Columbia and Snake River Salmon Recovery Plan Lawsuit

A coalition of fishing, business, and conservation organizations have asked a federal judge to declare President Obama’s Columbia and Snake river salmon recovery plan illegal.

“We’d like to pretend this plan is just a ‘trick’ and the ‘treat’ is still to come,” said Michael Garrity of American Rivers. “But we can’t. We’ve been here too many times before. This administration has got to stop trying to put a pretty costume on an ugly plan and start following the law and science. We’re dealing with people’s livelihoods and keystone species on the brink of extinction.”

Because federal dams are harming threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers, the law requires federal agencies to create a plan – or biological opinion (BiOp) – to reduce the damage. The papers filed today respond to the Obama administration’s continuing failure to provide legal, science-based plan.

“For two years the coalition has asked the Obama administration to uphold its promises for scientific integrity and transparency,” said former Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fisheries chief Jim Martin. “It appears those were empty promises. If anything, the administration is going backward in terms of openness and scientific integrity.”

source: www.wildsalmon.org

Gifts Ideas for Sunfish Lovers

When the spring season brings warm days and fair weather, people begin thinking freshwater fishing. For those that love bream sunfish artwork, this collection contains an array of freshwater fishing gifts:

Panfish - Panfishing
by Fish - Fishing - Seafood

Maryland to Stock Rainbow and Brown Trout

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will stock approximately 20,000 trout into freshwaters across the State in October. This total includes 19,400 rainbow trout weighing an average of one pound each and 600 brown trout averaging two pounds each.

Potential waterways for receiving fish include the North Branch Potomac, Bear Creek, Town Creek, Blairs Valley Lake, Antietam Creek, Beaver Creek, Cunningham Falls Lake, Rainbow Lake, Greenbrier Lake, Morgan Run, Patapsco River, Big Gunpowder Falls, Great Seneca Creek, Wheatley Lake, Lake Artemesia, Greenbelt Lake, Big Elk Creek, Deer Creek and Tuckahoe.

DNR’s trout stocking information telephone line, 1-800-688-3467, will be updated weekly beginning October 1 so that anglers may find out if their favorite area has been stocked. Stocked areas will also be posted online at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries once stocking is complete.

Oldschool Freshwater Fishing Lures

Fishing Spoon

This list includes some of the most famous oldschool freshwater fishing lures. These lures catch largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, crappie, pike, pickerel, musky, catfish and other species

worms - Soft plastic worms were among the original bass fishing lures. Thousands of variations have been produced. Worm rigs include Texas, Carolina, floating, wacky.

jerk baits - These popular soft plastics are rigged on an offset shank hook or jig head.

jigs - These come in hundreds of styles including classic marabou crappie jigs, bucktails, feather jigs, soft bodied grubs, shad bodies, tubes, etc.

jig and pig - This lure consists of a combination of a simple jig with a natural pork rind.

spinner bait - This is another combination lure, which pairs a jig with a spinner blade.

buzz bait - This bait is similar to a spinner bait. It combines a jig type hook with a large, noisy propeller.

poppers - Thus family of lures share a hard body with cupped or wedge-shaped mouth.

stick baits - These lures include torpedo to pencil shapes with tapered ends. Some variations have propellers or skirted tails.

crankbaits - These lures come in an array of shapes and sizes. Most float at rest and dive when retrieved although some models sink. Most share common characteristics such as a hard lip, multiple treble hooks.

rattle traps - These hard bodied diving lures oscillate when retrieved. Most contain metal balls inside which rattle when moved

spoons - These come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Spoons wobble or spin as they pass thru water. Depending on the type, spoons may be cast, trolled or jigged.

Freshwater Trout Photography

Cutthroat Trout

These tips will help anglers to photograph a trophy trout or char without harming the fish:

* Make sure that equipment is working and ready before handling fish.

* Keep fish in the water until the photo is taken. Every second that the fish spends out of the water can affect its chance for survival after release.

* When ready for the picture, barely lift the fish out of the water.

* Have the angler support the fish by cradling it in their hands. Place one hand under the fish's belly and one at the fish's tail.

* When lifting the fish, keep it horizontal and support it's full body weight. Avoid holding fish in a vertical position by the jaw.

* Avoid taking fish out of the water for more than 20 seconds. A good habit is to have the angler hold their breath until the picture is taken.

* After the photo has been taken, lower the fish into the water and gently move the fish back and forth in the water to revive it. When the fish tries to swim away, release it.

Trophy Bream Sunfish Techniques

Bream (Bluegill Sunfish)

Having an arsenal of fishing techniques will increase the odds of success. To insure a good catch of bream (bluegill sunfish), experiment with these proven tactics:

 - Fish the early morning. In some locations the bite can be incredible during the first hour of daylight.

 - Cast as close as possible to structure such as stumps, cypress trees, overhanging limbs, and submerged vegetation.

 - Target areas of water flow (streams, springs, culverts, dams, channels, tidal rips).

 - Watch for seasonal food sources and adjust fishing techniques to exploit changing behavior.

 - Use ultralight outfits, cane poles, or fly fishing gear to present small natural baits to wary fish.

- Experiment with small, brightly colored lures, especially soft plastics and feather jigs.

- Fish a variety of depths with small floats or slowly jig lures throughout the water column.

 - Try fishing for sunfish with a kayak, canoe, or other small boat. Small craft allow fishermen to explore areas that are impossible to reach using conventional boats.

 - Wear polarized eyewear to help spot fish, structure and bottom features

 - Keep essential fishing equipment available including line cutters, pliers, camera, etc.

 - Keep a journal, noting time of day, weather conditions, barometric pressure, moon phase, water levels, etc.

Maine USA Freshwater Fishing

Atlantic Salmon

Over the last 10 years, Maine has maintained its license sales while most other New England states have experienced significant declines in purchases of hunting and fishing licenses.

“Maine’s outdoors remain a destination for anglers and hunters, drawing people to the inland waters and woods and the sporting opportunities that are available there,” said Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Roland “Danny” Martin. “The last 10 years have included tough economic times, when many people have tightened their belts. People still see Maine hunting and fishing licenses as a bargain, and are not cutting them from their budgets.”

From 1999-2009, Maine fishing license sales have remained fairly consistent, up 0.19 percent. Among the New England states, only Vermont saw an increase in fishing license sales, up 20.80 percent.

The other states experienced double-digit percentage drops: Connecticut: -15.91 percent; Massachusetts, -12.09 percent; New Hampshire, -15.54 percent; and Rhode Island, -26.92 percent.

Colorado, Michigan, Montana, New York, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming also experienced declines in sales.

Only Montana had a slight uptick in fishing license sales. The numbers were compiled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Maine is one of the few destinations in the USA where anglers can fish for Atlantic salmon. Other popular freshwater fish include brook trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, pike, musky, and a variety of panfish.  

source: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

How to Become a Licensed Fishing Guide

Starting a professional fishing guide business can be a rewarding experience. Fishing guides offer trips to enjoy traditional fishing, fly fishing, kayaking, nature tours, eco-tourism, and other outdoor adventures.

Starting a fishing guide business takes considerable self study. Information about starting a business can be gathered in a number of ways, including gaining related work experience, networking with other business owners, taking business classes, or reading business start up books.

Several elements of business may apply to starting a guide business. In most cases, doing research before launching a business is essential.

In the USA, any operator of a boat for hire is required to be licensed. These licenses are issued by the United States Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers.

Fishing guides may also need to obtain a TWIC card. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.

Setting up a website for your guiding business is one of the most important decisions. The most important aspect of an outdoor guide website is its ability to generate business. To do this, it must be able to be found by your customers.

A reputable designer can explain all the factors that influence a website's search engine rankings, suggest which key phrases might be important and offer services to help your site perform well on Google, Bing and other search engines.

Websites for fishing guides often include an about us page, trip descriptions, directions, photo galleries, trip reports and perhaps even offer a few products for sale such as t-shirts, hats or custom fishing tackle.

Once a fishing guide website is live, it should be listed in outdoor guide directories or other fishing industry resources. Other methods of promotion include online press releases.

How Did Asian Carp Get in Lake Calumet?

Invasive bighead carp
Credit: USGS

Scientists from Southern Illinois University report the Asian carp found in Lake Calumet are most likely the result of a cultural release.

Human introduction is one of over twenty ways aquatic species may be introduced to new environments.

The scientists released their findings after conducting tests on the six year old fish caught in June.

Lake Calumet is the largest body of water in Chicago. Once a shallow natural lake, the waterway has been heavily modified by man.

Despite human influence, the lake and surrounding area sustains fish and  wildlife. The Lake Calumet basin has been designated an Important Bird Area of Illinois.

Invasive Asian Carp, a collection of four distinct fish species, represent a serious, but manageable threat to the Mississippi and Great Lakes Region.

Introduced in the 1970s by southern catfish farmers, Asian Carp traveled north through U.S. waterways to their current location in the Illinois River.

To cope with the further spread of these invasive species of carp, regulators installed electric barriers to prevent further progression.

Further preventative measures being considered include lock closures which would cause disruption of commercial traffic through the northern most locks on the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS).

For more information on the negative effects of Chicago Area Waterway System lock closures, visit: www.unlockourjobs.org