Kalamazoo fishing tourney is a big success

Tournament organizer Matt Elliott fishing on the Kalamazoo River.

River is a treasure for fishermen, kayakers, community

Sept. 28, 2023

After 15 years in construction, Matt Elliott thought starting Mainstream Tackle and Outdoors would be a good retirement hobby.

Far from that initial intent, the Galesburg, MI-based company that started selling fishing bait and tackle is emerging as a one-stop shop. This includes hosting events, such as the Kalamazoo Fall River Challenge.

Part of the three-season (spring, summer and fall) Kalamazoo River Challenge, the Sept. 23 event attracted 49 anglers.

“Trading a hammer for a fishing pole has proven to be a good decision,” said Elliott. “We appreciate the support of the volunteers and sponsors, as well as Feelfree Kayaks, Time Out Lounge and Enbridge. They were great partners that helped make this a fun event for all involved.”

The top five finishers received monetary prizes. Kevin Waite ($2,000), Jake Loesch ($1,300), Alex Traister ($800), Myles Sayles ($400) and Bruce “The Phenom” George ($200) earned angler prizes.

Dave Dykstra earned the title of “Big Bass” and $140, while Shawn Cottrell received the coveted door prize—a Moken 10-pedal drive kayak—as part of the eight-hour bass tournament.

“This river is simply beautiful, a real treasure for Michiganders, who need to come out here in person to either fish or float,” said Elliott. “It’s a natural resource people need to take advantage of.”

River is vibrant, restored—so is surrounding area

In 2010, a portion of the Kalamazoo River and Talmage Creek was the site of an oil release from an Enbridge pipeline. Since then, the area has undergone a transformation; the river and creek area again support native wildlife and fish.

“We’ve been working on this for 13 years, and for several years people have been able to use the river through the parks and boat ramps we installed,” said Enbridge’s Bryan Stiemsma, manager of environmental operations in the Marshall area.

“This fall fishing tournament brought together the best of the community enjoying the waterways we treasure,” continued Stiemsma.

Accolades continue

This summer Enbridge, in partnership with 7th Legacy, an Indigenous-owned business, received news that a portion of Talmage Creek earned national certification as wildlife habitat. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has designated a section of Talmage Creek—where the 2010 Marshall release occurred—as a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

This area received the designation because it met certain criteria that fosters wildlife, including food (native plants), water sources, cover for shelter, and places (habitats) to raise young species.

Today, the area is a viable, quality habitat for box turtles, raptors and other wildlife. Plans for the area include a pavilion and raised garden beds, supported by a grant from Enbridge to Arrowhead Incubator, a Native American not-for-profit based in Traverse City.

“This is a real turnaround story,” said Stiemsma. “The creek and the river are an example of what can be accomplished when people work together.”

“It was gratifying to see so many anglers and outdoor enthusiasts overall enjoying the Kalamazoo. We look forward to the 2024 events.”

As far as future fishing tournaments go, there are plans to include kids and young adults in upcoming ones.

For additional information on other events, visit the Mainstream Tackle and Outdoors website.