Spiel

....That's beautiful! I know the kind of satisfaction you feel from making a functional fishing rod from others cast offs. You've done an excellent job. I really like the way you left some of the origional colour on the blank at the ferrules, very clever. Now get out there and enjoy it.

....Well isn't this special. Happy Birthday Carole.

Lake Simcoe needs cash, not more study: Conservatives Mar 31, 2008 Bruce Hain / simcoe.com There’s been a bit of a backwash to last week’s announcement by the province to set up a scientific panel, as well as a citizen’s advisory group, to determine how best to restore Lake Simcoe. Within hours of Liberal Party Environment Minister John Gerretsen’s press conference at Queen’s Park, the provincial and federal Conservative parties were taking him to task. “The time to study is over,” said York-Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan. “It’s now time to clean up Lake Simcoe. I call upon the provincial government to match the $30 million in federal funding the federal government announced last month to preserve and protect Lake Simcoe. While the provincial government announcement says they want a ‘gold standard’ for Lake Simcoe’s environment, they aren’t providing any gold.” Van Loan says the Lake Simcoe Regional Conservation Authority has already studied the lake extensively and identified dozens of remediation projects that if enacted, could cost taxpayers well in excess of $100 million. The federal conservatives have already brought in measures to protect Lake Simcoe, Van Loan added, including a ban of dumping waste and sewage from watercraft, and a move to virtually ban phosphates in detergents. Julia Munro, Progressive Conservative MPP for York-Simcoe, weighed in by saying “if the province is going to institute special requirements on Lake Simcoe watershed municipalities to improve their sewer systems, it must provide them with special funding. If Lake Simcoe was a real priority for the (provincial) government, they would not spend all their time preparing studies, they would start writing cheques. The Ontario Liberals should be providing specific funding for Lake Simcoe cleanup, but their record so far shows little hope.” However, the Campaign Lake Simcoe coalition of environmental groups was somewhat optimistic about Gerretsen’s statement. “The province has correctly identified land use changes, meaning urban sprawl, as a primary cause of water quality decline,” said Dr. Rick Smith, executive director of Environmental Defence. “Now, the government needs to do something about it. Simcoe County is the ‘Wild West’ of Ontario urban sprawl and the new Lake Simcoe Protection Act must bring it under control if Lake Simcoe is to survive.” Annabel Slaight, co-founder of the Ladies of the Lake, said the action being taken by the Liberals, “is another great step forward, particularly because it envisions residents of the watershed and government working hand in hand.”

Fighting the VHS fish virus April 1, 2008 Bob Kelleher, Minnesota Public Radio A shad infected with viral hemorrhagic septicemia. It was taken from Lake St. Clair, which is located between lakes Huron and Erie. (Photo courtesy of Mohamed Faisal, Michigan State University) There are urgent new efforts to keep a virus that's deadly to many kinds of fish out of Lake Superior. The disease, known as VHS, has quickly spread through the other Great Lakes. Minnesota officials worry if it reaches Lake Superior, VHS could jump to inland waters and devastate the state's fishing industry. Duluth, Minn. — VHS is a little virus with a big name - viral hemorrhagic septicemia. Infected fish might have bulging eyes; bloated bellies; or red blotches. Some major fish kills are blamed on VHS. The disease isn't a danger to humans, but it's a very real problem for fish that haven't faced this disease before. VHS can hammer dozens of fish species -- everything from freshwater drum, to northern pike, round goby, and walleye. It's caused a near total kill of muskies in New York's Niagara River. The disease is frightening both for the size of fish kills and the wide variety of fresh water fish species it's been killing, according to Daryl Bathel of Duluth. Now retired, Bathel used to oversee the Department of Natural Resources cold water hatcheries. "They've never been exposed to this," Bathel said. "So, they're very susceptible to it. And there's going to be die-offs that occur when there's a pathogen that's here and a stress that would causes an outbreak of disease to happen. It's better to keep that pathogen out of here." So far, VHS has not been detected in Lake Superior. But, within the last three years, it's been confirmed in all the other Great Lakes; and Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago system. It's unclear how the disease spreads. The National Park Service has joined with Minnesota's Grand Portage Chippewa band in a plan to defend their areas against VHS. The Park Service runs Wisconsin's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore; Michigan's Isle Royale National Park and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore; and the Grand Portage National Monument in Minnesota. - Daryl Bathel, former DNR cold water hatcheries chiefApostle Islands National Lakeshore Superintendent Bob Krumenaker said the plan establishes emergency measures should VHS show up; and it prods other agencies to take action on things like ship ballast water, and tightening the movement of bait and live fish. "There are two countries; three states; several Indian bands; untold state and federal agencies," Krumenaker said. "Everybody's got a little piece of this and nobody's in charge. So we are certainly trying to stimulate the discussion and encourage our colleagues in other agencies to move forward faster perhaps than they would otherwise." Krumenaker said the Apostle Islands and Isle Royale in particular are key to the Lake Superior fishery. "We're really vulnerable right now," Krumenaker said. "And, frankly, these are places that have some of the most vital fish resources for recreational fishing and even the commercial fishing that happens in and outside the parks." In Minnesota, state lawmakers are considering new legislation that would tighten permits and certification for hatcheries and bait dealers. Fish farmers and hatcheries would have to test tanks and ponds at a cost of at least several hundred dollars a pop. The proposal would give the DNR the ability to move more quickly on emergency rules if VHS turns up in Minnesota. A department official said there's a lot at stake. "It is a very serious situation, because, number one, is that Minnesota has one of the great fishing resources in the country," said Roy Johannes, DNR Fisheries Program Consultant. "You know we have great walleye fishing; and a good muskie fishery. We have northern pike; pan-fish, bass." Johannes said a collapse of the fishing industry would be felt across Minnesota. And, if a virus reached Minnesota, it could quickly spread to a big chunk of the continent, according to Daryl Bathel, the retired DNR official in Duluth. "Minnesota is kind of unique in that it's the point of high ground for three major drainage systems," said Bathel. "Once it's here, the next step is to jump into the inland waters. And once it's there, it's in the Mississippi River system. It's in the Hudson Bay drainage. And it's going to get spread all over the place." Just the threat of VHS has prompted a change in fishing regulations in Canada. Visitors to Ontario's Quetico Provincial Park will have to fish this year without worms or minnows. All organic bait is banned. The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore is considering a similar ban. The Minnesota DNR offers VHS information on its web pages, including a printable brochure. Their bill, the VHS Fish Health Initiative, is winding through the legislature.

Judge delays cormorant cull Wednesday, April 02, 2008 Sharon Hill, Windsor Star A federal judge in Toronto has put the brakes - temporarily - on a proposed cull of cormorants on Middle Island, prompting two animal protection groups opposing the cull to claim a minor victory. The judge ruled that no cull can happen until a federal judge says so. "Today's order is literally 'Do not touch those birds until a judge can review these matters,'" Zoocheck Canada's campaign director Julie Woodyer said Wednesday. Zoocheck Canada Inc. and the Animal Alliance of Canada asked for an injunction last month to stop a possible cull of double-crested cormorants on Middle Island in Lake Erie. Woodyer said the groups, which are part of Cormorant Defenders International, feared the cull could have been announced and the birds shot while the legal issues were being considered. Parks Canada is proposing annual April culls to cut the colony from 4,026 nests to between 438 and 876 nests by 2012. The agency is doing an environmental assessment and online documents say culls of nesting adult cormorants should start in early April. The next step in the environmental assessment was to be a three-week public comment period but that hasn't started yet. The island is part of Point Pelee National Park. Park superintendent Marian Stranak was out of the office Wednesday and Parks Canada didn't return messages left Wednesday afternoon. The matter is adjourned until April 23 in Toronto. Then the animal protection groups will be seeking an extension of the injunction as they argue for a full judicial review, Woodyer said. The groups should know after the April 23 hearing if their legal case could stop a cull from being held this year, she said. The groups are arguing Point Pelee National Park should complete its management plan first. The federal park is required to do management plans every five years. Although it has begun the process, the park's last management plan dates back to 1995, five years before Middle Island became part of the park. Parks Canada calls the cormorants "hyperabundant" and says their guano is killing vegetation. The agency has said 41 per cent of the forest canopy was lost on the island between 1995 and 2006. A Parks Canada document posted online in March said "the option of doing nothing would be inconsistent with Parks Canada's legislated mandate to maintain and restore ecological integrity in national parks." Cormorant Defenders International is urging people to support the campaign to protect Middle Island's water bird colony, including the cormorants, saying the island is "one of the few protected places left where large mixed species water bird colonies can still exist."

Homeland security a fishing boon New lake patrols are likely to keep American charters at home Mon, March 31, 2008 By JANE SIMS, SUN MEDIA, London Free Press U.S. Homeland Security wants to scour for something fishy along the Great Lakes international border -- and it doesn't have scales or gills. An anti-terrorism crackdown on the lakes could be a boon for the Canadian fishing charter business, much of it in Southwestern Ontario. Starting next month, when the 2008 fishing charter season opens, it's expected anti-terrorism patrols will reel in U.S. fishing boats that cross into Canada over the invisible border on the lakes and return to American waters. The Homeland Security Department intends to enforce new border security rules that have largely focused on U.S. entry by land and air. Americans paying to fish on the Great Lakes will have to bring either a passport or two other pieces of ID if they plan to harvest fish from the richer Canadian side. Once back ashore in the U.S, they'll have to drive to a government reporting station and pose for pictures -- not with their catch, but for customs officers, using a videophone. Officers will run spot checks from patrol boats and aircraft. "Our concerns are anything from terrorists and terrorist weapons to drugs and undocumented aliens," says Brett Surgeon of the Customs and Border Protection service. One veteran Southwestern Ontario charter owner said the crackdown will help restore balance to fishing rules tipped in favour of American rods and reels. "If that is true, that would benefit us greatly," said Jim Fleming of Wyoming, who operates Drifter 2 and has been in the business for 27 years on lakes Erie and St. Clair. "This is a major, major issue," he said. Fleming said the crackdown could mean Americans wanting to fish Canadian will find it more attractive to hire Canadian charters, rather than leave from the American side and risk security hassles. It turns out Canada's half of Lake Erie is deeper and cooler than the U.S. side, and spawns the best fishing, making it desired for the U.S. business. The U.S. industry says the new rules will sink it. "How does this secure our country?" said Rick Ungar, a retired Ohio police chief, now a charter boat captain. "I'm not insensitive to law enforcement issues, but these are fishermen, for God's sake." Some operators haven't decided whether to continue fishing in Canadian waters. Fleming, a staple at fishing trade shows and charter captain for fishing TV show stars, said the pleasure fishing industry has taken a hit because of the rising Canadian dollar, high fuel prices and the deteriorating U.S. economy. He said his client base was once 40 per cent American, but that's dwindled to 10 per cent. The changing economy has also hit local marinas, he said. At trade shows, Fleming said the question he's asked most often is about potential hassles at the border. Fleming also sits on the board of the Michigan-Ontario Muskee Club -- and the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair has 70 per cent of the prized fish. He suspects muskee enthusiasts will come across by land first rather than risk Homeland Security. Fleming said unlike government fishery patrols, few and far between, Homeland Security has "lots and lots of money" to patrol the water. "We heard last summer they were going to make their presence known this year." Ruth Tetrault, owner of the Cove Marina at Lighthouse Cove, where the Thames River meets Lake St. Clair, said the rules could be "a little bit of a setback" because anglers tend to be law-abiding. "One thing about a boater -- if you're a boater and fisherman, you're going to do it no matter what," she said. Related Story

ONTARIO LAUNCHES FLOOD INFORMATION WEBSITE

April 02, 2008 grandriver.ca Flood warning message - April 2 @ 1:30 p.m. - High water on Nith and Grand A cooling trend moved into the Grand River watershed overnight. The cooling trend has slowed snow melt and allowed water courses in the upper half of the watershed to crest and start to recede. River levels are still cresting in the Grand River downstream of Brantford and along the Nith River downstream of Plattsville. Flows in the Nith River through New Hamburg were higher than originally forecast. It is estimated the flows through New Hamburg reached 350 cubic meters per second (m3/s) at 2 a.m. this morning. This is a provisional estimate. Reservoirs discharges were increased this morning to maintain or increase available reservoir storage in preparation for the remaining snowmelt and rainfall in the weather forecast at this time. Reservoir regulation reduced flows along the main Grand River in excess of 50 per cent. Revised warning for Nith River in Ayr Levels and flows through the Village of Ayr are expected to peak at 8 p.m. this evening. Flows are expected to reach 350 m3/s. Levels on the staff gauge in Ayr are expected to reach 3.1 metres. Flows in Cedar Creek through Ayr peaked at 7 a.m. this morning and are currently receding. Municipal officials and police have been asked to issue updated notices to property owners and residents as needed. Nith River - Wolverton It’s expected flows in the Nith River through Wolverton will peak late this evening. While flooding is not expected in Wolverton secondary township roads may be flooded. Municipal flood co-ordinators responsible for Oxford county and Brant County are asked to monitor local roads and close roads as necessary. Nith River – Paris The Nith River through Paris is expected to peak early Thursday morning. Public works staff are requested to monitor the dyke along the Nith River at the Mechanic Street foot bridge to Lions Park overnight Wednesday and into the Thursday morning. Grand River – City of Brantford City of Brantford is requested to maintain the closure of Gilkison Avenue until flow conditions recede through Brantford later tomorrow. Grand River – Six Nations Six Nations staff is requested to monitor the Fourth Line and Bateman Line, and to maintain closure of these roads until flow conditions recede later tomorrow. Grand River – Haldimand County The Grand River is expected to peak through Caledonia early Thursday morning, through York Thursday morning, through Cayuga by midday Thursday and through Dunnville by late Thursday. County of Haldimand staff are requested to monitor roads along the southern Grand, particularly Grand Sports Roads, over the next 48 hours and close roads as necessary. Conditions are being monitored closely. Updated messages will be issued as necessary over the next 24 hours. Banks adjacent to rivers and creeks are very slippery at this time and when combined with cold, fast-moving water pose a serious hazard. Parents are encouraged to keep their children and pets away from watercourses and off frozen water bodies at this time. For more information on river flows, see the River Data of the GRCA web site.

Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Shimano’s Phil Morlock Receives Canadian Sportfishing Industry Award by Allan Ellis, Dir Communications (Mar. 27, 2008 - Washington, DC)... Phil Morlock, Director of Environmental Affairs for Shimano in both the U.S. and Canada is a respected member of the Board of Directors of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) where he chairs the Communications Committee. He is frequently in Washington working with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus on Capitol Hill and groups like the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) to advance issues of importance to America’s fishermen. In his ’spare time’ he represents the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA) in the same fashion in dealing with Canada’s Parliament. On March 13th, at the CSIA Annual General Meeting in Toronto, he received the 2008 Chairman’s Award for his work with the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus. Tom Brooke, CSIA Chairman presented the award and said: "Through his hard work and collaboration with others, Phil’s vision of establishing an Outdoor Caucus in Canada is now a reality. With representation from all political parties spanning every region of the country, it is the largest caucus in our Canadian Parliament with 95 members. Because of Phil’s dedication, we finally have a ’voice’ in parliament representing our angling heritage." When asked about his dedication to the issues facing sportsmen on both sides of the border, Mr. Morlock replied, "Many of the issues which challenge the future of fishing and hunting are identical in Canada and the U.S. The common outdoor heritage we share with our elected representatives who hunt and fish is the key to the success of the non-partisan Caucus. We are all in this together." "A parliamentary caucus is only as effective as its connections with the constituency it serves," said Garry Breitkreuz, M.P., co-chair of the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus. "Phil Morlock’s role as a conduit between Parliament and Canada’s outdoors community has directly contributed to the success of the Outdoors Caucus. His hands-on approach has helped to build this group into the largest all-party caucus on Parliament Hill. Phil is now taking on the rigorous task of chairing the sub-committee we struck to create an outdoors heritage foundation. Its mandate will be to advise the Outdoors Caucus on hunting, fishing, trapping and sports shooting activities in Canada. Phil is poised to have a profound effect on these traditional Canadian heritage activities that will provide benefits for generations to come. We are indebted to him for sharing his focus, energy and expertise." Last December fourth at a breakfast sponsored by CSIA, fifty Members of Parliament (M.P.s) and Senators, members of the Parliamentary Outdoors Caucus, met to endorse the creation of an independent Canadian Outdoor Heritage Foundation and encouraged new members to join the caucus. The vote on the formation of the foundation passed unanimously and 17 members joined the caucus bring the total to ninety-five - 84 MPs and 11 Senators making the Outdoors Caucus the largest caucus in Parliament. The Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus and the Canadian Outdoor Heritage Foundation are closely modeled on the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) on Capitol Hill and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) in Washington, DC. Jeff Crane, President of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation said, "Phil Morlock represents not only the fishing industry but the whole culture of fishing, hunting and the outdoors lifestyle in the U.S. and in Canada. We are proud to have him as a member of our Board of Directors and congratulate him on this well-deserved award." The Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus is the largest caucus in Congress comprised of 284 policymakers who set aside partisan politics to advance, promote and preserve the heritage and traditions of America’s 34-million fishermen, hunters and trappers. About the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation is the most respected and trusted proponent for hunters and fishermen in the political arena. With support from every major hunting and fishing organization, CSF is the leader in promoting sportsmen’s issues with elected officials. CSF works directly with the bi-partisan, bi-cameral Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus in the U.S. Congress, as well as affiliated state sportsmen’s caucuses in state legislatures around the country. For additional information, call 202-543-6850.

....Taimen, been on my "must catch" fish wish list for some time, Solopaddlers as well if I remember right. Google it or check a few of the links I've searched quickly. http://www.taimen.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hucho_taimen

....Hey shoot me a PM Garry if you're holed up for a few days with your daughter. Perhaps we can find time to grab a coffee together. And thanks for all those wonderful reports from the sunny south.

....Nice to have you on board. Good luck with them stripers!

....Wow sounds like my dream job, oh well I'll least be able to read your reports at some point. Congratulations, sounds like you're in for a fantastic summer.

....Sheesh, you're never around when I've been in Roger. But I do appreciate you taking the time to respond with the facts on that big aquarium.

....Just a suggestion but GET OFF THOSE DAMN RESERVE SMOKES ! Man those things are nasty. Other than that I hope you feel better soon.

....So I'm not a sissy? I'm so confused.

"Roe is for sissies, real men use jigs!" ....I use roe. But those are some sweet jigs, nicely done.

....Brutal!

....Phew, thank goodness I didn't end up on Gerritt's team. And even better is I made it on to Bernie's team.

....Now that there is one of them there species I needs to put on my "to catch" list (it's a long list).

....Well this is also the first I heard about it (thanks for posting Auger). It sure looks like it would have been a blast, perhaps next year we'll have to try and attend Gerritt.

....I believe what you're refering to is steel crimping sleeves and yes they are for forming the loop on heavy floro or wire leaders. As for floro, never really got on the band wagon. I'm also a big believer in minimal hardware so all my leaders are attached via triple surgeons knot. Center pin reel advantage is a direct taught line to your bait (float) and a smooth revolving spool that rotates with minimal effort thus allowing a better drag free presentation. Mind you this can also be achieved with a quality level wind reel.

....So we're all good then, everybody is a Mod?

....You ought fix that problem then.

....Worked fine for me.