DALE SUNDERLIN
Crews will survey Conneaut creek and Grand River lentic areas and Huron River to find sea lampreys.
The continuing battle against sea lampreys soon will come to locations in the local area. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service assessment crew will conduct work offshore of Conneaut Creek in Ashtabula County, the Grand River in Lake County and in the Huron River in Erie County during July 7-16 to detect the presence of sea lampreys. The information gathered will be used to determine the need for sea lamprey control.
Leading off
A first step in the control of sea lampreys is to survey streams tributary to the Great Lakes to determine the presence of larval sea lampreys. Sea lampreys invaded the Great Lakes in the 1920s and have been a permanent, destructive element of the fishery ever since. Sea lampreys attach to fish with a suction cup mouth, rasp a hole through the fish’s scales and skin, and feed on blood and body fluids. The average sea lamprey will destroy up to 40 pounds of fish during its parasitic phase.
Sea lamprey larvae hatch from eggs laid by adult lampreys in gravel nests, and drift into silty bottom areas where they burrow and live for several years. Also, larvae sometimes drift out of streams and settle in the immediate offshore areas near stream mouths. Failure to detect and subsequently eliminate larvae allows the lampreys to metamorphose into parasitic adults and kill Great Lakes fish.
Control measures
Fishery biologists and technicians conduct surveys for sea lamprey larvae in hundreds of Great Lakes streams each year. Most surveys are conducted by electro fishing, but in deep waters crews use Bayluscide 3.2% Granular Sea Lamprey Larvicide, a lampricide approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency. This lampricide is specially formulated onto sand granules and covered with a time-release coating. The formulation is sprayed over a measured surface area of water where it sinks to the bottom, rapidly dissolves, and causes the larval sea lampreys to leave their burrows and swim to the surface where they are collected. Surveys using Bayluscide are scheduled for several areas in the Huron River and adjacent to the mouth of the Grand River and Conneaut Creek between July 7 and 16. Exact timing of the surveys depends on local weather conditions.
No human risk
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency have reviewed human health and environmental safety data for lampricides and in 2003 concluded that Bayluscide poses no unreasonable risk to the general population and the environment when applied at concentrations necessary to detect larval sea lampreys. Applications are conducted in accordance with Michigan and Ohio permits.
Program bosses
The sea lamprey control program is formulated and implemented by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Geological Survey. The Commission initiated chemical control of sea lampreys in 1958. Since that time the highly successful program has contributed significantly to the maintenance of the $4 billion Great Lakes sport and commercial fisheries.
Ongoing studies
The Commission is committed to delivering a sea lamprey control program that practices good environmental stewardship. To support the continued safe use of lampricides the Commission recently conducted a series of studies at a total cost of $6 million to assess the effects of the lampricides on human health and the environment. In addition to these studies the Commission has implemented a research program to develop alternative control techniques. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada are currently evaluating the release of sterile male sea lampreys as a control measure in the St. Marys River. The Commission also is developing a strategy to increase the number of barriers on sea lamprey-producing streams, and is conducting research into barrier design, traps, attractants, and biological controls.
Additional information about sea lampreys and sea lamprey control is available online at www.glfc.org. TTY users may reach the Marquette or Ludington Biological Stations through the Michigan State Relay Service at 1-800-649-3777. (Portions reprinted by permission from the ODOW).
Ryan’s Doubleheader
Now, both 17-year-old Ryan DiGiacomo and his dad, Mike, are pretty good hunters but this past spring Ryan’s first bird during the Ohio youth weekend just left a lot to be desired, at least story telling wise according to Ryan, but then I’ll let you be the judge of that.
‘Really cool’
After an uneventful morning on the opening day of Ohio Youth Weekend, April 18, Ryan and his dad, Mike, decided to head out for the evening hunt. Maybe they could stir something up or possibly catch a big ol’ gobbler before he went to roost for the evening. On the way out to their setup they just happened to bump a piebald doe. Ryan thought that was “really cool” considering he had never seen anything like that in the wild before.
Scrounging area
After watching the doe bound off they trudged onward to their evening resting area. They had predetermined that they were going to setup near a wheat field where the birds came to scrounge for bugs before they headed up to roost. Once they arrived, Ryan and Mike placed themselves at the base of some small oak trees at the edge of the field.
Decision time
Once they were set up, Mike and Ryan gave a few soft feeding type yelps then sat back and relaxed. If it was to be, it would be, only time would tell. Well it was to be and it only took 15 minutes for it to happen. While they watched in amazement, five Jakes were approaching their setup. As they came closer one broke off from the group and at 35 yards Ryan had to make a decision. Kaa boom, his 12 gauge Remington shotgun packing a load of Remington Turkey load Heavy-Shot echoed his answer and his Jake went down.
Ryan 2, turkey 0
On May 2, Ryan and dad Mike set up early on the rim of a tilled field where they knew birds would be soon after fly down. Again another scrounging area Mike had found over the years and was now sharing with his son. If all worked out right it could be another quick hunt.
Come back, big guy
Just after sunup, they had a big gobbler fly down from the roost right in front of them but at the other end of the field. As they tried to work the big boy back home they noticed a Jake approaching their decoys. Ryan and Mike had set out a Jake and two hen decoys and the new Jake on the block was coming over to investigate.
Too much action
In the meantime, Mr. Big must have not liked all the action that was going on and decided to boogie further on down the field. When they looked back at their deaks there was Jakie, right in the midst of all the decoys, chumming it up like he belonged right in there.
Wrong answer, Mr. Jake
Incorrect, bubba, you’re an outsider and you don’t belong so you’re gonna get eliminated. As he milled around Mr. Jake made a small mistake and stood still for a little too long. Ryan pulled up his shotgun, took careful aim and again let loose with a load of Remington Turkey load Heavy-Shot from his Remington shotgun. His fate was sealed and he was down. Ryan was now tagged out.
Ryan’s stats
Bird #1, taken on April 18 at 5:15 p.m. had a 41⁄2 -inch beard, weighed in at 23 pounds and had1⁄8 -inch spurs. Bird #2 taken on May 2 at 7:32 a.m. had a 51⁄4 -inch long beard, weighed in at 20 pounds and had1⁄4 -inch spurs.
Sunderlin is a freelance writer from Geneva. Reach him at djss@roadrunner.com.
DATEBOOK
Conneaut Fish & Game 3D Archery
n The club has fired up its 3D shots. The dates are as follows: July 18, Aug. 15-16 and Sept. 12-13. Shoots are sponsored and attending 5 out of 8 qualifies shooters for a sponsor’s prize raffle. All shoots start at 7 a.m. and last shooters out at 1 p.m. Donation is $8 per adult and $50 per child 13 and under. $$$ 50/50 shoots available, crossbows welcome, 30 Rinehart targets at each shoot, “hunting scenario set up”. Food and beverages available. Please, absolutely No Broadheads. For more information. call Darin Harper at 813-6042.
Monroe Sportsman’s Trap shooting
n The club will be hosting several ATA & OSTA trap shooting events this summer. It will also be having several Wednesday evening ATA Registered shoots, July 8, 22 and Aug. 5. For more information, call Adam Berrier at 858-2104 or 223-5947 or Sara Dean at 576-0877. You can also go online at www.monroesportsmansclub.com or email at sara@monroesportsmansclub.com.
Outdoor Education Weekend
n Ashtabula Rod and Gun Club, along with the Ashtabula County Wildlife Conservation League, will be having its annual “Outdoor Education Weekend” at Ashtabula Rod & Gun Club from Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19. This is a free weekend for boys and girls from ages 11 to 17 years old consisting of a full array of outdoor education, the state required Hunter Education course along with hands on experience in rifle, pistol, black powder, shotgun shooting, archery, water safety and many other outdoor related activities. Seminars will be held on Bow Hunting, Survival, Turkey Hunting, Trapping and Field Care of your harvest. All necessary items to participate in the weekend long camp out will be provided at no cost to participants. For more information and to register, call Skip Crane at 466-4937 or Paul Callender at 992-7596.
