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A Fisherman's Friend Can Often Break Ecologists' Hearts
There may be plenty of unwanted fish in the sea for government ecologists, but often those invasive aquatic species are a boon to local anglers. Take the brown trout. A European native, the trout was introduced into America in the late 19th century and can now be found in bodies of fresh water from coast to coast. Though they may might provide tasty meals after lazy summer afternoons, new fish species come at a cost greater than a bucket of worms. "There's a number of either purposely introduced, or accidentally introduced, species that have provided quite a recreational resource," said George Madison, fisheries supervisor for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the Western Upper Peninsula. "So while smelt can be desired by people, or brown trout or rainbow trout, it's very clear that they out-compete the native species." In the Great Lakes region, the introduction of salmon has changed the aquatic landscape, displacing native fish such as the coaster brook trout, a minnow forager.
He's cast as a top fishing guide
As a child, Gary Mauz was so dedicated to fishing, he would go camping by himself and spend all day exploring the best fishing holes along the Neshaminy Creek, especially where it flowed into the Delaware River. Mauz, 43, still loves to fish. But now, he's generally not alone - he's either guiding or instructing others in fishing - and his years of experience have taken away some of the guesswork in finding good fishing spots. His business, the Delaware River Fly Fishing Guide Service, is based on his knowledge of the area. His clients often include tourists who like to hear a bit of local history while they're fishing. As a professional guide who guarantees that you will catch fish, he also relies on his ability to read the water surface. He looks for places where a strong current can carry the line, and where slight impressions on the surface might indicate where the water is deeper and where fish might hide.
On the fly: Fish chix
Members of the Colorado Women Flyfishers made what is becoming an annual pilgrimage to the Pan, where some seriously dedicated anglers were in the river from morning til night and beyond.
Two guys returning to their vehicle on the upper river at dusk on Saturday night found more than a few women staking out a spot for the anticipated rusty spinner fall. The evening feeding frenzy was memorable on Friday night, club members assured anyone who wasnt there (this angler, for one).
The spinners, pale morning duns that fall dead into the water after laying their eggs at dusk, are apparently delectible to trout. The pockets of calm water along the bank can boil with glutonous fish during a spinner fall. (The mayflies turn a rusty color at this stage hence the name.)
The pattern with sparkle wings was the hot call on Friday night, but Saturdays overcast, rainy weather apparently put a damper on the PMD hatch earlier in the day, and the evening spinner fall as well.
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