Just purchased an 18in Weber Smokey Mt. can't wait to fire it up, 28 degrees w/15mph NW wind not going to happen today. Maybe next week. I've been reading a lot of info from this site, thanks to all the contributors, going to follow "Schueys" instructions for my first smoked pork butt.
Hello from Traverse City Michigan
- Thread starter MMiller
- Start date
Lynn Dollar
TVWBB Emerald Member
Welcome, I think I know Traverse City from there being a lot of lakes in that area ? With great smallmouth bass fishing ?
I live on a small lake that has Largemouth in the 15" range. Hard to beat Smallmouth fishing on West Bay.
Timothy F. Lewis
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Welcome aboard! I’m in Kalamazoo, I use a lot of cherry when smoking, pretty readily available, great color and flavor applications. I don’t get to TC as often as I’d like but, have a wonderful time.
I am less concerned with ambient air temperature as much as wind or rain. I build a wind screen which I’ve adopted as SOP when smoking, an umbrella over the top if it’s bad (and not fully expected) it keeps most of my “stuff” in a centralized location. There’s a whole thread on that somewhere.
Butts are really forgiving and provide excellent learning experience, cheap enough too.
Make up a rub, find a commercial one (recent fav. Operation Barbecue relief I got it from Lowe’s) or, start with flavors you enjoy, blend, and get on with it. Don’t make things more difficult than they are. I would say follow the basics and you will learn where you want to tweak things. I have gone to a “no water” regimen, (never have) nor do I wrap as a matter of course. It’s all a very pleasant learning curve, you need to accept failure with a glad heart, even not perfect personal accomplishments are pretty darned good!
I’ve yet to just take a bite and clear the table to order a pizza!
Have FUN with it.
I am less concerned with ambient air temperature as much as wind or rain. I build a wind screen which I’ve adopted as SOP when smoking, an umbrella over the top if it’s bad (and not fully expected) it keeps most of my “stuff” in a centralized location. There’s a whole thread on that somewhere.
Butts are really forgiving and provide excellent learning experience, cheap enough too.
Make up a rub, find a commercial one (recent fav. Operation Barbecue relief I got it from Lowe’s) or, start with flavors you enjoy, blend, and get on with it. Don’t make things more difficult than they are. I would say follow the basics and you will learn where you want to tweak things. I have gone to a “no water” regimen, (never have) nor do I wrap as a matter of course. It’s all a very pleasant learning curve, you need to accept failure with a glad heart, even not perfect personal accomplishments are pretty darned good!
I’ve yet to just take a bite and clear the table to order a pizza!
Have FUN with it.
I have a whole pile of relations there, mostly out on the Leelanau Peninsula. I grew about 35 miles northeast. Small lake w/ 15" largemouth.... that narrows it down some, but that's still a lot of lakes.
Hrrrm... is Cone Drive still in business...yeah, they most certainly appear to be.
Lovely place, Traverse City. Only passed through there once. How long is barbecuing season there? June/July/August? 
I kid...kind of.
My wife hails from Midland, MI. Her family says there are two seasons in Michigan...shovel and swat. They say that, not me.
I kid...kind of.My wife hails from Midland, MI. Her family says there are two seasons in Michigan...shovel and swat. They say that, not me.
Her family says there are two seasons in Michigan...shovel and swat. They say that, not me.
Ya know, there is a fair amount of truth in that.
MI's western Lower Peninsula really benefits from being downwind from Lake Michigan. It stays warmer in the winter (at least until Lake MI freezes over,) and cooler in the summer. Lake effect snow is a thing there.
Thanks, Tim! Still waiting for some nice weather. Possible 1-3 inches of snow today 4/26. Haven't decided on a rub yet I'll either make my own or pick one from the numerous choices at the local stores, haven't checked to see if Costco carries rubs?
Timothy F. Lewis
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Making your own is pretty rewarding, besides you can adjust flavors to suit your personal taste.
I’ve found a few commercial rubs that are pretty good, there is an “Operation Barbecue Relief” one that I got at Lowe’s last year (almost gone) that was one of the better commercial ones and it promotes a very good cause. They have a decent one at Costco, can’t remember what they call it but, it’s not all salt and cayenne like most others seem to be. It takes a little time to find good ones but, they are out there.
I’ve found a few commercial rubs that are pretty good, there is an “Operation Barbecue Relief” one that I got at Lowe’s last year (almost gone) that was one of the better commercial ones and it promotes a very good cause. They have a decent one at Costco, can’t remember what they call it but, it’s not all salt and cayenne like most others seem to be. It takes a little time to find good ones but, they are out there.
Hi Chris, It's basically beautiful up here, Jan - March are the worst months so we go to Florida! BBQ season starts right about now and will continue until mid-October. Bugs are not a problem, at least no worse than the mid-Michigan area where I grew up. We have no problems with mosquitos once the dragonflies hatch. If I'm out walking through swampy areas that's a different story. Thanks for the reply!Lovely place, Traverse City. Only passed through there once. How long is barbecuing season there? June/July/August?
My wife hails from Midland, MI. Her family says there are two seasons in Michigan...shovel and swat. They say that, not me.
JK Thanks for the reply. My wife and I bike the Leelanau trail several times each summer and stop at Hop Lot Brewing in Suttons Bay for a brew and burger then we catch the bus to take us back home. Love it up here. Had to look up Cone Drive sound like an interesting product line I didn't know it existed and one of my past hobbies was machine tool engineering.I have a whole pile of relations there, mostly out on the Leelanau Peninsula. I grew about 35 miles northeast. Small lake w/ 15" largemouth.... that narrows it down some, but that's still a lot of lakes.
Hrrrm... is Cone Drive still in business...yeah, they most certainly appear to be.
Cone Drive's stuff is pretty amazing.
Machine tool engineering.... Familiar with the name "Lamina Bronze"?
I don't get back there very often. Last visit was August of last year, for Dad's sister in law's funeral services in Lake Leelanau, and that was a fast run over & back (600 miles each way.)
Machine tool engineering.... Familiar with the name "Lamina Bronze"?
I don't get back there very often. Last visit was August of last year, for Dad's sister in law's funeral services in Lake Leelanau, and that was a fast run over & back (600 miles each way.)
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