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Legislative Update May 07
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Conservation Article TBF

Each chapter of the NH Bass Federation must conduct at least one conservation/environmental project per year and one youth project in order to remain a chapter in good standing and to participate in the STQT Tournament of Champions. Many bass clubs have trouble coming up with worthwhile ideas. Outlined below is a “menu” of potential projects.

1. Electrofishing and scale sampling with Fisheries Biologist.

2. Planning and placement of artificial (or natural) structure in selected water bodies. F&G would like to start with a pilot project in the Monadnock region – especially a lake of about 200 acres.

3. This project might also be done in conjunction with the construction of fishing piers whereby the structure would be placed within an easy cast of the dock. In this case the structure might be artificial in nature so the children and seniors don't loose too much terminal tackle due to wood or brush snags.

4. Sampling fish for mercury & dioxin content – send tissue samples into State lab.

5. Since bass anglers are known to fish almost every foot of shoreline, they are in an excellent position to be the first to spot the early invasion of exotic weeds such as fanwort and Eurasian Milfoil. These areas can be noted with GPS coordinates or use of a special marker buoy provided by DES. When detected early, there is a very good chance to stop the invasion in its tracks. The club might then work with DES to either hand harvest the exotic weeds or otherwise eradicate them. This would also endear us to the local lakes association as "good guys". We need all the good PR we can get.

6. Milfoil prevention programs -- there is a Lake Host program that a bass club could participate in.

7. For those lakes that do not already have a local group that is doing regular water quality sampling, one of our clubs could receive basic training by DES to do this.

8. Early detection of erosion or pollution problems

9. A bass club could "adopt" a water body and monitor all the above plus provide trash containers with the bass clubs name on it at the boat landing.

10. Beautify a ramp with some plantings of a hardy type plant to help hold down erosion. Tiger lily work well and attract bugs for fish food.

11. Build and place Loon nesting platforms.

12. What other ideas do you have?

For those bass clubs looking for a great youth project, you may want to consider the below:

1. Teach water ecology to school kids

2. Get involved in the F&G “Let’s Go Fishing” program and teach kids and their parents how to fish.

3. Help us (we really need boaters) take the children with diabetes fishing up on Merrymeeting Lake on August 2. We usually launch our boats at 7:00 AM and fish on our own for some of the BIG smallies on this crystal clear lake, then we pick up half of the children at the Camp Carefree dock at 9:00. At noon we have lunch and catch a few more bass. Then at about 1:15 we take the other half of the kids out to fish. Please call me or send an e-mail if a number of your club members would like to do this.

Please let me know if I can assist you in any way.

Please send me email me @ d-smith@worldpath.net as to your initial plans for a conservation project this year. No one expects you to have all the details hammered out right now . . . just give us an idea of what you think you’d like to do and who your main conservation contact person is.

Expect the Best,
Dick Smith.