If you’re like me, you probably can’t get enough of the history behind the places where you grew up and love to hunt and fish in. And as is often the case, recorded history of these areas can often be limited, if available at all. In my case, the history of fishing and hunting in northern Maine has always been intriguing. Such stories have been recorded in a number of publications over time, but many are difficult or near impossible to find. Still other stories are only available through word of mouth.

So imagine my surprise when I found a very old list of about 50 publications relating to the history of Maine, compiled by the late Lee W. Richards Jr., M.D. of Augusta, ME. I had the pleasure of working with a biologist who had often visited Dr. Richards at his camp in northern Maine, and had been given the list by Mr. Richards, who was an expert on the history of Maine.

I ran across the volume after searching through a number of papers while in the process of packing and moving for the third time in as many years. I read through the titles and decided that over the next few years, I’ll make it a personal goal of mine to find as many of those titles as possible.

One of the first publications I was able to track down actually came quite easily. It appears that some dedicated person or persons have taken the time to scan a number of old pubs and make them available online. The first, and possibly the most interesting of these, is a periodical titled “In The Maine Woods”.

“In The Maine Woods” was a publication produced by the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad from the late 1890’s to 1942. Back in those days, the railroad made a lot of money transporting passengers into the wilderness of northern Maine to pursue the bountiful fish and wildlife. Sports would come from all over the New England, particularly from Boston and other parts of Massachusetts, to get away from it all and experience real wilderness. This being the case, the B&A Railroad used “In The Maine Woods” to appeal to these types and convince them to explore the vast frontier, and try their luck pursuing trophy fish and game.

I’m currently reading through the 1904 publication of “In The Maine Woods”, and I’m really enjoying it. The issue, along with some others, is available at Google Books by following this link, or by conducting a google search of the book title.

Here are some things I’ve learned so far:

- A number of railroad stations, which no longer exist, were thought to have the potential to develop into important towns.

- Fish and game were extremely plentiful (although B&A may have exaggerated in some cases to lure more people to the north woods).

- Fish species composition has changed significantly in some waters, which have succumbed to human impacts. (Still, many northern Maine lakes are very similar now to what they once were)

- Landlocked salmon and rainbow smelt introductions have had significant impacts on native fish, particularly whitefish populations (The 1904 publication was printed just a few years after these fish were first introduced to many northern Maine waters).

- Apparently, a few northern lakes were reported to have three species of whitefish. Today, only two species are officially recognized. One of the species mentioned in 1904, the Stanley’s whitefish (Coregonus stanleyi) was believed to be endemic to the area. (I’d like to dig a bit deeper into this one)

- There is an incredible wealth of fishing and hunting history available in these publications, and I can’t wait to read more!

Most cite increased video game use and other indoor activities as the reason kids just don’t seem to be getting outdoors as much as they did in the past.  In addition, people are working more in order to maintain desirable lifestyles and thus spend less time participating in outdoor leisure activities.  Whatever the causes, it’s no secret that fewer people are fishing and hunting now than just a decade or two ago, and a recent AP article reveals some stunning numbers that confirm this notion.

Sales of Vermont hunting and fishing licenses have dropped more than 20 percent over the last 20 years, leaving the Fish and Wildlife Department pleading with lawmakers for extra funding.

Arkansas hunting license sales dropped from about 345,000 in 1999 to about 319,000 in 2003.Pennsylvania sold about 946,000 hunting licenses in 2006, down from just over a million in 1999, and a peak of 1.3 million in 1981.

Oregon had 100,000 fewer licensed anglers last year than in 1987, and 70,000 fewer licensed hunters.

West Virginia sold 154,763 resident hunting permits in 2006, a 17 percent decrease from 1997.

There’s no question these aren’t the only states that have experienced such declines.  When comparing results from creel surveys I conducted in northern Maine to numbers from a decade before, it appeared that people simply weren’t fishing as much.  Older folks were dying out and weren’t being replaced by the next generation.  Growing up I’d heard about the congregations of anglers that would once crowd in front of the inlets of local lakes to fish for smelts.  The smelts are still there, but in many areas, the crowds aren’t.

Fewer people participating in outdoor activities ultimately means that fewer licenses dollars are available to fund state fish and wildlife agencies, which rely on license proceeds for a good portion of their budgets.

Many states are beginning to take extra steps to introduce youngsters to the outdoors in hopes that they will become regular participants in these activities and support fish and wildlife management in the coming years.

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, is an infectious fish disease that appears to be spreading rapidly and threatens to wreak havoc on fish populations in areas throughout the Midwestern and Northeastern U.S.   Vermont has already implemented regulations, hopeful to prevent the spread of the disease, and it appears that Minnesota is following suit.

Regulations to prevent VHS spread involve thorough fish testing protocols and restricted movement of fish among lakes and streams.  The threat of VHS will certainly influence the thriving baitfish industries in many of these areas and restrict the ability of fishermen to collect live bait for fishing.   Failure to prevent VHS spread, however, may result in much more crippling effects to fish populations and the anglers who pursue them.

Read more about VHS here 

At the request of agencies in Oregon and Washington hoping to protect endangered salmon, NOAA recently approved the removal of up to 60 sea lions near Bonneville Dam to reduce unnatural predation on salmon stocks as they pass through the dam’s fishway.  You can read more about the issue in a blog post I wrote a short while ago regarding this issue.   You can also read the full news story here.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service just announced that it is considering placing the coaster brook trout on the Endangered Species List.  The coaster is a unique life-history form of brook trout that spawns in the tributaries of Lake Superior and moves out into the lake to grow to an exceptionally large size.

I wrote a blog entry on coaster brook trout a while back, with links to more information on coasters.  In addition, you can learn more about coaster research from Northern Michigan University’s Fish Biology Lab.

One complication that may arise with the potential listing of coasters is the fact that they are essentially genetically identical to their smaller brook trout counterparts, which exist at healthy population levels.  However, unique subpopulations and life-history forms can be listed separately under the ESA, and have been in the past.

Stay tuned for more info on the status of coaster brook trout.

If you’ve spent much time reading this blog, you’re probably aware that I haven’t posted any new material over the last few weeks. It’s been an awful busy time for me personally. I just landed a job as a fisheries biologist with the state of Montana, and have spent most of my time trying to finish my master’s thesis at Utah State University so I can start work. I’ll have to make some pretty big decisions about the future of the blog over the next couple of months, but for now I’ll try to post new material whenever I get the chance. Thanks for your patience, and I hope you continue to check the Fish Geek blog for updates.

Did you know that they spear sturgeon in Wisconsin?  Seriously.  Thousands of fishermen flock to the 138,000 acre Lake Winnebago to spear the prehistoric-looking fish during a week or two in the winter.  They set up shacks on the ice over shallow areas, cut large holes in the ice and wait for a big sturgeon to swim by.  And in some cases, a fella gets lucky and spears a big one.  Pictured below is Darren Horness of Howards Grove, Wisconsin, with the 102 pound, 72 inch sturgeon he speared during this year’s season.

You can read more about Darren and his fish here.

Lake Winnebago is unique in that it boasts what is probably the healthiest sturgeon population in the country, which is why the opportunity to spear the giant fish still exists.  The main reason the sturgeon population is so robust here is the management effort and collaboration between the Wisconsin DNR and dedicated sturgeon fishermen who want to maintain a healthy fishery.  The DNR and other groups have committed extensive time and effort to managing the fishery.  In fact, fishermen have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support the sturgeon program.

The 2008 sturgeon spearing season ended last week on Lake Winnebago, and turned out to be one of the best yet.  Spearer Ed Blatz caught the biggest sturgeon in years, weighing in at 172 pounds!

Thanks to dedicated fishermen and proper management, this unique form of fishing is alive and well in Wisconsin, and I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I’m glad it’s been a success……….and I’m a bit jealous too! 

Read a great article about the Winnebago sturgeon fishery here

A new Utah law that would allow sporting and environmental groups to purchase instream flows from irrigators in order to protect fish habitat has again seen the light of day.  The Instream Flow to Protect Trout Habitat bill passed in the state Senate last year but failed in the House.  New provisions which address concerns about hydropower generation and Endangered Species Act restrictions have garnered more support for the bill, and it’s expected to pass this year.  The bill is modeled after a successful existing program in Montana. 

With the passing of this law, fishing organizations could purchase water rights from irrigators, meaning that water would be left in the stream instead of being used to water crops, providing more and better habitat for trout during critical low-flow periods.  The bill is being praised by a wide audience and has the support of many conservationists, recreationists and farmers. 

Read the Salt Lake Tribune article here

If you’re an Arizona fisherman you may be in for some of the best fishing the state has seen in decades.  According to a local paper, hydrologists are predicting water levels to be off the charts this year due to the large snowpack.  And more water means better fishing in this dry state.

“This looks like an historic year in our fisheries, in large part because of the tremendous runoff in 2005 and resulting spawns, but also because of the widespread deep snowpack in the high country we haven’t experienced since at least 1993,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. “The Arizona fishing outlook is the best we’ve seen in 25 years or so.”

Spawning fish from the 2005 year class, revitalized vegetation growth and newly flooded reservoir edges are all expected to make 2008 a banner year for fishing in Arizona.  Remember, it’s never too early to gear up for the upcoming season.  It looks like Arizona fishermen and other fishermen in areas throughout the arid West have a lot to look forward to this year!

Read more here

This winter, the state of Vermont imposed some serious baitfish regulations in an attempt to slow or prevent the spread of VHS (Viral hemorrhagic septicemia), a viral disease that can cause high fish mortality. 

VHS is currently widespread in the Great Lakes and has been quickly spreading to fish populations in surrounding areas.  While not currently found in Vermont, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department fears that the virus may be brought into the state via the transport of baitfish.  So in order to reduce the potential for spread, emergency regulations were passed this winter that prohibit the harvest of any species of baitfish aside from smelt or perch, substantially prohibit the use of bait, and put strict regulations on bait dealers.   

The strict emergency regulations are set to expire in February, and public hearings are currently taking place at 5 locations around the state in order to draft more permanent regulations. 

Read more about the regulation details and meeting dates here

Read an article about the virus and regulations from Vermont Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche here