Last Tuesday, at the New York Walleye Association monthly meeting, the audience was provided an educating presentation from Tom Marks, who is a director for the Sports Fishing Council among many other positions in the outdoor systems.
Marks talked on a variety of subjects and had more than 15 pages of material to draw from for his presentation. Marks talked about invasive species, which includes the West Nile Virus that was responsible for killing innumerable amounts of birds and about 1,000 people.
Cholera is also an invasive species which killed more than 10,000 people during one outbreak. Some invasive species can be deadly while others might have a positive side effect like the Zebra mussels, which helped clean up Lake Erie's water, but destroyed native species of mussels and tend to clog up water inlets and outboard motors.
OBSERVER Photo by Gene Pauszek
Tom Marks talks about invasive species and wind mills at a recent N.Y. Walleye Association meeting.
Asian carp are in the spotlight now as an invasive species with bighead carp and silver carp the two species of problem fish. These species of fish were probably introduced into catfish ponds to help clean up algae and excessive nutrients. They are very efficient at that, but once they escaped, most likely over 10 years ago, into the surrounding ecosystems, they became a biological pollution, overtaking the native species entirely in the Illinois River to the point that now they are the only species of fish in that watersystem.
Marks stressed that there are two types of pollution - chemical and biological. Chemical pollution can be cleaned up over time. Biological, once it is introduced into an ecosystem, cannot be removed. There has been a lot of publicity about the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes system and the Army Corp of Engineers' 10-year study on the ways to contain the spread, which reportedly is still ongoing and shows no signs of being done anytime soon.
Marks feels that the "electric barrier" will never be effective and that the carp are already in the Great Lakes, but we should still do all we can to prevent more from entering our watersystem. Marks also talked about windmill pros and cons, especially on Lake Erie.
In short, Marks is against windmills in Lake Erie because he reports they are ineffective, high maintenance, dependent on tax credits, production for parts and components is done overseas, they require outside source energy to turn blades when no wind is available to prevent their bearings from going flat and they require an outside heat source to warm blades to prevent ice build up.
There is concern about disturbing lake bottom sediments during construction, thus devastating fish and wildlife spawning areas, the wildlife destruction from the blades, health concerns from infrasound which can travel for miles and cause tinenitus, high blood pressure, etc.
Marks commented that wind power could not survive without tax credits and urges sportsmen to call their politicians to stop the tax credits for wind power. Remember solar power? Many of the companies are now bankrupt according to Marks.
The Westportland Baptist church members are proud to announce that they will host their annual "Sportsmans Dinner" on Friday, Sept. 28. The dinner, which will be a wild game buffet, featuring Moose, swiss steak and other delights, will take place at the Westfield Fire Exempt Hall located on Bourne Street, in Westfield. The dinner will begin at 6 p.m. This year's event will feature Steve Chapman, who is an accomplished hunter, speaker, song writer and an award winning vocalist. Chapman will share his hunting knowledge and experience with the audience and treat you to some of his award-winning songs. The entire event is FREE, but you must make reservations by calling the WPBC at 753-3812. See you there!
Those hunters who would like to participate in the early goose season will need to have a valid small game license or sportsman's license from the 2011-12 time period. They will also need to get the new HIP number by calling 1-888-427-5447.
The Ripley Rod & Gun Club, located off Route 76, in Ripley, will host a two-day archery course, beginning on Sept. 13, from 6-10 p.m., returning on Sept. 15 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Register at the first class.
Ellington Rod & Gun Club, located at Hagendon Hill Road, Ellington, will host a two-day archery course on Sept. 14 from 6-10 p.m., returning on Sept. 15 from 7 a.m. until noon. Must pre-register by calling Neal Frazier at 287- 2120.
Clymer Conservation, located on Route 474, in Clymer, will host an archery course on Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Students must pre-register at the club on Sept. 15 from 8-10 a.m.
Hunter Education Courses (gun) will be held:
On Sept. 18, from 6-9:30 p.m., returning on Sept. 20 from 6-9:30 p.m. and ending on Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Ripley Rod & Gun Club located off Route 76, Ripley. Register at the first class.
On Sept. 19 from 5:45 p.m. until 10 p.m., returning on Sept. 22 from 7:45 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Carroll Rod & Gun Club, located on Frew Run Road, Frewsburg. Students must pre-register at the club on Sept. 15 from from 10 a.m. until noon.
On Sept. 19-20 from 5-10 p.m. both days at the Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club located on Mullet St. Dunkirk. Students must pre-register at the club on Sept. 5 from 6-8 p.m. NOTE: This course like many of the other sites is limited to 40 students only and fills up fast, so check the other locations and dates as a back up.
On Sept. 21 from 6-10 p.m., returning on Sept. 22 from 8 a.m. until done at the Harmony Conservation Club located on Route 474, Panama. Students must pre-register by e mail: firstname.lastname@example.org
On Sept. 21 from 6-10 p.m., returning Sept. 22 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Falconer Rod & Gun Club located on Buffalo Street Extension, Falconer. Students must pre-register on Sept. 7 from 6-7 p.m. at the club.
*Correction The Northern Chautauqua Conservation Club will host a trapping course Sept. 15 from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Students should bring a lunch.
Falconer Rod & Gun Club located on the Buffalo Street Extension in Falconer, is scheduled to host a trapping course on Sept. 26 & 28 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. Both days. Two day attendance necessary for certification.
The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club is scheduled for a two day trapping course on October 18 & 19 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. You must pre-register by phone by calling Roger Witt at 595-3418.
The Bear Lake Rod & Gun Club will host 3-D archery shoots on Sept. 2, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.
Ray Marks will be offering a six-week fly-fishing course starting Wednesday, Sept. 19, from 6:30-9 p.m. The course will cover the basics of fly fishing, casting, flies to use, where to fish, etc. Contact Marks at 549-1977, or enroll by calling Lake Shore Community Education at 926-2210.
Fly tying classes will resume on Monday evenings from 6-8 p.m. starting Sept. 10 at the Sinclairville Free Library. Classes will continue until May. Called "Country Kids on the Fly" the group allows anyone aged 8-100 to learn how to tie their own fishing flies. All tools and materials are provided free. Adults are welcome and encouraged to tie flies also so fly fishing can become a family hobby. Parents must accompany their kids to the first class as important papers will need to be filled out. For more information call 962-3635 or 485-3919 or log on www.countrykidsonthefly.blogspot.com.
The Gowanda Chamber of Commerce will be hosting its annual Fall Fishing Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 20, in Cattaraugus Creek. Sign in gets under way at 5 a.m. at the Gowanda Moose Club, located on Aldrich Street. The tournament begins at sunrise and is a catch and release event following DEC rules and regulations, with tournament personnel on site to measure and weigh-in the catch. There will be awards, door prizes and food for the participants at the Moose Club after 3:30 p.m. For more information, log on to www.gowandanychamber.org, or call 532-2834 or 532-2288.
Gene Pauszek is an OBSERVER outdoors columnist. Send comments to email@example.com.