Bill Threatens Future of Fishing in Maine

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Titled “An Act To Require Biodegradable Hooks and Lures for Freshwater Fishing,” this new bill would ban all hooks, and all lures containing plastic or rubber, by the year 2024 unless they are biodegradable.

Therefore, likely every hook and lure in your tackle box would become illegal!

Bill Threatens Future of Fishing in Maine

Biodegradable hooks simply do not exist. Any biodegradable materials would lack the tensile strength required and would rust quickly.

In addition, requiring all plastic and rubber in lures to be biodegradable is unwarranted and would be a huge burden on anglers.

UPDATE:

Senator Paul Davis’s bill to require rubber lures to be biodegradable was postponed this morning by the legislature’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Committee, at the request of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

Francis Brautigam, DIFW’s Fisheries Division Director, informed the committee that the department would like some time to work on this important issue, and said they’d be organizing a group of both supporters and opponents of the bill, to explore what can be done.

The IFW Committee agreed to postpone action on the bill until next year, to give DIFW that opportunity.

The committee did allow people to speak, and they heard from both supporters and opponents. Opponents were all bass anglers.

Both sides offered compelling testimony. I was struck by something Randy Larry of the Big Moose Lake Association, who submitted a petition with 130 signatures in favor of the bill, said, “The fish are dying. Something needs to be done.”

It was good to hear that DIFW agrees, and is willing to explore possible actions and report back to the committee next year.

NATIONAL POLAR BEAR DAY

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

National Polar Bear Day, also known as International Polar Bear Day is observed on February 27th.  It is a day to learn more about the polar bear and conservation efforts where the polar bear is concerned.

Polar bears can reach a height of 9 ft tall and a weight of 1400 pounds.  They have large front paws, which are slightly webbed, that are used to paddle as they swim.  As they are powerful swimmers, some polar bears have been seen swimming hundreds of miles from land. However, some of the distance may have been covered by floating on sheets of ice.

The polar bears have a warming layer of fat which is covered by their thick coat of insulating fur which helps them live in the colder environments.

Some organizations use this day to raise awareness of the declining number of polar bears worldwide. It is believed by many that these beautiful creatures are threatened due to global warming and the consequential loss of their natural habitat.  Groups around the world gather together to find ways to make a difference and spread information to others.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Learn more about the polar bear, its environment and how it lives. Use #NationalPolarBearDay to post on social media.

HISTORY

Polar Bear Day has been recognized since at least 2011, and founding credit has been given to Polar Bears International which sponsors educational challenges annually.

What animal preys on great white sharks?

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

What animal preys on Great White Sharks ?  They may show up off the Cape Cod Coast !

Adult great white sharks are one of the top predators of the ocean, but don't fair well against orcas. A population of orcas off the coast of South Africa have gained an appetite for great white shark livers and have been picking off the sharks for the organ. Great white shark carcasses that have washed up in the area were intact aside from the organ and examined by scientists who concluded orcas were responsible. Livers are high in squalene, an important compound for steroid and hormone production, making them a prime organ for consumption. Orcas are incredibly intelligent creatures, strategically hunting in packs to take down much larger prey. They have been observed to adapt to the prey available in their location, with North American specimens feeding on deer in several incidents. When it comes to hunting sharks, orcas have learned to flip them over to incapacitate them, then attack. This behavior has been observed worldwide from off the coast of San Francisco to Australia

 

NWTF Presents Forest Service with National Conservation Award

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The United States Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service received a national award from the National Wild Turkey Federation for its long and distinguished history of partnership through collaborative conservation delivery across its 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands.

Representatives of the forest service accepted the Land Stewardship Award during the 43rd annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show. Mossy Oak is the official show sponsor.

The Forest Service is one of the NWTF’s greatest partners, working in a variety of ways to promote the conservation ethic and best manage the land resource through active forest and habitat management.

NWTF and the Forest Service have collaborated on 114 projects — including several in the development phase — across nearly all Forest Service regions and impacting more than 70,000 acres, a total value of nearly $40 million.

In addition, the NWTF and the Forest Service have joined to fund as many as 13 forester positions through cost-sharing agreements. The positions address capacity needs and foster cooperation to make an impact on the conservation needs across the country.

“On a national scale, the Forest Service truly embodies the Land Stewardship Award,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “We thank them for their forward and visionary thinking, collaboration with traditional and non-traditional partners, and their stewardship ethic.”

About the National Wild Turkey Federation
When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org

Paul Mueller Wins Spotted Bass Slugfest

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

            Paul Mueller Wins Spotted Bass Slugfest 

Connecticut’s Paul Mueller Wins Spotted Bass Slugfest At Lake Lanier, Georgia
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Former B.A.S.S. Nation Champion Paul Mueller proved he belongs in the big leagues of professional fishing by winning a spotted bass shootout on Georgia’s Lake Lanier. Mueller earned $100,000 by winning the Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier.

Desperate to fill out his five-bass limit with bigger spotted bass, Mueller returned to a deep ridge that had produced most of his big spotted bass on previous days. There, he managed to dredge up two big spotted bass that pushed him ahead of Texas angler Chris Zaldain by less than a pound.

“I struggled today,” Mueller said. “I had run out of options, so I went back to my primary spot and caught a 5 1/4 (pounder) and then a 4. Without those two fish, I don’t win.”

Mueller had 18 pounds, 8 ounces for the day, giving him a four-day total of 69-0. It could have been even more. “There were still fish on that spot when I left,” he added. “At the end of the day, I lost a couple of big ones. I could have had a 20-something bag today.”

He described the structure as a large, underwater ridge with two shallower areas on top and very deep water on each side. He caught most of his spotted bass the first day on a Reins Bubbling Shad on a Do It Molds Freestyle Jighead, but the big producer the rest of the time was a 3 1/4-ounce Reins Fat Rockvibe Shad Swimbait on a 1/2-ounce herring head underspin jighead with the spinner removed.

“Who would have thought you could win this tournament — a blueback herring tournament — off of one spot?” he said. In fisheries where the nomadic herring are a main staple of bass diet, spotted bass are notorious for leaving their holding areas unexpectedly and en masse.

That happened to Zaldain, who also had to contend with a wind shift today that moved his schools of bass. A sudden drop of temperatures into the low 40s didn’t help.

“I fished long, sloping points all week and had to switch to western banks today because of the east wind,” he said.

Maine: Free Fishing Weekend February 16-17

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

During free fishing weekend, any person may fish for free without a license on Maine’s waterways, except those who have had their license suspended or revoked. All other rules and regulations, including bag and possession limits, apply. Free fishing weekend is open to both residents and non-residents.

Whether on open water or ice, fishing is one of the most popular activities in Maine! Our nearly 6,000 lakes and ponds and more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams offer endless opportunities.

Free fishing weekend is a great chance for people to try fishing for the first time and for experienced anglers to teach a new angler the joys of the sport!

So, this weekend, grab a friend (or two or three) and plan a weekend to share your passion for fishing!

Looking for ideas on new places to fish nearby? Check out the Maine Fishing Guide!

Remember, always stay safe when venturing out onto Maine's frozen waterways. Use a chisel or auger to test ice thickness in several places before you step out. Remember that ice seldom freezes uniformly and conditions are always changing and can vary from one location to the next. Ice that forms over flowing water and currents, especially near streams, bridges and culverts, can be particularly dangerous.

Nearly 27,000 Acres Purchased in Maine

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Nearly 27,000 Acres Purchase in Maine’s North Woods for Conservation and Economic Benefits

GREENVILLE, Maine — America’s longest-serving conservation organization, the Appalachian Mountain Club, is teaming up with the country’s top ranked environmental nonprofit, The Conservation Fund, to protect nearly 27,000 acres of working forestland in Maine’s North Woods.

On February 8, The Conservation Fund purchased the Pleasant River Headwaters Forest in Piscataquis County, Maine, for $18.5 million from Conservation Resources, LLC. Under temporary ownership, The Conservation Fund will sustainably manage the 26,740 acres for the improvement and protection of forest resources, fish passage and continued recreational use. This arrangement gives the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) time to raise the $25 million needed to bring the working forestland into its permanent ownership, protection, and stewardship. A lead gift of $10 million has recently been secured from the Richard King Mellon Foundation.

The Pleasant River Headwaters Forest is an especially high priority for the Appalachian Mountain Club because it is adjacent to more than 75,000 acres currently owned and managed by AMC. The property is situated in the center of the 100 Mile Wilderness Area that stretches along the Appalachian Trail corridor from Monson to Baxter State Park. Acquiring and restoring the property will conserve one of the last remaining large, unprotected forest blocks in the region.

“This acquisition will crystallize the conservation vision that underpins AMC’s role as a fully vested partner in Maine’s outdoor economy,” saidAMC President and CEO John Judge. “It means deriving more value for more people from a more resilient landscape, and that’s really exciting.”

This noteworthy conservation acquisition was made possible through The Conservation Fund’s Working Forest Fund® program, which utilizes bridge capital to protect large, ecologically and economically important forestland from subdivision and fragmentation, allowing time for permanent conservation solutions to be implemented. The land will remain on the tax rolls.

“Working forests, one of a kind outdoor recreation experiences, and aquatic habitats define Maine’s environment, communities, economy and way of life,” said Tom Duffus, Vice President and Northeast Representative for The Conservation Fund. “This partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club will help to protect the beloved and unique characteristics of Maine’s North Woods by ensuring that forestland of both community- and nation-wide importance will always remain as forests. Together, we are working to establish permanent conservation solutions that meet the needs of people, protect wildlife habitat and provide economic benefits.”

The Appalachian Mountain Club intends to add the Pleasant River Headwaters Forest to its 75,000-acre Maine Woods property, which is a significant economic driver in the region. Here the organization has developed a robust nature-based tourism operation that includes a series of lodges, 130 miles of trails for hiking and skiing, an environmental education program for schools throughout the region, and a significant sustainable forestry operation. The Appalachian Mountain Club currently supports 6% of the Piscataquis County economy including 56 jobs and generates $1.7 million in annual spending by AMC operations and lodge guests.

Permanent conservation of the Pleasant River Headwaters Forest property will add to watershed protection of both the West and Middle Branches of the Pleasant River, which serve as a critical designated habitat for Atlantic salmon and native brook trout. Future efforts by the Appalachian Mountain Club to remove stream barriers and restore aquatic habitat on the property will help to reestablish renowned native brook trout populations and allow Atlantic salmon to return to native spawning grounds in the headwater streams of the West Branch for the first time in nearly two centuries—making it one of the only places in the state where this will be possible.

Future restorative forestry efforts on the property will position multi-use forestland as the ideal stronghold for ecological resilience and climate adaptability, providing more and higher quality wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) to local and regional mills while simultaneously improving habitat and doubling carbon sequestration on AMC’s Maine lands over the long term. Through careful forest management, AMC will leverage its ownership to sustain local economies and keep the land open for public access.

“The Pleasant River Headwaters Forest represents a keystone parcel—the hole in the doughnut—for landscape connectivity and resilience in the 100-Mile Wilderness,” said AMC Senior Vice President Walter Graff. “Securing its future and restoring late successional habitat here will put regional climate adaptation planning in league with the White Mountain National Forest and Adirondack Park, proving that forests that work hard for human communities can rank among those working hardest for natural communities, too.”

About The Conservation Fund
At The Conservation Fund, we make conservation work for America. By creating solutions that make environmental and economic sense, we are redefining conservation to demonstrate its essential role in our future prosperity. Top-ranked for efficiency and effectiveness, we have worked in all 50 states since 1985 to protect more than 8 million acres, including 429,000 acres of working forests, coastal landscapes, and aquatic habitats that define Maine’s environment, communities, economy, and way of life. Learn more at conservationfund.org.

About the Appalachian Mountain Club
Founded in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club promotes the protection, enjoyment, and understanding of the mountains, forests, waters, and trails of America’s Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Learn more at outdoors.org.