLISTER — Gabe Stelzer is drawn to rivers despite growing up near Lake Michigan.
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Gabe Stelzer launches his drift boat last week on the Michigan side of the Menominee River just below the Upper Peninsula's Grand Rapids power dam.
Signs like this are common along the Menominee River in Marinette County and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A Canadian company wants to build a mine near the river, but is facing fierce opposition.
Bass anglers work a stretch of the Menominee River last week near Bear Point in Marinette County.
Guide Gabe Stelzer holds a smallmouth bass caught by a client last week using a fly rod on the Menominee River.
A collection of flies in the drift boat owned by guide Gabe Stelzer.
Jason Klein, of Madison, makes a cast with his fly rod last week as guide Gabe Stelzer offers up pointers in pursuit of smallmouth bass on the Menominee River. A Canadian company wants to build a gold and zinc mine near the river, but is facing fierce opposition from anglers, environmental groups, local citizens and Native American tribes.
Photos: Menominee River
Menominee River
Bass anglers work a stretch of the Menominee River last week near Bear Point in Marinette County.
Menominee River
Signs like this are common along the Menominee River in Marinette County and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A Canadian company wants to build a mine near the river, but is facing fierce opposition.
Menominee River
Gabe Stelzer speaks with fellow fishing guide Nate Sipple just prior to smallmouth bass fly fishing trips on the Menominee River. The pair guide for Tight Lines Fly Fishing Shop out of De Pere and work an 80-mile stretch of the river that borders Wisconsin and Michigan.
Menominee River
Fly fishing is big business on the Menominee River. The interior of Gabe Stelzer's pick up truck displays some of the flies used to attract smallmouth bass.
Menominee River
Gabe Stelzer, 21, is in his second year of guiding on the Menominee River for Tight Lines Fly Fishing Shop. Stelzer, who owns his own drift boat, can spend more than eight hours a day guiding clients from around the country who come to chase smallmouth bass.
Menominee River
Gabe Stelzer launches his drift boat last week on the Michigan side of the Menominee River just below the Upper Peninsula's Grand Rapids power dam.
Menominee River
Fishing guide Gabe Stelzer brings his drift boat into shore as he prepares for a seven mile, eight hour trip down the Menominee River.
Menominee River
Jason Klein, of Madison, makes a cast with his fly rod last week as guide Gabe Stelzer offers up pointers in pursuit of smallmouth bass on the Menominee River. A Canadian company wants to build a gold and zinc mine near the river, but is facing fierce opposition from anglers, environmental groups, local citizens and Native American tribes.
Menominee River
A wide range of flies can be used to catch smallmouth bass on the Menominee River but these top water baits are among the more popular.
Menominee River
Guide Gabe Stelzer holds a smallmouth bass caught by a client last week using a fly rod on the Menominee River.
Menominee River
Gabe Stelzer, a fishing guide for Tight Lines Fly Shop in De Pere, releases a smallmouth bass caught by a client on the Menominee River in Marinette County.
Menominee River
A drift boat makes it way down the Menominee River last week.
Menominee River
Gabe Stelzer rows his drift boat down the Menominee River as he puts his clients in position to cast for smallmouth bass. Stelzer, a guide for Tight Lines Fly Fishing Co. in De Pere, is concerned about a proposed mine that could be built next to the river in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Menominee River
The Menominee River winds 116 miles along the boarder of northeastern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
Menominee River
Kayakers, right, paddle down the Menominee River.
Menominee River
A collection of flies in the drift boat owned by guide Gabe Stelzer.
Menominee River
A pair of kayakers paddle the Menominee River last week along the Wisconsin/Michigan border.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
