FYI, some of us attended the Upper Mississippi Refuge CCP meeting in Winona last night. The Refuge Manager, Don Hultman, did a short power point presentation that hit on some overview and history and then a few of the Hot-topic issues that have arisen from the CCP. Trapping, Closed duck areas, beach and alcohol use, dogs and how boat traffic disrupts the fall rafting flocks of ducks. No presentations on fishing, tournaments or the “solitude issues” that seem to be driving the access/use problems that we have with the CCP.
One of their main objectives seems to be creating more duck sanctuary areas, spaced more uniformly apart from each other, and then working to create habitat that would provide more food sources, this sounds good for ducks. But it would restrict both Sport and Commercial fishermen, a reasonable solution would be to create some boating lanes through these areas that would allow access. If they would dredge and create these boat lanes, I think fishermen would have fewer issues with some closed and electric trolling motor areas they propose.
During the question and Answer period, I had a chance to ask about why Bass Boats where included in the CCP’s repeated references to Jet skis, Bass boats, Airboats and Hydrofoils. Mr. Hultman first claimed that the plan didn’t lump these together, but when I read passages directly from the plan, he had no comment. I also pointed out that most bass boats where using their electric trolling motors in the backwaters areas and seem to get some validation from them about this. One attendee did complain about “tournament fishermen with those 200-250 motors running from spot to spot. And he gave an example of being out on Lake Pepin in heavy fog and having boats running a little to close for comfort, near him.
I also asked about the CCP’s call for Tournament permits and I pointed out that we already use State permits, his response was that he saw the CCP moving toward being the coordinating agency between the states, so tournaments would be issued permits on the same pools, at the same time by Border States. This seems reasonable, but in the “D” plan option a reduction of tournaments was called for. He also alluded to tournaments numbering over 250 and rising, he made it sound like a Capitol One commercial, as if we tournament guys where showing up in Viking ships, raiding and plundering the River towns.
I wish I would have had more time to discuss these issues; they seem to be concerned about tournaments obtaining financial gain from refuge resources. And it is slightly true that a tournament organizer might make $10-$12 per boat, but the real financial gain is to the Communities along the River, the restaurants, motels, gas stations, bait stores, outboard motor parts and repair shops. Ironically the big user of the refuge who makes enourmous profits from it is the big barge and shipping companies. Yet I don’t see how they are being asked to contribute to the Refuge in the CCP.
I also would have like to discuss just how the refuge views tournaments, I don’t know if they recognize that we are talking about a very large group of committed anglers, practicing the best conservation they can, using catch and release so as to not to harm the resource, self-imposing very strict rules of boat safety, ethic and sportsmanship on each other. I fear we are being seen as detractors from the Refuge experience, when we in fact may be their best friend.
Next Case Please!
