Walleye popularity has grown!

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

“Walleye popularity is growing in North America, and may be stronger than ever,” says Wayne Barber. It definitely is. There are more tournaments. more trophy-class walleyes, more walleye anglers, more walleye boats, more walleye gear, more walleye waters, more walleye fishing and more walleyes to eat than ever before. They are being caught in lakes, rivers and reservoirs with simple tactics like a bobber and worm to some of the most advanced tactics in fishing, which employ cutting-edge electronics, high-dollar gear and high-level fishing skills. Walleye boats range from canoes and kayaks to 14-footers with small outboards to 20-foot deep-vee hulls loaded like spaceships. Walleye are also caught from shore or while wading.

To determine where walleyes swim today, we talked with fisheries biologists and walleye anglers all over the continent. The findings are compiled in the map, which also outlines the typical ice line – because during open water Target Walleye lives and breathes walleyes, and during hard water covers all species pursued by ice anglers. 

 

Walleye fishing and ice fishing are two of the biggest fisheries in North America, and the OUTDOOR SCENE is the #1 New England media outlet catering to these regions, fisheries and anglers. Walleyes fascinate anglers and have a reputation for confounding fishermen. So do many species under the ice.

 

Walleye are one of the most popular gamefish in North America. They grow to a large size, can be caught throughout the year using a variety of techniques, and are known for their exquisite flavor. Walleye are also efficient pelagic predators that play an important role in enhancing balanced fish populations and quality fisheries. The Connecticut Inland Fisheries Division began stocking fingerling walleyes into a few lakes in 1993 to diversify the State's recreational fisheries. These lakes were selected because they were best suited for walleye, have marginal trout habitat and abundant forage fish populations. In these waters walleyes will create additional fisheries for large open-water gamefish. In addition, a lack of large predatory fishes has been identified as a problem resulting in imbalanced fish populations in many Connecticut lakes.

 

As part of DEEP Inland Fisheries Research and Mangement Grant (F-57-R), quality walleye fisheries were established in Gardner Lake, Salem and Squantz Pond, New Fairfield. Due to the popularity of the program, two water companies initiated stocking walleye into Lake Saltonstall, Branford and Saugatuck Reservoir, Weston. Also, in 2001, Connecticut expanded the walleye program to include the following lakes: Batterson Park Pond, Farmington; Beach Pond, Voluntown; Coventry Lake, Coventry and Mashapaug Lake, Union.

   More recently walleye fingerlings were stocked into Lake Zoar, Monroe-Oxford (2011) and Mt Tom Pond, Litchfield; Cedar Lake, Chester and West Thompson Reservoir, West Thompson (2012).

Walleye populations in these lakes are completely supported by annual fall stockings of 4 to 6-inch fingerlings purchased from a commercial supplier located in the mid-west.  Currently the state stocks more than 33,000 fingerlings into 10 public lakes. An additional 10,000 fingerlings are stocked by South Central Regional Water Authority (Lake Saltonstall) and Aquarion Water Company (Saugatuck Reservoir) into their lakes that allow fishing through permit access.  Statewide walleye regulations in Connecticut are an 18-inch minimum size limit and a 2-fish creel limit. Trophy fish awards of walleye catches greater than 23 inches (released) or greater than 6 pounds (kept) have been awarded to anglers from every lake stocked with walleye (since 2001). Most trophy fish awards have come from Lake Saltonstall and Squantz Pond. Check out the link on our Facebook page to see how the Inland Fisheries Division uses electrofishing techniques to sample walleye populations. Inland Fisheries Division is continually exploring new options to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of this program with a priority to assess angler harvest rates to ensure that current walleye regulations are adequate to sustain quality fishing. Please visit one of our walleye lakes and get in on the fast action and excellent table fare that these fish provide!

 

How To Fish For Walleye

SPRING

Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the walleye move into the shallows to spawn. Gravel ledges, points and submerged humps in protected areas are prime holding areas.

SUMMER

Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish as this is a favorite food of the walleye. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth.
CT State Record: 14 lbs 8 oz

World Record:   25 lbs

FALL

Top Baits: Jigs, crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.

WINTER

Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.
Try moderately shallow depths in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Walleyes are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure.

ICE FISHING:   Jig with spoons tipped with a piece of worm, mealy worm or small golden shiner. Tip-ups work great with a medium size shiner. Rhode Island (Beach Pond) 5 tip-ups and no treble hook, single hook only. Conn. 6 tip-ups so check your State abstracts for ice fishing regulations

 

Where they go, why they move, how to find them, and how to catch them – these are just some of the things constantly pursued  on the OUTDOOR SCENE. Thanks for following our Web-Site and for tuning in every week.

Source Target/Walleye, The Fishing Wire

Coast Guard Rescues Two, Recovers Deceased After Fishing Boat Sinks off Gloucester, Massachusetts

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BOSTON — The Coast Guard rescued two fishermen and recovered a third deceased Thursday Dec.3rd 2015 after their fishing boat sank 12 miles off Thatcher Island, Gloucester.

A good Samaritan aboard the Foxy Lady notified watch standers at the Coast Guard Sector Boston command center at about 3 p.m. that the fishing boat Orin C was disabled and needed a tow.

The Foxy Lady began towing Orin C toward shore, but high wind and waves impeded their effort. A large wave reportedly crashed over Orin C's bow, causing the boat to flood.

Watch standers at Coast Guard Sector Boston, who had been monitoring the tow on VHF radio, launched a 47-foot Motor Life Boat crew from Coast Guard Station Gloucester.

The crew arrived on scene, passed a pump to the Orin C crew, hooked up tow, and made way toward Gloucester against 30 knot winds and 8-foot seas.

While initially effective, the pump was eventually unable to keep up with flooding coming over the boat's bow and it began sinking quickly.

Per protocol, the Coast Guard crew broke tow and maneuvered swiftly back toward Orin C for the three fishermen.

The plan for safest rescue from the boat was to have each crewmember enter the water and be recovered one at a time. The first rescue went as planned, but the boat began sinking too quickly so the remaining two crewmembers abandoned the boat together.

When the boat crew recovered the two men, one of them was unresponsive. They began CPR immediately, and continued for more than an hour, while they pushed toward shore.

They arrived at Gloucester at about 10:30 p.m., where local EMS and a medical examiner were awaiting their arrival, and pronounced the man dead.

The other two men were reported uninjured.
"We're reminded tonight how dangerous and unforgiving the sea can be," said Chief Petty Officer Stephen Veda, the command duty officer at Coast Guard Sector Boston. "This is a tragic end to a very harrowing case – the effects of which will be felt throughout the entire maritime community for some time," he said. The Coast Guard is broadcasting a safety notice to mariners navigating in the vicinity of where Orin C is thought to have sunk. The cause of the sinking is under investigation. 
Source: The Fishing Wire Media Press Release

Muskie Fishing Success Binds Three Generations of Vermonters

Posted by Wayne G. Barber




  Alex Beebe holds up a Muskie he caught and released near Swanton, the first muskie caught on a recently stocked section of the Missisquoi River.  The catch has excited Vermont’s angling community about the potential for this new muskie fishing opportunity.

SWANTON, Vt. — When Alex Beebe of Swanton recently reeled in the first muskie caught above Swanton Dam on the Missisquoi River in nearly four decades, he took his place in the fishing lore of Vermont. 

 

In 2013, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department began stocking muskellunge, or ‘muskie,’ along this upper stretch of river with the hopes of continuing to restore this native fish species.  Alex’s catch is a sign that this conservation effort may be working. 

 

But Alex isn’t the first member of his family to achieve greatness with a rod and reel in Vermont.  His father, Chris Beebe, is the current record holder for the largest muskie caught in Vermont. 

 

In August 2005, an Addison County angler broke the previous muskie record by one pound, a record that had stood for 27 years.  But two weeks later, Chris Beebe’s catch shattered that record by more than seven pounds.  Chris’ muskie record remains unbeaten today, at a massive 38 pounds, 4 ounces.  His record fish was more than 52 inches long.  

 

  Chris Beebe still holds the Vermont Muskie fishing record for this Muskie he caught in 2005 on the Missisquoi River. 

Muskie are closely related to northern pike, with long rows of sharp teeth used to prey on smaller fish.  They are renowned for their ability to attain massive sizes, with fish weighing in excess of 60 pounds from some of the more fabled Muskie waters in other parts of the U.S. and Canada.
 

  This native Vermont fish disappeared from the Missisquoi River following a chemical spill in the late 1970s.  Starting in 2008, the Fish & Wildlife Department began an effort to restore Muskie by stocking 44,000 fish to the Missisquoi and by prohibiting harvest by anglers statewide.

 

Muskie fishing is currently allowed using only artificial flies and lures in Vermont, and any muskie caught must be released immediately rather than harvested.

 

One of the effort’s earliest and most passionate supporters was Chris Beebe’s father and Alex’s grandfather, Dave Beebe.  Dave would regularly show up on the banks of the river to help department staff stock the young muskies.  He instilled a love of Muskie Fishing in his son from a very young age. 

 

“We’ve been getting out Muskie fishing on the Missisquoi since Chris was just a little kid,” said Dave.  “He’d fall asleep sitting in the boat.  We’d have to wake him up when somebody caught a Muskie.”

 

Dave Beebe says that some people might not even know that muskie are in Vermont’s water bodies, such as the Missisquoi River, Otter Creek, and Lake Champlain.  He encourages people to learn how to fish for them, because he says, “It’s exciting when you catch a Muskie.  It’s not like bass fishing, where you can catch a whole stringer of fish.  It’s more like hunting for a big buck.” 

The Muskie Alex Beebe recently caught on this new stretch of the Missisquoi was likely stocked in 2013 as a young, five-inch fish.  By the time Alex briefly pulled it from the water this fall, it had grown by nearly two feet to 27 inches, demonstrating the extremely fast growth potential these fish have in appropriate habitat. 

 

Chris Beebe hopes that the current restoration efforts will restore Vermont muskie fishing to its former glory.  “When I was 10 years old, the Muskie fishing was great,” he said.  “We’d love to see it return to that again.”

 

Even though he currently holds Vermont’s Muskie record, Chris Beebe is not resting on his laurels.  “There are bigger ones out there and I’m going to keep trying for them,” said Chris.  “It’s a thrill to fish for them and I’m never going to stop.  There’s lots of great Muskie fishing in Vermont’s future.”

 

New Hampshire Hunting Report – December 4, 2015

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Deer Hunt Update:

 

As of November 29, 2015, New Hampshire hunters had taken an estimated total of 9,943 deer this fall. That represents a 5% decrease from the 2014 total at this point in the season.  The 2015 harvest is the fifth highest in the past nine years, according to N.H. Fish and Game Deer Biologist Dan Bergeron. For a comparison with previous years of the deer harvest at this point in the season (by county), visit www.huntnh.com/hunting/deer-harvest.html.

"Statewide, it has been another relatively successful season.  Current numbers are only slightly below last year’s and we are on track to finish near the 15 year average total harvest (2000-2014) of between 10,000 to 11,000 animals.  Average total harvests in the preceding 15 years (1985-1999) were between 8,000-9,000 animals.  The most notable thing to me this year has been the excellent physical condition of the deer I inspected at biological check stations," said Bergeron. 

 

The regular firearm deer season runs through December 6, with the exception of WMU-A in northern New Hampshire, where it ended on November 29.

"This gives hunters roughly one more week of regular firearm season hunting opportunity in most of the state," said Bergeron.  "The Thanksgiving holiday marks the end of many hunters’ efforts for the year, and late-season hunters can now take advantage of reduced hunting pressure."

 

The archery season continues through December 15, except in WMU-A, where it ends on December 8.

 

Harvest estimates for the overall deer season will be available later in December, following the conclusion of the archery deer season.

Hunters can continue to help the less fortunate by donating venison. Contact the NH Food Bank at (603) 669-9725.

 

 

Small Game Hunters:

 

Did you know that you could win a quality firearm by taking part in Fish and Game’s small game and/or grouse wing and tail surveys?  A hunting firearm will be raffled off to a lucky participant in each. These surveys help Fish and Game monitor small game populations throughout the state. Find out how to take part at www.huntnh.com/newsroom/news.html?news=176

 

 

2015 NH Moose Season Summary:

 

Fish and Game Moose Biologist Kristine Rines provided the following summary of the 2015 moose hunt, which tallied 74 moose and concluded with a statewide success rate of 69%. Verified information related to the age of the moose and tick counts is not yet available.

 

A total of 108 moose permits were issued. In addition to the 105 permits issued through the lottery (down from 124 in 2014), two auction permits were issued for the Wildlife Heritage Foundation of New Hampshire and one permit was donated to the Hunt of a Lifetime (HOL) program.

At 69% statewide success, the hunt was only slightly less successful than last year at 72%. There were some notable changes in regional success rates. The Connecticut Lakes region, despite reduced permits (26 in 2014 down to 20 in 2015), recorded the lowest success rate in its history at 70%. Both units contributed to the decline.  A1 typically has success rates above 70% and A2 typically has rates above 80%. The 2015 success rates for these units came in at 50% and 75% respectively.  The average success rate for the region during the previous 10 years was 82%.

 

Conversely, the Central region exhibited the highest success rate in its history at 90%. The low number of permits (10, down from 25) issued in this region likely contributed to this high success rate. In contrast, hunters in the heavily developed Southeast region had zero success (five permits). While some units have had 0% success in the past, this is the first time that an entire region has tallied 0% success.

 

Successful hunters traveled from eight different states to participate in the 2015 NH moose hunt. Sixty residents and 14 non-residents filled their permits. Permittees were the primary shooter in 48 instances and sub-permittees in 26. Women hunters accounted for 8 of the 74 moose taken this year. Seventy percent of all moose were taken in the first three days of the season. Only rifles were utilized this year and, once again, the 30-06 was the preferred caliber.

 

The heaviest bull was taken by NH resident John Gibbas in zone D2 on October 18. The animal weighed 810 lbs. completely dressed and had a spread of 51¼ inches. The heaviest cow was taken by non-resident Tyler Sypek in zone B on October 19, and this animal weighed 675 lbs. dressed. The largest spread of 54.5 inches was on a bull taken by NH resident Richard Malasky in zone B. This animal had a dressed weight of 775 lbs. Ten-year-old NH resident Skylar Pelletier was the youngest hunter and the HOL permittee, registering a 772 lb. bull with 18 points and a 48.13 inch spread. Donald Marten, a 78-year-old NH resident, was our oldest hunter and took a 630 lb. cow on an antlerless-only tag in C1.

 

 

Report a Poacher: If you are aware of a poaching situation, call Operation Game Thief toll-free at 1-800-344-4262 or report wildlife crime online at wildnh.com/ogt.

Fallfish Information

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Fallfish are the largest members of the Minnow family in the Northeast. Fallfish reach size typically between 12 to 18 inches long. They occur abundantly in the St. Lawrence River basin to Virginia, east of the Alleghanies.

The male fallfish build a mounds of gravel often as large as 3 feet high and six feet wide to protect the eggs. Fallfish taste terrible but are caught and released by anglers.

The preferred habitat is clear, swift streams, rock pools and in clear lakes.

Are the birds flying into your windows ?

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

 With the arrival of winter birds and finally the Black Bears have nestled in we can now refill our Rhode Island feeders, my wife and I were soon dismayed at the number of birds hitting our windows. The Red Wing  Hawk seemed adept at busting the birds, with at least one hitting a window during the escape. The Red Wing would snatch that stunned bird immediately.

"We need to do something!" I said. I researched the common problem and then my wife Susan immediately grabbed a pad of 3-M Post-It Notes and started slapping them on the windows. I was slack-jawed. It looked like a brilliant plan! It's been a week and not one bird has hit the windows. It's a quick fix and it works! I thought I would share.

Face Book Example

Best Bets For Carp in Massachusetts

https://www.facebook.com/PicturesByBruce/videos/441568649369021/

We have discussed the year round under fished great opportunity for fresh water 20 lb. fish in the tri-state area and Clubs and Carp Tournaments have evolved too. Keep in mind that the listed water bodies below aren't the only places where big fish are found. Not all anglers submit their big catches to Mass Wildlife and big fish lurk in many other bodies of water!  When available, links to a pond map or specific website are included. Blackstone River !

Click on Link above for a nice Vidio.

Best Bets for Carp

Waterbody	Town	MassWildlife District
Charles River	N/A	Northeast District
Concord River	N/A	Northeast District
Connecticut River	N/A	Connecticut Valley District
Flax Pond	Lynn	Northeast District
Laurel Lake	Lee	Western District
Merrimack River	N/A	Northeast District
Nashawannuck Pond	Easthampton	Connecticut Valley District
Onota Lake	Pittsfield	Western District
Quinebaug River	N/A	Central District
Quinsigamond Lake	Shrewsbury/Worcester	Central District
Sudbury River	N/A	Northeast District
Westfield River	N/A	Connecticut Valley District