Freshwater Fishing News

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will propose revisions to the current rule restricting overland transport of uncertified baitfish.

DEC is currently developing a proposed revision to the regulations that would allow baitfish to be transported overland within defined “transportation corridors” for use within the same waterbody from which they are collected. DEC anticipates issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in March to be followed by a 45-day public comment period.

The current baitfish regulations contain prohibitions on the overland motorized transport of baitfish, including personally collected baitfish and baitfish collected for commercial sale. The rule was established in 2007 after an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), a disease that can cause internal bleeding and death in certain fish, in the Great Lakes system and several other waters in 2005 and 2006. While VHS was the primary concern, other serious fish pathogens were also addressed when the rule was established.

Since the regulation was established, anglers have voiced concern that the overland transport restriction impedes their ability to use personally collected baitfish on the same body of water from which the baitfish are collected. In response to these concerns, DEC solicited public input on several alternatives for revisions to the rule at a number of public meetings and through the submission of written comments during the summer of 2010. These comments will be taken into consideration in the upcoming proposal.

“I applaud DEC for taking a common sense approach to an issue that has been especially harmful to the residents of Western New York,” said Senator Mark Grisanti, Chair of the Senate Committee of Environmental Conservation, “I am pleased to see such a positive outcome and look forward to working with Commissioner Martens to resolve issues affecting all New Yorkers in the future.”

Additional background information regarding the current overland transport regulation is available on DEC’s website.

A new type of bait was provided at no charge at kid’s fishing events across Wyoming this spring and summer thanks to a donation from Stubby Steve’s Bait Company of North Tazewell, Va.

The company donated 7,000 packets of its eco-friendly pellet bait to the Game and Fish Department to help introduce youngsters to fishing and introduce its product to the Cowboy State.

Steve Munsey, owner of Stubby Steve’s, got such a poor response from buying a $3,500 ad in a prominent national fishing magazine in 2009, he decided to devote his advertising budget to get the product in kids’ hands in 2010.

“So I contacted wildlife departments to see if they could use some bait for kid’s fishing events and ended up making a donation to about 20 states,” said Munsey, who is also a practicing veterinarian.

He recalls making the Wyoming contact being very memorable. Munsey had just endured a particularly rude and bureaucratic response in trying to donate some bait to a southern state.

“Then I called Wyoming and got a hold of your fishing education rep (Janet Milek in Casper) and she was so nice and appreciative, in contrast to the previous call, I decided to increase the donation size,” he said.

Munsey said he got the idea for the bait when teaching kids to fly cast. He wanted to increase their chances of getting a bite while learning to cast, so he developed a fish hatchery-food type pellet that floated and was pliable enough to be placed on a hook. He says field tests and testimonials have shown the bait works well for many species rarely raised in hatcheries.

“Many crappie anglers are having good success tipping their jigs with bait,” he said.

Civic groups, private organizations, federal agencies and the Game and the Fish teamed up in 2010 to conduct at least 18 family and youth fishing events across Wyoming.

“The donation from Stubby Steve’s played a pivotal role in the success of these events,” said Milek, the Game and Fish’s aquatic education coordinator. “The bait works well and we really appreciate their generosity.”

Milek says the bait works well because it stays on the hook well, even after a fish is hooked and landed.

In addition to kid’s fishing events across the state, the Game and Fish also promotes fishing with an annual “Free Fishing Day.” On June 4, 2011, all prospective anglers – resident and nonresident – can fish without a license.

To learn more about Stubby Steve’s bait, visit their website at http://www.stubbysteve.com/

source: Wyoming Game and Fish Department

Natural baits such as nightcrawlers, earthworms, bloodworms, sandworms and others can be effective baits for in freshwater, brackish and saltwater fishing. In addition to fishing cut sections of worms on a top and bottom rig, these worms can be fished with a variety of other methods.

Natural worms can be rigged using the basic Texas rig that is common used for fishing plastic worms. A light wire hook is passed thru the worm’s upper body, then back out and then the hook is hidden in the worm’s mid point. Texas rigs can be casted or slowly worked over fish that will otherwise refuse to bite.

Spinner rigs are another setup for fishing natural worms. These feature a small propeller, beads and a pair of trailing hooks. The rig allows baits to be casted and worked above rocks, along stream beds or near other structure.

Carolina rigs are popular for fishing live worms. These rigs incorporate an egg sinker above the swivel, which allows anglers to fish deep areas. Carolina rigs are popular for slowly fishing worms along edges of channels or other structures.

Dropshot rigs are another way to fish natural worms. These rigs present the bait on a branching leader, with a weight attached below at the terminal end. Dropshot rigs are often tied with a dropper loop or other method of creating a sizeways “T” configuration. A circle or other suitable hook is attached to the dropper leader and rigged with a bait. Dropshot rigs are extremely effective on suspended fish or fish that are lurking in eddies behind structure such as rocks or pilings.

A another option when conditions warrant using a natural bait over plastics are the new generation of scented baits. These unique baits are made from a mixture of natural and artificial ingredients. They look, feel and taste natural, which can make the difference when fish are reluctant to bite. Processed baits are durable and do not need to be kept cold. They can be stored with other tackle for long periods of time and most are re-usable. These baits can be fished using the same rigs that are used for fishing either natural or live baits. Several companies offer scented bloodworms, sandworms and other worm look-alikes.

A pre-dawn bluegill sunfish

For panfish fanatics, having an arsenal of techniques can make the difference between success and disappointment while fishing for bluegill, pumpkinseed and other sunfish species.

As sunfish are members of the same family as largemouth and smallmouth bass, it’s not surprising to learn that many of the same tactics that fool trophy bass will also catch sunfish. The lures or rigs may be smaller, but the basic concepts apply.

When targeting trophy sized sunfish, try fishing as early as possible in the morning. In some locations the bite can be incredible during the first hour of daylight. The same goes for late evening, a time when sunfish often feed heavily.

Sunfish often exhibit territorial behavior that is nearly identical to largemouth bass. Recognizing structures that sunfish orient to and defend can be extremely effective. Casting to these structures requires accuracy as bluegill, pumpkinseed and other sunfish sometime hold tight but will attack any small object that enters their territory.

Areas where sunfish feed are often overlooked. The fish may be practically at your feet. When fishing from boats, cast as close to shorelines or cover as possible. Fishing kayaks offer access to many of the best panfish habitats where traditional boaters cannot fish.

Experienced sunfish anglers pay attention to seasonal food sources and switch lures or baits to take advantage of fish behavior. Sunfish are cunning, opportunistic feeders that quickly develop feeding patterns, when insect or other invertebrate populations increase locally. Among the most well known seasonal baits are grasshoppers and crickets, both of which sunfish quickly learn to gorge on.

Target areas of water flow such as natural springs, culverts, dams, channels, and intersections of creeks. In tidal areas, sunfish anglers should pay attention to tide states, following movements of fish and learning which tidal states result in the best fishing.

Keep essential fishing gear handy, including line cutters, pliers, bait knife, camera, etc.

The largemouth bass, one of North America’s most popular freshwater fish, is an opportunistic feeder. Adult bass are voracious, eating nearly anything that they can swallow, including fish, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and even members of their own species.

Young bass begin feeding on plankton soon after birth. They eventually leave the nest to seek cover and find food. Although newly hatched bass are vulnerable, they feed heavily, growing quickly during the Spring. Within a few months they have become skilled predators, gulping down young bluegill sunfish, small minnows, tadpoles, invertebrates and practically anything they can catch. Depending on their geographic location, water temperature and food supply, they may reach lengths of 4-8 inches in the first year.

Adult largemouth bass often feed on other members of the sunfish family. In many locations, bluegill sunfish are the main food source for bass. Other favorite meals include pumpkinseed and redear sunfish.

Largemouth feed heavily on non-native species in some lakes and rivers. They often gobble up young rainbow trout or other stocked species of fish that come within range. In some lakes, forage species such as gizzard shad or alewives have been introduced and make up a significant part of largemouth bass diets.

Another favorite meal of adult largemouth bass is the American bullfrog, a large aquatic frog, usually found along the water’s edge. Bullfrogs live in freshwater ponds, lakes, and marshes from Canada, southward throughout the continental United States and into Mexico. Their large webbed feet make them excellent swimmers but when caught in open water, they are no match for a trophy bass.

Crayfish are a favorite food of bass. Also known as crawfish or crawdads, these freshwater crustaceans resemble small lobsters. About 390 species of crayfish are found in North America, most ranging from 1-4 inches in length. They hide under rocks or in vegetation along the shoreline, occasionally stumbling into open waters where largemouth can feed on them.

Experienced fishermen often pay close attention to habitat and structure before and while fishing, looking for clues about what types of forage are available for largemouth bass. In some cases, matching the predominant food source can pay off.