Fishing report January 30 2009

Since my plan last week worked fairly well in targeting bass through the ice I had decided that I will venture back up to New Hampshire and give it another try. Decided that I wanted to try a few of my other summer spots and see if they will produce as well as last weeks trip did. So the plan for today was to visit the opposite end of the lake and try a few areas.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEcQkCxcRPg

Vermont Moose Hunting Applications Are Available

Vermont moose hunting permit applications are available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department’s website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) and at license agents statewide.

On Fish & Wildlife’s website, look under “Hunting and Trapping,” and then click on Lottery Applications.

Lottery applications are $10 for residents and $25 for nonresidents. The deadline to apply is June 2.

Winners of the permit lottery will purchase resident hunting permits for $100 and nonresident hunting permits for $350. Hunters also will have the option to bid on five moose hunting permits in an auction to be announced later.

Rest of the article:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=vt&action=display&thread=893

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Fishing report January 27 2009

Cooler temps have taken over New England once again and with an approaching major snow/ice storm coming, decided to head off to my favorite crappie pond. Had a number of things that needed to be taken care of before heading to the ice and only had a couple of hours of fishing time left when I arrived. This particular pond fishes better in the morning or later afternoon versus mid day for crappies.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

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It's nearly time to harvest the ice in Maine

SOUTH BRISTOL, Maine

Thompson Ice House Museum
Route 129, 12 miles east of Damariscotta. Look for sign on left.
South Bristol, Maine
207-729-1956 (Barbara Hamlin)
207-644-8120 or 207-644-1882 (Ellen Shew)

Open July and August on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday 1-4 p.m. Suggested contribution: adults $1, children 50 cents. Ice harvest takes place on Sunday, Feb. 15. There will be hot chocolate, coffee, hot dogs, and similar fare as a fund-raiser. Most volunteers arrive between 9 and 10. It's all over at about 2 p.m. Dress in layers.

On the Sunday of Presidents' Day weekend, hundreds of volunteers will meet beside a frozen pond at the Thompson Ice House, now a small museum. For the better part of the day they will cut 300-pound blocks of ice from Thompson Pond using the same methods and many of the same tools five generations of the Thompson family relied on for about 160 years.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=me&action=display&thread=888

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Snowshoe Fun

This has been the winter where kids are having a great winter season as the snow keeps coming. A fun thing to do with the kids in the winter is to try snowshoeing. Snowshoeing is a great past time and also brings one back to nature as we venture through the quietness of the woods and fields. Being this is a fairly quiet sport, we are able to hike around and see wildlife doing what they do in their environment and this is always exciting for the kids. Make a game of it to see how many different animals and birds that they can see and count and before they know it, the day has passed and they had a great time. There are places that rent snowshoes if you want to try them out first and then decide if this is something that the family wants to pursue as a winter sport.

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Vermont Conservation Camp Openings Announced

If you are 12 to 14 years old and want to learn about Vermont's wildlife and gain outdoor skills next summer, consider attending one of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department's Green Mountain Conservation Camps.

The one-week camp program is held at two locations -- Lake Bomoseen in Castleton and Buck Lake in Woodbury. Students are taught about fish and wildlife conservation, forestry, orienteering, swimming, canoeing, fishing, gun safety, and more in an attractive outdoor setting. Natural resource professionals come to the camp during the week to share information on their programs and take campers out for field activities.

Rest of the information:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1431

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Merrimack NH Catch biggest fish for derby top prize

MERRIMACK – The Horseshoe Fish and Game Club is holding its annual Fishing Derby on Saturday from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be raffle prizes, a bob house, an ice auger and a big breakfast served at 6 a.m.

Don't know how to ice fish? The club will have an instructor on the ice from 8-10 a.m. This is a great way to learn the sport of ice fishing and to create a lifelong memory.

Prizes will be awarded after 3:30 p.m. Catch the largest fish of the day and win a free mount.

Rest of the information:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=nh&action=display&thread=881

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Fishing report January 22 2009

This is the day that I have been waiting for a long time to try and have never committed myself to doing it. I wanted to go out ice fishing and target bass once and see how I could do out there and if I could actually find them. Took off early in the morning for my favorite New Hampshire bass lake in hopes of finding some large and smallmouth bass. What was going to transpire was beyond what I could have ever imagined.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLtrTAqkaPo

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Vermont Youth Hunting and Fishing Memories Contest Winners Announced

Governor Douglas recognized the winners of Vermont’s 2008 Youth Hunting and Fishing Memories Contest on Saturday, January 17th at the Yankee Classic Sportsman’s Show in Essex Junction.

“The Youth Hunting and Fishing Memories Contest showcases the achievements of Vermont’s youth hunters and anglers through their short essays, photos and art,” said Governor Douglas. “In addition to the 21 young people who are receiving awards, we have 92 youths who submitted wonderful essays capturing their thoughts, passions and experiences about fishing and hunting in Vermont.”

Rest of the article:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1429

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Fishing report January 20 2009

With the cold weather finally settling in my favorite big crappie pond is ready and decided to give it a try today. Of course over the weekend we had about a foot of snow that came down and no wind so that is piled up on top of the ice. Now we have the extra weight on the ice and what this is doing is starting to weigh down the ice and anywhere that the water can come through, there is slush forming under the snow. Good pair of boots that are waterproof are going to be a must otherwise you will be having wet feet fairly quickly. This is going to be the norm for a while as there is a warming trend coming and going to produce more water as the snow settles.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlm8Mo00eAU

Vermont Ice Fishermen Face New Rules

Essex Junction, Vermont

"It's a little chilly out here to say the least," said Aaron Granger of Burlington.

Sixteen degrees below zero on Lake Champlain. Cold, but not cold enough to keep fishermen off the ice.

"It's gotta be a lot colder than this to keep me from coming out here," said Justin Bidwell of Georgia.

But new regulations may price them out of their sport. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has made emergency rules enacted in October of 2007 permanent. Anglers can no longer transport live bait from lake to lake.

Fishermen say that will force them to spend several hundred dollars more this winter.

Rest of the article:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=vt&action=display&thread=866

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Georgetown, MA F&G Club will hold an ice fishing derby

Ice fishing derby coming soon
By Sarah Menesale / georgetown@cnc.com

The arctic temperatures and snow heading to the region over the next few weeks have few thrilled to head outdoors — unless you’re an ice fisherman.

Georgetown Fish and Game Club will hold an ice fishing derby on Superbowl Sunday, Feb. 1, for the young and old alike who are tempted to catch the up to six-and-a-half pounders lying dormant under the icy waters in Pentucket Pond.

“I’ve fished in the summer, I’ve deep sea fished but I’ve never ice fished. But after seeing the photos from the last event I’m excited to try it,” said club member Tom Simmons, who is organizing the derby.

Rest of the article:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=ma&action=display&thread=864

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New Hampshire Free Ice Fishing Class at Lebanon, NH

Are you looking for a new outdoor activity for these long winter months? How about ice fishing! The Lebanon Recreation Department and instructors from the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's "Let's Go Fishing" Program will present a three-session program in Lebanon, N.H., on Wednesday, January 28, and Wednesday, February 4, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, February 7, 2009, from noon to 4:00 p.m. Students are expected to attend all three sessions.

The class is free and open to anyone, however, those age 16 and under are encouraged to be accompanied by an adult.

Reserve your spot by contacting Paul Coats at the Lebanon Recreation Department at (603) 448-5121. Registration is first-come, first-served. All equipment and materials will be provided. You do not need to have a fishing license to participate.

Rest of the information:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q1/LGF_Lebanon_011509.html

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Massachusetts bitter blast should offer ice anglers firm footing

Rick Eggleston Outdoors

With the Northeast in the icy grip of an honest-to-goodness arctic cold snap, many area ponds and lakes likely will be nice and frozen by this weekend and ready for ice fishing, if they aren’t already.

Such is the case on Long Pond, where anglers reportedly have been on the ice since Jan. 3, and where at least one 20-pound pickerel was taken.

Meanwhile, MassWildlife officials in the Central District are hoping broodstock salmon stocking will be able to occur again this winter at Wallum Lake in Douglas, Webster Lake and Lake Quinsigamond. For now, though, there is uncertainty about whether MassWildlife will receive the salmon from the White River Hatchery in Vermont.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=ma&action=display&thread=862

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Connecticut DEP Announces Third Annual "Winter Festival"

Black Rock State park, Watertown

Event keeps "No Child Left Inside" alive in winter

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) "No Child Left Inside" initiative continues February 7 with the third annual "Winter Festival" at Black Rock State Park, Watertown.

The Winter Festival will take place Saturday, February 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a full range of winter outdoor activities for the whole family.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=ct&action=display&thread=844

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Fishing report January 13 2009

Cold has finally come to the New England area and the ice is forming quickly and definitely will be having very good ice by the weekend in many areas. The ice on this particular lake was 9-10 inches thick and little frozen slush on the surface and mainly solid clear ice all the way down. This is a great sign as many New England anglers have been waiting and waiting for this ice season to get underway.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akPOEPmG5MA

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Salmon processing returns to eastern Maine

By JERRY HARKAVY

A state-of-the-art salmon processing plant in Machiasport that closed five years ago for lack of fish is back in business, providing 80 full-time manufacturing jobs in a region of the state plagued by chronic unemployment.

A rare shot of good economic news, the reopening marks the latest step in the recovery of Maine's salmon farming industry that went belly-up five years ago after a series of setbacks that included a disease outbreak and pollution fines imposed by a federal judge.

"This is a major milestone for us," said Nell Halse, spokeswoman for Cooke Aquaculture, a family-owned business in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, that took over the three biggest salmon producers in Maine.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=me&action=display&thread=841

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Maine's Ice fishing Events

Upper Kennebec Valley Ice Fishing Derby

Jan 23 thru Jan 25, 2009. Moscow. The Annual Upper Kennebec Valley Ice Fishing Derby (formerly Wyman Lake Ice Fishing Derby) starts at 5 a.m. at the Moscow Town Boat Landing. About $1,000 in prizes and trophies for biggest cold water game fish, and for biggest lake trout, splake, brook trout, brown trout, landlocked salmon and rainbow trout. For info phone (207) 672-3978. Note: Please double check the starting date (March 6 or 7) and ending date (March 8 or 9) by calling the listed number. Website: http://www.upperkennebecvalley.com/

Rest of the events:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=me&action=display&thread=831

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Fishing report January 9 2009

Been a couple of days since the last ice trip out and really had to get out and wet a line as the ice fishing bug has bitten and the fever is running wild. Cold temps and high winds were in store as I departed for the lake. Wanted to go and try a different pond but being I only had a couple of hours to fish decided to go back to the pond I was at last time.

Since the last trip out we have had some snow with a day of rain as well and the ice surface conditions were very slick and flat. One good thing about that is we are gaining more ice and this is definitely helping as there is now 5 inches of frozen snow and a few inches of clear black ice. The ice uniformity is getting better and all of the holes that I had drilled were fairly close in thickness between all of them.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAV-68JqNC4

Rhode Island Family dog saves girl from her encounter with coyote

Family dog saves girl from her encounter with coyote
By Richard Salit
Journal Staff Writer

When her 7-year-old daughter came running into the backyard screaming “A doggie was trying to drag me into the woods!” Denise Allard knew it was no dog.

The sun was quickly setting and, as she rushed her crying daughter inside and rolled up the girl’s sleeve to check for bite marks, Allard had just one animal in mind: coyote.

Allard and her neighbors on Prudence Island have seen plenty of them this year. Once, she heard eerie yelps and cries while a pack attacked prey. Then there was the time a coyote just stared at her from her neighbor’s backyard, lying on a mound and not running away until her neighbor grabbed a rifle and popped off an errant shot.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=ri&action=display&thread=835

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Vermont Wildlife Officials Say Bats Likely Will Be Active

People can expect to see bats showing up in unusual areas during the daytime in the weeks ahead, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. The department also is making it easier for people to report sightings of sick bats with a form on their website.

Like last winter, state wildlife officials are advising Vermonters to expect unusual levels of bat activity as a result of the White Nose Syndrome that has afflicted hibernating bats throughout the state. Affected bats may come out of hibernation to leave the caves and mines in search of food, and then seek shelter in residences, buildings and other structures in an effort to escape cold temperatures.

Read the rest of the article:
http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/Detail.cfm?Agency__ID=1423

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Massachusetts New Youth Turkey Hunting Program Approved

By Gene Chague

LENOX
The National Wild Turkey Federation and the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife are making it easier for youngsters to discover the thrill of wild turkey hunting. The Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board recently approved a statewide mentored youth turkey hunting program that is modeled after its successful youth pheasant hunting program. The program will help 12 to 17-year-old hunter education graduates sharpen their newfound skills via a fun, hands-on workshop that will teach firearms safety, hunting ethics, techniques and more.

MDFW and volunteers from the Massachusetts chapter of NWTF worked together to develop program guidelines based largely on the NWTF's Turkey Hunting Success and Safety program, which educates hunters about safer turkey hunting.

Rest of the story:
http://bwsoutdoors.proboards53.com/index.cgi?board=ma&action=display&thread=823

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Fishing report January 6 2009

Ice fishing in Massachusetts has finally gotten underway in many areas but also you still need to keep track of the ice conditions as they have been changing all the time. Went to a favorite pond today and being it was Tuesday there wasn’t another sole out there and when that happens, I make sure that everything with the ice is good so that I don’t put myself into a bad situation. With spud bar in hand I started venturing towards my first spot and as I went I would drill holes and measure the ice. What I had found was there was quite a variation from 4 inches in areas to 7.5 inches in other areas. There was some snow on a good portion of the ice but the areas that didn’t have the snow the slush was frozen but soft enough that you would break the crust of an inch or two. I usually stayed on the snow as the thicker ice was there as opposed to the slushy areas.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

Video of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOX46X5aG8g

Rhode Island Announces Changes to Commercial Fishing Licensing Regulations

The Department of Environmental Management announces several regulatory changes to the commercial fishing licensing program. The changes apply to new and renewed licenses for 2009. The regulatory changes took effect on December 28 following an October public hearing and consideration by the RI Marine Fisheries Council.

A total of 13 new quahog and three new restricted finfish endorsements on commercial fishing licenses will be available for 2009. The new quahog endorsements will allow for the commercial harvest of quahogs. The new restricted finfish endorsements will allow for the commercial harvest of any of the six species of restricted finfish: summer flounder, scup, striped bass, black sea bass, tautog, and winter flounder. Applications for the new endorsements must be filed with DEM by March 2, 2009. The applications will be screened, and the new endorsements awarded, on the basis of the priority selection process set forth in the regulations.

http://www.dem.ri.gov/news/2009/pr/0105091.htm

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Become an Outdoors-Woman this Winter! February 21 in Holderness, N.H.

Registration is now open for the 2009 Winter Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (B.O.W.) workshop, a one-day program for women who want to get the skills they need to be outdoors and active this winter. The 2009 Winter B.O.W. workshop will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2009 (snow date Sunday, February 22), at the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department's Owl Brook Hunter Education Center in Holderness, N.H. The workshop costs $55, which includes a box lunch. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

Participants can learn how to ice-fish, winter outdoor survival skills, basic snowshoeing and tracking, snowmobiling or try a class called 'Shoe and Shoot (snowshoeing and target shooting). The workshop is co-sponsored by Fish and Game and the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation.

Rest of the article:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Newsroom/News_2009/News_2009_Q1/BOW_Winter_Reg_010509.html

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Delisting the Bald Eagle in Maine

Delisting the Bald Eagle in Maine An Amazing Success Story!

Charlie Todd and George Matula
Wildlife Division
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

In January 2009, the Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) will be recommending removal of the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) from Maine’s list of Endangered and Threatened Species. State and federal law first recognized the Bald Eagle as an Endangered Species in Maine and 42 other states in 1978. Subsequent recovery of eagle populations led to reclassification as a Threatened Species in 1995. Further improvements prompted the federal government to remove Bald Eagles from its list of Endangered and Threatened species in 2007. However, the Bald Eagle remains listed as a Threatened species under Maine’s Endangered Species Act (MESA), because federal delisting does not automatically trigger state delisting in Maine.

Rest of the article:
http://www.state.me.us/ifw/wildlife/species/endangered_species/baldeagle_delisting.htm

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Fishing report January 2 2009

Finally, finally there is some ice in the region and is welcomed with open arms as we kick off our 08-09 season, actually 09 since 08 didn’t produce ice. We weren’t able to fish Massachusetts quite yet and had to make a road trip to New Hampshire to find some good ice. Conditions were nice with 20 degree weather a light breeze and little snow on top of the ice. Ice conditions are 7-8 inches thick with the first couple of inches white ice and black the rest of it.

Rest of the report:
http://www.backwoodssportsman.com/OutDoor_Reports.html

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