Conservation Conservation Forum http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:51:37 +0000 0 Kankakee River Film Tour http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7014 We set off with 3 boats around 5 a.m. for a 10 hour day of filming, fishing, eating and great conversation regarding the river....and the life of good 'ol boys on the river in Indiana. One is a full-time trapper. You don't find too many like him any longer.
We first made the rounds bringing in the limb lines set out the night before by my boat mates. A nice flathead cat was brought in from this.
Fishing saw another real nice channel cat, some LM bass and big bluegills.
Lunch consisted of grilling on the 24 ft. duck barge. Kankakee River frog legs, stuffed peppers and pirogies...doesn't get any better than that.

Interestingly, all fish were released- even the limb line ones.

Saw a bald eagle, otters, muskrats, turkey vultures feating on a dead deer in the river...you name it. Wildlife all around.

The most fun I've had on a river in years, and for a great cause.....documenting a real treasure that is in real trouble.

More photos:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=194266&id=823017807&l=0caa0db588

[IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u289/Claymation_2007/k3film024.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u289/Claymation_2007/k3film008.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u289/Claymation_2007/k3film014.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u289/Claymation_2007/k3film023.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u289/Claymation_2007/k3film005.jpg[/IMG]]]> Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:54:49 +0000 http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7014 Just when things were starting to look good http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7008 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 21:24:07 +0000 http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=7008 Kish Clean up on a Bi weekly basis http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6992
This summer i have joined a very good and always growing number of friends on float trips, the Kish being as clear and floatable as it is it really lends itself to great days spent on waters with friends. I have over the past few weekends parked my innertube in the dead middle of my group and nicely pointed out what a beautiful river it is as we pass through some of the prettier sections along the 5 miles we float. This has quickly gained their appreciation even as non fisherman for the river it is.

The last two trips we have also NICELY preached to groups besides ours about making sure beer and pop cans go back into the coolers after they have been consumed.

But what you will really see if you were to watch our group(last trip was 21 people on sunday)was our all day efforts to pick up all trash left by everybody as we see it. As we passed it it dissappeared into trash bags and every forest preserve we emptied and refilled again.

I am going to share a picture that yes i was very upset about when i saw it but very happy when we were done fixing it. All the contents of the bags im holding was only HALF of what we pulled out of one deep hole that current had dug behind a boulder. This rock is directly across from the Espenchied FP canoe launch. Judging from the condition of the cans(some new and some not so new) they had been accumulating for a few weeks if not longer.

In closing i am going to add that myself and another guy from my group are building a 4x4 floating platform that will serve as a garbage barge for future river tubing runs to help the ease of clean up efforts. We will be floating again in two weekends(july 31st).

We are also going to hopefully bring more camera's to show the clean up efforts. Like i said i used to be dead against this, but the response is pretty cool from onlookers who witness us not only tubing and partying along with them but more so watching us haul the cans dropped by others. I think it's beggining to rub off on others, we are not shy about telling somebody they lost a beer can and could you please pick it up! They get off easy, people from our group that drops something they get dunked!

It would be really cool if somehow we could get t-shirts or swim shorts with something written on the back stating that we are doing this and WATCHING THEM!

]]> Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:08:28 +0000 http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6992 ISA Signs Support For Wetlands Protection http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6977 The ISA is a representative in this effort.

Everyone,

Thanks very much to all of you for signing on to our letter asking our representatives to support wetlands protection by supporting the America’s Commitment to Clean Water Act. I faxed and mailed letters to all 19 Representatives on Monday. I’ve attached one of the letters – they are all identical except for the addressee. Let me know if you want copies of any of the others.

Thanks also to Jan of NWF for drafting the letter and making the 19 versions of it!!

Glynnis
________________________________________
Glynnis Collins
Executive Director
Prairie Rivers Network (217) 344-2371 ph
1902 Fox Drive, Suite G (217) 344-2381 fax
Champaign, IL 61820 www.prairierivers.org

 Bean_Illinois ACCWA Sportsmen Letter_07 9 10x.pdf (37.11K)
: 4]]> Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:09:02 +0000 http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6977 USDA Decision to Release Open Fields Funds http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6963 I wonder how it meshes with a state like ours that currently offers no protections from liability for anything but hunting and shooting.

The plot thickens, huh?
I wonder if this will be "in addition to" efforts to get the Act changed...or "instead of".
One would think we are going forward with the legislative action when legislature reconvenes.

Sportsmen Praise USDA Decision to Release Open Fields Funds


Open Fields is the first federal landowner incentive program of its kind to enhance access for hunting and fishing.

The TRCP praised a decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release funding for the "Open Fields" Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program, a new effort to encourage owners and operators of privately held farm, ranch and forest lands to provide public access to their lands for wildlife-dependent activities such as hunting and fishing.

Open Fields was authorized by Congress for the first time in the 2008 Farm Bill following tenacious support by members of a TRCP-sponsored coalition. The TRCP has been frustrated by delays in the USDA finalizing the regulations but is optimistic that the program now can be implemented expeditiously so sportsmen and landowners can benefit beginning this year.



Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement at a July 8 national press conference, at which other speakers included representatives from the TRCP, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Pheasants Forever.




"Open Fields is the first federal landowner incentive program of its kind to enhance access for hunting and fishing - and has been a flagship issue for the TRCP since our group's inception," said TRCP President and CEO Whit Fosburgh, who spoke at the event. "This announcement by the federal government is an unqualified victory for fish and wildlife conservation and our hunting and fishing traditions."



Open Fields provides states $50 million in federal monies to create or enhance voluntary hunter-access programs on private lands and encourages landowners who enroll their properties to employ best-management practices for fish and wildlife. Landowners can receive a financial incentive in exchange for opening lands to the public for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation.


"This program will not only help achieve conservation goals, but also increase opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation by providing greater access to privately held lands for wildlife-dependent recreation," said Vilsack.]]> Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:57:05 +0000 http://illinoissmallmouthalliance.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=6963