April Brings Great <b>Fishing</b> Before the May Flowers

From FWC Fish Busters Bulletin

By Bob Wattendorf

April showers bring May flowers, but in Florida there is already an abundance of blooms and a great bonanza of freshwater fishing opportunities that began earlier this spring. All across the state, anglers have reported great catches of a wide variety of freshwater fish. Innumberable anglers enjoy targeting sunfishes that move into the shallows to spawn this time of year.

Typically, black crappie (specks), redbreast sunfish and largemouth bass (the largest sunfish) begin spawning when water temperatures get over about 62 F. Crappie will stop spawning before bass, which continue to work the beds until it warms up to about 75 degrees. They are followed by redear sunfish (70-80 F) and bluegill (75-85 F). There is quite a bit of research and angler lore that say the fish key their peak activity to a few days before and after the full and new moons during spring.

Louie Echols with a huge bluegill that not only qualified for a Big Catch certificate but helped him to become Florida’s youngest elite angler (documenting Big Catch submissions from ten different species). Photo by Dan Echols

April is a favorite time of year for freshwater anglers, not only because fish congregating in the shallows provides great catch rates with lots of quality-size fish, but also because temperatures tend to be comfortable for an outdoor expedition. Another reason is that the first Saturday in April each year (April 6, this year) is a license-free freshwater fishing day across the state. People are exempt from having a license that day, so it is a great opportunity to reach out to people who don’t have a freshwater fishing license and show them how much fun a day on the water can be. Or, perhaps you have children who have been bugging you to go, and you haven’t wanted to buy a license to accompany them. Now is your chance.

Tom Champeau, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, points out that dedicated saltwater anglers may want to take this opportunity to see what they are missing a little closer to home. Freshwater angling provides a chance to expand fishing skills without having to travel far, as everybody lives near freshwater sites.

Florida has 7,700 named lakes and 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals, so nearly everyone is within 30 to 45 minutes of a fishing hole. If you want some help finding a location or seek fishing tips and seasonal fishing forecasts, check out MyFWC.com/Fishing (under “Freshwater Fishing,” choose “Sites & Forecasts”). Quarterly forecasts by fisheries biologists are supplemented with links to local bait-and-tackle shops, marinas or guides, for even more timely updates.

Bob Williams shows off the first Hall of Fame Bass certified by the TrophyCatch Program. The 13 lb, 14 oz bass was caught, weighed on certified scales and released back in Rodman Reservoir after taking a fin clip for genetic sampling. Photo by Sean Rush/Trophy Bass Expeditions

Florida’s Big Catch Angler Recognition Program provides an opportunity for anglers to commemorate their memorable freshwater catches with a certificate and having their photo posted online. Thirty-three different species are included in the program, and all it takes to participate is a photo of a fish that exceeds either a specified length or weight. It’s a great incentive for youth, who can qualify by catching fish that are roughly 25 percent smaller than the qualifying measures for adult anglers. Visit MyFWC.com/BigCatch for more details and to enroll.

However, the ultimate challenge is the race for the biggest trophy bass of the year. Florida’s fame as a bass fishing destination lies in an abundance of lakes and rivers that consistently produce trophy-size bass. To document locations and frequency of bass catches over eight pounds, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) launched TrophyCatch (TrophyCatchFlorida.com) in October with the support of more than 20 industry partners. The goal is to enhance and sustain trophy bass fisheries and to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World, based on documented catches.

To participate, catches must be verified by FWC for the angler to earn awards. For Lunker Club (8 to 9.9-pounds) and Trophy Club (10 to12.9-pounds), verification requires photos of the entire bass clearly showing its length and weight, and then the bass must be released. Photos are submitted via the website. For Hall of Fame bass, which earn for the angler a free replica valued at $500 and an additional $500 in other prizes, the fish must be caught before the end of April and weighed on certified scales by an FWC representative. If you catch one, keep it alive and call 855-FL-Trophy. From May through September, bass over 13 pounds can still be photo-documented as Trophy Club bass, but won’t be entered into the Hall of Fame, to prevent undue stress when water temperatures are too warm.

Tony Stewart, Tom Champeau and Johnny Morris all delight in Champeau’s catch and release of this 11 lb, 8 oz Florida largemouth bass caught in the vicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area, off the St. Johns River. Photo by Richard Gibson/for Bass Pro Shops

The biggest bass of this season (ending Sept. 30) verified by TropyCatch will earn a $3,000 championship ring provided by the American Outdoor Fund. The biggest bass caught in Osceola County and verified by TrophyCatch will take home $10,000, courtesy of Explore Kissimmee. If a registered guide helped (see website for details), the guide earns a $2,500 bonus. So register now, check out the rules, grab a rod-reel, camera, scale and tape measure, and go catch yourself a lunker, document it and then release it. By the way, just registering gets you into a drawing for a Phoenix bass boat powered by Mercury.

The biggest fish of the year currently is a 13-pound, 14-ounce monster caught by Bob Williams. It became the first Hall of Fame fish entered into the program. He was fishing wild shiners on Rodman Reservoir, with guide Sean Rush (Trophy Bass Expeditions). Check out YouTube.com/TrophyCatchFlorida to see a video of the current leaderboard, including Williams’ catch.

Another truly awesome fishing story from this spring was Champeau’s catch and release of a Trophy Club-level bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. At the time, Champeau was giving a tour to Bass Pro Shop founder John L. Morris and NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart. Champeau explained how the area near Three Forks Management Area is being reclaimed through a partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the FWC. Marshes that were drained for agriculture are being reclaimed to protect water quality in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Johns River. The famous Stick Marsh, which opened for fishing in the 1980s, was the first of these. Within the next five years, an additional 47,000 acres will be thriving with trophy bass, and the FWC is taking measures to ensure these fisheries continue to produce decades into the future.

“We estimate the economic impact, once the project is completed, will be around $20 million to local businesses,” Champeau said.

While on their tour in the vicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area, Morris, Stewart and Champeau, led by fishing guide Capt. Mike Tipton, caught 36 bass in a few hours.

“Catching and releasing a trophy bass while fishing with the founder of our major sponsor was incredible,” said Champeau. “The only way I could have scripted it better would be for either Johnny or Tony to catch her,” he added Morris was ecstatic himself remarking, “What a way to promote this great conservation program!”

Champeau’s catch is posted on on the TrophyCatch website; however, as an FWC employee, he is not eligible for rewards.

“Catching the bass of a lifetime, with Johnny Morris and a racing legend like Tony Stewart, was the best reward I could ask for,” said Champeau.

Now it’s your turn! Enjoy the great freshwater fishing Florida has for you this spring. Make memories and memorialize them through Florida’s angler recognition programs at TrophyCatchFlorida.com, and if you release a lunker bass, you’ll be able to say “My Trophy Swims in Florida!”

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Shedd Aquarium Studies Invasive <b>Fish</b> Species Impacting the Great Lakes <b>...</b>

Contributing Editor Dr. Jordan Schaul interviews Shedd Aquarium researchers about the facility’s Great Lakes conservation research programs, which include studies on invasive species.

Nat Geo Archives

In the face of all the threats that challenge the Earth’s pelagic and coastal zones of fresh water, marine and brackish water bodies, Shedd Aquarium remains committed to the conservation of aquatic life wherever they exist. While some studies have required the deployment of staff and associates to far off places, others necessitate working in Shedd’s own backyard.

The Aquarium has deployed biologists to the coastal waters of Southeast Asia to study seahorses and to Bristol Bay, Alaska to conserve beluga whales, among other distant field sites. Shedd’s biologists are also working out of the Chicago-based aquarium. Shedd Aquarium’s president and CEO, Ted Beattie is very practical about conservation and has said that “conservation starts right here, in our own backyard.” Since Shedd’s campus literally sits right on the shore of Lake Michigan, the Aquarium has focused several initiatives on protecting the Great Lakes ecosystem.

The five Laurentian Great Lakes hold the largest supply of freshwater on Earth and unfortunately, the Great Lakes are in great trouble. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory cites several threats to Great Lakes basin and ecosystems. Threats directly affecting surface water and aquatic life in the lakes include small scale disturbances such as weather-induced erosion, water level changes associated with climate change, pollution, and invasive species of plants, micro-organisms and animals.

The Aquarium is most poised to address invasive species concerns, and they are also interested in contributing to the conservation of native species through other research and conservation measures. The eradication of invasive species and the protection of native species is the ultimate goal, but first the Aquarium and their partners must learn more about the basic biology of these exotic and native fisheries.

More than 180 non-native species have been introduced to the Great Lakes ecosystem since the early 1800's, from parasitic lampreys to the destructive zebra and quagga mussels. Among fish species that have found their way into these lakes, which comprise 21% of the Earth’s surface freshwater, 25 species have become established in the lakes.

In this first in a series post of posts discussing the Great Lakes Program at the Shedd Aquarium, I interview Senior Research Biologist Dr. Philip Willink. Dr. Willink is coordinating the invasive and migratory fish species studies.

Interview:

Jordan: In an effort to mitigate the detrimental impact of invasive fish species on the freshwater ecosystem, the Shedd has embarked on efforts to study the basic biology of the two invaders. The first is the weatherfish (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus), a popular cold water aquarium fish, which is suspected to have been introduced into Chicago waterways by well-intentioned hobbyists. The second is the highly aggressive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), which following its introduction via the ballast water of cargo ships, became a popular prey item for the once threatened Lake Erie water snake. Can you elaborate on how these species became established in the Great Lakes and what you have learned about them thus far?

Philip: Weatherfish are originally from Southeast Asia, but have been moved around the world by the pet trade and through restaurants; they are a popular and hardy pet, and even a food source in some places. They first appeared on the north side of Chicago in the late 1980s, but remained largely unnoticed because they live along the bottom and will even burrow into mud to hide. Unbeknownst to people at the time, the weatherfish spread throughout the Chicago River and beyond. We aren’t sure what makes them able to thrive in the region, which is one reason whymore studies are needed.

We now find weatherfish in wetlands throughout the Chicago region. Because of their stealthy nature, their exact distribution and impact on native species is still unknown. To address this, we are studying what they eat, where they live, spawning behavior, and how they disperse into new areas.

Many invasive species arrive in the Great Lakes by attaching to gear or vehicles transported between bodies of water. The round goby was an unintentional hitchhiker that found a ride in the ballast tanks of freighters traveling from the Black Sea to the Great Lakes. They rapidly spread throughout the Great Lakes and their competition has devastated small benthic fishes. They are also unpopular with perch anglers because of their propensity for stealing bait.

However, there are drawbacks and benefits to the presence of round gobies in our lakes. As you mentioned, the comeback of the threatened Lake Erie water snake is largely attributable to their taste for round gobies, which make up most of their diet. Also, bass love to eat gobies, and bass numbers have exploded in parts of the Great Lakes, much to the delight of anglers. While round
gobies eat zebra mussels, another dangerous invasive species, they don’t eat enough to control the mussel population. These tradoffs highlight the complexity of invasions, and how much we still have to learn about the biology of these species.

Jordan: According to Shedd’s Great Lakes Program, the Aquarium’s science initiatives “develop and leverage crucial research partnerships with universities, agencies and other NGO’s.” Their research programs are designed to advance the understanding of aquatic wildlife and habitats of the Great Lakes and associated local water ways in order to develop “effective management strategies” for the region. Can you talk about some of the partnerships with regard to the coordination of these studies? What institutions are responsible for the different aspects of the invasive species research program?

Philip: The Great Lakes basin has a strong research community that is dedicated to stopping the introduction of invasive species and trying to eradicate, or at least mitigate the impacts of those that are already established. No one institution has the resources to do this alone, so institutions have to work together.

At Shedd, collaboration is key to the success of our programs. A single invasive species project around Lake Michigan may involve the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for navigable waterways, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for field surveys, Forest Preserve Districts and nongovernmental organizations for land access, and regional universities, such as Loyola University and Western Illinois University, that help conduct genetic analyses of specimens. Our combined expertise leads to the development of effective management strategies for Great Lakes wildlife and habitats—and of course, Shedd is always looking to partner with organizations that want to make a difference for the lakes.

Jordan: Can you summarize some of the project goals for the invasive species research. Are there fundamental differences in the ecology or behavior of the round goby and weatherfish that dictate the ways in which you will go about studying the two species?

Philip: The project goals are to gain a better understanding of their foraging, reproduction, and dispersal behaviors so we can create management plans that limit their impact on native ecosystems. “Limiting their impact” can mean eliminating them from a given area or preventing their spread to another place.

The most striking difference is their habitat preference: weatherfish live in wetlands, whereas round gobies live in streams or along rocky lake shores. This means each invasive species is interacting with a different cast of native species in a different ecological context. We are unable to automatically take what we learn from one invasive species and apply it to the other, except in a very general manner.

Each invasive species has its own unique suite of characteristics, so it’s critical for us to study them individually to increase the scientific community’s knowledge of their biology. For example, round gobies spread through streams, but the presence of a tall dam effectively halts their spread. On the other hand, weatherfish live in wetlands: technically, roadside ditches are wetlands. So weatherfish can use roadside ditches to move from watershed to watershed. The strategies we develop to control these two invasive species will be very different.

Jordan: A number of anthropogenic factors have lead to the decline of native fish species of the Great Lakes. Some of these factors have lead to the extirpation of migratory species like the Atlantic salmon. Can you talk about the migratory fish studies you are conducting at the Shedd?

Philip: The Great Lakes are rich in fish biodiversity, but we have a lot to learn. Basic biological and behavioral information about migratory fishes remains unknown, which makes it challenging to develop species management recommendations or to understand how activity on land could impact migration in the water. Shedd has a unique opportunity to study a fish migration that appears to be on the rebound.

The largest commercial fishery in the Great Lakes is the lake whitefish, Coregonus clupeaformis. Historically, lake whitefish spawned in the Great Lakes themselves, as well as some of the rivers flowing into the Great Lakes. But they were hard hit by overfishing, sea lamprey, dams, and logging that destroyed spawning grounds. Migratory spawning runs in rivers disappeared. Tighter regulations on the fishing industry, sea lamprey control efforts, and habitat restoration have resulted in an increase in whitefish numbers. Recently, biologists have noticed that whitefish are once again trying to migrate up rivers, attempting to reclaim territory that was once theirs.

We are studying why this behavior has re-emerged and how we can encourage it in order to stimulate this valuable native commercial fishery.  This work is another example of how partnerships can strengthen research: Shedd is working with the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Geological Survey-Great Lakes Science Center, and the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. What we learn from this project will hopefully be applied to the spawning behaviors of other native species, like lake trout.

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Walleye pro Takasaki says Lake Erie is a great walleye lake, and destined to <b>...</b>

D'Arcy Egan, The Plain DealerPro walleye angler Ted Takasaki has a net full of Lake Erie walleye while on a pre-tournament scouting trip for the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour tournament event that wraps up today with a weigh-in in Port Clinton.

 CATAWBA ISLAND

 Pro walleye angler Ted Takasaki fishes for a living, favoring the waters where trophy walleye can be caught. Lake Erie may be in a down cycle right now, but it is still one of his favorite fishing holes.

 "Lake Erie is the best in the Midwest," said Takasaki, 54, of Sioux Falls, S.D., as he guided his boat over the wide, open waters of Western Lake Erie on Tuesday afternoon, preparing for the National Guard FLW Walleye Tour tournament here. "The really big walleye we're used to catching are a little harder to find right now. In three or four years, the 3- to 6-pound walleye we've been consistently hooking today will grow to be the new batch of 10-pounders.

 "Lake Erie is still an awesome fishery, and it will only get better."

 Takasaki knows big walleye. He set the one-day record for a tournament limit of five walleye, weighing a 53.2-pound catch in a Professional Walleye Trail spring tournament on Lake Erie in 2002. Takasaki also painfully remembers he didn't win the tournament. Tommy Skarlis of Waukon, Ia. did, with 15 walleye over three days weighing 138.28 pounds.

 "No tournament lead is safe on Lake Erie," Takasaki said, with a wry grin. "Even this year."

 Takasaki won the Professional Walleye Trail Championship in 1998, and captured an FLW event on the Mississippi River at Red Wing, Minn., in 2009. His name is almost always close to the top of the leader board. These days he's especially dangerous in tournament action because he has simplified his life, focusing on fishing after more than a decade as president of the Lindy Little Joe fishing tackle company in Brainerd, Minn.

 "Fishing is now my primary occupation," said Takasaki, a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame. "In the winter, I work with my sponsors, appear at outdoor shows, appear on television fishing shows and go ice fishing a lot. When the tournament season rolls around, I go fishing."

 Lake Erie has changed quite a bit over the past two decades, said Takasaki.

 "Trolling techniques are important now because the water is so much clearer than in 1991, when I fished my first Lake Erie tournament, and the schools of walleye are more scattered," he said. "It's critical to use planer boards to cover more water and to take the lures away from the sight and sound of the boat. Lure colors are more subtle, with lots of purples and pinks instead of the hot colors, or the blue-silver and black-silver lures that had worked for years."

 Trying to solve this week's walleye puzzle was the reason Ed Piekutowski of Moorhead, Minn. was aboard with us for the day of fishing. A regular in the co-angler division of the FLW tournaments, Piekutowski was handy at putting out lures and reeling in walleye, and allowed us to troll with six fishing rods instead of just four, the limit for two fishermen.

 This week's FLW tournament has attracted a large field of 244 fishermen in the pro and co-angler divisions because of the lure of Lake Erie's trophy walleye.
"Fishermen around the country have a good idea of what Lake Erie is all about," said Takasaki. "The guys all want to come here to experience the fantastic fishing and, hopefully, land the biggest walleye of their careers."

 Lake Erie isn't always fun and games.

 "Lake Erie is a huge lake, and the weather often comes into play," Takasaki said. "When the wind blows, this can be a very tough place to fish. There's always a chance we'll be sidelined for a day or two by bad weather."

 Not this year. While the big waters were bumpy at times this week, the weather forecast for today's final FLW Walleye Tour round is sunny and pleasant, with a southerly breeze almost guaranteeing heavy limits of walleye at today's weigh-in at the Walmart store in Port Clinton. The parade of walleye to the scales begins at 4 p.m.

Precision trolling is a key to Takasaki's walleye success

D'Arcy Egan, The Plain DealerPro walleye angler Ted Takasaki is perched on the back deck of his fishing boat, controlling the outboard trolling motor with one hand and the bow-mounted electric motor via a remote control with the other hand. The combination provides precision trolling speeds and direction, keys to Takasaki's walleye fishing success. 

 Ted Takasaki has been one of the most consistent professional walleye anglers in America. His secret is to fish with precision, using space-age tools to his advantage.

 "A good GPS (global positioning system) is a must," Takasaki said. "It guides me to the locations where I've been catching walleye, or where I think the bite will be good. The unit tells me how fast I'm trolling, even at very slow speeds. When a walleye bites, I can mark that hot spot by recording the waypoint on my GPS so I can return to it, and troll over it again at the exact speed and with the same lure that worked before."

 A sophisticated sonar unit is needed to pinpoint at exactly what depth the walleye are swimming below the boat.

 To fine tune a slow trolling speed, Takasaki combines a bow-mounted electric motor and 10-horsepower gasoline-powered outboard, located on the transom next to his 250-horsepower outboard. The electric motor provides both speed and direction. It is designed to stay on a designated course, but its direction can also be controlled from anywhere on the boat with a hand-held remote.

 Choosing Lake Erie trolling lures is an art form. Some days, walleye prefer spinners combined with nightcrawlers. On other days a minnow-style diving plug will catch more walleye or bigger fish.

 Takasaki's five keys to walleye success, in order of importance, are:

 Location: You've first got to find the schools of big walleye in order to catch them. Depth: Walleye can be found close to the lake bottom, suspended just under the surface, or anywhere in between. The closer to the surface they are, the more likely they'll be feeding.  Speed: Walleye are notoriously finicky, often ignoring a lure swimming just a little too slow or slightly too fast.

4.   Lure Action: Brands or models of lures perform differently. You've got to experiment to let the walleye tell you their lure preference that day.

5.  Lure Color: There's a reason Takasaki has hundreds of lures packed into a myriad of boxes on his boat. There's often a lure or two that can't be beat on any given day of fishing.

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Vermont Offers Spectacular Fall Foliage and Great Fishing Opportunities

Vermont Offers Spectacular Fall Foliage and Great Fishing Opportunities
Barre, Vt - Looking for a good location to escape to for enjoyable outdoor fun in a quiet, colorful setting? Vermont has spectacular fall foliage coupled with great fishing opportunities, and it's easy to plan a trip to sample both using Vermont websites.

The cooler water temperatures of fall stimulate Vermont's largemouth and smallmouth bass to feed heavily, bringing some of the best bass fishing of the year at a time when you won't see much competition from other anglers. Lake Champlain, and lakes St. Catherine, Morey, Bomoseen, Hortonia, and Seymour have good fishing for both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

As surface waters cool in lakes, landlocked salmon and trout also increase their activity near the surface, making for great fishing that doesn't require deep trolling tactics. Lake Champlain has landlocked salmon from Vergennes north to its "Inland Sea." Landlocked salmon also can be found in lakes Memphremagog, Seymour and Willoughby in northeastern Vermont.

Fall spawning runs of landlocked salmon produce good fishing on the lower Winooski River in Winooski and the lower Clyde River in Newport. Fishing with artificial lures or flies is allowed on the lower Clyde during October, but salmon must be released when caught.

How about a family fishing and foliage vacation? The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has a new section on their website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) with over 20 family-friendly fishing hotspots. Visit http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/fish_familyfishing.cfm to learn about fishing opportunities, including directions, a list of fish species present, a satellite image overview, and links to additional helpful information. These areas are selected, in part, because they are easy places to go fishing without special equipment.

Want to see where the foliage is best? Go to www.vermontvacation.com and click on "Fall Foliage Central" and the "Foliage Forecaster" for an interactive map showing where to go as leaf colors change during September and October. The same site also has additional information for lodging, events and places to visit.

Vermont makes is easy to take the family fishing. Kids under 15 years of age can fish without a license in Vermont. Reduced rate licenses are provided for youths 15-17 years old. One, three and seven-day fishing licenses are offered at reduced rates for adults.

You can see lots of photos of some of Vermont's latest big catches in the "Master Angler" section of their website (http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/masterangler_list.cfm).

Vermont fishing licenses are available online from their website. Regulations are found in the 2011 Guide to Hunting, Fishing and Trapping available from license agents and on the Fish and Wildlife website. For additional information, contact Vermont Fish and Wildlife by calling 802-241-3700 or Emailingfwinformation@state.vt.us.

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Caption for attached photo:
From Vermont Fish & Wildlife
You can pair a leaf-peeper visit to Vermont with a hunt for colors of another type - the colorful native brook trout, whose markings are never more brilliant than they are now, before spawning. There is only one thing in Vermont that rivals the red, orange and yellow foliage colors on the mountains, and that's the red, orange, yellow, blue, gold, and black colors of a spawning male brook trout like this one.

Media Contact
Bernie Pientka, 802-879-5698; Eric Palmer, 802-751-0107

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