Below is some information on SEMSA that I requested and Mark was very kind to furnish me this and I would like to share it with you. The smallmouth fishing regulations to help create a top quality fishery in our own area is being attacked. Here is the info from SEMSA:
In light of recent anti-conservation campaigns being waged by the Public Anglers Coalition (PAC),
we have received requests from numerous individuals asking for more information about the
Southeastern Minnesota Smallmouth Alliance (SEMSA), our work efforts, and how to save
quality angling on the Zumbro River. Attached is a synopsis of who SEMSA is, what we do,
where we meet, how you can join, status of the current situation involving the Zumbro River, and
what you can do to help save quality angling regulations. First, the situation involving the
Zumbro River:
Although a majority of people favor the C&R regulation on the Zumbro ( evidence is clear based
on multiple MN DNR public input meeting and angler creel surveys conducted through many
years), it appears this majority voice must once again be heard loud and clear as we move
forward to preserve our quality Zumbro angling for the future. Specifically, the Public Anglers
Coalition (PAC) wants to have the special regulations on the Zumbro eliminated. The PAC claims
their interests, (and their interests alone !) reflect the interests of the local angling public. With
this misinformation PAC is attempting to eliminate the C&R regulations by circumventing the legal
public input process by soliciting local legislators to enact a bill reversing the regulation. In
effect, PAC wants a process that eliminates a diverse and democratic public input forum process
in favor of gathering legislative support for their interests to overrule the MN DNR decision
making process on matters of clear DNR jurisdiction. Recent information from the PAC also
indicates that they wish to eliminate other extremely important regulations that are significant to
ensure quality SMB angling as well. This information includes opposition to the statewide fall
C&R season for SMB, and other C&R regulations present on bodies of water such as Lake Mille
Lacs. Elimination of these regulations would clearly set back SMB conservation several
decades ! The Southeastern MN Smallmouth Alliance and its many allies (TU. MTA, etc…)
strongly opposes these activities, as should any conservation-minded angler wishing to create
and preserve a legacy of quality fishing for our children and the future. Our collective voice
opposing PAC efforts must be heard by contacting our local legislators and the MN DNR. For
more information on how to do this, you can contact me (Mark Hoffmeyer) at the email address
shown in this note. Now, a bit about SEMSA:
The Southeastern Minnesota Smallmouth Alliance (SEMSA) conservation core team meets
monthly in Rochester at Whistle Binkies off of 37th St NE & Broadway, on the 3rd Monday of
every month (across the Street from Shopko & the Chateau Theatre). We usually have a bite at 6
then have our meeting at 7PM. Send me an email if you would like to stop by and meet some of
us in person.
Below is a detailed synopsis of who we are, and what we do: First, keep in mind that advocating
presence and implementation of special regulations on a fraction of our waters is only a small
segment of our work…. SEMSA provides a variety of activities, conservation based work, and
community services as well…. these activities are all volunteer efforts, and we welcome your
interest and support. Here are some specifics:
Established in 2001 by an active group of concerned SE MN anglers, the Southeastern
Minnesota Smallmouth Alliance (SEMSA) shares common principles with other local, state,
and regional Smallmouth Alliance chapters, and places a mission specific emphasis on
conservation, habitat preservation, angler education, and related work efforts involving
enhancement of quality angling opportunities for our priceless SE MN smallmouth bass (SMB)
watersheds. Several SEMSA conservation work efforts have been established since 2001 that
include the following:
1) we provide specific in-classroom and stream side sports biology education efforts in local
Rochester high schools – specifically, we provide a class segment on SE MN warm water angling
resources, identifying the watersheds, their geology & general watershed characteristics, the
general biology of SMB, and then go through some details about fishing for smallies using spin
and flyfishing techniques. We then spend additional time teaching the students how make
homemade spinners, lures, and flies for smallmouth bass, and frequently go out on stream-side
field trips with them as part of these sports biology classes. In some instances we also have had
the students participate in hook and line sampling studies to gain better understanding of
smallmouth populations and size distributions in our local waters, and along with similar efforts
from other volunteers, roll this information into a presentation and report package for the MN DNR
(see point 2). Since the inception of this volunteer program in 2003, we have provided this
education segment to over 800 sports biology students in 3 local high schools. We’re
always interested in expanding this effort as well.
2) we provide on stream/river volunteer biological survey work on our SE MN streams and
provide feedback to the MN DNR concerning SMB abundance, growth rates, size distribution &
general health/habitat of these waters including various sections of the Root & Zumbro River
Drainages. By providing this feedback along with ongoing volunteer study, then coupling this work
with inputs from conservation minded individuals, we use the aggregate info. in a long term effort
that focuses on habitat preservation, and improved angler awareness of SMB resources to drive
a proliferation of quality SMB angling opportunities. This effort includes advocacy and public input
that favors regulations to optimize smallmouth size distributions in some of our SE MN waters
(see next point).
3) we advocate that our SE MN streams and rivers should have a menu of regulations that reflect
a diversity of angling preferences. We believe SOME sections of our waters should have
regulations that reflect C&R angler ethics to ensure quality angling for the future. This diversity
can be presence of total C&R regulations on a portion of waters to promote formation of trophy
fisheries (ie the current C&R regulation on the Zumbro) , to examination of slot limit regulations
on some reaches of other SE MN moving waters to restrict extent of harvest and ensure
quality/consistency & preservation. We believe these types special regulations merit further
consideration on some reaches of other SE MN streams, including SE MN waters that have
significant stretches of good habitat, and some tributraries that are extremely fragile and
possess limited stretches of good smallmouth habitat. We view this work as critical, especially
given that smallmouth bass grow slow (4-5 yrs to reach 12 in), are vulnerable to overharvest, and
general MN angling regulations/bag limits for smallmouth bass haven’t changed in 70 years.
Moreover, although most people practice catch & release of SMB, of the 400+ miles of SE MN
rivers that possess smallmouth bass, only 12 miles of the Zumbro river (a mere 3% of our SE
MN waters) are actually managed with quality angling regulations that reflect conservation
minded angler ethics and fishing practices.
4) We work with local groups concerned with watershed management to provide input on how we
should plan to preserve our waters in the face of urban sprawl and other human influences and
activities that can degrade water quality.
5) We belong to the MN State “Adopt a River” program, and are keepers of the Zumbro river
stretching from the power dam to Zumbro falls. As part of this program, we try to keep the
shores of the Zumbro river clean via an annual canoe trip (weather/warer conditions permitting),
and remove ALOT of garbage & trash (literally canoes full ) left behind from combined effects of
inconsiderate people and from natural events such as flooding/high waters) . A couple years back
KAAL TV documented one of these cleanup trips in a televised news segment.
6) We also provide external seminars at conservation events, fairs, sport shows and other forums,
discussing our local resources and spreading a conservation based message to the public
regarding their preservation, and activities we engage in to promote this activity .
7) Although at present we are not actively involved in the following activity, we advocate work
involving habitat improvement projects on our waters, similar to the work that the local TU chapter
does on a section of the Whitewater River. In the past , the Smallmouth Alliance of MN has does
such work on a portion of the Rum River, adding half log and bank stabilization structures. A
project such as this is something we may pursue in the future if enough people in our group
become interested in providing the long term hands effort required to make such projects a
success.
8) We provide on stream education programs in the form of information based signs. We call this
the “Free the Fighter” Campaign. These signs are posted at some of our SE MN river access
points and possess information regarding the slow growth rate of smallmouth bass and their
fragility to overharvest. The signs possess info suggesting to anglers that Smallmouth over a
certain size (over 12″ on inland streams, over 14″ on the Miss R) should be voluntarily released to
ensure quality fishing. The signs also provide instructions on how to properly unhook, handle and
release the fish, and show SEMSA contact information as well.
9) We periodically host recreational activities spanning in home general get togethers, pot lucks,
and small & larger group fishing outings as well.
Other State/States chapters of the Smallmouth Alliance work on similar activities, with some
state’s chapters, emphasizing certain activities over others. To find out more about other state
chapters, write contacts shown in the Smallmouth Alliance website contact info.
http://www.smallmouth.org/ .
For question or comments, or to find out more about SEMSA contact:
Mark Hoffmeyer at [email protected] , or write to: SEMSA PO Box 8384,
Rochester, MN 55903
If you choose to join SEMSA, remit a check for $18, payed to the order of SEMSA and mailed to:
SEMSA PO Box 8384, Rochester, MN 55903
Finally, thank you for your interest in SEMSA and the creation and preservation of quality SMB
angling resources !
Regards,
Mark Hoffmeyer
SEMSA