WALLEYES FOREVER

E-NEWSLETTER

From www.WalleyesForever.com

No. 13: 7-18-07

This is what fishing is all about. Jim Muscat shared this photo

of his niece, three-year-old Davian (Tater) Ouellette, and her first

Canyon Ferry trophy walleye. She caught it all by herself

on a floating jig and a leech. Jim said, “She loves to fish.”

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‘Clean, wash, dry’ best defense against

Montana’s new invasive water weed

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

An aggressive water weed was recently found in two northwestern Montana lakes, leaving only Wyoming among the lower 48 states that have dodged the arrival of Eurasian watermilfoil.

The thick green and often foul-smelling plant was confirmed near boat launches in Noxon and Cabinet Gorge reservoirs in northwestern Montana.

"The arrival of this weed is not surprising, but it’s still a concern, " said Eileen Ryce, FWP’s aquatic nuisance species coordinator in Helena. "We’re in the process of considering several control options."

Eurasian watermilfoil was accidentally introduced to North America from Europe and spread westward into inland lakes primarily by boats and waterfowl. It likely reached the Midwest about 30 years ago. It’s firmly established in Idaho, Washington and British Columbia.

In nitrogen-rich lakes the weed can form thick underwater stands. Mats of vegetation grow on the water’s surface, which can hamper, and even eliminate, boating, fishing, and swimming in some waters.

"The plant’s floating mat can also crowd out important native water plants." Ryce said.

A key factor in the plant’s success is its ability to reproduce rapidly. Weed stems and leaves can easily take root and form a new colony. They cling to boats and trailers, which can spread the plant from lake to lake. Removal of native vegetation for beaches and docks create perfect habitat for invading Eurasian watermilfoil.

"Montana’s best defense against this weed and other invasive species is to clean, wash, and dry your boat and trailer after each use," Ryce said. "It’s also important to maintain Montana’s native aquatic plants in their established habitats."

Eurasian watermilfoil has difficulty becoming established in lakes with well-established populations of native plants. In some lakes the Eurasian watermilfoil appears to coexist with native plants and has little impact on fish and other aquatic animals.

The most likely means of spreading Eurasian watermilfoil occurs when the weed becomes entangled in boat propellers, keels and rudders. Stems can become lodged among any watercraft apparatus or sports equipment that moves through the water, especially boats and boat trailers.

"If boaters remember these three tips—clean, wash and dry—and get into the habit of carrying out this preventative maintenance, we’ll be able to decrease the number of these troubling introductions in Montana." Ryce said.

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Think ice! Winter ice fishing events proposed

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on 24 ice-fishing contests proposed for this winter. Contest participants must comply with all applicable fishing regulations, including daily and possession limits.

Please send comments on or before Aug. 17 to: FWP-Fisheries Division, Attn: Public Comment on Fishing Derbies, Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701, or by email to: npodolinsky@mt.gov .

Proposed 2007-2008 Ice Fishing Derbies

Northwestern Montana, Region 1

Dec. 29: Sunriser Lions Family Ice Fishing Derby held on Smith Lake

January 5, 2008 : Perch Assault held on Lower Stillwater Lake

January 19-20, 2008: Fisher River Valley Winter Fishing Derby held on Lower, Middle and Upper Thompson Lakes, Crystal Lake and Loon Lake

February 1-23, 2008: 5th Annual Perch Pounder held on all of Region 1 waters

February 2, 2008: Perch Assault held on Middle Thompson Lake

February 9-10, 2008:McGregor Lake Resort Annual Fishing Derby held on McGregor Lake

February 16, 2008: Snappy Sport Senter 8th Annual Lake Mary Ronan Derby held on Lake Mary Ronan

February 23, 2008: Ryan Wagner Memorial Scholarship Ice Fishing Derby held on Murphy Lake

February 23, 2008: Canyon Kids Christmas Fund Fishing Derby held on Lion Lake

March 1, 2008: Lake Mary Ronan Perch Assault held on Lake Mary Ronan

March 9, 2008: Lower Stillwater Lake Ice Derby held on Lower Stillwater Lake

Southwestern Montana, Region 2

January 12-13, 2008: Pike on Ice held on Seeley and Salmon Lake

South Central Montana, Region 3

January 26, 2008: Stan Shafer Memorial Ice Fishing Derby held on Clark Canyon Reservoir:

North Central Montana, Region 4

January 20, 2008: Central Montana Perch Derby held on East Fork Reservoir

January 26, 2008: Western Bar Ice Fishing Derby held on Willow Creek Reservoir

January 26-27, 2008: Broadwater Lions Perch Derby held on Canyon Ferry Reservoir

January 27, 2008: Utica Rod and Gun Club and Oxen Yoke Inn Fishing Derby held on Ackley Lake

February 12, 2008: V.F.W. Ice Fishing Derby held on Newlan Reservoir

February 16, 2008: Valier Volunteer Fire Department 10th Annual Fishing Derby held on Lake Frances

Northeastern Montana, Region 6

January 5, 2008: 1st Annual Clinton Phipps Memorial Ice Fishing Derby held on Fort Peck Reservoir

January 26, 2008: Murphy’s 2nd Annual Ice Fishing Tournament held on Nelson Reservoir

January 26, 2008: Hell Creek Ice Fishing Tournament held on Fort Peck Reservoir

January 26-27, 2008: 5th Annual Big Money Ice Fishing Derby held on Lower Beaver Creek Reservoir

February 16, 2008: 12th Annual Ice Fishing Derby held on Fort Peck Reservoir

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North Dakota state record muskie caught

North Dakota Game and Fish

Cory Busch, of Mandan, reeled in a 46-pound 8-ounce muskie at New Johns Lake on July 3, besting both the North Dakota State Record Fish Chart’s pure muskie (46 pounds) and tiger muskie (40 pounds) state records, according to Scott Gangl, fisheries management section leader for the North Dakota Game and Fish Department.

Genetic material is being sent to a lab to determine whether the fish is a tiger muskie, a cross between a northern pike and pure muskie.

New Johns Lake, part of the Garrison Diversion canal lakes, is located in northern Burleigh County. Both types of muskies have been stocked into the canal lakes.

Bosch’s catch was impressive considering it was caught on a 10-pound test line. “It seemed like it took forever to land,” Bosch said. “It was at least a half hour, probably even longer.” Bosch caught the 54-inch muskie in 20 feet of water using a reef runner while trolling.

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New regulation to reduce walleye harvest

on Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs

Minnesota DNR

Due to better-than-expected walleye fishing on Lake Mille Lacs, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) implemented a new regulation to limit harvest so that the total walleye kill, including hooking mortality, stays within the allowable safe harvest level.

Effective July 9, anglers who fish Lake Mille Lacs are able to keep only walleye that are at least 14 inches and no more than 16 inches in length, plus one walleye 28 inches or larger. The four-fish bag limit will remain the same. The regulations are slated to be relaxed on Dec. 1.

"The hot bite has been great," said DNR Commissioner Mark Holsten, "but unprecedented fishing pressure, higher than anticipated catch rates and higher-than-normal hooking mortality due to unusually warm water temperatures compel us to take this conservation action."

Lake Mille Lacs is managed differently than any other lake in Minnesota. Its safe harvest level is set following meetings between the DNR and Chippewa Indian bands that signed the 1837 Treaty. Fisheries biologists have estimated that 549,000 pounds of walleye can be safely harvested from Mille Lacs this year. The eight bands set their harvest at 100,000 pounds, leaving 449,000 pounds for nonband anglers.

As of June 30, the nonband walleye kill is estimated at 384,000 pounds. This number is based on daytime creel surveys. It includes the number of fish that angler's keep plus those estimated to die after being released. Night harvest, which started June 11, and winter and summer tournament mortality are estimated separately. They add an estimated 50,000 pounds to that total. That puts the total kill at about 434,000 pounds, which is within 15,000 pounds of the nonband anglers' 449,000-pound allocation.

"We hoped the hot bite would cool a bit but that hasn't happened," said Holsten. "In fact, fishing pressure in the last half of June was at 372,000 angler-hours, the highest level ever recorded for that period." He said the agency considered many different regulation options before settling on the 14- to 16-inch harvest slot.

"Our options were limited," said Holsten. "We are only 15,000 pounds below our allocation and 114,000 pounds below an agreed upon maximum allowable kill that would close walleye fishing. As such, we need to stretch the harvest out over the next five months of open water fishing or risk closing the fishery."

Though Mille Lacs walleye fishing has never been closed due to high harvest, the DNR did make a similar mid-season regulation change in 2001 to avoid such a drastic action. The old regulation allowed anglers to keep four walleye up to 20 inches in length, with not more than one over 28 inches.

Ron Payer, DNR fisheries chief, said a lot of what the DNR is seeing this year has never been seen before. Boat traffic and launch fishing pressure are about double the norm. Near-shore water temperatures averaged 72 degrees in the last half of June, which is exceptionally warm.

"Water temperature is meaningful because higher temps translate into higher mortality, especially when fish are caught in deeper water," said Payer. "We've had about 90,000 pounds of hooking mortality this year and most of those pounds came from fish between 20- to 28-inches in length."

Payer encouraged Mille Lacs anglers to exercise voluntary restraint, noting that even catch-and-release fishing has consequences to the fish numbers and regulations. He also encouraged anglers to take steps that help fish survive. These include setting the hook quickly, releasing fish quickly and cutting the line on deep-hooked fish.

"This is a good news, bad news story," said Payer. "The good news is that fishing is great. The bad news is it's too good." Payer said he expects the fishing to continue to be good and encouraged anglers to keep Mille Lacs in their fishing plans. "Mille Lacs is a great destination regardless of the regulation," he said. "In addition to walleye, it offers top-notch muskie, northern pike and smallmouth bass fishing."

Statewide, walleye fishing has been good this year. Anglers have been doing well on big walleye lakes - Lake of the Woods, Cass, Winnibigoshish, Vermillion and Red, for example - though fishing pressure has been down in some places, especially Red Lake due to high winds and large waves. There is some speculation that higher gas prices have prompted Twin Cities anglers to fish closer to home, thereby favoring Mille Lacs over more distant walleye waters.

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New Colorado state record lake trout

tops 50 pounds

Colorado DNR

During the 40 years Don Walker has fished at Blue Mesa Reservoir he's caught plenty of big lake trout. But none measured up to the one he caught May 23.

Walker, 61, now holds the record for the biggest lake trout caught in Colorado: The  fish weighed 50 pounds, 5 ounces, measured 44 1/4 inches long with a girth of 34 3/8 inches. The record lake trout, also known as a Mackinaw, weighed nearly 4 pounds more than the previous record lake trout caught in 2003 that weighed 46 pounds 14 ounces and measured 42 1/2 inches long.  

"I've been fishing over there for a long time, so when it hit I knew I had a big fish on," Walker said from his home in Florence.  

Walker and his wife, Paula, were fishing from a boat near Soap Creek in about 40 feet of water. He used a tube jig and was bouncing the lure on the bottom. The technique is known as "jigging." The temperature of the water at the surface was 53 degrees. Walker explained that lake trout fishing seems to be the best when the surface water temperature is between 50 degrees and 55 degrees.  

With his graphite rod rigged with 12-pound test line, Walker fought the fish for 25 minutes before bringing it up to the boat.  

"You have to play a fish like that just right or you'll break the line. The rod was bent double," Walker said.  

His wife netted the fish when it got near the boat.  "You need a lot of help with a fish like that, you need a good netter. Paula did a good job," Walker said.  

Ironically, the man who held the record previously was fishing from another boat a short distance away. Larry Cornell of Pueblo, who is also Walker's brother-in-law, watched as the new record Mackinaw was brought to the surface.  "I was there when he caught that one," Walker said.  

Walker weighed his fish in the boat and was surprised to see that it probably weighed 50 pounds. They went to shore and weighed it again to be sure. Then they took it to the Gunnison office of the Colorado Division of Wildlife for an official weigh-in and measurement. A DOW wildlife officer verified that the fish set the new record.  

Blue Mesa Reservoir is one of Colorado's most productive fisheries. The water warms up more than other higher-elevation reservoirs and that encourages abundant growth of phyto- and zooplankton - microorganisms that provide a food source for fish. Kokanee salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout thrive in the lake. In turn those fish provide a food source for lake trout which are a predator species.  

The daily bag limit for lake trout is 8 per day of any size.  Walker plans to have his big fish mounted.  

His tip for catching big Mackinaws: "We've sat out there many days and haven't caught any fish. You've got to have a lot of patience and be at the right place at the right time."  

Blue Mesa Reservoir is located about 10 miles east of Gunnison in south central Colorado.

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Anglers can win rewards by returning tags
from Washington’s upper Columbia salmon study

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Anglers can receive up to $100 in rewards for providing information about tagged chinook salmon they catch in areas of the upper Columbia River drainage that opened for fishing July 1.

Since July 9, state and tribal biologists have been tagging salmon captured on the Okanogan and upper Columbia rivers as part of a broodstock collection research project that is associated with construction of a new salmon hatchery near Chief Joseph Dam.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is assisting the Colville Confederated Tribes in testing live-capture gear that eventually will be used to gather local broodstock for the planned hatchery, which is scheduled to begin production by 2011.

Anglers who catch a salmon fitted with either a jaw or a gill-plate tag are asked to return the tag, along with information about the date and location of the catch, to Chris Waldbillig, Fish Program, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 600 Capitol Way N., Olympia WA 98501. Or call 360-902-2740 or 509-634-2113. A photo of a tagged salmon is posted on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/fish/graphics/tagposter.pdf.

Anglers who call or send in information on tagged fish will be entered into a raffle for cash prizes ranging from $50 to $100. Anglers may keep any tagged salmon they catch; a rule requiring that tagged fish be released has been rescinded.

“We’re testing live-capture gear to determine the best method to collect local broodstock for the hatchery,” said Charmane Ashbrook, a WDFW research biologist. “We’re using tangle nets and beach seines so we don’t harm fish that are captured and released.”

Trapping will take place on the upper Columbia River above Wells Dam, on the Okanogan River from the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge, and at other locations upstream to the Canadian border, Ashbrook said. Some trapping will be done at night to boost success rates and avoid anglers, she said.

Like last year, the research boats will be marked with signs so anglers and others on the river can identify them, Ashbrook said.

Salmon produced from the future tribal hatchery will provide additional fishing opportunities for tribal and sport fishers, said Joe Peone, Fish and Wildlife Department director for the Colville Confederated Tribes. A major goal of that project is to ensure that fish raised at the hatchery are compatible with wild fish in the area, he said.

“The capture gear study will help us increase the genetic diversity of the broodstock we work with at the new hatchery, so we’re not just relying on those fish that return to the hatchery,” Peone said. “Since we’ll be marking the hatchery fish with adipose fin clips, it may also enable us to offer additional selective fishing and further increase conservation of wild salmon.”

The study is funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) through mitigation and fish-recovery directives of the Northwest Power Act.

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Arizona helps endangered desert pupfish

Arizona Game and Fish

About 150 endangered desert pupfish are in new homes, courtesy of biologists’ hard work and a 70-mile truck ride in special holding tanks.

Biologists from the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Tonto National Forest last week transplanted the pupfish from a pond at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum near Superior to the Mud Spring area in the Tonto National Forest, about 40 miles northeast of Phoenix.

Desert pupfish, a federally listed endangered species, now only live in parts of Arizona, California and Mexico. Pollution, human changes to the environment and the introduction of competing exotic fish species in Arizona have caused the desert pupfish’s habitat to shrink. Several organizations have been involved in breeding more of the fish so that new areas can be populated. In this case, the transplanted fish were taken from a pond at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.

“Desert pupfish were once common and widespread,” says Ross Timmons, a biologist with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “This was a coordinated effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Tonto National Forest to create new populations of desert pupfish within their range.”

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Join Walleyes Forever – get a free cap!

As part of your $25 annual membership in Walleyes Forever, each member will receive one, free WF logo cap. The membership year runs from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31.

Your dues help us to help fund projects including kids fishing days. You will also receive our four-page newsletter in the mail each month.

If you'd like to purchase additional WF logo caps, they'll be on sale for $8 each at club meetings or from WF Treasurer Linda Granholm.

To join Walleyes Forever, go to www.walleyesforever.com/membership/membership.html.

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And, finally……..

Ole the contractor

A couple was looking through their new home with Ole the contractor, picking out wall colors for the various rooms.

They went into the living room first and said they'd like to have it painted a pale blue. Ole wrote something down on a pad, then went to the window and yelled, "Gren sida oop!"

They went on into the kitchen, where the couple chose a light clay color for the room. Again, Ole wrote something on a pad, went to the window and yelled, "Gren sida oop!"

This continued from room to room, upstairs and downstairs, all through the house, until they were finished. Finally, the husband couldn't contain himself any longer. he had to find out what was going on.

"I'm confused," he said. "Every room we've gone to, we've picked out a particular paint color, you've written on a pad, then gone to the window and yelled, ‘Gren sida oop!’ Now, I know a little Norwegian. And we didn't choose green for any of the rooms. What's going on?"

"Oh", said Ole. "I've got Sven out der layin' sod for me."

The Demographics of American Newspapers

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country and who are very good at crossword puzzles.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times. They do, however, like their statistics shown in pie charts.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country -- if they could find the time -- and if they didn't have to leave Southern California to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country and did a poor job of it, thank you very much.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train.

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who's running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.

9. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country but need the baseball scores.

10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure there is a country . . or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all  that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are handicapped minority feminist atheist dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that they are not Republicans.

11. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.

12. The Billings Gazette is read by people who have recently caught and cleaned a fish and need something in which to wrap it.

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