Can I ask ........?

[flockshot]

pinche like you, as im sure anybody who has read any of my posts knows, i get a little crazy about this type of stuff..and would also like to apoligize if i seem combative or confrontational, i guess the over all point here is this effects everybody, and if nobody speaks up, we have nobody to blame but our selves, and thats the cold hard truth. sportsman have a history of being reactive, we do great things,but its usually to clean up a mess,not prevent one from happening. for us in the great lakes region, this is once again a reactive measure,but for some of you, you have the chance to make so pro-active steps to make sure you local and state governments make the proper steps. will it get results? maybe. but maybe is better then waiting for your government to do it for you. we all know how unlikely that is.

[cold_feet]

Heres is my view
First to my knowledge NY and for that fact the US is working on a ban of cargo ships dumping ballast into fresh water rivers and lakes. They want the ships to dump their ballast into the salt water areas before entering the freshwater waterways. This I heard about a few weeks ago. Second as far as banning baitfish I am for it only because of the numbnuts who introduce new species to bodies of waters that do not already exist there. We have all seen this happen. Myself I always buy local baits and do not try to use baits that are not already in a ecosystem. Too many time we hear about bucket biologists on this site and for every post written about it it always is a negative effect on the local species. All of us who live near the Great lakes region know of the round Gobi's that infected the great lakes now we have seen them in inland lakes why is this? They sure didn't fly there! Some idiot who was too cheap to buy bait took them to these waterways and used them as bait and at the end of the day when all his bait is still there he dumped them into that lake instead of getting rid of them the proper way. First and formost those Gobi's are to be killed on the spot after catching them not put into a bucket and taken home or even returned to the waters in which they came from. Its the so called sportsman who is his or hers worst enemy not the conservation dept. who are trying to cure the problems bad or inconsiderate outdoors people create.
Just my .02
Coldfeet

[Haywood]

Pinche, I apologize as well.  I don't want to come off like I don't care, cause yeah it sucks.  This year in MN, someone caught an Asian carp, 30+ new lakes were introduced with Milfoil, and Gobies popped up in a few new places, so new regs are always being made.  Some I agree with, some I don't, but if it takes me being inconveinenced to stop or slow the spead of something, so be it.  If I took a reactive stand to everything that pissed me off, I wouldn't have time to fish.  If it is something you really have passion in, by all means, take a stand, but pick and choose your battles or you will spend your whole life fighting and none of it living. 

[JerryofWNY]

Pinche, Flockshot. I understand your frustration. I try to keep myself informed and write my legislators frequently. They have heard from me regarding the hazards of dumping ballast waters into our ecosystem.

As my avatar indicates, I belong to a local environmental organization, with an emphasis on the shooting sports, fishing and camping. Through our county and state affiliations, we are made aware of situations and pending legislation, and asked to support pro-sportsman/woman measures. We encourage our members to join in letter writing campaigns, but I'm sad to say the percentage who actually take the few minutes to write is miserably low. It's been a while since I belonged to Southtowns Walleye, but when I did, they provided letters, envelopes, and I believe stamps at their meetings when an issue needed a letter writing campaign. They had members sign the letters and return address the envelopes. That's the only way they could get a good number of letters off.

If we, as a group, remain to be as apathetic as we are now, the outdoorsman/woman of the future will not include hunters and anglers. They will go afield in hiking boots, armed only with a camera.

I encourage everyone to get involved. Get involved in a local organization and in a letter writing campaign that promote our interests. This issue is a good place to start. Especially, get out and vote and support candidates who are rated high by the NRA and other organizations who are watchdogs for our interests as hunters and anglers.

BTW: Our local news reported on the VHS issue last night and they said it has gotten into Conesus Lake. Any of you WNYers know anything about this? Don't hijack this thread but start another if you have.

[pinche]

BTW: Our local news reported on the VHS issue last night and they said it has gotten into Conesus Lake. Any of you WNYers know anything about this? Don't hijack this thread but start another if you have.

It was mentioned briefly in one of my prior posts.

Also I talked to my girlfriend and shes gonna be working on a general letter like you talked about. I would like to post it on the site but have not asked Scott yet.

Pinche, I apologize as well.  I don't want to come off like I don't care, cause yeah it sucks. 

Yes like I said I got excited and frustrated. Its just something that needs attention IMO , No hard feelings, Tight lines  

[Mentiply]

This link was posted by Lucky_Eddy on the NYS board. Is the NYS DEC website and give some good info on VHS

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/fish/vhsv.html

[Gary_602z]

I found a brief story about it on a local news website!
Click here!  It looks like it's taking out some walleye at Conesus Lake
http://www.wrgb.com/engine.pl?station=wrgb&id=19273&template=breakout_top_story.shtml&dateformat=%M+%e,%Y

That is a typical newspaper report not knowing the facts! VHS was actually found in an archived sample from 2003 from lake Erie. Seems like they could research it a little first.

Gary