Spiel

Ontario Supports American Bid to Protect Great Lakes McGuinty Government Taking Steps To Prevent Spread Of Asian Carp January 05, 2010 / www.mnr.gov.on.ca 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)

New ice fishing season in the Kawarthas raises concerns about walleye fishery Jan 07, 2010 Mary Riley / www.mykawartha.com Peterborough ice fishing chemong. Jessie Buchholz ice fishes on Chemong Lake. / Lance Anderson CITY OF KAWARTHA LAKES: The Kawartha Lakes region is well-known as an excellent fishing resource, but the news that ice fishing has returned to the area for the first time since the 1920s hasn’t hooked everyone. According to the Minsitry of Natural Resources (MNR) 2010 regulations, fishing seasons for northern pike, bluegill, yellow perch, sunfish and black crappie are now extended to year-round, including the winter months in Fisheries Management Zone 17, which includes the City of Kawartha Lakes. Ministry spokesperson Jamie Prentice says the news is good for anglers - not only does it open the pike and panfish season in the winter, but offers a great way to get kids into the sport and boost the local economy in the winter. “It’s very exciting that ice fishing in the Kawarthas has opened again after [being closed] for about 80 years,” he said. “And, as of this year, the muskie and bass season has been extended from Nov. 15 to Dec. 15, which should make those fishermen happy.” He added that bass and muskie have made such a strong comeback in area lakes, the MNR was able to re-introduce ice fishing. Mark McBride, owner of Mark’s Worm Warehouse, a bait and tackle shop in Bobcaygeon, said it will take time for ice fishing to catch on in the area. But, he said he and several people he’s talked to are concerned it will have a negative impact on walleye populations. “We aren’t going to steal the people who fish Lake Simcoe, and people from Toronto will go to Rice Lake,” he said. “But, one of our biggest (fishing) draws here is walleye, that’s what people target. I don’t see why the Ministry would bring in ice fishing when the walleye [population] is already hurting.” “Not everyone is happy about opening ice fishing here.’ Mr. McBride said his concern, and that of many anglers in his area is that walleye, although the season remains closed in winter, are often caught in the same areas as perch and bluegill. He’s worried that walleye caught inadvertently (known as ‘incidental catches’) won’t survive if released, thereby putting more pressure on that fishery. “If they are taken out of the water and the cold air hits their gills, that’s it,” he said. “They don’t often survive.” When asked about that, Mr. Prentice said that any fish, handled minimally and released properly stands a very good chance of surviving. But, he cautioned that, although incidental catches of walleye while fishing for panfish can and do happen, “we are relying on the ethics of responsible anglers, which most of them are” to release the fish immediately. “And, know your species,” he said, adding the MNR will have a significant enforcement presence to ensure the rules are adhered to. Mr. Prentice also noted that bluegill, in particular, compete for the same food sources as walleye, and that allowing an ice fishing season in the Kawarthas would permit more of those fish to be caught. “That reduces the bluegill population and alleviates some of the pressure on the walleye,” he said. Both he and Mr. McBride noted that it may take awhile for ice fishing to catch on in the area, as many people have never tried the sport. But, they both emphasized that safety on the ice is a priority. In many areas, ice anglers ask local hut operators and bait shop owners for ice condition information. Mr. McBride agreed there will be a “transition” period for local businesses to see if ice fishing draws anglers to the area. He said there are currents in the Kawartha waterways that “are still there”, and anyone going out on the ice must be cautious. Mr. Prentice agreed, saying the best advice is to drill test holes to check ice thickness, avoid open water, wear flotation suits, carry ice picks and “put safety before that big catch.” Jack Alexander, director of operations for the Trent-Severn Waterway, said that while there are strong currents on Kawartha lakes, many locals have used the waterways for years for snowmobiling, so are already aware of how to be safe on ice. He did say that under no circumstances should people be fishing around the dams, especially with the freezing spray and water around them in winter. Mr. Prentice said panfishing is an excellent way to introduce children to the sport, and ice fishing not only opens up another winter activity, but offers great fun. “Many kids get their first introduction to fishing by getting panfish on the end of their line,” he said. “It can shape them as anglers of the future.” Mr. Prentice said the Ministry is hoping to see ice anglers drawn to the area with the new season, and the possibility certainly exists for increased tourism and economic opportunities. As for Mr. McBride, while he said he wasn’t sure if local anglers would take to the ice, he’s stocked his shop with tackle and bait for them. “We’ve got it, yes,” he said. The Ministry will also be a sponsor of a winter panfishing event, part of the Family Fishing Weekend in February. The Bridgenorth Winter Panfish Festival will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Chemong Lake at BEL Rotary Park in Ennismore. Fishing equipment is provided for adults and kids who would like to try ice fishing. The event is free but donations will be accepted for the United Way. Parking is available at Chemong School or Causeway Christian Assembly and there will be a shuttle to thesite. For more information on the new fishing regulations, visit www.mnr.gov.on.ca.

Lower lake trout limits,sanctuary month for perch characterize new fish regs January 6, 2010 Jim Moodie / http://www.manitoulin.ca MANITOULIN-Effective this winter, ice fishers on Lake Manitou with a sport-fish licence will only be able to keep two lake trout per day instead of three, while those accustomed to still-fishing for perch in the spring will have to keep their lines out of the water during the April-late May spawning period. The changes are part of a broader update to fisheries policy in Zone 10, an area extending from Wawa to Elk Lake in the north, and south as far as Manitoulin and the French River. Since the Island habitat is notably different from the rest of the zone, however, it has been recognized (along with the French River) as "specially designated waters," within which some exceptions apply. In this case, Manitoulin will be spared a size restriction for lake trout applied elsewhere in the zone, where anglers will only be able to keep one fish (of the two allowed per day) that's over 40 centimetres. Also, the Island season for lake trout will last a few weeks longer in the fall, as the closing date for the rest of Zone 10 is now Labour Day. As usual, the Island season will go from January 1 to September 30. Lake trout are the second most frequent sport fish in Zone 10, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), but a recent five-year study "found that lake trout populations are in poor health overall." The report, titled Status of Lake Trout Populations in Northeastern Ontario, determined that only 32 percent of lake trout lakes had a high abundance of the species, and of these, only 17 percent were fished at a sustainable level. The report further found that about half of the female lake trout were mature by the age of seven (and a length of 40 centimetres), and that ones older than 10 were scarce, likely due to being more vulnerable to summer angling, as egg production consumes much of their energy at that time. Trout inhabiting Lake Manitou have been relatively plentiful and fast-growing, however, with the result that size limits have been waived for this area. As MNR biologist Wayne Selinger explained earlier this year, the big inland lake "is 10,000 acres and far more productive" than other lakes in the zone, in part due to its warmer temperatures and limestone base, which result in "higher growing degree days." Likening Manitou to "a lake trout factory," Mr. Selinger noted that the species matures more quickly than in the colder, granite-rimmed lakes that dominate Zone 10. Whereas the native salmonid, in most other areas, reaches 40 centimetres by age seven, on Manitou "they're only two or three years old when they reach 40 centimetres, and are mature by age four." The other factor speeding growth is the level of dissolved solids (a key factor of productivity), and Lake Manitou has "over double the amount of the next best lake in the zone," pointed out the biologist. Given these conditions, Mr. Selinger made the case that "Lake Manitou deserves special consideration," as is now reflected in the regulatory changes. An exception has also been made for Manitoulin in regard to the perch fishery, although in this instance our area is the only one to implement a closed season for the species. Everywhere else in the zone, anglers can fish for perch year-round. Perch is a popular target of Island anglers, but "recent information suggests that exploitation is threatening the sustainability of the yellow perch fisheries on Manitoulin Island," reads a statement from the MNR. Closing the season between April 1 and the third Friday in May "should reduce the harvest of larger spawning-size yellow perch and allow this component of the fishery to rebuild." The move is likely to be embraced locally, at least among those representing fishing interests, as the United Fish and Game Clubs of Manitoulin (UFGCM) has been advocating for this change for several years.

I know it well as my buddies cottage is on it, been going there for over 30 years. Fishing sucks as does the ice conditions in some areas. Heavy snowfalls and large numbers of springs make for some tough going. The lake these days is full of stunted wormy perch. In fact the only local access is from the south end and would have you walking up a creek to get to the lake and I'm not sure if it's ever safe?

It is well laid out and superbly constructed. But I don't see it fitting my definition of portable.

U.S.-Canada Panel finds that St. Clair River is Stable Board sees no need for Remedial Measures January 4, 2010 / www.great-lakes.org Since 2007, a binational team of experts, with extensive public input, has been investigating whether there are ongoing changes in the St. Clair River that might be affecting water levels in the upper Great Lakes. In a report released December 15, 2009, the International Upper Great Lakes Study Board found there has been no significant erosion of the channel in the upper reach of the St. Clair River bed since at least 2000. Other findings included: ►Based on 15 different analyses, an increase in the river’s conveyance capacity accounts for 7 to 14 cm (2.8 to 5.5 inches) of the decline in head difference between Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake Erie from 1963 to 2006; however, this change is not ongoing and there has been a slight decrease in conveyance capacity since 2000. ►Climate is the main driver of lake level relationships over time and accounts for 9 to 17 cm (3.5 to 6.7 inches) of the decline in head difference. In particular, hydroclimatic change contributed to a substantial decline in net water supplies to Lake Michigan-Huron in the most recent decade. ►Overall, the Study Board found that the difference in water levels between Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake Erie (head difference) declined on average by about 23 cm (9 inches) between 1963 and 2006. They also found that shifts in the earth’s crust as it continues to adjust to the retreat of glaciers account for 4 to 5 cm (1.6 to 2 inches) of the decline in head difference with the apparent resulting decrease in water levels being more pronounced in the Georgian Bay region of eastern Lake Huron. ►As directed in its mandate, the Study Board also reviewed past proposed remedial works and new innovative approaches to modifying flows in the St. Clair River and identified a range of options that might be employed if remediation were deemed necessary. The Study recognizes that there have been a number of dredging projects in the past and the governments made commitments for remediation. The implications of these past dredging projects are beyond the scope of the Study. The complete scientific report and a summary for the public are posted at: www.iugls.org. The 34 scientific reports that form the foundation for the main report are also available online. Key Recommendations Given that the change in conveyance capacity is not ongoing, is small relative to the degree of scientific uncertainty associated with the various analyses and data measurements and appears to be decreasing, the Study Board did not recommend remedial measures in the St. Clair River at this time. The Board also recommended that the governments of Canada and the U.S. undertake cooperative efforts to improve the monitoring and analysis of Great Lakes water supplies and connecting channel flows. Independent Peer Review Throughout the Study, both methodological plans and technical work products including key chapters and the full draft report were reviewed by independent experts chosen by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute) and the Canadian Water Resources Association. These expert reviewers have given generally positive ratings and provided many constructive recommendations that have resulted in improvements to the final report, ranging from the need for additional analysis to the need to better quantify scientific uncertainty. All reviews and Study Board responses are available at the ASCE website, http://content.ewrinstitute.org/committees/IUGLS.cfm Public Input A binational Public Interest Advisory Group (PIAG) with expertise from a wide range of interests has provided advice to the Study Board on public involvement and outreach issues. The U.S. and Canadian co-chairs of PIAG both serve on the Study Board, providing direct involvement by the public in key decisions. Since 2007, the Study has held 34 public meetings hosted by PIAG members throughout the upper Great Lakes basin, including 17 meetings during a 90-day consultation period following release of a draft report on May 1, 2009. All public comments received by the August 1 deadline and Study Board responses are posted on the Study website as well as a detailed report on PIAG activities over the past two years, including a synthesis of the public views provided during the consultation. Generally, it appeared that the public found that Study outcomes were acceptable with respect to the mandate, resulted from an open and unbiased process and reflected sound science. However, it should be noted that many commenters with interests in Georgian Bay disagreed with the Study’s recommendation against remediation. The International Joint Commission has announced it will hold public hearings regarding the report in 2010, allowing the public ample time to review the report, related technical studies and the independent peer reviews. The International Joint Commission is inviting the public to submit comments on the final report until April 9, 2010. The IJC will hold public hearings during this period at times and locations to be announced early in the new year. What’s next? The examination of the St. Clair River is part of a broader evaluation of the regulation of Lake Superior outflows that is expected to produce recommendations in 2012 regarding improvements to the control orders for the international compensating works and power dams on the St. Marys River in Sault Ste. Marie. The Study Board also recommends that this phase of the Study examine whether mitigative measures in the St. Clair River might be necessary based on its assessment of the potential future impacts of climate change on upper Great Lakes levels.

Urgent Asian Carp Control Measures Funded for $13 Million January 4, 2010 / www.great-lakes.org WASHINGTON, DC, December 14, 2009 (ENS) - The federal government will spend an additional $13 million to prevent invasive Asian carp from migrating further toward the Great Lakes. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has identified more than $13 million in funding needs for measures to deter the large fish from moving closer to Lake Michigan. The majority of the new funds will be used to close conduits and shore up low-lying lands between the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal and adjacent waterways. USEPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, who also chairs the Great Lakes Inter-agency Task Force, announced the new funding late last month. "The challenge at hand requires the immediate action we're taking today. EPA and its partners are stepping up to prevent the environmental and economic destruction that can come from invasive Asian carp,” said Jackson. The presence of Asian carps in the Great Lakes could cause what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service calls "catastrophic declines" in abundances of native fish species, cause economic impacts to sport and commercial fisheries, and result in injuries to boaters as the big fish are known to jump out of the water as high as 10 feet. DNA evidence suggests the Asian carp are already very close to an electric barrier in the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal built to keep them out. Scientists believe carp are also present in the Des Plaines River, the I & M canal and the Calumet Sag Canal. Obama has made restoring the Great Lakes a national priority, Jackson said. In February, he proposed $475 million for a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, an unprecedented investment in the nation's largest fresh surface water ecosystem. Congress approved that funding level and President Obama signed it into law in October. The funding for immediate carp control measures would come from that $475 million. "President Obama's Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and Congressional support have given us what we need to significantly and immediately reduce the risk of Asian carp reaching the Great Lakes and destroying such a valuable ecosystem,” Jackson said. Under the conditions found in the Great Lakes such as water temperature and food abundance, Asian carps could outnumber all other native species, as already is happening in parts of Illinois, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The potential impact of Asian carps on the Great Lakes sport and commercial fishing industry can be seen right now along the Mississippi River basin. There in just a few years after Asian carp were introduced into the area, many commercial fishing locations have been abandoned, as native fish have nearly disappeared from the catch, replaced by Asian carp. Illinois and federal agencies remain concerned that during times of heavy precipitation, water and carp can wash from adjacent waterways into the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal. Initiative funding will support work by the Corps to reduce the risk of carp invasion. Some of the funding will support more genetic testing to pinpoint where carp may be in the Chicago Area Waterway System. The agencies will continue to identify other mechanisms for keeping Asian carp out of the Great Lakes. Today's announcement follows a November 23 announcement that a portion of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding will be available for stakeholders through a request for proposals.

Live emerald shiners the most important bait in catching yellow perch Outfish biodegradable, rubberish artificial shiner imitations packed in stinky liquid January 4, 2010 / www.great-lakes.org Recently, when yellow perch fishermen have stopped by their favorite bait shop on the way out for a day on Lake Erie, they’ve discovered a “Sold Out” sign over the tank of emerald shiners—the preferred bait fish for yellow perch. The shortage is directly related to the arrival and spread of the fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in the Great Lakes region since 2006. The federal government and various state governments have issued restrictions to limit the transport of susceptible fish, making it illegal to move some bait fish across state lines, privately or commercially, even within the same body of water. Since most bait fish sold in Ohio have traditionally come from commercial trappers in New York, shortages of live emerald shiners have hit Ohio fishermen, as well as fishing businesses, hard. Those businesses have started trapping the shiners themselves in an attempt to relieve the market stress, but fishermen have also started to get more creative. “Some anglers, when there’s a shortage, switch to artificial shiner imitations,” says Curt Wagner, Biologist for the Ohio DNR, and member of the Ohio Chapter of the American Fisheries Society (OCAFS). “Particularly popular are biodegradable, rubberish bait packed in this stinky liquid. It’s supposed to have the look, the scent, and the appeal of the real thing for yellow perch.” However, no one was sure that the artificial baits were as effective as the real thing, so Wagner put together a study for OCAFS members during their annual summer meeting. Since the meeting was to be held at Stone Laboratory, he applied for and received grant funding from Ohio Sea Grant for NOAA shiptime aboard the Gibraltar III research boat. The weekend of the OCAFS meeting, 13 anglers set out to a spot between Lake Erie’s Rattlesnake and Middle Bass islands, prepared to test four different types of emerald shiner baits: live, frozen, brine preserved, and artificial. “In advance, we assigned a random rotation of bait types so that each angler fished each of the four baits for 30 minutes and not everyone was fishing the same bait at the same time,” Wagner explains. “We would blow a whistle and everyone would switch to a different bait type. We wanted to get a fair, side-byside comparison.” Using identical fishing rigs, each participant was instructed to fish all four baits the same way, letting it go all the way to the lake floor, then cranking it up one or two times to get it a little bit off the bottom. Their findings were surprising: out of a total of 59 perch caught within the two-hour timeframe, 27 were caught using live bait, 18 on frozen shiners, 14 on brine-preserved shiners, and none on artificial. From a management perspective, the data indicate a potential need for Ohio businesses to begin to cultivate emerald shiners to keep up with demand. However, Eugene Braig, assistant Director of Ohio Sea Grant who took part in the study, believes that anglers should simply start planning ahead for their bait needs. “Emerald shiners are available in Ohio waters in the spring each year, so it may be a good idea to stock up early in the season and preserve them so you have enough to get you through fall,” Braig says

I always figured that laying 'em out in the snow (on the ice) in sub zero temps to get an accurate measure of whether or not you have to release (or can keep) is likely killing more fish than just taking your first 2 and moving on. Let's face it, if you don't have to measure them you could decide what to keep and what to release while they are still in the water. No exposure to the cold and no excess handling. IMHO slots sizes during the ice fishing season is asinine.

Red Green would be proud!

Thanks for the update Mike. I hope all goes well for your Dad today (tomorrow?).

Seems like a no brainer to me. If you know your going to be traveling over frozen water, wear some form of flotation device. A floatation suit or better yet a survival suit is your best option. Looking cool means nothing if your dead!

I would.

That was always the beverage of choice when rod standing steelies on the cold wind swept shores of G'Bay in winter, and occasionly the warmer days of fall.

That is some devotion Lorne and way cool, literally! Kudos to you for proving that carp angling is not restricted to the warmer months. I hope you garner some sort of prize for your efforts.

Nothing in Hamilton.

I'm guessing a little to cold for a test run with the new boat Albert.

Interesting. Here's an off the wall idea, why not epoxy an alligator type clip to it, add rubber tubing to the jaws and set your micro bait into it at the desired depth. Auto micro jigger.

Too funny....

You know at times it floors me how insensitive some can be! We've had members come and go, some leave quietly and some come on board to say goodbye. Perhaps it's because they would like to inform friends that they'll need to seek another avenue to stay in touch, whatever. Is that so wrong? For those who feel the need to piss on this I suggest you find another avenue to vent. If you have nothing nice to say, shut-up!

The extra "C" is for "corporation", it's on their home page.

I just saw that while perusing some links for the fishing news and thought I'd post it here. But proud Papa beat me to it! Congratulations to the Blowes family, pretty cool.

The 20th could be good for me Terry, perhaps sooner, hard to know at this point. Innisfil is my choice, the walk out to deep water from Sibbalds is a little far.