Peck Pond, Pulaski State Park and Recreational Area, Glocester, RI

Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Photos by Wayne G. Barber

Location Information:  Peck Pond, Pulaski State Park, Glocester, RI

Date 12-28-17 Temp 7 degrees, 17 mph wind, 6-8 inches of Ice. 

Results: 1 Largemouth 2.8 lb 15 inches, 4 yellow perch, 1 large pickerel lost in the weeds. Albert Gaulin landed all the fish and we purchased some nice lively shiners and some dillies for our jigging hardware at Big Bear Putnam Pike in Harmony, RI Some people shoveled off a 60foot area for skating and a good spot for a small fire to roast some kielbasa. The beaver huts were exciting for the grandchildren and also a very nice Owl. Year round family fun at Pulaski Park. Bathhouse is closed in winter but the old fashioned outhouse brought back a lot of memories growing up on a farm. No Sears catalog was in the Outhouse though.

Albert Gaulin, Grampa,Wayne G. Barber, Mason Barber and Graham Barber

151 Pulaski Road
Chepachet, RI 02814

Mailing Address:

George Washington Management Area Headquarters
2185 Putnam Pike
Chepachet , RI 02814-1705

Other Information:

Make a reservation at Pulaski State Recreational Area
View a map of Pulaski State Park's ski trails
Parking: Electric vehicle charging station available for 4 hours max while enjoying the park or other facility. The EV station does not guarantee a space on full capacity days.

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Reservations are required for use of the Pavilion. Walk in rentals will still be acceptable when available. Contact the Recreational Area headquarters for more information.
Florescent orange requirements apply for all users during hunting season.
The cross-country ski program depends on snow conditions; trails close at 3:30 p.m. Call for conditions.
The use of boats or any flotation devices in Peck Pond is strictly prohibited.

 Located within the 4000 acre George Washington Management Area, the 100 acre Pulaski Memorial Recreation Area is a "day use" facility offering users a multitude of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. From the first class trout fishing in the spring, to enjoying a picnic, a short hike, or a cool swim in the 13 acre Peck Pond in the summer, to cross-country skiing on the 10 miles of groomed trails into the adjacent George Washington Management area in the winter, Pulaski provides year round enjoyment for all ages.

The Pond is called Peck Pond and borders Thompson, Conn and Glocester, RI and the Counties are Windham, Conn. and Providence County, RI.
 Physical features; 13 Acres with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Basin is manmade and a average depth is 4.7 feet. No fall draining on this moving water with a very pretty bridge to join the two States.
 Known fish population: Largemouth Bass,Golden trout, Chain pickerel and red fin pickerel, brown bullhead, golden shiner, yellow perch, common sunfish and stocked salmonids, spring and fall.
Ice Fishing: This beautiful body of clean water is the first to lock-up in the Ocean State for early ice fishing. Use smaller shiners and pinheads along with your popular hardware for some great perch jigging sweetened up with a meal worm or dillie. Some days great for a hike or snow shoeing, cross county, snow shoeing or use the pinetree shade in the hot summer for a old fashion affordable picnic and a dip. Bathrooms in warm weather and a outhouse for winter use was open today.

Yes, you can still fish for trout in Rhode Island till Feb. 28, 2018

Posted by Wayne G. Barber


Many e-mails on this subject:

10.6 Regulations

10.6.1 Freshwater Fisheries Regulations
 As Follows:

1. The open season on all species of trout, salmon, and charr shall close annually on the last day of February at midnight and shall commence at 6:00 AM on the second Saturday in April 2018 annually. From the second Saturday in April through November 30th annually, the daily creel and possession limits for trout shall be five (5) fish; and from DECEMBER 1st through the last day in February,28th,2018 annually, the daily creel and possession limits for trout shall be two (2) fish.  All designated trout waters (§ 10.6.1 (A) (15) of this Part) shall be closed to all fishing from the last day of February at midnight and shall commence at 6:00 AM on the second Saturday in April annually, unless otherwise designated.  Possession of trout, salmon, or charr taken from any waters of the state during the closure shall be prohibited.

A valid 2017 fresh water fishing license and trout stamp will overlap and be honored till the 2018 licenses are out by the first week of March, 2018, unless announced earlier by RI Dem with the advancements in computers. All other 2018 New England fresh water licenses are available right now on each States web-site on the left to our web-page if you are planning a trip.

Tip; if fishing by jigging or with a tip-up for trout in clear water such as Wallum Lake or Stafford Pond try using a gold hook for a much better result.

FALL BROODSTOCK ATLANTIC STOCKING UPDATE

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

FALL BROODSTOCK ATLANTIC STOCKING UPDATE:  DEEP’s 2017 BROODSTOCK ATLANTIC SALMON STOCKINGS were completed this week – just in time for the Holidays!

 

BROODSTOCK ATLANTIC SALMON were stocked into the Naugatuck River (76 fish total, 38 fish went into the upper broodstock area and 38 fish went into the lower broodstock area) yesterday (Thursday, 12/21). Earlier this week (Tuesday, 12/19) the Shetucket River was stocked with 75 fish. These are 4-10 lb fish with some even larger (up to 15 lbs).

 

Happy Holidays! From the Outdoor Scene

William Pinney of Warren Wins Vermont's Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License Lottery

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, Vt. William Pinney, 65, of Warren, Vermont, is the lucky winner of the 2017 Vermont Lifetime Hunting and Fishing License Lottery.  With his lifetime license, Pinney will be entitled to hunt and fish for free for life.  He was drawn as the winner from among 10,650 lottery tickets purchased in 2017.

“This was my second year of deer hunting,” said Pinney.  “I love hunting in Vermont.  I didn’t get a deer yet, but I had a great time.” 

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department holds the drawing annually and presents a lifetime hunting and fishing license to the winner. 

“The Lifetime License Lottery gives anyone, resident or nonresident, an opportunity to win a Vermont hunting and fishing license that is valid for the recipient’s lifetime,” said Fish & Wildlife Commissioner Louis Porter.  “Even if you don’t win the license, by applying, you know you have contributed to fish and wildlife conservation in Vermont.” 

This year’s sales of the $2.00 tickets brought $21,300 to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department.  These state dollars can be leveraged with federal funds to produce $85,300 to support the department’s mission to conserve fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the people of Vermont.

“These funds help us to manage the state’s sport fish and game animals, protect threatened and endangered species, and conserve important habitat for wildlife,” said Porter.

Hunters and anglers can enter Vermont’s License of a Lifetime Lottery by adding the $2.00 entry fee when they buy their license on the Fish & Wildlife Department website at vtfishandwildlife.com.  They can also enter by applying at locations statewide wherever Vermont hunting and fishing licenses are sold, or with a printable application also available on the department website.  There is no limit on the number of times someone may enter during the year. 

New Hampshire: F&G Acquires New WMA in Rindge

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, NH -- On November 29, 2017, the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department purchased approximately 672 acres of land in Rindge and Fitzwilliam (most of the property –about 667 acres – is in Rindge). The area will be known as the Pearly Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The purchase price was $765,000.

The property has about 50 acres of wetland, ranging from small brooks to beaver ponds to marshland associated with Pearly Lake. It also contains 50 acres of fields that will be maintained by Fish and Game. The rest of the property is comprised of white pine/red oak/red maple forest. The area includes about 3,500 feet of frontage on Pearly Lake, which is a shallow warmwater pond that supports bass, perch, and pickerel.

"The protection of this property was part of an effort to expand the Department's holdings in southwestern New Hampshire, where we have had limited ownership and the properties we do have are quite small in size," explained Fish and Game Land Agent Richard Cook.

"The property was also attractive because it includes a range of different kinds of habitat that can support a diversity of wildlife species," Cook continued. "A property of this size affords the opportunity to improve habitats through field and forest management that will have tremendous benefits to local wildlife populations."

The property can be accessed from Ingalls Road and the Class VI portion of Bowers Hill Road. It can also be accessed from Old Rindge Road in Fitzwilliam.

The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests holds a conservation easement on the property, however, the easement did not guarantee public access and also contained a right for the construction of a single residence. Now the right to public access for hunting, fishing, trapping, and other wildlife-related recreational activities is permanently protected.

Funds for the purchase of the land for the Pearly Lake Wildlife Management Area came from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Wildlife Restoration Program, which provides funding to state wildlife agencies to protect bird and mammal habitat and to provide the public with access to those resources. The Department is working to protect areas of significant habitat across the state and to ensure that citizens from all regions have access to Wildlife Management Areas. Learn more about wildlife habitat management in New Hampshire at www.wildnh.com/habitat.        

Walleye Report in Connecticut warm waters....

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

WARMWATER FISHERIES...

WALLEYE.   A total of 27,900 walleye fingerlings was stocked into state-owned management waters on October 20, 2017. Similar to last year, 12% of the fingerlings the Fisheries Division (FD) purchased were larger than the typical size fingerlings (averaging 7 inches instead of the typical 5 inches in length). These larger fingerlings have been stocked into Mashapaug and Gardner lakes for the last three years because the adult walleye populations had been declining in the two lakes since 2009. As a result of this experiment, spring electrofishing catch rates of yearling walleye have more than tripled in both lakes, suggesting improved overwinter survival of the larger fingerlings. Based on walleye growth rates these fish should be reaching legal size (18 inches) in spring of 2018 in Mashapaug Lake (3.4 years to reach 18”) and 2019 in Gardner Lake (4.3 years to 18”).
The remaining standard 5-inch size fingerlings were stocked into Batterson Park Pond, Beach Pond, Cedar Lake (Chester), Coventry Lake, Lake Zoar, Mount Tom Pond, Squantz Pond, and for the first time,
Long Pond in North Stonington. Stocking in West Thompson Reservoir was discontinued this year because it did not meet expectations; after 5 years of stocking only one Walleye was ever sampled via nighttime boat electrofishing. Standard size fingerlings were also purchased by Aquarion Water Company and by South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority, and stocked into Saugatuck Reservoir and Lake Saltonstall respectively. Due to budget constraints, fish were not purchased by the Town of East Hampton this year for stocking into Lake Pocotopaug.

Ice Fishing Clinics are Scheduled

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Ice Fishing Clinics are Scheduled

Learning how to participate in an outdoor activity can be challenging, and ice fishing is a good example.  Knowing this, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has scheduled a series of ice fishing clinics for first-timers and those who would like to learn more about hard water fishing.

 

“Our ice fishing clinics will be held from mid-January to mid-February with the possibility that some dates may change according to ice and weather conditions,” said Fish & Wildlife Education Specialist Corey Hart.  “Everyone is welcome no matter their experience level.  We want this to be fun and helpful for all.”

 

The Basic Ice fishing courses will teach beginners all the skills they need to know to be successful and safe while ice fishing. The Introductory courses will review the basics while focusing on teaching anglers the skills they need to target a specific species.

 

Each clinic will last 2 ½ to 3 hours, and exact location details will be given when people register for the event.  Topics to be covered include ice safety, hole drilling, equipment and techniques, regulations and different techniques for different fish.  

 

All participants will have the opportunity to practice what they have learned near the end of each event.  Everyone is urged to wear clothing suitable for the weather conditions. 

 

Pre-registration is required by contacting Corey Hart at LetsGoFishing@vermont.gov or 802-265-2279.

 

Vermont Fish &Wildlife’s Ice Fishing Clinics for 2018

 

Tuesday, January 16 -- 10:00 a.m.  Introduction to Walleye Fishing at Lake Carmi

 

Thursday, February 1 -- 10:00 a.m.  Basic Ice Fishing Clinic at Shelburne pond

 

Saturday February 3 -- 10:00 a.m.  Introduction to Walleye Fishing at Chittenden Reservoir

 

Thursday, February 8 -- 2:00 p.m.  Basic Ice Fishing Clinic at Lake Bomoseen

 

Thursday, February 15 -- 4:00 p.m.  Introduction to Smelting at Waterbury Reservoir

Rhode Island’s Osprey Numbers Continue to Soar

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Ospreys were driven to near extinction in the 1960s and 1970s because of the effects of the pesticide DDT. (Ed Hughes/for the Audubon Society of Rhode Island)

Rhode Island’s osprey population is climbing, after a highly productive year in 2016, and while the wet spring of 2017 will likely cause a decrease in nesting success this year, the once-rare fish-eating hawk is a model conservation success story, according to new report issued by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, which has coordinated the monitoring of osprey nests statewide since 2010.
“We’ve had an amazing long-term trend of not just active nests but successful nests and the number of young,” said Jonathan Scoones, Audubon’s director of volunteer services who coordinates the osprey monitoring program. “Only nine of our nests were not successful this year, so it seems that our ospreys are becoming experienced at raising young.”
More than 100 volunteers recorded 159 active osprey nests in the state last year, with 150 of them successfully raising chicks, an increase of 28 successful nests over the previous year and 45 more than in 2014. The number of young ospreys that fledged from their nests skyrocketed from 186 in 2014 to 297 in 2016.
“Last year was the perfect year for ospreys, mostly because of the weather,” Scoones said. “The birds have to be able to see through the water to find the fish to bring them back to their chicks. They have to be able to see down about three feet into the water. If the weather is bad, they can’t see well enough.”
For the third year in a row, osprey nests in Barrington and South Kingstown produced the most fledglings, with 42 and 41, respectively. The Palmer River area of Barrington and Warren had the densest aggregation of osprey nests in the region, with 22 nests between the East Bay Bike Path bridge in Warren and the Swansea Country Club just over the Massachusetts border.
Butch Lombardi, who monitors a dozen of the nests on the Palmer River, said that food availability and water conditions make the area an ideal place for osprey to nest.
“Food is the prime reason they’re there,” he said. “The river is pretty shallow once you get past the Warren bridge, and there is very little boat traffic except for kayaks and canoes. The key is that the river is so shallow that the birds can hunt it pretty easily because the fish can’t go deep on them.
“If you add Merriman’s Pond at the country club, which is just two feet deep, it’s like McDonald’s takeout for them. It’s an easy place for a meal.”
Ospreys were driven to near extinction in the 1960s and ’70s because of the effects of the pesticide DDT, which caused reproductive failure in many fish-eating birds, including bald eagles. When the osprey monitoring program began in 1977 — originally coordinated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management — just eight young ospreys fledged from nests in the state.
Today, ospreys nest in 28 cities and towns in Rhode Island, including every coastal community except Cranston, as well as inland communities such as Coventry, Exeter, Scituate and West Greenwich.
“There are probably more nests out there that we’re not aware of,” Scoones said, “so we’d love to get feedback from people who may know of nests we can’t easily access. The Scituate Reservoir probably has ospreys, but we don’t have access there to look for them.”
While ospreys appear to be quite common in many parts of the state, Scoones doesn’t believe the area has reached maximum capacity.
“Westport [Mass.] has 80 nests along a short stretch of the river there, so the birds can live communally rather than just one every mile or so, which is what we have here,” he said. “So we can still take on more capacity.”
Scoones said the Palmer River area may not be able to support many more ospreys, but there are numerous places around Greenwich Bay in the Warwick and Cranston area that are available for additional osprey nests.
The Audubon staffer doesn’t believe 2017 will be a banner year for ospreys, however. He expects to see evidence of more new nests being built by many of the birds that fledged from nests in the area during the past two years, but the rainy spring will probably mean that successful nests will produce fewer young than in 2016.
“It’s just harder to find food in the rain; the birds can’t see into the water,” Scoones said. “They don’t like to fly in the rain anyway, and the mother spends her time covering her chicks when it rains, so she can’t help find food.”
Despite his prediction for this year, Scoones anticipates that the increasing trend in osprey numbers will continue into the future.
“We have enough population here already that we can probably weather a few years of something going wrong, like bad weather or food not being available,” he said. “I’m excited about the future because more people are aware of the osprey and are willing to protect them. The birds are being accepted and no longer seen as a threat to fish.”
Scoones remains concerned, however, about continued coastal development that could limit the availability of nesting habitat.
“They need to be able to live in trees or nests close to the water where they can get to their food,” he said. “Nearshore development is forcing ospreys to leave their natural nests, and now they’re going to cell towers and power line towers.”
Anyone interested in becoming an osprey monitor or helping to repair osprey nest poles, should contact Scoones at 401-245-7500 or jscoones@asri.org.
Source: Rhode Island resident and author Todd McLeish runs a wildlife blog.

New Hampshire: Volunteer Ice Fishing Instructors Needed

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

New Hampshire: Volunteer Ice Fishing Instructors Needed

CONCORD, N.H. – Are you an ice angler who is looking to give back to your community? Do you want to share your love of fishing on the ice? New Hampshire Fish and Game's "Let's Go Fishing" Program is currently seeking new volunteer instructors to take part in ice fishing programs around the state. All levels of fishing experience are welcomed.

To sign up for a certification training session, print out and return a Let's Go Fishing Program volunteer application form, which may be found on the Fish and Game website at www.fishnh.com/fishing/documents/lgf-application.pdf. To request a form by mail or email, contact (603) 271-3212 or aquatic-ed@wildlife.nh.gov.

Applications must be received by Friday, January 5, 2018, to reserve your spot in the trainings.

The Let's Go Fishing Program will hold the one-day training for new instructors on Saturday, January 13, 2018, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at N.H. Fish and Game Headquarters, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, N.H. All materials and lunch will be provided.

The training will cover teaching techniques and presentation skills, along with ice safety, ethics, fish identification, ecology, fishing regulations, and more. Once instructors have completed the training, there will be an opportunity to take part in programs and join an existing team of volunteer fishing instructors. These programs are offered in partnership with schools, camps, scout groups, and community centers all over the state.

"Becoming an instructor is extremely rewarding and is a fun way to get people involved in fishing," said Let's Go Fishing Program Coordinator Kyle Glencross.

Thousands of children and adults have learned to be safe, ethical, and successful anglers through the Let's Go Fishing Program. The program is federally funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, supported by an excise tax on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels.

The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department works to conserve, manage, and protect the state's fish and wildlife and their habitats, as well as providing the public with opportunities to use and appreciate these resources. Visit www.fishnh.com.

DEM ADVISES ANGLERS ON WAYS TO MINIMIZE THE SPREAD OF LARGEMOUTH BASS VIRUS Virus found in Watchaug Pond in Charlestown

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is advising anglers of steps they can take to minimize the spread of Largemouth Bass Virus (LMBV). The advisory comes in the wake of confirmation that largemouth bass sampled from Watchaug Pond in Charlestown have tested positive for LMBV.

 

DEM offers the following suggestions to minimize the spread of LMBV:

·         Do not transplant bass from one waterbody to another – it is against the law!

·         Drain, clean, and dry boats, motors, and fishing gear between each use.

·         Do not release bait fish into any waterbody.

·         Refrain from catching and releasing bass during periods of high water temperatures.

·         Report all fish kills to DEM at 222-3070.

 

DEM, in collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), first began testing bass from Rhode Island lakes and ponds in 2006 for LMBV. The fish have been tested at the USFWS Lamar Fish Health Center in Pennsylvania. The disease has previously been found in Echo Lake in Burrillville and Olney Pond in Lincoln. 

LMBV was first isolated in Florida in 1991, and the first large-scale fish kill occurred in 1995 in South Carolina. Since 1995, LMBV has been found in 17 southeastern states and has spread along the Mississippi River and into Lake Champlain. LMBV is a naturally-occurring fish virus that does not pose a human health risk for people who eat or handle infected fish. However, all freshwater fish should be thoroughly cooked before being consumed.

 

Infected fish may not show any effects of the virus until it is activated by stressful environmental conditions such as high water temperatures, low oxygen levels, droughts, secondary injuries, or bacterial infections.  These are conditions which could trigger the virus and potentially cause fish kills. The virus is specific to bass and does not impact any other species of fish. LMBV closely resembles Doctor fish virus and Guppy virus 6, which suggests its origin from Southeast Asia. The common symptoms are hyper-buoyancy, spiral swimming, and lethargy which are attributed to damage to the swim bladder.

 

DEM will continue to test Rhode Island lakes and ponds for LMBV.

 

For information of interest to anglers visit www.dem.ri.gov.  Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) or Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM for timely updates.

Ice Fishing Booms thanks to New Products

Wayne K., Mason, and Graham a few years back at Bowdish

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Jack Polachek, Lakafish, Lake

Best and Brightest New Ice Fishing Items Extend Your Season

2″ or less – STAY OFF
4″ May allow Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5″ often allows for Snowmobile or ATV travel
8″ – 12″ of good ice with supports most Cars or small pickups
12″ – 15″ will likely hold a Medium sized truck.

Remember that these thicknesses are merely guidelines for new, clear, solid ice. Many factors other than thickness can cause ice to be unsafe.

Pascoag,RI – Maybe it's no wonder folks living south of the Mason-Dixon line view ice fishing as slightly senseless; the Arizona Senator McCain once called "moronic." Who in their right mind, after all, would stare through a hole in the ice for eight hours straight? Or drive a full-size truck onto a frozen lake? Or risk frostbite for a fish bite?

The answer, according to data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is well over 2 million people — that's who. In 2006, outdoors folks spent about $105-million on ice fishing tackle and equipment, a figure that had ballooned to $178-million by 2011 and is expected to easily exceed $200-million when 2016 data is unveiled. That's nearly a 100-percent expansion in sales of ice fishing gear in a single decade.

So why all the excitement for a sport that's conducted in the cold? For one, becoming a first-time ice angler is simple and relatively affordable, even for families. And even while innovation among other segments of the sport fishing industry, in some cases, has plateaued, creativity in new ice fishing tackle and equipment continues soaring to new levels of awesome.

Stroll the jam-packed aisles at events such as the New England Fishing and Outdoor Expo with ice fishing shows and you meet as many young anglers as you do hard water veterans. Each and every one of these folks flock to the show floor for the same simple reason: to see the new stuff — amazing lures, rods, electronics, apparel, shelters and other equipment that promises to make their time on the ice more exciting, comfortable and efficient.

To celebrate the approaching, eminent ice fishing season, we've handpicked some of the most attended Ice Fishing Derby's in New England .

RI, Between the Cracks, Annual Kevin Thatcher Memorial Derby at Crystal Lake, Jan. 28, 2018 7 till 2 pm and the Burrillville Grid Iron Hebert Memorial Derby with a Free Dynamite Sub at Wilson's Reservoir, Pascoag, RI and the New Hampshire Meridith Rotary Lake Wiini. Derby on Feb 10, 11th 2018
Crystal Lake Derby, Gray Me. Last week end of January, 2018 and the Sebago Lake Rotary Derby, ME

Public Meetings on Moose in Vermont

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

VTF&W photo by Wayne Laroche

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is holding three public informational meetings about Vermont’s moose in December. 

 

“We are holding the meetings on the status of Vermont’s moose population, including information about new challenges facing moose and current research efforts here in the Northeast,” said Vermont’s Director of Wildlife Mark Scott.  “We want to share information and educate Vermonters about Vermont’s moose population, and get a better feel for what other information the public would like about Vermont’s moose herd. Anyone interested in Vermont’s moose population will want to attend one of these meetings.”

 

The meetings will include information about historical moose populations in Vermont, the impacts of climate change and winter ticks on Vermont’s population, and the current three-year moose study in which moose cows and calves are being monitored for survival.

 

Wildlife staff will be on hand to show pictures of Vermont moose and their habitats.  The meetings are free and will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations:

 

December 13 -- Northwoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Dr, Island Pond, VT 05846

December 14 – Montpelier High School, 5 High School Drive, Montpelier, VT 05602

December 19 – Billings Farm & Museum Visitor Center Theater, 69 Old River Road, Woodstock, VT 05091

State Game Wardens Conducting Roadside Checks

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BAKERSFIELD, Vt. – Drivers out and about in Vermont this fall may be stopped and checked by Vermont State Game Wardens.  Wardens recently conducted such a routine hunting season check of motor vehicles on Sunday, November 19, in Bakersfield. 
 
“We conducted this check to enforce hunting-related laws with the assistance of Vermont State Police to help enforce other laws,” said Warden Major George Scribner.
 
Vehicles were stopped at the intersection of Route 108 and East Bakersfield Road in Bakersfield between 4:00 and 9:00 p.m.  Wardens contacted more than 200 vehicles and inspected many firearms throughout the evening.  Four loaded long guns, five drug possession violations, four alcohol-related offenses and six motor vehicle infractions were discovered. 
 
A person convicted of having a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle is subject to a $435 fine and a one-year loss of their hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.
 
“We will conduct these checkpoints periodically throughout the fall,” added Scribner.  “Our goal is to heighten public awareness about warden presence during deer season in order to decrease violations.”

Consider donating all or part of your harvest this hunting season to Hunters for the Hungry

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Maine sportsmen and sportswomen who enjoy participating in hunting can also help provide thousands of nutritious meals to hungry people across the State.

  All New England Hunters, check in your own State for a similar program.

Through the Hunters for the Hungry program, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry distributes the donations of game meat to food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters affiliated with The Emergency Food Assistance Program.

The program accepts donations of bear, deer and moose. Road kill donations are also accepted, provided the meat is not damaged. The costs of processing the meat are paid for by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry or the charity that receives the food. Hunters may choose to donate all or some of their game meat to the program - every donation helps! 

For more information, to donate, or to get connected to a Hunters for the Hungry participating meat processor call 207-287-7513 or visit the Facebook page!

Is There an Association Between Lyme Disease and Suicidality?

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Robert Bransfield, MD, DLFAPA, private practice, Psychiatry, in Red Bank, New Jersey, explains the potential correlation between Lyme and associated diseases and suicidality.

"If we look at the association between suicide in Lyme and associated diseases, for many years, when we would be in a room full of physicians, we would say, ‘Well, what’s the most common cause of death from Lyme disease?’ And there was a strong consensus that it was suicide. Now, some people would die from opioid overdoses that would occur, sometimes different neurological conditions or heart problems but suicide, by far, was the main cause.

When I gave a lecture recently, I asked, ‘How many of you in the audience know someone with Lyme disease who committed suicide?’ and two-thirds of the people in that room raised their hands; there were a couple of hundred people in the audience. So, it is the major cause, but it doesn’t occur immediately after someone has a bulls eye rash; it’s usually several years later, and it’s a correlation, it’s been observed.

I can explain it by the physiology; just like other chronic infections, and we see it with HIV, hepatitis C, other chronic infections where there’s persistent inflammation, we can see a correlation with suicide, so it makes sense. And when we look through the medical literature, we can see that there are quite a few journal articles describing case reports. So, in looking at that, I went through a number of my old charts, and I went through 253 charts and found that a high percentage of those, 43%, had a history of being suicidal at some point.

Now, I realize that this is not representative of all patients with Lyme disease because these were the patients who went to a psychiatrist, so there were more patients who had psychiatric symptoms. But looking at other statistics, they range from 18%, some were higher—like 30%, 37%, a couple of studies, so it does seem like there is a strong correlation that occurs.

And if we try to explain it, you can explain it partly by the physiology of the biochemistry and how it affects the brain, but another explanation is that Lyme patients often feel that they have a disease that would be categorized as an invisible disability, and it’s hard for them to understand what’s happening to them. They do not get so much support from family, friends, doctors, and health care assistants, because it’s hard for people to understand it, and people look at them and they say, ‘Well, you have two arms, two legs; you seem okay. And so, there isn’t the validation, and often, there’s a frustration, and that doesn’t help. There’s a feeling of alienation in addition to the pathophysiological process. So, we do see that, and I see this frequently—people struggling with suicidal thoughts.

Another part of it is that you often see that Lyme and associated diseases are associated with a lot of psychiatric symptoms that progress years later in the course of the illness. And the additive effect of all of these symptoms can contribute to suicidality in some people. Certainly not everybody, but there is a certain population that has it, and a population that does not have that.”
Source: CONTAGION® EDITORIAL STAFF

Fall Foods Abundant for Wildlife

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

VTF&W photo by John Hall

Mountain ash berries were one of the fall foods enjoyed by wildlife this year.  

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. – Vermont Fish & Wildlife is reporting that several important fall foods for wildlife were abundant this year. 

 

“Fish & Wildlife staff surveyed 27 mast stands around the state in late September and early October and found that beechnut counts were excellent, with the highest numbers recorded since 1998,” said State Wildlife Biologist Forrest Hammond.  “They also found abundant deer and bear sign in the beech stands.”

 

Hammond said acorn production was found to be good in oak stands, and mountain ash berries were very abundant at high elevations.  He added that apples were available at high numbers early, but that most had fallen by late October. 

Nearly half-century-old fish caught and released during fish surveys on Lake Superior

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BAYFIELD, Wis. — State fish biologists conducting spawning surveys on Lake Superior hauled in a lake trout earlier this month that hatched when Richard Nixon was president.
The fish was originally caught and released during the Wisconsin DNR‘s spawning assessments for lake trout in 1981. It was caught and released again Nov. 2 in the same fish refuge, the Gull Island Shoal of Lake Superior.
“We often think of a fish’s life span being relatively short, maybe 10 years,” says Terry Margenau, DNR fisheries supervisor. “But lake trout are slow growing and have a longevity that will rival that of the ancient sturgeon.”

To help assess the condition of lake trout on Lake Superior, the DNR has been conducting spawning lake trout assessments since 1951. Part of the assessment includes tagging the fish caught and releasing them so biologists can monitor their growth and movement in future years.
The fish caught Nov. 2 had first been tagged in 1981 when it was 27.3 inches during a DNR spawning assessment on Gull Island Shoal of Lake Superior. The same fish was handled again in 2017 during the same spawning assessment and measured 35.5 inches, Ray says.
“This lake trout grew about 8 inches over 36 years, or less than a quarter inch per year,” he says. “So very slow growing. Its age is also interesting.
“Considering this fish was likely 10 to 12 years old when it was tagged in 1981, this fall it would have been at least 46 years old.”
The same fish would be caught by DNR seven more times during surveys, Ray says.
In all of those instances, the fish was captured in the Gull Island Refuge. Source:

Wisconsin DNR Reports

American Museum of Fly Fishing appoints new executive director

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Manchester, Vermont (November 9, 2017) – The Board of Trustees of the American Museum of Fly Fishing is pleased to announce Sarah Foster as the Museum’s new Executive Director. A valued member of the AMFF team since 2007, Mrs. Foster brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the position. She previously served as the Museum’s Director of Development.
Karen Kaplan, AMFF Board President said today, “Sarah is an AMFF staff veteran, highly respected by both the Trustees and staff, whose expertise will lead the Museum forward in a smart and positive way. We greatly welcome her as our new Executive Director.”
“2018 marks the Museum’s 50th anniversary which is honorable in its own right, but coupled with the launch of our anticipated saltwater exhibition and the creation of a new permanent fly room, we have set the stage for an exciting year. The Museum has a wonderful Board and loyal supporters locally, across the country, and around the world,” commented Mrs. Foster today from her office overlooking Main Street in Manchester Village. She went on to say, “The Museum is an important cultural landmark here in Vermont and also does a wonderful job serving the fly fishing community at large, and continues to be a place where angling historians, life-long enthusiasts, and new-comers alike can come together (either in person or online) to celebrate the rich history and tradition of our sport.”
Mrs. Foster is a graduate of the University of Albany and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Business. She is a longtime resident of Shushan, New York where she lives with her husband and two children along the Battenkill River. She is an avid barrel racer and serves as treasurer at her local church.
About the American Museum of Fly Fishing
The American Museum of Fly Fishing is the steward of the history, traditions, and practices of the sport of fly-fishing and promotes the conservation of its waters. The Museum collects, preserves, exhibits, studies, and interprets the artifacts, art, and literature of the sport and, through a variety of outreach platforms, uses these resources to engage, educate, and benefit all. The Museum fulfills this mission through our public programs (including exhibitions, gallery programs, lectures, special events, and presentations), our publications, and our quarterly journal, The American Fly Fisher.
For more information about the Museum please visit our website http://www.amff.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Source: American Museum of Fly Fishing Press Release

"Salmon Sunday" Nov. 12 at New Hampshire's Pope Dam

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

CONCORD, N.H. -- This weekend, you'll have a chance to explore the life cycle of landlocked salmon, fish prized by anglers on New Hampshire's big lakes, at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's annual "Salmon Sunday." The event takes place on Sunday, November 12, 2017, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. at Pope Dam in Melvin Village. Pope Dam is nine miles north of Wolfeboro on Route 109 in the town of Tuftonboro, N.H.

During the event, fisheries biologists will be busy harvesting, or "stripping," eggs and milt from adult salmon. Standing knee-deep in the cold water of the Melvin River, scientists expertly relieve the colorful adult female salmon of their eggs by stroking their stomachs. Milt from the male fish is obtained in the same way and mixed with the gold-colored eggs to fertilize them.

Fish and Game staff will be on hand to answer questions about salmon, the egg-stripping process, and the stocking program that ensures these beautiful fish continue to be available in the lakes for anglers to catch. Salmon Sunday is a "rain or shine" event. Dress warmly. If you have questions about Salmon Sunday, call (603) 744-5470.

Underwater photographer Bob Michelson, of Braintree, Massachusetts, is scheduled to be at the event displaying images depicting the underwater life history of Atlantic salmon. Michelson will be available to answer questions about his observations of this species in the wild, as well as about SCUBA diving and underwater photography. Michelson has been a certified SCUBA diver and underwater photographer for almost 40 years. His work has been published widely, and his video footage and programming have aired on national networks. Michelson has generously donated many of his fish collection images for use on the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department website for education/outreach efforts.

Learn more about fisheries management in New Hampshire, which is funded in part by the federal Sport Fish Registration Program (financed by your purchases of fishing equipment and motorboat fuel), at www.fishnh.com/fishing/fisheries-mgt.html.

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2018 New England Fishing & Outdoor Expo...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

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Maine Fisherman Sentenced for Illegally Trafficking American Eels

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Tommy Water Zhou was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment today for trafficking juvenile American eels (also called "elvers" or "glass eels") in violation of the Lacey Act, following a hearing in federal district court in Norfolk, Virginia. The sentence was announced by Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey H. Wood for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division and United States Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia.

In April 2017, Zhou pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act by purchasing elvers in interstate commerce that had been harvested illegally in Virginia. Court documents indicate that Zhou trafficked at least 105 pounds of elvers, which is approximately 210,000 individual eels, and worth more than $105,000. Zhou subsequently sold these elvers to international buyers and exported them from the United States.

"Illegal harvesting and trafficking of wildlife represents a dire threat to our critical ecosystems," said U.S. Attorney Boente. "This case reaffirms our commitment to protecting Virginia's natural resources for future generations."

"Wildlife trafficking is a transnational crime which devastates species both at home and abroad," said Acting Chief of Law Enforcement for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ed Grace. "In this case, the defendant chose to illegally harvest American eels – the only species of freshwater eel found in North America. This animal plays a critical role in native ecosystems and is negatively impacted by the illegal wildlife trade. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice and others to protect this species and bring those who choose profit over preservation to justice."

Eels are highly valued in East Asia for human consumption. Historically, Japanese and European eels were harvested to meet this demand; however, overfishing has led to a decline in these populations. As a result, harvesters have turned to the American eel to fill the void.

American eels spawn in the Sargasso Sea, an area of the North Atlantic Ocean bounded on all sides by ocean currents. They then travel as larvae from the Sargasso to the coastal waters of the eastern United States, where they enter a juvenile or elver stage, swim upriver, and grow to adulthood in fresh water. Elvers are exported for aquaculture in East Asia, where they are raised to adult size and sold for food. Harvesters and exporters of American eels in the United States can sell elvers to East Asia for more than $2,000 per pound.

Because of the threat of overfishing, Atlantic Coast states have cooperatively prohibited elver harvesting in all but two states: Maine and South Carolina. Maine and South Carolina heavily regulate elver fisheries, requiring that individuals be licensed and report all quantities of harvested eels to state authorities. Other Atlantic coast states, including Virginia, have commercial fisheries for adult or "yellow" eels.

This case was the result of "Operation Broken Glass," a multi-jurisdiction U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigation into the illegal trafficking of American eels. To date, the in
vestigation has resulted in guilty pleas for 18 individuals whose combined conduct resulted in the illegal trafficking of more than $5 million worth of elvers.

"In this operation, we are actively partnering with state and federal law enforcement agencies in order to protect our nation's marine resources from further exploitation." said Acting Assistant Attorney General Wood.
Operation Broken Glass was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Justice Department's Environmental Crimes Section in collaboration with the Maine Marine Patrol, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division, New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife Bureau of Law Enforcement, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Conservation Police, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Police, USFWS Refuge Law Enforcement, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Law Enforcement, Massachusetts Environmental Police, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Law Enforcement, New York State Environmental Conservation Police, New Hampshire Fish and Game Division of Law Enforcement, Maryland Natural Resources Police, North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission Division of Law Enforcement, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Yarmouth, Massachusetts Division of Natural Resources, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Police Department and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

The government is represented by Environmental Crimes Section Trial Attorneys Cassandra Barnum and Shane Waller, and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Kosky.       

Fall Fly Tying Workshop

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

3 Dates: November 6,  20,  27

2017 Time:7 PM to 9 PM at Cold Springs Community Center, North Kingstown. Come in from the cold and prepare for the spring fly fishing season. DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Aquatic Resource Education program is once again offering its ‘Fall Fly Tying’ classes. Whether you are a beginner or intermediate fly tyer, these classes are designed for both saltwater and freshwater fly tying enthusiasts. Classes will be held on consecutive Mondays, beginning on November 6th and going until December 18th with the exception of November 13th (state observance of Veterans Day). Children 10 and up are welcome with an adult. Pre-registration preferred but walk-ins are welcome. Learn more here or contact Kimberly Sullivan at 539-0019 or Kimberly.sullivan@dem.ri.gov. Learn more about DEM Aquatic Resource Education

Wilson's Reservoir ( Jaron Site) Pascoag, RI

Posted by Wayne G. Barber  Photos property of Wayne G. Barber

Photos: Wayne G. Barber Collection

                    Fresh water 112 acres man-made earthern dam reservoir in northern RI.

The State boat ramp is on East Wallum Lake road  Take a right .06 miles off RT. 100 Wallum Lake road at the White Mill town park and the boat ramp is on the left. The body of water has always been called Wilson's Reservoir and now the RI DEM has a different sign at the entrance for Jaron Site fishing area. Very good cement boat launch area and a favorite for canoes and kayaking.
There is a 10hp limit on motors. The shoreline of the reservoir is a mix of developed and undeveloped land, but almost all of the shoreline is privately owned. About 75 year round and summer cottages surround about 40 % of the shoreline.

Gravel parking lot for about twenty cars and a little less if theirs a bass tournament in progress. Handicap parking signs are clearly posted and one of the few fresh water parking lots with a all night LED light for weigh in'

 Their is a few parking spots on Neris Way off RT. 100 Wallum Lake road at the dam and in front of this dam is the deepest portion of the body of water at 13 feet. A majority of the reservoir is between 3 feet to 6 feet deep and is lowered every fall and then closed to refill in middle March. The water comes from Wallum Lake and is gravity fed by a gate above on South Shore Road a left off of Rt.100

Wallum Lake Gate

The known population: consists of Yellow Perch,Blue Gill, Red Breasted Bluegill, Golden Shiners, Dace,Alewives,Green Breasted Bluegill,Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Occasional Brown Trout thru the Ice in one derby. The stocking truck heading to Wallum Lake surprised us with a few or got thru the gate above from Wallum Lake,Pickerel, Red Finn Pickerel, Largemouth Bass were introduced in

1956 which altered the resident smallmouth population to a handful stunted to 8 to 10 inch, Brown Bullhead and Albino Bullhead, Snapping ,Painted Turtles. Otters,Mink,Raccoon, Muskrats, Snakes, Crawfish, Osprey, Sea Gull, Green and Blue Herons and occasional Eagle passing by to go to Wallum Lake.

Since about 1960 the changing water use from industrial to recreational purposes has resulted in more stable water levels. As a consequence, the pan fish population has become dominant. 

 During the summer from late April thru the last of October the local Tuesday Night Bass club and the Thursday night BBC Burrillville Bass Club fish from 5pm to 8:00pm on a rotating basis and never the same week with the other 8 bodies of freshwater local bodies and catch and release all after the weigh in.  The first safe ice is on the Brouillard Lane Cove side of the reservoir.Ice permitting the Townsman Club holds a derby for the one fish largest bass after first ice. The second group, Burrillville Grid Iron Hebert Memorial Derby includes a nice warm Dynamite Submarine sandwich at the fund raiser and lately the Victory Sportsman Club from nearby Glocester will follow for a annual derby. The largest ice derby that I put on here drew 130 fishers with 5 tilts apiece for a local charity, Between the Cracks. 5.7 lb Bass, 4lb,7 oz Pickerel and the Bill Bodnar, Yellow Perch Award was for a one pound 12 inch fish. Another year there was a Otter under the ice, stealing shiners, cutting line and causing a lot of false thoughts of a really Big Fish !

URI biologist have electro charged here and told me that the body had the highest concentration of fish per acre in their studies and some really big Snapping Turtles and Black Water Snakes.