STWA

COLUMBUS, OH – Lake Erie anglers should experience another year of diverse fishing opportunities in 2016. Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system that involves Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Each jurisdiction regulates its catches to comply with quotas and minimize the risk of over-fishing these species. Quotas for the upcoming fishing season are determined through consensus agreement by these jurisdictions through the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which were just recently announced for 2016. As a result of the 2016 quota allocation, the walleye daily bag limit is four, and the yellow perch daily bag limit is 30 per angler in Ohio waters of Lake Erie until April 30. The daily bag limit will be six walleye from May 1 through February 28, 2017. From March 1, 2017 through April 30, 2017, the daily walleye bag limit will be four. A 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect during the entire season for walleye. The yellow perch daily bag limit will be 30 from May 1 through April 30, 2017, with no minimum size limit. Lake Erie anglers can find walleye and yellow perch bag limit information at ODNR offices, in special publications at bait and tackle shops and at wildohio.gov. Walleye Ohio walleye anglers will catch fish mostly from the 2014 and 2013 hatches, with some fish from the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 year classes. Additional fish from 2007 and 2003 will also be harvested by anglers. Walleye from the average 2014 hatch will range 15-18", while walleye from the 2013 hatch will be between 16-20 inches. Fish from the 2003 and 2007 hatches are likely to carry most of the Central Basin fisheries, and a good number of these walleye will be over the 26-inch range. Large walleye from strong hatch in 2003 will continue to provide “Fish Ohio” opportunities (greater than 28"), with this year class nearing the size that may give Ohio a new state record walleye. Additionally, in 2016, anglers should see a number of smaller (less than 15 inches) fish from the excellent 2015 hatch. Anglers are reminded of the 15-inch minimum size limit and encouraged to release these fish with as little handling as possible so they can contribute to the fisheries in future years. Yellow Perch Expect good perch fishing in 2016, with improving numbers of fish in the Western Basin and the largest fish in the eastern areas of the Central Basin. Perch anglers should encounter fish ranging from 7 to 13 inches from the 2014 through 2008 hatches this year, with major contributions from the 2014, 2011 and 2008 year classes. Fish from the average-to-better hatches in 2007 will contribute fish in the 10-plus inch range. “In 2015, yellow perch fisheries flourished in the eastern portions of Ohio’s Lake Erie, and we expect this trend to continue into 2016,” said Jeff Tyson, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the ODNR. Black Bass Smallmouth bass fishing in 2016 is expected to be fair but improving. Smallmouth bass catch rates decreased in 2015, when compared to 2014, but are still the highest observed since the mid-1990s. Smallmouth bass should be an excellent size (14 to 22 inches and weighing up to six pounds). The best fishing for smallmouth bass will continue to be in areas with good bottom structure, which is the available habitat across much of the entire Ohio nearshore and islands. Continuing the trend from previous years, largemouth bass fishing should be excellent in 2016. This emerging fishery is producing high catch rates and some large fish in nearshore areas and harbors across Ohio’s Lake Erie. All black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) must be immediately released from May 1 through June 24. Beginning June 25, the daily bag limit for bass will be five, with a 14-inch minimum length limit. Steelhead Steelhead anglers should enjoy another year of great fishing in 2016 in Ohio’s Lake Erie open waters and in tributaries. Peak summer steelhead action on Lake Erie can be found offshore from June through August between Vermilion and Conneaut, with catches measuring 17 to 29 inches. Most Lake Erie anglers troll for steelhead in deep waters using spoons with divers or downriggers until fish move close to shore in the fall. The daily bag limit remains at five fish per angler from May 16 through August 31, and two fish per angler between September 1 and May 15, 2017. A 12-inch minimum size limit is in effect throughout the year. White Bass White bass continue to provide excellent seasonal fishing opportunities in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and in the open lake. The 2016 catch will be dominated by fish from the 2012 and 2010 year classes. A few fish from the 2007 hatch could be as large as 16 inches. Anglers should focus on major Western Basin tributaries during May and June and nearshore areas of the open lake during the summer. There is no white bass daily bag limit or size limit. Other Species Bays, harbors and main lake shorelines offer excellent fishing for panfish, as well as occasional northern pike and muskie in vegetated areas. Anglers are reminded that fishing conditions on Lake Erie can change hourly, and adjustments are often necessary to improve success. Anglers should take into account factors such as water temperature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat traffic, wave action, structure, currents and the amount of baitfish in the area. Anglers are also reminded to carefully monitor Lake Erie weather and to seek safe harbor before storms approach. Updated Lake Erie fishing reports are available at wildohio.gov or by calling 888-HOOKFISH (888-466-5347). Information is available from ODNR staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Fairport Harbor station (440-352-4199) for the Central Basin and at Sandusky Station (419-625-8062) for the Western Basin. Information on the Lake Erie research and management programs, fisheries resources, fishing reports, maps and links to other Lake Erie web resources are available at wildohio.gov. View the full article on STWA website

Hello All, It’s that time of the year, the water is soft, the air is warm and you rod and reel are calling you. With that feeling of fish on, its time to take a few minutes and review your fishing gear bag for some very important items to get your season safely underway. First question, if you own a boat, is it ready for the water? If it was stored outside looking it over carefully is the first thing to do. If it is an IO check for damage to the driveline and the prop. Look at the fuel system and make sure your fuel lines are in good condition. Check your electric start systems and the battery if left on board and outside during the winter. Check the hull for any kind of damage: fiber glass cracks, water damage to your electrical wiring, etc. Was your boat stored on a trailer under a tarp? You may have had some winter over critters camping out and you know how they are, they’ll eat anything! Once you have done your inspection on the boat the next step is the trailer. Was it stored inside or out? If inside, did you put it up on blocks and pull the tires? If outside, again on blocks, tires on or off for storage? Did you look over the trailer hitch system? Grease and oil all the parts? How about the brakes? Look inside at the condition the drums. Water can really mess up the braking system, rust out springs, or cause boot of your fluid pistons brake system to dry rot from cold out door conditions. Next, look at your lighting system. Are the lens cracked from the cold or just worn out, are the wires brittle showing bare spots? How about the lens covers themselves? Are they showing signs of wear that could cause them to leak? It could cause electrical problems for your entire trailer system. I know you can take a quick look your system, but the first time out take your time. Look it over very well by making sure your trailer and all of it operating systems are working. It can save you down the road from a brake failure while you’re trailering your boat at speed. Let’s go back to the tires for a moment. What is their condition? Tread good? Side walls clear? No weather or dry rot cracks? Are they holding air pressure well? The hitch oiled check to see that it is operating properly when hook up to your tow vehicle? Wiring connection between the hitch and tow vehicle in good order and working? This is important if you have an electrical braking system and of course for your brake lights and turn signals. That’s it for now. Next time I’ll get into the on board equipment you may want to have with you some you’ll actually need for your safety and the safety of those who join you on your Walleye fishing day. A little background on me: I am a Retired member of the USCG Auxiliary Division 3 9th Eastern Region. During my service, I held the position of Public Affairs Officer from Flotilla 33, Staff Officer to District Staff Officer Public Affairs for 17 years. I also I worked with the USCG Group Buffalo now called Sector Buffalo as an assistant PA Officer for four years from 1998 to 2002. I have learned much about the general safety of the boating and fishing community. I’ll do my best to bring you what I hope will be useful information to keep you and your family and friends safe on the water. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Bill View the full article on STWA website

COLUMBUS, OH – Lake Erie anglers should experience another year of diverse fishing opportunities in 2016. Lake Erie walleye and yellow perch fisheries are managed through an interagency quota system that involves Ontario, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York and Ohio. Each jurisdiction regulates its catches to comply with quotas and minimize the risk of over-fishing these species. Quotas for the upcoming fishing season are determined through consensus agreement by these jurisdictions through the Lake Erie Committee of the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, which were just recently announced for 2016. As a result of the 2016 quota allocation, the walleye daily bag limit is four, and the yellow perch daily bag limit is 30 per angler in Ohio waters of Lake Erie until April 30. The daily bag limit will be six walleye from May 1 through February 28, 2017. From March 1, 2017 through April 30, 2017, the daily walleye bag limit will be four. A 15-inch minimum size limit is in effect during the entire season for walleye. The yellow perch daily bag limit will be 30 from May 1 through April 30, 2017, with no minimum size limit. Lake Erie anglers can find walleye and yellow perch bag limit information at ODNR offices, in special publications at bait and tackle shops and at wildohio.gov. Walleye Ohio walleye anglers will catch fish mostly from the 2014 and 2013 hatches, with some fish from the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 year classes. Additional fish from 2007 and 2003 will also be harvested by anglers. Walleye from the average 2014 hatch will range 15-18", while walleye from the 2013 hatch will be between 16-20 inches. Fish from the 2003 and 2007 hatches are likely to carry most of the Central Basin fisheries, and a good number of these walleye will be over the 26-inch range. Large walleye from strong hatch in 2003 will continue to provide “Fish Ohio” opportunities (greater than 28"), with this year class nearing the size that may give Ohio a new state record walleye. Additionally, in 2016, anglers should see a number of smaller (less than 15 inches) fish from the excellent 2015 hatch. Anglers are reminded of the 15-inch minimum size limit and encouraged to release these fish with as little handling as possible so they can contribute to the fisheries in future years. Yellow Perch Expect good perch fishing in 2016, with improving numbers of fish in the Western Basin and the largest fish in the eastern areas of the Central Basin. Perch anglers should encounter fish ranging from 7 to 13 inches from the 2014 through 2008 hatches this year, with major contributions from the 2014, 2011 and 2008 year classes. Fish from the average-to-better hatches in 2007 will contribute fish in the 10-plus inch range. “In 2015, yellow perch fisheries flourished in the eastern portions of Ohio’s Lake Erie, and we expect this trend to continue into 2016,” said Jeff Tyson, Lake Erie fisheries program manager for the ODNR. Black Bass Smallmouth bass fishing in 2016 is expected to be fair but improving. Smallmouth bass catch rates decreased in 2015, when compared to 2014, but are still the highest observed since the mid-1990s. Smallmouth bass should be an excellent size (14 to 22 inches and weighing up to six pounds). The best fishing for smallmouth bass will continue to be in areas with good bottom structure, which is the available habitat across much of the entire Ohio nearshore and islands. Continuing the trend from previous years, largemouth bass fishing should be excellent in 2016. This emerging fishery is producing high catch rates and some large fish in nearshore areas and harbors across Ohio’s Lake Erie. All black bass (smallmouth and largemouth) must be immediately released from May 1 through June 24. Beginning June 25, the daily bag limit for bass will be five, with a 14-inch minimum length limit. Steelhead Steelhead anglers should enjoy another year of great fishing in 2016 in Ohio’s Lake Erie open waters and in tributaries. Peak summer steelhead action on Lake Erie can be found offshore from June through August between Vermilion and Conneaut, with catches measuring 17 to 29 inches. Most Lake Erie anglers troll for steelhead in deep waters using spoons with divers or downriggers until fish move close to shore in the fall. The daily bag limit remains at five fish per angler from May 16 through August 31, and two fish per angler between September 1 and May 15, 2017. A 12-inch minimum size limit is in effect throughout the year. White Bass White bass continue to provide excellent seasonal fishing opportunities in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers and in the open lake. The 2016 catch will be dominated by fish from the 2012 and 2010 year classes. A few fish from the 2007 hatch could be as large as 16 inches. Anglers should focus on major Western Basin tributaries during May and June and nearshore areas of the open lake during the summer. There is no white bass daily bag limit or size limit. Other Species Bays, harbors and main lake shorelines offer excellent fishing for panfish, as well as occasional northern pike and muskie in vegetated areas. Anglers are reminded that fishing conditions on Lake Erie can change hourly, and adjustments are often necessary to improve success. Anglers should take into account factors such as water temperature, cloud cover, water clarity, boat traffic, wave action, structure, currents and the amount of baitfish in the area. Anglers are also reminded to carefully monitor Lake Erie weather and to seek safe harbor before storms approach. Updated Lake Erie fishing reports are available at wildohio.gov or by calling 888-HOOKFISH (888-466-5347). Information is available from ODNR staff from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays at the Fairport Harbor station (440-352-4199) for the Central Basin and at Sandusky Station (419-625-8062) for the Western Basin. Information on the Lake Erie research and management programs, fisheries resources, fishing reports, maps and links to other Lake Erie web resources are available at wildohio.gov. View the full article on STWA website

Hello All, It’s that time of the year, the water is soft, the air is warm and you rod and reel are calling you. With that feeling of fish on, its time to take a few minutes and review your fishing gear bag for some very important items to get your season safely underway. First question, if you own a boat, is it ready for the water? If it was stored outside looking it over carefully is the first thing to do. If it is an IO check for damage to the driveline and the prop. Look at the fuel system and make sure your fuel lines are in good condition. Check your electric start systems and the battery if left on board and outside during the winter. Check the hull for any kind of damage: fiber glass cracks, water damage to your electrical wiring, etc. Was your boat stored on a trailer under a tarp? You may have had some winter over critters camping out and you know how they are, they’ll eat anything! Once you have done your inspection on the boat the next step is the trailer. Was it stored inside or out? If inside, did you put it up on blocks and pull the tires? If outside, again on blocks, tires on or off for storage? Did you look over the trailer hitch system? Grease and oil all the parts? How about the brakes? Look inside at the condition the drums. Water can really mess up the braking system, rust out springs, or cause boot of your fluid pistons brake system to dry rot from cold out door conditions. Next, look at your lighting system. Are the lens cracked from the cold or just worn out, are the wires brittle showing bare spots? How about the lens covers themselves? Are they showing signs of wear that could cause them to leak? It could cause electrical problems for your entire trailer system. I know you can take a quick look your system, but the first time out take your time. Look it over very well by making sure your trailer and all of it operating systems are working. It can save you down the road from a brake failure while you’re trailering your boat at speed. Let’s go back to the tires for a moment. What is their condition? Tread good? Side walls clear? No weather or dry rot cracks? Are they holding air pressure well? The hitch oiled check to see that it is operating properly when hook up to your tow vehicle? Wiring connection between the hitch and tow vehicle in good order and working? This is important if you have an electrical braking system and of course for your brake lights and turn signals. That’s it for now. Next time I’ll get into the on board equipment you may want to have with you some you’ll actually need for your safety and the safety of those who join you on your Walleye fishing day. A little background on me: I am a Retired member of the USCG Auxiliary Division 3 9th Eastern Region. During my service, I held the position of Public Affairs Officer from Flotilla 33, Staff Officer to District Staff Officer Public Affairs for 17 years. I also I worked with the USCG Group Buffalo now called Sector Buffalo as an assistant PA Officer for four years from 1998 to 2002. I have learned much about the general safety of the boating and fishing community. I’ll do my best to bring you what I hope will be useful information to keep you and your family and friends safe on the water. Fair Winds and Following Seas, Bill View the full article on STWA website

Americans are hearing about the dangers of high ethanol gas to their boats, cars, and small engines and are standing up and saying NO. As a result, support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the policy that mandates more and more ethanol in the fuel supply every year, has been steadily declining. In fact, the RFS has become so unpopular that even after big-money ethanol lobbyists poured millions of dollars into the Presidential primary in Iowa, the heart of ethanol country, they still lost at the polls. The Senate is debating a comprehensive energy bill. Two amendments have been filed that, if passed, would be monumental victories. Now is the time to close the door on the RFS. Keep up the momentum and contact your Senator today. View the full article on STWA website

The U.S. House is about to get back to work on the SHARE Act ‒ better known as the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s 2016 and the House is still debating a common sense act from last year. Look at all the benefits for fishermen in this bill: It protects traditional fishing equipment containing lead from unwarranted federal bans. It will create more and better fishing by requiring federal land managers to support and facilitate access for fishing on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. It prevents unnecessary closures of public water to fishing by implementing an “open until closed” management policy. It blocks the National Park Service from arbitrarily closing water to fishing without state approval like they did at Biscayne National Park. Tell Congress to stop dragging their feet and pass the SHARE ACT. Let’s get this done. View the full article on STWA website

Southwick Associates' has announced 2015 top brands for many angling product categories. This list has been compiled from the internet-based surveys completed in 2015 by AnglerSurvey.com panelists. In 2015, sportfishing's most frequently purchased brands included: ● Top rod brand: Shakespeare (Ugly Stik, Sturdy Stik, etc.) ● Top reel brand: Shimano ● Top combo brand: Shakespeare ● Top fishing line brand: PowerPro ● Top hard bait brand: Rapala ● Top spinner bait brand: Strike King ● Top jig brand: Strike King ● Top sinker brand: Lindys ● Top swivel brand: Eagle Claw ● Top leader brand: Sufix ● Top fly line brand: Rio ● Top fly leader brand: Rio ● Top tippets brand: Rio ● Top wader brand: Simms ● Top clothing brand: Columbia ● Top raingear brand: Frogg Toggs ● Top landing net brand: Frabill ● Top bait bucket/aerator brand: Frabill ● Top fishing knife brand: Rapala ● Top fish scale brand: Berkley ● Top trolling motor brand: Minn Kota The list above is only a fraction of all fishing categories tracked by Southwick Associates. Along with many other product categories, Southwick Associates also tracks the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, total spending per category, average prices, and demographics for anglers buying specific products. Additional information tracked includes total days spent fishing, type of fishing (fresh, salt and more), preferred species and where they fish. This Article used in its entirety with permission by: Dan Thomas—President Great lakes Sport Fishing Council www.great-lakes.org The Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY is a member in good standing of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council. For the full newsletter, visit their website at: www.geat-lakes.org/basinreports/basinreports.html View the full article on STWA website

While a growing number of sportsmen embrace the availability and convenience of buying hunting and fishing licenses online, the longstanding tradition of standing in line at a local bait and tackle or sporting shop is alive and well. In fact, even as online purchasing trends continue to climb, the majority of licenses are still purchased in brick-and-mortar stores according to recent surveys conducted by AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com. For hunters, the practice of purchasing licenses online has grown 12 percent from what was reported in 2011, the first year HunterSurvey.com asked the question. In that same time frame, sales at local retail locations have dropped only two percent. So what locations have lost out as online purchases climb? License purchases at government offices and at "other" locations not specified in the survey have each dropped five percent in that same time period. On the fishing front, online license purchases have climbed 14 percent since 2011 with retailers taking a bigger hit in license sales from their angling customers than from hunters with 11 percent fewer sportsman buying fishing licenses from retailers. That said, local shops and big box store locations still account for half of total fishing license sales. In that same time, government offices are selling one percent fewer licenses and "other" locations are selling four percent less. Southwick Associates is working with state agencies to help redesign their licenses and set better prices that boost agency revenues and provide angler and hunters with better license options. "Online license sales will naturally continue to grow as more and more hunters and anglers take advantage of the convenience technology offers," says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com. "But for local retailers and even larger chains that sell sporting licenses the opportunity to make additional sales of products that appeal to or are needed by hunters and anglers when they visit those locations to buy a license is still huge and will likely continue to be for some time." To help continually improve, protect and advance hunting, shooting and fishing, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the bi-monthly surveys at AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com... Every other month, participants who complete the surveys are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice. View the full article on STWA website

The biggest surprise to me is being alive and well on my 80th birthday. Never did I dream of such good luck. Saying goodbye to my parents and 3 older bothers left me convinced that I would depart at a much younger age after suffering from some very tragic health problems. What kind of luck did I have, you ask? Being the youngest kid in the family left me with all those child hood illnesses that fortunately got them out of the way in my life, leaving me immune as they departed. Some examples are mumps, chicken pox, measles, scarlet fever, kidney problems, flu and a broken leg. Then at nine years of age, someone pulled me unconscious from the Welland Canal, laid me down on my face and practised his version of artificial respiration that succeeded. I choked and gasped and slowly opened my eyes to an array of long legs in shoes that surrounded me. I survived that Sunday morning when my brother and I were supposed to be in church. When I squished my way back into our house I lied when I said that the kid down the street squirted me with the lawn-hose. Since we had visiting relatives I got away with the fib and breathed a sigh of relief in avoiding a sermon from my mother. For example, when my brother and I would walk to church my mother would say good bye to us after telling us for the one hundredth time to stay away from the canal because that’s where her young nephew drowned. To avoid a future motherly sermon, I quietly asked my oldest brother if he would teach me how to swim. And he did so with gusto---in the canal. Amen. To stay in high school I had to work during the summers to meet the costs of books and clothing and I was lucky to be hired by International Nickel, a company that paid well and that gave me a job because my father worked there before he was down with Lou Gehrig’s disease. While working at a job site on the midnight shift an accident occurred that hit me with chlorine gas that sent me home to bed with the feeling that I was on my way to another life. On my third day in bed a strange man with a stethoscope listened to my pulse and then told me to get back to work because I was OK. Chlorine gas was used by the Germans in World War One to kill the enemy. It took a year to be OK again but at least I survived and could remain in school. At another Inco job the next summer I was a plant fitter’s helper for one shift and I followed him around carrying his tool kit. He stabbed me in the face with the point of his weapon and left me with a scar on my lip under my nose plus a crack ed seam on my two front teeth. For many reasons I reported it as a simple accident that didn’t involve another person. But I returned there the next summer with an evil plan for revenge. After several weeks at work I asked where the “stabber” was working. “ In the cemetery. He died during the winter from a brain disease.” In my four years at university I tried to return home each weekend because I was in love with the woman I married. Since I was perpetually broke and without wheels I hitch-hiked home at a time in history when many drivers would give rides to hikers. One very kind lady picked me up and insisted that she would give me a ride to my home town which was about 7 miles away from her destination. There was a right curve in the road but also the road that continued straight ahead. The lady was confused at this very tricky intersection and a car was approaching. I leaned forward from the right front seat looking toward the lady and braced myself against the dash at a time when seatbelts were unknown. A head-on collision occurred and I absorbed most of the shock through my arms and body. The lady lifted from her seat with her head hitting the sun visor and her legs bashing upward against the bottom of the steering wheel. Then her body came down and her chin cracked on the steering wheel. She survived with only cuts and bruises and a bashed car. My good luck continued. Another time I’ll tell you how my luck continued in Africa, Cuba, Canada, USA etc especially from friendly fire and collateral damage. Erno Rossi is a bestselling JUNO nominated author. Author of White Death-The Blizzard of '77 book/DVD and Crystal Beach-The Good Old Days, book/DVD. Visit him at whitedeath.com or on You Tube, type in ernoinferno77 and there ride the front seat of the Comet and the old Giant roller coaster at Crystal Beach Amusement Park. His books are available or can be ordered through Coles, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and buffalobooks.com. He now accepts talks for his future speaking schedule. Call him at 905-835-8051, or email him at [email protected] Think gift books for Mother and Fathers’ Day, birthdays, the holiday seasons and other special occasions. Give Erno a call or email to reserve a visit to the Port Colborne lighthouses. View the full article on STWA website

It was Friday evening and I called my fishing buddy John Alff and told him the walleyes were hitting at Barcelona and we should go there tomorrow. John said: “We do not know the area as neither of us have fished there before, but OK. Barcelona it will be. We had better take our boat and the 28 HP motor so we could go to different areas faster than my little 18 HP motor.” We both agreed to leave home in time to be on the water by 6:00 AM and try to catch that big walleye to win that Tournament, which does end at 5PM tomorrow. John said: “I’ll rig up some kind of downriggers for tomorrow. OK, see you in the morning.” Arriving at Barcelona at 5:45 AM, John went to pay for the launching while I readied the boat for the launch. I ask John if he got any tips from anyone and he replied: “The launch attendant said to go west to eighty feet of water. That is where That is where they were catching the walleye yesterday.” So agreeing with the suggestions, we headed out into a slight fog and a fairly calm lake. We traveled about three miles when a spark plug fouled, so we had to change that and onward we went again. My little 16 foot boat did pound some from the wakes of many other boats, most of which were larger than ours, but finally we got to 80 feet of water and also marking some fish on the recorder. Let’s start trolling right here. After trolling till about 11:30 and in about 100 feet of water now, and only two sheephead to account for, we decided to go for a little shallower water. John had changed about 8 or 9 lures of different combinations which included Bombers, thundersticks, spoons, and spinners & worms. I now changed from a yellow Rapalla to a silver and black of the same size. John also pulled up and retired his downrigger assembly because we both agreed the wire made too much noise and was scaring the fish. Now we were both long lining. I told John: “I can’t believe that I have lost three walleyes during this tournament. What am I doing wrong?” John said: “Nothing, those you lost are adding up to one twelve pounder because that is all that I am asking for—only one twelve pound walleye.” Now 11:50 AM, the winds stronger, the lake with three to four foot rollers, John said: “It is getting real rough out here and I think we should troll toward shore. “What do you think?” I agreed and we headed toward shore still trolling. Bright and sunny, but very rough lake conditions made trolling very difficult. John and I were extra quiet, I suppose because thoughts of having to quit fishing early because of the lake’s roughness. I said to John: “You should put on your life jacket.” I was already wearing mine as the lake had gotten rougher. He said: “ I’m fine.” I replied: “I am not man enough to pull you back onto the boat if you fall overboard, but I can pull you back to the side and drag you back to shore from the side of the boat.” He then put on his life jacket and asked: “Are you graphing any fish?” and I answered “Not any for quite a while now but there is some baitfish – a large one, and there is some more medium ones.” With more fish graphing now I lifted my pole from the rod holder and a fish hit my plug and almost jerked the rod out of my hand. I said to John “This is a real sizeable fish and it feels like a walleye.” John said to me: “Don’t you try to stand up fighting that fish with this rough water or you will lose the fish or possibly fall overboard. I fought the walleye’s vigorous efforts to get off in a seated position which was very difficult. The big walleye diving down and disappearing out of sight 4 different times and at this point John said: “Rick, you have to bring that fish to the boat this time up or he is going to get off. Being that I was not able to stand up because of the rough water to fight the fish, I could not turn around and see where the fish was but John guided me – John said: “He is coming up, swing your pole over your head toward me, keep reeling, keep reeling, come on, come on, keep reeling. He is on top, keep reeling, HE IS IN THE NET AND IN THE BOAT!! There is that twelve pounder that we have been hunting for. I yelled for joy: “There is that $6000.00 WALLEYE!” John guessed the fish weigh 12 pounds. Arriving at the Barcelona weigh-in station at about 1:30, we saw that the first place fish was 10.93 pounds, that we had to beat. Ours tipped the scales at 11.71 pounds – we were now in the number one spot, but with three and one half hours left to closing of the Tournament, we did hope and pray that our walleye would remain in first place and it did. John and I will split the $6000.00 first prize - $5000.00 from the Southtowns Walleye Tournament and $1000.00 from Emerling Chevrolet. Thank God and thank you. View the full article on STWA website

Americans are hearing about the dangers of high ethanol gas to their boats, cars, and small engines and are standing up and saying NO. As a result, support for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), the policy that mandates more and more ethanol in the fuel supply every year, has been steadily declining. In fact, the RFS has become so unpopular that even after big-money ethanol lobbyists poured millions of dollars into the Presidential primary in Iowa, the heart of ethanol country, they still lost at the polls. The Senate is debating a comprehensive energy bill. Two amendments have been filed that, if passed, would be monumental victories. Now is the time to close the door on the RFS. Keep up the momentum and contact your Senator today. View the full article on STWA website

The U.S. House is about to get back to work on the SHARE Act ‒ better known as the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2015. Yes, you read that correctly. It’s 2016 and the House is still debating a common sense act from last year. Look at all the benefits for fishermen in this bill: It protects traditional fishing equipment containing lead from unwarranted federal bans. It will create more and better fishing by requiring federal land managers to support and facilitate access for fishing on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands. It prevents unnecessary closures of public water to fishing by implementing an “open until closed” management policy. It blocks the National Park Service from arbitrarily closing water to fishing without state approval like they did at Biscayne National Park. Tell Congress to stop dragging their feet and pass the SHARE ACT. Let’s get this done. View the full article on STWA website

Southwick Associates' has announced 2015 top brands for many angling product categories. This list has been compiled from the internet-based surveys completed in 2015 by AnglerSurvey.com panelists. In 2015, sportfishing's most frequently purchased brands included: ● Top rod brand: Shakespeare (Ugly Stik, Sturdy Stik, etc.) ● Top reel brand: Shimano ● Top combo brand: Shakespeare ● Top fishing line brand: PowerPro ● Top hard bait brand: Rapala ● Top spinner bait brand: Strike King ● Top jig brand: Strike King ● Top sinker brand: Lindys ● Top swivel brand: Eagle Claw ● Top leader brand: Sufix ● Top fly line brand: Rio ● Top fly leader brand: Rio ● Top tippets brand: Rio ● Top wader brand: Simms ● Top clothing brand: Columbia ● Top raingear brand: Frogg Toggs ● Top landing net brand: Frabill ● Top bait bucket/aerator brand: Frabill ● Top fishing knife brand: Rapala ● Top fish scale brand: Berkley ● Top trolling motor brand: Minn Kota The list above is only a fraction of all fishing categories tracked by Southwick Associates. Along with many other product categories, Southwick Associates also tracks the percentage of sales occurring across different retail channels, total spending per category, average prices, and demographics for anglers buying specific products. Additional information tracked includes total days spent fishing, type of fishing (fresh, salt and more), preferred species and where they fish. This Article used in its entirety with permission by: Dan Thomas—President Great lakes Sport Fishing Council www.great-lakes.org The Southtowns Walleye Association of WNY is a member in good standing of the Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council. For the full newsletter, visit their website at: www.geat-lakes.org/basinreports/basinreports.html View the full article on STWA website

While a growing number of sportsmen embrace the availability and convenience of buying hunting and fishing licenses online, the longstanding tradition of standing in line at a local bait and tackle or sporting shop is alive and well. In fact, even as online purchasing trends continue to climb, the majority of licenses are still purchased in brick-and-mortar stores according to recent surveys conducted by AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com. For hunters, the practice of purchasing licenses online has grown 12 percent from what was reported in 2011, the first year HunterSurvey.com asked the question. In that same time frame, sales at local retail locations have dropped only two percent. So what locations have lost out as online purchases climb? License purchases at government offices and at "other" locations not specified in the survey have each dropped five percent in that same time period. On the fishing front, online license purchases have climbed 14 percent since 2011 with retailers taking a bigger hit in license sales from their angling customers than from hunters with 11 percent fewer sportsman buying fishing licenses from retailers. That said, local shops and big box store locations still account for half of total fishing license sales. In that same time, government offices are selling one percent fewer licenses and "other" locations are selling four percent less. Southwick Associates is working with state agencies to help redesign their licenses and set better prices that boost agency revenues and provide angler and hunters with better license options. "Online license sales will naturally continue to grow as more and more hunters and anglers take advantage of the convenience technology offers," says Rob Southwick, president of Southwick Associates, which designs and conducts the surveys at AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com. "But for local retailers and even larger chains that sell sporting licenses the opportunity to make additional sales of products that appeal to or are needed by hunters and anglers when they visit those locations to buy a license is still huge and will likely continue to be for some time." To help continually improve, protect and advance hunting, shooting and fishing, all sportsmen and sportswomen are encouraged to participate in the bi-monthly surveys at AnglerSurvey.com, ShooterSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com... Every other month, participants who complete the surveys are entered into a drawing for one of five $100 gift certificates to the sporting goods retailer of their choice. View the full article on STWA website

The biggest surprise to me is being alive and well on my 80th birthday. Never did I dream of such good luck. Saying goodbye to my parents and 3 older bothers left me convinced that I would depart at a much younger age after suffering from some very tragic health problems. What kind of luck did I have, you ask? Being the youngest kid in the family left me with all those child hood illnesses that fortunately got them out of the way in my life, leaving me immune as they departed. Some examples are mumps, chicken pox, measles, scarlet fever, kidney problems, flu and a broken leg. Then at nine years of age, someone pulled me unconscious from the Welland Canal, laid me down on my face and practised his version of artificial respiration that succeeded. I choked and gasped and slowly opened my eyes to an array of long legs in shoes that surrounded me. I survived that Sunday morning when my brother and I were supposed to be in church. When I squished my way back into our house I lied when I said that the kid down the street squirted me with the lawn-hose. Since we had visiting relatives I got away with the fib and breathed a sigh of relief in avoiding a sermon from my mother. For example, when my brother and I would walk to church my mother would say good bye to us after telling us for the one hundredth time to stay away from the canal because that’s where her young nephew drowned. To avoid a future motherly sermon, I quietly asked my oldest brother if he would teach me how to swim. And he did so with gusto---in the canal. Amen. To stay in high school I had to work during the summers to meet the costs of books and clothing and I was lucky to be hired by International Nickel, a company that paid well and that gave me a job because my father worked there before he was down with Lou Gehrig’s disease. While working at a job site on the midnight shift an accident occurred that hit me with chlorine gas that sent me home to bed with the feeling that I was on my way to another life. On my third day in bed a strange man with a stethoscope listened to my pulse and then told me to get back to work because I was OK. Chlorine gas was used by the Germans in World War One to kill the enemy. It took a year to be OK again but at least I survived and could remain in school. At another Inco job the next summer I was a plant fitter’s helper for one shift and I followed him around carrying his tool kit. He stabbed me in the face with the point of his weapon and left me with a scar on my lip under my nose plus a crack ed seam on my two front teeth. For many reasons I reported it as a simple accident that didn’t involve another person. But I returned there the next summer with an evil plan for revenge. After several weeks at work I asked where the “stabber” was working. “ In the cemetery. He died during the winter from a brain disease.” In my four years at university I tried to return home each weekend because I was in love with the woman I married. Since I was perpetually broke and without wheels I hitch-hiked home at a time in history when many drivers would give rides to hikers. One very kind lady picked me up and insisted that she would give me a ride to my home town which was about 7 miles away from her destination. There was a right curve in the road but also the road that continued straight ahead. The lady was confused at this very tricky intersection and a car was approaching. I leaned forward from the right front seat looking toward the lady and braced myself against the dash at a time when seatbelts were unknown. A head-on collision occurred and I absorbed most of the shock through my arms and body. The lady lifted from her seat with her head hitting the sun visor and her legs bashing upward against the bottom of the steering wheel. Then her body came down and her chin cracked on the steering wheel. She survived with only cuts and bruises and a bashed car. My good luck continued. Another time I’ll tell you how my luck continued in Africa, Cuba, Canada, USA etc especially from friendly fire and collateral damage. Erno Rossi is a bestselling JUNO nominated author. Author of White Death-The Blizzard of '77 book/DVD and Crystal Beach-The Good Old Days, book/DVD. Visit him at whitedeath.com or on You Tube, type in ernoinferno77 and there ride the front seat of the Comet and the old Giant roller coaster at Crystal Beach Amusement Park. His books are available or can be ordered through Coles, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and buffalobooks.com. He now accepts talks for his future speaking schedule. Call him at 905-835-8051, or email him at [email protected] Think gift books for Mother and Fathers’ Day, birthdays, the holiday seasons and other special occasions. Give Erno a call or email to reserve a visit to the Port Colborne lighthouses. View the full article on STWA website

It was Friday evening and I called my fishing buddy John Alff and told him the walleyes were hitting at Barcelona and we should go there tomorrow. John said: “We do not know the area as neither of us have fished there before, but OK. Barcelona it will be. We had better take our boat and the 28 HP motor so we could go to different areas faster than my little 18 HP motor.” We both agreed to leave home in time to be on the water by 6:00 AM and try to catch that big walleye to win that Tournament, which does end at 5PM tomorrow. John said: “I’ll rig up some kind of downriggers for tomorrow. OK, see you in the morning.” Arriving at Barcelona at 5:45 AM, John went to pay for the launching while I readied the boat for the launch. I ask John if he got any tips from anyone and he replied: “The launch attendant said to go west to eighty feet of water. That is where That is where they were catching the walleye yesterday.” So agreeing with the suggestions, we headed out into a slight fog and a fairly calm lake. We traveled about three miles when a spark plug fouled, so we had to change that and onward we went again. My little 16 foot boat did pound some from the wakes of many other boats, most of which were larger than ours, but finally we got to 80 feet of water and also marking some fish on the recorder. Let’s start trolling right here. After trolling till about 11:30 and in about 100 feet of water now, and only two sheephead to account for, we decided to go for a little shallower water. John had changed about 8 or 9 lures of different combinations which included Bombers, thundersticks, spoons, and spinners & worms. I now changed from a yellow Rapalla to a silver and black of the same size. John also pulled up and retired his downrigger assembly because we both agreed the wire made too much noise and was scaring the fish. Now we were both long lining. I told John: “I can’t believe that I have lost three walleyes during this tournament. What am I doing wrong?” John said: “Nothing, those you lost are adding up to one twelve pounder because that is all that I am asking for—only one twelve pound walleye.” Now 11:50 AM, the winds stronger, the lake with three to four foot rollers, John said: “It is getting real rough out here and I think we should troll toward shore. “What do you think?” I agreed and we headed toward shore still trolling. Bright and sunny, but very rough lake conditions made trolling very difficult. John and I were extra quiet, I suppose because thoughts of having to quit fishing early because of the lake’s roughness. I said to John: “You should put on your life jacket.” I was already wearing mine as the lake had gotten rougher. He said: “ I’m fine.” I replied: “I am not man enough to pull you back onto the boat if you fall overboard, but I can pull you back to the side and drag you back to shore from the side of the boat.” He then put on his life jacket and asked: “Are you graphing any fish?” and I answered “Not any for quite a while now but there is some baitfish – a large one, and there is some more medium ones.” With more fish graphing now I lifted my pole from the rod holder and a fish hit my plug and almost jerked the rod out of my hand. I said to John “This is a real sizeable fish and it feels like a walleye.” John said to me: “Don’t you try to stand up fighting that fish with this rough water or you will lose the fish or possibly fall overboard. I fought the walleye’s vigorous efforts to get off in a seated position which was very difficult. The big walleye diving down and disappearing out of sight 4 different times and at this point John said: “Rick, you have to bring that fish to the boat this time up or he is going to get off. Being that I was not able to stand up because of the rough water to fight the fish, I could not turn around and see where the fish was but John guided me – John said: “He is coming up, swing your pole over your head toward me, keep reeling, keep reeling, come on, come on, keep reeling. He is on top, keep reeling, HE IS IN THE NET AND IN THE BOAT!! There is that twelve pounder that we have been hunting for. I yelled for joy: “There is that $6000.00 WALLEYE!” John guessed the fish weigh 12 pounds. Arriving at the Barcelona weigh-in station at about 1:30, we saw that the first place fish was 10.93 pounds, that we had to beat. Ours tipped the scales at 11.71 pounds – we were now in the number one spot, but with three and one half hours left to closing of the Tournament, we did hope and pray that our walleye would remain in first place and it did. John and I will split the $6000.00 first prize - $5000.00 from the Southtowns Walleye Tournament and $1000.00 from Emerling Chevrolet. Thank God and thank you. View the full article on STWA website

Great Lakes Action Agenda Work Group Meetings March 2nd, 3rd, 7th & 8th NYSDEC invites you to join other regional stakeholders in a basinwide partnership to advance ecosystem-based management opportunities for New York's Great Lakes basin, as identified in the state's interim Great Lakes Action Agenda (GLAA). Join us in March: to help us select critical actions within the draft sub basin work plans for focused collaboration and implementation, and for a presentation by Natural Heritage Program on a new riparian restoration and protection planning tool created especially for New York's Great Lakes basin. Four sub basin work groups provide a unique opportunity to connect, coordinate and collaborate with other groups and agencies working locally and basin wide. Please join us for one or more of the following meetings: Lake Erie Work Group Weds, March 2nd, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Woodlawn State Park Lodge 3580 Lakeshore Rd Blasdell, NY 14219 SW Lake Ontario Work Group Thurs, March 3rd, 9:00am - 12:00pm Seneca Park Zoo, 'Z.O.T. Zone' Building 2222 St. Paul Street Rochester, NY 14621 NE Lake Ontario Work Group Mon, March 7th, 10:30am - 2:00pm West Carthage Fire Hall 61 High St. Carthage, NY 13619 SE Lake Ontario Work Group Tues, March 8th, 10:30am - 2:00pm Beaver Lake Nature Center 8477 E. Mud Lake Rd. Baldwinsville, NY 13027 (Optional hike following meeting) All NYS Great Lakes stakeholders are invited to participate -- including environmental orgs, academic institutions, state and federal agencies, local government, individuals and other diverse stakeholder groups (business, health, recreation, planning, etc). Please let us know if you can make it! RSVP to [email protected] by February 29th. Please indicate which work group meeting you'll be attending. Questions or comments? Lake Erie & SW Lake Ontario Work Groups: Shannon Dougherty, [email protected], 716-851-7070 SE & NE Lake Ontario Work Groups: Emily Sheridan, [email protected], 315-785-2382 View the full article on STWA website

Great Lakes Action Agenda Work Group Meetings March 2nd, 3rd, 7th & 8th NYSDEC invites you to join other regional stakeholders in a basinwide partnership to advance ecosystem-based management opportunities for New York's Great Lakes basin, as identified in the state's interim Great Lakes Action Agenda (GLAA). Join us in March: to help us select critical actions within the draft sub basin work plans for focused collaboration and implementation, and for a presentation by Natural Heritage Program on a new riparian restoration and protection planning tool created especially for New York's Great Lakes basin. Four sub basin work groups provide a unique opportunity to connect, coordinate and collaborate with other groups and agencies working locally and basin wide. Please join us for one or more of the following meetings: Lake Erie Work Group Weds, March 2nd, 1:00pm - 4:00pm Woodlawn State Park Lodge 3580 Lakeshore Rd Blasdell, NY 14219 SW Lake Ontario Work Group Thurs, March 3rd, 9:00am - 12:00pm Seneca Park Zoo, 'Z.O.T. Zone' Building 2222 St. Paul Street Rochester, NY 14621 NE Lake Ontario Work Group Mon, March 7th, 10:30am - 2:00pm West Carthage Fire Hall 61 High St. Carthage, NY 13619 SE Lake Ontario Work Group Tues, March 8th, 10:30am - 2:00pm Beaver Lake Nature Center 8477 E. Mud Lake Rd. Baldwinsville, NY 13027 (Optional hike following meeting) All NYS Great Lakes stakeholders are invited to participate -- including environmental orgs, academic institutions, state and federal agencies, local government, individuals and other diverse stakeholder groups (business, health, recreation, planning, etc). Please let us know if you can make it! RSVP to [email protected] by February 29th. Please indicate which work group meeting you'll be attending. Questions or comments? Lake Erie & SW Lake Ontario Work Groups: Shannon Dougherty, [email protected], 716-851-7070 SE & NE Lake Ontario Work Groups: Emily Sheridan, [email protected], 315-785-2382 View the full article on STWA website

Before Luis returned to Mexico City, he brought me to a remote beach outside Acapulco called Pie de la Questa according to my Journal. Here he showed me some thatched covered hammocks open to the breeze. Nearby the surf tumbled ashore with a vibrating thump. “For fifty cents a day you can stay here and sleep in the hammock at night. This will keep you off the sand. Strange creatures crawl in the sand at night. The farmer has a mosquito net for you at night if you decide to stay. Use the net. You do not want malaria. The local farmer owns the hammocks and for a few cents will sell you coconuts, eggs, maybe a chicken for a special occasion. You are not afraid to kill a chicken are you? “With your fishing line you can use some meat for bait to catch red snapper, sea bass, sharks, turtles. Don’t fool with a local woman unless you want to get married. Don’t fool with a married local woman unless you want to get chopped into fish bait. These people will think that you are a rich American at first. You have to make it clear that you are not a Gringo. Do not wear your watch. You are not rich. You are from Canada. You are a poor artist writing a book about this great country of Mexico. They respect artists in Mexico, unlike Canada and the USA. “Many people here don’t like Gringos---goes back a long way to wars with the USA. Try to learn the local dialect. By trying you will make many friends. Call the young people muchacho or muchacha. Call others amigo, amiga. They will like you. Teach the children English words. You are a good teacher. You have great patience except for the bullfight. Adios amigo.” That was the advice that I accepted from Luis. My choice was between a short visit in a hotel bed or a very long visit in a seaside hammock where I could meet the people and learn from them. I was at ease asleep in my hammock because I found the sounds of the sea to be a comfort. Manuel the farmer assured me of my safety saying that there were no banditos here. Only in Mexico City did they thrive. But I slept with a borrowed machete that I used for cutting driftwood for my fire. I carried in my pack other essentials such as a multi- utility- knife, a small wooden bowl, a coil of thin wire, matches, a coil of nylon fishing line with hooks, bobbers, sinkers, and a bar of Life Boy soap that was wrapped in a face cloth plus some toilet tissue. I called him Man to anglicize him. He was Manuel’s son of the same name. About 15 years old, he was a barefoot, handsome kid with a dark skin and a wide, white smile. He brought me coconuts and showed me how to open, drink and eat them. Man asked me to teach him English in return for free coconuts, eggs and a loaner frying pan and a pot for boiling water. But first, I asked why he wanted to learn English. Without any hesitation he said: “Meet rich Gringo girl on Acapulco beach. Marry her. Live happy life. Have many bambinos.” I was willing to help fulfill his Mexican dream. That’s why I agreed that he should visit each morning and I would begin his English lessons. A fast learner, Man was counting in English up to 25 when little brothers and sisters began to visit with him and listened attentively to the lesson. They learned even faster than Man and soon they all could count to 100. Each morning I let the advanced students draw the numbers in a lateral line in the sand. Then I would let them walk in pairs beside each number and recite it as they viewed it. An advanced student could teach a new student in this way and learning took place at their speed and level. Margarita, a tiny sweetheart in bare feet wanted to learn a Gringo song. “Margarita had a little lamb” was the first that they mastered. They were confused over the line, “Its fleece was white as snow” They understood ‘white’ but not ‘snow’. And I was just as confused trying to explain ‘snow’ to people who had never seen it. Then followed Christmas songs like Jingle bells and simple other songs like “Jesus loves me yes I know.” These lyrics were printed into the sand as well and after they learned them in English I had them teach me the words in Mexican. They laughed at my mistakes but they loved my attempts to learn what they could teach me. They tried to teach me the Mexican national anthem as best they knew it and we sang a chorus of it together every day. Other kids joined the group and soon I had 15 students. They learned the alphabet, reciting it in unison and then singing it, concluding with,“Now I’ve said my ABC’s. Tell me what you think of me.” And that is when I said, “ Buena muchachas and buena muchachos.” Then they drew the alphabet in a lateral line in the sand and recited the letters as they walked the line. One advanced student could teach a new student in this way and learning took place at their speed and level. Soon we added O Canada, where everyone is standing on guard freezing their gumbos in a blizzard. Frozen solid we stand on guard for thee ad nauseam. When my kids asked if everyone stood on guard in Canada I knew it was time for a quickie revision of the words. I kept the same music without the sexism of the Mexican and Canadian anthems. Thus we sang a mini Rossi version. Our Canada, the great north strong and free Vast open lands, kissed by 4 great seas. We love you so Dear Canada We love you so today. We’ll love you so Dear Canada Until our final days. The biggest challenge was the American anthem, a pleasant tune based on an old English drinking song but with the most confusing, archaic words in desperate need of a simplified upgrade. In teaching the Star Spangled Banner I explained an old story that little Jose from Mexico visited his cousin in California and together they went to see a baseball game. Before the game began all the people stood up and looked at little Jose and asked him, “Jose can you see?” That question became the first line of the our Star Spangled Banner and all the Americans continue to sing it to this day. Americans are a very friendly people if you treat them as equals. In this way we sang three anthems each day and yes, everybody was singing,” Jose can you see? not “Oh say can you see?” But the words to the Star Spangled Banner were so difficult that I created a simple version for beginners or for people in a hurry. I tried it out on my muchachas and muchachos and they preferred my version. But the kids were sad that Jose was not part of this new song. To the original tune we sang my new 6-line version: Can you see it at dawn Our flag and our hope? Midst thunder of cannon The fire and smoke? The Star Spangled banner forever shall be America’s flag, the land of the free. I explained that I was not a citizen of the USA. Many people call them Gringos. Some people think that the name Gringo came into use when the Americans were at war with Mexico. Their armies were camped on either side of the Rio Grande. At night the Mexican soldiers could hear the American troops singing songs around their campfires. One popular ballad of the day had a line in it that said: “Back where the green grass grows, grows, grows. Back where the green grass grows.” To Mexican ears this sounded like Gringos. Thereafter a nickname for people from The United States of America. That was one story. Then I told them that some people believe that Gringo comes from the Spanish word ‘griegas’meaning Greek often applied to foreigners. That was the story that I believed and that made me a Gringo as well because I was from Canada. I tried to teach the kids French but backed off with the difficulty that they had with the pronunciation of Je as in Je suis meaning I am. They have an ‘h’ sound as in Jai Lai. Basic English would have to suffice. I liked the contact with students and the sharing of knowledge. The only “problem” was nipped in the bud when older girls arrived to learn and did not want to leave when the lesson was finished. They had reached puberty and wanted to help me with my daily chores. One girl wanted to cook for me. I had to politely send them on their way. I told them that I would see them next day to learn in English the names of birds and beasts. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There was no room for anger against a guy who slept alone in a hammock on an isolated beach with only a machete. I caught, cleaned and ate a variety of fish. With my small coil of wire, I strung my gutted fish on this wire and over my fire. In this way I did not have to scale or behead the fish but rather pulled back the skin and scales from a toasted and tasty red snapper. That wire served as my clothesline as well and I regularly washed myself and my clothes in the salty pacific. But daily short rain showers kept most salt out of my clothes and rinsed from my body. I tried to time my bath in the ocean just minutes before a rain shower. To this day, more than 50 years later, I still smile at those warm ocean baths and cool heavenly showers. Man and manners. He wanted to know how to behave around Gringo women. I made some basic suggestions: Do not blow your nose into the sand after swimming. Use a tissue or use the salt water. Look her in the eye when you talk to her. Do not look at other women. Wash everyday and wear clean clothes. Don’t pounce. She will let you know when she wants to be intimate and pounced. Be gentle. Be polite. Say “Por favore - Please” If she gives you a gift, say “Thank you.”If she wants to send you gifts say “Muchas gracias.” Do not pretend to be what you are not. Have an address for her to contact you and for you to contact her. Be very interested in older women rather than the young jail bait. Amen. View the full article on STWA website

Before Luis returned to Mexico City, he brought me to a remote beach outside Acapulco called Pie de la Questa according to my Journal. Here he showed me some thatched covered hammocks open to the breeze. Nearby the surf tumbled ashore with a vibrating thump. “For fifty cents a day you can stay here and sleep in the hammock at night. This will keep you off the sand. Strange creatures crawl in the sand at night. The farmer has a mosquito net for you at night if you decide to stay. Use the net. You do not want malaria. The local farmer owns the hammocks and for a few cents will sell you coconuts, eggs, maybe a chicken for a special occasion. You are not afraid to kill a chicken are you? “With your fishing line you can use some meat for bait to catch red snapper, sea bass, sharks, turtles. Don’t fool with a local woman unless you want to get married. Don’t fool with a married local woman unless you want to get chopped into fish bait. These people will think that you are a rich American at first. You have to make it clear that you are not a Gringo. Do not wear your watch. You are not rich. You are from Canada. You are a poor artist writing a book about this great country of Mexico. They respect artists in Mexico, unlike Canada and the USA. “Many people here don’t like Gringos---goes back a long way to wars with the USA. Try to learn the local dialect. By trying you will make many friends. Call the young people muchacho or muchacha. Call others amigo, amiga. They will like you. Teach the children English words. You are a good teacher. You have great patience except for the bullfight. Adios amigo.” That was the advice that I accepted from Luis. My choice was between a short visit in a hotel bed or a very long visit in a seaside hammock where I could meet the people and learn from them. I was at ease asleep in my hammock because I found the sounds of the sea to be a comfort. Manuel the farmer assured me of my safety saying that there were no banditos here. Only in Mexico City did they thrive. But I slept with a borrowed machete that I used for cutting driftwood for my fire. I carried in my pack other essentials such as a multi- utility- knife, a small wooden bowl, a coil of thin wire, matches, a coil of nylon fishing line with hooks, bobbers, sinkers, and a bar of Life Boy soap that was wrapped in a face cloth plus some toilet tissue. I called him Man to anglicize him. He was Manuel’s son of the same name. About 15 years old, he was a barefoot, handsome kid with a dark skin and a wide, white smile. He brought me coconuts and showed me how to open, drink and eat them. Man asked me to teach him English in return for free coconuts, eggs and a loaner frying pan and a pot for boiling water. But first, I asked why he wanted to learn English. Without any hesitation he said: “Meet rich Gringo girl on Acapulco beach. Marry her. Live happy life. Have many bambinos.” I was willing to help fulfill his Mexican dream. That’s why I agreed that he should visit each morning and I would begin his English lessons. A fast learner, Man was counting in English up to 25 when little brothers and sisters began to visit with him and listened attentively to the lesson. They learned even faster than Man and soon they all could count to 100. Each morning I let the advanced students draw the numbers in a lateral line in the sand. Then I would let them walk in pairs beside each number and recite it as they viewed it. An advanced student could teach a new student in this way and learning took place at their speed and level. Margarita, a tiny sweetheart in bare feet wanted to learn a Gringo song. “Margarita had a little lamb” was the first that they mastered. They were confused over the line, “Its fleece was white as snow” They understood ‘white’ but not ‘snow’. And I was just as confused trying to explain ‘snow’ to people who had never seen it. Then followed Christmas songs like Jingle bells and simple other songs like “Jesus loves me yes I know.” These lyrics were printed into the sand as well and after they learned them in English I had them teach me the words in Mexican. They laughed at my mistakes but they loved my attempts to learn what they could teach me. They tried to teach me the Mexican national anthem as best they knew it and we sang a chorus of it together every day. Other kids joined the group and soon I had 15 students. They learned the alphabet, reciting it in unison and then singing it, concluding with,“Now I’ve said my ABC’s. Tell me what you think of me.” And that is when I said, “ Buena muchachas and buena muchachos.” Then they drew the alphabet in a lateral line in the sand and recited the letters as they walked the line. One advanced student could teach a new student in this way and learning took place at their speed and level. Soon we added O Canada, where everyone is standing on guard freezing their gumbos in a blizzard. Frozen solid we stand on guard for thee ad nauseam. When my kids asked if everyone stood on guard in Canada I knew it was time for a quickie revision of the words. I kept the same music without the sexism of the Mexican and Canadian anthems. Thus we sang a mini Rossi version. Our Canada, the great north strong and free Vast open lands, kissed by 4 great seas. We love you so Dear Canada We love you so today. We’ll love you so Dear Canada Until our final days. The biggest challenge was the American anthem, a pleasant tune based on an old English drinking song but with the most confusing, archaic words in desperate need of a simplified upgrade. In teaching the Star Spangled Banner I explained an old story that little Jose from Mexico visited his cousin in California and together they went to see a baseball game. Before the game began all the people stood up and looked at little Jose and asked him, “Jose can you see?” That question became the first line of the our Star Spangled Banner and all the Americans continue to sing it to this day. Americans are a very friendly people if you treat them as equals. In this way we sang three anthems each day and yes, everybody was singing,” Jose can you see? not “Oh say can you see?” But the words to the Star Spangled Banner were so difficult that I created a simple version for beginners or for people in a hurry. I tried it out on my muchachas and muchachos and they preferred my version. But the kids were sad that Jose was not part of this new song. To the original tune we sang my new 6-line version: Can you see it at dawn Our flag and our hope? Midst thunder of cannon The fire and smoke? The Star Spangled banner forever shall be America’s flag, the land of the free. I explained that I was not a citizen of the USA. Many people call them Gringos. Some people think that the name Gringo came into use when the Americans were at war with Mexico. Their armies were camped on either side of the Rio Grande. At night the Mexican soldiers could hear the American troops singing songs around their campfires. One popular ballad of the day had a line in it that said: “Back where the green grass grows, grows, grows. Back where the green grass grows.” To Mexican ears this sounded like Gringos. Thereafter a nickname for people from The United States of America. That was one story. Then I told them that some people believe that Gringo comes from the Spanish word ‘griegas’meaning Greek often applied to foreigners. That was the story that I believed and that made me a Gringo as well because I was from Canada. I tried to teach the kids French but backed off with the difficulty that they had with the pronunciation of Je as in Je suis meaning I am. They have an ‘h’ sound as in Jai Lai. Basic English would have to suffice. I liked the contact with students and the sharing of knowledge. The only “problem” was nipped in the bud when older girls arrived to learn and did not want to leave when the lesson was finished. They had reached puberty and wanted to help me with my daily chores. One girl wanted to cook for me. I had to politely send them on their way. I told them that I would see them next day to learn in English the names of birds and beasts. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. There was no room for anger against a guy who slept alone in a hammock on an isolated beach with only a machete. I caught, cleaned and ate a variety of fish. With my small coil of wire, I strung my gutted fish on this wire and over my fire. In this way I did not have to scale or behead the fish but rather pulled back the skin and scales from a toasted and tasty red snapper. That wire served as my clothesline as well and I regularly washed myself and my clothes in the salty pacific. But daily short rain showers kept most salt out of my clothes and rinsed from my body. I tried to time my bath in the ocean just minutes before a rain shower. To this day, more than 50 years later, I still smile at those warm ocean baths and cool heavenly showers. Man and manners. He wanted to know how to behave around Gringo women. I made some basic suggestions: Do not blow your nose into the sand after swimming. Use a tissue or use the salt water. Look her in the eye when you talk to her. Do not look at other women. Wash everyday and wear clean clothes. Don’t pounce. She will let you know when she wants to be intimate and pounced. Be gentle. Be polite. Say “Por favore - Please” If she gives you a gift, say “Thank you.”If she wants to send you gifts say “Muchas gracias.” Do not pretend to be what you are not. Have an address for her to contact you and for you to contact her. Be very interested in older women rather than the young jail bait. Amen. View the full article on STWA website

In 2015 the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit began a five year study that will use acoustic telemetry to describe the movement of walleye in Lake Erie. The main goal of this research is to determine the migration timing and contribution of western basin walleye to our New York walleye fishery. In addition, we are interested in learning how the movement of our local walleye populations contributes to walleye fisheries in other parts of Lake Erie. In spring 2015 the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit staff surgically implanted 70 acoustic tags in walleye captured on the Van Buren Bay spawning shoal. Fourteen of the 70 tags were returned to us by anglers who each received a $100 dollar reward. Tags were returned from NY, PA, OH, and ON. The figure below shows the locations at which each acoustic tagged fish were caught. If you capture an acoustic tagged walleye please give us a call or stop by the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit in Dunkirk. NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit Telephone: 716-366-0228 178 Point Drive North, Dunkirk, NY 14048 View the full article on STWA website

In 2015 the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit began a five year study that will use acoustic telemetry to describe the movement of walleye in Lake Erie. The main goal of this research is to determine the migration timing and contribution of western basin walleye to our New York walleye fishery. In addition, we are interested in learning how the movement of our local walleye populations contributes to walleye fisheries in other parts of Lake Erie. In spring 2015 the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit staff surgically implanted 70 acoustic tags in walleye captured on the Van Buren Bay spawning shoal. Fourteen of the 70 tags were returned to us by anglers who each received a $100 dollar reward. Tags were returned from NY, PA, OH, and ON. The figure below shows the locations at which each acoustic tagged fish were caught. If you capture an acoustic tagged walleye please give us a call or stop by the Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit in Dunkirk. NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit Telephone: 716-366-0228 178 Point Drive North, Dunkirk, NY 14048 View the full article on STWA website

Beginning in June 2016, the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit will be implanting acoustic tags in angler caught walleye in the New York waters of Lake Erie. We would like to solicit help from New York walleye anglers in this study. Our goal is to catch fish at depths less than 30 feet. Pilot work completed in 2015 indicates that walleye caught at depths greater the 30 feet do not take the surgery well and ultimately do not survive. We are hoping to schedule some fishing days during which anglers will fish in the vicinity of a dedicated surgery boat. When fish are caught they would be placed in an aerated live well, then be transported to the surgery boat to have tags implanted. If you are interested in participating in this effort please send an email to Jason Robinson at the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit. [email protected] View the full article on STWA website

Beginning in June 2016, the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit will be implanting acoustic tags in angler caught walleye in the New York waters of Lake Erie. We would like to solicit help from New York walleye anglers in this study. Our goal is to catch fish at depths less than 30 feet. Pilot work completed in 2015 indicates that walleye caught at depths greater the 30 feet do not take the surgery well and ultimately do not survive. We are hoping to schedule some fishing days during which anglers will fish in the vicinity of a dedicated surgery boat. When fish are caught they would be placed in an aerated live well, then be transported to the surgery boat to have tags implanted. If you are interested in participating in this effort please send an email to Jason Robinson at the NYS DEC Lake Erie Fisheries Research Unit. [email protected] View the full article on STWA website

Ed Mills, Survivor of the Cyclone at Crystal Beach Amusement Park "My most memorable ride in an amusement park occurred in July 1945, when I was on military leave in St. Catharines, Ontario. I had just turned 18 and had been in the Canadian Army for about 8 months. My two buddies and I spent a part of our leave in Crystal Beach, Ontario, which at that time was considered to be one of the greatest places for servicemen to have a good time. Besides, Crystal Beach was famous for having the most thrilling roller coaster ride in the Western Hemisphere. Being soldiers of course, and having been trained for all kinds of warfare, we had "no fear" of anything, except perhaps Military Police, and since we were on a legal pass, there was "nothing to fear". As soon as we entered the park one evening, we headed straight for the roller coaster, which was identified with a huge sign announcing "The Cyclone--Thrill of a Lifetime". After listening to the loud screams coming from the roller coaster, we decided that we must go on it right away, and promptly bought our tickets, which were I think about 15 cents or maybe 20 cents. We then stood in the line-up near the entrance gate, which happened to be very close to where the previous passengers got off. It was then that I first noticed the distinctive smell of vomit which was stronger as we got closer to the loading point. It was a bit disconcerting, but I was then immediately distracted by getting a whack in the face from something kind of leathery. It turned out to be a wallet which had fallen from the ride, and we opened it and it had a US Navy ID Card in it. As soon as the ride stopped, we saw the US sailor getting off the ride and called to him. He looked a bit dazed, and did not realize what had happened to his wallet. It was then our turn to ride, and we ran to the coaster cars. Up the steep ramp we went, up, up and then up some more until we could see the entire amusement park. Just as I was enjoying the view, the car lurched forward and I looked in front of me down a steep incline that looked to me to be about an 89 degree slope. The cars then headed down the incline at warp speed, and all I could see in front of us was Lake Erie. I was sure there must have been a part of the tracks missing, and I then uttered my only two words during the entire ride... "Jesus Christ!" ...as we plunged down towards the Lake, I then saw a steep bank to the right of the incline and we changed directions in a split second, turning violently on our side as the car careened around a hairpin turn. I looked sideways and saw the earth spinning by, and from that point on, most of the ride was pretty much of a blur. The only other memorable part was as we reached a high horizontal point again, we were racing around a curve at such speed that it seemed certain that we would fly off into thin air. Very frankly, I was quite relieved to see the cars finally slowing down...even then, they approached the unloading platform at such a speed that that they would overshoot and go right into the spectators. When I walked off the unloading platform, I smelled the vomit again, and in fact, walked away from the area fairly promptly in order to resettle my own stomach." Erno Rossi is a bestselling JUNO nominated author. He is the author of White Death-The Blizzard of '77 book/DVD and Crystal Beach-The Good Old Days, book/DVD. Visit him at www.whitedeath.com or on You Tube, type in ernoinferno77 and there ride the front seat of the Comet and the old Giant roller coaster at Crystal Beach Amusement Park. His books are available or can be ordered through Coles, Barnes & Noble, Amazon and buffalobooks.com. He now accepts talks for his future speaking schedule. Call him at 905-835-8051, or email him at [email protected] Think gift books for Mother and Fathers’ Day, birthdays, the holiday seasons and other special occasions. Give Erno a call or email to book a visit to the Port Colborne lighthouses. View the full article on STWA website