September 2016: Native Fish Collecting Trip!

Program Schedule - Dates - Location - Maps and Directions
User avatar
mewickham
NWAAS President
Posts: 2680
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:50 am
Location: Rogers, Arkansas
Contact:

September 2016: Native Fish Collecting Trip!

Post by mewickham »

This collecting trip takes place INSTEAD of our normal, Saturday evening meeting.
THERE WILL BE NO MEETING SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE POLICE STATION!


Image

Image
PLEASE RSVP HERE, so that we know how many sandwiches to supply for the picnic afterward!
More details to follow in messages below.
Mike Wickham
http://mikewickham.com
NWAAS Webmaster, Publicity Chair
User avatar
mewickham
NWAAS President
Posts: 2680
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:50 am
Location: Rogers, Arkansas
Contact:

Re: September 2016: Native Fish Collecting Trip!

Post by mewickham »

What you need to participate
1. An Arkansas fishing license is required. The only exception is if you are helping someone who has a license pull a seine and you are not taking anything home. I'd plan on having one just in case! You can buy it at local Walmarts and many other places, but the easiest way is online. You pay and print your license: http://www.agfc.com/licenses/Pages/LicensesFishing.aspx
2. Wear appropriate clothing. Shorts and a t-shirt are fine. You can wear waders, if you want to, but they are not necessary. Water is rarely more than knee deep. A sun-blocking hat and sunscreen could be very useful.
3. Footwear. The best choice is strong water shoes or old tennis shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, or other thin or open-toed shoes are a poor choice. A major method for catching fish is to kick rocks with your feet. Unprotected toes don't hold up to that!
4. Nets. Best choices include long-handled (4-5 ft.) nets with fine mesh or minnow seines. Long handled nets that have protectors on the edges prevent nets from getting torn as they are dragged. Large aquarium nets can work in limited ways.
5. Buckets. Most people catch the fish for fun surveying and turn them loose, but you are allowed to take fish home. (There is a limit to how many, but I don't know what it is. You'd have to check the regulation. I THINK it might be something like six per species. Don't hold me to that! Maybe someone can chime in.) Even if you are not going to take fish home, it's nice to have a bucket or other container to put fish in for viewing or just to carry things around in.
6. You might want a clear specimen cup or other plastic container for viewing. NO GLASS! Glass is not allowed on the river by law.
7. You might want a lightweight folding chair, especially if watching kids. You must carry your own gear!
8. A camera could be handy.

No game fish caught with a net may be kept.
The poster shows a long-eared sunfish as an example of fish that we will see. These do turn up in the net, but are game fish and must be released. The other fish in the poster is a darter. Various small fish like this may be kept. There are many species. You may also find interesting invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians. There is lots to see in nature!

Kids
Kids are welcome, but you are responsible for your own kids. The club and other attendees are not responsible for the safety of you or your young ones!

Where to meet
We will meet just below the bridge at War Eagle Mill. There is a pull-off, across the road from the mill, near the bridge, and we will meet there at the shore. It will be on the downstream side of the bridge. Starting time is 10:00 AM.

What to expect
Collecting trips are fun! We start below the bridge at War Eagle Mill and collect our way downstream. Experienced club members will teach techniques to newbies and help identify your catch. You never know what we will see and find. Every trip is different and exciting!

Picnic afterward

We are planning a tailgate picnic afterward. The club will provide sandwiches. Please bring a side dish, chips, drinks, desserts... whatever.

PLEASE RSVP to this message, to let us know how many will attend, so that we know how many sandwiches to provide.

Watch this space for more details and post your questions here.
Mike Wickham
http://mikewickham.com
NWAAS Webmaster, Publicity Chair
User avatar
mewickham
NWAAS President
Posts: 2680
Joined: Sun Mar 15, 2009 12:50 am
Location: Rogers, Arkansas
Contact:

Re: September 2016: Native Fish Collecting Trip!

Post by mewickham »

There was a write-up about the collecting trip in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette, on page E1, authored by Flip Putthoff. It took up approximately two thirds of the front page of that section. Michael and Johnathon Gaines, and Denny Rogers got mentioned by name. Michael and Johnathon Gaines, Denny and Gail Rogers, and Will Weber are shown in photos. Flip did a nice job with the article.
Mike Wickham
http://mikewickham.com
NWAAS Webmaster, Publicity Chair
Post Reply