This winter, the state of Vermont imposed some serious baitfish regulations in an attempt to slow or prevent the spread of VHS (Viral hemorrhagic septicemia), a viral disease that can cause high fish mortality. 

VHS is currently widespread in the Great Lakes and has been quickly spreading to fish populations in surrounding areas.  While not currently found in Vermont, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department fears that the virus may be brought into the state via the transport of baitfish.  So in order to reduce the potential for spread, emergency regulations were passed this winter that prohibit the harvest of any species of baitfish aside from smelt or perch, substantially prohibit the use of bait, and put strict regulations on bait dealers.   

The strict emergency regulations are set to expire in February, and public hearings are currently taking place at 5 locations around the state in order to draft more permanent regulations. 

Read more about the regulation details and meeting dates here

Read an article about the virus and regulations from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche here

Ice fishing derbies are often frowned upon because of the large number of fish that are killed in order to be weighed in, regardless of whether they have a chance to win a top prize.  While this isn’t always an issue, sometimes it can have negative effects on a lake’s fishery.  Luckily, many anglers, derby organizers and fish biologists are recognizing the need for additional conservation measures to reduce unneccesary harvest.

For instance, this from Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife fisheries biologist Gordon Kramer:

The annual Schoodic Lake Ice Fishing Derby is coming up on the weekend of Feb. 16 and 17. This year there will be a change in the way lake trout and salmon are entered in the derby. At our request, the Milo Fire Department will not register any lake trout or salmon less than 22 inches. It is still legal to keep those fish, but in the interest of maintaining a high quality cold-water fishery at Schoodic, fish less than 22 inches will not be eligible for a prize. Kudos to the Milo Fire Department for their conservation minded change in the derby rules. More information can be obtained at: http://www.trcmaine.org/fishingderby/

And this from a Massachusetts bass fishing derby:

Anyone who catches a bass weighing 2 pounds or more and brings it live to the derby weighing table wins a $10 gift certificate to Taft’s Tackle Shop. Once weighed in, the bass must be released live into a nearby hole which has been cut into the ice. If the bass cannot be released alive, then the deal is off.

This is a win-win situation for all. The angler receives the $10 certificate even though he may not have won the contest; the contest winner who caught the largest bass gets the certificate, the first place prize and bragging rights; and the fish is allowed to live and free to spawn in June and maybe fight a lucky fisherman next summer.

These are just a couple of ideas that can be implemented to reduce the potential negative affects of fishing derbies and keep them going without hurting the fishery.

A recent article in the Concord Monitor reviewed a seminar co-led by a fishing guide and a biologist for the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife about the effects of smallmouth bass introductions on salmon and trout populations.  Bass can cause huge problems for trout and salmon by competing for food resources and preying on juvenile fish.  While bass fishing is a fast growing sport, salmon and trout populations will continue to shrink if we don’t take action concerning the problems with illegal fish introductions.

From habitat projects to breeding and stocking programs, it appears that nothing short of removing dams will reverse declines in Pacific Salmon populations in the Northwest. At least that’s what most experts believe.

But removing predators could make a difference, albeit small. In addition to the many predatory birds that take advantage of the highly altered travelways of migrating salmon, sea lions stack up near fish ladders in places like Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, eating all the salmon they can catch.

NOAA Fisheries Service recently recommended killing about 30 sea lions at the Dam, far fewer than Washington, Oregon and Idaho had hoped for, but it’s a start.

At least three runs of salmon passing through Bonneville Dam are threatened. Sea lions are not. But that pesky Marine Mammal Protection Act prevents states from doing anything about the sea lion problem without permission from the feds. And permission from the feds to do most things (as you may know) can take time.

I’m not saying that predators like sea lions are necessarily bad.  In fact, they play an important ecological role in their natural environment. But they’re chomping down on some very valuable salmon that we’re paying big money to save, under conditions far from ‘natural’ at the base of fish ladders.

Animal rights activists will no doubt pressure NOAA significantly, turning this into a huge issue likely requiring large amounts of red tape.

But on a positive note, sea lion control might actually make a difference. I for one hope that NOAA commits to this wholeheartedly and tries to make it work. Let’s do every reasonable thing within our power to give salmon a chance to recover.

Most fishermen have probably long been aware of the importance of recreational fishing to the U.S. economy, but recent reports are beginning to show just how big the industry is. 

I was amazed at the findings of the recent American Sportfishing Association study that showed that sportfishing generates an estimated $125 billion in overall economic output, and supports over 1 million jobs!

Read the report (pdf) here. 

Worried about unsafe ice conditions this winter? Check out this video.

A local fishing guide recently discovered trout spawning in south London’s River Wandle, a stream plagued with urban water quality issues where trout were not believed to reproduce. 

Trout have been stocked in this once famous fishing river in recent years, but this is the first time they’ve been documented spawning in a long time.  These results, combined with the newfound dedication from Thames Water to help restore the fishery, are generating optimism from anglers around the area.

Read the full story here

In a report recently released by the conservation group California Trout, a private firm has concluded that fishing represents a major part of California’s economy.  The report states that anglers in California spend over $2 billion on fishing-related expenses annually. 

What’s even more interesting is the predicted economic benefit that would result from increasing fish populations in particularly fisheries.

For instance, the report states:

 If salmon populations were increased in the Klamath River, each additional fish caught by anglers would be worth $200 to the economy.  Approximately every 1,000 fish caught recreationally generates four jobs in the area. 

These are really interesting numbers, especially since they come at a time when government and the public sometimes have to make decisions about political issues related to fisheries.

The report recommends that increased state funding be targeted to activities that sustain and restore fisheries and habitats for their ecological values and benefits to people. It states that restoration of compromised fisheries would result in improved economic opportunities from fishing and other water-based recreation, as well as other benefits such as ecosystem health and biodiversity.  

If you’re not from California, doesn’t this make you wonder about the value of your own state’s recreational fisheries, and how much benefit could be derived from increased investments in natural resources?

You can download the full report below:

The Value of Recreational Fishing in California

In the interest of disclosure, I should mention that California Trout provided funding for this study.

Check out the Cal Trout Press Release here.

In what biologists believe is an event related to cold conditions on Lake Champlain, a major die-off of alewives was observed by anglers and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife this past week. 

Alewives are a nonnative fish species that play a role similar to smelts in large lake systems.  Biologists are concerned about the rate at which alewives have established themselves in the lake, and potential ecological consequences to the rest of the lake’s fish community.

Read more here

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission heard comments this week regarding a management plan for the Bull Shoals and Norfork tailwaters, two of the most important tailwater fisheries in the state.  The rivers are strongly influenced by water releases from reservoirs, and therefore can be managed for quality fisheries through proper water control measures. 

Fisheries managers were seeking public input on the plan, which would combine a water release regime with other changes such as restrictive fishing regulations to improve the fishing.

Goals in the plan include maximizing angler access, improving water quality and fish habitat, providing an enjoyable fishing experience and maintaining satisfactory catch rates.

The plan includes the potential for catch and release fishing regulations, but only if they prove to be effective, which is being determined through a University of Arkansas study that’s underway.

The draft retains all catchand-release areas pending the completion of a multiyear study of the tail waters by the University of Arkansas Cooperative Research Unit.

Arkansas Chapter of Trout Unlimited president Bruce Ritter had this to add:

“The ultimate decision whether to manage our resource with slot limits or a system of catchand-release areas is a significant one. Changes to the current system should only be made if those changes are supported by meaningful data,” Ritter said.

While the management plan has garnered plenty of support, some people do have issues with parts of it. 

Several participants, including Julie Raines of His Place Resort at Cotter, objected to future bait restrictions. Raines said the restrictions could drive away a large segment of anglers who don’t or can’t fly fish — such as children, the elderly and the disabled.

Regulators should be encouraging children to take up the sport of fishing, not discouraging them by restricting bait fishing, said Mike Seftar, manager of Nabatak Inc. in Midway, a wholesale distributor of live and artificial fishing bait.

As in every fish management plan, the best outcome will likely be one where the fishery is improved with support from all sides.  And I sure hope it works.  I’d love to get the chance to catch a monster brown trout in an Arkansas tailwater someday!