D.E.C. help Bass Log for Lake O.

[larry]

Got this email the other day and thought I'd pass it along since it will benefit many on this site to help with data collection for Lake Ontario small mouth bass that is currently non-existent.

Hi All:

Please see the attached announcement about a bass diary program that we are initiating for Lake Ontario, embayments, and tributaries. I'd like to ask for your help in recruiting cooperating diary keepers. Please feel free to distribute it widely. We will also be sending it out via the new DEC Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resource's list server, "Field Notes" http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/63801.html , and it is posted on the DEC website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/65533.html .

WANTED: Lake Ontario Bass Anglers

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is recruiting volunteer bass anglers to participate in a Lake Ontario Black Bass Angler Diary Program. This program was initiated to provide NYSDEC with valuable information on fishing quality experienced by anglers targeting smallmouth and largemouth bass in Lake Ontario, its embayments, and tributaries to the first impassable barrier, as well as biological characteristics of bass caught. The intent of this program is to gain additional insight into the recent declining trend in fishing effort and quality among Lake Ontario’s bass anglers as determined from the NYSDEC Lake Ontario Fishing Boat Survey (http://www.dec.ny.gov/docs/fish_marine_ ... 8sec02.pdf ) which surveys boats fishing in all of the lake’s New York waters outside of the eastern basin.

Information on the status of the lake’s bass population status is limited to the eastern basin waters (1976-2009 gillnetting assessments) and the Pultneyville area on the south shore (1976-1979, 2000-2001, 2007 gillnetting assessments). The cause(s) for recent declines in fishing quality are not fully understood, nor is the current status of the bass population. NYSDEC wants to learn more about bass in Lake Ontario and its embayments. In 2010, NYSDEC will conduct netting surveys along the south shore to determine the relative abundance of bass and population characteristics (e.g. age structure and growth). The angler diary program will enhance our understanding of Lake Ontario’s bass fishery.

The diary program will begin at the start of the traditional open season on June 19, 2010 and end on September 30, 2010. The diary program will be conducted annually.

Anglers interested in participating can send name, address, and e-mail address to [email protected] . A NYSDEC biologist will contact each participant and provide him/her with instructions on how to collect needed information and a NYSDEC Angler Diary in which the participant would record fishing activity (e.g. date, time, location, length of each bass kept and released) for each trip. See an example from a page of the diary, below. At the end of the season each participant will return their diary to NYSDEC. After the data has been compiled, each participant would receive a report of the diary program results.

Matt

Matt Sanderson

Sr. Aquatic Biologist

NYSDEC

Region 8 Bureau of Fisheries

585-226-5341

[email protected]

[BlueEye]

Thanks for posting this Pa. I got the same email and forgot to put it up.