Anglers Ready for Free Fishing Day
By Scott Richardson;srichardson@pantagraph.com
Save these dates. Illinois Free Fishing Days are June 6-9. The annual Free Fishing Derby for kids, sponsored by The McLean County Sportsman’s Association, the Department of Natural Resources Urban Fishing Program, the city of Bloomington, State Farm Foundation and The Pantagraph, will be June 7 at Miller Park in Bloomington.
Children must be ages 5 through 12 and accompanied by an adult. Lunch is provided. Registration starts at 8 a.m. No fishing license is needed. The first 200 kids to sign up receive T-shirts. Bring a bucket for fish. Worms are provided.
After brief fishing seminars, fish until noon. Prizes are awarded for most fish, biggest fish and other categories in three age groups. Miller Park Lagoon is stocked with catfish and bluegills. The north end, where the fish are put, is netted off from the main pond to keep the fish inside until after the event. Public fishing in that section is not allowed from the time the stocking takes place until after the clinic finishes. IDNR conservation police will ticket violators. Call (309) 827-7988 for information.
Other organizations interested in receiving educational and promotional materials to be used as part of an Illinois Free Fishing Days event should contact Gary Watson, IDNR Free Fishing Days events coordinator, at (217) 782-9990. During Illinois Free Fishing Days, anyone may fish without the need to have a sport fishing license, inland trout stamp or salmon stamp.
Fewer die in boats
Boating deaths were down in 2007 over the year before, but officials at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources think even more people could be saved by using personal floatation devices or by taking a boat safety class.
Thirteen people died in boating incidents last year, down from 17 in 2006. Injuries also declined from 66 in 2006 to 57 last year.
DNR officials believe about 10 of the 13 deaths may have been avoided with life jackets.
Boating classes also help.
“Safety education courses are a key to the Illinois’ boating safety effort. Nationwide, nearly 90 percent of all reported fatalities on boats involved boat operators who had not received boating safety instruction,” said IDNR Acting Director Sam Flood.
The two top causes of fatal accidents were colliding with fixed objects and flooding/swamping a vessel. Don’t blame bad weather. The sky was clear and sunny, wind was calm and visibility was good when most of the deaths occurred. Alcohol along with operator inattention or carelessness were at fault most often.
“While specific circumstances are different, nearly every boating accident investigation we do has a common denominatorthat the accident could have been avoided had safety been the focus,” said IDNR Chief of Law enforcement Rafael Gutierrez.
Law requires people between 12-18 years of age who operate a motorized watercraft by themselves to possess a boating safety certificate. DNR reminds operators law also requires that anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket while aboard any watercraft under 26 feet in length at all times the boat is underway, unless they are below deck in an enclosed cabin or operating on private property. Anyone operating a personal watercraft or jet ski must wear a life vest, too.
Visit www.dnr.state.il.us/SAFETY/boat.htm to find out when and where free live classes are scheduled. DNR also offers an online boat safety education course for $15.
Watch the birdies
A live webcam is trained on a nest of Bald eagles at Coffeen Lake State Fish and Wildlife area near Ameren Energy Generating Company’s Coffeen Power Station in Montgomery County.
The same mating pair raised two eaglets last year. This year’s brood should fledge within a few weeks.
The eagle cam can be viewed daily from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. at www.ameren.com.
Deer permits
We heard money problems delayed deer permits arriving in the mail, a contention DNR spokesmen denied. Now comes this announcement from the agency;
“Save a Tree: The IDNR deer and turkey programs are going green. To help preserve natural forest habitat, the Illinois deer and turkey programs will no longer be printing large quantities of paper permit applications. Instead, the applications will be available online. Hunters are also reminded that permits can be applied for directly online through DNR Direct using a credit card or an electronic check at www.dnr.state.il.us. To accommodate those without access to the internet, paper applications are available at select IDNR offices.”
That’s putting a happy face on a grim situation created by Gov. Blagojevich and his budget ax.
Also, 25,000 non-resident archery deer hunting permits for the 2008-09 Illinois Archery Deer season Oct. 1 through Jan. 15 will go on sale through the DNR Direct online at http://dnr.state.il.us and by phone at 1-888-6PERMIT beginning June 1. Antlerless only permits for $15.50 will be available throughout the season over the counter at local license agents, as well as through DNR Direct online or by phone.
Plants for sale
Sugar Grove Nature Center has a variety of harder-to-find native perennials, trees, and shrubs for sale.
“Bring back our natural heritage while attracting wildlife to your yard by planting native species. Not only are they beautiful, but they are adapted to our long, cold winters and hot, dry summers. They require no fertilizer and, once established, do not require watering,” according to the center.
Shrubs- in 5 gallon pots for $20 each include Maple Leaf Viburnum and Early Wild Rose. Paw Paw, Blue Beech, and Sour Gum are $25 each. An assortment of forbs in 3-inch pots are available for $4 each. For more information, phone (309) 874-2174. Visit us on-line at www.sugargrovenaturecenter.org.
Scott Richardson is Pantagraph outdoor editor. Contact him at (309) 820-3227 or email srichardson@pantagraph.com. Share stories and read past outdoor and fishing columns at www.pantagraph.com/ blogs
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