WALLEYES FOREVER

WALLEYES FOREVER

E-NEWSLETTER

No. 2: 12-7-06

Minnesota DNR produces

its fourth ice fishing podcast

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has released the latest in its series of audio programs for outdoor sports enthusiasts titled "Winter Panfishing."

The 30-minute show was recorded in a MP3 format or podcast that can be downloaded from the DNR's Web site and listened to on a computer or portable audio device.

The winter panfishing show features ice fishing expert Terry Tuma and DNR ice safety specialist Tim Smalley. DNR Information Officer Steve Carroll serves as the host.

"Terry provides insight on a variety of topics including what panfishing really is, how to dress properly, what equipment is required, and how to find and land panfish," Smalley said. "I give tips for checking ice thickness and conditions, developing a plan if something goes wrong, why ice anglers should carry a cell phone, and other helpful ice safety do's and don'ts."

The DNR has produced a dozen audio programs. Topics have included ice fishing, early season and fall walleye fishing, crappie fishing, deer hunting, duck hunting, and spring turkey hunting. Listeners have downloaded the various programs more than 10,000 times.

"Podcasts are a cost-effective way of using technology to deliver information to folks who enjoy outdoor activities like ice fishing," Smalley said. "And the programs are portable; anglers can listen to the information while driving to their favorite fishing spot or while sitting on a bucket out in the middle of the lake."

Here are the links to all four Minnesota DNR ice fishing podcasts:

Minnesota Ice Fishing for Panfish:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/news/podcasts/Ice_fishing_for_panfish.mp3

Minnesota Ice Fishing tips:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/news/podcasts/MnIceFishingTips-Sm.mp3

Minnesota Ice Fishing Tips 2:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/news/podcasts/MnIceFishingTips2.mp3

Minnesota ice fishing tips 3 - Late Season Ice Fishing:

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/news/podcasts/MnIceFishTips3.mp3

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Walleyes Forever meeting Thursday Dec. 14

at 7 p.m. at the Elks Club in Billings

Walleyes Forever will meet at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 14, at the Elks Club, 934 Lewis Ave., in Billings. A visit from the old fisherman from the North Pole is planned, so bring your kids along. The old angler plans to arrive early in the meeting, so parents with little ones can get them home before their bedtimes. The business portion of the Walleyes Forever meeting will follow.

Anyone who chooses to come early is welcome to purchase the Elks Club’s daily dinner specials and join their friends eating in the meeting room. They’re reasonably-priced and tasty. The meeting room is on the lower level of the Elks Club. A parking lot is availble in the back of the building and there’s a door to the meeting room right off the parking lot.

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Fort Peck headed to lowest level ever

Fort Peck Reservoir is headed toward its lowest level ever, which is expected to happen sometime in February, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Corps’ December reservoir report states: “Fort Peck releases averaged 7,200 cfs in November, compared to the long-term average of 8,700 cfs, and will be maintained at 9,500 cfs this month, slightly below the average of 9,800 cfs. The reservoir fell 1.2 feet in November, ending at elevation 2201.3 feet msl. It will fall 1.7 feet in December, ending the month at elevation 2199.6 feet, about 28 feet below normal. It is currently 2.4 feet lower than last year at this time. The reservoir is forecast to reach a record low of 2196.8 feet at the end of February, surpassing the previous record of 2198.3 feet set in January 2005.”

Overall storage in the Missouri Reservoir System has already hit record low levels with 34.6 million acre feet recorded on Nov. 30.

To read the Corps release on flows, go to: http://www.walleyesforever.com/news/news.html#3.

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Ice Fishing 101 to be taught in Great Falls

A course in Ice Fishing 101 will be held at Great Falls' North Middle School at 7 p.m. on Dec. 11.

The class includes ice safety, fishing basics, tactics and how to plan an ice fishing trip using your computer.

The event is sponsored by the Great Falls Chapter of Walleyes Unlimited, the North Middle School Fishing Club, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and Scheels.

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Walleye tournament dates are available

Tentative dates for 2007 Montana walleye tournaments and the dates and entry information for Wyoming Walleye Circuit and Lowrance Pro Team Walleye Circuit events have been posted on the website, www.WalleyesForever.com.

Montana tournament dates are tentative, pending approval by the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission.

To see tournaments planned for this year, go to: http://www.walleyesforever.com/tournaments/tournaments.html.

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FWP proposes bass for Lewistown reservoir

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking public comment on a proposal to stock largemouth bass into East Fork Reservoir, south of Lewistown.

The reservoir sits on the East Fork of Big Spring Creek, covers about 119 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 35 feet.

Currently, the reservoir’s fishery consists mostly of northern pike and yellow perch. Stocking largemouth bass would diversify the fishery and result in predation of the yellow perch, 90 percent of which are less than 8 inches long.

Copies of the draft environmental assessment are available by writing Anne Tews, FWP fisheries biologist in Lewistown, at P.O. Box 938, Lewistown MT 59457, or calling (406) 538-4658, or by e-mail at antews@mt.gov, or on the FWP website at: http://fwp.mt.gov/publicnotices/

Comments on the EA will be accepted until 5 p.m., Jan. 12, 2007. Send comments to East Fork Reservoir, FWP, P.O. Box 938, Lewistown MT 59457, or e-mail them to antews@mt.gov.

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And, finally……..

Ole, the portrait artist

Ole, while not a brilliant scholar, was a gifted portrait artist. His fame grew and soon people from all over the country were coming to him in Minnesota for paintings.

One day, a beautiful young woman pulled up to his house in a stretch limo. She asked Ole if he would paint her in the nude. This was the first time anyone had made this request. The beautiful lady said money was no object; she was willing to pay $5,000.

Not wanting to get into trouble with his wife, Ole asked the lady to wait while he went in the house and conferred with Lena, his missus.

In a few minutes he returned and said to the lady, "Ya, shoor, you betcha. I'll paint ya in da nude, but I'll haff 'ta leave my socks on so I'll have a place to wipe my brushes."

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