That is a great photo Dennis! That little gal of yours is a natural born cat’r if I ever seen one Eh. What a smile, I love it.

The walleye action has been hit and miss for me recently. I honestly have not dedicated all that much time to eyes yet, I will soon.

The “word” is the greenbacks are in the Marsh up yonder. The bigger eyes are in shallow and the numbers are increasing as the temps drop. Most of the action is out near the end of main or deeper in the bush.

I am still catching plenty of hungry Kitty’s on frogs, mostly on jigs and frogs now. Shallow mud bars have been th e best for me. They appear to like a bit of sun on their backs right now.

In about a week I will be hitting the walleye much harder. I expect it to roll about then in our area, hope so anyway.

Doing beet harvest at nights now so I am on long hours and short naps. I will be ready to go fishing for sure in a week. I might be able to handle verticle jigging too then, and a nap.

Take care, Thanks for sharing the photo of your kids, that is great.

Ed

Well they all didn’t Belly-up in that section. I C&R 3 over 29″ in the past 2 days, one was 31 3/4. But ya, many big walleye did bite the dust in that section due to that kill in August…sad.

What you mentioned to me about the probable causes of the fish kill a while back, I agree with you on it’s probable cause. I get the feeling others do too hey. But for some ODD reason they are not or can not do anything about it. Just try a few calls once and see what kinda response you get from them…NADA…nobody wants to talk about it at all. Funny deal Eh? Yup..what kill?

Have you had a opportunity to try that section just to the South of me on the Red yet(Ft. Aber)? Very cool, you will did that area, gobs of very cool structure of all kinds. Your rig is the only one that will get there too right now. Some hungry > SB Bass to play with in that area and to points just to the South. They think they are little Piggy’s by the way they fight. Sure put up a better fight then them funny looking green fish Eh.

If your up to go hunt them some time I would be game to tag along. Been a while since we had a chance to fish together, it would be cool.

Jason S. got his wings wet running a River Pro Hi-Pro a while back, guess who wants to sell his new Lund now and get one. I knew it!

Take care,

Ed

Canuck and crew have done well the past few days. They boated 136 just the other day, tulibee cuts and kermits were on the kitty’s menu.

Some real sumo piggy class Kitty’s showing up this weekend. They must feel the chill in the wind and strapped on the bib?

I do agree, it will slow quickly soon. Fewer in numbers but I have seen big cats caught as late as the end of October up North.

Come October, you can catch ugly green fish and Purdy Kitty’s at the same time.

Chitwood46 some of the larger Red River channel cats, especially the very old dark males look kinda like a flathead.

The older sumo females start to resemble blues in many ways too. There color may vary and the bulk is unheard of for channel cats in any system other then the Red.

The exceptional size of the Red River Channel cats tend to allow for some misidentification from folks whom are new to the system. Very few river systems can produce such magnificent Sumo Kitty’s, and channels of this size is not the norm by far, anywhere.

Yup, we are very blessed here on the Red. Thank God we were able to change the harvest and creel limits on the Red. The regulations will keep this fishery viable long into the future, so many more folks can discover it’s treasures.

Gitty up & Go..PIGGY…………>

Ya rub it in, that River Pro can run on a heavy morning dew. With luck I will be right behind ya soon.

The bite is good, if you can get to the fish. For an interesting run, try the section North and South of Ft. Aber, very cool water for sure. With your rig it is a very doable deal, but not for a prop rig any time soon.

I have been flip’n jigs with Kermit’s and cuts for cats, that’s a Hoot Eh! You get lots of “Fat Air Kitty’s” that way. Set the hook, and SPLOOSH…….piggys with wings. Gota love it!

Have you been seeing many of them other green critters lately up your way?

Catch ya soon…………..>

I echo Derec & Kevin’s feelings on the EDGE II and a duel frequency system.

I would add it is very user friendly, day or night. Set it, and go fish, no mind boggling layers of menus to wade through to get things ready. Just see fish and fish, simple is cool!

“See what you have been missing, run a Vexilar”

Beach Brian you made some very solid observations.

Redundancy is the key word after dark. More often then not, after dark, if it can go wrong…it will.

You mentioned anchors. They are key element’s for River Rats. Sticking where you wish and staying put will up your odds on hooking up more cats without spooking them.

We see high flows at times on the Red River System so I designed a new anchor that will stick and hold even in Warp-9 water below big fast flowing dams.

We tested them extensively with big V-Hulls and River Pro 1872’s and they work! Several Flathead riggers bought them from us this sumer to handle the fast flows on the Minnesota and other rivers. They worked and they have been very happy with the system.

Being able to get the anchor back once you get it set is always nice too. I worked on that for some time to get the system just right. We have never lost one because of them being hooked up too solidly to retrieve. The only one that was lost this season was lost by a guide who used an old rope…..so…..you can guess the rest of that story. New anchors should use new ropes Eh! Especially one that weigh in at #35. I recommend 1/2 cotton rope on these, 1/2″ is far easier on the hands and acts like a bungee in rodeo (bumpy) waters to hold tightly and smoothly.

If your interested in one drop me an e-mail and I will steer you to my partner who does the fabrication work and shipping. They are half the price of other “So Called” snag free anchors and do a far better job on rivers.

“Go-Fish”

You may already realize it, but these photo’s from Dennis and his clients are all Channel Cats, not Flatheads? If you did…well….my bad.

Most folks just can’t imagine Channel Cats getting this large and in any numbers. But here are on the Red River of the North…they do…and in numbers. We have cats of all sizes but not one Flathead is known to swim the Red River system.

I have had many clients SWEAR unequivocally they these cats are Blues, and not Channel cats at all. “No Way Josie”….Because Channel cats just don’t get that big anywhere, especially this far North! That is there initial perception. But…Yup…the certainly do, and in great numbers in some regions.

We need to venture to the East over to the Minnesota River to tangle with any Flatheads, or South to the SD/NB border country. I wish we had them here in some rivers, I think they would do very well too.

For blues, you can find a few monsters below the Dams in SD on the Missouri River system. Not sure if there are any below the Garrison Dam here in ND? Might be, maybe there are and we just do not hear of any? If somebody did tangle with a big Blue, it would likely be written off as a paddle fish and quickly forgotten. Now I am starting to wonder about that myself?

Dennis do you ever hear of any Blues being caught below the Garrison Dam at Picks-Town?

Slow to post this but the “Frog Stomp” went well. We caught a variety of what the Red has to offer, from SM Bass to walleye and plenty of Kitty’s too. It was a hoot, wish you could have made it Dennis.

Dennis Steele had his River Pro 1872 here so Rick, Kevin, Dennis, and myself ventured to points South on the Red, near Ft. Abercrombie. That section was and is yet about 1-2′ on average with lots of skinny-skinny water and a maze of stump thumppers and rock. The River Pro slipped on through the worst of it without any worries. VERY COOL rigs them River Pro’s……Yup-Yup-Yup!

That Saturday MN DNR had a smaller shallow draft prop rig out doing a sweep. They didn’t make it 1/2 mile up or down from the new Abber ramp without turning back. I am certain the CO from the upper Red is going to be lobbying for his own River Pro, like they use up our way. The DNR really love theirs for patrol work. Far cheaper on repair bills too I hear.

The Red is about as low as I remember ever seeing it now. We need rain. Lets hope the weather man is correct and it is on it’s way this week!

I don’t think Oppie is coming, but ya never know?

Dennis Steel is headed this way, he got a Hi-Pro from Kevin this spring too. He guides in the Metro area on the Minnesota and the other flathead waters near there. He is a good guy, you would like him I think. Some other guys from that area will be headed this way too, not sure who all just yet?

Sounds like the ramps are a bit better up North now, that will help. Only one of the ramps are open at the Selkirk Park. The “Cats on the Red” ramp is open. Stu & Canuck are headed out this morning to look about.

Wish I was headed up there too! Soon I think, them eyes and cats just may be feeding in the same water soon by the sound of it. Lots of food in the river, shiners galore, COOL!

Good hunting…..catch a sumo, or two, for me!

This link will help you pinpoint the park and the dam.

Mid-Town Dam map to Lindenwood Park

It is a sad deal guys. I was out on the Red taking pictures bright and early Monday morning, fish were still kicking off at that time too.

You name it, they got hit. I seen cats of all sizes on the snags near Trollwood Park and up to the CO Rd #20 bridge. Plenty of walleye, pike, Mooneye, sucker, Carp, Drum, you name it they were floating or hung up on snags. I seen young cats struggling to keep upright in the shallows too. Very sad!

The DNR and the EPA have collected dead and dieing fish to get toxicity samples. The DO (Dissolved Oxygen levels) were in the norm for this time of year and is not looking like the culprit.

So far the DNR has not eliminated much and will likely not comment officially tell they get more data on the situation. They are looking hard at every possible source of contamination, sampling everything and looking into records of any facility associated with the drainage in that section.

I personally feel it is a “Contamination Event” and not a dissolved oxygen type summer kill. The wide variety of fish hit and the immediacy of the kill to me indicates a contaminant. I would even venture to speculate it may be a “Meth Lab” dump site contamination. We have seen many METH related dumps on or near the rivers in the past year. That is my call, not that of any authority’s, be clear on that. At least not so far anyway.

I have been in contact with my old boss’s in the DNR and the situation is getting maximum attentiveness. They are on it, in a very big way.

I think the kill has stopped, but we will see more game fish pop up as they gas up. I suspect that is what Dennis is finding more walleye up his way now, new floaters popping up. I spotted more walleye yesterday too, and some huge pike.

YUP…..VERY SAD!

Uf-Da…kinda skinny water up your way Dennis. Man that is where them River Pro’s really shine Eh. They Boot Scoot through the skinny stuff where others would stick like glue or “knock-a-knock” to a cringing halt.

Fishing is great, if ya can get there.

A 32″ eye was pulled from the puddle below the North Dam on Sunday, some sauger too. Looks like the shiners left the dam now so I suspect them funny looking green fish went with them.

Dennis this Sunday we are getting together on the Red above the Mid-Town Dam. If your free pop in and say Howdy. A few boyz with Pro’s will be over hunting Kitty’s and hanging out for the weekend. You can meet some flathead guys from over to the East, some you may not already know?

In the morning we will be “Stomp’n up Frogs” then fishing the afternoon and evening. Drop in if you can.

[image]http://ed-carlson.fishingbuddy.com/resource/get_file.html?mid=188[/image]

You can read up on the details about the “BWE B-Day FROG STOMP” at this link.

http://ed-carlson.fishingbuddy.com/?id=24&page=Frog%20Stomp%202003

Ed

Yupper, the cat bite has been as hot as the weather. But I would just as soon see the weather cool of a tiny bit.

I see them Ugly green thingys are still bugging you Dennis. Pesky critters anyhow!

We have been doing great both North and South of you. I spent some time up North by Grand Forks this past weekend, big fish, plus eaters. I would have to say though, we have been doing just as well if not better here in the Central Red. Jason S had a heck of a good trip with a client the other day, a #28 plus some other Piggy’s, not too shabby. His home stretch is a deadhead jungle right now as your well aware. I hear whispers of a River Pro from him too about now. Props get expensive, this I know too well.

I suspected that your River Pro Hi-Pro is paying for itself pretty darn fast under these river conditions? What a rig Eh? I am 100% certain there is one in my future. I just can’t see guiding the Red and the other rivers I run without one any longer, the sooner the better.

Keep cool and don’t let them ugly fish eat up all your hoppers.

Ed

Mixed blessings for sure. Lots of water, too much in the Central and Headwaters Region for sure. Yet this does present opportunities in other regions like Dennis said.

The big cat bite to the North is very good. We just may see some cats in the 40’s pop up? In the past big Wash’s like this have produced SUMO Monsters in this same time frame? Yup..Yup..It could happen?

Locally I am targeting cats on the flooded flats. Some grassy flats will hold large numbers of cats while others may be mostly carp and whatever. It takes some leg-work to zero in on them, but it can be done.

Yup, them Kitty’s will be on the feed-bag, just where is the big question?

Good Fish’n!

Ed “Backwater Eddy” Carlson

Give it a go.

It is based on solid theory, some serious biology, and a dose of Backwater Eddy-BS.

Cats are like a walleye in many ways, they like a trigger at times. Sound is often that extra trigger to get that kitty to rock on a bait.

I have used it up North, worked very well, especially at night when fishing with pronds and shrimp. They sniff-sniff..tap-tap, then you “knuckle” them a bit and WHOOP-there she is……We—We–We.

I think it is especially effective in dirty water, helps them zero in on the target after fallowing the scent trail to the general area of the bait. If they think it just may wonder off (the wounded bait they smell), they THUMP/CRUSH it hard when they do spot it, just to be sure it will not wonder off.

I have a friend who does Flatheads, and he is now sold on it. Flatheads I think key in on sound even more, being primarily live feeders by nature. Yet Channels are top predators when they get in the mood to tear up the neighborhood too, never underestimate the tenacity of a Sumo Channel on the prowl.

The cats have been moody at times, fickle on what they want to eat. They have been feeding well, very well. Fat as can be, some look like they ate a volleyball.

I switched baits many times to get back on them Kitty’s. Sour cuts were the deal, then fresh-fresh only, then shrimp, then crawlers, then dip baits. Getting tough when I resort to super funky dips…yup!

I have a hunch they are considering spawning early this season? The water levels are right and they can feel it. It was low early and until we seen all this rain I was thinking they would not spawn at all in 2003. My guess is they are changing habits almost daily and all the new food and run-off made them consider staging up to spawn, when they have a chance to do si.

Channel catfish in the upper Midwest and Canada will and can spawn at 65 degrees if they get a hankering to do so. The more common scenario is about 70 to 72, but they can at 65. Water temps are up, down, up again, then down a bunch, they have to be a bit confused too.

Some stable weather may bring back a more stable bite? I suspect this will be the case for a week or so yet if they do not spawn as early as the first week in June on the central region of the Red River system.

Be prepared to try a bunch of baits if need be. Odds are still good the Sumo Mama’s will go for fresh cuts, for numbers you may need some sniffer power, some dips.

I am headed North today Eh……….Gona catch me a Sumo…or two…Yup…Yup! The bite has been hot and solid on the lower Red, gona get me some Eh…Weeee—Haaa!

Good fish’n and don’t let them Pussy’s out smart ya Eh.

Yup, them peckers can be a pain. You KNOW they are there, yet they still dink around……..fustrating …….yup.

I have tinkered with a method to stir these lookers into being hookers. It may sound “Goofy”, but it works, I have convinced many folks after they try it while on my guide trips.

First my “Theory”.

Cats have two main things going for them,. There ultra-sensitive sense of smell and taste. If it has a smell or a taste, they know about it as soon as it hits the water. Their other is there sense of hearing or feel. A catfish can hear that crayfish creeping over the gravel in pitch black muddy water and zone in on it with easy.

So..I thunk on that a bit……and came up with what I call “Knuckling”. This is a simple knock with your knuckle on the fore-grip of the rod to send low frequency sound waves down the line to Mama Whiskers to hone in on.

OK……..sure sounds kinda Crazy….smells of a “Snipe Hunt you say…ya…well maybe…but it works Eh.

Many times if them peckers are feeling up a bait, a bit apprehensive, a “Knuckle” or two will trigger them to commit and make a run. You do not knock away tell your knuckles get raw, just once in a while. Five raps, thats about it. Dull thuds not metallic clicks, use the knuckle. Low range vibrations travel farther underwater. That is why the military uses ultra-low frequency’s to communicate with subs, they travel farther.

Da-Side story. Steve Smith from Berkley tackle, Bob Jensen, and I were filming a show for “Midwest Outdoors” on the Central Red River last season.

The cats were a bit pecky, so it caused me to do my thing, “Knuckle” up a piggy…or at least try. They looked at me………..they both sat there…….wondering what the hey? Then Steve finally said “Ed what are you doing?” Yup..he thought…he is nuts. I told him my theories on it, he said..”OH”…and that was about it.

Bob on the other hand was keen on giving it a go, he did, and the cats were cooperative. After Bob and I caught a bunch by “Knuckling” I noticed Steve was slyly starting to give it a shot.

Steve see’s a pecker……..sties the “knuckling”…..pauses…….WHAM……….piggy cat smacked it right off the bat, about ripped the rod out of Steves hands.

So much for that “Ah…It’s only a tiny kitty..Eh Steve?” He became a believer by the end of the trip. On that day it did make the difference between lookers, and hookers.

Give it a shot, see if it helps.

Honest..it’s not a “Snipe Hunt” thing guys………..Really.

Yup..Yup..them Kitty’s are on the feed!

The walleye (Them other green fish) have been feeding again in post spawn mode. Last night was great, cat..then walleye..then cat..then another eye..kept me busy.

With the new rains it should just get better too.

Your neck of the woods has been especially productive Dennis, all season really.

If you looking for numbers of nice med-sized white and Red Tailed suckers, the Kidder Dam area is thick with them this season.

Good Fishing to all!

[email protected]

Eh…Dennis we are headed up North on May 27th-30th of May. If you can pop up we should have and extra bunk for you, we are staying at Stu’s.

Well Howdy Dennis, long time no-see Eh.

I crawled out of my winter hibernation cave a month or so back, ready to play kitty tag now.

Been chasing them funny looking green critters since ice out. The River in your back yard has been good to me, lots of chubby eye’s. Over bye West Fargo I caught a 13# and a 11# in the past week. Found a sumo 28″ eye yesterday morning that was about the fattest walleye I have ever seen. She looked like a butterball cat and was eager to chomp a Rattle Trap, so she was still hungry.

I did hear through the cat vine that you got a new boat on the way? I may be on the same page soon too? We may need them this year..yup-yup?

If you looking for suckers they are running on the dams to the south in numbers now. Seen a lot of them on the Sheyenne too, to your West of you a mile or so near the I-bridge’s.

Cats are feeding better in the South around Wahp now, some at the next Dam to the North too. I plan to start working them this week with a few clients. Darn low to the South and if we do not get rain, we will be low all over soon. MBJ Park area is a challenge now for sure. Seen a 17′ deep V Lund stuck on a stump there the other day, pulled it off for them with “Ol Viagra”. They went shopping for a new prop after that Eh.

Catch ya soon, be well.

Ed “Backwater Eddy” Carlson

Backwater Guiding “ED on the RED”

Yup…that be a piggy >

Nice piggy Dennis!

Ed

Hay Howdy their Jeff!

Welcome, we can always use another cat guy, Rock River I suspect you tangle with a few puddy Tat’s from time to time.

You know Denny?

Seams to me I run into a few Rock River boys on the Red from time to time…Eh.

Good ta see ya!

Ed

I have not played with that, but I could sure see it working Dave. Ya know, I kinda like to keep my Chubby in my hand while jigging. LOL!

Plastics often used as “Drop Shot” rigs can be a hot deal on a wind tip-up too, especially up off the bottom a few feet. Played with that some this winter, I do like what I have seen so far. The Berkley Drop Shot Minnow in 3″ dancing around pulls off a good impression of a schooling fish.

If I keep putzing around with plastics and scents, I just may never need to drag that minnow bucket with on the ice again, that wouldn’t hurt my feeling any at all.

Ed Carlson
(FTR Field Staff)

You can hook it up to any 12 power supply, such as a boat battery. The big benefit is this rope LED lighting uses very little power yet supplies a enormous amount of light. The stuff is Tuff too, good from 140 to -40 so temperature is no big worry.

Flexibility is another big benefit, as is ease of installation. Not much to installing it in a boat or a pontoon. You can use clips, zip strips, or a track that the rope can be snapped into. The track that can be screwed down or adhered with double sided 3M tape. In a portable fish house zip strips to a support is as handy as anything.

You get the idea, I like this stuff. Easy to work with and has many potential applications for the sportsman. As a night fisherman good lighting that will not mess up my night vision to bad is a great find. The ability to add a 12V dimmer on the boat will be very handy, just dial in the light needed. Cool Eh?

One word of caution. Do not try to use the rope designed for house current for 12V applications. Use the rope made for 12V exterior use and it will hold up and function properly. I am no Mr. Electrical Wizard but I chatted with the folks who manufacture this product and they were clear on that point.

I will second that Stu.

Lets keep out eye on the ball on this issue for the future of the sport we so love and the future of out kids.

Thanks!

OK, For those who may think this “Clean Water Act” issue is just the chicken little ramblings of the liberal special interest groups, and “Anti’s”, you may wish to read this letter.
http://www.fisheries.org/AFS-CWAletter.shtml

(18 December 2002)

The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building, Room 3000
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

The Honorable George Dunlop
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310

The Honorable James L. Connaughton
Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
730 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Administrator Whitman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Dunlop, and Chairman Connaughton:

I am writing on behalf of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the oldest and largest (9,000+ members) professional society representing fisheries scientists and managers. AFS is concerned about the Administration’s decision to draft new regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA), redefining the waterways covered by the Act. Specifically, the new rulemaking process would determine whether certain waters, including tributaries, intermittent and ephemeral streams, and wetlands adjacent thereto, and other “isolated” wetlands, should remain under the jurisdiction of the CWA.

We urge the Administration not to proceed with rulemaking that would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act. Isolated wetlands, ephemeral streams, and tributaries are an integral part of our nation’s watersheds, and thus affect the health of all waters of the United States. Because non-navigable tributaries and their adjacent wetlands drain into larger bodies of water and groundwater sources, their degradation can negatively affect traditional navigable waters. Removing protections for non-navigable tributaries of navigable waters would also jeopardize many important wetlands that comprise significant fish and wildlife habitat, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna, in addition to providing enhanced water quality, flood attenuation, and groundwater recharge.

Crafting recovery plans for various fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act, e.g., Pacific salmon, is already complicated by the complex life history and the variations in life history (even within a single species) that finds juveniles of many species occupying small, often intermittent, streams during their critical fresh water rearing period. Without some consistent rules governing such habitats, especially as these tributaries cross state lines, the task will be made increasingly difficult. Many fish species including salmon are truly creatures of the watershed. Failure to consider rules governing all aquatic features and their relationship to aquatic processes – and thus to watershed integrity – does not bode well for recovery.

We have seen remarkable recovery in USA waters following passage of the CWA; and there is growing interest on the part of USEPA, States, Tribes, and Watershed Councils to better monitor, assess, report, and restore our waters. Removing CWA protections from some subset of our waters will set back these efforts substantially. It will further exaggerate existing discrepancies and inadequacies among state programs, instead of encouraging higher standards for all. The lack on inter-state coordination would militate against efficient and effective management strategies, would prompt conflict between downstream and upstream states, and would hurt state economies. In addition, it will turn us back to pre-CWA days when there were 50 or more differing and inconsistent standards across the USA, creating enormous financial subsidies and penalties for discharging municipalities, industries, and land uses.

Reducing federal jurisdiction over waterways of the U.S. would leave protections to state water programs, which, in many cases, are limited in regard to “isolated” wetlands, ephemeral and intermittent streams, and tributaries. In the past, states relied on the federal regulations in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and consequently developed no laws of their own to protect these wetlands and waterways. If the scope of the CWA is limited through the new rulemaking process, there will be few state regulations in place to prevent pollution and loss of wetlands from agriculture, commercial and residential development, resource extraction, and other activities.

The Administration based the need for a new rule-making process on the court case Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC). The Supreme Court’s decision in this case narrowed the Clean Water Act’s wetland protections by invalidating the use of the “migratory bird rule” as a basis for the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to assert CWA authority over isolated, intra-state non-navigable waters. AFS agrees that guidance is required for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to interpret and implement the SWANCC decision, but we believe that reducing CWA jurisdiction is unjustified.

AFS urges EPA and the Corps to communicate with state natural resource and regulatory agencies before moving forward with the new rule-making process. We need strong policy guidance on both regulatory and non-regulatory ways of protecting isolated wetlands and non-navigable tributaries, not a reduction in the strength and scope of the CWA.

Thank you for considering the comments of AFS, representing over 9,000 professional fishery scientists and managers.

Sincerely,

Gus Rassam, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society

CC: Senate Committees on Agricultural Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works. House Committees on Agriculture; Energy and Commerce; Resources; and Science.

——————

OK, For those who may think this “Clean Water Act” issue is just the chicken little ramblings of the liberal special interest groups, and “Anti’s”, you may wish to read this letter.
http://www.fisheries.org/AFS-CWAletter.shtml

(18 December 2002)

The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building, Room 3000
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

The Honorable George Dunlop
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310

The Honorable James L. Connaughton
Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
730 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Administrator Whitman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Dunlop, and Chairman Connaughton:

I am writing on behalf of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the oldest and largest (9,000+ members) professional society representing fisheries scientists and managers. AFS is concerned about the Administration’s decision to draft new regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA), redefining the waterways covered by the Act. Specifically, the new rulemaking process would determine whether certain waters, including tributaries, intermittent and ephemeral streams, and wetlands adjacent thereto, and other “isolated” wetlands, should remain under the jurisdiction of the CWA.

We urge the Administration not to proceed with rulemaking that would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act. Isolated wetlands, ephemeral streams, and tributaries are an integral part of our nation’s watersheds, and thus affect the health of all waters of the United States. Because non-navigable tributaries and their adjacent wetlands drain into larger bodies of water and groundwater sources, their degradation can negatively affect traditional navigable waters. Removing protections for non-navigable tributaries of navigable waters would also jeopardize many important wetlands that comprise significant fish and wildlife habitat, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna, in addition to providing enhanced water quality, flood attenuation, and groundwater recharge.

Crafting recovery plans for various fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act, e.g., Pacific salmon, is already complicated by the complex life history and the variations in life history (even within a single species) that finds juveniles of many species occupying small, often intermittent, streams during their critical fresh water rearing period. Without some consistent rules governing such habitats, especially as these tributaries cross state lines, the task will be made increasingly difficult. Many fish species including salmon are truly creatures of the watershed. Failure to consider rules governing all aquatic features and their relationship to aquatic processes – and thus to watershed integrity – does not bode well for recovery.

We have seen remarkable recovery in USA waters following passage of the CWA; and there is growing interest on the part of USEPA, States, Tribes, and Watershed Councils to better monitor, assess, report, and restore our waters. Removing CWA protections from some subset of our waters will set back these efforts substantially. It will further exaggerate existing discrepancies and inadequacies among state programs, instead of encouraging higher standards for all. The lack on inter-state coordination would militate against efficient and effective management strategies, would prompt conflict between downstream and upstream states, and would hurt state economies. In addition, it will turn us back to pre-CWA days when there were 50 or more differing and inconsistent standards across the USA, creating enormous financial subsidies and penalties for discharging municipalities, industries, and land uses.

Reducing federal jurisdiction over waterways of the U.S. would leave protections to state water programs, which, in many cases, are limited in regard to “isolated” wetlands, ephemeral and intermittent streams, and tributaries. In the past, states relied on the federal regulations in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and consequently developed no laws of their own to protect these wetlands and waterways. If the scope of the CWA is limited through the new rulemaking process, there will be few state regulations in place to prevent pollution and loss of wetlands from agriculture, commercial and residential development, resource extraction, and other activities.

The Administration based the need for a new rule-making process on the court case Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC). The Supreme Court’s decision in this case narrowed the Clean Water Act’s wetland protections by invalidating the use of the “migratory bird rule” as a basis for the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to assert CWA authority over isolated, intra-state non-navigable waters. AFS agrees that guidance is required for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to interpret and implement the SWANCC decision, but we believe that reducing CWA jurisdiction is unjustified.

AFS urges EPA and the Corps to communicate with state natural resource and regulatory agencies before moving forward with the new rule-making process. We need strong policy guidance on both regulatory and non-regulatory ways of protecting isolated wetlands and non-navigable tributaries, not a reduction in the strength and scope of the CWA.

Thank you for considering the comments of AFS, representing over 9,000 professional fishery scientists and managers.

Sincerely,

Gus Rassam, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society

CC: Senate Committees on Agricultural Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works. House Committees on Agriculture; Energy and Commerce; Resources; and Science.

——————

OK, For those who may think this “Clean Water Act” issue is just the chicken little ramblings of the liberal special interest groups, and “Anti’s”, you may wish to read this letter.

http://www.fisheries.org/AFS-CWAletter.shtml

(18 December 2002)

The Honorable Christine Todd Whitman
Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Ariel Rios Building, Room 3000
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20460

The Honorable George Dunlop
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works
108 Army Pentagon
Washington, DC 20310

The Honorable James L. Connaughton
Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
730 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, DC 20503

Dear Administrator Whitman, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary Dunlop, and Chairman Connaughton:

I am writing on behalf of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), the oldest and largest (9,000+ members) professional society representing fisheries scientists and managers. AFS is concerned about the Administration’s decision to draft new regulations under the Clean Water Act (CWA), redefining the waterways covered by the Act. Specifically, the new rulemaking process would determine whether certain waters, including tributaries, intermittent and ephemeral streams, and wetlands adjacent thereto, and other “isolated” wetlands, should remain under the jurisdiction of the CWA.

We urge the Administration not to proceed with rulemaking that would limit the scope of the Clean Water Act. Isolated wetlands, ephemeral streams, and tributaries are an integral part of our nation’s watersheds, and thus affect the health of all waters of the United States. Because non-navigable tributaries and their adjacent wetlands drain into larger bodies of water and groundwater sources, their degradation can negatively affect traditional navigable waters. Removing protections for non-navigable tributaries of navigable waters would also jeopardize many important wetlands that comprise significant fish and wildlife habitat, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna, in addition to providing enhanced water quality, flood attenuation, and groundwater recharge.

Crafting recovery plans for various fish species listed under the Endangered Species Act, e.g., Pacific salmon, is already complicated by the complex life history and the variations in life history (even within a single species) that finds juveniles of many species occupying small, often intermittent, streams during their critical fresh water rearing period. Without some consistent rules governing such habitats, especially as these tributaries cross state lines, the task will be made increasingly difficult. Many fish species including salmon are truly creatures of the watershed. Failure to consider rules governing all aquatic features and their relationship to aquatic processes – and thus to watershed integrity – does not bode well for recovery.

We have seen remarkable recovery in USA waters following passage of the CWA; and there is growing interest on the part of USEPA, States, Tribes, and Watershed Councils to better monitor, assess, report, and restore our waters. Removing CWA protections from some subset of our waters will set back these efforts substantially. It will further exaggerate existing discrepancies and inadequacies among state programs, instead of encouraging higher standards for all. The lack on inter-state coordination would militate against efficient and effective management strategies, would prompt conflict between downstream and upstream states, and would hurt state economies. In addition, it will turn us back to pre-CWA days when there were 50 or more differing and inconsistent standards across the USA, creating enormous financial subsidies and penalties for discharging municipalities, industries, and land uses.

Reducing federal jurisdiction over waterways of the U.S. would leave protections to state water programs, which, in many cases, are limited in regard to “isolated” wetlands, ephemeral and intermittent streams, and tributaries. In the past, states relied on the federal regulations in Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, and consequently developed no laws of their own to protect these wetlands and waterways. If the scope of the CWA is limited through the new rulemaking process, there will be few state regulations in place to prevent pollution and loss of wetlands from agriculture, commercial and residential development, resource extraction, and other activities.

The Administration based the need for a new rule-making process on the court case Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (SWANCC). The Supreme Court’s decision in this case narrowed the Clean Water Act’s wetland protections by invalidating the use of the “migratory bird rule” as a basis for the Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency to assert CWA authority over isolated, intra-state non-navigable waters. AFS agrees that guidance is required for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to interpret and implement the SWANCC decision, but we believe that reducing CWA jurisdiction is unjustified.

AFS urges EPA and the Corps to communicate with state natural resource and regulatory agencies before moving forward with the new rule-making process. We need strong policy guidance on both regulatory and non-regulatory ways of protecting isolated wetlands and non-navigable tributaries, not a reduction in the strength and scope of the CWA.

Thank you for considering the comments of AFS, representing over 9,000 professional fishery scientists and managers.

Sincerely,

Gus Rassam, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society

CC: Senate Committees on Agricultural Nutrition and Forestry; Commerce, Science and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works. House Committees on Agriculture; Energy and Commerce; Resources; and Science.

——————

Congress ruled there can not be a nativity scene in Washington DC this Christmas.

This isn’t for any religious or Constitutional reason, they simply have not been able to find three wise men and a virgin in the nation’s capitol.

There was no problem however finding enough asses to fill the stable.

In all seriousness, I sure hope the gains we have made in water quality since the 70’s will not all go down the sewer over party politics.

I would highly recommend the ABU Big Game series or reels. Serious performance and built to handle large amounts of 20-40 cat line.

Spool it up with some Hi-Vis 30-40 BERKLEY IRON SILK and you will be amazed at the casting performance and strength.

I wenched in several tons of cats on my BIG GAME ABU’s last year, they perform like new and are ready for more.

Ed Carlson