LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS: Free Kids Fishing Tournament June 13, 2015

If you are a member of one of our officiate clubs and/or think you might be interested in participating,  volunteering, and registering your boat to help a kid and their guardian participate, that would be wonderful (they could use more fishing boats and have sponsors and prizes, etc.)

Go to www.wioutdoorfest.com and go towards the bottom for the kids tournament.

Greater Wisconsin Kids Fishing Tournament

Saturday June 13th

The Greater Wisconsin Kids Fishing Tournament is a kids' fishing tournament designed to allow kids the opportunity to share a competitive fishing experience under the guidance of experienced anglers serving as mentors for the day.

Kids get pro style tournament on Lake Winnebago
Guest speaker Dave Csanda
Hosted by Jeff Boutin of Team Outdoors
Fishing classes by Greg Karch

Free Registration

Child Registration Form

Voulnteer Guides Needed

Mentor Registration Form

Registration Requirements

Mentor Requirements

Kids Requirements

For More Information

jeff.boutin@yahoo.com

Be Current Smart: New Water Safety Tips for Swimmers Beach Safety Equipment to be Distributed Across Wisconsin

May 19, 2015

With summer just around the corner, millions of swimmers will enjoy Wisconsin’s Great Lakes beaches and cool water on a hot summer day, but waves and currents can be deadly. Since 2005, at least 26 people have died at Wisconsin beaches, according to Wisconsin Sea Grant.

To address this threat to swimmers, partners in Wisconsin and throughout the Great Lakes are hitting the beaches at the end of May with new water safety and emergency rescue equipment like ring buoys and life jackets as part of a water safety campaign: Be Current Smart. In addition to the equipment, the campaign includes water safety tips tailored to Wisconsin and other states in the region.

“Beach-goers can take simple steps to ensure a fun, safe day in the water,” said Todd Breiby, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program. “Parents have an important role in keeping a close watch on young children and making sure they wear life jackets.”

Rip currents are dangerous and can flow very fast away from shore. If caught in a rip current, the best means of escape is to swim to the side, out of the current and then back to shore. In addition to parents keeping a close eye on children while they are in the water or near the water’s edge, experts advise swimmers to “steer clear of piers,” and avoid getting trapped in danger zones near structures.

New water safety and emergency rescue equipment will be distributed and deployed by Be Current Smart partners throughout the Great Lakes and to 41 beaches in Wisconsin today and during May 27-28. Another six beaches in Door County, Wis., will receive safety equipment through funding by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. First responders note it’s critical to quickly help someone in trouble by tossing a ring buoy or anything that floats.

The Be Current Smart campaign includes animations targeted for children and video news release footage with interviews from the U.S. Coast Guard, county sheriffs and park officials. Safety campaign partners supported the production of new beach sign templates, publications, curriculum, diagrams and descriptions of the types of dangerous currents. All materials are free and available for news media, beach communities, park staff, educators and others.

Wisconsin Sea Grant and the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program have been working on this campaign in Wisconsin with a group comprised of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, UW-Oshkosh and local government representatives. Regionally, they’ve been working with the National Weather Service and NOAA Coastal Storms Program, as well as several Great Lakes Sea Grant programs.

Spotlighted Through New Grant: Fish From Wisconsin’s Sustainable Aquaculture Operations and the Great Lakes

May 12, 2015
By Moira Harrington

Wisconsin Sea Grant today announced it has received a new $29,000 grant to shine a spotlight on the locally produced, healthy and delicious fish choices harvested from the Great Lakes and the regulated, sustainable aquaculture operations across the state.

Yellow perch, Arctic char, burbot, chubs, lake herring, lake trout, lake whitefish, rainbow trout, smelt, tilapia and walleye are the bounty of producers and fishers right here in Wisconsin. Choosing those, consumers can be assured the fish are domestic, not part of the 90 percent of imported seafood Americans consume each year, most of it from Asia and up to only 3 percent inspected for health and safety.

“We welcome this new grant to continue our work on the Eat Wisconsin Fish outreach program,” said Sea Grant’s Social Scientist Jane Harrison. “Each year, Wisconsin issues 70 commercial fishing licenses to hard-working professionals—our fellow state residents—who are putting fish on our tables. Plus, there is a $21 million aquaculture industry that raises fish sustainably. It’s good to buy locally and support local businesses. Of course, the bonus is that the fish is delicious.”

Sea Grant has already launched a website, eatwisconsinfish.org, which includes recipes on how to prepare Wisconsin fish. The site further offers details about fish in local waters, nutrition, and locations to purchase Wisconsin fish. The new grant will strengthen ties among Wisconsin fish producers, fish sellers like grocery stores and restaurants, and consumers.

It will support awareness-raising events such as booths at public gatherings, advertising, and cooking demonstrations and tasting opportunities at restaurants and brew pubs.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection’s Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin grant also will be devoted to the creation of a local fish buying guide distributed next spring to grocery stores and restaurants so those purveyors can make local choices to benefit their consumers and patrons. Those buyers, along with culinary school instructors and students, will also be invited to an Eat Wisconsin Fish workshop.

Sea Grant’s proposal was one of eight selected from 42 grant applications. Previous Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin recipients have generated nearly $6.6 million in new local food sales. The grants’ return on investment is calculated at 9 to 1.

Low water, ice damage may make boat launches difficult

Boaters eager to hit newly thawed lakes and rivers across Minnesota should know that low water conditions at public water access sites may make boat launching more challenging this spring. Low water levels continue to create access problems at many launch ramps, and significant ice damage is still being repaired at some locations.
The Department of Natural Resources and local governments maintain a system of 1,500 public water access sites throughout the state.

Since the ice went out, DNR crews have been working to inspect and repair launch ramps, and put the docks in at the DNR-maintained public water access sites – but they haven’t reached all of them yet. This work will be accomplished statewide over the next few weeks and hopefully completed by the May 9 fishing opener.
Winter weather is always a challenge for Minnesota’s public water access sites. As lake ice expands and pushes against the shore during the winter months, it can push and buckle the concrete plank structures like an accordion. This phenomenon, called “ice jacking,” often leaves the boat ramp unusable.
Boaters can help by inspecting ramp conditions before launching their watercraft. If they find a boat ramp that is unusable, they may need to find another public water access. Locations are listed online at www.dnr.state.mn.us/water_access/index.html.
“Regardless of the time of year, it’s always a good idea to check the condition of the ramp prior to launching to ensure there are no hazardous conditions that may damage your boat or equipment,” said Nancy Stewart, boating access program coordinator for the DNR’s Parks and Trails Division. “If you find damage at a DNR public water access, you can help by reporting it on the DNR’s public water access Web page.”
Suggestions for early spring boat launching include:

• Check the ramp for broken planks, and ensure the gravel is firm.
• Have hip boots or waders available in case you need to enter the water to help guide the boat and trailer, especially where docks are not yet available.
• Lower the motor only after you are sure there is enough clearance.
• Watch for free-floating obstructions in the water.