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Largemouth Bass Virus resurfaces In Virginia

Anglers Asked To Be Vigilant

ANNAPOLIS -- Recent fish kills at Kerr Reservoir and Briery Lake in Virginia have been linked to largemouth bass virus (LMBV) by Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologists. LMBV has not been implicated in fish kills nationally for nearly a decade. However, the Virginia incidents are a reminder that the organism may still pose some risk to largemouth bass populations. LMBV poses no risk to humans.

"The health of Maryland's largemouth bass populations continues to be excellent," said Don Cosden, DNR's Inland Fisheries Director. "Angler catch rates from monitored tournaments on the tidal Potomac were some of the highest we've seen over the last decade and individual fish condition is excellent. We have blue ribbon fishing opportunities in the Potomac River, Nanticoke River System, and the Upper Bay tributaries including the Susquehanna Flats. We encourage everyone to enjoy the fishing while being vigilant in avoiding transporting fish, debris, bait, and potential problems from one place to another."

Researchers from Virginia and West Virginia have identified the virus in their waters as well. In Maryland, largemouth bass have tested positive in the Nanticoke, Choptank and Patuxent Rivers, and Triadelphia Reservoir. The virus has not been identified in Upper Chesapeake Bay largemouth bass. However Pennsylvania fisheries biologists have found infected young of year smallmouth bass in the Susquehanna River.

LMBV spreads by fish to fish contact, through the water or by fish eating infected prey. Fish biologists believe that LMBV was responsible for largemouth bass losses in the late 1990s in a number of southern and mid-western states. Impacted bass populations typically take three to four years to recover from a major LMBV event.

Guidelines to reduce the spread of this and other disruptive invasive or pathogenic organisms such as zebra mussels:

* Never transfer live fish from one body of water to another

* Never discard fish parts or unused bait in any body of water

* Drain water from live wells, bilges, engines, bait buckets, and hoses and pumps before leaving the launch area and clear mud, vegetation and debris from trailers.

* Disinfect live wells daily and particularly when moving between bodies of water.

* Spray or wipe all surfaces with a chlorine (Bleach) solution, let sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with clean water and flush through lines and pumps.

Bleach is very toxic to aquatic organisms. An effective chlorine solution can be prepared by placing three tablespoons of household bleach in one gallon of water. Use the chlorine solution to clean trailers and other parts of the boat - just be sure to rinse well with clean water.

LMBV may reduce a fish's tolerance to stress. Anglers can increase the chances of survival of fish intended for release by following these guidelines:

* Handle bass gently and return to the water as soon as possible, especially when the water is over 80�.

* Maintain good livewell water quality; keep aerated and recirculated at 3 to 5 degrees cooler than the ambient water.

*Add non-iodized salt to livewells at a rate of one tablespoon per 10 gallons of water, or use one of the commercially available products for maintaining fish.

* Do not overcrowd bass; 1 lb of fish per gallon of livewell water is a good maximum ratio.

* Stage tournaments during cool water months.

* Report dying or dead bass, or bass that are swimming poorly in circles near the surface of the water

For more info about LMBV in Virginia: www.dgif.virginia.gov/news/release.asp?id=269 .

LaserLyte Debuts Modern Laser Pointer

LaserLyte pioneers the Modern Laser Pointer that integrates laser pointer technology with Fisher Space Pen ink and aggressively styled defensive tool all in one compact and convenient instrument. Utilize the tool�s precision writing instrument or easily point out important details during a presentation with its laser pointer. In an emergency the LaserLyte Modern Laser Pointer can be used for self-defense. This versatile and multi-functional tool easily stows in a pocket, backpack or purse.
  
The Modern Laser Pointer is constructed from 6061 T6 high-strength aerospace aluminum and features a Mil-Spec black anodized finish. The class IIIA laser pointer is powered by two A76 batteries that provide two hours of constant on run time. To activate the laser simply press down on the pen�s clip. The laser works while attached to the ink pen, or independently, making it an extremely versatile device. 
 
Manufactured with a Fisher Space Pen, this top-notch fine black ink pen contains thixotropic ink, which writes smoothly in

zero gravity, severe cold and heat from -30˚ to 250˚ F,
underwater or even in space. Replaceable pressurized ink cartridge continuously feeds ink to the tungsten carbide ball, which allows the pen to write at any angle, even upside down.

A stainless steel, precision-machined socket prevents leaks and oozing, yet delivers uniform ink flow. The ink also lasts three times longer than traditional pens, will not dry out before 100 years and is made in the USA. Fisher Space Pens were first taken on the 1968 Apollo 7 space mission after two years of extensive NASA testing.   Length Max./Dia. Min./Dia. Height: 5.5 in./.62 in./.38 in., 21.59mm/ 10.67mm/ 25.40mm

 
Specifications:
- Power Output: Class IIIA, 5mw
- Laser module: 650nm
- Batteries: 2-A76 batteries
- Battery Life: 2 hours constant on
- Material: 6061 T6 aluminum
- Pen: Fisher Space Pen, fine point black ink
- Weight: 2 oz., 20 g
- Range at Night: 500 yd., 457.2 m
 

About: $99.95   [email protected]

www.spacepens.com      www.laserlyte.com

LaserLyte Expands Side Mount Laser Line for S&W Revolvers

LaserLyte announced the expansion of its Side Mount Laser line to now offer a unit that fits nearly all Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers including 637 and 642 models. The new and inventive SML is easily mounted underneath the rubber grip of the revolver and is the only laser system available that allows the customer to retain the factory grip and holster the firearm. The SML will also work with many popular aftermarket rubber grips such as Hogue or Pachmayr brands.

To install the SML simply choose one of two included base plates that fits the revolver, temporarily remove the grip and screw the unit into place. Sight in is simple with common X and Y adjustments. The SML's activation switch is strategically placed at the back of the laser and is easily turned on by pressing the button on draw or when holstered. First press of the button produces constant on mode, second press produces pulse mode and third press deactivates the laser. The SML also has a customer-requested auto-off feature that displays a unique flash after five minutes of operation and automatically turns the unit off after six minutes. Press the button at any time to reset this feature that prevents accidental activation and battery depletion. The unit is also easily moved

from one Smith & Wesson J-frame revolver to another.

The compact base unit contains all components necessary for operation - laser, switch, battery and circuitry. The unit body is constructed from 380A die cast aluminum and the plates are made of 4130 hardened chromoly steel. The SML is powered by four 377 batteries that provide five hours of normal usage in constant on mode and ten hours in pulse mode. Normal usage is defined as one minute on and one minute off. This test mimics actual usage where the unit is turned on and off and the battery is given time to automatically regenerate. LaserLyte offers discounted batteries on its website.

Specifications:

: Fits all Smith & Wesson J-frame revolvers

- Power Output: Class IIIA, 5mw

- Laser module: 650nm

- Batteries: four 377 batteries

- Battery Life: 5 hrs. constant on, 10 hrs. pulse mode (normal usage)

- Weight (with plate): .875 oz., 23 g

- Range at Night: 500 yd., 457.2 m

About $149.95     [email protected]

www.laserlyte.com

Great Lakes Water Levels for November 19

Weather Conditions:  Seasonal temperatures returned to the Great Lakes basin this week.  Frontal systems passing during the weekend and on Wednesday dropped up to an inch of rain over much of the region.  Nevertheless, the Great Lakes have had about 50% of the average precipitation for this point in the month.  During the early part of next week, up to a half inch of precipitation is expected in the northern part of the basin, likely falling as snow.  The southern basin may expect a few warmer than average days early in the week.

Lake Level Conditions:  Lakes Superior, Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, and Erie are 7 to 13 inches below last year's levels, while Lake Ontario is an inch above its level of a year ago.  Over the next month, Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are expected to decline 2 inches.  Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are predicted to decline 3, 1, and 4 inches, respectively. See our Daily Levels web page for more water level information.

Forecasted November Outflows/Channel Conditions: The outflows from Lake Superior into the St. Mary's River and from Lake Huron into the St. Clair River are expected to be below average in November.  The Detroit River's flow and the Niagara River's flow from Lake Erie are also predicted to be below average this month.  The flow in the St. Lawrence River

is forecasted to be above average throughout November.

Alerts:  The water levels of both Lake Superior and Lake Michigan-Huron are currently below chart datum and are forecasted to remain below datum over the next six months.  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.

Chicagoland, America�s Outdoor Show, January 26-30, 2011

Women in the world of the outdoors will take high priority when the longest running outdoors show in Chicagoland, America�s Outdoor Show,  returns to the Stephens Expo Center in Rosemont, January 26 - 30, 2011.

Show promoter, Jim Sugarman, relates, �One thing that has been requested of the show is more information and activities for women who enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports. We have definitely filled that demand.�

A partial list of show speakers includes:

Tiffany Lakosky � Minnesota�s Tiffany is the co-host of �The Crush,� one of the Outdoor Channel�s most popular shows. Tiffany will be on America�s Outdoors Show main stage to share her methods for harvesting giant whitetail deer.

Kristen Monroe � An all-around outdoorswoman from Outdoor News Publications, Kristen has interviewed women from one end of the spectrum to the other. From �anti- hunters� to women who where �born hunters� she has talked to them all. She says, �Knowing why women hunt is half the battle to actually getting them to hunt.�

Michelle Leqve � �The Extreme Bowhuntress� has harvested 15 Pope & Young Class animals in just over 10 years. She is a fixture on national outdoors programming. She�s taken nine big game species including polar bear, caribou, elk and black bear, from all over North America.

Sigrid Pilgrim � Past president of the Illinois Paddling Council, Sigrid is one of the most recognized names is the world of paddling sports. She�ll be at America�s Outdoor Show to get people interested in the sport and give the information needed to participate in it safely. Attendees will actually be able to Kayak & Canoe in 100,000 gallon America's Lake.  

Sugarman says, �We are making sure that our vendors have plenty of product tailored especially for women. There are too many women in the outdoors today for them to have to borrow or buy equipment designed for men. We�ll have clothing cut for women and equipment styled for a woman�s tastes. Women are definitely not left out at America�s Outdoor Show.�

www.AmericasOutdoorShow.com

Cheboygan man sentenced on charges related to boat sinking

CLEVELAND � A Cheboygan, Mich., mariner has been sentenced to 50 months in custody as a result of having been found guilty on charges  related to the sinking of a boat and polluting the water, U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade announced last week.

Wayne T. Duffiney, 60, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington and ordered to pay $57,308.05 in restitution to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Duffiney was convicted by a federal jury in April of 2009 in Bay City, Mich., on three of four charges stemming from his conduct on May 14  through 17, 2007.  He was convicted of violating the federal Clean Water Act by discharging pollutants into the navigable waters of the United States; sinking or

causing the sinking of the Misty Morning in the navigable channels of Lake Huron; and of failing to mark the sunken vessel with navigation aids after it was sunk in the navigation channel of Lake Huron.

He failed to appear in federal court in Bay City for a sentencing hearing scheduled for Sept. 30, 2009. He was arrested eight months later in  Costa Rico as a result of a cooperative investigation conducted by the U.S. Marshal Service and Interpol, and eventually returned to Michigan  for sentencing on Nov. 16, 2010.

Administrative forfeiture of the vessels used by Duffiney to tow the Misty Morning, as well as a loss of his mariner�s license, are additional  potential consequences of the convictions in this case.

Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey 1985 � 2010

Preliminary Summary for May - September 2010

Since 1985, NYSDEC surveyed boats operating in New York waters of Lake Ontario�s main basin from April through September. The data collected from counts and interviews of fishing boats are used to manage Lake Ontario�s multimillion dollar trout and salmon fishery and provide valuable data on other fish species. Results indicate Lake Ontario anglers experienced the 2nd consecutive year of the best total trout and salmon fishing (i.e. 8th consecutive year of highest Chinook salmon catch rates, 2nd consecutive year of highest rainbow trout catch rates, the 3rd and 5th best years for Coho salmon and brown trout fishing, and the highest lake trout catch rate since 2004).

Fishing Effort

Estimated fishing effort (seasonal total=59,423 boat trips) was a 17.3% decrease compared to the previous 5-year average (Fig. 1). Boats targeting trout and salmon accounted for 47,450 boat trips (79.9% of all fishing trips), which was comparable to the previous 5-year average.

Fig 1 - Seasonal estimates of total fishing effort, trout,

salmon and smallmouth bass effort

Smallmouth bass fishing effort continued the downward trend that was observed in recent years. Estimated smallmouth bass effort remained low during the pre-season catch and release period. For seven consecutive years smallmouth bass fishing effort and quality during the traditional open season have steadily declined and have reached the lowest levels observed. Boats targeting smallmouth bass accounted for 5,855 boats trips (9.9% of the total trips), the lowest June-September estimate for bass anglers and a 59.1% decrease compared to the 2005-09 average (Fig. 1). Monthly bass effort estimates during the traditional open season were among the lowest observed.

Trout and Salmon Catch, Harvest and Fishing Quality (158,584 fish) and harvest (83,136 fish) were comparable to previous 5-year averages and were 33.6% and 19.4% increases compared to previous 10-year averages, respectively (Fig. 2). Chinook salmon dominated salmonine catch (61,787 fish, 39.0% of total catch) and harvest (31,503 fish, 37.9% of total harvest). Rainbow trout was the second most commonly caught salmonine species in 2010 (45,380 fish, 28.6% of total catch). The remaining total trout and salmon catch consisted of 17.1% brown trout, 7.2% Coho salmon, 7.1% lake trout, and 1.0% Atlantic salmon.

Fig 2 - Total trout and salmon catch and catch rate. 1985-2010

Trout and salmon fishing quality as measured by catch rate (3.3 fish per boat trip), was the second highest observed and was 12.7% above the previous 5-year average (Fig. 2). High catch rates for Chinook salmon, Coho salmon, brown trout, and rainbow trout (record high) resulted in excellent fishing quality in 2010. Monthly salmonine catch rates were above their respective 2005-09 averages.

Chinook Salmon

Chinook salmon catch rates have been at or near record levels for eight consecutive years. Fishing quality was excellent in June (2.6 Chinooks per boat trip, and the highest June catch rate) and July (1.8 Chinooks per boat trip, and the 4th highest July catch rate). Catch rates during August and September were good (Fig 3).

Fig 3 - Chinook salmon catch and catch rate, 1985-2010

Coho Salmon

The Coho salmon catch rate (0.24 fish per boat trip) and harvest rate (0.17 fish per boat trip) were each the third highest observed. Monthly coho catch rates and harvest rates were average in May and September, but were among the highest for June, July, and August.

Rainbow Trout

 For the third consecutive year, the rainbow trout catch rate (0.96 fish per boat trip; 76.9% above the previous 5-year average) exceeded record high levels. June and August monthly catch rates were the highest recorded, and the July catch rate was the second highest observed.

Brown Trout

The brown trout catch rate (0.6 fish per boat trip) was the fifth highest observed, representing a 16.3% increase compared to the previous 5- year average, and 37.4% higher than the long-term average (1985-2009). Typically, the best quality brown trout fishing occurs April through early June on the eastern half of the lake. Fishing quality was excellent in August (second highest August in the data series) and remained above average in September. 

Lake Trout

Lake trout catch rate (0.24 fish per boat trip) and harvest rate (0.11 fish per boat trip) were well above previous 5-year averages (+56.9% and +76.8%, respectively; Fig. 4). Record low catch rates observed in recent years are likely due to excellent fishing for other salmonines coinciding with low lake trout abundance.

Fig 4 � Lake Trout catch and catch rate, 1985-2010

Atlantic Salmon

 Catch and harvest of Atlantic salmon in the boat fishery are rare, and estimates from 1995-2008 were the lowest observed in the 26-year survey. For the second consecutive year, Atlantic salmon catch was the highest observed since 1994 (2009 = 1,072 fish; 2010 = 1,553 fish).  Recent natural reproduction occurring in the Salmon River and recent increased stocking levels by Canada may be contributing factors to increased catches.

Smallmouth Bass Catch, Harvest and Fishing Quality

Smallmouth bass fishing quality in 2010 (in areas excluding the Eastern Basin) remained well below average. Seasonal estimates of catch (17,913 bass), harvest (4,893 bass) and catch rate (1.9 bass per bass boat trip) were the lowest estimated in the 26-year data series (Fig. 5). The decline in bass catch rates coincide with increased angler catches of round goby, which is a contributing factor to reduced bass fishing quality.

Fig 5 � Smallmouth Bass catch and catch rate, 1985-2010

Yellow Perch Harvest

Estimated catch of yellow perch (59,853 fish in 2010) has remained at or near record high levels since 2007. Yellow perch harvest (17,207 fish) declined 66.7% from the record high observed in 2009. Few boats target yellow perch, catch and harvest is highly variable, and the probability of interviewing them is low.

Hunters heading to the Field for Illinois Firearm season

Seven-Day Season is Nov. 19-21 and Dec. 2-5

SPRINGFIELD, IL � Illinois� most popular hunting season begins on Friday through Sunday, Nov. 19-21 as hunters will head to the field for the opening weekend of the Illinois Firearm Deer Season.  The seven-day firearm hunt will conclude on Dec. 2-5.

Hunters in Illinois harvested a preliminary total of 99,493 deer during the seven-day firearm deer hunting season in 2009. 

More than 370,000 permits have been issued for this year�s f

irearm deer season so far.  For information on remaining permits, check the IDNR website at this link:  www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx

The legal hunting hours for the firearm deer season are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.

For more information on Illinois deer hunting regulations: www.dnr.illinois.gov/hunting/Pages/Deer.aspx