THE HEAD LINE IN THE SENTINEL THIS MORNING TELLS OF THE PRESIDENTS REQUEST FOR MILLIONS TO CLEAN UP THE GREAT LAKES.  GETTING RID OF INVASIVE SPECIES WOULD TAKE ALL OF THAT AND MORE.  

I RECALL GOING FISHING BEFORE LAMPREY EELS, ZEBRA MUSSELS AND EVEN BEFORE SALMON.  THE FIRST TIME WAS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SAUGATUCK CHANNEL. THE LONG CANE POLES WERE THE WAY TO GO.  WE CAUGHT NOTHING.  MY DAD WAS DETERMINED TO TAKE ME FISHING AND CATCH SOMETHING. SO A FEW DAYS LATER WE TRIED THE SOUTH HOLLAND CHANNEL.  OTHER THAN CASEY'S WATER TAXI, IT WAS A NICE QUIET AFTERNOON AND WE CAUGHT ELEVEN PERCH.  

MANY YEARS LATER, I TRIED CASTING.  AFTER MANY HOURS UNTANGLING FISH LINE, I BECAME ADEPT ENOUGH TO HIT AN OLD PILING A HUNDRED FEET AWAY FROM SHORE WITH A SILVER SPOON.  I ALWAYS WENT OUT FOR LARGE MOUTH BASS AND HARVESTED A FEW BLUEGILLS AND SUNFISH.  

YES, MR. PRESIDENT, IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE THE LAKES BACK, IF WE CAN AFFORD IT, OR MAYE WE CAN CONSIDER THE ASIAN CARP A GAME FISH.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?