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Inspect, Clean and Dry - How Clean is Clean?
As Clean Anglers we know that keeping our gear clean of invasive species is part of every fishing experience.
The basic message of Inspect, Clean & Dry is one we believe in and share with others. One of the great things about
this is the simplicity, the encouragement to clean to the best of your ability before you leave a boat ramp.
To help you do an even better job of protecting our waters, the center for Aquatic Nusiance Species has
suggestions for how to do the best you can to insure you are not spreading invasives.
Read More
Asian Carp in the Great Lakes
Did the Carp Summit amount to nothing more than a stinky valentine?
The inexorable march of Asian Carp toward the Great Lakes provided lots
of news stories in the past month. Most visible was the Asian Carp Summit held at the
White House in mid Feb. While some were quite satisfied with the
outcomes of this meeting, others were far more critical. Read More
In the mean time, residents and
officials in states surrounding the Great Lakes are unwilling to accept
the current refusal of Illinois to close the locks that permit the carp
access to Lake Michigan. A recent public protest in Michigan
could be the model for new public activism. Read More
Anglers have a lot at stake in this fight and
angling groups are now getting involved. The Board of Salmon
Unlimited of Illinois has voted to support the closing of the locks.
Read More
While the media focus
has been aimed at the threat to the Great Lakes, other waters are
already experiencing the ecological damage that is being predicted for
the Lakes. In Spring valley IL, about 100 miles from Chicago, the local
community is seeing first hand how the carp can ruin fishing and the
local economy.
Read more
Not everyone finds the carp to be a problem. An article titled Asian Carp Offer Opportunity for
Entrepreneurs tells the story of a number of enterprising businesses that are working to find commercial uses for the invaders.
This Month In Felt
The debate over felt soles continues and anglers are weighing in with lots of opinions. We would like to offer you a
sample of some of the discussions currently taking place.
"Should felt soles be banned?" is the title of the discussion at the Field & Stream site.
Read More
In Alaska, anglers know that felt is being banned in part of the state beginning next year
(the fisheries commission is preparing to debate making the ban state wide). Needless to say this engenders a lot
of discussion. Read More
Invasives are a global problem and anglers around the world are wrestling with the same issues.
In Great Britain they are beginning to have the same felt sole debate. Read More
How Much Should Recreational Boaters Pay?
 As invasive species become an
increasing problem in the West,
there is an agressive response to undertake programs that help to
reduce spread. Most western states have passed or are considering
legislation that expands programs designed to reduce spread but there
is little consensus on how to fund these efforts. States like Colorado
and Montana are funding their programs with general fund dollars. This
seems sensible as the impacts of these invaders are felt by all of the
citizens of the state. However, the budget reality that states
are
facing may put funding at risk and there is no guarantee that general
fund
appropriations will continue.
Idaho and Oregon have
taken a completely different approach. They have legislation that puts
the cost of running an invasive species program totally on the backs of
boat owners, requiring them to purchase annual invasive species permits
for their boats. Oregon is
just
implementing their program in 2010 but Idaho was able to use 2009 as a
test of their program. Unfortunately, they quickly discovered that they
underestimated the cost of the program and the revenue the stickers
would provide and an Idaho House panel has just voted to already raise
the fee for non resident boaters.
Read More
As the Idaho and Oregon programs were developed there was
little discussion held about the appropriateness of making recreational
boaters pay the full cost of the program. The bills in each state were
pushed through quickly and only a few boaters complained. As more
people become impacted by the new fees there are increasing questions being
asked as evidenced by a recent editorial Read
More
Using Natives to Fight Invaders
Biologists in Alabama are trying a new approach
to control invasive Amazonian Apple Snails. These large snails
eat up to 95 percent of the aquatic vegetation
in some natural systems, leaving behind murky, algae-filled water.
In response, biologists are increasing population
levels of native sunfish in hopes that they will eat enough of the snail to keep
the population in check.
Read More
New Videos
Eurasian Milfoil is one of the most dreaded plant invaders of our lakes and reservoirs. Forming
dense mats that make boating difficult or impossible, this invader has
ruined many popular waters. Here is a great new cartoon video about the
problem. Read More
The North American Fishing Club has released a new video about the invasive species threat and what we
can all do to reduce spread. In this short video, Steve Pennaz highlights the threats and offers cleaning advice.
Read More
Flowering Rush is an
aggressive plant invader that is beginning to choke waterways. Flowering Rush: Invasion of the Columbia River
System tells the story of this invader in the Northwest Read More
BioControl Can Work
Purple loosestrife is a wetland
invader that can cause significant ecological impacts. It chokes out
native plants and can really be a problem for nesting waterfowl.
Fortunately, effective biological control insects have the ability to
really reduce these plants. For a good news story of how this works Read More
Salmon and Steelhead Conservation
One of the biggest
reasons we fight so hard against invasives is to protect our native
fish. Few native fish inspire the passion the way that Steelhead and
Salmon do. These anadromous wonders represent a fishery resource that
we all can cherish. For many years the Steelhead Committee of the
Federation of Fly Fishers has provided some of the best information
available on these magnificent animals. Their publication The Osprey is now
available online and is great reading for anyone interested in these
fish. Read
More
When Sportfish Become Invaders
We all know that there are lots of different
invasive species. However, we often fail to realize that the popular
sport fish that we cherish in its native waters may become a huge
problem when introduced outside its native range.
Northern Pike are a perfect example of a fish that can cause
huge problems as an invader. The state of Maine is confronting this
reality as a new discovery of northern pike threatens a
native trout population. Read More
All the way across the continent the issue in
Oregon is smallmouth bass. A recent letter calling for an
aggressive response to try to eliminate smallmouth bass has triggered
an interesting debate. Read
More
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