Spiel

So are these rules working for you Ron? Come on now, be honest.

Binbrook is only 20 minutes away for me and yet I've never ice fished it. However I'm hoping to make it out to the Fishing World Binbrook Crappie Derby this year on Feb. 7th. Are you going to be attending Goran?

Yeah he's killing me too. If he can get 'em well hell I know I can.

If the attacker is hell bent on causing you serious and grievous injury then I'm all for your thoughts re: protecting yourself with any and every means available Peter. In short I agree.

You can read more on it here.... It’s official! largemouth bass caught in Japan ties IGFA All-Tackle World Record

O.F.A.H. applauds legal action to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes Ontario supports Michigan's bid to prevent spread of invading species into Lake Michigan January 8, 2010 / www.ofah.org In the early 1990's, the invasive bighead and silver carp, known collectively as Asian carp, began advancing northward up the Mississippi River after having escaped aquaculture ponds in the southern United States. They have since migrated into the Illinois and Missouri rivers, outcompeting native fish along the way. An electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (CSSC) is one of the last barricades preventing the further invasion of these aggressive fish into Lake Michigan. Should they make it to the lake, the carp will have pathways to the remaining Great Lakes, where they will most certainly have a catastrophic impact. This threat has prompted governments on both sides of the border to take legal action to close all gaps. The State of Michigan has appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to force the closure of those Chicago locks and waterways that could allow invading species to enter Lake Michigan, along with a number of additional measures. Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and New York have filed documents to back Michigan's move. The Province of Ontario has filed a legal brief with SCOTUS in support of the preliminary injunction to close the locks in the CSSC, a move the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) strongly endorses. "We cannot underestimate the devastation that the invasion of Asian carp will have on our fisheries," said Terry Quinney, O.F.A.H. Provincial Manager of Fish and Wildlife. "Recreational fishing in Ontario is enjoyed by over 1.7 million anglers, who spend more than $2.5 billion annually. The commercial fishery of the Great Lakes is valued at $200 million. All of that hangs in the balance if Asian carp make it to Lake Michigan." In early December, a crew from Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the MNR assisted in an intense international effort to prevent the carp from gaining access to Lake Michigan while the electric barrier was shut down for maintenance. The O.F.A.H., through the O.F.A.H./MNR Invading Species Awareness Program, was the only nongovernmental organization to participate on the Canadian team. "History has repeatedly demonstrated that once invading species are established, they are virtually impossible to eradicate, so we should be pursuing every possible avenue now to keep these and future threats out of our Great Lakes," added Quinney. With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fish and wildlife conservation organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org. Contact Francine MacDonald Invading Species Program Manager 705-748-6324 ext 238 Lezlie Goodwin O.F.A.H. Communications Coordinator 705-748-6324 ext 270

Invasive species threatens fishery FISHING: Efforts underway to prevent the spread of Asian carp January 8, 2009 MARK TAYTI / www.wellandtribune.ca Trying to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes will be difficult -- if not futile. That's the sentiment expressed by Alfred Marinelli, a member of the Port Colborne and District Conservation Club. Ontario is supporting legal efforts by Michigan and other American states to prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. The move recognizes the significant economic threat these fish pose to the province's fisheries. A legal brief from the province has been filed with the United States Supreme Court sup-porting Michigan's motion for a preliminary injunction to close locks in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The closure is one of a number of measures sought by Michigan to keep this invasive species from passing into Lake Michigan. "They can do all they want with the canal," Marinelli said. "Either accidentally or on purpose, somebody is going to let one in. I'm not happy about it, but I don't see it stopping." Scientific data estimates that in some parts of illinois, the Asian carp makes up more than 90% of fish populations. In 2004, Ontario banned the buying and selling of live Asian carp. Marinelli agrees invasive species can do a lot of damage when introduced into one of the lakes. Oceangoing vessels that pump their ballast water into the lakes are chiefly responsible for introducing these species, he added. Species such as the zebra mussel and the round goby have "balanced out" over time. It is what happens in the interim that troubles Marinelli. "It's the same old story," Marinelli said. "I don't see (the Asian carp) being stopped. Some way, they are always going to get through." Dave Malloy, of Erie Tracker Outfitters in Port Colborne, said the Asian carp has had a serious impact on lakes in Illinois. "They are destroying everything," Malloy said. "It's scary." Malloy said the Asian carp has no value commercially or to the sport angling community. They grow quickly and are "bottom feeders." These combined factors could have dire consequences for perch and walleye habitat in Lake Erie should the Asian carp find its way into the ecosystem. Malloy also believes there is not enough regulation and enforcement to prevent the introduction of invasive species by ships sailing the Great Lakes. "We're not the culprits," he said. "It's the freighters flushing their ballast. The sport fishers have to pay the price. I'd like to see the government clamp down on those guys." One of Malloy's concerns is the potential harm Asian carp can do to the perch and walleye populations in Lake Erie. Malloy said the perch population in Erie has increased significantly in recent years. He said that has helped to compensate for a few "poor hatches" on the walleye populations. "We have just got something good going here," he said. Malloy also believes the Great Lakes have an ability to adjust to some new species. "Zebra mussels were going to be the end of the lake," he said. "The lake is full of gobys, but every fish has learned to eat them. The lake has been able to adapt, so far." Malloy agrees there is a lot at stake when it comes to the Great Lakes fisheries. The Ontario government estimates 1.4 million anglers fish in the province each year, spending more than $2.3 billion dollars on fisheries-related expenditures. The commercial fishery in the Great Lakes is annually valued at about $200 million.

It’s official! largemouth bass caught in Japan ties IGFA All-Tackle World Record Freshwater fishing’s “Holy Grail” now has dual holders; 22 lb 4 oz bass caught by Japan’s Manabu Kurita matches IGFA record held for 77 years by Georgia’s George Perry January 8, 2010 www.igfa.org DANIA BEACH, Fla. USA, -- After nearly six months of waiting, Japan’s Manabu Kurita is taking his place along side Georgia, USA angler George Perry in the International Game Fish Association’s (IGFA) World Record Games Fishes book as dual holders of the All-Tackle record for largemouth bass each weighing 22 lb 4 oz and caught 77 years apart. Today the IGFA approved Kurita’s application for the fish caught from Japan’s largest lake on July 2, 2009. The 70-year old non-profit fisheries conservation, education and record-keeping body, received Kurita’s application and documentation on Sept. 19, 2009. The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), was caught from Lake Biwa which is an ancient reservoir northeast of Kyoto. Kurita, 32, of Aichi, Japan, was fishing Biwa that July day using a Deps Sidewinder rod and a Shimano Antares DC7LV reel loaded with 25 lb Toray line when he pitched his bait, a live bluegill, next to a bridge piling. It was Kurita’s first cast to the piling where he had seen a big bass swimming. He only twitched the bait a couple of times before he got bit. After a short, three minute fight he had the fish in the boat. Kurita was quoted as saying “I knew it was big, but I didn’t know it was that big.” But big it was. Using certified scales, his fish weighed in at 10.12 kg or 22 lb 4 oz. When measured, the fish had a fork length of 27.2 inches and a girth of 26.7 inches. The IGFA only has line classes up to 20 lb for largemouth bass, so Kurita had no chance at a line class record as well. IGFA rules for fish caught outside the U.S. allows anglers 90 days to submit their applications from the date of their catch. The documentation was received through the IGFA’s sister association the Japan Game Fish Association (JGFA). IGFA conservation director Jason Schratwieser said Kurita’s application was meticulously documented with the necessary photos and video. Kurita’s fish ties the current record held for over 77 years by Perry who caught his bass on Georgia’s Montgomery Lake, June 2, 1932, near Jacksonville, Georgia. That 22 lb 4 oz behemoth won Field and Stream Magazine’s big fish contest and 46 years later, when the IGFA took over freshwater records from Field and Stream, it became the All-Tackle record now one of over 1,100 fresh and saltwater species the IGFA monitors. IGFA All-Tackle records are now free for viewing by the public by clicking here. Kurita’s name is now on the IGFA Web site with that of Perry’s and will appear in the 2011 edition of the World Record Games Fishes book…. unless that record is broken this year. The IGFA announced the decision at its headquarters with a live video feed carried on Bassmaster.com, one of the most popular fishing Web sites in the world and the official site of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (BASS). In North America the largemouth bass, and especially the All-Tackle record, is considered by millions of anglers as the “holy grail” of freshwater fish because of its popularity and the longevity of Perry’s record. That fish undoubtedly helped to spawn a billion dollar industry that today makes up a significant part of the sport of recreational fishing. Schratwieser said, “The moment Kurita weighed his fish, word spread like wildfire. We knew this would be significant so we immediately contacted the JGFA for more information. Established in 1979, and JGFA compiles and translates all record applications of fish caught in Japan before forwarding to the IGFA. “It works out well because they not only translate applications but can also contact the angler if more documentation is needed.” It turned into a lengthy process “Since the IGFA requires three months from the time of capture before a record can be approved, the official word would have to wait until October 2,” said Schratwieser. “However, almost right away rumors began to circulate that Kurita may have caught his fish in a ‘no-fishing zone’. In response, the IGFA immediately corresponded with the JGFA to speak with the angler about this issue and to gather information regarding the legality of fishing where Kurita caught his bass. Official word came back that the location of the catch was not a no-fishing zone, but was an area where anchoring or stopping was prohibited. This spurred more correspondence with the JGFA and the angler, including affidavits asking the angler if he stopped his boat at anytime. Again, the testimony and affidavits that came back indicated that the Kurita did not violate any laws and that his catch was indeed legitimate.” It didn’t end there. A considerable amount of time and correspondence was to continue between the IGFA, JGFA and Kurita, a primary reason it took so long to come to a decision. During this time, the IGFA was also besieged with letters and emails from the bass fishing community, said Schratwieser. “Many were incredulous that the All-Tackle record could be tied from a fish in Japan. Others beseeched the IGFA to approve the record and give Kurita the credit he deserves. Still others wanted to know why the entire process was taking so long. It soon became clear to the IGFA staff that this would be a contentious issue no matter if the record were approved or rejected. “The IGFA was also sensitive to this particular record because in past years there have been several attempts to sue us over largemouth bass record claims. Although none of these claims have been successful, they have resulted in considerable legal fees for the IGFA,” he said. In the end, the IGFA staff concluded it would be both in the best interest of the IGFA and that of Kurita if he submitted to a polygraph analysis. The IGFA reserves the right to employ polygraph analyses to any record application, and this is explicitly stated in the affidavit section of the world record application form. Again, more correspondence was issued to the JGFA to request that Kurita take a polygraph test. He immediately agreed. On December 15, Kurita was examined by a professional polygraph analyst in Japan. The many questions he was given included if he was truthful about the information reported on the application form and if his boat ever came to a complete stop while fighting his fish. The results from the polygraph concluded that Manabu Kurita answered the questions honestly and that the catch was legitimate. George Perry’s 77 year old record was officially tied. Due diligence pays off “Six months may seem like a lot of time to determine if a fish ties a record,” said Schratwieser. “Hopefully, people now understand the amount of due diligence the IGFA conducted on this record. Although we treat all records with equal rigor, the All-Tackle largemouth bass record is nothing less than iconic and the bass angling community deserved nothing less.” Schratwieser added, “The IGFA wishes to applaud Kurita on his outstanding catch and would also like to commend him on his patience and candor during the entire review process. We would also like to thank the JGFA for their diligence and tireless assistance in corresponding with Kurita and fisheries officials.” Biology and bass across the globe; where will the next record come from? Largemouth bass have also been introduced in many countries but in Japan fisheries officials consider it an invasive species. In addition, because bass are not native and are stocked in Japan, many speculated that the big bass was a sterile triploid. However when biologists in Japan examined the ova of the big female, Schratwieser said they concluded that the fish was not triploid. For over 77 years the record stood as bass fanatics theorized when and where the record would be broken. Over the years there have been rumors and unsubstantiated reports of bass that could have tied or eclipsed Perry’s record, but nothing ever passed IGFA criteria. Some anglers did come close, however. Schratwieser said the closest came in 1991, when Robert Crupi caught a 22 lb bass in Lake Dixon, California USA, that still reigns as the 16 lb line class record and the third heaviest approved bass record in IGFA history. “Most people thought that the next All-Tackle record would come from California. Until Kurita’s tie the seven heaviest bass records behind Perry’s came from California lakes. Although not native to California, it appears transplanted bass have adapted quite well to the deep, clear lakes and reservoirs and the abundant trout forage found in some of them. “Little did people know that introduced bass grew big in places besides California, and that there are true monsters swimming on the other side of the world in Japan.” Click here to view the All-Tackle Records.

January 05, 2010 Ontario Supports American Bid to Protect Great Lakes McGuinty Government Taking Steps To Prevent Spread Of Asian Carp NEWS Ontario is supporting legal efforts by Michigan and other American states to prevent the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes. The move recognizes the significant economic threat these fish pose to the province's fisheries. A legal brief from the Province has been filed with the United States Supreme Court supporting Michigan's motion for a preliminary injunction to close the locks in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The closure is one of a number of measures sought by Michigan to keep this invasive species from passing into Lake Michigan. Recreational and commercial fishing are vital to Ontario's economy, providing jobs and recreation for many Ontarians: Approximately 1.4 million anglers fish in the province each year, spending more than $2.3 billion dollars annually on fisheries-related expenditures. The commercial fishery in the Great Lakes is valued at about $200 million annually. The U.S. Supreme Court will determine Ontario's participation in the proceedings. QUOTES “Invasive species don't respect international borders. The potential impact of Asian carp on Ontario's economy and ecosystems is a serious concern. We stand with our American colleagues in supporting all steps necessary to prevent their entry into the Great Lakes.” - Donna Cansfield, Minister of Natural Resources QUICK FACTS Biologists fear Asian carp could devastate fisheries in the Great Lakes. Indiana, New York, Wisconsin, Ohio and Minnesota have all backed the Michigan action. In some parts of Illinois, Asian carp now make up more than 90 per cent of the fish population. In 2004, Ontario banned the buying and selling of live Asian carp. LEARN MORE Read about the Invading Species Program, a partnership between the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and other organizations to raise public awareness of non-native species introduced to Ontario. Find out more about aquatic invasive species. For More Information Stefanie Millon, Minister's Office, 416-314-2212 Media Desk, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106 ontario.ca/natural-resources-news General EnquiriesNatural Resources Information Centre 1-800-667-1940 TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)

Well that makes sense. Thank you.

Thank you Wayne, I too really enjoyed that. Admittedly though I was surprised to see a stick instead of a yoke (is that correct terminology?). I was also surprised to find that during the last clip that I was constantly tilting my head to keep the horizon level, just like I was there....LOL Oh and I saw the shoals.

Nice going Doug, nothing like fresh whitey for dinner....Mmmmm.

thanks Jacques, perhaps I should try a BumbleBee pattern next. Hopefully he won't see them Roy. Thanks Lew. Be it musky or trout matching the hatch as it were is the name of the game. I'm starting to catch on.

Oh that shouldn't be too difficult....

I've been driving full size Chevy/GMC vans for the last 21 years. Three years ago I decided to heed the advice of some here and switch up my all seasons for true winter/snow tires. Put them on front and back. Definitely worth having them on!

Well I've never made anything bigger than trout flies Art but I'd be happy to try for you considering all you've done for me. The fundamentals would be the same just have to up scale them a bit, okay a lot. How would you plan on fishing them? While I'm here this one just came out of the vise about 20 minutes ago. Been playing with some new material for the legs.

This might work for you Gerritt. It's something I've always wanted to do though it won't be this year. http://www.northland-paradise.com/index.html Note: they don't have sled rentals.

Another "ditto" here. Been using XT for many years on the ice, no issues. Have also used braid succesfully when in the warmth of my portable.

Thank you, thank you. With the basic skills slowly returning I hope to improve with practice.

Sure is a lot of talented folks here. Well in my post surgery boredom I decided to break out the fly tying gear after what is likely a 20 year hiatus. I haven't tied to many and I'm definitely a little rusty! Fingers are not as nimble as they once were and my failing eyesight is clearly apparent, to me at least. I've also been playing with new techniques and materials, like bead head jigs. Here's a few from the past couple of weeks. This one just came together about half an hour ago....

Like some of the others this has been posted before but what the hell, here's my 1700 Explorer (still no steering wheel. )....

Did you attempt to discuss this with Mike directly? I know that would have been my first option.

LIMO TAKES TO THE ICE AT QUABOAG POND Friday, January 8, 2010 Bill Fortier / www.telegram.com Image available here BROOKFIELD — Diana M. and Stephen C. Nickerson have seen a lot of interesting things on Quaboag Pond since they moved there almost four years ago, but yesterday brought something new and truly different. Mr. Nickerson looked out the window of the couple’s home across Quaboag Street from the shore of the large pond about 7:30 a.m. and saw a 1989, 30-foot-long, white stretch limousine heading out on the ice for a some early morning ice fishing. “My husband saw the limo on the ice and said ‘I guess it’s safe enough to drive on,’ ” Mrs. Nickerson said yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Nickerson estimates the ice on the pond, which she says is at least 500 acres in size, is about 15 to 18 inches thick. Martin R. Palka, 58, of 126 Summer St., Palmer, one of three people in the limo owned by his nephew, Andrew R. Giza, 21, of Crescent Street in Warren, also said the ice was at least a foot thick. “We measured it,” he said yesterday afternoon. Mr. Giza said he and a friend bought the limo about a year ago for $400. Yesterday, it made its maiden voyage on ice. Mr. Giza said most people have a very basic question when they see a limo. “They ask us why we got a limo and I say ‘Why not?’ ” Yesterday was no different on the windswept surface of Quaboag Pond. “They were telling us it’s sweet,” he said when asked about the reaction of other ice fishing enthusiasts. “Everywhere we go we always get comments.” The limo contains an approximately 2-foot-wide and 2-1/2-foot-tall electric fireplace from a friend’s house that has been adapted to provide ample heat to the limo, which also contains a television, DVD player, Xbox and small refrigerator. The limo that Mr. Giza said held 12 people at a recent bachelorette party also includes an approximately foot-wide hole in the floor toward the rear of the vehicle near the heater that Mr. Giza said has a cover that can be moved aside for easy access to the ice. “You can sit there and cast a jig without ever leaving the vehicle,” Mr. Giza said. When he bought the vehicle it needed a new floor and the decision was made to put one in with a custom-built slip-up ice fishing hole. “I knew it would be perfect for ice fishing,” he said. Mr. Giza proclaimed yesterday’s ice debut a success and he plans to return Sunday to Quaboag Pond, a body of water, he says, that freezes about the same in all spots and thicker than other nearby lakes. The only hitch yesterday occurred when Mr. Palka had to use his pickup truck to tow the limo off the shore after it got stuck on a hump in the ice near the boat ramp to the pond. Mr. Palka said he and Mr. Giza were joined yesterday by Rick Brady, 62, of Palmer, who caught a hornpout and perch. Mr. Palka didn’t know if and when he will return to Quaboag Pond for another ice fishing expedition. “We didn’t catch too much; it was a slow day,” Mr. Palka said. Mrs. Nickerson said from her vantage point there are very few slow days on Quaboag Pond. She said it is common to see float planes land on the pond during the summer. Winter sees many people ice fishing and snowmobiling, and she said the annual Brookfield Lions Club Ice Derby is one of the highlights of the winter, which is also a time when hot air balloons land on the ice and iceboats whisk across the surface. “There’s more activity in the winter than summer,” said Mrs. Nickerson, who works from her house. “Right now we have a caravan of six vehicles heading out onto the ice.” Mr. Nickerson goes out on the ice to fish most days and Mrs. Nickerson says she joins him sometimes. She said family members meet occasionally on the ice for cookouts and what she termed adventure walks. “Our grandkids love it,” she said of winter on Quaboag Pond. The pond contains bass, perch, pike and hornpout, and Mrs. Nickerson said her husband caught a 6-pound bass some time ago. Mrs. Nickerson said the family, which trekked out onto the ice for the first time this season on Dec. 11, doesn’t eat the fish they catch, however, because of suspected high mercury levels.

Special report: The alewife question A 3 part report from September 2009 Part 1 - Alewives: Should Great Lakes managers kill ‘em or keep ‘em? Part 2 - Alewives: The trouble they cause and the salmon that love them Part 3 - Great Lakes fish in the balance; biologists have little control

Lead fishing tackle ban in the news once again Nov. 19, 2009 Gene Mueller / www.washingtontimes.com Years ago, a warning went out that lead fishing tackle – sinkers, especially – were killing loons that ingested some of the lead that was lost by anglers. But was it simply an unsupported wacky attempt by the “politically correct?” Most of the 60-odd million American sport fishermen might think that a “ban the lead” move that crept into various government agencies decades ago was dead and gone. But according to a national fishing news service, that isn't necessarily so. TheFishingWire.com says recreational anglers in the state of Washington are more than a little upset with what is happening as concerns loons vs. lead. Although there is no solid evidence that lead fishing tackle threatens waterfowl, such as loons, there is a new proposed ban on lead and the state’s fishermen are baffled by it all. The sport anglers are being asked to fire off letters of protest to the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Commission telling the agency that it should reject any proposals that would prohibit the use of lead tackle. Actually, the assumption that the oft maligned metal threatens loon populations is unwarranted and if the lead ban becomes law, the resulting increased cost for metal tackle that would be acceptable could also force fishermen to reach deep into their pockets. All that without any proof that lead has caused real harm to loons. Worse yet, if a ban catches on, there’ll be attempts to copy it in every state in the Union even where there are no loons. A study of common loons by the Washington fish and wildlife office actually “found no evidence of a declining population or a substantial change in distribution" in the state. The state’s wildlife officials also agreed that loon populations “are stable or increasing throughout their range.” So how did all this start? Some advocates for a lead ban claim that over a 13-year period, nine loons died from ingesting lead sinkers. How could anyone in their right mind call this a scientific indictment of lead fishing equipment?