Fishing:Group casts net for future anglers

By Martin Armstrong
Special Correspondent
Posted: 02/01/2009 01:30:55 AM EST






A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the Future Fisherman Foundation and all of the wonderful work they are doing to introduce youngsters to the great sport of fishing. Last week, the Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society (BASS) announced it has joined the National Youth Marine Alliance (NYMA) as an allied member in an effort to create a greater awareness and level of participation in outdoors opportunities for youth. This relationship was created with the goal of cultivating new and additional resources to increase youth participation.
The NYMA, established in 2007, will collaborate with BASS to raise public awareness in providing programs, campaigns and initiatives to target kids. Additionally, the NYMA will help identify grant opportunities to the BASS Federation Nation youth programs and identify other platforms for BASS to distribute youth collateral materials. Collectively this outreach will identify pathways for parents and children to participate in recreational water activities in local communities.

"It's extremely rewarding to have been a part of the steering committee that shaped the mission and vision of the NYMA," said Stacy Twiggs, senior manager, BASS Federation Youth. "We are able to connect the efforts of the BASS Federation Nation with other allied organizations to work in conjunction for youth outdoors participation and growth."

Since 1983, BASS has provided programs through the BASS Federation Nation for children to learn about conservation, natural resources, fishing and competition through the Junior Bassmasters, including the introduction of CastingKids in 1991.


"This new relationship with BASS will help the NYMA to reach a broader audience of youth nationwide," said Tom Griffin, executive director, NYMA. "Together we can help to encourage our youth to get outdoors for fun and learning. The core principals of BASS youth programs are to teach stewardship of our resources and to help build a love for the outdoors through recreational fishing."
The National Youth Marine Alliance represents a diverse group of organizations that bring water based education and recreational opportunities to our nation's youth. The NYMA, located in Washington D.C., is a not for profit organization and operates for the benefit of the public good. Its purpose is to provide information on access to water based programs and services to all youth and to the public. The NYMA believes that all children should have the opportunity to enjoy the water for recreation and education and in turn learn to be good stewards of this great natural resource. For more information on the NYMA visit www.goblue4kids.org.
For 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on freshwater bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. BASS also publishes Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and has a web presence at Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com.

Circle Tuesday Feb. 10 on your calendar. The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited is planning a very interesting program for its regular monthly meeting.
Travel consultant and fly fishing guide Rob Nicholas will give a presentation called 'Fly Fishing in Argentina'. If you have always dreamed of challenging Argentinean trout this is program is one you really don't want to miss. Nicholas will begin with a broad overview of the seasons, equipment and flies you will need. Then he gets down to specifics. He will detail the best regions and rivers to help you plan - or dream - about your once-in-a-lifetime trip.
Once you have gotten a taste of fishing in the Andes you will want to visit Nicholas' exciting website www.anglingintheandes.com.
The Mianus Chapter of Trout Unlimited meets at Waveny Mansion in New Canaan. The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The public is invited and there is no charge for the event. For directions or more information go to the club's website at www.mianustu.org.

Last week we gave some ice fishing safety tips. One tip we didn't mention, and perhaps should of, is to be aware if the ice seems to be rising.

Pete Miller, and his brother, Chris, were fishing on the West Branch in New York last Thursday. When they trekked out on the ice they noted that the water and ice level seemed a bit higher than normal. They fished anyway and caught several smelt and perch using fatheads. Eventually they decided to try another spot and picked up their gear to go elsewhere. Oops. While they were fishing, the ice and water level increased by about six inches. When they were about 10 feet or so from the waters' edge they found thin ice. Needless-to-say, the dry clothing that they brought with them was put to good use.

Also on the ice at West Branch last Thursday was Joe Horvath. He caught a couple of meals worth of 6 to 7-inch smelt using fatheads and apparently had no trouble getting off the ice.
Pete Miller and his buddy, Marcin, fished at a private pond in South Salem, N.Y. last Tuesday. They caught and released lots of fish but the catch of the day was a fish they could not pull through the ice. Marcin hooked a pike that was so big they could not pull it through the 7-inch hole in the ice. After several attempts the toothy pike chopped its way through the line.

The folks at Fisherman's World reported that Bill Donovan took his kids, Eddie and Dale, fishing at a private pond in Fairfield. Using tip ups and jigs they caught bass, pickerel and perch. Their largest fish was a 3-pound largemouth.

Here are a couple of notices from the DEP.
The DEP's annual Family Ice Fishing Derby is scheduled for Saturday, January 31st, 8 am to 11 am at Patriot's Park on Coventry Lake (Lake Wangumbaug), Lake Street, Coventry. Graduates of the C.A.R.E's ice fishing classes and their families are invited.

Recently the DEP has received a number of questions concerning the use of gaffs to help bring fish in through the ice. Currently, there is no specific prohibition on the use of a gaff in the freshwater regulations (except for striped bass). However, note that a gaff cannot be used to actually capture the fish as fish must be taken by the legal methods as listed for that species in the Angler's Guide (also note that spearing is prohibited for most species). Also, any fish that is not "legal" (due to length or quantity restrictions) must be "...without avoidable injury, immediately returned to the water from which taken." So using a gaff on a fish that can't be legally kept (examples include a 30 inch pike at Bantam in January, or a large trout when you are already in possession of your limit for trout) would be considered as inflicting avoidable harm on the fish, and would be a violation. Considering the above, it would generally be best to avoid use of gaffs.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/sports/ci_11602193