|
|
 |
|
Week of January 26, 2004 |
|
or |
World
|
IGFA Rejects Record Largemouth A 22 � lb largemouth bass caught this past August has been rejected by the IGFA as a new world record, ending the challenge to a record still held for 71 years by George Perry.
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) has been the keeper of records for the world�s game fish since 1939. The non-profit association, based in Dania Beach, Florida, takes this responsibility very seriously. When it received a record application for a 22-1/2 lb largemouth bass, the IGFA Record Confirmation Committee examined every aspect of the catch in detail.
Mrs. Leaha Trew was fishing in Spring Lake in California with her son last August 24th when she caught the huge bass. It |
stood to beat the existing all-tackle record largemouth of 22-1/4 lb caught by George Perry in Georgia 71 years ago. Perry�s bass record may be the single most recognized record in freshwater gamefishing.
Unfortunately, Trew's catch was not documented to IGFA's satisfaction, and therefore could not be accepted as a record. Rob Kramer, president of IGFA said, "We don�t enjoy having to reject world record claims, but in this case there were too many unverifiable factors, so we had no other choice."
IGFA requires considerable and accurate documentation for all record submissions, which is just one example of the extreme care with which IGFA maintains world records. |
National
|
New hunting, fishing position created
Steve Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, said he created the position because the hunting and
fishing communities are important partners in wildlife conservation.
"Having
someone like Tom focused exclusively on this relationship will help us
provide more resources and opportunities for fishing and hunting on refuges
and strengthen our relationships," Williams said. Reed's job will be to develop and analyze hunting and fishing policies on refuges. He will identify needs for visitor services |
including boat docks and launches, educational kiosks and interpretive signs. He also will be involved in creating a training course for visitor service staff titled, "The Role of Hunting in Wildlife Conservation and Management."
Reed's roots are in the National Wildlife
Refuge System. He served as the refuge manager/refuge officer for three San
Diego refuges (Tijuana Slough, South San Diego Bay and Sweetwater Marsh
National Wildlife Refuges). Before that, Reed was assistant manager at Red
Rocks Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Montana for four years, and worked
in the Division of Ecological Services including as a private lands
coordinator. |
|
Park Service wants Apostle Islands designated as Wilderness Change would severely restrict boat, fishing and camping traffic Recently the National Park Service has proposed designating the majority of the Apostle Islands in the Wisconsin waters of Lake Superior as wilderness. While promising minimal impact on current motorized and non-motorized boat traffic, the change to wilderness designation, while seemingly a benefit to the overall protection of the islands, could prove to be just the opposite.
At issue is the authority the designation would give the Park Service to control access to the Islands as well as restricting boat traffic at a later date without needing to solicit further public input to do so. Currently the majority of the Apostle Island�s are managed as a National Park and the National Park Service has been doing extensive lobbying in both Government circles and with the public to develop support for inclusion of them in the Wilderness Act.
As an organization whose members love and respect the Apostle Islands as well as the pristine waters surrounding them, The Apostle Island's Sport Fisherman�s Association (AISA), since 1980 has worked to help protect and improve the Lake Superior fishery in the Apostle Island�s waters. The AISA's membership is comprised of sportsmen from Wisconsin and Minnesota that utilize and enjoy the Apostle Islands. The Apostle Island Sport Fishermen�s Association recently unanimously voted to oppose this designation.
The following points are further reasons for our opposition: ► Since even before European Settlement, the Apostle Islands have never been wilderness Even before European settlement, both Oral and Archeological histories document a very concentrated population of Native Americans peoples and culture within the Apostle Island area. Since European settlement, logging, quarrying, commercial fishing, and tourism have provided livelihood for the people who chose to live here. As the nature of economics and the American culture has changed so has the utilization of the islands to an area that is enjoyed primarily as a destination for recreational purposes, with a history of tourism in the islands that extends back over a century.
► It is not needed Anyone who has spent any time in the Apostle Islands knows that the Weather, Nature, and the Lake itself protect the Islands from over-exploitation better then any unnecessary legislation that the Park Service desires. Indeed potential restrictions on the islands utilization under the Wilderness Act might very well serve to act to discriminate against certain groups in American society- such as the elderly and the handicapped, and their ability to access and utilize the Apostle Islands for recreation. Current utilization census methods to measure visitor counts overstate the use of the islands by counting people both coming and going and serve mainly as a tool to develop statistics to support the Park Service�s agenda.
► The Wilderness Designation would give the Park Service authority over, and the authority to prohibit in the future, traditional wildlife and fishery management practices and |
traditional recreational uses of the Apostle Islands as they so desire, with no checks and balances on Park Service Authority.
Issues in this regard have already happened. A case in point is the prohibition by the Park Service on the planting of brown Trout from Park Service property on Little Sand Bay by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, on the basis that Brown Trout are considered an �Exotic Species� by the Park Service. Brown Trout were originally planted in Lake Superior in the late 1800�s at about the same time that Rainbow Trout were introduced in Lake Superior. To take the uninformed action of classifying them as an �Exotic Species� in the same league as Sea Lampreys and Zebra Mussels is an example of the potential abuse in the exercise of authority that could become commonplace under the Wilderness Act designation.
In addition, although they currently claim it will not be used, the Wilderness Act gives the Park Service the power to restrict the use of motors out to � mile from any of the Islands under the Wilderness Designation with no further approval from other governmental bodies necessary.
If that happens, will the Apostle Islands become a haven for the elite few that can journey to the islands by kayak or Park Service approved boat ferries? Again, in the name of protection, the potential to discriminate against many citizens exists, and it would be dependent on the whim of the current or future Park Service administrations.
► What we have now works quite well The Park Service claims the Wilderness Designation will make it easier to �protect� the Apostle Islands in the future. From what - the Park Service?
In our Association�s collective 200+ years of experience in the Islands, we have not seen significant changes occur in the environmental health of the Islands. Indeed the worst offender in that regard is often the Park Service and their efforts to �improve� on nature by soil stabilization, or dock building in areas known for high storm sedimentation, leading to even more sedimentation.
Instead of spending so much time lobbying for increased protection, perhaps the Park Service would be better served by listening to the people who both use the Islands, and who�s economic livelihood depends on the Islands, as well as improving and refining their current management techniques.
The membership of the Apostle Islands Sport Fishermen's Association has requested of the appropriate elected officials that they oppose any legislation to designate the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore as wilderness. We ask that concerned members of the public add your voices to ours.
Sincerely,
Alfred House, President, AISA, On behalf of the collective membership, Apostle Island Sport Fishermen's Association P.O. Box 794, Ashland, WI 54806 |
|
Park Service Police Chief Chambers reports Superior for Harassment Her Complaint Filed Three Hours Before Gag Order Issued Our government at work Washington, DC � U.S. Park Police Chief Teresa Chambers filed a written complaint with National Park Service Director Fran Mainella asking for disciplinary action against Mainella's deputy, Don Murphy, only hours before Murphy took action against Chief Chambers, according to a memo released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
In her December 2, 2003, complaint, Chief Chambers described, "an increasingly hostile work environment he [Murphy] created�" In the letter to Mainella, Chambers also cited Murphy �
Verbally attacking Chambers during a nationwide conference call of Park Service leadership; Authorizing the release of confidential personnel records concerning Chambers; and Repeatedly using "emotionally charged" and "unprofessional" language disparaging the Chief. Chambers asked Director Mainella to discipline Murphy and requested a public apology from Murphy for his remarks. Instead, three hours later Murphy ordered Chambers to stop engaging in interviews of any kind. Three days later, Murphy directed Chambers to surrender her badge, gun, and law enforcement identification, placing her on administrative leave � a step normally reserved only for those law enforcement personnel accused of criminal acts.
Yet, in this case, neither Murphy nor an attorney from the |
Solicitor�s Office could tell Chambers whether she had violated any rules or regulations saying, instead, that they were still "researching" that aspect. A little more than two weeks later, without conducting an investigation or interviewing Chambers, Murphy proposed to terminate her on the basis of unrelated allegations having to do with an interview she did with The Washington Post and discussions she had with a Congressional staff member on a routine matter.
Murphy�s actions took place with a backdrop of a campaign of harassment directed against Chambers and her top deputies, including the scattering of nails under the tires of their assigned vehicles, placement of used condoms on and around assigned vehicles, computer break-ins, pepper-spraying office doors, and other hostile incidents.
"Don Murphy has been doing everything possible to make it hard for Chief Chambers to do her job," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "Any close examination of Deputy Director Murphy's conduct strongly suggests that he should not occupy a position supervising professionals."
The Department of Interior, parent agency for the Park Service, is now evaluating the voluminous response filed earlier this week by Chief Chambers to allegations made by Murphy. A decision is expected later this month.
Read the December 2, 2003 Grievance of Chief Teresa Chambers
View Chef Chambers� response to Don Murphy�s charges.
|
Regional
|
Chicago Waterway barrier update Highlights of January 7,2004 meeting The Corps has received appropriation of $700,000 for Barrier I this year. This includes $500,000 for operation and maintenance of Barrier I and $200,000 for design of upgrades to make Barrier I permanent. The great flaw in this authorization is it allows for design of improvement ONLY, it does not authorize the Corps to construct any permanent additions or improvements to Barrier.
Further, the Corps is authorized to maintain the barrier only through September 2004. They will need authorization to operate the barrier after that date. The Corps will know in February about funding for FY '05. If there is money in the President�s budget for FY '05 the Corps will maintain Barrier I. O&M currently costs about $25,000 per quarter.
NAISA may not pass until after Barrier II in complete. We're told the Corps cannot use funds dedicated for Barrier II to improve Barrier I.
Barrier I has already lost one electrode, the second in from the downstream side. This has not affected the operation of the barrier since there was an extra electrode included in the design. If another goes out we will have a weakened field especially at the surface. The power could be increased to compensate for the electrode loss, but the field strength at the surface would be diminished. An increase in amperage decreases the electrode life.
Also, conductivity has increased in the canal from when Barrier I was originally designed. Initially conductivity was at about 400-500 micromhos, now it is at 1000 micromhos. The Barrier I pulsers are near their peak output now. The low flow in the canal has resulted in the higher conductivity.
Barrier II The design of Barrier II will include the ability to replace electrodes without shutting down the entire array. Barrier II will consist of two independent arrays. This will not significantly affect the construction cost. We will have two generators, more transformers and a heavier electrical system. This will reduce the cost of the system per building.
Field Studies Since the tagged common carp passed through the barrier array last April, there has been interest in assessing the effect of barges on the electric field. That study was completed in December, 2003. Smith-Root built a special 3-dimensional probe to measure the electric field in the canal. Twp barges were then fitted with 18 probes and pushed through the barrier array in various configurations. The tests produced massive amounts of data which is still being analyzed.
The results indicated the field is weakened near the barge, particularly in the 2-3" adjacent to the barge hull. Barrier II design will increase the power output as barges pass through the array. During the meeting Jeff Smith of Smith-Root expressed concern about the effect of the bow wave as being able to push fish through the barrier.
Sensors on the canal banks will detect the presence of the barge and increase the field strength. The increased field strength will not be of lethal strength for humans, if a person fell overboard in the array they would not be electrocuted. They do need to be careful and wear a PFD. Those sensors will detect the presence of the barge and increase the field strength. The increased field strength will not be of lethal strength for humans, if a person fell overboard in the array they would not be electrocuted.
Diet Study � Havana Research station Station supervisor Mark Pegg reported on a diet study |
comparing native fish and Asian carp. They have found that bighead carp overlap most closely with gizzard shad. Other native species and silver carp have shown less diet overlap. Based on the composition of the diet, paddlefish have little overlap with the Asian carp. Asian carp primarily select forage < 200 microns. This is similar to gizzard shad selectivity. Gizzard shad are the primary forage species in the river.
Pegg hasn't noticed any decline in the shad population so far, but it may take some time to observe a change. Also large bigmouth buffalo may be affected too. An IL DNR biologist has suggested he's seen a decline in gizzard shad abundance. The phytoplankton work is not yet complete. There is also some speculation that the Asian carp may be feeding on microbes rather than zooplankton.
MWRD has phytoplankton data, but we need zooplankton data from the canal. Could Asian carp be forage limited in the canal? Duane Chapman has observed that bighead carp in the Missouri River consume fine particulate organic matter and may be able to survive on that diet.
Rapid Response Plan and Outreach Committee Chairman Phil Moy discussed the status of the rapid response plan and associated outreach effort. The objective of the plan is to eliminate Asian carp from the lower Lockport Pool (between the barrier and Lockport Lock) if they appear before Barrier II is complete.
This will likely be a one time effort, occurring in late summer 2004. Once Barrier II is complete the control effort would be restricted to the reach between the barriers. The response plan currently consists of three components: monitoring, outreach and the treatment plan.
Asian carp monitoring is performed monthly by MWRD, IL DNR, Corps of Engineers Chicago and USFWS. There are three sample sites in the Brandon Road Pool and one in the Lockport Pool. Sampling methods include electrofishing, trammel nets and mini Fyke nets. To date no bighead or silver carp have been captured or observed.
It is anticipated that movement of Asian carp will be documented in Brandon Road Pool first. Once fish are found in Lockport Pool intensive monitoring will be used to verify their presence. Once the presence of Asian carp in the Lockport Pool is verified the response action will be engaged.
Under an IL DNR lead, 5.5 miles of the canal from the barrier to Lockport Lock will be treated with rotenone. Rotenone has been shown in toxicity tests supported by the International Joint Commission for this project, to be the chemical of choice to control bighead and silver carp. The rotenone will be detoxified at Lockport Lock and generating station.
The canal and lock will be closed for about 18 hours during the treatment. Barges in the treatment reach can be loaded or unloaded but not moved. The treatment team is working to identify the best flow rate for the treatment to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
The Treatment Plan Team has identified two options for treatment. One would treat the canal as a stream, the other would treat the 5.5 mile canal section as a reservoir. The stream option requires less chemical (3900 gallons) but is more labor intensive and would involve closure of operations on the canal for a longer period. The reservoir option would require very low flow (0.2 ft/sec) and would require more chemical (6200 gallons). The upside is that operations within the treatment reach could resume almost immediately and there would be less labor involved in the application. Caged Asian carp will be used to verify the effectiveness of the response. |
|
Great Lakes Water Levels for January 23, 2004 Current Lake Levels:
Lakes Superior,
Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 9, 19, 10 and 1 inches,
respectively, below their long-term average. Lake Ontario is 11 inches
above its long-term average. All of the Great Lakes are above last year�s
levels except for Lake Superior, which is at the same level as a year ago.
Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 1 to 6 inches above last
year�s level, while Lake Ontario is 20 inches above its level of a year ago. The Lake Superior outflow through the St. Marys River into Lake Huron is expected to be below average during the month of January. Flows in the St. Clair, Detroit, and Niagara Rivers are also expected to be below average, while flow in the St. Lawrence River is expected to be near average in January.
Temperature/Precipitation Outlook: Cold arctic air will remain throughout the Great Lakes basin this week. Several inches of lake effect snow are expected on the eastern and southern shores of the Great Lakes. However, look for diminishing accumulations of lake effect snow from Lake Erie because the lake is about three-quarters ice covered. Ice should
continue to form on all the lakes, as temperatures are not |
expected to be above freezing across the basin the entire week.
Forecasted Water Levels: Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron and Ontario are expected to continue their pattern of seasonal decline over the next four weeks. Due to ice conditions in the Detroit and St. Clair River system in the past several weeks, Lake St. Clair has been experiencing short-term water level fluctuations. The level of Lake St. Clair was high last week due to ice conditions on the Detroit River, then dropped 11 inches in the past week due to ice conditions in the St. Clair River. The levels are expected to rebound over the next few days and then continue a normal seasonal decline over the next several weeks. However, short-term fluctuations could persist as long as the cold weather and ice conditions in the rivers continues. The level of Lake Erie is expected to remain fairly stable over the next month.
Alerts: Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels. Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.
|
|
Wooley appointed deputy Regional Director for FWS Covers 8 state Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region Charles M. Wooley, a Columbus, Ohio, native and a 26-year employee of the USFWS, has been selected as Deputy Regional Director for the Service�s eight-state Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, headquartered in Fort Snelling, Minn.
Regional Director Robyn Thorson announced Wooley's appointment, which will take effect January 26. Since 1998, Wooley has been the Assistant Regional Director for Ecological Services in the Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region, responsible for the Service�s endangered species, contaminants and wetland protection programs, and various Great Lakes, Mississippi and Missouri River activities. In his new position, Wooley will work closely with Fish and Wildlife Service program managers and staff to oversee Service activities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region manages 1.2 million acres of lands and waters on 55 national wildlife refuges and 12 wetland management districts, including more than 240,000 acres in waterfowl production areas. The region also manages 6 national fish hatcheries, 9 fisheries stations, 10 ecological services field offices and 18 law enforcement field offices.
He will also focus on advancing partnerships between the Service and state agencies, Native American tribes and private conservation organizations. Wooley replaces Marvin Moriarty, |
who served as the Deputy Regional Director for 15 years before being named Regional Director for the Service�s Northeast Region last year. Wooley has been with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1978. He worked as a fishery biologist in Alaska, Florida and Maryland, and served as a program analyst in Washington, D.C., where he worked with the President�s Domestic Policy Council�s Interagency Task Force on Wetlands and the House of Representatives� Merchant Marine Fisheries Committee, and participated in the Department of the Interior's Manager Development Program.
Wooley was the field supervisor at the Service�s East Lansing, Michigan, Field Office for eight years. He has served as the Department of the Interior�s Trustee to the Great Lakes Fishery Trust since 1997.
An American Fisheries Society-certified fisheries scientist, Wooley is the author of 15 technical papers on the biology and life history of the striped bass, sturgeon and ecosystem restoration. He has given numerous professional presentations on endangered species and fishery management issues. He was named by the Director of the USFWS as one of ten Unusually Outstanding Employees in the Service in 1989 and 1992, and was honored by Interior Secretary Gale Norton in July 2001 with the Department�s Meritorious Service Award. He is a graduate of the U of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Wooley is married with two daughters, and lives in Lakeville, Minn.
|
General
|
Boat Sales & Show attendance up Strong sales and solid attendance is a common theme for the year so far, and if the figures reported by the NMMA hold true, boating is sharing in the economic growth of our country.
According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association, North |
American boat show
attendance this winter is up to the tune of healthy double digits.
The NMMA also says that 2003 wholesaledollar
sales of all boats were up 6.9 % through October, compared to prior year
numbers. In Canada, through October 2003, wholesale dollar sales of
all boats were up 30.2 % and unit shipments of all boats were up 11.3 %. |
|
Boat registrations up; California No. 1
Michigan�s long-standing
position as the nation�s top boating state has been wrested away by
California. |
14th and 15th, respectively; and Tennessee and Virginia move up to 19 and 20, respectively.
Here�s the top 20: |
|
Johnson Outboards is now offering new four- strokes of choice for all kinds of on-the-water activities: fishing, cruising and exploring.
This year's new 200 and 225 V-6 engines are an environmentally responsible choice of power for boating |
enthusiasts. New product information is available online at: www.johnson.com/docs/200007/0_US.htm Log on and you'll find engine specs, performance reports and photography. The new 200 and 225 are smooth and quiet but provide the out of the hole acceleration and top speed that competitive four strokes can't deliver. Johnson is a brand of Bombardier http://www.brp.com/ |
|
Bombardier announces new corporate structure Highlights of the organizational changes are the creation of two Executive Vice President positions, and the appointment of a Chief Financial Officer for all Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP).
Roch Lambert will hold the position of Executive Vice President, Product Development, Sales and Marketing and be responsible for all BRP recreational products for the North America market. Lambert will be in charge of sales, marketing, after sales and customer support, as well as |
design and innovation and engineering for all finished products. Those products include Ski-Doo� snowmobiles, Sea-Doo� watercraft and sport boats, Bombardier all-terrain vehicles (ATV/Quad), Johnson� and Evinrude� outboard engines, as well as parts, clothing and accessories.
Alain Villemure is appointed Executive Vice President, Manufacturing Operations for North America and China. Louis Morin will hold the position of Chief Financial Officer. |
|
Greenpeace co-founder denounces colleagues
Says movement he helped
lead inflicts 'pain and suffering' on poor
"The environmental movement I helped found has lost its objectivity, morality and humanity," said Patrick Moore in a statement issued by the group. "The pain and suffering it inflicts on families in developing countries can no longer be tolerated."
Moore is one of eight experts from around the world who |
contends, citing personal experience, "environmental extremists deny destitute nations electricity and deepen the poverty, malaria, malnutrition, tuberculosis and dysentery that kill their people." The group asserts the restriction of DDT promoted by the World Health Organization and radical environmental groups has played a significant part in the deaths of 2 million people each year from malaria.
The group contends ideological opposition to economic and energy development in the Third World has fostered a situation in which 2 billion people lack electricity, running water and other basic necessities and conveniences.
|
2nd Amendment issues
|
2nd
Amendment -
Where are all the guns?
To be sure, there were some significant cultural negatives such as blatant racism, etc., but the world here in America generally wore a much, much kinder face. And, of course, virtually all young boys played "guns" and "army" with cap pistols, BB guns, or any handy stick that even remotely resembled a gun, sword, or spear.
The movies and television never showed blood, intestines, severed heads, or the host of splayed body parts now ubiquitously available in the general media. War movies were invariably about character development in the midst of cause and crisis. TV Westerns were a mainstay for Middle America, but public violence remained nominal. Schools were safe for learning. And, of course, the vast majority of little boys played with guns. Those guns were available at any toy store in town. |
Slaughters like Columbine High never happened, and gangs used clubs and knives to fight with, not guns, although they were commonly available. And, of course, the boys played "fort," war, and even had BB gun fights when their male testosterone levels reached critical levels.
So where are the guns today? Both of our hearty, young, male grandchildren wanted toy guns for Christmas. Are you ready for this? No store here in the greater Santa Rosa area, with a population of over 200,000, sells toy guns. We called, inquired, and sought in vain. The people at Toys-R-Us all but lectured us for even asking about them. Political correctness strikes again!
Okay, you testosterone-hating forces, can't you see what's wrong with this picture? I don't even belong to the National Rifle Association, but I know who is behind this. Slaughter on with the carnage your values have created. Why don't you shut down the TV and movies and the violent music if you are really serious about "peace"? But prohibit toy cap pistols! You are infinitely more to blame for the carnage than cap pistols will ever be. Courtesy World Net Daily http://wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=36501 |
|
2nd
Amendment -
Stop Supporting the Big Anti-gun Internet Service Providers
Now there is an ISP dedicated to gun rights and the sporting |
life. Plus a portion of
your monthly fee will be donated to Gun Owners of America (GOA). By
switching to Outdoors Unlimited, you move money away from the Brady Bunch
and to the fight for the Second Amendment. Check out http://www.outdoorsunlimited.net and consider switching your Internet service. |
Illinois
|
Hunter
taking on Lake Zurich law
In an escalating sequence of events, the Daily Herald reports Sprow now is fighting village hall in court so he can continue hunting on unincorporated land just outside of Lake Zurich. After the fall of the goose, the village enacted an ordinance restricting the use of guns within the village and a quarter-mile from its boundaries. It's not known who shot the goose. Sprow, of nearby Island Lake, was cited for firing his gun a day after the ordinance went into effect on Dec. 12. The violation carries a fine of $750. The landowner also has been cited.
The case has aggravated hunting conservation groups throughout the state. The groups are concerned that Lake Zurich is seeking to limit the rights of hunters, even beyond its borders. Sprow is scheduled for an appearance Friday at Lake County's Mundelein courthouse. "I'd be letting every hunter in the state down if I didn't stand my ground on the issue," said Sprow, who runs the Ultimate Waterfowlers hunting club based in Island Lake.
The issue has caught the attention of the National Rifle Association, Illinois Federation for Outdoor Resources and Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Carol Knowles, Media relations director with the Illinois DNR said Lake Zurich's ordinance will not stand up in court because it tries to regulate activity on private property beyond the village's jurisdiction. She knows of no other town in the state that has successfully done that. Although Lake Zurich's ordinance only seeks to regulate nuisances caused by shooting guns, hunting advocates say it could set a precedent for towns looking to ban hunting altogether. "Certainly, the department overall is concerned about the (reduction) of hunting opportunities, and we want to maintain that tradition," said Knowles.
State law requires waterfowl hunters using shotguns to be 100 yards away from an occupied dwelling. Lake Zurich's ordinance does not set a minimum distance, while the maximum reach of the ordinance is a quarter-mile outside the village. Any shooting activity within that area can be deemed a nuisance if it "substantially annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, health, repose or safety of any person within the corporate limits of the village."
Village Attorney Mark Burkland says hunters are overlooking a key aspect of the ordinance, which does not wholly prohibit hunting. "It doesn't regulate hunting at all except if hunters create a serious threat to the health and safety of people who live close to where they're hunting," he said. "If hunters are conducting themselves properly and safely, this ordinance does not affect them at all."
Burkland says the DNR is wrong to call the village's ordinance |
illegal. "There's a provision of the Illinois Municipal Code which allows the village the power to regulate or prohibit outside of its borders businesses or activity that create these consequences," he said. But Knowles says case law does not support that argument. She cited a 1989 4th District Appellate Court decision in the case of the village of Goodfield vs. Jamison. The court held "a municipality's authority to declare nuisance ends at the municipality's corporate limits."
That case was not hunting-related, but rather about a hog transfer station looking to locate near the edge of the central Illinois town. Village officials were trying to stop the hog station because of potential odors from pens and fears of lower property values. Today, the hog station is still in operation.
"It didn't cause the extent of nuisance that they thought it would," said then-village board member Roger Mullins, now Goodfield's public works administrator. "None of the things we suspected happened. We received no complaints from people. Ten years down the road, you wonder why did we spend $20,000 on that deal." Burkland contends Goodfield had a different case and an entirely different situation.
Sprow, who has a five-year lease on the unincorporated property near Lake Zurich, contends the new ordinance threatens his livelihood. "I have been here my entire life, and I've turned my love for the outdoors into how I make my living and support my family," he said. "The audacity of these people to try and regulate what happens on private property ... These people that move out here, what do they expect? Everything has to stop because they moved out here?"
Lake Zurich resident Jeffrey Mangano doubts the village will win its case. "I suspect that we are not going to have a ruling in our favor," he said. "I understand state law supersedes a city ordinance."
Meanwhile, hunters say they are losing more and more traditional hunting areas to urban sprawl in the collar counties. Knowles said the DNR tries to buy land for hunting wherever available, but there is not much open land left around Chicago.
In Lake County, most hunting is done on private property, though public hunting grounds are available at Chain O' Lakes State Park, Deer Lake and Volo Bog. McHenry and Cook counties each have just one public hunting area at Moraine Hills State Park and William W. Powers Conservation Area, respectively. DuPage and Kane counties have no public hunting grounds.
Several hunting conservation groups have hired a lobbyist to represent them in Springfield to help preserve the hunting tradition. "Right now, the immediate concern is to protect our rights to recreate in Illinois and to basically have no net loss of our privileges because we feel they are being taken away piece by piece," Kishpaugh said. "Pretty soon there will be nothing left. The future of hunting depends on every one of us."
|
|
Wilmette man explains his drastic actions and tells the town's Village Trustees �"Stick to Parade Schedules & Planting our Parks." Hale DeMar, in a letter sent to the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune, is now speaking out Three days after Christmas, someone broke into the DeMar family home in Wilmette through a dog door, stealing a television, an SUV and the keys to the home. The next night, Hale DeMar was prepared for a return visit. With his children upstairs, DeMar, 54, shot burglar Morio Billings, 31, in the shoulder and calf, police said.
Billings was caught at a nearby hospital and charged with felony residential burglary and possession of a stolen car. And, in a move that has drawn criticism, DeMar was cited with breaking Wilmette's ban on handguns and with failing to update his firearm owner's identification card. The misdemeanors are unlikely to bring jail time. Wilmette Police Chief George Carpenter did not criticize DeMar for protecting his family but said homes are safer without handguns.
Many of us have experienced a sense of violation upon returning to our homes, only to find that someone else has been there. Someone else has trespassed in our bedrooms, looting and stealing that which is readily replaced. Many of us, still haunted by that violation, will never again have a sense of security in our own homes. Few, however, have awakened to realize that they had been violated as they slept in their beds, doors locked, as family dogs patrolled their homes. For me, the seconds until I found my children still safely tucked in their beds were horrifying. The thought that a young child may have been hurt or abducted was incomprehensible.
The police were called and in routine fashion they came, took the report and with little concern left, promising to increase surveillance. Little comfort, since the invader now had keys to our home and our automobiles. The police informed me that this was not an uncommon event in east Wilmette and offered their condolences.
What is one to do when criminal proceeds, undeterred by a 90-pound German shepherd, an alarm system and a property ... lit up like an outdoor stadium? And now, he had my house keys and an inventory of things he'd like to call his own. Would the police patrol my dead-end street as effectively the second time as they had the first? Would my small children be unharmed the next time? Would the career criminal be satisfied with another automobile, another television or would he feel the need, once again, to climb the staircase up to the bedrooms, perhaps for a watch or a ring or a wallet, again risking little? Would my children wake to find a masked figure, clad in black, in their bedroom doorway, a vision that might haunt them for years? Would the police come again and fill out yet another |
report, and at what point should I feel comfortable that the 'bad guy' got everything he wanted and wouldn't return again, a third time?
I went to the safe where my licensed and registered gun was kept, loaded it for the very first time and tucked it under the mattress of my bed. I assured my frightened children ''that daddy would deal with the bad guy ... if he ever returned.'' Little did I imagine that this brazen animal was waiting in the backyard bushes as I tucked my children into bed.
Fifteen minutes after bedtime, the alarm went off. Three minutes after the alarm was triggered, the alarm company alerted the police to the situation and 10 minutes later the first police car pulled up to my home, but only after another call was made to 911, by a trembling, half-naked father. I suppose some would have grabbed their children and cowered in their bedroom for 13 minutes, praying that the police would get there in time to stop the criminal from climbing the stairs and confronting the family in their bedroom, dreading the sound of a bedroom door being kicked in. That's not the fear I wanted my children to experience, nor is it the cowardly act that I want my children to remember me by.
Until you are shocked by a piercing alarm in the middle of the night and met in your kitchen by a masked invader as your children shudder in their beds, until you confront that very real nightmare, please don't suggest that some village trustee knows better and he/she can effectively task the police to protect your family from the miscreants that this society has produced.
This career criminal had been arrested thirty times. He was wanted in Georgia and for parole violations in Minnesota. He was convicted of residential burglary in Minnesota. He served time last year after pleading guilty to felony motor vehicle theft in Minnesota. He was convicted in 1997 of retail theft in Cook and DuPage Counties and in 1995 of drunk driving in Georgia.
How many family homes had he violated, how many innocent lives were affected, how many police reports went into some back office file cabinet, only to become some abstract statistic? How is it that rabid animals like this are free to roam the streets, violating our homes and threatening the safety of our children?
If my actions have spared only one family from the distress and trauma that this habitual criminal has caused hundreds of others, then I have served my civic duty and taken one evil creature off of our streets, something that our impotent criminal justice system had failed to do, despite some thirty odd arrests, plea bargains and suspended sentences."
Hale DeMar, Wilmette
|
|
IDNR and NWTF Team Up to Host Outdoors Events for Women
SPRINGFIELD,
Ill. - The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Wild
Turkey Federation are teaming up to promote more outdoor recreation
opportunities and events for women in Illinois.
"This agreement is a natural for both the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the National Wild Turkey Federation,� said IDNR Director Joel Brunsvold. "We have worked for many years with the NWTF and its Illinois chapter officials and members on habitat enhancement, turkey releases and hunting programs. This is another chance to partner with a great sporting organization to generate interest in and expand hunting and outdoor recreation opportunities."
Brunsvold said encouraging more women to enjoy outdoor |
activities is the goal. Our Becoming an Outdoors-Woman programs are among the most popular events of their kind in the country," said Brunsvold. "The NWTF has a network of volunteer instructors and technical support staff who will help make BOW sessions even better. And our staff, volunteers, equipment and facilities can help make the many Women in the Outdoors activities staged by the NWTF even better."
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman weekends hosted by the IDNR in 2004 are scheduled for June 11-13 at the Lorado Taft Campus in Oregon and September 17-19 at Pere Marquette State Park near Grafton. Activities during the sessions include expert instruction in fishing, bow and firearm shooting skills, bird calling, canoeing, camping and nature photography.
More information on the BOW program is available on the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/education/BOW/ NWTF Women in the Outdoors programs provide opportunities for women to participate in camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, mountain biking and other activities. The Illinois chapter and local chapters of the NWTF have scheduled a number of Women in the Outdoors events throughout the state in 2004. More information is available on the NWTF web site at www.nwtf.org |
Indiana
|
Search for Indiana's weird trees continues � deadline April 15 To celebrate Arbor Day 2000 DNR's division of forestry began a search for the weirdest trees in the state. And the search continues for Arbor Day 2004.
Your candidate for weirdest can be any species or any size. It can be located in the city, in the forest, in your back yard - anywhere - as long as the tree is still standing. We encourage people of all ages to submit entries.
Here's all you need to do: Take a couple of photographs of the tree. Be sure to capture its uniqueness. Send your printed, non-returnable photos to Sam Carman, Div. of Forestry, 402 W. Washington St., Room |
W296 - Indianapolis, IN 46204. Digital photos must be in jpeg format, no larger than six megs and should be emailed to [email protected] . Along with the photos, be sure to include your name, address, phone number, and specific location of the tree, including county.
DNR's district foresters will judge the photos to narrow down the field to the "weirdest" tree for each county. Each county choice will be included on the Divisions of Forestry's Web site publication "Invasion of the Weird Trees." (To view the current "Invasion," go to www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/pdfs/invasion2002.pdf .
Entry deadline for this year is April 15. So put on your hiking boots, grab your camera, and WATCH FOR THE WEIRD! |
Michigan
|
DNR/Sea Grant to hold perch workshop - Feb 28 Michigan Sea Grant in collaboration the MI DNR, are planning to hold a yellow perch workshop Feb 28, in South Haven. Though the agenda is not finalized yet it will cover recent perch assessment work as well as presentations on current research. Sea Grant Agent Chuck Pistis says "We are also planning a session that will involve discussion on successful angling techniques."
The workshop will be held at Lake Michigan College, South Haven Campus. "We feel it is important that stakeholders be updated on the status of the yellow perch fishery and current research underway to understand the factors impacting the fishery" says Pistis.
Registration fee is $10.00 to cover lunch, refreshments and materials. For a brochure and registration form call or e-mail Pistis at: [email protected]
Ottawa County Extension
Director/ 333 Clinton Ave. |
Grand Haven, MI 49417
Draft Agenda
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Key DNR official commits suicide Co-workers, friends mourn Guy D. Gordon LELAND - Friends and colleagues remembered Guy D. Gordon, second in command of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as a knowledgeable leader with a sense of humor. "He was up to speed on DNR issues and he had a |
fairly long run here," said Bob Garner, a Natural Resources Commission member from Cadillac. "We're obviously feeling a pretty big sense of loss." Gordon, 50, DNR chief of staff, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound January 25 at Van's Beach in Leland, Leelanau County Deputy Sheriff Scott Wooters said. |
Minnesota
|
Fishing Report January 21, 2004
Christopherson�s Bait &
Tackle, Dana Freese, 2 blocks east of Big Ole (320-763-3255) Ida and
Miltona are producing some walleyes, evening hours best. Good sunfish
reports have been coming from Lake Mary.
Little Jim's Sports
Shop, Hwy 55 (320-274-5297) Clearwater is producing crappies in 14-16
feet of water, evening hours best. A few walleyes reported during the
evening hours also. For sunfish, try Cedar in 7-10 feet of water.
Excellent reports for northern pike are coming from Clearwater, Cedar
and John in around 14 feet of water.
Holiday of Cross Lake,
Lee (218-692-2708) Walleye action continues to be good with most anglers
catching a few fish in 18-28 feet of water on jigging spoons tipped with
a rainbow or shiner minnow. Lake trout season opened on Saturday, and
many anglers tried their luck. Reports coming in were good, with lots of
smaller fish being taken in 30-40 feet of water on shiner minnows and
jigs. Crappie action has been good on most area lakes.
Dick Beardsley's Guide
Service, Dick Beardsley (218-846-9230) The very cold weather of this
past weekend kind of put a little crimp on the ice fishing in the
Detroit Lakes area. Before the cold snap the bite was going pretty good,
and now that it's warmed back up just a tad, the bite is fairly good
again. That has pretty much been the story all winter so far. Some of
the lakes kicking out panfish in the area are Cotton, Wolf, Height of
Land, Floyd, Big Toad, Little Detroit, Little Pelican, Prairie, Stump,
Little Cormorant and Lizzie. Lindy Pounders or Copeds tipped with
waxworms have been working the best. The deeper holes seem to be where
most of the crappies are on these lakes with the bluegills being more
towards the weedlines. The walleye bite has slowed a bit this past week
with your best chance at some walleyes late in the day until about a
half hour after dark. Lindy Rattl'r spoons tipped with a minnow head
seems to be working the best. Make sure you are all set up by about 3:30
p.m. so you can be there for the short bite starting around 4 to 4:30
p.m. Even though it's a short time period, it's worth it as the bite can
be pretty good for an hour or so. Big Detroit, Big Cormorant, Pelican,
Lizzie, Strawberry, Crystal, Toad, Floyd, Cotton and Franklin are all
worth a try.
Rapids Tackle, Don
Wendt, 2 blocks west of Jerry's Liquor Warehouse (218-326-9838) Cold
weather hampered fishing this past week due to the sub zero windchill,
however, those hardy souls that did get out fared pretty well. Trout
fishermen did well on Tioga Pit where the DNR had stocked some brood
stock. Several 20- to 22-inch rainbows were taken. The other pits and
lakes did OK but nothing that large. The north end of Bowstring is still
producing crappie and a few walleyes in about 18 feet using small
minnows and glow jigs. Walleyes and perch are going pretty good on the
south end of Winnie. Check the edges and the bars in 28 feet for
starters. Some northerns are also being taken around Third River and on
Bowen Flats using tip-ups and suckers. Splithand Lake is still giving up
some nice crappies and walleyes. The walleyes have to be sorted out
because some are small. Use fathead minnows in mornings and evenings.
The ice is good on most lakes with little snow.
Gateway Store, Phil
Hart,
www.gatewaystorellc.com (218-875-2121) Lots of snow on the ice
surface is impeding travel except for snowmobiles. Fishing activity has
picked up with most anglers reporting some success for both walleye and
sauger. Glow jigs with a minnow doing the most consistent job. Ash River
area is the most accessible area, but don't limit fishing to that area
only. Some anglers report success at the mouth of Lost Lake, as well as
30- to 40-foot range over by the Martin Islands.
Area Tourism Bureau,
Jane, near Junction of Hwy 11 and Hwy 172 in Baudette,
www.lakeofthewoodsmn.com (1-800-382-FISH) The South Shore of Lake
of the Woods has seen incredible action, with many parties filling out
limits of mixed walleyes and saugers. Some of those walleyes were
whoppers in the 29- to 30-inch range. Anglers also bringing in some
jumbo perch in the 1-1/2-pound range. Most resorts have their houses out
about nine miles and are fishing off of the mudflats in approximately 30
feet of water. Light pink, chartreuse, or gold 1/4-ounce jigs are the
colors favored by winter anglers. The Northwest Angle and Islands are
also experiencing great fishing, with one party of anglers catching two
9-1/2-pound walleyes. The houses at the Angle are scattered in various
locations and water depths, but most are fishing in about 25 feet of
water. Leech Lake Guide Coalition, Chip Leer (218-547-3212) The deep humps of Walker Bay are producing a few walleyes, best time has been late in the day. Fish the shallow points. Kabekona Bay is producing some nice perch in 10-12 feet of |
water.
MANKATO �
The Bobber Shop, North
Riverfront Drive (507-625-8228) Little Jefferson northern pike bite has
been good. Reports of big fish being caught. Lura producing walleyes,
shallow night bite being best. Anglers using glow jigs for best results.
For some crappie action, try Madison, also at night.
Lundeen's Tackle Castle, Bill Lundeen,
Onamia,
www.lundeens.com (320-532-3416) The ice is in good shape - stay
away from the pressure ridges and breaks and you should be fine. The
walleye bite is slower than average for this time of year - nearly all
of the bite comes at first and last light. Use a small jigging spoon (Hawger
spoon, Jig-n-Eye, Gem spoon) and a piece of a minnow on your jig rod and
a glow Demon or a Frosty with a small shiner on your set line. For
perch, use the same jigs but consider tipping them with either waxies or
eurolarve. You will need to sort the perch - lots of little ones with a
fair number of "cleaners" mixed in. Try moving deeper, some of the
bigger perch are coming out of water as deep as 32 feet. The northern
bite has been great, shiners or suckers in 10-12 feet are your best bet.
Dave's Sportland Bait
and Tackle, Jason, 2 miles south of Nisswa at the Intersection of Hwy
371 and Cty Rd 77, next to Schaefer's Foods (218-963-2401) What an
exciting weekend. The fishing contest went fabulous despite the windy
weather. Everyone had a great time. Now that we have hit mid-winter the
walleye bite has slowed down. Most anglers are averaging 1-2 fish per
evening. Shiners or rainbow chubs on set lines with a bobber seems to
work best now. Gull would be the best lake to try. For best results
avoid any crowds and stay quiet, as the walleyes are getting a little
spooky. The best depths are 12-16 feet after dark or out on the drops at
35-40 feet. The pike action has stayed consistent. Many fish are being
caught on the weedy flats in 12-16 feet of water. Try Edwards, Cullen,
the Whitefish Chain or North Long for those toothy critters. Medium
sucker minnows are the ticket. The crappie action has heated up. Many
nice fish are being caught after dark on smaller lakes in the area.
Cullen, Sylvan and Nisswa are good bets. Eurolarve and Custom's Glow
Demons have been the top producer. A Vexilar flasher is critical for
catching crappies right now, so borrow one, buy one, or rent one. You
will really enjoy the results.
Rainy Lake Tourism,
www.rainylake.org (1-800-FALLS-MN) Best reports from Rainy Lake are
coming from the reefs in 35-50 feet of water. Blue and silver #5 jigging
raps, tipped with a minnow head seem to be best. On a second line, try a
plain hook with a very small shiner. Other jigs producing results are
pink jigs, and gold Kastmasters. Some of the houses in the Sand Bay have
been moved to Springer's Point, Rainy Lake City area. Anglers who have
made the move have reported they are having a little better luck at
their new location.
Corky's Gas & Bait , Main Street in
Rockville (320-251-1567) Reports of panfish biting on Becker and
Horseshoe. Crappies are in 12-14 feet of water, best times have been
early and late in the day. Good northern pike reports are coming from
Pleasant Lake in the same depths, this has been an evening bite.
Croixsippi Fishing Guide Service, Turk
Gierke, St. Croix River Area, www.croixsippi.com (1-800-929-1801) The
bite on the St. Croix River's Bayport area keeps improving for crappies.
A fairly consistent bite is occurring in the morning hours and to some
extent in the last two hours of the day as well. The best news is the
size of the crappies, overall size has improved and notably a good
amount of 14-inch plus slabs are being iced. Crappie locations remain
over the deep basin in 36-38 feet and bobbers with crappie minnows is
the best approach. Plain hooks or jigs are both working and some days
the jig hooked minnow is a better presentation. Unfortunately, walleye
and sauger have not been mixed in at the usual rate. Trucks are driving
on the ice and crossing the Andersen Bridge.
Minnewaska Bait, Larry Jensen, Hwy 29 near
the Starbuck Marina (320-239-2239) Perch action has been good on Lake
Minnewaska in 10-20 feet of water. The sunfish bite has been okay on
the Glenwood end. The crappies are in around 16 feet of water on the
Glenwood end.
West Wind,
www.westwindwaskish.com (218-647-8998) Crappies are biting at night and
also during the day too. Most anglers are catching them anywhere from 6
inches to 2 feet off the bottom. The northern fishing has been strong
with reports of many 15+ pounders being caught.
Doug Ellis, Virginia
Surplus, 105 N 3rd Ave W, www.virginiasurplus.com (218-741-0331) The
fishing on Lake Vermilion is slow. Walleyes and crappies are nowhere to
be found and many anglers are finding themselves going home with no fish
to clean. Small area lakes are producing crappies but the size is small.
Crappies between 8-10 inches are the norm. Northern action has slowed
also and this cold snap hasn't helped the fishing action. Trout fishing
opened outside the BWCA this past weekend and early reports are not that
good. Few lakers in the 3- to 5-pound class were reported off of
Burntside Lake and Snowbank Lake near Ely. Trout Lake off of Lake
Vermilion produced bigger, but fewer fish in the 6- to 10-pound class.
Small stream trout lakes and pits produced the best fishing and many
anglers caught nice size rainbows in the 14- to 17-inch class using
small spoons and jigs tipped with waxworms suspended down about 15-20
feet. A break in the weather will help anglers find better fish action.
Dave's Bait and
Bullets, 107 Tembrook Ave, downtown Wabasha (651-565-2326) Give us a
call for a report. |
Pennsylvania
|
Fishing and Boating Report -
January 22, 2004 |
of smallmouth bass recently. Walleyes have also been reported, along with rock bass and channel catfish. Anglers looking for success should bring minnows as bait for the smallmouth bass and walleyes. Medium size fathead minnows and small shiners have been working best. Catfish anglers report nightcrawlers and angleworms are working well.
NORTHEAST REGION
Columbia County
Anglers have been on
Lackawanna Lake at Lackawanna State Park along with most of the private
lakes in the area. Merli Sarnoski Lake is still not open to the public
because of last year's flooding. |
|
Late Winter Trout stocking to warm Anglers' Hearts The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will stock more than 60,000 trout as part of its Late Winter Adult Trout Stocking Program, delivering fish to 53 waters across 35 different counties. The stockings will begin the week of January 26, 2003 and continue through the month of February.
Anglers should take note of the newly revised schedule, available in the "Fishing" section of the Commission�s website at www.fish.state.pa.us . The current schedule contains nearly two dozen date changes from the original schedule published in the spring of 2003.
All fish harvested from the affected waters are subject to |
Extended
Trout Season rules. Trout must be a minimum of 7" in length and no more than
three per day may be taken. Anglers 16 years of age or older who wish to
fish for trout must display on an outside garment both a valid fishing
license and Trout/Salmon stamp attached to their license. The 2004
Pennsylvania Fishing Licenses and Trout/Salmon Stamps are now available at
more than 1,600 issuing agents statewide and via the "Outdoor Shop" on the
Commission�s web site.
Waters included in the program are also open for an additional month of trout fishing. Trout angling is permitted in March on these waters while most other trout-stocked waters close to fishing at the end of February in preparation for the traditional Opening Day of the season. |
|
Take a crack at Ice fishing Why would seemingly normal people be willing leave the comfort of their homes to congregate on the slippery surface of a frozen lake, braving arctic temperatures and biting winds to peer anxiously into a watery hole? Maybe it�s because they�ve already figured out what some anglers haven�t yet � ice fishing is fun and effective. For those interested in learning more about this sometimes overlooked form of fishing, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is offering instruction.
The Commission has scheduled six upcoming ice fishing clinics. Participants will learn basic ice safety, get an explanation of the different types of ice fishing gear and some practical lessons in various ice fishing techniques. Don't have any ice fishing gear? That's okay, just bring yourself. Equipment will be provided by the PFBC thanks to donations from outdoor retailer Gander Mountain, and tackle |
manufacturers Pure Fishing and Shakespeare.
For more info call the number after each listing. Moon Lake, Luzerne County, Jan 31, 8 a.m. 570-735-6303 R.B. Winter State Park, Union County, Feb 1, noon � 4 p.m. 570-966-1455 Nescopeck State Park, Luzerne County, Feb 7, 10 - 4 p.m. at. 570-403-2006 Parker Dam State Park, Clearfield County, Feb 7 & 8, 9 AM 814-765-0630 Pymatuning State Park, Crawford County, Feb. 7, 9 - 6 p.m. & Feb. 8, 10 - 4 p.m. 724-927-6634 Hills Creek State Park, Tioga County, Feb 14, 10 - 3 p.m. 570-724-4246
So just how effective can ice fishing be? Two recent state record fish � an 8 lb 14.8 oz chain pickerel and a 35 lb northern pike � were caught by ice anglers. Now that�s fun! |
|
Fish And Boat Commission Winter Meeting - Jan 26-27 The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will hold its winter quarterly meeting January 26-27 at agency headquarters, 1601 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg. Commission committees will meet on Monday, January 26 beginning at 11 a.m. and Tuesday, January 27, beginning at 8 a.m. The formal agenda session will begin at or about 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday. It is possible that Commission action on some agenda items may be undertaken during other portions of the advertised public meeting. All committee meetings and the review of the agenda are open to the public and attendance is encouraged.
Among the items to be considered at the meeting is the proposed designation of right watersheds into the recently created Wild Brook Trout Enhancement Program. The concept is to eliminate the effect that harvest may have on wild brook trout populations and to increase the abundance of older and larger wild brook trout. Under these regulations, catch-and-release angling applies to brook trout at all times while the harvest of all other trout species is governed by statewide season, size and creel limits. To appeal to a broader base of anglers, these waters are open to angling on |
a year-round basis, with no special tackle restrictions. The regulations are applied on a watershed basin level (main stem and all tributaries) or to a portion of the basin in order to provide increased protection for wild brook trout over a larger area.
The Commission is considering adding Birch Run, Potter County; Jeans Run, Carbon County; Kistler Run, Monroe County; Lyman Run, Potter County; Minister Creek, Forest and Warren Counties; Shaeffer Run, Perry County; Camp Run, Westmoreland County and Wolf Swamp Run, Monroe County to program.
Among the other items the Commission will also consider are a proposal to allow the use all legal tackle types on Delayed Harvest Artificial Lures Only areas during the period of June 15 through Labor Day, a grant to the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority to construct a public fishing pier and rulemaking clarifying the maximum number of devices that may be used while ice fishing.
The complete agenda for the meeting can be found on the Commission�s web site at www.fish.state.pa.us . |
Home | Great Lakes States | Membership | Exotics Update | Great Links
Pending Issues | Regional News | Great Lakes Basin Report | Weekly News / Archives
Web site maintained by JJ Consulting
