COUNTLESS ACTIVITIES ON NATIONAL HUNTING AND FISHING DAY

Our 2nd annual celebration has endless new hands-on action for all ages!
Join The Sportsman Channel this Saturday, September 27th at Wern Valley Sportsmen’s Club (S36 W29657 Wern Way) in Waukesha, Wis. from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The event is free! For directions Click here

BRING THE KIDS AND GET OUTDOORS! Introduce someone new to the outdoors and participate in numerous hands-on activities: Fishing, shooting, archery, dog training, calling demonstrations, outdoor crafts, raffles, Cabela’s door prizes, seminars and so much more!
MEET PRODUCER FROM THE SPORTSMAN CHANNEL! Dan Reinhart from Taxidermy for the Sportsman and Craig Foster and Herald Brestal from The Flyway Highway.

WATCH PRECISION-ARCHER RANDY OIKTER JR! World-record holder Oitker will have two performances and shoot five arrows at once at five different targets! MEET SMOKEY THE BEAR! Pledge to "Get Your Smokey On" and do your part to prevent forest fires.

ACTIVITIES PROVIDED BY the U.S. Army, Safari Club International, West Town Archery, Waterdog Specialities, Warden Mitch Groenier, National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants Forever, Blackhawk Field Archers, Becoming and Outdoors Woman, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Genoa National Fish Hatchery, DNR's Wildlife Management, Breanna Boudry, Illusion Game Calls, DNR's Urban Fishing Program, United Sportsmen’s Youth Foundation, and Waukesha County Hunter’s Education Association. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!Cabelas; Bergemann&Sons Tent Rental; Time Warner Cable; Sportsman’s Warehouse; Wern Valley Sportsmen’s Club; Winchester Ammunition; United Sportsmen’s Youth Foundation. Contact Jennifer Gnas at 262-432-9100 x 134 or jgnas@thesportsmanchannel.com for more information.

Lake Delton Fisheries Restoration Project

Here is some information on the Lake Delton Fisheries Restoration Project. Click on the hyperlink if you want to help out in some way. You can donate online, and you can see video of the disaster.

First fish stocked from newly renovated hatchery

WILD ROSE – The first fish raised in the new $15.9 million coldwater facilities at Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery are being stocked in Lake Michigan waters this week and next, marking an important milestone for the century-old fish hatchery and Wisconsin’s stocking program.

The new facilities were dedicated last month in a ceremony with Gov. Jim Doyle and DNR Secretary Matt Frank, and early this morning, state stocking trucks rolled out of Wild Rose with 28,000 coho salmon and 13,000 Seeforellen Brown trout bound for Algoma.

All told, 150,000 coho salmon and 60,000 Seeforellen trout will be stocked in Lake Michigan harbors by the end of the month. The fish are “large fingerlings” about 5-inches long, and should grow big enough over the next year to start being caught by anglers next summer.

“We’ve very excited that after all the years of hard work and effort, the first fish are being stocked from the new coldwater facilities at Wild Rose,” says Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Director Mike Staggs. “It’s a great day for anglers, particularly those who enjoy fishing Lake Michigan.”

The new facilities at Wild Rose are critical for continued great fishing for Lake Michigan trout and salmon. These fisheries depend on stocking, and virtually all of the 2 ¼ million trout and salmon produced at Wild Rose in a given year are destined for the “big pond.”

“So far, the hatchery is doing what it’s supposed to do,” says Hatchery Supervisor Steve Fajfer. “These fish look just tremendously healthy and in good shape, which should transmit to better survival when stocked, which will mean more fish being available to anglers a year from now.”

The new coldwater facilities replaced aging, century-old raceways and a faltering water supply that were making it difficult for fisheries crews to raise healthy fish. The fish have adjusted so well to the new facility and have grown so fast that hatchery staff had to adjust the amount of feed they were receiving so the fish didn’t outgrow the new facilities, Fajfer says.

New regulations and precautions in effect to prevent the fish disease VHS from entering the hatchery system mean a tightly orchestrated schedule of getting fish out for stocking before new eggs can be brought on site for rearing, putting space at a premium.

Those regulations also mean that for the first time in about three decades, Wild Rose has been raising Coho Salmon. All eggs collected from fish in the Lake Michigan basin, where VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia has been found, are hatched and then raised at state facilities within the same basin.

The new coldwater facilities represent the first phase of renovation at Wild Rose, which also built a new visitors center. Work is underway on the second phase of the renovation, building new coolwater facilities to raise walleye, lake sturgeon, spotted musky and northern pike.

Lake Michigan is the state’s top fishing draw, accounting for 6 percent of angler trips, according to a 2006-7 DNR angler survey. In that same year, 235,000 anglers fished a total of 3.7 million days on Wisconsin’s Great Lakes waters, generated a $418 million economic impact, supported 5,011 jobs and generated $28 million in state and local tax revenues, according to the American Sportfishing Association’s 2008 report, “Sportfishing in America,” available on the association Web site [http://www.asafishing.org/asa/images/statistics/resources/SIA_2008.pdf] (exit DNR; pdf).

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Fajfer (920) 622-3527 ext 201; Mike Staggs (608) 267-0796; Al Kaas (608) 267-7865

(About the photo) Wild Rose staff weigh coho salmon before transfering them into a stocking truck for the trip to Lake Michigan.DNR Photo by Randy Larson

Trout and salmon staging for their fall finale

MADISON – With the air getting cooler and the leaves revealing their brilliant colors, Wisconsin’s waters are preparing for their own show – the trout and salmon spawning runs.

“October is a great time for fishing and for ‘fish watching’ in the rivers as jumping salmon put on quite a show,” says Matt Coffaro, Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist. “In the Milwaukee area, the Chinook are already starting to stage around the harbors and river mouths in anticipation of their spawning runs which should peak in early October.”

Throughout Wisconsin, there’s fish watching to be had as trout and salmon begin their yearly ritual of returning to spawn in the fall.

Some of the best viewing is at the DNR’s three egg collection facilities where visitors a chance to see some big “king” (chinook) and coho salmon, and egg taking up-close.

Every year, for example, as many as 6,000 chinook and 2,000 coho pass through the weir (dam) at the Root River Steelhead facility in Racine.

“From now until early November, we’ll have the weir fired up. It’s a show watching fish swim up the ladder and into the facility,” says John Komassa, facility supervisor. “You also can see DNR crews weighing, measuring and spawning the fish.”

C.D “Buzz” Besadny Fish Facility in Kewaunee

Fish watching at the C.D “Buzz” Besadny Fish Facility in Kewaunee will kick into high gear the last week of September and continue through the entire month of October, unless rains trigger earlier runs, according to Mike Baumgartner, the facility’s supervisor.

“People can get eye to eye with chinook and coho salmon, and steelhead and brown trout through our viewing window as the fish navigate through a bypass channel and up the fish ladder,” says Baumgartner. “They can also watch staff processing fish here on select days during the run.”

In addition, Besadny will be hosting its seventh annual open house on Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Educational tours, fly tying and casting demos, fish printing, horse and wagon rides, good food, and the salmon spawning show that DNR staff puts on makes for a fun-filled fall day.

Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility

In Sturgeon Bay, the Strawberry Creek Spawning Facility will also offer up the chance to view chinook within the next few weeks. The fish are staging in the channel and spawning is expected to begin the first week of October. Call ahead for specific days and times.

Though not as well known, Lake Superior can put on a small-scale show of its own.

“We have a much larger run of coho in our tributaries than Chinook,” says Mike Seider, Bayfield fisheries biologist, “In late September and October, Big Rock near Washburn is a really neat spot to watch coho running up from the rapids.”

More information on the fish spawning facilities, including locations and contact numbers, is available on the DNR Web site. Call ahead for current fish-watching conditions.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Baumgartner, Besadny Facility (920) 388-1025; Scott Hansen, Strawberry Creek Facility (920) 746-2864; John Komassa, Root River Facility (262) 594-6218; Mike Seider, Lake Superior (715) 779-4035; Matt Coffaro, Milwaukee 414-263-8614

TBF Mid-Atlantic Divisional Championship set for Lake Erie

Erie, PA: The Bass Federation (TBF) 2008 Mid-Atlantic Divisional Fishing Championship will be held on Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay September 24-26. Competitors representing seven Mid-Atlantic Division areas – Delaware, Maryland, Nation’s Capitol, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia – are expected to compete in the tournament. VisitErie was instrumental in bringing the tournament to the area and is part-sponsor.

Approximately 200 attendees totaling 875 room nights with an estimated economic impact of $168,000 is anticipated. Anglers will compete both individually and as state teams in an effort to qualify for the prestigious 2009 TBF National Championship. In the competition, anglers are randomly paired each day and share control of the boat throughout the day. The public is invited to the Marina Launch at Presque State Park to watch the takeoffs and weigh-ins at 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., respectively. Admission is free.

Coverage of the TBF National Championship will be broadcast to on FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States and Canada as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television series. The program also airs in the United Kingdom, Europe, Russia, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East through a distribution agreement with Matchroom Sport, making it the most widely distributed fishing program in the world.

The Bass Federation is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided the foundation for the entire bass-fishing industry for more than 30 years. For more information about The Bass Federation, visit bassfederation.com or call (580) 765-9031.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

GLSFC Special Report - Sept 10, 2008

Cormorant control in Green Bay / Door County

Public comment period open until Sept 25
There is a public comment period on Wisconsin’s proposed cormorant control plan, and comments must be received by September 25.

Letters should reference: "EA 08-61 Double Crested Cormorant Management in Wisconsin." Just addressed your letter - To Whom It May Concern-

The Wisconsin cormorant population was state-listed as endangered in 1972, but increased to 2,213 nesting pairs in 1985. Delisted in 1986, nesting pair numbers increased to 10,546 in 1997 and 14,882 in 2005. More than 80% of the nesting pairs in Wisconsin are in the Lower Green Bay and Door County areas. Substantial numbers of cormorants migrating through Wisconsin in spring and fall also contribute to damage and conflicts.

Electronic copies of the Environmental Analysis on double-crested cormorant damage management are available at the USFWS web site: http://www.fws.gov/midwest/MidwestBird/cormorants.htm or the USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife_damage/nepa.shtml Hard copies of the report may be obtained by contacting USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services, 732 Lois Dr., Sun Prairie, WI 53590, (608) 837-2727, FAX (608) 837-6754.

Written comments on the EA will be accepted through September 25, 2008. Your comments should be submitted to the above address for USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services. When faxing a comment, a copy should also be mailed to ensure that a complete version of the text is received.

The document is extremely long (157 pages), however, you don't need to comment on the specifics of the plan. We were contacted by Rep. Karl Van Roy’s office saying they submitted a letter generally supporting efforts to aggressively and permanently reduce the DCCO population in Wisconsin citing the destruction of habitat, displacement of other birds, damage to personal property, decimation of fish populations, etc.

Rep. Van Roy spoke to a person at the Wisconsin DNR about this, and she said they need to get letters of support for the program. There is concern the authorities will only hear from "bird lovers" and not from the "fish lovers."

Dan Thomas, President
Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council
staff@great-lakes.org

Steve Miljat Presents: Fishing Strugeon Bay 9/16/08

Event Type: Steve Miljat-fishing the Sturgeon Bay area at The Okauchee Fishing Club
Date: 9/16/08
Fishing Club Event Location: Knights of Columbus Hall, 1800 S. 92nd St, West Allis, Wi
Wisconsin Contact: Tim Quadracci
Details: Fishing guide and wildlife artist Steve Miljat will be sharing his knowledge and expertise on Sturgeon Bay fishing at The Okauchee Fishing Club on September 16th. Meeting starts at 7:00p.m. at the easy to get to Knights of Columbus Hall 1800 S. 92nd St, West Allis (2 blocks south of Greenfield). Guests are always welcome for only $2.00. Come see a great presentation by Steve and participate in current fishing reports by club members and a raffle with great fishing equipment!