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Fishing report for Feb. 23

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:53:28 GMT

• LAKE OF THE OZARKS: 43 degrees, clear, 41/2 feet low. Outlook: Gier’s Bass Pro reports: bass very good on Alabama rigs 8 to 20 feet down in 30 feet of water where there are shad; crappies good on jigs, minnows along windy banks.

• STOCKTON: 39 degrees, clear, 2 feet low. Outlook: Stockton Lake Guide Service reports: crappies good to very good; walleyes fair on jigs under shad in middle of coves; bass good on jigs, Alabama rigs in 12 to 18 feet of water off secondary points.

• TRUMAN: 39 to 42 degrees, clear, 1.7 feet high. Outlook: Rocky Top reports: catfish good on juglines with whole shad. Below the dam: crappies good on spider rigs with jigs, minnows in the deadwater channel; walleyes, wipers, crappies fair to good on minnows, jigs in the current; channel catfish good on shad.

• NORFORK: 46 degrees, murky, normal. Outlook: Bink’s Guide Service reports: walleyes good on stickbaits in the rivers.

• TABLE ROCK: 47 degrees, clear on the main lake, stained in the creeks, normal. Outlook: White River Lodge reports: bass excellent on Alabama rigs along windy banks; crappies fair to good on jigs, minnows in 10 feet of water along docks.

• TANEYCOMO: clear, variable power generation. Outlook: Lilley’s Landing reports: trout good on scud and midge flies and microjigs on 2-pound test line in the Trophy Area and on PowerBait, night crawlers below Fall Creek.

• THOMAS HILL: 56 degrees, clear, low. Outlook: Kaseyville Store reports: crappies good on jigs, minnows in the deep brush.

• POMME DE TERRE: 43 degrees, clear, 11/2 feet high. Outlook: Guide Earle Hammond reports: bass fair on Alabama rigs in 20 feet of water over brush; crappies poor to fair (a few are being caught on jigs, minnows in 15 feet of water in the brush).

• SMITHVILLE: 39 degrees, clear, 11/2 feet low. Outlook: Burton’s Bait and Tackle reports: crappies fair on jigs in main-lake brush.

• JAMES A. REED: 38 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Department of Conservation reports: trout fair to good on PowerBait in Coot and Plover lakes.

• LONGVIEW: 39 degrees, clear, near normal. Outlook: Longview Lake Marina reports: crappies fair on jigs off the marina docks.

• JACOMO: 38 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Lake Jacomo Marina reports: crappies poor to fair (a few are being caught off the marina docks).

• BLUE SPRINGS: 39 degrees, clear, one-half foot high. Outlook: Blue Springs Lake Marina reports: crappies poor to fair (a few are being caught on jigs off the marina docks).

Kansas

• LA CYGNE: 58 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Wildlife, Parks and Tourism reports: wipers, white bass good on jigs in the hot-water outlet.

• PERRY: 38 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Perry Yacht Marina reports: crappies fair on jigs off marina docks.

• POMONA: 38 degrees, clear, one-half foot low. Outlook: Wildlife, Parks and Tourism reports: crappies fair on jigs in the brush along the channel.

• GLEN ELDER: 38 degrees, clear, 1 foot low. Outlook: Corner Bait and Tackle reports: crappies fair to good on jigs, minnows on the main lake.

• HILLSDALE: 39 degrees, clear, 11/2 feet low. Outlook: Jayhawk Marina reports: crappies fair on jigs, minnows on the main lake.

• COFFEY COUNTY: 39 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Coffey County reports: white bass poor to fair (a few are being caught on jigging spoons, plastic baits).

• SHAWNEE MISSION: 39 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Johnson County Park and Rec reports: Trout were stocked Wednesday and lake is temporarily closed to fishing. Season opens at 8 a.m. Saturday.

• HERITAGE: 40 degrees, murky, normal. Outlook: Johnson County Park and Rec reports: Trout were stocked Wednesday and lake is temporarily closed to fishing. Season reopens at 8 a.m. Saturday.

• CLINTON: 39 degrees, clear, 2 feet low. Outlook: Clinton Lake Marina reports: crappies fair on jigs, minnows in main-lake brush.

• MELVERN: 37 degrees, clear, 2 feet low. Outlook: Melvern Lake Marina reports: crappies poor to fair (a few are being caught on ice jigs off the docks).

Other area lakes

• GRAND (OKLAHOMA): 42 degrees, clear, normal. Outlook: Guide Ivan Martin reports: paddlefish snagging good to excellent; blue catfish good on rod and reel with cut bait (a lake-record 64.78-pound blue cat was caught last week); white bass good on jigging spoons above Twin Bridges.

• WHITE RIVER (ARKANSAS): fairly clear, two to four units running most of the day. Outlook: Sportsman’s Resort reports: brown trout excellent on white jigs, Rogues, Rapalas along the banks; rainbow trout excellent on drift rigs, small trout worms, spinners on the shoals.

Fishing in troubled waters

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:21:23 GMT

The newly-appointed Cardinal George Alencherry’s statement that he ‘immediately contacted the Catholic ministers of Kerala urging caution’ must be equally condemned. The fishermen killed were Indians; their religion is immaterial. Every Indian minister, Catholic or otherwise, will, presumably, take the same view of the killing; so where is the need to appeal to Catholic ministers?

The law in these cases is quite clear – if the killing happened in our territorial waters, those guilty must be tried under Indian law; but if it happened on the high seas the guilty will be tried as per the law of the country under whose flag the ship was sailing.

Unfortunately in the ruckus over the shooting there is no clarity over where the crime took place. The Indian side claims it happened in our territorial waters, the Italians dispute this. Yet the precise location should be a relatively simple matter to establish.

From the manner in which the Italian government has reacted, the Indian side is, perhaps, right which is why Italy is trying all kinds of pressure tactics to secure the release of its marines. The argument that Italian nationals involved in criminal activity anywhere are subject to Italian law is not in accordance with either public international law or usage or custom.

Article 97 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Seas under which Italy is trying to take refuge does not deal with wanton killing but talks of penal jurisdiction in matters of collision or any other incident of navigation. The crime in question does not fall in either category. The law must be allowed to take its course.

Bad fishing practices blamed for tuna deaths off Dubai

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:41:56 GMT

DUBAI // Thousands of dead tuna found floating in Dubai waters were probably the result of irresponsible fishing, experts say. About 3,000 tuna carcasses were last Thursday found by fishermen 18 nautical miles west of Dubai in an area known as Boya Zahra.

"This kind of tuna is available in the Arabian Gulf," explained Mohammed Al Marri, the chairman of the Dubai Fishermen's Cooperative Association. "It is coming by the millions but we don't have to destroy it. If we do not like to eat it, why kill it? It is life."

Mr Al Marri was speaking ahead of a meeting with the Ministry of Environment and Water scheduled for tomorrow, where the association will discuss how to further regulate catches, nets used and stronger enforcement for recreational fishers. "We must control how many fish can be caught and the kind of fishing nets that are used," he said.

Fishermen are believed to have trapped more tuna than their nets could hold and delayed their release into the sea, killing them. Mr Al Marri, also the head of the Dubai Police community service department, said some fishermen - about five from Dubai and two from Sharjah - were using improper fishing techniques and needed to be educated.

"They were not fishing right," he said. "When there are too many fish they should keep the nets open. When there is more than what the nets can take, the fishes will die in them."The Ministry of Environment and Water also suspects irresponsible fishing practices caused the deaths. The tuna were thrown back after being caught, the ministry said.

"Upon dissecting and analysing their entrails and the water, no traces of chemical or red tide-related pollution were revealed in the seawater and no traces of microbic pollution were found in the fish," the ministry said. "Abusive, random and irresponsible fishing methods could be responsible for the death of these fish."

The dead fish were from a species of tuna known locally as sada. They grow up to a length of 70 centimetres and weigh close to three kilograms. "Although they are in demand among consumers their economic value is negligible. They are migrant fish and are sold at low prices," the ministry said. Mr Al Marri said that, with its red meat, the species might not be popular with local people who preferred lighter meat, but it was sought by other nationalities for sushi and sashimi.

"For other nationalities, it is one of the best fish," he said. "Here the normal price is between Dh70 to Dh80 per kilo." UAE waters are home to about 280 fish species, including commercially important migratory species such as kingfish, tuna and Indian mackerel, said the wildlife filmmaker Jonathan Ali Khan.

Mr Khan said the fish began arriving in local waters in November and would stay until the end of May. He said a good day's catch at the height of the season could bring in Dh250,000 worth of fish. Mr Khan said that considering how lucrative tuna catches were, he found it hard to believe that local boats caused the damage.

"Everyone knows everyone within their community and pretty much every boat has at least one mobile phone through which they could have called for additional boats to join them - even at night," he said.

"Since our waters are shared by neighbouring countries, we have to consider that maybe foreign boats are crossing into UAE waters to fish at night.

"In this case, it appears as if the balance of the catch might simply have been abandoned for some reason. Whether their boat's storing capacity was overfilled or they just could not cope with the volume in bad weather, the wastage is enormous."

While Oman and Iran allow the use of trawlers, including licensed foreign vessels with a local partner, the UAE allows only artisanal and traditional fishing boats to operate.

Fishing, checkoff-style

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:51:25 GMT

Sometimes you just got to shoot the fish in the barrel and take the candy from babies. As a hunter of barrel-trapped fish who always takes candy from babies - that's right, I'm a journalist - I can spot a carp from any golf course or bar stool in any light, any day of the week. Sometimes it's easier than that. Sometimes all you have to do is follow the numbers.

For example, according to 2009 figures compiled by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the "net checkoff spent per person" for beef promotion by the nation's 45 state beef councils averaged a lean $0.12.

Twelve cents per person nationwide to promote beef. Golly. Of course the $1-per-head, non-refundable federal checkoff splits its annual millions 50/50 between the states and its national overseer, the Cattlemen's Beef Board. The CBB, in turn, contracts with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association to carry out its mission with a corresponding $0.12 or so per person, too. That would make the total beef promotion effort maybe two bits ... per person ... nationwide. Golly gee.

So, if most state beef councils spend less than a thin nickel per year per person to promote beef in the most populous states (California, 5 cents; Florida and Illinois, 2 cents; New York, 1 cent) and 30 to 100 times more in states with more cows than coyotes (Kansas, 45 cents; Nebraska, 70 cents; South Dakota, $1.23) is the goal of the beef checkoff to convince cattlemen that the checkoff is good or convince consumers that beef is good?

As you ponder that question, here's another fish to draw down on: Can one red cent - or even 70 cents - spent per person per year have any affect whatsoever on American beef consumption or production?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, no. On Jan. 1, 1987, one year after the federal beef checkoff began, beef cattle and calves in the U.S. totaled 102.1 million head. One-point-six billion checkoff dollars and 24 years later, Jan. 1, 2011, total inventory was 92.8 million head, or 9.5 percent lower.

Likewise, the number of U.S. beef operations fell from 1.01 million on Jan. 1, 1987 to 742,000 on Jan. 1, 2011, down 26 percent. And beef consumption, the whole point of the checkoff?

In 1986, U.S. beef retail sales per capita totaled 78.7 pounds. In 2009, retail sales per capita was 60.8 pounds, a 22 percent drop, or about a-pound-per-year slide for over the checkoff's 20-plus years. (2011 numbers are unavailable.)

As such, deciding whether the checkoff has delivered more cattle, more producers or sold more beef at better prices shouldn't be too hard. After all, I found the answers so how hard could it be?

Very hard, evidently, because at the recently concluded Cattle Industry Convention the most-discussed checkoff topic was a doubling of the $1-per-head fee, not whether the program actually worked.

The checkoff's chief contractor, the NCBA, did brag at the convention that it would work hard to "eliminate the livestock title" in the 2012 Farm Bill and to permanently kill COOL, country of origin labeling, for all beef sold in the U.S.

Either action, if successful, is counter to any - however meager - effort by the checkoff to improve the bottom line of American cattle ranchers and feeders. As is the NCBA-endorsed Feb. 13 effort by 31 U.S. senators to push the White House to approve rules that would ease American beef imports. (Read the full letter at www.grassley.senate.gov)

So, even as U.S. cattlemen continue to pay the $1-per-head - and maybe $2-per-head - checkoff , the number of cattle, cattlemen and American beef consumption per capita continue to fall while the checkoff's key contractor, NCBA, gets wealthier, bigger and works harder against 'em. Talk about shooting fish in a barrel.

Fishing Report: Winter bass fishing solid at Clear Lake

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:21:32 GMT

I’m sick and tired of Napa County being treated like dog meat by the California Department of Fish and Game. After years of regularly stocking little local Lake Hennessey, they have been enjoined from planting regular hatchery trout. But, triploid trout can be stocked. On every occasion that I and others have tried to get some information and action on re-opening trout plants with triploids, it’s no news or the runaround.
The last reply was something about needing more information and the time lag to hatch more triploids.
Now, I read in the Feb. 10 Western Outdoor News that they are merrily dumping this new strain of trout into Lake Mendocino.

Look at this happy quote:
“Approximately 15,000 pounds of trout will be put into the lake throughout the winter and early spring, giving anglers an opportunity to enjoy one of the state’s most popular activities,” said DFG environmental scientist Scott Harris.

It’s time for Napa County’s political leaders and administrators to speak out on behalf of our local kids who also should have the right to “enjoy one of the state’s most popular activities.”How about some help from State Senator Noreen Evans (224-1990); Assemblyman Michael Allen (258-8007); and the Napa County Board of Supervisors (253-4386)? We need you to stand up to the DFG. Consider it one of your 2012 initiatives to help combat teen obesity and drug use. It also reads well as an answer to the yearly lament — “there’s nothing for kids to do around here.”

Clear Lake
Bass fishing here is real good this winter. Reports of regular bags of 12 to 18 fish with a good number of 4- to 6-pounders are posted almost every day.
Drop shot or split shot live minnows for a sure bet. Try the new Cali-rig with three lures for a new thrill that works.
Ed Smith and Stan Press are joining me for a day with pro guide Bob Myskey on March 2. Expect the bite to improve right through to summer.
Last April, I caught a personal best 10.1-pound hog fishing with Bob.
It’s not too early to book some trips — call Bob at 349-4460.
The only fly in the ointment is the continuing lack of rain.
The Rumsey Gauge, which measures the water level, went from a 2012 high of 3.05 feet on Feb. 8-9 down to 2.94 Sunday morning — then back up to 3.6 by Sunday noon. The lake is full at 7.5.
We have seen the Rumsey at both “full” and about “empty” over the past three years of tracking.
Look for yourself at http://on.doi.gov/fFS7iY — and hope for a savior spring rain storm like we had in April a few years ago that saved the lake for fishing.

Lake Berryessa News
You may have heard that at least 10 people became lost after dark while hiking on the Stebbins-Cold Canyon Trail at Berryessa in January.
Editor Peter Kilkus said it best with his lead story in the February Lake Berryessa News:
“Too many people seem to get their primary taste of reality from television, so that when they go out into the real reality of raw nature they both fail to prepare and have no idea how to cope.”
Go online to lakeberry essanews.com for his whole article, plus a reality check titled “Darwin Awards — Hiker Edition.”
I worry about the safety of all hikers. I worry more about hikers putting emergency teams in real jeopardy to come find them.
Why not require a license to hike? Why not a monetary penalty when rescue teams are called? There are any number of other dangerous activities and vocations that require a permit or license because of the dangers/risks involved.
Let’s debate that until and unless Americans show me a lot more smarts than those who were dangerously lost on near-by marked trails because they were stupid.
Look how simple it can be. Before heading out, check for sundown time. Then every hour on the trail, record how long it took to get there.
When the latest check equals the remaining daylight — guess what — it’s time to start back.
How about a simple day bag of snacks, water, warm jacket, rain fly/slicker and flash light for each hiker?
Meanwhile, how’s the fishing? It’s pretty good for trout. You can “mooch” with live minnows or pull small lures like Apexes behind a small flasher.
Not much to report on bass but don’t give up — they like minnows, too.

Napa Valley Fly Fishers
Join or renew your membership now for 2012. It’s easy. Just attend our next meeting at 7 p.m. on March 8 at the Napa Senior Center at 1500 Jefferson St.
Annual dues are only $45 for Individuals ($35 for over 65s), $25 Youths (up to 18) and Family for just $55. (includes all your kids 18 and under).
Here’s a great new birthday, Easter or graduation gift idea for kids who are interested in fly fishing and the outdoors. Bring them over to the meeting with you for a look-see. Or, you can go to www.napavalleyflyfishers.org and click on membership application.

Napa River
How about a 36-inch striper caught at Cuttings Wharf? Toss live bait like mudsuckers or bullhead for this size. You can try cut bait like anchovy or sardines, too. I don’t have much sturgeon news from the bays but the field scouts at Sweeney’s Sports reported a steady south river bite of oversize fish. You know all sturgeon 66 inches and over must be released immediately. That goes for those under 46 inches, too.

Fishing Line, week of 2/16/12

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:38:53 GMT

DELTA REGION: SACRAMENTO RIVER side - Rio Vista's west bank, the Deep Water Channel, as well as the Mokelumne River and Freeport area have been good spots for striper action as the bite begins to pick up. Look for the bite to be good both first thing and just before sundown. Sturgeon fishing has been excellent in the main stem from Garcia to Hood, and off the bank at Merits Landing down below Freeport. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER side - Now that the Super Bowl Sturgeon Derby is over, few sturgeon anglers have been out, but a lot of fish were caught while trying to hit the 59-inch slot. Striper fishing continues to be slow with the cold water, but it's beginning to look like there may be an early spring run this year.

AMERICAN RIVER - Flows have decreased to 1,450 cfs, and a new batch of bright steelhead - albeit mostly small fish--have entered the upper reaches of the river to join darker fish spawning or near spawning in the shallows. Those later fish are quite vulnerable, and should left to spawn in peace. A higher percentage of the bright fish are wild (intact adipose fins) and must be released. Fish have been taking a variety of bait and lures from flies fished on the swing or dead-drifted under indicators, drifted roe and nightcrawlers, and backtrolled Hot Shots.

FOLSOM LAKE - Fishing for trout and landlocked king salmon was pretty good again last week. Nightcrawlers fished behind dodgers near the surface were working for trout, and white and pink Radical Glow Hoochies and GVF Pina Colada Spinners set between 30 and 50 feet were working for the kings. Fish the main body and up the North Fork. Bass fishing continued to be slow. Spoon, drop-shot, and jig outside points, and over concentrations of bait.

NEW MELONES RESERVOIR - Great trout fishing off the bank at Glory Hole Point said Melanie Lewis of Glory Hole Sports. Power Bait, Nightcrawlers and marshmallows are working. Trollers are doing well upriver and also on the south side of the reservoir. Bass are moving up into shallower structure, darthead or drop-shotting plastics and jigs in 20 to 45 feet of water.

NORTH COAST RIVERS

CHETCO RIVER, Ore. - The flows are fluctuating with the occasional rains, but that's not impacting the river color due to some slides, and the steelies just keep on coming. Pressure on the lower river makes the upper section better early, then guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing works the lower in the afternoon for better action. Guide Tony Sepulveda of Green Water Fishing Adventures said the scores were running up as high as 6 per boat. Most of this success has been for guided fisherman on the lower river, but the bankies are getting in on the action fishing up above the forks.

COQUILLE RIVER, South Fork: Powers, Ore. - According to guide and WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer, the river has slowed down drastically over the last week. With all the success stories from the last couple weeks, angler's are hoping that the storms next week will bring the same results again. With the low water a select few angler's have changed strategies from drifting to anchoring out of the channel or parking the drift boat on the bank and float fishing the pools or casting them to the narrow channels and letting the floats drift downstream. Some fly fisherman on Saturday took advantage of the low conditions to wade the shallows and cast to the steelhead holding in the slightly deeper areas of the river. With the extreme changing conditions, versatility is an almost must.

EEL RIVER - Guide Tony Sepulveda of Green Water Fishing Adventures said he saw great numbers for the early part of the week with scores running up into the double digits on the best days. The Main Stem was fishable it's entire length and the South Fork was holding just enough color to keep the fish from getting wary. A half-inch of rain Tuesday night put the river on a slow rise but by Thursday it had settled back in and was fishing great. Friday, every boat on the river hooked into good numbers of chrome bright steelhead fishing under a steady drizzle and by Saturday she was again on the rise and a little dingy. Guide Mike Stratman of Redwood Coast Fishing said that expected rain will be followed by good conditions for the rivers from Tuesday on.

MAD RIVER - The Mad River has been putting up some great numbers for guys drifting roe and a Fish Pill around the hatchery and down towards the Blue Lake bridge, according to guide Tony Sepulveda of Green Water Fishing Adventures. "Like the Eel, this river has been bouncing up and down a little but the moisture has been so minimal the color has been coming back within a few hours of the flows cresting," he said.

NAVARRO RIVER - South of Fort Bragg, anglers were playing catch-and-release on up to 6 fish a day from the bank, and the were 7 to 9 pounds.

ROGUE RIVER, Lower, Ore. - According to guide Andy Martin of Wild Rivers Fishing, steelhead fishing on the lower Rogue River was disappointing last week, with slow fishing except for a few flurries of action for guides in the Agness area. Low, clearing water has made plunking tough at Huntley Bar and Lobster Creek. Rain this week could add some color to the river and increase flows, giving the Rogue a late season boost in steelhead fishing. The best bet has been around Agness.

RUSSIAN RIVER - Fishing has been steady, and on Friday guide Chris Aff, working out of Kings Sport and Tackle, went 3 for 4 on steelies. The day before they hooked 4 while fishing the Forestville to Guerneville run. He heard it's also been good from Healdsberg to Forestville, and that a couple of 15-pound fish were caught on Friday, although the average is around 8 pounds. It's about 50/50 hatchery to wild fish. Some fly fishermen did okay at Johnson's on Saturday. The river is flowing at 500 cfs and has about 3 feet of visibility.

SMITH RIVER - Guide Phil Desautel of Phil's Smiling Salmon Guide Service has been fishing the river despite a broken ankle, and said fishing has been "fair to pretty good". Very few anglers here right now, and he said he's been fishing around the same 4 to 6 guides every day. The water was getting low and gin clear before this weekend's rain, and the fish were in the fast, shallow water. Even so, boats are getting 2 to 5 fish a day, a mixed bag of wild and hatchery fish. A few downrunners behinning to show up.

TEN MILE RIVER - This small river north of Fort Bragg was kicking out some nice steelhead for catch-and-release anglers using corkies and Spin-N-Glos with barbless hooks.

UMPQUA RIVER, Sutherlin, Ore. - The river is a deep green color with about 4 feet of visibility. Fishing has been average for this river, with catches for a full day of fishing being 6 or so steelhead boated, according to WON Field Reporter Curtis Palmer of River Secret's Guide Service. Finally, there have been some hatchery fish being caught over the last week. This river has steelhead scattered from Elkton to Roseburg and any of the many drifts should produce a lot of fish over the next month.

UMPQUA RIVER, South Fork; Myrtle Creek, Ore. - On Friday and Saturday there were a bunch more steelhead being caught than last weekend, according to guide Curtis Palmer. One boat reported catching 11 fish and losing another 3. These numbers are not uncommon on any of the three Umpqua Rivers, but there haven't been many reports of days like this after the river flooded out a few weeks ago. With rain in the forecast next week, it should keep the fish moving up out of the main river and up into the South Fork.

UMPQUA RIVER, North Fork; Roseburg, Ore. - The viewing station at Winchester Dam has had steelhead moving through in the afternoon in considerable numbers. "I am surprised at the number of steelhead that are already in this river," said guide Curtis Palmer of River Secrets Guide Service. "We don't usually see this until the end of February." The short drift from Amacher Park to Hesness Park has been producing lots of action, and farther upriver, anglers are catching some nice chrome fish on their way to the spawning grounds. They are also catching more summer steelhead that have spawned recently. "I am hoping to post a couple pictures of steelhead over 20 pounds from this river over the next six weeks, so watch for those in upcoming issues," said Palmer.

TRINITY/KLAMATH RIVERS

TRINITY RIVER, Lewiston - The upper portions of the Trinity above Junction City dropped and cleared and there are lots of fish still coming upriver. In fact, the steelhead count at the hatchery is double that of last year, over 4,000. Anglers were catching a mix of wild, hatchery and downrunner steelhead on a variety of methods. Fly fishers were using golden stones, No. 12 and 14, poxy back beadhead pheasant tails, and red copper Johns under indicators while spin and conventional fishermen were backtrolling plugs and sidedrifting roe. Call ahead for river conditions before making the trip.

TRINITY RIVER, Willow Creek - The river was fishable down to Cedar Flat below the North Fork, and some bright steelhead were passing through. However, it was raining as of Sunday night, so conditions were likely to change. Call ahead.

KLAMATH RIVER, Iron Gate Dam - The Klamath was dropping and in fishable condition down to Happy Camp, but it was raining Sunday night, so it's important to call ahead for conditions. However, river conditions will remain in good shape below Iron Gate Dam with little fishing pressure and a nice mix of adult steelhead to 6 pounds and native rainbows. Drifted roe and nightcrawlers, and backtrolled crawdad plugs were all working well. Fly fishing was slow.

NORTH COAST LAKES

CLEAR LAKE - Rocky areas still remain the most productive, which is typical this time of year. Most of the points in the Redbud arm have catchable fish as well as the mid lake area, and similar spots in the Oakes arm. Horseshoe Bend is getting a lot of boating activity, as at least one local guide is fishing live bait successfully there.

LAKE BERRYESSA - Rick Kennedy at Tight Lines Guide Service reportED good action on kings if you know where to find them. In this case, it was near the dam using Shasta Tackle Sling Blades and Pee Wee Hoochies. The fish weighed in the 2-pound class.

LAKE MENDICINO - DFG planted here this past week, so you can bet anglers were out in droves, but no reports have come in yet.

LAKE SONOMA - Steelies have been in the top 20 feet in the main body, and up in the creek arms. For bass try a Rago or Picasso A-Rig, shaking worms or Senkos in 15 to 25 feet of water.

UPPER BLUE LAKE - Fishing continues to be good, with limits or close to it as the lake received a plant. The bite is good, but it continues to be a light bite, stay alert! There have been a lot more bites than catches. From the surface down, anglers found planters as well as last year's crop to 19 inches on flashers and nightcrawlers, deepwater flies, and the usual assortment of tackle.

NORTHEASTERN AREA

LAKE ALMANOR - Arctic Fox flies in orange, white, and brown have all been fish catchers as well as black and silver soft plastics loaded with gel. There have been a ton of rainbow trout caught, as well as some brown trout. This winter has been one of the best in years. The open water on the east side has been kicking out nice numbers and good sizes.

BAUM LAKE - The Fly Shop in Redding reports good fishing and good hatches of BWOs. Smaller no. 18 baetis have been keeping the rainbow and brown trout biting. Look for rising fish throughout the day.

PIT RIVER - According to The Fly shop in Redding, river flows have been stable. All stretches of the Pit offer fishable water right now and the fishing has been fair to good.

SHASTA LAKE - Trolling continues to produce some nice trout by covering water. Try a Captain America or an orange/gold Humdinger topped with garlic. Another good setup was an orange Cripplure, which brought in a few nice rainbows; all coming from 10 to 25 feet down. Bass anglers have been going crazy with the new A-rigs, and the Pitt arm has been the hot spot using tubes, jigs and crawdad colored worms.

TRINITY LAKE - Rick Kennedy of Tight Lines Guide Service netted 5 salmon up to 4 pounds, with another 6 lost at the boat. Most of the fish hit between 60 and 75 feet of water and seemed to be scattered throughout at different depths in the Papoose arm where he was fishing.

NorCal Saltwater

BENECIA - Slow sturgeon action during the week gave way to better action over the weekend for boaters working eel baits near the Mothball Fleet where Capt. Bob Monckton on the Reel-lentless helped his passengers catch numerous smaller units before pulling on much larger fish which made the Whoppers List.

BODEGA BAY - Crabbing was the most productive activity for boaters because sanddab fishing was difficult due to rapid drifts making it difficult to present baits to the 'dabs. Shoreside anglers had to fish from high ground due to big swells, yet they managed good catches of cabezon, greenling and rockfish north of Bodega Bay.
CROCKETT - The Morning Star, with Capt. Gordon Hough found good action Saturday on grass shrimp near the last two rows of ships in Suisan Bay. Good tides should improve the overall bite as this week progresses.

EUREKA - Jetty fishing was good for red tail perch in areas well away from dangerously large and powerful swells capable of sweeping over rocks. Those same big swells kept most boats off the water, though earlier in the week crabbing efforts were successful.

FORT BRAGG - Steelhead bit very well for anglers fishing local river mouths from the banks. Surf ran so high all week that surf perch fishers stayed away. One wild exception was night fishers throwing nets into the surf for smelt.

HALF MOON BAY - Sea conditions kept most fishers off the salt, however crabbing action is still available on the Half Moon Bay charter fleet. One bright spot in shore angling this week has been the quantity and quality of crabs caught by casting snares loaded with squid or chicken leftovers. Anglers spent the week casting snares off the jetties, docks and the public pier in Half Moon Bay and up the coast at Pacifica where surf perch and a couple of striped bass were caught.

MARTINEZ - Sturgeon slowed their feeding activity after the extreme pressure from the Super Bowl Derby, however very sizable sturgeon were caught, especially in Suisan Bay near the Mothball Fleet. Strong tides, forecast for late this week is expected to shift the sturgeon bite into high gear.

SAN RAFAEL - Overall fishing has been just fair, but a bonanza of mud shrimp near the Pumphouse drew some feeding sturgeon into the area. The best was a 70-incher caught by Andy Frierson. Great tides by next weekend will bump up the action. Early arrivals from the upcoming run of striped bass began showing in the San Pablo Bay. Stripers should become more numerous over the coming weeks.

SACRAMENTO VALLEY

FEATHER RIVER - The usual late winter striper bite resulting from the release of baby steelhead to the river hasn't happened yet. A few were being caught from Shanghai Rapids and Star Bend on jigs and minnows. A very few steelhead were being caught around Gridley and in the Low Flow Section on nymphs under indicators, drifting nightcrawlers, and swinging spinners.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Sacramento - Sturgeon fishing was only fair from Hood to Verona. A few were hooked around the Fremont Weir, South River Road, Jefferson Blvd. and Verona. Fish combo baits - e.g. ghostshrimp/pileworms. Striper fishing continued to be slow.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Knight's Landing - Sturgeon have moved upstream, and fishing was good last week from Tisdale to Ward's Landing. Combination baits like ghostshrimp/pileworms worked better than individual baits fished alone.

SACRAMENTO RIVER, Redding - Trout fishing was good once again and the trout action was particularly good around Redding. Fly fishers drifted Glo-Bugs, Mayfly or caddis nymph imitations under indicators while spin fishermen drifted Glo-Bugs and nightcrawlers.

SIERRA LAKES/RIVERS

BOCA LAKE - The lake is at 16-percent capacity. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that ice fishing was safest at the dam. Two anglers caught 3 rainbows, 12 to 16 inches, on worms. Ice away from the dam could be UNSTABLE and ice fishing was NOT RECOMMENDED!!

CAPLES LAKE - John Voss at Caples Lake Resort reported that the ice was 1 1/2 to 2 feet thick and ice fishermen were doing best at the spillway on bay shrimp, worms, and Power Bait. Voss said that trout limits were hard to come by.

CARSON RIVER (East) - Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort reported that he spoke at length to a fly fisherman who was on the Restricted Section below Hangman's Bridge. The angler said he fished for 6 hours without a strike, and attributed the poor fishing to the cold water. Sodaro said there was 4 to 6 inches of ice showing along the shore in most places.

DAVIS LAKE - The lake is at 74-percent capacity. The ice at the dam thickened back up to a safe 8 inches with the cold nights and fishing was good according to Ed Dillard at Dillard's Guided Fishing. Shore anglers were also doing well at Mallard Point on Power Bait. All the trout seem to be cut out of the same mold--15 to 16 inchers weighing 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds. Rick Kennedy of Tight Lines Guide Service managed to launch at Mallard Point this past weekend and caught 15 nice rainbows trolling 30 feet deep with Humdingers, Needlefish, and Dick Nite spoons.

DONNER LAKE - Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that shore fishing for rainbows and macks was best mid-lake near the public fishing dock using nightcrawlers, though only few fish were being caught.

FRENCHMAN LAKE - The lake is at 79-percent capacity. The ice was still safe at the dam and anglers were picking up some nice rainbows on Power Bait and nightcrawlers. One group of shore anglers fished the open water at Big Cove and caught 14 rainbows from 1 to 2 pounds on Power Bait and worms.

ICE HOUSE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 72-percent capacity. The road was still too icy for safe access, according to Dale Daneman at Dale's Foothill Fishing Service based on reports he received from fishing club members who tried unsuccessfully to reach the lake.

INDIAN CREEK RESERVOIR - According to Todd Sodaro at the Carson River Resort, the roads to the lake were clear and open. Cold nights had skim ice on the lake in the morning, but on warm afternoons after the ice melted, shore anglers could pick up some nice rainbows on bait.

JENKINSON LAKE (Sly Park) - The lake is scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. Sly Park Resort reported that shore anglers were catching a few planters at the second boat ramp in the Narrows on Power Bait and worms. Trolling has been slow.

LAKE TAHOE - Both Mickey Daniels at Big Mack Charters and Chuck Self at Chuck's Charter Fishing reported very good mack trolling from 185 to 300 feet deep. Daniels reported keeping four 6 to 7 pounders, tagging 5 fish, and losing 5 fish on this last trip which only lasted 3 hours for three anglers. Earlier in the week with a charter of nurses from Texas, Daniels landed fish to 10 pounds. The bulk of Daniels fish came from 250 to 300 feet of water. Chuck Self fished shallower, 185 to 250 and found good action in the early morning and late afternoon with a slow down during mid-day. Self was catching 2 to 5 pounders in the a.m. and 4 to 7 pounders in the p.m. running Coyote spoons, and CD 5 and CD 7 Rapalas on ridges, points, and grass fields. The fish were all feeding primarily on shrimp.

LOON LAKE - The lake is at 64-percent capacity. Snowed in. Last report until spring.

PROSSER LAKE - The lake is at 33-percent capacity. According to Mountain Hardware and Sports, the ice fishing was best at the boat ramps and the inlet. The walk to the ice down the dam face was too steep and treacherous for most anglers.

PYRAMID LAKE - Joe Mendes at Eagle Eye Charters reported only fair fishing - 9, 10 and 7 cutthroats on his last three charters. The cutts have been running 17 to 23 inches and hitting original and blood frog FlatFish at 17 to 25 feet deep. Crosby's Lodge finished the first weekend of their derby on Sunday. Holding first place was George Harrison Jr. with a 7-pound 15-ounce fish. Second and third were taken by Tom Cruz with 6 3/4- and 6-pound, 7-ounce cutts.

RED LAKE - There were people fishing here according to Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters, but the fishing has been slow by comparison to last year.

SILVER LAKE - According to John Voss at Caples lake Resort, the ice here was 1 to 2 feet thick. He said he heard that someone had caught a big Mackinaw here, but he hadn't seen a picture yet. Bay shrimp, worms, and Power Bait should be working on rainbows and browns.

STAMPEDE RESERVOIR - The lake is at 88-percent capacity. Though there was some snow on the ramp, but guides were able to shovel off enough to launch boats and troll for macks near the dam and island. Shore anglers were still picking up some rainbows at the boat ramp, dam, and Davies Creek arm--the most easily accessed spots on the lake at this time. More weather is due this week.

TOPAZ LAKE - Topaz Landing Marina reported good action for trollers working the middle of the lake with CD 7 Rapalas. Vic Nagy of Woodfords landed a 5 1/2-pound rainbow while toplining a firetiger Rapala. Shore anglers were doing well on the NW and SW sides of the lake using nightcrawlers.

TRUCKEE RIVER - Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters reported that the warmer weather was triggering baetis hatches and fishing was improving in the Reno area. The Little Truckee was accessible to the Bat Cave, but anglers were walking further upstream to access the upper sections - driving further was unwise, if not unsafe. Mountain Hardware and Sports reported that flyfishing in the Glenshire and Hirshdale sections of the main river was good for casters using midge, BWO, and sculpin patterns at the heads and tails of bigger pools.

UNION VALLEY RESERVOIR - The lake is at 55-percent capacity. Though the roads were open this past week, the bite was very slow, according to Ken Mathis at Ken's Custom Tackle. A storm is forecast for the region this week, so call the Pacific Ranger Station to check on road conditions at 530-647-5400.

MOTHERLODE LAKES

AMADOR LAKE - Cuttbows are averaging from 2 to 4 pounds on the lake and around the dam. Excellent trout action with plants from 600 to 1000 pounds made each weekday. Fishermen are using flies like Woolly Buggers and others using Power Bait and small minnow imitations.

CAMANCHE LAKE - Trout action has been good in the South Shore Pond and also in the lake from Hat Island to the dam. Bass fishing is getting better as the fish move into shallow water. Try the mining rock piles upriver for spotted bass.

DON PEDRO RESERVOIR - Monte Smith of Gold Country Sport Fishing said the main lake is kicking out limits of trout trolling big spoons or slow rolling shad for salmon, which are on the small side there. The bass are moving up into 15 to 25 feet of water.

LAKE MCCLURE - Diana and Jason Mello of A-1 Bait in Snelling report minnows and crawdads are working in 40 feet of water, also try jigs and darthead and drop-shotting plastics in 20 feet of water. Trout bite fair upriver and in the main lake river channel.

LAKE MCSWAIN - Bank fishermen are using Power Bait in a variety of colors to catch trout near the Marina, at the Handicap Dock and near the Brush Pile. Fishermen are trolling near the Floating Restrooms with small Rapalas catching trout to 2 pounds. Trout plants by Department of Fish and Game and Calaveras Trout Farm have started.

MODESTO RESERVOIR - Trout and bass fishing is bad and very few fishermen are out there trying their luck.

LAKE PARDEE - Get ready for trout fishing madness as the lake will open its fishing season at midnight on February 17. It is usually wall to wall people there on the opener.

NORTHERN FOOTHILLS

AMERICAN RIVER - The Georgetown Ranger Station reported that the river at the confluence at Hwy 49 was still very low and clear.

BULLARDS BAR - The lake is at 67-percent capacity. According to Emerald Cove Marina, lots of boaters have been out, but the fishing has been slow. A recent shocking/netting program done by the DFG to document a FERC permit renewal for the dam showed that there were several spotted bass over 6 pounds collected, so the big fish are still there.

CAMP FAR WEST - North Shore Resort reported that anglers were catching lots of 12- to 13-inch bass on morning dawn and green pumpkin worms and Senkos at 10 to 15 feet deep in the creek arms.

COLLINS LAKE - The lake is 19 feet from full and scheduled for a DFG trout plant this week. The resort will be making a trophy trout plant this week to prepare for the long Presidents' Day weekend. Anglers have been picking up limits of DFG planter for the most part, though Jim Livengood of Lincoln landed a 3 1/2-pound rainbow while trolling a Rapala at the dam. Local Dave Callison caught limits of bass to 3 3/4 pounds on live crawdads, so the warmer than usual weather has the bass getting active.

ENGLEBRIGHT RESERVOIR - The lake is at 92-percent capacity. Lisa Rogers at Skippers Cove Marina reported that shore anglers and trollers were still picking up planter rainbows. The shore between the two ramps has been the best bet for bankies. Trolling in the marina was consistent on flasher/worm combos.

FRENCH MEADOWS RESERVOIR - According to the Foresthill Ranger Station, Mosquito Ridge Road was snowed in and the lake was inaccessible.

HELL HOLE RESERVOIR - Kalan Richards of El Dorado Hills reported the road to the lake was clear and passable with 2-wheel drive (before the weekend storm). He trolled K-15 Kwikfish 70 feet deep over 100 feet of water and caught 4 macks up to 6 pounds. A storm in the forecast for early this week could make access a problem. Call the Georgetown Ranger Station for the latest road conditions at 530-333-4312.

LAKE OROVILLE - The lake is at 72-percent capacity. An Angler's Choice Pro-Am was being led by Ryan Friend with 20.57 pounds, anchored by a 7.21-pound spot. Gary Dobyns was in second at 17.63 pounds with a 5.34-pound big fish. The 17 pounds in third included a 6.90-pound spot, so as usual big fish on spotted bass lakes make all the difference. The Alabama rig was reported to be the hot setup for the leaders. Bruce Gibson at the Paradise Tackle Company pre-fished with one contestant and reported a good bite on tubes and Beavers in the backs of the coves in the West Branch at 40 feet deep. Coho trolling was still good up in the river arms on Sling Blade/Wiggle Hoochie combos at 10 to 40 feet deep--just meter the bait first.

ROLLINS LAKE - Casey Reynolds at Long Ravine Resort reported that fishing was very slow for trollers who were working the coves towards the inlet. The water was murky and cold which could account for the poor bite.

SCOTT'S FLAT LAKE - Jim Caldwell at Scott's Flat Lake Resort reported that a few 12- to 13-inch rainbows were taken by trollers working the area from the marina to the dam. Boats were reporting in with 2 to 5 fish for two anglers.

SUGAR PINE RESERVOIR - The Foresthill Ranger Station reported that the day-use facilities were all accessible, but there were few visitors seen this past week. There should be some holdover rainbows for shore anglers using Power Bait near the ramp.

STUMPY MEADOWS RESERVOIR - The Georgetown Ranger Station reported there were 4 or 5 boats on the lake every day this past week catching holdover rainbows trolling flasher/worm combos and small Rapalas. The lake came up 3 feet over the past couple of weeks and more rain is in the forecast.

THERMOLITO AFTERBAY - The lake dropped to 129.8-foot -lower than seen in some time, according to Oroville Outdoors. The bass will be in the channels on the rock structure.

Commercial fishing report inaccurate, says Forest & Bird

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:33:52 GMT

Forest & Bird is condemning the Seafood Industry Council's latest report on the environmental standards of fishing in New Zealand. The report says commercial fishing has a lower environmental impact than industries such as dairy and meat and it should be the preferred choice for consumers. But Forest & Bird’s Conservation Advocate Katrina Subedar disagrees.

“This report has failed to use key New Zealand references which are available, so we think that has severely impacted the credibility and the results of the findings in this report,” she says. Mrs Subedar says the report failed to reference a recent Statistics New Zealand report assessing fisheries, farming and meat, or the Ministry of Fisheries’ latest data. She says the Stats NZ report found that fishing used eight times more energy than agriculture, through the use of factories and people on shore.

“They haven’t looked at the sustainability of the stocks, they haven’t looked at the by-catch, they haven’t looked at the environmental impact of the fishing,” she says. Mrs Subedar says fishing by-catch is a huge issue in New Zealand, as commercial fishing ventures often catch other animals in their nets.

Fishing emphasis lures anglers to Philadelphia show

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:14:40 GMT

OAKS - After weeks of attending outdoors sports shows, the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sports Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks continues to hold a special appeal.

That becomes obvious every year for the members of the outdoors media who attend the preview show with its varied array of outfitters, guides and equipment. What makes the show, held Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 16-19, special in the minds of many outdoorsmen, however, is its emphasis on all types of fishing and fishing products.

Last year, for example, a group of anglers who were planning to spend a few days in the 1,000 Islands Region on the St. Lawrence River fishing for Northern pike with Tom Banditelli of Tamaqua at Caiger's Resort in Mallorytown, Ontario, attended the Philadelphia show looking for special lures for the trip. They found them at the booth of an exhibitor who carried a complete line of the famous Radtke Pike Minnow, which have been used by recreational anglers and guides from the lakes of Minnesota to the rivers and lakes of Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec to catch record book pike and musky.

For many bass anglers, the Philadelphia show has become a must-attend event because of its presentation of Bass University. This event has presentations on how and where to catch bass, making it the leading school on bass fishing in the country.

"Bass University's commitment to growing bass fishing through education is a perfect fit for those outdoor expos," Bass University co-owner Pete Gluszek said. "Headlining the teaching team at the Greater Philadelphia show is 2011 FWC champion Scott Martin, and Kevin Short, Pete Gluszek, Dave Wolak, Mark Davis and Brett Hite will also be teaching during sessions, which will be held Saturday and Sunday."

Bass University is intensive in its presentations, which are conducted in a classroom environment. In addition, there is time for question-and-answer sessions to learn about the lures, tackle and techniques professional bass anglers use to win tournaments.

Information is designed to make everyone from recreational to tournament bass anglers have more success. Insight is also provided about what bass fishing is about on a national scale, including the challenges, risks and rewards of being a tournament bass angler. Students will learn about Bassmaster, FLW Outdoors and PAA Tournaments directly from the professionals who fish them.

Insight is given on how to target local waters, highlighting specific areas, baits and techniques. This is done with sessions on bass patterns; using baitcasting and spinning tackle; using Flourocarbon, Monofiliment or braided fishing line; techniques on how to fish by cranking, flipping and pitching; using swimbaits, drop shot and power and finesse fishing; and lure presentation and boat positioning.

"Regardless of where you fish, a bass is a bass is a bass, and our motto is never stop learning," Gluszek said. "Sound techniques and strong fundamental skills will prove to be your best ally on the water, and this is what Bass University is all about."

Philadelphia show director Paul Fuller said that those planning to attend Bass University are best served by pre-registering online at www.thebassuniversity.com. An admission ticket is needed to gain entrance to the show to attend the Saturday session, but a ticket will be provided for those returning for the Sunday session.

Again this year, the Philadelphia show is showing its commitment to fishing as a family activity by donating a portion of the ticket sales to the "Keep America Fishing" fund. This program is the American Sportfishing Association's angler advocacy campaign that is devoted to keeping our nation's waters open, clean and abundant with fish.

With Warm Winter, Fox Lake Chief Warns Of Ice Fishing Dangers

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:42:15 GMT

The weekend death of an ice fisherman in the Chain of Lakes has the Fox Lake Fire Department warning that this winter has just been too warm to make ice thick enough for safety. Battalion Chief Ed Lescher with the Fox Lake Fire Department says there have been freezes, but then the sun’s been coming out to melt away the top ice layers. He says this has produced ice of varying thickness — too thin in part to support fishermen or anyone else out on the ice for fun.

He says at any given moment, despite the danger, there are a couple of dozen people fishing on Long Lake, and many more on larger lakes like Pistakee, Dunn’s and Fox. “They think they know better,” he said. “They have their ice augers and they go out there and they test little holes here and there to test the thickness of the ice. With this wintertime, you’ll have spots where it’s an inch thick and couple of feet away it’ll be four inches thick.”

Ice thickness of four to six inches is needed to ensure the safety of the fishermen. Lescher says it’s frustrating to see fishermen out on ice which he knows is too thin in spots to support them. Over the weekend, 29-year-old Justin Ribar from Johnsburg fell into Pistakee Lake while ice fishing. People on shore heard his cries for help, spotted his ice fishing gear, but he was trapped underneath the ice. His body wasn’t recovered until the following morning.

Fishing Line for Feb. 8

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:18:53 GMT

Bait dealers, boaters, and shoreline casters marvel at the amount of open water available to anglers all around Western New York this winter. One report included boaters trolling Bay of Quinte waters last week. The bay, at Lake Ontario's northeast corner, has been an ice-angler Mecca for decades, with a drop-off in 'eye catching in recent years.

All has changed. Trollers caught 16 sizable 'eyes trolling open areas with side planers and hard baits. They had to tool planer boards around the occasional ice floe, but the bite -- in areas normally being crossed by ice fishermen by now -- was good last week and throughout the entire fall and early-winter season at Quinte.

Similar open-water outings offer options for shore-liners able to get a boat into Honeoye Lake. Western Finger Lakes boaters often can fish Canandaigua Lake and even more often work Seneca Lake waters during the winter. This year, add Honeoye's central and north sections to the inland-lakes boating bill of fare.

Avon Anglers could not hold its scheduled ice contest at Honeoye Lake but AA has an Ice Elite Series Team Event scheduled for Saturday on Silver. For registration details, look for ice-contest officers' phone numbers at the web site avonanglers.com.

Ice prospects are good at Silver Lake, Lake Simcoe and mega-iffy around Oneida Lake and Chautauqua Lake. A forecasted freeze this weekend might get things right, but, for now, more open water than hardwater opportunities abound all around.

Lake Erie
Dunkirk Harbor has seen a fair run of brown trout in recent days. Gerri Begier at Bill's Hooks weighed in a 12-pound brown earlier this week, and she gets word of browns caught more at the city pier than the fishing platform of late. A Little Cleo and plastic-bodied baits have worked best for casters, Begier notes.

Stream conditions vary for bigger and smaller feeders. But, in general, the better water and hook-setting sites are well up stream in both Canadaway and Chautauqua creeks. Jerry Olejniczak at Penrod's Bait & Tackle in South Buffalo will be closing the door March 1. Look for a detailed account on the Sunday Outdoors Page.

Niagara River
All kinds of fish show on the sonar screen, but stained waters and hefty winds make lower Niagara River fishing more a boat ride than a catch contest right now, says Chuck Booker. During an outing with relatives Tuesday, they fought waves around the Niagara Bar and worked drifts along Artpark for a shut-out outing. "You couldn't see your hand just under the water," Booker said of the lack of clarity.

Waters could clear by the weekend and boaters look for better conditions for next week's Niagara River Anglers Association Roger Toby Memorial Steelhead contest Feb. 18. Look for a detailed account on this tourney in the notebook on the outdoors page this Sunday. For entry and format info, check with Steve and Lisa Drabczyk at Creek Road Bait & Tackle in Lewiston (754-2949).

Lake Ontario
Braddock's Bay, Cranberry Pond, Long Pond, Irondequoit Bay, and Sodus Point have opened and offer shore casters some fishing at access sites around the bays and ponds. Most bay areas require a boat, but the weekend freeze might put walkers back on the smaller bodies early next week, says Dan Reagan at Jay-Ve Fishing Tackle in Rochester.

For now, stream walking has been good on most feeders. Clarity is high, levels are fair to slightly below average. But the bite can be good for steelies and browns. Smaller baits sent out on fine, light line increases the hit parade and catch count. xleg

Inland lakes
Boaters have been heading out the north ends of Canandaigua and Seneca lakes for perch runs. Seneca remains open through much of the winter. The Canandaigua run has been the result of mild weather.

Honeoye and Conesus both show open water in spots. Walkers got out on the lower end of Honeoye last week and the boat access at the southeast corner will remain open for ice anglers' access. But reports bar boaters from launch access at most smaller western Finger Lakes and not enough ice formed for walkers to ice fish.

Ice options
Lake Simcoe is the place to go. "The ice is about 15 inches (thick) now and the perch bite is good," said Jerry Kucharchuk at Peninsula Motel (1-800-565-5253). All of his huts are inside the islands (Georgina and Thorah) over about 25-foot depths. Some good ice formed at Cooks Bay and around the narrows at the northwest corner, but open areas above Jackson Point are more open than solid.