STWA

Last night after our club meeting we was hangin' around just shooting the breeze with a couple friends on turkey hunting. We each traded stories about the birds we hunted those that we managed to get and those that got away. One thing about turkey hunters, they can tell a great yarn but as for the facts, they ain't no better than a fisherman. Now I am not saying it is all fiction, more like a Hollywood docu-drama. The "true" parts of the story are embellished a little but for the details as to the where and when, well you won't hear that because it is not important.

There is an art to trading stories. A hunter tells his story and his listener then tries to out do it. On a good day two hunters can swap four or five stories each until the last has no more truth than a dime store novel. Get three or four guys together and the caliber of the stories gets great real fast. The participants know when the end has been reached because the facts get stretched to the point that if someone were to let go, it would smack you right in the face.

Now the story I'm about to relate is not your typical yarn, in fact it is entirely true from start to finish and that is why it is so unusual. I'm not lookin' to out do anyone but if you read carefully you will learn a whole lot 'bout turkey huntin', that you won't see in most books.

First you have to know we aren't dealing with an average bird. Every turkey hunter knows that turkeys possess extraordinary abilities. Their vision is about as good as the best military radar, hearing is superb, they can hear a human heart beating from two hundred yards, and they are so smart they school up as opposed to flock up like other birds. Amazing for a bird that has a brain about the size of a pea. We are lucky that turkeys don't have a sense of smell, for if they did they would rank up there with the big-foot out west in their ability to avoid human detection. It is no wonder that amongst hunters the turkey is the subject of so many conversations and braggin' titles. And this turkey I was about to face was one of the smartest I had ever come across.

The hunt took place a couple years ago. It was a usual spring in the southern tier of New York and turkeys were being very vocal at sunrise. I was hunting a ridge near the town of... well not important. The first day out I got a late start and the sun was just coming up over the horizon. If you want to get a turkey it is best to get in the woods at least and hour before sun up. I gave the usual good morning hen turkey yelps, which elicited a response from a lovesick gobbler down the ridge. He gobbled and I could hear it echo off the hills around me. It has to be the most exciting sound you can hear in the spring woods. I called back and he responded but I could also hear hens with him so I realized that today would not be the day to get this bird unless I could sound sexier than the real thing. I figured I needed to get on the ridge before the hens got to the gobbler and distracted him from my calls.

The next morning I got there it was perfect at about one hour before sunrise. Worked my way to the spot but I could hear the gobbler on the ground already with his harem of hens. I tried to call him away from the sure thing he had with them but it was impossible. So I figured I would scout the area out, listen to him, and figure out how to outsmart this extraordinarily intelligent bird. The key again I believed was to get to the ridge top before he did.

On the third morning I was in the woods three hours before sunrise. It was so dark it almost had substance. It was oppressive I could almost feel the blackness touching my face. And it was quiet, quiet as a cemetery. I slowly walked the trail into the woods. I didnÕt dare use a flashlight for fear it would alert the gobbler to my presence. I carefully stepped up the ridge when all of a sudden the quiet was shattered by the thunderous gobble. He was only a few yards away in the top of an oak tree. I have never heard a turkey gobbling so early. I took a step then heard the gobbler flush out of the tree, my heart sank I thought I spooked him and today's hunt was over. I froze and listened to where he would land but to my surprise he came down on the trail about twenty feet in front of me. I could hear him but it was impossible to see him in the black. I quickly sat down with my back against a tree on the side of the trail. That bird walked all around me in the dark; sometimes I could hear him almost within my reach. The only thing I could do was sit and wait until it got light.

About 5 A.M. as the sky started to lighten that bird had moved up the ridge. I asked myself, do I follow, or do I call him back. It was about that moment I heard something relatively small dropping down through the tree branches above me. I was about to do the smartest thing for that morning, I didn't look up. Unbeknownst to me I sat sitting directly below a hen turkey and she just relieved herself. Well that done I couldn't move or I would spook her and any turkey within a mile. However about ten minutes later I heard the sound of something falling through the tree again. Twice that has to be all a turkey can do, so I sat. About ten minutes later again the now familiar sounds from above came again. It wouldn't have been bad if that hen missed once in awhile but each time it was a direct hit. She finally flew out of that tree at 6 A.M. but only after seven direct hits. I never new turkeys were so full of ... or so accurate in their aim.

Well as the morning warmed up and the flies became unbearable I got out of the woods. I never saw the gobbler on that day or during the rest of the season. Turkeys are smart and tough to hunt. You got to just love turkey hunting...

By James Robert (Jimmy Bob) McMormick

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Ah, summertime. Sunny skies, warm breezes ... great days for catching "Unreal" walleyes. No, we're not necessarily talking about catching unbelievably big fish (but it could happen!), we're talking about catching lots of walleyes with "unreal", or artificial baits, specifically crankbaits. If you're not convinced crankbaits are a great method for catching summertime walleyes, then just look at the winning strategies of the top walleye tournaments over the past few years. You'll quickly notice that artificials, particularly crankbaits, have become a dominant force in the walleye catching game. When analyzing crankbaits for summertime walleye fishing, consider three things ... the lure's action, color, and use of important accessories that can be used to improve crankbait performance. For a crank to be a good walleye catcher it needs to have the right action ... what might be called a "roll". This top-to-bottom "roll" is what gives off the side flash that resembles a baitfish in the water. The degree or aggressiveness of the action can be described as subtle, moderate or high action. In the warm waters of early summer (50 to 70 degrees) you'll want a lure with a moderate action. A crankbait's style (the body shape of the bait, and the size of lip) help determine a bait's action and running depth. Storm's new Lightning Shad is a deep diving crankbait designed with input from pro fishermen, to have the kind of "rolling" action walleyes (and other game fish) love. Other "Moderate" action lures would include the shallow running Baby ThunderStick and Deep Jr. ThunderStick. A real sleeper lure for this time of year is the Hot'N Tot Flash. A regular "Tot" is a high action crank, but add a Storm FlashTail and it dampens the action making it a great moderate action lure. With this line-up of crankbaits, you can cover any depth range the walleyes might be relating to. Color of a bait, while not the most critical factor for catching fish, can be important to a bait's effectiveness. Choosing the right color lure for the situations you fish will most often be determined by water clarity and preferred forage.

In clear water or when fishing shallow, muted, more natural colors are best. This is where it's a good idea to know the primary forage for the walleyes in your area. Popular patterns include Perch, Shad and colors with combinations of Blue, Silver and White.

In murky or stained water, or when fishing deep where light penetration is at a minimum, it's better to choose bright colors. Here's where the FireTiger and other flore scent colors come into play.

At times it's necessary to use a variety of "tools" or accessories in conjunction with crankbaits to help put them in front of more active fish. One of the most common uses of trolling accessories is to spread lines out away from the boat. Spreading lines serves basically two purposes...

1) It allows the angler to cover more water in search of hungry walleyes increasing the mathematical odds of finding them, and

2) By spreading out lines away from the boat, the angler can eliminate the "boat spooking" factor, especially in clear, shallower water.

In-Line boards are the "tools of the trade" preferred by most professional walleye anglers for spreading lines when trolling for walleyes. Not all boards are created equal however...a ballasted board, like the Off Shore OR-12 Side Planer, is keel weighted so that it sits upright at rest in the water, and will prove itself superior over unballasted boards when it comes to fishability. By definition the word ballast means "to give stability".

You may not think that stability is an important factor when it comes to designing in-line planer boards for walleye fishing, but the truth is, stability is probably one of the most important characteristics a walleye trolling board should have. Without it, the board would topple over at rest, be unable to plane cleanly in rough water, and generally would not perform adequately at the slow speeds we often use for walleye trolling.

We do our best board fishing running crankbaits at around 1.2 to 1.5 mph, and spinners at .5 to .75 mph. Having a board that works at those slow trolling speeds is vital.

A crankbait's depth is most influenced by the size of its lip. One of the most helpful tools for determining a particular crankbait's running depth is the book, Precision Trolling by Dr. Steven Holt. This is the "Troller's Bible", listing specific depths of the top walleye cranks on the market .

There are times though when walleyes are deeper than a bait can reach on it's own ... subsequently an accessory called a Snap Weight has found it's way into every pro walleye angler's bag of tricks. These are lead weights that can be easily attached to the line ahead of a bait to get it to dive deeper than it would on it's own.

Incorporating the same release system as their popular OR-12 Side Planer in-line boards, Off Shore Snap Weights attach easily to your fishing line ahead of the crankbait (or spinner) allowing you to drop that lure down to the exact depth that walleyes are holding.

An example set-up would be to let your lure out 100 feet, attach a 3 ounce Snap Weight, and then let out enough additional line to get the bait in the "Fish Zone". Snap Weights come in sizes ranging from 1/2 oz. up to 8 oz. to handle all your trolling needs.

The next step to zeroing in on the "Unreal" summertime walleye bonanza is using the right set-up. A couple of years ago we did a lot of writing, and even did a video describing what we called "The System" for trolling walleyes. This set-up calls for 71/2 ft. to 81/2 ft. trolling rods, teamed with line counter reels spooled with 10/4 FireLine.

The no-stretch, thin diameter FireLine gives greatly increased sensitivity, better long-range hooking, and up to 30% increased running depth to a crankbait than conventional monofilament. If you aren't trolling with FireLine, you should be ... it makes all the difference.

"The System" also calls for the use of Triple Grip Treble Hooks on the crankbaits. The inward bend of the Triple Grips helps to hold fish better when using no-stretch line, plus the light wire of these hooks makes for better hook penetration and crankbait action. This can also provide for the use of a larger size hook giving the lure a better "bite", without adding extra weight to the lure which could dampen it's action.

Whether covering open water or trolling contours, choosing the right lures and fine-tuning your crankbait tactics for summertime walleyes can yield some truly "Unreal" results.

by Gary Parsons and Keith Kavajecz

 

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A walleye begins its life as one of 25,000-700,000 eggs. The number varies greatly with the size of the fish, usually being 25,000-50,000 for each pound the female weighs. About the time the ice breaks on the lakes or streams and the water temperature reaches 45-50 degrees, the adult female will move to a spawning area where the males await her arrival. The spawning area may be a tributary stream, a shallow area of a river, or a desirable shoal area of a lake.

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Are steelhead stocks impacting forage base in Lake Erie? Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York, and Ontario stock steelhead, are managers looking at possible impacts of such combined stockings on the lake's forage base? It seems logical that the forage base can support only a limited amount of predator fish (walleye and other native species). The question, what is the capacity of the forage base? Are we putting our walleye stock in jeopardy?

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The coalition to ban dihydromonoxide warns about this ubiquitous chemical.

Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there.

Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death.

Dihydrogen monoxide:

 

is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain. contributes to the "greenhouse effect." may cause severe burns. contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape. accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals. may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes. has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.
Contamination Is Reaching Epidemic Proportions!
Quantities of dihydrogen monoxide have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in America today. But the pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the midwest, and recently California.

 

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

as an industrial solvent and coolant. in nuclear power plants. in the production of styrofoam. as a fire retardant in many forms of cruel animal research. in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical. as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

 

Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer!The Horror Must Be Stopped!
The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation." In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations. Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use.

It's Not Too Late!
Act NOW to prevent further contamination. Find out more about this dangerous chemical. What you don't know can hurt you and others throughout the world.

Write NOW to help stop the spread of this killer !

Coalition to Ban DHMO
211 Pearl St.
Santa Cruz CA, 95060

If you're still clueless, here's some more enlightening information as to the colloquial nomenclature of dihydrogen monoxide.

 

The dihydrogen monoxide molecule is composed of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of oxygen. Its chemical formula is notated by scientists as H2O. But most folks just call it water . . . snicker !

 

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Scientists worried by the rapid spread of a small crustacean throughout Europe's rivers; and canals could be the next exotic invader in the Great Lakes. Dikerogammarus villosus, a small shrimp, is a hardy invader tolerant of a wide range of temperature, oxygen levels and salinity. Dikerogammarus villosus likes to take a bite out of other species, the ones it doesn't eat entirely will often die of infections. Scientists have nicknamed Dikerogammarus villosus, the killer shrimp. The shrimp comes from around the Caspian Sea and Black Sea and has spread through Europe by ballast discharge and canals. They average size for Dikerogammarus is 6 mm to 30 mm long and are voracious eaters and are blamed on the decline of native shrimp where they have invaded. If it does become established in the Great Lakes, it is feared it could alter the forage base. Its habit of attacking and biting other species including small fish, it could be very negative for the fishery. It is suspected it might feed on fry and fish eggs as well. Dikerogammarus may also be an intermediate host of acanthocephalan worms (a parasite of birds and fish) it is possible to infect humans. This worm lives in the digestive tract getting nutrients from its host.

Current recommendations that ships exchange ballast water at sea will do little in preventing the killer shrimp from finding its way into the Great Lakes. This shrimp is tolerant of salt water. Many ships crossing the Atlantic are loaded with cargo and therefore are considered not to have ballast water on board (NoBoB) because their tanks are nearly empty. These ships do not exchange any ballast water at sea. Ballast tanks are never emptied completely and can hold invaders. It is imperative that we adopt some strategy that will prevent invasive species from reaching the Great Lakes. I have made suggestions in the past, there is technology available, none will be effective until there is the political will to pass the laws that will prohibit exotic species introductions

By Tom Marks

Click here for more information on this new INVADER !

 

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No matter what your favorite outdoor sporting recreation is we often take our right to participate for granted. Hunting, fishing and trapping have come under an almost continuos onslaught from very well funded organizations like PETA. We are fortunate however there are enlightened state representatives in states all around this country trying to amend state constitutions to preserve and guarantee our rights. Assemblyman Richard Smith (D) 149 has sponsored such a bill in New York. This bill is currently in committee we need to help by writing letters to our representatives in support of this legislation. Similar legislation is being debated and passed in many states, we do not want to be left behind.

A resolution to provide sportsmen in Missouri with constitutional protection of their right to hunt, fish and harvest game (House Joint Resolution 27) passed the House Conservation and Natural Resources Committee on February 18, 2004. Sponsored by Missouri Legislative Sportsmen Caucus member Representative James Whorton (D-3) along with nine other caucus members, the legislation is now waiting to be placed on the calendar for debate on the House floor. A similar bill (SJR 24), introduced by Missouri Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus member Senator Harold Caskey (D-31), has already passed through Senate committee and awaits debate on the floor of the Senate. Nine other states are addressing similar legislation: Indiana, Idaho, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Legislation has passed in Virginia, North Dakota, and Louisiana.

Sportsmen's Bill of Rights Legislation in Pennsylvania Representative Matthew Baker's bill proposing a constitutional amendment preserving the right to hunt and fish passed the House by a vote of 189-11 on February 9, 2004. The legislation awaits action in the Senate and if approved would be added to the commonwealth's ballot to be voted on by the citizens in November.

The Georgia House Game, Fish and Parks Committee addressed a similar constitutional amendment. The State Senate bill, SR 563, has already passed which overwhelmingly supported the amendment to their state constitution preserving the right to hunt, fish, and harvest game. The Senate passed Senator Eric Johnson's bill (SR 563) with 51 yeas to 3 nays and the House passed an identical bill, sponsored by Representative Gregg Morris, with a vote of 154 yeas to 14 nays. Both legislators are members of the Georgia Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus and Representative Morris is a Co-Chair. Each bill awaits action in the opposite body of the legislature before it is sent to the Governor and placed on the 2004 ballot.

The legislative fight across the country is not easy in Nebraska there has been some resistance. The Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen's Forum will be addressing similar legislation (LR 4 CA) in its state Senate. The bill faces an effort to halt progress due to objections to amending Nebraska's Constitution. It will take 33 votes to move the bill forward and bill sponsor and Nebraska Legislative Sportsmen's Forum Chair, Senator Ed Schrock is recruiting supporters.

The goal of protecting our rights as outdoor sport enthusiasts is not politically incorrect, as some would lead you to believe. Participating in the outdoor sports is a way of expressing an appreciation for our heritage and it is worthy of protecting from a few well-financed and loud minorities. The tradition of hunting and fishing is as American as apple pie, feel no shame because you enjoy the outdoors. Many of our state and national conservation efforts were started because outdoor sportsmen saw what pollution and unregulated commercial harvest were doing to the ecosystem. Again we need to support our legislators in making our rights law. Write a letter today before you do anything else

By Tom Marks

 

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Spring is really upon us, I do not believe there is any chance of turning back now to the snow and cold of a winter like day. Tonight I heard the chorus of spring peepers, and it is music to my ears. For me there is nothing that announces the arrival of spring more eloquently than this tiny frog. The chorus is an introduction for the annual rebirth the takes place each spring. Spring peeper, Pseudacris Crucifer, its scientific name refers to the "X" on its back; it is amazing that such a small tree frog can make such a loud call. Seldom seen, most often only heard, they are only about an inch long. They have perfect camouflage a brown or green color and the irregular shaped "X" on its back allows the frog to blend well into the background. The chorus, which sounds like thousands of frogs "singing", in my backyard is probably only about a hundred. Only the male sings and the call can be heard for almost half a mile. This is the smallest frog in New York State and it is the first to call in the early spring. The male sings to attract a female to mate with. The female lays between 800 and 1000 eggs which hatch in a few days. The numbers of eggs is quite remarkable when you see how small the frog is.

The spring peeper starts life as a tadpole in a vernal pool or puddle in the woods; for about three months then metamorphose into an adult frog. The rush to mate early in the spring is so the tadpoles can develop into frogs before the puddles dry up in the summer. This nocturnal frog lives about three years, eating small insects, ants, and spiders. Spring peepers hibernate under leaves or tree bark in the winter emerging in the spring as soon as the ground thaws. This tiny frog uses glucose as antifreeze in its organs to keep them from freezing during the winter.

At sunset tonight go outside and sit back and enjoy the music!

By Tom Marks

 

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Thursday, June 24, 2004 The Wall-I-Guys, a group of sportsmen from the Southtowns Walleye Association, Bison City Rod and Gun Club, East Aurora Fish & Game Club, Alden Rod and Gun Club, Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Erie County Fish Advisory Board, Erie County Department of Environment and Planning (Spencer Schofield) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC, Bill Culligan, Don Einhouse, Mike Wilkenson and staff), today stocked young walleye in the Buffalo River as part of the Buffalo River Walleye Restoration Project. The stocking took place at the Seneca Street Bridge in South Buffalo.

The first milestone was in the first week of May when the first walleye eggs were collected to start the stocking phase of this project. The walleye restoration project was started in 2002 when the Wall-I-Guys was formed.

DEC Region 9 Director Gerald Mikol, who was on hand for this initial stocking in the seven-year project, said, "Walleye are one of the most popular sportfish in Western New York. This stocking marks the beginning of a journey to establish a self-sustaining population of walleye in this urban river."

Spencer Schofield who, along with the DEC was instrumental in getting this project off the ground remarked with excitement what a great day it was for our local fishery and sportsmen. The weather was perfect and the river conditions could not have been better.

The eggs for this first stocking were collected from adult walleye caught in Cattaraugus Creek this past spring. The DEC's Chautauqua Hatchery provided the use of one pond to raise the fingerlings for the Buffalo River stocking. The Cattaraugus Creek walleye, a river spawning fish, which spend most of their lives in the lake were selected as the egg source because they return to the creek each spring to spawn.

The 28,000 fingerlings about 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, were transported to the Buffalo River and released. It is hoped that these walleye will imprint on the Buffalo River and return to spawn as their parents do on the Cattaraugus Creek. The Wall-I-Guys and the DEC would like to establish a Buffalo River walleye population that lives in Lake Erie and spawns in the river each spring. It is believed that the Buffalo River once supported such a river spawning population of walleye.

Approximately 105,000 walleye fry the excess from the initial egg collection were stocked in the river in May. The first adult walleye from this initial stocking are not expected to return until 2008. The stocking of the river is planned for the next six years. It is hoped by the year 2010 to achieve 5000 adult walleye returning. It is a goal of the group to restore a naturally reproducing, self-sustaining walleye population in the Buffalo River. If the project is successful we should see a more stable abundant walleye population in the in the Buffalo River and adjacent areas of Lake Erie and the Upper Niagara River.

Historically the Buffalo River had a river spawning population of walleye. However, by the early 1900's, the river had become too polluted to support any viable fishery. Heavy industry along and dredging of the lower river destroyed much of the suitable spawning habitat. In recent years, the pollution has been abated and the water quality is much improved. It is believed that fish can reach the suitable spawning habitat further upstream. The Restoration Project includes construction of a walleye-rearing pond on Erie County property adjacent to the river. Walleye will be raised in this pond by volunteer labor and with DEC supervision. When ready the fingerlings will be released directly in to the river, this will reduce transport injury to the fish. Water from the river will be used in the pond to increase the potential for imprinting.

Success is not guaranteed for this project there will be a lot of work in the future. However, the team and all involved are very optimistic.

 

Paul McKeown, Supervisor of Fisheries NYS DEC, (left) and Gerald Mikol, DEC Region 9 Director on hand for the walleye release.

 

Eric Defries, DEC Biologist from the Chautauqua Hatchery getting the first pail of walleye to release.

The first bucket of walleye fingerlings released into the Buffalo River, the restoration has begun!

Released! Live long and prosper and y'all come back now!

 

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In fall, walleyes can be anywhere, six inches under the surface in 80 feet of water or tight to bottom in 10 feet. Sound challenging? It can be, unless you know how walleyes drift off of structure and suspend in the vicinity of bait. Finding them is a looking game with quality electronics; catching them is a straining game with planer boards, spinners and crankbaits. The pattern holds true wherever you are, from Great Lakes to inland waters, and wherever walleyes are chasing baitfish. Which, it turns out, is everywhere.

The Baiting Game
The bait connection betrays the walleye's presence. In fall, when walleyes ramp up their feeding before winter, the fish will never be far from food. On the Great Lakes, you might see enormous pods of one- to three-inch gizzard shad skittering on the surface or as big blobs on a locator. Shiners and the like herd up as well on inland waters, and predators are never far behind.

How do you find them? Start looking for structure on a map and then with electronics. Points, humps and weed edges are all fair game. But when you look with a quality locator that pinpoints fish and bait the key is to veer away from the structure and look over open water. If you've seen fish on structure at a certain level,15 feet, for instance, you can bet they'll be at that same depth over open water, from hundreds of yards to half a mile away from the structure.

Walleyes will do this day and night. The most important thing to remember is not to glue yourself to structure the walleyes will wander away from it if bait is present.

Search Mode
The best way to enter into search mode is to start trolling. This way you can cover water and zigzag to find fish. It would be far too time-consuming to jig or live-bait rig. Trolling, on the other hand, spreads lines to the sides of the boat and behind it, the better to cover a swath of water at different depths. I always try to maximize my efforts with the most rods possible and the greatest coverage. Enter planer boards, and inline boards the handy devices that veer lines away from the boat. With them, you can run more rods without tangling and pull lures through more territory.

Which brings us to my two favorite offerings in fall. While few people fish spinners after summertime, the reliable crawler harness keeps working through October and even into November. You can boost up a size or two with your spinners in fall to tempt more big fish. If, for instance, you were using No. 2 blades in summer, you now might want to try Nos. 4 and 5. The heavier thrum is often just what the walleyes want when they're starting to feed with gusto before winter.

By November, though, I normally start switching to crankbaits. You can move them faster and cover more water (2.0 or 2.3 mph for cranks vs. 1.1 mph for crawlers), and since the fish are so keyed on baitfish, cranks will often do the job even better. Experiment with cranks and crawlers to find out. For the lures themselves, it's hard to beat Rapala Husky Jerks (in shallow and deep-running versions), Tail Dancers and Shad Raps. Again, match the colors to the prevalent baitfish and conditions-silvers around shiners and shad, brighter fluorescents in darker or stained water. You can trick out your lures with additional color with holoform tap from WTP, formerly known as Witchcraft. Add a strip of silver or glow to the lure's sides, something that's particularly effective at night.

If the structure is particularly steep or difficult to follow, you might want to try leadcore. I like it if I'm on a break that twists and turns and I'd have too much line out with boards. Even in 45 feet of water, you can often get down to the fish zone with 75 to 85 feet of line out

By Mark Martin

 

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VHS Spreading to Other Great Lakes

Chicago, Il. April 13, 2007, Eddie Landmichl, Charter Captain and Environmental Activist says divers have reported the bottom of the southern basin of Lake Michigan is carpeted with dead fish, mostly gobies with some sheephead. They've been dead too long to autopsy, but Viral Hemmoraghic Septicemia (VHS) is suspected. Researchers in Wisconsin and elsewhere are very anxious to find out how extensive this die-off is, and are requesting everyone with underwater camera equipment to check their local waters for unusual quantities of dead fish on the bottom.

A Few Bait Regulations Explained

Anyone with a fishing license can collect baitfish for his or her personal uses (not to sell) however due to the special regulations restrictions apply. If you harvest your own bait it can not be transported in a vehicle over the road. Only on the water or by walking. The bait must be used in the body of water where it came from.

What if you possess commercial bait license and harvest bait intended only for your personal or private use? The regulations that apply are exactly the same for you as for individuals who do not possess a commercial bait license. You can not transport live or dead (salted or otherwise treated minnows) without a permit from the DEC. The commercial restrictions are in fact the same as personal restrictions on bait. A commercial license allows the business to harvest bait and with a special permit issued by the DEC transport the bait to a salt processing site. Frozen uncertified bait is treated as if they were live uncertified.

Frozen baitfish that is not certified can not be transported.

Purchased certified minnows can be salted however they still only can be possessed for seven days with the valid sales receipt.

For a complete list of frequently asked questions go to the web at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/fhregs.html

By Tom Marks

 

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Woody, I have read over the new emergency and proposed regulations. Many of our initial concerns were addressed by the DEC. We now are not limited as to the amount of bait whether bought or personally collected. We can keep bait purchased for up to seven days. Connected waters like the Lake and Niagara River have been reconsidered as one body of water. The list goes on... What we need to do is understand we still have a problem, neither we nor the DEC created the problem. The DEC is responding the best it can, the bait and fish regulations could have been much stricter. The DEC is trying to protect the ecosystems beyond the Great Lakes that is a very important.

Many other people and I have been preaching for a long time "aquatic invasive species are the single greatest threat to the Great Lakes ecosystem" we have felt the impact by the changes to our fishery. Zebra mussels cleared the water not cleaned it as many people think. They have altered the entire ecosystem. Food once suspended through the entire water column is now concentrated on the bottom. No big deal? This could be the reason we have dead zones, botulism episodes and declines in some fish species. Gobies.. no big deal? They prey upon sportfish fish eggs, displace native fish, and are a vehicle for the transport of chemical pollution up the food chain.

Without any doubts we have felt the impact of these invasive species although it has not been felt directly in our wallets like VHS. However, despite what we think we have been paying for invaders like zebra and quagga mussels. Industries around the Great Lakes have to spend billions of dollars to clean water intakes, heat exchangers, plumbing, lost production due to down time as a result of extra maintenance. In the factory where I work we constantly have to address issues caused by zebra mussels in pipes. These costs have been added to our electric bills and the products we buy. These costs are forever that is the how insidious invasive species are once introduced they are here forever. It is just now with the high price of bait sportsmen are feeling the impact first hand. It will certainly be a hardship and inconvenience, but it is just the hard reality of an invasion.

I believe the DEC's response to our initial concerns were well addressed. The only issue I have now is public awareness of the severity of the problem, and the new regulations. This is not like any other fishing regulation change. It needs to be addressed in a manner that accents the importance of the countermeasures and prevention. I believe the DEC should send every holder of a fishing license a postcard alerting everyone of the VHS concerns and regulations. I believe that at every point of sale there should be literature distributed with the sale of a license. We can not wait for the reprint of the regulations book.

Will the costs or fears of invasive species "chase" people away from the outdoor tradition of fishing... most likely yes. I recall when mercury was discovered in perch back in the 1960's and the first health advisories were issued, my father stopped fishing. What once was a weekly tradition of catching our supper ended abruptly. As a kid my whole life changed, what was once very important was gone. There maybe kids today who will have the same experience and same sudden change in their lives; I hope not.

We have an opportunity let's not miss it. Too often events seemingly out of our control change our lives. We are like pawns on a chessboard being moved by more powerful entities. Power is in most part just a perception. Well, we can become that powerful force. We have seen the impact of our letters. Our club founders were powerful they did the impossible, got gill nets banned. Yet they were no different than you or I today. They were inspired, organized and drivers of an idea that was right. We can stop the invasion of aquatic invasive species, it is as easy as closing the St Lawrence Seaway or disinfecting the ballast tanks of all ships that cruise the Great Lakes. Let's follow the example of our club founders and make a positive impact on the health of our ecosystem. Let's be drivers of change not be driven by change.

By Thomas Marks, NY Director, Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council

 

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Last Friday I was roused from a sound sleep by wife's excited calls from the kitchen."Coyote! Look is that a coyote? Quick! Get up! Look!" Sure enough it was a prime example of an eastern coyote that was hunting around our backyard. He was there for about three minutes and then he was gone. I was glad to have gotten up and find my glasses quick enough to see this animal.

Considering how common the coyote is, it is not often seen. It is estimated that there are over 30,000 scattered around New York State. The coyote we are more familiar with seems to be the western species; it is a little more visible in its natural range of the open prairie. The western species of canis latrans is much smaller (25 to 35 pounds) than our eastern species (45 to 80 pounds).

The excitement of having seen a coyote from the comfort of my home, my wife and I had a great topic for the breakfast table. We hypothesized what it was hunting for. It was almost forty-five minutes since we saw the animal when he came trotting back into our yard. Again we scrambled to the window to get a good view, and as fast as he arrived he left. Now my wife was worried that he was looking for dinner, either our little dog, Muffin, or the neighbor's cat. The cat has not been seen lately so maybe the coyote was only here for dessert. Okay, I have a dog named Muffin, you can stop laughing; it was my daughter's dog. He is a very smart dog; he just has a funny name.

Rather shy the coyote tries to avoid human contact and does most of its hunting after dark. Because of their shyness you would think they would live as far from humans as possible. Coyotes eat small rodents, squirrels, rabbits, insects, berries, and when the opportunities are right, deer or turkeys. They take advantage of any offering which includes carrion, small pets (dogs and cats), pet food left out for fido, or open trash. In fact their preferences for food makes living near humans worthwhile. So, it is not unusual to see them or hear their howls in suburbia or even the city.

There are several theories how coyotes arrived in New York State and eastern North America. The first is that they were actually here when the settlers first arrived in North America but retreated to the north as the land was cleared. When the reforestation started back in the early 1900's the coyote moved back. The second theory, which is currently more widely accepted, is that the western coyote expanded its range eastward, once established here it evolved into a distinct larger subspecies. The third theory, which is gaining acceptance, is that the eastern coyote is actually evolved from the red wolf or northern gray wolf. Some interesting DNA analysis is being done to trace their lineage. The evolution is about 300,000 years in the making. The study will take a few years and after reviews from genetic experts we should know the most likely theory.

Coyotes are very territorial with a home range between 6 and 15 square miles. The females give birth to their pups in March or April, and a litter can be as many as a dozen pups or more. The pups, when grown, are driven away by the female. They will travel hundreds of miles to find vacant territories of their own. It is possible for coyotes to breed with domestic dogs. However their breeding cycles do not coincide making this difficult yet genetically it is possible and has happened. The hybrid offspring have their pups in January, a tough time for the young to survive insuring to keep the coyote bloodline pure. Coyotes actually would rather dine on than breed with domestic dogs.

Muffin tells me the neighbor's cat is still with us; he was just at the door looking in on Muff. I told you Muffin was smart.

By Jon Smith

 

View the full article on STWA website

Great Article from Great Lakes Echo!

 

View the full article on STWA website

Great Article from Great Lakes Echo!

 

View the full article on STWA website

By Tom GraceThe

Daily Star Cooperstown News Bureau Wednesday, August 14, 2002

COOPERSTOWN - The alewives of Otsego Lake are being scrutinized this week by a team of international fish researchers. What they learn here, they hope to apply to studies of the Great Lakes and other bodies of water around the world.

Using sophisticated sonar equipment brought aboard the Biological Field Station's research boat and an underwater camera, researchers are studying alewives, small fish that have thrived in Otsego Lake in recent years.

The researchers already know what the alewives look like; they have a supply of them in a tank at the Biological Field Station. What they want to see is how the alewives appear in sonar and camera images when swimming in the depths.

By studying images generated by their sonar and computer equipment here and comparing them to X-rays of individual fish, the researchers are learning to interpret images more accurately, said Dave Warner, a visiting researcher from Cornell University and part of the project research team.

Bill Harman, director of the State University College at Oneonta's Biological Field Station, said the international team chose to use Otsego Lake as a laboratory "because we have calm water, serviceable equipment, and we're happy to help out with this project."

Scientists spent years figuring out the processes at work, creating a model that allowed them to predict how the lake would react to changes, and convincing society to control phosphorus.

Harman said the scientists are not here to learn more about Otsego Lake, where the fish populations are well-documented.

The team anchored in about 40 feet of water Tuesday and went fishing via computer screens. Individual alewives were put in cages, lowered into the water and studied with camera and sonar.

Warner said the spot the scientists selected Tuesday had many fish, perhaps attracted by their caged alewife.

The scientists worked until dusk, and Horne, a fisheries acoustician, said the project is going well. After returning to the BFS, Horne said, he planned to X-ray individual fish used during the day's research. The X-rays are being developed by Dr. Michael Power's Cooperstown Veterinary Association, he said.

Harman said the scientists plan to be at the BFS for a week. Coincidentally, he said, the alewife population seems to be lower this year than had been expected, as numbers likely died off months ago. Lower numbers of alewives can translate into clearer lake water because alewives feed on the zooplankton that feed on the algae clouding the water. However, the current trend may not last long, he said.

Along with Warner, the boat's research team includes Lars Ruostam of Cornell University, Tomas Didrikas and Thomas Axenrot of Stockholm University, John Horne of the University of Washington and Michael Jecks of the Northeast Fisheries Center at Woods Hole, Mass.

View the full article on STWA website

By Tom GraceThe

Daily Star Cooperstown News Bureau Wednesday, August 14, 2002

COOPERSTOWN - The alewives of Otsego Lake are being scrutinized this week by a team of international fish researchers. What they learn here, they hope to apply to studies of the Great Lakes and other bodies of water around the world.

Using sophisticated sonar equipment brought aboard the Biological Field Station's research boat and an underwater camera, researchers are studying alewives, small fish that have thrived in Otsego Lake in recent years.

The researchers already know what the alewives look like; they have a supply of them in a tank at the Biological Field Station. What they want to see is how the alewives appear in sonar and camera images when swimming in the depths.

By studying images generated by their sonar and computer equipment here and comparing them to X-rays of individual fish, the researchers are learning to interpret images more accurately, said Dave Warner, a visiting researcher from Cornell University and part of the project research team.

Bill Harman, director of the State University College at Oneonta's Biological Field Station, said the international team chose to use Otsego Lake as a laboratory "because we have calm water, serviceable equipment, and we're happy to help out with this project."

Scientists spent years figuring out the processes at work, creating a model that allowed them to predict how the lake would react to changes, and convincing society to control phosphorus.

Harman said the scientists are not here to learn more about Otsego Lake, where the fish populations are well-documented.

The team anchored in about 40 feet of water Tuesday and went fishing via computer screens. Individual alewives were put in cages, lowered into the water and studied with camera and sonar.

Warner said the spot the scientists selected Tuesday had many fish, perhaps attracted by their caged alewife.

The scientists worked until dusk, and Horne, a fisheries acoustician, said the project is going well. After returning to the BFS, Horne said, he planned to X-ray individual fish used during the day's research. The X-rays are being developed by Dr. Michael Power's Cooperstown Veterinary Association, he said.

Harman said the scientists plan to be at the BFS for a week. Coincidentally, he said, the alewife population seems to be lower this year than had been expected, as numbers likely died off months ago. Lower numbers of alewives can translate into clearer lake water because alewives feed on the zooplankton that feed on the algae clouding the water. However, the current trend may not last long, he said.

Along with Warner, the boat's research team includes Lars Ruostam of Cornell University, Tomas Didrikas and Thomas Axenrot of Stockholm University, John Horne of the University of Washington and Michael Jecks of the Northeast Fisheries Center at Woods Hole, Mass.

View the full article on STWA website