Spiel

PARTNERS SUPPORT ACTION PLAN TO BRING BACK AMERICAN EEL Native Species Important Part Of Great Lakes Ecosystem June 20, 2008 / MNR News An action plan to find means of restoring the American eel in the upper St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario was announced today by Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Loyola Hearn, Ontario Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield and Ontario Power Generation Executive Vice President - Hydro John Murphy. "The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of the American eel to ecosystems in Ontario and is committed to working with the province and Ontario Power Generation to restore eels to the upper St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario for current and future generations," said Minister Hearn. "Our contribution to this initiative will continue to be primarily in the form of our scientific research capacity, including the compilation of fish habitat inventories to better understand eel habitat." The multi-year plan will aim to find solutions to eel survival, and stock and monitor this important native species. Under the plan, Ontario Power Generation is spending $2.5 million on eel restoration by the end of 2011, including $1 million to develop ways to trap eels during their downstream migration and transport them around dams. "Protecting and restoring Ontario's native species is vital to our success in sustaining the province's biodiversity," said Minister Cansfield. "American eels once played a key role in Ontario's aquatic ecosystem; the action plan includes steps to reduce specific threats to eels and increase their numbers." As part of the plan, Ontario Power Generation stocked 2.6 million young eels into the upper St. Lawrence River during the past two years. The plan also calls for continued stocking and monitoring to ensure that the young eels survive, grow and contribute to the aquatic ecosystem. "We are pleased to provide support for this innovative and important research project to find solutions to restore and preserve the eel population. For over 30 years, an eel ladder has been operated at Ontario Power Generation's Saunders Generating Station in Cornwall, and since 2006 we have been involved in eel stocking programs and most recently researching on ways to trap and transport eels," said Executive Vice President Murphy. American eels have declined dramatically in the upper St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario since the 1990s. The number of eels passing over an eel ladder at the Saunders Generating Station during their upstream migration has dropped 99 per cent over that time. The federal and provincial governments are working together across Canada to conserve and restore this significant species. Restoring the species is especially challenging because all American eels are part of a single breeding population that spawns in the Sargasso Sea in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. The young eels migrate to the inland waters of North America, remain there for 10 to 15 years, and then migrate back to the Sargasso Sea to spawn and die. For more information on the action plan, see attached backgrounder.

PCBs, fuel leaking into St. Lawrence River, pollution watchdog says June 24, 2008 Martin Mittelstaedt / Globe and Mail North America's environmental watchdog says up to eight million litres of diesel fuel and up to two tonnes of dangerous PCBs contaminate Montreal's Technoparc and are leaking into the nearby St. Lawrence River. The watchdog, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, released its five-year investigation into the site yesterday. The area, now an industrial park owned by the city between the Champlain and Victoria Bridges at Pointe-Saint-Charles, was used as a parking lot during Expo 67, but before that had been a dump for industrial waste. The waste fuel would fill about three Olympic-size swimming pools, and contaminants from the site can be detected several kilometres downstream from a city waste water treatment plant, according to the CEC. The CEC has been investigating the site after five Canadian and U.S. conservation groups alleged in 2003 that Environment Canada was failing to enforce provisions of the Fisheries Act that make it illegal to discharge harmful pollutants into fish habitat. Testing by the groups found that PCB concentrations at Technoparc were up to 8.5 million times above Canada's water quality guidelines. PCBs, or polychlorinated biphenyls, are transformer fluids now banned because they cause deformities in animals, particularly those exposed during early life. After a preliminary review, the CEC, which was set up under the North American free-trade agreement to monitor pollution in Canada, the United States and Mexico, said the allegations merited an in-depth investigation known as a factual record. The CEC isn't allowed to issue conclusions on the conduct of governments and can issue only facts about cases. Yet its investigation did conclude that groundwater at the site "is toxic to fish" and that "by the late 1980s, government authorities knew that the lands ... were contaminated." Environment Canada studied the site in 2003, but didn't launch Fisheries Act charges because it said it was "impossible to determine the source and pathway of the contaminants," according to the CEC. Mark Mattson, president of Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, one of the groups that complained to the CEC, said, "This is an incredible story about Canada doing everything in its ability to escape accountability and enforcement of a continuing environmental travesty on the St. Lawrence River." In its defence, Environment Canada told the CEC that pollutants from the site could have come from the dumping of snow and waste of unknown origin. Because Environment Canada worried that it wouldn't have a successful prosecution under the Fisheries Act, it decided to drop its investigation and continue "its efforts with the different parties potentially responsible for the contamination in order to find a lasting solution to this environmental problem," the CEC said.

Pure Fishing Establishes World Headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina Jun. 25, 2008 / PR Newswire Spirit Lake, IA.... Pure Fishing, a leading global provider of branded fishing products, today announced plans to establish its world headquarters in Columbia, South Carolina. This move will strongly position Pure Fishing for its next phase of growth as an international leader in the fishing tackle market, with closer proximity to its global customer base and improved operating efficiencies. The Pure Fishing brand portfolio includes Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Pflueger®, SevenStrand®, Shakespeare®, Spiderwire®, Stren®, Trilene® and Ugly Stik®. The Columbia location will contain the Pure Fishing world headquarters staff including senior leadership, sales management, sourcing and supply chain management, and specific category marketing and product development teams. Pure Fishing will continue to maintain the majority of its U.S. coworker base in Spirit Lake, Iowa. Terry Carlson, CEO of Pure Fishing, said, "We are committed to building the world’s best fishing tackle company and our decision to establish our world headquarters in Columbia represents this commitment in action. Combining three fishing companies into one organization with centralized leadership at one location is a key element of our long-term focus on building on what is the strongest cross-category brand portfolio in the industry. With this new headquarters, we will better serve our customers around the world and be able to take advantage of synergies and new business opportunities created through the combination of Pure Fishing, Shakespeare and Penn." Mr. Carlson continued, "The talent and passion of our staff across each of our facilities, including our freshwater and saltwater centers of excellence in Philadelphia, Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Columbia, are unparalleled in our industry and we will continue to drive innovation across all of our brands to ensure they remain the best in the industry." Pure Fishing is a leading global provider of fishing tackle, lures, rods and reels with a portfolio of brands that includes Abu Garcia®, Berkley®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Pflueger®, SevenStrand®, Shakespeare®, Spiderwire®, Stren®, Trilene® and Ugly Stik®. With operations in 19 countries, Pure Fishing is part of Jarden Outdoor Solutions, a leader in developing outdoor and active lifestyle products and a division of Jarden Corporation

Regulations, rising costs put bite on bait 06/22/08 Will Elliott / buffalonews.com The fishing is great, but the bait sparks debate. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s restrictions on live and preserved baits, imposed to help control of aquatic diseases and maladies, has put a serious bite on bait sales and use. Perch fishermen have been affected most, but any angler in need of live bait, especially the swimming versions of fish lures, has to pay more per bucket and often must do without the more preferred bait species. Factor in the ever-increasing cost of gas to get to and across the water and fishing might seem to be in a latter- day Depression Era mode. Despite these bait restrictions and other setbacks, all is not gloom and gruesome. Reports of perch and bass catches for Lake Erie throughout the spring have fish numbers and sizes on the increase. The walleye comeback is nicely chronicled in a Dave Barus piece in the June issue of Conservationist magazine. Everything from panfish to pike offer area anglers a busy and rewarding resource. Few places in North America provide access to five-pound smallmouth bass, 10-pound walleye and a bucket of foot-long perch within a mile of some structure between harbors at Buffalo and Barcelona. Boaters need not haul a trailer for hours to get to good perch schools off Pinehurst, Hamburg, Sturgeon Point, Cattaraugus Creek, or Dunkirk Harbor. As for the bait restrictions, the whole truth is that Lake Erie perch and ringbacks in Lake Ontario and other nearby waters have a distinct preference for the emerald shiner. Emeralds, for decades, have accounted for more blue pike, yellow perch and other panfish species in full buckets than all other baitfish options combined. It could be the shape, the flashy coloration, or some subtle scent given off, but emeralds shine among shiners while fishing for perch at virtually any depth in Lake Erie. Here’s the good news — or at least better than all those agonizing reports on perch catching — for this season and during this bait restriction period: Salted emerald shiners work nearly as well as live emeralds and often better than any live baits such as fatheads or small golden shiners. Earlier in the season, boaters could net emeralds close to shore, head out from their netting site, catch fish, and comply with DEC bait regulations. Now, emeralds may be captured from shore at sites along the Niagara River, but the open shoreline of Lake Erie has warmed, algae buildup would clog a seine net and the bait has moved out. A walk along the shoreline at Sturgeon Point last weekend confirmed that the minnows are on the move. It took us a half-hour stroll just to spot a small school of bait, that was probably young-of-the-year game fish, not emeralds. Bait dealers know that emerald shiners are a mainstay. “We netted as much as we could, processed them and have salted packages ready,” said Bill Van Camp at Big Catch Bait & Tackle, 2287 Niagara St. “We also have live golden shiners and fatheads that can be sold live,” which he and wife, Pat, supply daily for fishermen. Van Camp works the circuit as both a retail and wholesale bait dealer. His sales area has him traveling to the Michigan side of Ohio as well as eastward throughout New York State. “Just this week they had to raise golden shiner prices 75 cents per pound,” he said, referring to wholesale price increased caused by gas price increases. But bait dealers need not pay for a DEC 10-day permit, obtainable from regional headquarters, to dip bait for salting. “I have to report my dipping location and the time I collect the bait,” said Rick Miller at Miller’s Bait & Tackle in Irving. After that, dealers can store processed and salted emerald shiners for sale throughout the season. Steve Hurst, DEC Fisheries Bureau Chief in Albany, said earlier this week, “I don’t see the permanent regulations coming off soon. We’re protecting the resource for down the road,” referring to VHS and other aquatic invaders that have entered the Great Lakes chain and some larger inland lakes. Hurst, himself an avid angler, was encouraged to hear that salted emeralds worked well on Lake Erie perch, added his regrets that bait dealers have to deal with these required restrictions. “With all the great fishing we have across this state, it’s a shame that we have to impose these regulations,” he said. The perch bite, straight out of Cattaraugus Creek, continues to flourish at depths of 40 to 50 feet, and serious ringback runners often hit into schools of the older, post-spawn plugs that can quickly fill a bucket or box on a good day out. Take along an assortment of minnow- type baits and keep on the move until your boat gets over a good working school. The fishing can be great despite the choice of bait.

KVD Helps You Choose a Fishing Rod June 23, 2008, 4:31 PM ET Ed Harp / ESPN "The most important thing about choosing a fishing rod is to get the one that works for you," says two-time Classic Champion, Kevin VanDam. Simply put, "a 'good' fishing rod is one that helps you fish effectively and efficiently with the lure you are using. "Too many anglers worry about materials, mechanics and names. Those things are important but the ultimate standard is to choose a rod that performs the task at hand properly. There's really no other way to judge a rod." He continues by pointing out that if you're throwing a small, shallow running crankbait, you need a rod with the proper action and tip that lets you cast accurately. Precise lure placement matters. On the other hand, if you're throwing a big, heavy deep-diver you need power and a rod that'll let you make long casts. Accuracy is less important. The same rod — no matter how high the quality of its materials and construction — won't do the same job. If you do use the same rod for both applications, one of them is not a good rod because it won't perform properly. That sounds great in theory but there's a practical, real-world problem with it — money. Most of us can't afford to purchase a special rod for every type of lure we throw. We have to make do with what our budgets allow. What to do? VanDam recommends we start with three rods that are acceptable for most applications. He then recommends add-ons based on where we bass fish and our level of experience. KVD's Basic 3 1. Start with a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-heavy action baitcaster. That rod will handle most spinnerbaits, crankbaits, lipless crankbaits, jerkbaits and topwater plugs. 2. He also recommends we carry a 7-foot, medium action spinning rod with a high speed reel. That'll work for most finesse applications such as drop shotting, shaky heads and weightless worms. 3. A 7-foot, 2-inch heavy casting rod will round out the arsenal. It'll manage heavy cover applications such as flipping or pitching, and it work frogs effectively. Those are the basics. They aren't all going to be perfect, but they're a start. Most lures, rigs and applications can be fished effectively in most parts of the country with one of them. VanDam stresses another factor that he believes is critical to fishing success — compatibility. "Every company's rods are different. They all have different blanks, different handles, different guide spacing, different actions, different tips and a different overall feel. It's important that all your rods be from the same company. "Now, I design rods for Quantum. I think they're the best in the industry. I'd like to see you buy ours. But, if you like another manufacturer's rods better, you should buy them. And I mean buy all of your rods from them. Don't mix and match. "If you're going to become a better bass angler you've got to be able to cast quickly and accurately with good rods. You can't do that if every time you pick up a rod and reel it takes you 10 minutes to readjust. You can't afford to waste that much time. "If all your rods and reels are the same, you'll feel comfortable immediately when you switch outfits. I can't stress how important that is to becoming a better anger. It's critical, absolutely critical, that all your rods and reels are from the same company." VanDam says he can't recommend additional rod choices unless he knows an angler's particular circumstances. "I can't pick another two or three must-have rods unless I know where an angler's going to be fishing and how much experience he or she has," he explains. "Every situation is different. "In Michigan, where I'm from, there are a lot of shallow, clear natural lakes. And, we fish a lot for smallmouths. Long spinning rods are popular here. If you live in Florida, however, you'll probably need a heavy flipping rod, something that'll get you through the heavy weeds and vegetation. "When I worked in my brother's tackle store in Kalamazoo — R & D Sports Center — I frequently recommended anglers not buy additional rods too soon. If you're new to our sport take some time and go fishing. Don't get in too big of a hurry. Find out what works for you and what techniques are popular in your neck of the woods before you buy more rods." Finally, a word or two about price: According to VanDam you generally get what you pay for with fishing rods. He says the biggest problem with cheap rods is that the blanks and actions aren't uniform. The rods vary from one to another. VanDam is an angler noted for demanding perfection in every product he endorses. His new Signature Series crankbait rods from Quantum will retail for around $150.

....Yeah the hat looks good on ya! Have one on me champ.

....Here's your solution....No Drill Hydrofoil Stabilizer

....It was great to see you back again Rich and a pleasure to meet your wife and those wonderful dogs. Brook is kind of bored these last few days without all the excitment of her four legged friends about.

Bassmasters secure sponsorship for fishing tournament Jun 25, 2008 / yorkregion.com Georgina: The Aurora Bassmasters announced Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, the leading United States meat snack brand, has thrown its support behind a new partnership between its club and Bass Pro Shops Canada, Inc. for the Bass Pro Shops Lake Simcoe Open slated for Oct. 25 at Sibbald Point Provincial Park. “On behalf of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky, we are proud to lend our support to this exciting new event as presenting sponsor.” said the company’s Ontario regional manager Doug Surerus. “The success of the Lake Simcoe Open will continue to grow exponentially into the future, attracting ardent anglers from all walks of life. We are excited to be a part of your tournament season here in Ontario. We look forward to playing an integral role in this year’s successes,” he said. Anglers competing in the 2008 tournament are encouraged to pre-apply because the field will be limited to 80 teams. Total entry fees per team will be $280. This includes $20 for big fish and $10 to launch your boat. Anglers wishing to pre-apply, should send a $50 non-refundable deposit (cheque) or the entire amount payable to Aurora Bassmasters: c/o Herb Quan, 58 English Ivy Way, Willowdale, ON M2H 3M4. Application forms are available through www.aurorabass.com

Indeed, indeed. What Roy said.

....I've done plenty of corny stuff when in the boat and if fact out of the boat, plenty of it captured on film too, and fame had nothing to do with it! Just having fun that's all. Wouldn't life be a giggle if we never allowed ourselves to be foolish, ever! *yawn*

....I used to fish it regularly in my youth (many moons ago) and have been there only occasionally in the last 20 years. The ponds used to be stocked with decent brookies and rainbows but now it's only rainbows and some pretty tiny ones at that. You'll find the first 7 of the 9 ponds are the only ones worth fishing in with ponds 4, 5, 6 and 7 offering shady areas to avoid the sun. The lake has pike and largemouth bass though I've personally never fished it. Light line under a bobber will do fine, try worms, corn or salmon eggs.

....Bravo, was good to meet the furture of the Dietz clan. Nothing says good times like the smile on a young anglers face.

....Any reports of a deer-auto collision in Port Credit?

....Agreed, serious brain damage.

....BINGO, you got it Phil. It is indeed a sauger. ....LOL, perhaps I should if I can't stay focused on what I'm doing.

....Since I can't have two boats and I wanted a fishing machine I chose a tiller. No regrets!

....Keyripes, I just noticed that the fish Joey is holding (second picture) is not a walleye! Man I had only just heard this year from Kevin that there were some of those in the Nipissing system. Had the first one I've ever seen in the boat and didn't notice till now....doh!

....Great to have you and Cindy at the gathering Mike. Also glad I was able to help.

....Lots of posts up about the annual Lakair gathering and as mentioned it was a huge success. My thanks to all who managed to tear themselves away from the mundane in order to be there. A few firsts for me this year included finally sharing a boat with Aplumma, I enjoyed it immensley Art. Next time I hope to remember the camera as I actually caught a few decent walleye. I also spent a fair bit of time fishing with Muskiestudd (Chris) who I had not shared a boat with since the first gathering several years back. Chris knows the lake well and it certainly showed every time we went out for walleye as seen in the following pictures in no particular order. I think the above fish was Chris' blue walleye? The one below was my blue.... I'll tell you all if you ever get a chance to share a boat with Chris, DO IT! Good company and a hell of a good angler. I also a chance to share the boat on my last evening with Joey (another first) and while things didn't pan out due to a dead battery for the electric (hate anchoring but had to, windy) Joey did manage a couple of punks before losing a pretty hefty fish. We'll get 'em next champ. I'm ready to go back though, perhaps August when I'm off?

....The "Holy Water" would be at the heart of such events.

....As someone who sits on the executive for the "club" that named him "angler of the year" I'd say it's time for some serious club pruning!

....Glad to see y'all made it home. You guys is sump'n, dang it's just that it's all over too quick.

....Gosh "dang" it I wish I was still there having a "pontificating" session wit ya Glen. Twas great to see you again.

....You should have been John, DANG you should have been.