Monday, January 31, 2011

Felt-Soled Waders and Wading Shoes Are On the Way Out - Effective March 21 | Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service News

 

Felt-Soled Waders and Wading Shoes Are On the Way Out - Effective March 21

Didymo, also known as Rock Snot, is an invasive, non-native alga of cold flowing waters.

Individual didymo organisms are microscopic, but infestations include enormous numbers. Each individual produces a long stalk from the stream bottom resulting in a yellow-brown slime layer, which can dominate a once beautiful cold water stream.

Didymo is gross, and it can obstruct fishing to the point of being insufferable.

Didymo has also caused destructive changes in stream biology in some of the finest cold fishing waters on the planet.

Resource managers in North America and New Zealand suspected early on that the felt-soled waders and boots of traveling fly fishermen were the pathway for its spread. Subsequent field and laboratory research has confirmed that the felt used for waders is an ideal medium for collecting and transporting microscopic organisms.

DNR scientists and anglers have found seasonal infestations of Didymo in the Gunpowder River and traces of the organism in the Savage River.

Other diseases and injurious species such as Whirling Disease, which is fatal to trout, may be carried on felt soles.

Felt has been banned from New Zealand streams since 2008.

Alaska and Vermont have moved to prohibit felt soles.

Maryland is doing the same.

Maryland’s proposed regulation to prohibit felt soles in all waters is scheduled to become effective in March 2011. DNR welcomes public comment until February 28 via email, fisheriespubliccomment@dnr.state.md.us or mail, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service, ATTN: Felt-Soled Wader Ban Regulation, 580 Taylor Ave., B-2, Annapolis, MD 21401.

Felt-Soled Waders and Wading Shoes Are On the Way Out - Effective March 21 | Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Service News

Saturday, January 29, 2011

New DRBC Hearings on Drilling - Catskill Flies Forum

 

DRBC ANNOUNCES PUBLIC HEARINGS ON DRAFT NATURAL GAS REGULATIONS
WEST TRENTON, N.J. (Jan. 24) – Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) Executive Director Carol R. Collier today announced the public hearing schedule to receive oral testimony on the proposed natural gas development rulemaking.
The public hearings will be held 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the following locations:
Feb. 22 – Honesdale High School Auditorium, 459 Terrace Street, Honesdale, Pa.
Feb. 22 – Liberty High School Auditorium, 125 Buckley Street, Liberty, N.Y.
Feb. 24 – Patriots Theater at the War Memorial, 1 Memorial Drive, Trenton, N.J.
Registration for those who wish to testify will begin one hour prior to the beginning of each hearing session (12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.). Please note that the registration process will be on a first-come basis and it is estimated that approximately 75 persons will have the opportunity to present oral testimony within the allotted time period for each hearing session. Oral testimony will be limited to two minutes per person, but can be supplemented with written comments submitted at the hearing or prior to the written comments deadline. Oral testimony and written comments will receive the same consideration by the Commissioners prior to any action on the proposed regulations. Elected government officials will be afforded the opportunity to present their two-minute oral testimony at the beginning of the hearing if they contact Paula Schmitt at (609) 883-9500 x224 prior to the date of the hearing.
The DRBC will strictly adhere to the maximum capacity numbers established by local officials for each hearing location (990 Honesdale H.S., 750 Liberty H.S., and 1,833 Patriots Theater).
Written comments will be accepted through the close of business March 16, 2011 by two methods only:
1) Electronic submission using a web-based form available on the DRBC web site (preferred method); or
2) Paper submission mailed or delivered to: Commission Secretary, DRBC, P.O. Box 7360, 25 State Police Drive, West Trenton, NJ 08628-0360. Please include the name, address, and affiliation (if any) of the commenter. As previously noted, paper submissions also will be accepted at the public hearings.
Due to the expected volume, comments that are faxed, telephoned, or emailed to individual DRBC Commissioners and staff will not be accepted for the rulemaking record.
All written comments submitted via the two methods described above that are received prior to 5 p.m. on March 16, 2011 along with the transcript of the oral testimony presented at the hearings will become a part of the rulemaking record and be considered by the Commissioners prior to any action on the proposed regulations. Such action will be taken at a duly noticed public meeting of the Commission at a future date.
The purpose of the proposed regulations is to protect the water resources of the Delaware River Basin during the construction and operation of natural gas development projects. The draft regulations establish requirements to prevent, reduce, or mitigate depletion and degradation of surface and groundwater resources and to promote sound practices of watershed management.
The DRBC is a federal/interstate government agency responsible for managing the water resources within the 13,539 square-mile Delaware River Basin. The five Commission members are the Governors of the basin states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania) and the Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ North Atlantic Division, who represents the federal government.
Additional information, including a fact sheet and the text of the proposed regulations, can be found on the Commission’s web site at www.drbc.net.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

 

Connecticut Anglers Face $500 Fine for Using Lead Jigs and Sinkers – Make Your Voice Heard

Send a message to your state legislators opposing burdensome and unwarranted fishing tackle regulations today

A bill has been introduced in the Connecticut General Assembly to prohibit the sale and use of the most commonly used lead sinkers and jigs in state waters. This comes on the heels of a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that a federal ban on lead fishing tackle is unwarranted. Further, anyone found in violation of this proposed ban will be fined $500 per incident. That is six times more severe than the penalty for fishing without a license! A ban on lead fishing tackle in Connecticut will have a significant negative impact on the state's recreational anglers and fisheries resources, but a negligible impact on the waterfowl populations that it seeks to protect. There is no scientific data to support such a ban.

How You Can Help

KeepAmericaFishing™ needs your help to protect your right to fish in Connecticut. By sending thousands of letters to the EPA and Members of Congress, anglers like you helped ensure that the federal lead ban petition was rejected. You can do the same to defeat the lead ban bill in the Connecticut General Assembly.

Please take action now to ensure that this lead ban legislation will not be adopted. There will be a public hearing on this bill on January 31, so please send a message to Connecticut state legislators today!  Connecticut residents are also encouraged to attend the hearing to voice your opposition.

The Situation

In an attempt to ban the sale and use of the most commonly used lead fishing sinkers and jigs in Connecticut, S.B. 59 was introduced in the General Assembly on January 10. Connecticut anglers generate over $268 million in retail sales with a $445 million impact on the nation's economy. A ban of lead sinkers and jigs in Connecticut is not reasonable or warranted without the scientific data to support such a ban. Fishing tackle made from alternatives to lead can be much more expensive and do not perform as well. Adding to this, S.B. 59 proposes a $500 fine per violation, while the penalty for fishing without a license in Connecticut is only $77. If anglers don't act soon, the cost of fishing in Connecticut may significantly increase.

The ban proposed by S.B. 59 is unjustified. The impact on loons and other waterfowl is the most often cited reason for bans on lead fishing tackle, yet Connecticut does not support a breeding loon population and wintering grebe populations are isolated to a few select waterways. Waterfowl populations in Connecticut are subject to much more substantial threats such as habitat loss, water acidification and mercury poisoning. Any lead restrictions need to be based on scientific data that supports the appropriate action for a particular water body or species. The bottom line is that this proposed ban on lead sinkers and jigs is not supported by science or an identified need.

Act Now!

Please follow this link to send a message to a Connecticut state legislator to express your opposition to this scientifically and biologically unjustified fishing tackle ban. Please take action now to ensure that the Connecticut General Assembly does not adopt this unwarranted legislation. Send your message today!

http://salsa.wiredforchange.com/o/6394/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=92299

American Rivers: Email - Thank EPA for taking a stand on mountaintop removal!

 

Dear River Advocate,

Recently the people and rivers of Appalachia scored a tremendous victory. After receiving more than 50,000 comments from concerned citizens like you, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) struck down a permit for what would have been the largest mountaintop removal coal mining operation in West Virginia’s history. Please thank EPA for their bold action.

As highlighted in American Rivers’ America’s Most Endangered Rivers™ of 2010 report, mountaintop removal mining buries streams and is incredibly harmful to clean water, fish and wildlife, and public health. West Virginia’s Spruce No. 1 Mine would have destroyed 2,200 acres of mountains and forest and six miles of high-quality streams.

EPA’s decision sends a strong statement against mountaintop removal mining across the region, and Administrator Lisa Jackson deserves our thanks. Please send a note to Administrator Jackson today, thanking EPA for its bold action to protect clean water.

 

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

2011 fly tying and fly fishing symposium in Utica, NY

2011 fly tying and fly fishing symposium in Utica, NY Saturday March 19th we will be having our 3rd annual Fly Tying Symposium. It will be held at the Hotel Utica and will begin at 9:00am. There will be no price for admission. Come enjoy the fun with bucket raffles and seminars all day. We hope to have at least 25 exhibition tyers at the event and we also will have side by side fly tying all day long for kids of all ages.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Fly Fishing Life Magazine

Fly Fishing Life Magazine – One of the flip-book online fly fishing magazines. This one has some great articles (New Zealand, guide interviews, etc.) and photography (Louis Cahill).

Monday, January 17, 2011

A Real Good Site

I just found a real neat site with a lot of good info on it. Go take a look.

http://www.flyfishingtechniques.co/

Sunday, January 16, 2011

New Trout Unlimited Program to Serve U.S. Veterans | Angling Trade

 

New Trout Unlimited Program to Serve U.S. Veterans

 

Arlington, Va.—Trout Unlimited (TU) announces its new Veterans Service Program that will serve U.S. veterans throughout the country, through conservation projects and fly fishing instruction.

With 140,000 members and 400 chapters throughout the country, TU will engage its extensive network of volunteers to introduce wounded and returning veterans to TU’s conservation work through fly fishing. Teaching fly casting basics and providing an introduction to conservation issues throughout the country, TU chapters and partner organizations will provide instruction, camaraderie and local networks of anglers to veterans around the country.

“TU members will have a greater opportunity to thank the people who have served our country in so many ways by offering the healing experience of fly fishing while at the same time, working on rivers and streams throughout the country,” said Bryan Moore, Trout Unlimited’s Director of Volunteer Operations. “This program will allow TU’s 400 chapters to coordinate with veterans groups in a new, comprehensive manner,” Moore said.

The program will receive primary funding through the generous support of the Telos Corporation.

The project will work with veteran rehabilitation groups across the country, assisting veterans in rehabilitation after physical and emotional injuries.  In addition to the unique therapeutic value of fly fishing, veterans will be introduced to TU’s conservation work, youth education programs and various community outreach initiatives.

Alan Folger of Hendersonville, N.C. is the project’s program coordinator. Folger is a lifelong conservationist, a fly fisherman and disabled veteran.  He served throughout Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict as a member of the U.S. Air Force.

Trout Unlimited is the nation’s largest coldwater conservation organization, with 140,000 members dedicated to conserving, protecting, and restoring North America’s trout and salmon fisheries and their watersheds.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

knot tyer.

If you hit the “knot tyer” below it will take you to a page where at the bottom of the page is a Video that will show you how to use The Knot Tyer. This Knot Tyer really makes life easier I have used it for about 8 years now and would be lost without it

knot tyer.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Field Notes - Noteworthy News from NY Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources

 

  • Count Wild Turkeys This Winter.
    Consider recording the number of wild turkeys you see this winter to help DEC monitor trends in New York's wild turkey populations. Snow and cold temperatures negatively affect wild turkeys, particularly young birds ("jakes" - young males and "jennies" - young females). Your observations will help DEC calculate wild turkey numbers prior to the spring breeding season. The survey runs from January 1 through March 31 and participating is easy. Visit the
    Winter Wild Turkey Flock Survey (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48756.html) webpage where you will find an electronic form with further instructions. Also, take a look at the 2010 winter flock survey results (http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/66526.html) to learn what your observations told us about turkey populations last year.
  • Field Notes - Noteworthy News from NY Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources

    Come and see what's in store at Feather-Craft, and take advantage of cool winter savings!

    Come and see what's in store at Feather-Craft, and take advantage of cool winter savings!

    YOUR CHOICE:

    Take $20 OFF
    your order of $100 or more
    —OR—
    Get FREE SHIPPING
    on your order of $50 or more

    SHOP NOW at FEATHER-CRAFT.COM

    To receive the cash discount type WINTER PROMO in the "special instructions" section when checking out on our website, or mention the special discount when ordering by phone or fax. We will apply the discount when we bill your order. Our web shopping cart will not show the discount. Please note: YOU MUST INFORM US THAT YOU ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROMOTION, THE DISCOUNT IS NOT AUTOMATIC.

    To receive the free shipping type FREE SHIPPING in the "special instructions" section when checking out on our website, or mention the special discount when ordering by phone or fax. We will apply the discount when we bill your order. Our web shopping cart will not show the discount. Please note: YOU MUST INFORM US THAT YOU ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROMOTION, THE DISCOUNT IS NOT AUTOMATIC.

    SHOP NOW at FEATHER-CRAFT.COM

    *NOTE: This promotion absolutely ends Wednesday, January 19th, 2010 at midnight Central Time. No exceptions or extensions for any reason. Cannot be used in conjunction with any of our other promotions. Excludes clearance, sale, and closeout items. Prior sales are absolutely excluded. This offer may be used only once. Feather-Craft reserves the right to exclude certain products from this promotion due to manufacturers' request.

    Thank you,
    Bob Story

    Feather-Craft Fly Fishing  |  St. Louis, Missouri
    Order Toll-Free 1-800-659-1707  |  www.feather-craft.com

    Thursday, January 13, 2011

    Didymo may be more of an eyesore than despoiler of watersheds

    The latest issue of the US Fish & Wildlife magazine, “Eddies” is devoted completely to aquatic invasives. Not just the standard fare we’re used to seeing, but many of the plants that are causing issues for the deep South and Texas.

    Now that the fissures in rubber shoe soles are being blamed for seed travel, and once you’ve glimpsed the effect of Giant Salvinia or Water Chestnut on a waterway, you wonder how much longer they’re going to let us get in the water, period.

    There was a hint of good news, however. Our old pal Didymo may not be as bad as first thought, given that the biosecurity professionals in New Zealand have not detected any benthic “dead zone” caused by the diatom smothering the river bottom;

    In spite of widely held presumptions that didymo “smothers” invertebrate populations and therefore harms fisheries, research has proven the opposite. “That’s what the prediction was,” says Vieglais, “but our results proved otherwise and the fact that there has been no collapse of the New Zealand trout fishery since didymo arrived bears that out.”

    Wednesday, January 12, 2011

    The NYCDEP Fall 2010 Watershed Recreation Newsletter

    The NYCDEP Fall 2010 Watershed Recreation Newsletter can now be viewed on our website at:

    http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/pdf/recreation/2010_fall_newsletter.pdf

    Please visit our website at http://nyc.gov/html/dep/html/recreation/index.shtml for additional information on DEP recreation opportunities and maps. Please be sure to keep your e-mail address current with us so that you continue to receive these e-mails as well as notices of when your DEP Access permit is about to expire.

    DEP is responsible for balancing public recreation use with water quality protection for over 9 million New Yorkers. DEP has made major strides in recent years in opening lands and providing additional recreational opportunities. Updates on these can be found on our website. Additionally, recreational users such as yourself are the “eyes and ears” for DEP, as such we ask any suspicious activity observed on DEP lands or waters be reported immediately to the DEP Police at 1-888-H20SHED.

    If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at recreation@dep.nyc.gov or call 1-800-575-LAND.

    What I Am Looking Forward To

    I guess what I am looking forward to is Good Health in the future so that I might be able to go Flyfishing next spring and wade to my hearts content. I would also like to be able to play some Golf with my wife and walk, not ride on the Golf Course.

    I am also looking forward to the day when we can all get along in peace and harmony.

    Tuesday, January 11, 2011

    2011 fly tying and fly fishing symposium in Utica, NY

    Saturday March 19th we will be having our 3rd annual Fly Tying Symposium.

    It will be held at the Hotel Utica and will begin at 9:00am.

    There will be no price for admission.

    Come enjoy the fun with bucket raffles and seminars all day.  We hope to have at least 25 exhibition tyers at the event and we also will have side by side fly tying all day long for kids of all ages.

    If you are interested in being a guest tier, please contact Harold... email here. 

    If you are interested in having a booth or doing a seminar, please email JP Ross. 

    We are looking for sponsors so please contact us if you are willing to send us a monitary donation for this event.  More details to come.

    NOAA Weather Map

    NOAA has put up a site where you can weather info about almost every airport in the USA, go take a look.

    http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/zoa/mwmap3.php?map=usa

    Tuesday, January 4, 2011

    Looking for a good fishing spot. The NYS DEC has been working very hard and has come up with a site for you to look at. http://www.dec.ny.gov/pubs/42978.html
    Go take a look, I think you will enjoy and find it very helpful.