American Museum of Fly Fishing Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Manchester, Vermont– The American Museum of Fly Fishing in Manchester, Vermont, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2018. Admission is free to the public every Friday this year as AMFF marks this milestone.

“When the Museum was established in 1968, it would have been hard to imagine the place it has become. Through strong and steadfast dedication, we have built a collection, a destination, and a community of passionate anglers who stand behind our mission to be the steward of fly-fishing history,” says Executive Director Sarah Foster. “We wouldn’t be here today without the commitment of those involved in promoting fly fishing and conservation, and are proud to do our part in preserving the artifacts, innovations, and stories of this great sport.”

In preparation for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Mary Orvis Marbury created wooden panels featuring flies and photographs to represent her father’s outdoor equipment retailer, C.F. Orvis Company. These panels were rediscovered in 1963 as Hermann Kessler was conducting research for Field and Stream magazine. He approached the new owner of Orvis, Leigh Perkins, and in 1968 the American Museum of Fly Fishing was founded.

Fifty years after this seminal event, AMFF is now the world’s most comprehensive repository and conservator of angling related artifacts, including the extensive Gardner L. Grant Library as well as 22,000 flies, 1,300 rods, and 1,300 reels. It also publishes a quarterly award-winning journal, The American Fly Fisher. AMFF is proudly known as the historical home of fly fishing.

This summer the Museum will open The Selch-Bakwin Fly Room, which will showcase the rarest flies from some of the most notable names in the history of fly tying—including Theodore Gordon, Preston Jennings, George LaBranche, Edward Hewitt, Megan Boyd, Lee Wulff, and Helen Shaw. AMFF also houses the oldest documented flies in existence, tied in 1789 in England and Scotland. Additionally, On Fly in the Salt: American Saltwater Fishing from the Surf to the Flats will open in preview in our Leigh H. Perkins Gallery before it begins a multi-city tour.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing is open Tuesday – Saturday from November through May and Tuesday – Sunday from June through October, 10 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

For more information about the Museum please visit our website amff.org or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Jordan Lee: Back to Back Bliss

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Greenville, SC (March 20, 2018) – Long before sunrise last Sunday, Bassmaster Elite angler Jordan Lee woke up as an outstanding professional bass fisherman. No doubt, his 2017 Bassmaster Classic win solidified his place within a select group of pros that are now household names in the world of fishing.

Monday, the world greeted Jordan Lee as a legend.

Back-to-back Bassmaster Classic wins are a feat of unimaginable difficulty. With his 2018 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods win, Jordan Lee joins two of professional bass fishing’s greatest ambassadors, Rick Clunn and Kevin VanDam, as the only anglers to have achieved the greatest prize in all of tournament fishing in consecutive years.

 Pros Kevin VanDam and Jordan Lee toast Lee’s 2018 Bassmaster Classic win Sunday night in Greenville, South Carolina.

Coming into the third day of the Bassmaster Classic on South Carolina’s immense Lake Hartwell, Plano Pro Lee sat within striking distance of the championship in a solid 6th place. Obstacles to victory included a formidable list of some of the world’s best bass anglers, along with funky fish in an exasperating state of flux. Hartwell’s bass, you see, had transitioned from a pre-spawn, ghost-like presence to active spawning activity within a matter of hours. 

Lee’s 2018 Classic success is largely due to his decision to fish the way he often does on his home water in Alabama. Working the plentiful docks that line many stretches of Lake Hartwell’s bays and coves proved to be a great decision.

“I just wanted to cover as much water as I could to give myself the best chance of putting a bait in front of a fish,” Lee explained. “On this lake, I knew boat docks were going to play because they always do — and that’s what I like to do.”  

Focusing his efforts on smaller-statured spotted bass throughout much of the tournament (he weighed in all spots on day two with a total weight of 12-2) was risky, but his preferred approach worked out in the long run when everything fell-together perfectly Sunday.

Vermont 2017 Deer Season Report Available

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department says its final report on the 2017 deer hunting seasons is now available on their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com).

The report shows that hunters took a total of 15,984 deer during Vermont’s archery, youth, November rifle, and December muzzleloader deer seasons.  This was 13 percent higher than the previous 3-year average (14,186).

Hunters took 3,578 deer in archery season, 1,462 in youth season, 7,272 in rifle season, and 3,672 in muzzleloader season.  The 15,984 deer brought home by hunters yielded more than 3 million meals of local nutritious venison.

The legal buck harvest of 9,477 was 8 percent more than the previous three-year average of 8,760, and the third highest buck harvest since 2002,” said deer project leader Nick Fortin.  “Harvest numbers increased during the archery, youth and muzzleloader seasons, and the total harvest of 15,984 is also the third highest since 2002.
 Current Whitetail Deer population in Vermont is about 140,000

“The relatively high harvest was primarily due to the mild winters of 2016 and 2017 which allowed more deer to survive.  Additionally, the department issued more muzzleloader antlerless deer permits this year to provide more harvest opportunity and to limit population growth in some parts of the state.”

The primary goal of Vermont’s deer management strategy is to keep the deer herd stable, healthy and in balance with available habitat.  “Maintaining an appropriate number of deer on the landscape ensures deer and the habitats that support them remain in good condition and productive,” said Fortin. 

Each year the department operates biological check stations during deer hunting seasons to gather information on the age, sex, field dressed weight, antler characteristics, and overall health of Vermont’s deer herd.  In 2017, biological data were collected from more than 1,200 deer examined during the two-day youth season and November rifle season. 

To provide additional data, hunters submitted more than 2,800 teeth from bucks harvested during the rifle season.  Fortin adds, “The effort made by hunters and many of our big game reporting stations to collect teeth during rifle season will greatly improve our understanding of Vermont’s buck population.  The ages of those bucks will be posted on our website in late April.”

Maine: Historical Timberland and Wildlife Habitat Conserved in Aroostook County

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Forest City, ME - The Woodie Wheaton Land Trust is pleased to announce a significant land acquisition within the East Grand Lake Watershed! The Headwaters Project will conserve 3,053 acres and many of the brooks and streams that nourish this clear water system.

The lands border 9.4 miles of Monument Stream in the town of Amity, and have both forested uplands and extensive riparian wetlands along Greenleaf and Glendenning Brooks. Abutting the southern border are 7,486 acres of land originally acquired in the East Grand Watershed Initiative, since conveyed to Maine’s Bureau of Public Lands and managed for its exceptional wildlife habitat. That project was also initiated by WWLT and acquired in a partnership with The Conservation Fund.

WWLT recognizes the value these lands have to the local community and intends to keep them open for traditional uses such as hunting and fishing. Founded in 1994, the mission of the Trust is “to promote the protection, preservation and conservation of land and water in the Chiputneticook Lakes region of eastern Maine and western New Brunswick for the benefit of present and future generations.” Consistent with this mission is the long-term stewardship of our forests, not just for the benefit of the natural world, but also to sustainably meet the societal and economic needs of local residents. WWLT will carefully steward these Headwater lands consistent with a management plan yet to be developed.

The seller is Lakeville Shores, part of the H.C. Haynes family of forest businesses based in Winn, Maine. Portions of the land have been subject to commercial forest harvests for generations of ownership. WWLT will continue to pay all property taxes and forest related fees as before.

Together, there will be some 10,541 acres of wild land under active conservation abutting the Canadian border in Amity and Orient. The Headwaters Project creates a rare opportunity to conserve land that has been documented as some of the finest unspoiled habitat for wild birds, aquatic mammals, and wetland vegetation in northern Maine. It hosts a vast wintering yard for whitetail deer, and is the largest area of “high value wading bird and waterfowl habitat” in the East Grand Watershed.

There are over 300 acres of wetlands in the conserved parcels, favored habitat for dozens of species of birds, some of which are rare and endangered. Monument Brook and its tributaries, particularly Greenleaf and Glendenning, have resident populations of wild brook trout. Protecting these wetlands and restoring riparian habitat for shade and sedimentation control are critical for the survival of brook trout. These and other biological and ecological considerations are an important part of the management of these lands.

Monument Brook establishes the International Boundary between Maine and New Brunswick, affirmed by the Webster-Ashburton Treaty of 1842. The use of its navigable waters and shore lands, now governed by two countries, provide a unique wilderness recreational experience.

Woodie Wheaton Land Trust has been interested in this land for over four years. Retired directors Elbridge Cleaves and Steve Keith have been enthusiastic about a conservation

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outcome, and their persistence and dedication deserves everyone’s gratitude. In the summer of 2017, WWLT directors were flown over the land in order to better see and comprehend the significance of this wild area. Canoe and ground tours were also conducted. The Trust was informed of the land’s ecological significance by the findings of professional ecologists and ornithologists. In the end, no one could deny that this wilderness area is indeed a very special place.

Making this possible is a generous gift from Sam and Betty Shine of Indiana. Their affection for the area and profound interest in keeping these waters clean, along with their desire to see natural systems endure without human meddling, has led to their support and encouragement of this project.

For further information please contact the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust at (207) 448-3250 or wwltoffice@gmail.com 

Connecticut: Ice-Out Channel Cats Biting

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Channel catfish move close to shore and are eager to bite in many lakes and the large reservoirs across Connecticut. After eating light during the winter, channel catfish go on a feeding frenzy in early spring cleaning up small fish that died over the winter.

When the ice goes off, a winter’s worth of dead forage fish drift into shallow water for channel catfish to devour. Search for actively feeding fish on the windblown shorelines and points where dead fish are piled up and the shallow water warms quickly. Keep the wind in your face and try different locations until you find actively feeding fish.

Use cut bait or golden shiners or suckers fished on the bottom. To keep the bait on the hook, try using a 1/0 to 3/0 bait holder hook and enough weight (3/8th to ½ ounce) to cast into the wind. Bring along a pair of needle nose pliers to handle the swallowed hooks and a old rag and help keep the smell off your hands and to hold the fish to not get finned.

Ice out catfishing can be good in any lake that has an abundant catfish population.  

  Look for tree's blown down and making a good ambush point for Mr. Whiskers and just below any dam will increase your creel. Make sure you have your outdoor grill all set for spring and I think the best way to cook them. Potatoes, I like red skin and some asparagus cooked with garlic along side the fish on the grill. The Nutmeg State has really led all New England with their aggressive stocking program and I think this spring will be on the high end of the cycle. I caught a few thru the ice and it will only get better. Take a break from the trout and bass tournaments and invite a young person, veteran or two or a older relative in a nursing home for a day to share their previous fishing days from shore for the good tasting Catfish . Basic light to medium rod's and reels and a license is all you need with no crowds or heavy bugs yet. 

Channel Catfish:

• Are found in almost every state in the United States,
• are popular gamefish, sought after by anglers across the country,
• grow to large sizes providing the opportunity for trophy-sized catches,
• are easy to catch from shore with simple equipment,
• and are good to eat. 

Fishing for Channel Catfish:

• Channel catfish can be caught throughout the day, but dusk or night time are the best times to target them.
• Bait like these, fished on or near the bottom are your best bet:
     - nightcrawler,
     - live minnows,
     - cut chunks of fish, 
     - or chicken livers, which are a particularly popular bait used by catfish “sharpies”.

E-Mail me your results. good or just the experience to me at waynewnri.com 

and it just might make the live radio show broadcast of the Outdoor Scene on wnri.com worldwide livestream.

Rhode Wins Gold and Connor Takes Silver at ISSF World Cup

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado  –Six-time Olympic medalist Kim Rhode ended the 2017 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) season with a gold medal and she picked up right where she left off when she won her 11th World Cup gold in Women’s Skeet today at the 2018 ISSF season-opening World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Rhode (El Monte, California) finished Qualification in first place, five targets ahead of her nearest competitor with 122/125 hits. Rhode’s teammate and friend Caitlin Connor also secured herself a spot in the Final with 115 hits, finishing Qualification in fourth place.

Once in the Final, Rhode would miss two targets at her first station, but ran 30 straight to eventually equal her own World Record of 56/60 hits. Connor (Winnfield, Louisiana) would finish with 52 hits to claim the silver medal. Amber Hill of Great Britain would win the bronze.

“I started out a little rough, then I kind of pulled it together, did that great final run and I’m just so happy that I walked away with the gold medal, especially with my teammates next to me on the podium,” Rhode told the ISSF.

“It was a rough match,” Connor said. “I just tried to stay focused on what I needed to do to break targets. I learned a lot and had a lot of fun taking the top two with my teammate Kim. She and I always crush it when we’re in Mexico!” In addition to today’s gold/silver finishes, Rhode and Connor have also won gold and silver together in Mexico at the World Cups in Acapulco in 2015 and 2017.

Haley Dunn (Eddyville, Iowa) finished in 14th place with 108 hits.

Also competing today in Women’s Sport Pistol, Nathalia Granados Gomez (East Northport, New York) finished in 19th place with a score of 564. Katelyn Abeln (Douglasville, Georgia) finished in 21st place just one point back with 563.

The Men’s Skeet competition also kicked off today with the first 50 targets. Two-time Olympic gold medalist Vincent Hancock (Eatonton, Georgia) has only dropped one target with 49 hits. His two-time Olympic teammate Frank Thompson (Alliance, Nebraska) has 47 hits and Eli Christman(Hixson, Tennessee) has 45 hits. Athletes will see an additional 75 targets in Qualification tomorrow as well as Finals to close this World Cup.

More than 400 athletes from 50 countries are competing at this ISSF World Cup in 15 medal events. Complete results, schedule and start lists from the ISSF World Cup in Guadalajara are available here: http://www.issf-sports.org/competitions/venue.ashx?cshipid=2390.

Fisheries Division Receives National Award Recognizing Arctic Charr Restoration

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Fisheries Division Receives National Award Recognizing Arctic Charr Restoration

Last week, our Fisheries Division received national attention for their work restoring native Arctic Charr to Big Reed Pond in northern Piscataquis county.

Joe Larscheid of the American Sport Fish Society presents the Sport Fish Restoration Outstanding Project award to Regional Fisheries Biologist Frank Frost

The American Fisheries Society presented fisheries biologist Frank Frost with their Sport Fish Restoration Outstanding Project award in recognition of the Arctic charr restoration project on Big Reed Pond.

The annual Sport Fish Restoration outstanding project award is given by the American Fisheries Society highlights the importance and effectiveness of the Sport Fish Restoration program and recognizes excellence in fisheries management, research and education.

Arctic charr are a unique resource occurring only in Maine within the continental United States. They became perilously close to disappearing from one of the last remaining ponds in Maine. We are proud to say that the work completed to reclaim Big Reed Pond has restored the charr population, which was confirmed late last spring by our fisheries biologists who documented wild, naturally-reproducing Arctic charr.

Arctic charr are found in only 14 waters in Maine. They prefer deep, cold lakes that lie at high elevation and have few other competing species. An illegal introduction of rainbow smelt at Big Reed Pond upset that delicate balance and threatened the charr population. While native to the state, smelt are invasive to many waters where they do not occur naturally and if illegally introduced can wreak havoc on the natural ecosystem.

Knowing extraordinary measures were needed to protect the charr, beginning in 2007, MDIFW fisheries biologists began an intensive effort to capture some of the remaining live charr. For the next four years, biologists used nets to capture and transfer 14 charr from Big Reed Pond to the Mountain Springs Trout Farm in Frenchville, Maine. These fourteen charr became the breeding stock utilized to restore the genetic population unique to Big Reed Pond.

However, before Big Reed could be restocked with native charr fingerlings, the smelt had to be removed.

MDIFW staff, along with a group of partners, reclaimed the pond with rotenone in October 2010, eliminating the competing smelt population. Rotenone is a plant-based product that affects the ability of fish to use oxygen in the water and it breaks down rapidly in the environment. Reclamation is a long-time fishery management practice employed around the country that is used sparingly in Maine, and only in waters that meet specific criteria. Maine IFW uses this tool to restore native brook trout and charr populations, and to eradicate invasive threats. The Department places a priority on the conservation and protection of native and wild fisheries.

Arctic Charr, bred from the remaining 14 charr that were transferred to Mountain Springs Trout Farm, were first stocked in Big Reed starting in June 2011 and continued through June 2013. In June of 2017, MDIFW biologists confirmed that charr are indeed spawning, identifying three different age classes through the magnified examination of captured charr fish scales, which confirmed three successful spawning seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

It’s important to note that this reclamation project had an amazing array of partners. Without the support of each of them, successful restoration of charr at Big Reed would not have been possible. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife partnered with The Nature Conservancy, The Bradford Camps, Mountain Springs Trout Farm, and The University of Maine to complete the project. The Presque Isle High School Aquaculture Facility and the Maine Army Aviation Support facility in Bangor provided significant volunteer assistance. The Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund provided financial support in three separate grants to help support the hatchery efforts. US Fish and Wildlife Service Sportfish Restoration Funds were critical to this restoration project, as well as most other freshwater fisheries management and conservation efforts by the MDIFW.