Spiel

....I have all those and more on CD cause Tool rocks.

Anglers' alert: Even backcountry trout aren't immune to pollution's long arm February 28, 2008 / ESPN Backcasts,Brett Pauly You ever read a headline and respond, "Oh, great"? Audibly? On the bus? And then have strangers look at you? Then look at you again? Happened to me yesterday morning on the 7:36 into the Emerald City. The words that prompted my oh-great moment: "'Pristine' parks tainted by pollution." I can't really explain why those five words caught me off-guard. I should have seen it coming. But it was really the awful alliteration of pristine-parks-pollution that threw me. Even kids who play the Sesame Street word game "One of These Things is Not Like the Other Things" could pluck the offending term from that grouping. I couldn't even kill the messenger. The Seattle Times was merely reporting the news – that a comprehensive study proves pesticides, heavy metals and other airborne contaminants have found their evil way to even the most remote corners of our national parks. Here in the Evergreen State, according to the newspaper, the national parks of the Olympics, Mount Rainier and North Cascades contain pesticides, mercury and man-made industrial chemicals. The six-year federal study released this week was coordinated by the National Park Service, and, the Associated Press reports from Billings, Mont., the findings revealed that some of the Earth's most pristine wilderness is still within reach of the toxic byproducts of the industrial age. Ouch. So, yeah, those trout you caught in the backcountry of Rocky Mountain National Park and Glacier National Park and the farthest stretches of Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks could well have been impacted by chemical pollution. You probably weren't aware of it, but the male fish you landed could have had female ovary tissue in their testes. Fortunately, however, you likely aren't worse for wear; the National Park Service maintains there is minimal risk of anglers getting sick from eating contaminated fish, the Times reports … Even if you ate brook trout that tested out at Olympic and Mount Rainier national parks to contain mercury at levels above the Environmental Protection Agency threshold. Even if you ate those same brook trout every day, for your entire life, you might have a one-in-100,000 chance of getting cancer from them. But the bottom line is, you might – might enough that national parks are considering issuing warnings to anglers, and that sucks. Who would have thunk Denali National Park in our Last Frontier could ever be touched by such pollutants? "Contaminants are everywhere. You can't get more remote than these northern parts of Alaska and the high Rockies," said Michael Kent, a fish researcher with Oregon State University who co-authored the study, the AP reports. Yep, depressing as it is, evidence of 70 contaminants in 20 national parks and monuments is outlined in the $6 million study known as the Western Airborne Contaminants Assessment Project. Much of this pollution originates regionally on farms and in factories and from more-distant sources such as power plants, according to the Times.

BERKLEY TEC PISTOL TRIGGER GRIP AND GULP! ALIVE! WIN BEST OF THE BEST AWARD 02.26.2008 / Berkley Field and Stream selected the Berkley TEC Pistol Trigger Grip and Gulp! Alive! as 2008 Fishing Best of the Best Winners for lures and accessories. The Fishing “Best of the Best” winners are featured in Field & Stream’s March issue. “Thousands of new outdoor products are introduced each year,” Jay Cassell, Deputy Editor of Field & Stream, said. “The Best of the Best list is great way to maneuver through the mountain of gear available and ensure you come out on top with products that will perform.” The Berkley TEC Pistol Trigger Grip is available in a convenient, first-of-its-kind, 8-inch pistol-style model. Made of stainless steel and equipped with oversized grip surfaces this gripper can withstand any toothy fish. Gulp! Alive! comes in easy-to-handle and stackable buckets, which allows baits to be suspended – preserving their powerful scent and shape. Gulp! juice recharge the biodegradable baits and keep them pliable for use at a later time. Field & Stream’s list of the best fishing equipment touches on every type of tackle: baitcasting, spinning, and fly fishing. The list also highlights the best fishing accessories, from electronics and lures to sunglasses and outerwear. Berkley received two awards, with Fenwick and Stren each winning a “Best Of” award.

George Coniglio poses with his 19.7-pounder caught March 31, 2006 on Lake Mission Viejo, Calif. Inside the Spawn, Full Story in PDF format.

Ice fishing season 'fantastic'; good conditions bring fishermen from all over U.S. BOB BOUGHNER / thesarniaobserver.ca February 29, 2008 It's been a bonanza year for ice fishers and outfitters at Mitchell's Bay and along the Lake St. Clair shoreline. Thick ice, cold temperatures and plenty of perch have produced one of the best ice fishing seasons in more than a decade. "It's been a fantastic run," Jim Williams of Parkside Restaurant and Cabins in Mitchell's Bay said Tuesday. "We've seen huge turnouts of ice fishers and spectators on weekends as well as during weekdays." Williams said there have been days when parking in the tiny resort hamlet was at a premium. Best of all, he said, the fishing has been "fantastic." "There have been few complaints about catches," he said. "On most days, ice fishers go home with their limit of 50 perch." Williams said his cabins have been booked solid on weekends since the beginning of January. "We were a little concerned at the start of winter that our strong Canadian dollar might keep U.S. customers away," he said. "But word of good ice conditions and good catches spread quickly south of the border and ice fishers from Michigan, Ohio, New York and Illinois have been coming to test the waters." Williams said a decision by Chatham-Kent council to permit the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) in Mitchell's Bay has been a great boon to the ice fishing industry. "Prior to passing a law making ATV use legal, many owners were concerned they might get charged by police," he said. "Making ATV usage in The Bay legal is the best thing that could have happened here." Cathy Shaw of Bass Haven said she's pleased with this year's ice fishing season. "Anything with ice is good," she said. "We'll take as much cold weather as we can get this time of year." Shaw said ice fishing is a relatively inexpensive sport in which the entire family can get involved. "There is no need for an expensive boat to get you out onto the lake," she said. "You can walk or take an ice taxi. All you need is a pole and some minnows." Shaw said she's seen a large number of first-time young people getting involved in the outdoor activity. "It's great to see young people taking an interest in the sport," she said. Omer Benoit, a Mitchell's Bay resident and ardent ice fisher, said the permitted use of ATVs in the hamlet has been a step in the right direction. "It's drawn a lot more people out here this winter," he said. "The turnouts, especially on weekends, have been terrific." He said most ice fishers are going home with limits or near limit fish catches. Bob Branquet of Bob N' Buoys restaurant, said business has been brisk this winter thanks to increased weekend traffic. "It's been a great ice fishing season," he said. "In fact, it's been one of the best in a number of years."

River to be restocked with brown trout West Grey Council Donna Duric / Hanover Post February 29, 2008 West Grey Council has agreed to support two local private groups in their efforts to restock the Saugeen River with brown trout between Hanover and Durham. The Big River Group and the Upper Saugeen Habitat Restoration Association have asked council for support in their push to get permission from the Ministry of Natural Resources to restock the river with brown trout. Mayor Kevin Eccles said that stretch of river has always been a popular fishing spot for brown trout, but numbers have declined in recent years. Since 1998, the USHRA, in partnership with the MNR, has been involved in a brown trout population enhancement project in a small stretch of the river, but it wants to expand the project to include the river from Hanover to Durham.

American anglers spend week going after Quinte's 'monsters' By Henry Bury / intelligencer.ca March 1, 2008 Ten American anglers spent the past week trying to reel in "monsters" from the frozen Bay of Quinte. They didn't leave for home empty-handed either. This morning, the group - eight from Wisconsin and two from Upper Michigan - took home three prized walleye, each measuring at least 32 inches in length and weighing at least 13 pounds to have mounted. They also took a couple of smaller walleye for eating. "I got my monster," said a happy Royal Schram of Upper Michigan. "By far, it's the biggest one I ever caught. That makes the trip here well worth it." The 43-year-old driver for Sysco Foods said he will have the fish mounted and then placed in a glass coffee table, with gravel and seaweed on the bottom, "to make it look like it's in the water. "I'm sure it will be quite the conversation piece whenever anyone comes to my house," said Schram. When asked why Americans would drive approximately 1,300 kilometres over the better part of a day to fish local waters, Schram replied, "It's in all the magazines back home, how this Belleville area is great for fishing." In rivers and lakes back home, he said it's common to snag walleye weighing eight to 10 pounds but rarely anything bigger. "But when you can catch 12 to 15-pound walleye up here, you might as well take a shot," he quickly added. One angler from the group who left for home Friday was Keith Tobias, of Fox Valley, in Wisconsin. "He's probably one of the best known walleye anglers around but he took nothing back with him," Schram said. Schram and three of the anglers fished here last winter. "That was like our maiden voyage. We all stayed in Belleville and learned more about the area and where the good fishing spots are," he said. Schram and nine other anglers - some who didn't know each other - decided to return to the Quinte area this month to try their luck again. They arrived Feb. 23 and stayed the entire week at the Baycrest Lodge and Marina here "because it's a lot closer to where we wanted to fish." The group shared expenses - and one bathroom - so they could fish about 10 hours a day. Each brought portable ice huts to shield them from what winter threw their way on the bay. Several had four-wheelers with them for transportation purposes. Ted Dachelet, 45, of Wisconsin, was among the anglers who caught between six and eight large walleye each measuring about 30 inches. "But we released those because they were females and good for spawning," he said. "Besides, they're not big enough to mount and too big to eat." Dachelet, a researcher for an American paper company, fished for the first time on the bay and said he had a great trip. "I caught a lot of quality fish here but nothing big enough to mount," he said. His biggest catch was a 30-inch, 11.5 pound walleye. "Back home, it's a fish of a lifetime for most people in Wisconsin. But here, it's just a good quality fish," said Dachelet. Despite the abundance of large walleye, Dachelet said he's amazed how few ice fishermen there were on the bay. "Back home on Lake Winnebago, south of Green Bay, you can find 3,000, 4,000 and 5,000 people on any given day. But here, maybe a handful of people at any one time. There sure is no competition for fish here," he said. The American visitors said Canadians shouldn't complain about the winter weather. "We have a lot more snow back home, with snowbanks as high as your head. This is nothing here," said Dachelet, pointing to the property around the lodge. "And it's much colder at home. Hell, when you look at the map, we actually came south to fish here," he said with a laugh.

MNR looking at Lake Huron fish stocking programs By Doug Edgar / owensoundsuntimes February 29, 2008 The Ministry of Natural Resources is working on a five-year plan for stocking fish in Lake Huron. Part of the process is a public survey that has some local outdoors clubs trying to rally anglers to ensure they are heard. Both the Lake Huron Fishing Club and Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association, which run stocking programs, have put out the call. The MNR wants to hear from as wide a range of people as possible, said David Gonder of the MNR’s Upper Great Lakes Management Unit office in Owen Sound. “We’re going to come up with a five-year stocking plan for Lake Huron — it’s going to be a draft stocking plan,” Gonder said. “We do have some further consultation that we need to conduct specifically around non-native species like chinook salmon that are stocked in the lake, but the effort to compile a stocking plan is focussed on all species that are stocked in the lake.” Surveys have been sent out to stakeholder groups such as outdoors clubs and First Nations as well as people randomly selected from postal codes adjacent to Lake Huron. They hope people who don’t have fishing licences will fill out some of the surveys because that’s a group fisheries officials seldom hear from, he said. Two separate federal agencies manage small craft and commercial harbours, respectively, but both are working to divest the federal government of harbour ownership. Both Northern Bruce Peninsula and Meaford have expressed interest in taking over their harbours. In both cases, a pending First Nations land claim has limited progress in divestiture talks with the small crafts harbours branch of the Fisheries and Oceans department, Meaford Mayor Wally Reif and North Bruce Peninsula Deputy Mayor Ted Hayes said Friday. Mark Sandeman of the department’s small craft harbours branch said his agency has divested 280 of 400 harbours under its supervision since the program began in 1995. New money in last week’s budget is earmarked for divesting the 120 remaining federal small craft harbours, Sandeman said. Owen Sound’s commercial harbour is managed separately by Transport Canada. Owen Sound Mayor Ruth Lovell said news of federal funding for other harbours in the area is “encouraging.” It shows the federal government “recognizes the need to spend money on ports.” Except for a controversial security fence installed this fall, “nothing has been done since the early 1990s” in Owen Sound, Lovell said. She and others have been scathing in public comments about the seven foot tall fence. City priorities for the harbour include testing for hazardous substances and dredging. In some ways, it’s not surprising that Friday’s announcements don’t include Owen Sound because of continuing talks, Lovell said. “We are negotiating with Transport Canada and certainly money is a big part of that negotiation,” she said. “Certainly, we’ve requested dredging . . . It will be dealt with and is very much a part of our talks.” Negotiations about the takeover are continuing with the next meeting scheduled “in the next few weeks.” MP Larry Miller is “being kept informed” about the talks, Lovell said. Divestiture talks with the city started under the previous Liberal government in 2004. Miller expects any agreement will involve federal spending on repairs. “Any divestiture of any harbour facility will be turned over in suitable standards,” Miller said Friday. “If I was the mayor I wouldn’t want to be taking over something that wasn’t up to standard.”

Wanted: proposals for cleaning up the lake By Miriam King / Bradford West Gwillumbury Times Following the announcement of an additional $18 million for the clean-up of Lake Simcoe over the next 4 years by Federal Minister of the Environment John Baird on February 16, a number of key questions remained. The PROPEL (Protect and Preserve the Environment of Lake Simcoe) Committee, chaired by Gilford resident Richard Simpson, was established to advise the government on the allocation of the funding, but what were the terms of reference for eligible projects? How could interested groups apply for a share of funds? When will the dollars begin to flow? On February 25, those questions were answered – with a call for “letters of intent for Lake Simcoe Collaborative Projects,” by the Ministry of the Environment. According to MP for York-Simcoe, the Hon. Peter Van Loan, “Residents, community groups, stakeholders and others” are invited to apply for funding from the Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund, by sending in a Letter of Intent to the Ministry by March 17th, outlining proposed projects. The Lake Simcoe Clean-up Fund is designed to support the implementation of “high-impact, priority projects aimed at reducing phosphorus inputs”, rehabilitation of habitat, nutrient reduction, restoration of the cold-water fishery in Lake Simcoe, and enhancement of the research and monitoring essential for the restoration of the lake and watershed. Both traditional and innovative technologies are eligible – and projects can be multi-year in nature. The Fund will be administered by the Lake Simcoe Program Unit of the Great Lakes Basin, Lakewide Management Section, Strategic Integration and Partnerships Division of Environment Canada, with input from PROPEL and a Technical Review Committee. Federal funding for up to two-thirds of a project’s cost will be available – but preference will be given to collaborative partnerships. Potential sources of matching funds and how collaboration will be undertaken (e.g., cash, in-kind, use of equipment, etc.) should be outlined in the Letters of Intent. The letters, not to exceed 2 pages, should also include Project title, name of the lead organization with all contact information, a brief description of the project, estimated budget, timeframe, location, which Lake Simcoe Clean-Up Fund Priority is supported, and MP names and ridings. Eligible projects include reduction of surface runoff and erosion, implementation of vegetated buffers, nutrient management , pollution prevention (e.g. septic system inspections and pump-outs), implementation of phosphorus management strategies, monitoring and assessment programs, and outreach to deliver programs. Not eligible are programs or activities already underway, beautification projects, purchase of land, or the purchase or construction of municipal infrastructure (roads, sewers, stormwater ponds). Letters of intent should be emailed to [email protected] and an original, signed unbound paper copy sent to Jannette Anderson, Lake Simcoe Program Unit, Great Lakes Basin and Lakewide Management Section, Ontario, Strategic Integration and Partnerships Division, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Rd., Burlington, ON L7R 4A6. Approved letters of intent will be notified on March 25, and asked to submit a detailed proposal. “I fully expect that federally-funded projects to clean up Lake Simcoe will begin this summer,” said MP Van Loan. “I encourage all interested parties to apply for funding.” For more information, contact the MP.

GRCA approves 2008 budget of $29.1 million February 29, 2008 / grandriver.ca The general membership of the Grand River Conservation Authority has approved a 2008 budget calling for expenditures of $29.1 million that includes money for new projects to protect water quality, learn more about water supplies, enhance natural areas and upgrade its hydro generating capacity. The budget was approved by the GRCA board at its annual meeting in Cambridge on Feb. 29 Although the budget is up about $5.7 million from last year, most of the increase is due to special one-time projects that are being covered with grants from the province, municipalities or other sources. The cost to the 950,000 watershed residents for their share of the GRCA budget this year will be about $8.54 a person. Expenditures Budget expenditures can be broken down into three broad categories: special projects, the base (or operating) budget and conservation area operations. Special projects: $5.4 million (18 per cent of expenditures) Spending on special projects this year is up considerably from the $1.7 million budgeted in 2007. Some of the projects this year include: - $1.8 million for studies on water supplies in Waterloo Region and the City of Guelph, paid for by a grant from the province under the Clean Water Act - $550,000 from the Ontario government to set up a fund that provides grants to landowners who take action to protect water quality around municipal wells and surface water intakes under the Clean Water Act - $1 million for a new hydro-electric turbine at Shand Dam near Fergus to replace the old one which failed in 2006. The money for the project will be borrowed from GRCA reserve accounts and then repaid from profits earned on electricity sales which will amount to more than $200,000 a year when the turbine is fully operational - $67,000 for water quality studies on the Nith and Grand rivers covered by grants from the Region of Waterloo - $150,000 to complete the installation of a “green roof” at the Laurel Creek Nature Centre. Private sector donations to the Grand River Conservation Foundation are covering most of the total project cost of $300,000 . - $80,000 for tree planting and other work at the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area, offset by a grant from Ontario Power Generation Base budget: $18.1 million (62 per cent of expenditures) The base budget, which covers ongoing operations and programs, totals $18.1 million, an increase of $1.6 million from the budgeted amount in 2007. That pays for the GRCA’s work to prevent flooding, improve water quality, protect water supplies, provide environmental education, provide environmental planning advice to municipalities and landowners, operate trails, and manage forests, wetlands and other sensitive environmental lands. Included in this part of the budget is the cost of installation of two new water quality gauges on the Grand River. About $140,000 will be spent on a gauge at Victoria Street in Kitchener, half of which is being paid by the Region of Waterloo. The GRCA is also spending $160,000 on a water quality station on the Grand at York in Haldimand County. Conservation area operations: $5.6 million (19 per cent of expenditures) The GRCA’s 12 conservation areas are financially self-sufficient and record more than one million paid visits a year. Operating costs are expected to rise $100,000 this year. Revenues The GRCA has three principle sources of revenue: Self-generated funds: $12.2 million (44 per cent of revenue) Self-generated funds are expected to rise by about $780,000 (6.8 per cent) this year. The money comes from park admission fees, property rental, hydro-electricity sales, fees for services such as planning, school board payments for outdoor education programs, tree sales from the Burford Nursery, donations from the Grand River Conservation Foundation and other sources. Municipal levy: $9 million (33 per cent of revenue) This money comes from watershed residents as part of their municipal property taxes or charges on municipal water bills and amounts to about $8.54 a person. The total is up by about $540,000 from last year. The amount collected from each municipality is based on its property assessment, so can vary from one area to another, however the average increase is 6.99 per cent. Government grants: $6.4 million (23 per cent of revenues) Almost all of this money comes from the provincial government, in two types of grants: - an annual operating grant of $951,547 for flood control programs. This grant has been frozen by the province since 1998. - grants for specific projects, notably Drinking Water Source Protection under the Ontario Clean Water Act. These grants amount to $5.4 million, an increase of close to $3 million over 2007. Further information: Dave Schultz, GRCA Coordinator of Communications Phone: (519) 621-2763, Ext. 2273 Fax: (519) 621-4844 E-mail: Dave Schultz

A river of sediment Friday, February 29, 2008 / Chronical Journal THIS year the MNR is to remove the remainder of the Onion Lake Dam to pre-dam level or to original stream-bed status. There is considerable accumulation of sediments in the riverbed and adjacent river banks from early 1900s log rafting and from other sources. This accumulation of sediments measures about 4 feet deep by 6.5 miles long by 40 feet wide, which equals to approximately 203,377 cubic yards of sediment. It is reasonable to assume that most of this sediment will be washed downstream during heavy run-off as the river assumes its original pre-dam status. MNR officials have said not to worry, these sediments only help to provide nutrients for fish habitat. In the meantime, MNR has and will lay charges against anyone doing even the slightest sediment disturbances in our lakes and streams. No study of downstream effects was ever done, nor were detailed tests done for levels of dangerous mercury in the sediments even though it is a common occurrence in sediments of dammed water reservoirs. If this is indeed the new policy, should we all be digging in all our lakes and streams to feed the fish as the MNR is showing by example? I am challenging the MOE, MNR and MPP Michael Gravelle to answer my concerns by a public statement. Archie Josephson THUNDER BAY

Earthworms Found to Contain Chemicals from Households and Animal Manure Week of February 24th, 2008 / Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council Earthworms studied in agricultural fields have been found to contain organic chemicals from household products and manure, indicating that such substances are entering the food chain, according to a study conducted by the USGS. Manure and biosolids, the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment, were applied to the fields as fertilizer. Earthworms continuously ingest soils for nourishment and can accumulate the chemicals present in the soil. The chemicals investigated are considered indicators of human and animal waste sources and include a range of active ingredients in common household products such as detergents, antibacterial soaps, fragrances, and pharmaceuticals. Some of the detected chemicals are naturally occurring such as plant and fecal sterols and fragrances. All of these chemicals tend to be concentrated in the municipal waste distribution and disposal process and are referred to as anthropogenic waste indicators (AWI). U.S. Geological Survey Scientists and their colleague from Colorado State University at Pueblo published their new findings today in Environmental Science and Technology. The results demonstrate that organic chemicals introduced to the environment via land application of biosolids and manure are transferred to earthworms and enter the food chain. Scientists found 28 AWIs in biosolids being applied at a soybean field for the first time and 20 AWIs in earthworms from the same field. Similar results were found for the field where swine manure was applied. Several compounds were detected in earthworms collected both from the biosolids- and manure-applied fields, including phenol (disinfectant), tributylphosphate (antifoaming agent and flame retardant), benzophenone (fixative), trimethoprim (antibiotic), and the synthetic fragrances galaxolide, and tonalide. Detergent metabolites and the disinfectant triclosan were found in earthworms from the biosolids-applied field, but not the manure-applied field. Biosolids are made from the sludge generated by the treatment of sewage at wastewater treatment plants. Biosolids are used as fertilizer by farmers, landscapers, and homeowners when it satisfies U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local regulations for nutrient, metal, and pathogen content. About half of the 8 million dry tons of biosolids produced in the U. S. each year are applied to the land. Biosolids have been found to be rich in AWIs compared to levels in wastewater treatment plant effluent. In addition, the 1.3 million farms raising livestock in the U. S. generate an estimated 500 million tons of manure annually, much of which is also applied to fields as fertilizer for crops. This study is part of a long-term effort by the USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program to determine the fate and effects of chemicals of emerging environmental concern in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and to provide water-resource managers with objective information that assists in the development of effective water management practices. It was funded in part by a Research Corporation Cottrell College Award and a Faculty Research Grant from Eastern Washington University.

High Water Levels in Lake Simcoe Predicted for Spring 2008 February 29, 2008 / www.lsrca.on.ca NEWMARKET – The Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority advises that the Trent Severn Waterway Commission is predicting higher than normal water levels for Lake Simcoe for the late winter and early spring. Due to the extensive mid-winter thaw that central and southern Ontario experienced in January of 2008, water levels in Lake Simcoe are higher than those normally expected at this time of year. The current lake level is approximately 0.3 metres (1 foot) higher than normal.The coming spring thaw will add additional water to the lake as the snow pack melts. Higher than normal lake water levels can increase potential for flooding in low-lying areas where ground levels are only slightly higher than normal lake levels. Flooding caused by ice jams, wave action and high winds may also increase as a result of these elevated lake levels. Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates through the media if conditions change.

Let's have a little more ice time February 29, 2008 Terry Curtis / http://www.northumberlandtoday.com Can it be true? The weatherman on Global TV is predicting a colder-than-normal March for us, and if his story becomes a reality it sure bodes well for ice anglers. It might even make up for some of the terrible ice conditions we've had to endure so far. You can bet ice hut operators and bait dealers across Ontario would welcome some long-lasting colder weather, as it would make up for some of the losses they've suffered this year. Any hard water fisher will tell you the month of March offers some of the best angling of the year, so an extended period of good ice would give us extra time to chase those fish we all love to tangle with. As for ice fishing, conditions right now, there is some very good news for jumbo perch, pike, lake trout and whitefish anglers on Lake Simcoe. Most of the trout and whitefish waters there are safe to travel on at last, and the area around the north tip of Georgina Island is producing well, with lots of fish being caught. Don't try to drive a vehicle out there, though; it's still not safe for them but snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles are getting to those areas safely within a mile or so of the island. Don't venture farther than that because the ice is still dicey, at best. If you want jumbo perch, head to Virginia Beach off Highway 48, go down Haddon Road to the public launch and you can drive right out to them. You can get your pinhead minnows right there, as well, at Dave's Hut Rentals and you only have to go out on the ice road about one mile to find the fish. I was there earlier this week and, although you have to sort through the fish to get the big ones, they are there in good numbers all day long. If pike fishing is your game, Cook's Bay at Keswick is hot right now. Three-inch minnows on a set line seem to be the ticket, and the pike are being caught within easy walking distance from shore. The Bay of Quinte and Lake Scugog both close this weekend, so anglers will have to travel a little farther from home to find fish. Don't overlook the Minden/Haliburton or Kaladar regions as they still have lots of fishing taking place. In fact, some of the trout waters in these areas don't even close at all. A quick study of the fishing regulations will put you onto these spots. Well, that's the good news for this week. Now I've got something not so good. An earlier report in the Port Hope Evening Guide states some engineer named Harry Valentine from Cornwall, Ont., wants to see the construction of a water pipe from Lake Ontario to Rice Lake that would supposedly create hydro electric power by pumping water back and forth between them. The water would be pumped from Lake Ontario to Rice Lake at night, causing the water to rise a foot, then the flow would be reversed in the morning and the lake would drop a foot again in depth creating needed hydro. Does he think we just fell off the turnip wagon? There is no way anglers, cottage/homeowners or tourist resort owners are going to sit by the wayside and let this happen! Imagine the pollution and contaminates that would be pumped into Rice Lake. There are pollutants in Lake Ontario that don't exist in Rice Lake and hopefully never will. Rice Lake is a very fertile spawning lake that would be ruined by the constant rise and fall of water levels. There are laws in place to protect spawning beds, and let's hope they are upheld. And how about the shore erosion, not to mention you could kiss winter activities like cross-country skiing and snowmobiling goodbye. There would be no safe ice, would there? People who make their living on Rice Lake are having a tough enough time now making a buck. Imagine what this plan would do to the local economy. Fluctuating water levels wipe out spawning beds, which leads to no fish. No fish, no tourists. Pretty simple, eh? I'll be fighting this proposal tooth and nail, and I hope you do the same. Get on the phone and call Hamilton Township and Alnwick/Haldimand Township officials, Natural Resources, the Ganaraska Region Conservation Authority and your MPP and MP and raise the roof before it's too late. Let's protect Rice Lake right now and stop this idea before it grows!

The fish are starting to perk up Terry Curtis / northumberlandtoday.com They're almost over. The February blahs, that is. Pretty soon we'll be moving into the best of all ice fishing months: March. The longer days and sunlight start to penetrate the ice and seem to get the fish a little more active. They begin to bite more often and a little more voraciously than they have all winter, even at first ice, which is one of my favourite times of year for line dunking. There's nothing like fishing in the wide open air on a balmy March day, coat open, lawn chair holding your butt up off the ice and the fish tugging away at your bait. Not only do you know the worst of the winter weather is behind you then, but your thoughts start drifting ahead to the hot, sultry days of summer as well. And nothing turns up my interest in summer fishing like the thought of tossing a crankbait that is brand new on the market. Anyone who has read my Terry's Tips column over the years knows I'm a crankbait fanatic and I'd have to say they are my 'money bait' in tournaments, be they bass or walleye. When the money is on the line I turn to a crankbait every time. Sure, I may not get as many bites as I would on plastics, but I get bigger bites and that's what counts come weigh-in time. Also, anyone who is a regular reader of my column knows I'm a diehard Rapala crankbait flinger. I swear by them. In my mind they are the best, bar none. But this past weekend I was introduced to a new crankbait called Live Target, life-like lures made by the Koppers fishing and tackle corporation and I can't wait to hit the water with them. I've never seen a more life-like bait. These things just jump out of the box at you. Developed by Grant Koppers, a guide out of the Niagara Falls area who fishes for salmon, trout, walleye and bass, these lures are almost too pretty to dunk in the water. You can actually feel the scales on them, and the colours are so life-like you'll think you're looking at a live perch or crawfish. How much do I like them? Sometimes you don't have to use a bait to know it's going to work for you. Time and experience tell you that. And as you read this, I'm trying to get the selling rights for Southern Ontario for these baits. I may have been born at night, but not last night. You can bet I'll be busting the water with them come May for walleye and those bass won't know what hit them come the last Saturday in June. In the meantime though, I hear the jumbo perch are just starting to co-operate on Lake Simcoe and the trout are hitting in the Minden/Haliburton area. Ice fishing isn't over yet, no matter how bad I want to bust out those crankbaits.

Icebreaker will be here Saturday February 29, 2008 / owensoundsuntimes.com The Canadian Coast Guard has sent a warning to anglers, snowmobilers and anyone else who might be on the ice in Owen Sound Bay on Saturday. The coast guard "will be conducting icebreaking operations through the shipping channel into Owen Sound in support of commercial shipping," according to a news release. "Ice fishers, snowmobilers and other recreational users of the ice are strongly advised to remain well clear of the icebreaker's track. Spring ice conditions will result in hazardous and unstable conditions." Coast guard officials could not say Thursday when the icebreaker will be pulling into the harbour because the timing depends on variables including conditions on its trip through Lake St. Clair and the St. Clair River. For more information call the Coast Guard operations office at 1-800-265-0237.

....I'm guessing it had frozen then thawed before cleaning, yes? I try not to let them freeze and if they do filet while still semi-frozen then cook, don't refreeze!

....Man do I need a day like that. Thanks for sharing, I think?

Giant Mudcat Still Alive February 27, 2008 KAREN BEST / dunnvillechronicle.com A tourist attraction that may become recognized by Guiness World Records is still in its spawning stage for now. According to Jack Hooghiem, the Giant Mudcat statue project is alive and momentum exists to bring the project to fruition. Haldimand County Coun. Lorne Boyko is awaiting the unveiling of the giant fish statue that will be 15 metres (50 feet) long and eight metres (27 feet) high. "This could be our claim to fame in the Guiness Book of Records," he says hoping the fish will draw in the predicted 10,000 tourists a year. The statue will be a representation of a channel catfish which can grow longer than 48 centimetres and is known as the grand daddies of the mudcat, he adds. The only thing standing in the way of a Dunnville world record is a location. "We're waiting for council to make a decision on 106 Main," said Hooghiem, who is chair of the Big Mudcat committee. "We have no position on what to do with the building but if that location becomes available we would like to put it there. If it is not knocked down or moved, we will enter into discussions about Thompson Creek Park." Council has offered Thompson Creek to the group, said Boyko. This county owned park is located on Highway 3 at the Dunnville's western gateway and has ample parking and other amenities may be developed there, he added. After listening to varied opinions about the statue for more than a year, Boyko found that this park was the most acceptable location for most people. "They can live with it in that location. I think that's the place," he said. If the statue is erected at Wingfield Park, parking will congested Main Street and downtown, creating a negative impact on the core, he noted. In his opinion, Boyko believed it was better to promote downtown businesses on a sign located near the big fish statue in Thompson Creek Park. "I'm not buying that you have to put this or anything else in the downtown in order to capitalize on it," he said. Service club support remains in place. The Dunnville Kinsmen club has already donated $5,000 and has committed to another $2,500, said club president Dave Welch. "We will commit whatever is necessary no matter where that (statue) will be," he stated at a service club dinner. Meanwhile another community group hoped to see the Braund House at 106 Main Street in Wingfield Park preserved where it stands and converted into a tourism centre, artisan market and museum for exhibiting agricultural, Dutch and First Nations artifacts. Late last year, the Dunnville Culture and Heritage Foundation submitted to council a business plan for operations and preservation of the Braund House, named after its original owner tin smith William Braund. Council members are awaiting a staff report reviewing the business plan. Even though demolition costs are listed in this year's capital budget, they are on hold pending the outcome of the report.

Bell, Joyce Georgina / yorkregion.com Feb 28, 2008 / John Slykhuis Joe Montgomery, 85 of Niagara, the oldest competitor, hooks a perch. He has been in every one of the tournaments. Sutton’s Jeff Bell and Sudbury’s Mike Joyce landed three big whitefish on the second day of competion to win the Canadian Ice Fishing Championship last weekend. Bell and Joyce, got a solid start on perch day to open the annual tournament, but it wasn’t enough to catch Don Meacham and Barry Lance, The Lunker Catchers, who held the lead going into day two with more than nine pounds weighed in for the maximum 15 perch. The pair, both Georgina firefighters, were awarded the Roger Kett plaque. Second place went to John Delicata of Innisfil and partner Vlado Crljen of Mississauga. They walked off with a cheque for $3,400 and the silver medal. Crljen also took the Dan Perry Award for biggest lake trout, a 28-incher. Past champ Norm Joyce won the John Reddings Award for biggest whitefish at 26 inches. The team of Rhonda Hamilton and John Blazys of Jackson’s Point scored enough to win the mixed doubles medals. Hamilton also walked off with the Jean Power trophy for top female. The pair finished 10th, enough to get into the money pool. David Hamilton and Mike Levesque of Sutton won the bronze medal for third, pocketing $2,380. When all the measuring and weighing was done, Bell and Joyce ended up as top point getters, accepting their gold medals and a cheque for $6,800. The duo came close last year, with a third place finish. “We did (well) on the first day and caught 15 perch all of really good size,” Bell said. “We were landing the fish right from the start.” The pair also got off to a quick start Sunday getting some action soon after casting their lines. Bell pulled in two 25-inch whities, while Joyce hooked another one. Two other whitefish managed to throw the hook, Bell said. Joyce is related to the past championship winners the Georgina Joyce clan. “I taught him everything he knows,” his uncle Brian Joyce said grinning. On rules night at the CIFC headquarters Kin Hall Friday, Sutton Home Hardware owner Dave Haynes was awarded the prestigious Bill Bond Memorial Trophy for his contributions to ice fishing. The 70 two-person teams enjoyed spectacular weather Saturday and Sunday with bright sunshine and excellent ice conditions. Competitors included Joe Montgomery, 85, the oldest taking part. Mr. Montgomery from Niagara has attended all 14 championships. Madsen said he was delighted with how smoothly this year’s championship went. For more results and details on the upcoming perch “Trap Attack”, go to www.cifc.org Biggest Tourney Saturday This Saturday is the Lake Simcoe Ice Fishing Tournament, Canada’s largest single-day event on Cook’s Bay off Clarendon Beach. Several thousand anglers are expected to descend on Keswick for the annual event where about $100,000 in prizes are to be handed out, including a grand prize of $20,000 in cash. An ATV, Argo and more than 125 other prizes will be awarded. Registration will be accepted on tournament day. The event goes from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the cost is $80 per person. Locally, tickets can be purchased at Canadian Tire in Keswick. For more details go to www.originalicefishingcontest.com

HEFTY $10,600 FINE FOR HAVING TOO MANY FISH FEBRUARY 2008 THUNDER BAY - A Thunder Bay man has been fined $10,600 for having a lot more fish than allowed. The man was fined $6,000 for having 30 walleye over the legal limit and $4,600 for having 23 brook trout over the legal limit and forfeits the fish to the Crown. During a police investigation in January 2006, an OPP officer discovered a lot of fish in the freezers at the man’s residence. The officer seized the fish and turned it over to a Ministry of Natural Resources Thunder Bay District conservation officer. After investigating, the conservation officer laid charges against the man and the other occupant of the home. At a trial in November 2006, they were each fined $4,200, but both of the accused successfully appealed and got a new trial. At the new trial on February 6, 2008, the man claimed that the fish belonged to a First Nation person, but was unable to produce that person for questioning at trial. The man was convicted. The Crown withdrew charges against the second person. The case was heard in the Ontario Court of Justice in Thunder Bay. The ministry reminds the public that fishing regulations are in place to ensure the sustainability of the fishery so that anglers may enjoy the resource in the future.

FEBRUARY 2008 LOCAL ANGLER FINED AGAIN AND BANNED FROM FISHING SAULT STE. MARIE — A repeat natural resource violator has been fined $800.00 for fishing violations. A man from Heyden, was convicted of trespassing and failing to produce his fishing licence. He is banned from fishing in Ontario for two years and forfeits his fishing equipment. If he does not pay his fines within a year, the fishing ban may be extended. Court was told that on June 5, 2007, a conservation officer received two complaints that people were trespassing on the CN railway bridge at the St. Marys rapids in Sault Ste. Marie. The man did not have his fishing licence with him but claimed he had bought one. He failed to produce it even when an officer gave him time. This was his second conviction for not having a fishing licence and the second for trespassing in the same location. He hadn’t paid previous fines either. The case was heard in the Ontario Provincial Court in Sault Ste. Marie on February 7, 2008. Members of the public are reminded that trespassing on any of the railway bridges at the historic canal is both unsafe and illegal.

Fisherman may have been infected by his quarry Monday February 25, yahoo.com Fishing writer Ross Millichamp remains in a serious condition at Christchurch Hospital with a flesh-eating disease -- apparently after being bitten by a fish. A hospital spokeswoman said tonight the author of the 1997 guide, Salmon Fever, was "still seriously ill". Doctors are reported to have suggested that he may have been bitten by a fish while fishing for barracuda and blue cod off the coast of Stewart Island last week. Mr Millichamp, a manager for Fish and Game, was diagnosed with a rare bacterial infection, necrotising fasciitis, after he had to be evacuated from the hunting and fishing trip with friends. He was reported to have initially experienced flu-like symptoms which turned into pain and stiffness in his shoulder and he was taken by helicopter to Invercargill Hospital. At Invercargill the infection was diagnosed and surgeons cut out part of the muscle around the affected shoulder area on Monday last week to try to stop the infection spreading. He was then moved to intensive care at Christchurch Hospital, where he has been unconscious and on life-support, with his wife Ginny by his side. Necrotising fasciitis can destroy skin and the soft tissues beneath it, including fat and the tissue covering the muscles. One form of the disease has been reported to occur where wounds are exposed to ocean water or the drippings from raw saltwater fish, including oysters.

Study: Keeping larger fish may facilitate timid ones Scientists Say Rules May Help Timid Fish By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID The Associated Press Monday, February 25, 2008 WASHINGTON -- Rules that allow only the catching of larger fish may encourage their replacement with slower growing, more timid varieties. That, at least, is the concern of researchers who studied test populations in two artificial lakes and report their findings in this week's edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Peter A. Biro of the department of environmental science at the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia, explained that it's the fast-growing more aggressive fish that tend to get caught, removing them from the breeding pool. That leaves reproduction up to slower-growing fish who are more timid, he explained in an interview via e-mail. "This will cause evolution to slower growth rates and slow the rate of recovery for fished populations, and could explain why fisheries tend not to rebound in the manner we expect after we reduce harvest or close a fishery," he said. "What surprised me was how fast it occurred," Biro said. He said the largest catch occurred on the first day of fishing. Biro and his colleague, John R. Post, stocked two lakes in western Canada with different types of rainbow trout _ one type was known to be aggressive in seeking food and to grow rapidly, while the other grew more slowly and tended to take fewer risks in foraging. They set gillnets in the ponds over five days, moving them each day, and caught 50 percent of the stocked fast-growing fish but just 30 percent of the more cautious ones. "Fish that are highly active and bold tend to bump into these nets more often and are less likely to avoid them," he explained. And increased activity is necessary to get enough food for rapid growth. John Waldman, an aquatic biologist at Queens College in New York, called the report important. "Harvest of fishes is probably the most profound impact mankind is having on the sea, yet we rarely succeed in even the basics of achieving long-term sustainability of important commercial species," said Waldman, who was not part of the research team. The report shows that "differences in 'boldness,' which are positively correlated with grow rate, render bold individuals more vulnerable to harvest, thereby adding an important and, till now, unconsidered direct effect to the known indirect effect" of fishing, Waldman said. "The implication for managers is that the continued reproduction of a meaningful portion of fast growing individuals is likely even more important than previously recognized," he said. The research was supported by the University of Technology Sydney and the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

....Found this, this morning. Missing man found safe and sound By Kate Adams / BayToday.ca Monday, February 25, 2008 OPP News Release ********************* North Bay – Peter Goulais was reported missing on Sunday evening, February 24th, 2008, after he failed to return home from his fishing trip. An extensive search was conducted by members of the North Bay OPP detachment, OPP helicopter, members of the S.A.V.E. unit as well as North Bay Police Service. Sn Peter Goulais, 48 years old, of Garden Village was located in good health on Monday afternoon near Burnt Island on Lake Nipissing. GOULAIS failed to return home last evening when his snowmobile broke down and got turned around when he attempted to walk to safety.