The clean boat act

I don't have a boat yet, but this is an important issue for ANYONE who even might boat someday. I'm copying this from this post at Fish Erie, all links included. The pasted portion is between the lines.
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This is a New Bill re-worded, AND also to exempt CHARTER BOATS, CAPTAINS GET ON THIS.

What are the differences in the bills?

Both HR 2550 and S. 2067 articulate the definition of a recreational boat and then exempt recreational boats from the permit requirement of the Clean Water Act.

The new bill, S. 2766, includes all that language, with two additions. Charter boats are exempted from the permit and there is a three year, three part framework to determine if any management practices should be required.




March 19, 2008

Dear BoatUS Member,

We need your help now to pass NEW federal legislation in the Senate that would provide a permanent exemption for recreational boats from the upcoming EPA discharge permit requirement. Remember that if we don't get legislation passed, we all need to get EPA permits to operate our boats effective 9/30/08!

We appreciate the time that many of you have already taken to let your Senators or Representatives know your support of S. 2067 or HR 2550 "The Recreational Boating Act of 2007." Now there is a new Senate Bill #2766 "The Clean Boating Act of 2008", which is more politically viable, and our best chance to eliminate the permit requirement before it comes in effect on September 30, 2008.

Please pick up the phone or email today and ask your Senators to sponsor and vote YES for S 2766. Although Congress is on recess this week and next, we need their staff to hear from us so that this bill can move as soon as the Senators are back in Washington.
For more information:
http://www.boatus.com/gov/alert_0308.asp
Background
What's the timing?
Why a new bill?
What are the differences in the bills?
What does S 2766 include?
View a copy of the bill
Speaking points
To contact your Senators electronically

Thanks for your ongoing help with this issue.

Margaret Podlich
Vice President, Government Affairs
BoatUS
GovtAffairs@BoatUS.com
703-461-2878 x8355

What people need to understand is that if the new version of the bill is not passed ALL BOATERS will have to buy an EPA permit that could cost $800.00 or more. The EPA does not have a choice. As the law is written right now they MUST create a permitting system for ALL boats by September of this year. Obviously this will cripple the boating industry as well as recreation. Time is running out!

Watch the video:

http://www.boattest.com/nmma.aspx

Contact your members of congress:

http://www.rallycongress.com/boattest-dotcom/1064

http://www.boatblue.org/takeaction.aspx

It takes probably less than 5 minutes to login and make your voices heard.
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Read thoroughly, and make an informed decision!

Catching a 200 pound stingray

My biggest fish so far was a 16 pound Carp. I can't even imagine the fight of a nearly 200 pound stingray, but this guy can:

When remembering today about the amazing tug of war we had with this "barn door size" stingray , I find myself in total admiration about the unbelievable strength it displayed during six hours before giving up. It is absolutely out of this world. We hooked up this 200 pounder at the Bang Pakong River. It then tracted us for miles like you cannot imagine, taking us next to the Nakorn Nayok River, then to the Prachinburi River, then back to the Bang Pakong River again, to be finally landed at the Nakorn Nayok River.

Now this sounds like a whole lotta fun!

Every man has a giant

My name is Mark, and I have a problem.

Every man has his giant.

Captain Ahab had Moby Dick. Steve Fawcett had his insatiable need for adventure. Rocky Balboa had his relative ignorance, and I have a giant too. Something I face that haunts me at every turn, that greets me not long after I wake, visits me throughout the day, and sometimes visits me in my dreams. It is the thing which I have to conquer.

My giant...is fishing.

To be honest, I have to concentrate on keeping it from becoming an obsession, and it isn't easy. Right now as I sit before my laptop, I know that there are Hybrid Stripers over ten pounds swimming within 2 miles of where I am. I know that I have what it takes to catch them, and I know that there are bigger fish swimming in the same waters. I know what the wind feels like on my face as my eyes begin to water from the breeze, and the anticipation of waiting for that first strike, and the next.

I know that within 45 minutes I could be on some of the best panfish water in the state of Pennsylvania, and most of my favorite spots on that lake are spots that I've never seen anyone else fish right, and I can slip in there and catch fish right under their noses.

I know where the Flatheads swim.

It gets to me. Those days where someone outfishes me and it takes me until just before I have to leave to break the code. Then I go back and the next time that method doesn't work. I must learn to break the code faster.

I get nervous every time I get to waist deep while wading, yet I've watched guys zoom past me until they are nearly up to their armpits in the water, yet continue to cast. Not that I think that's particularly safe (or smart) but when it gets quiet, and I'm in weeds up to my thighs, water up to my pockets, I wish I could be crazy like those guys and stop wondering what's going to pop up next to me (it's happened) or if a Snapping Turtle is going to decide to sample me (it nearly happened: thankfully it was clear water.).

I need to slay that giant.

I can't do a great Roll Cast with my fly rod. I can't use a bait caster reel at all. There are people who are better fishermen than I, who tie better flies than I, tie better knots than I, who get a perfect circle in their cast net nearly every time...

There's something in me that wants to do everything involved in sport fishing and to eventually perfect every aspect of it.

As long as there is even one part of fishing that I haven't conquered, it will be a giant looming over me, casting its shadow across my point of view. Whispering in my ear that I have failed to do something...and it wins again. Every time I try to adjust the lip of a Rapala and it makes no difference, I'll know my giant is there. When I catch only a single White Bass and I'm using minnows, I know it's there.

My giant is fishing itself, but if I am careful and don't let it beat me, don't let it come between me and what's important, instead letting it push me just enough to get better all the time, one day my giant will fall.

On that day I wonder if I'll laugh or cry?

Larry Dahlberg "Panfish and Bass fly fishing basics" DVD review

Panfish and Bass fly fishing basics

I found out after watching this DVD twice that it was copyrighted back in 2003, but I just saw it for the first time about a month ago at the local Sportsman's Warehouse and decided to pick it up. I've been looking for just the right fly-fishing/fly-tying video, and I thought this one was it. Turns out it isn't what I expected, but everything it proclaims itself to be!

This is an outstanding video for the beginner fly fisher. Released by Scientific Anglers and a scant 58 minutes in length, "Panfish and Bass fly fishing basics" by Larry Dahlberg packs all the punch of his regular tv series "The Hunt for Big Fish". It begins with the "bloop-bloop-bloop" of a large Dahlberg Diver (the diving fly made of deer hair which was popularized by mr. Dahlberg) working the nerves of a soon revealed Peacock bass. We then see several tropical species before settling in on the North American fish we've come to see.

The first segment, "Panfish" begins by demonstrating the natural curiosity of the average panfish, as Larry tosses first a cricket, then the chewing gum he was just chewing, into the water. The fish grab both, showing just what a great starter they are for the beginning fly fisher. He goes on to explain the importance of insects in the diet of these fish and why that makes the fly fishing approach not only appropriate but extremely effective.

He continues on to explain the where, when, why and how of finding the fish on any body of water, including coverage techniques to make the most of your time on the water. Subtle things of which to take note, like the composition of the bottom, are clearly noted. There is video a a great double on a two fly rig, and this segment (as well as the entire DVD) is replete with the classic Dahlberg slo-mo and extreme close up views, making catching a Bluegill seem like the most exciting thing ever!

There is plenty of underwater footage of not only the fish but also the flies in action, and best of all there is no shortage of what other fly fishing shows seem almost to avoid: shots of the actual take! Personally speaking, this is the most exciting moment of the fishing show for me, and while our hardware throwing brethren realized long ago that their viewers love seeing the moment of the strike, somehow fly fishing producers find that to be a definite negotiable and I just don't get it. In fact, later in the DVD in a bonus section on Northern pike is the most incredible fly take I have ever seen in video, when a Pike comes almost vertically from below a fly and it's jaws snap shut over it like some scene from a Godzilla movie where the giant lizard eats a boat!

In this segment mr. Dahlberg performs an effective demonstration to show the physics behind casting with a fly line vs. casting any other way, showing how the weight of the line provides the power. this leads us into a segment on Largemouth bass which reiterates the crossover facts from bluegills, plus gives a where, when, why, how on the techniques and conditions for catching this larger cousin. He mentions that hsi favorite flies for hunting mr. Bucketmouth are the diver, popper, slider and skipper, and demonstrates each.

From here we go to casting instruction. Declaring stroke and timing to be the highest priority issues involved in casting, he uses a small wooded dog with bright orange wheels to demonstrate with tremendous clarity the role of timing. (You have to see it to believe it.)

From here he launches into casting instruction that includes the best videography of good and bad casting that I've seen to date. Demonstating hauling, roll casting, false casting, line control and other important factors in making your fish catching experience all it can be, I truly believe that a person could watch, pause, try, repeat and master all the basic casts. Mr. Dahlberg takes great pains to note the benefit of practicing in your backyard before even considering going near water! If you have a portable DVD player, this would be where it earns its' keep. take it outside with you as you practice.

The next segment covered is Smallmouth Bass fishing in rivers. This segment contains more great video of casting techniques and goes into boat control, detailed fish location and how to thoroughly work a pool.
While the topics are well covered, drift control is inexplicably left out. Perhaps more important to the trout fisherman, I think it does come into play at time with Smallmouth, especially when fishing a mayfly hatch. Otherwise another great segment.

Our next topic is knots, and this segment gives up close presentations of how to tie the accepted, effective knots going from tying the line to the reel all the way down to the tippet/fly connection. I was surprised to not hear a reminder of wetting the knot before tightening, a reminder I think should always be made.

From here is a brief tying segment which showed how to tie mr. Dahlbergs' favorite panfish fly, the Black Gnat, and one of his Dahlberg Divers. This segment would be best suited for someone who has already begun tying. It goes by very quickly and you'd need to know the basics of tying first. Though if you do, it'll be pretty simple to follow and make these two flies.

The last segment is on Northern Pike, and really seems more like a chance just to show another fish, as details are few. There isn't a plan given on where or when to find them on a given body of water, and more tackle details would've helped.

I am admittedly a Larry Dahlberg fan, that's what influenced me to buy this DVD in the first place. Still, for the beginning (1st or 2nd...even 3rd year) fly fisher who hasn't taken any classes, this video is an outstanding tutorial. Mr. Dahlbergs passion is evident, his instruction clear, and the video shows all. The experienced fly fisher may find that parts of the casting segment drag a bit, but I can recommend this DVD even for you because one day you'll wanna teach others how to fly fish, and even if you are already an effective teacher, (and especially if you aren't!) this DVD will add to your ability to teach.

For it's purpose, teaching the basics of fly fishing for bass and panfish, I give "Panfish and Fly Fishing Basics" a 10 out of 10. I paid $17.99 for it.