First of all be safe when going on to the ice this year. Check as you go. Nevertheless do go.

We have had a warm winter so far, and not a lot of ice. This New Year is going to bring us a lot of work, as we have heard of a lot of things about ice fishing, and the use of live bait. So hear are some of what is going on.

 First a notice of Agency Rule- making proposal- Advertise; December 20, 2006 Agency: Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. Rule Title or Subject: Ice Fishing Regulations. IFW has been petitioned to open Pleasant Lake in the Town of Caratunk, Somerset County to Ice Fishing. There will be a Public hearing on January 11,2007 at Quimby Elementary School, Main Street ( Route 201) Bingham; 6:30 p.m.

Deadline for Comments; January 26, 2007 Agency Contact person; Andrea Erskine Agency Name; Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Address; #41 State House Station, Augusta, Me.04333-0041 E-mail; andrea.erskine@maine.gov Telephone; 207-287-5201.

Please E-Mail or call on this to help us open up one more lake to ice fishing. This petition was presented with 150 signatures on it, by a person who owns a camp on Pleasant Pond. MIAA has spoken to the petitioner and advised him that we will support this effort to expand ice-fishing opportunities on Pleasant Pond. We ask our members to support the issue by going to the public hearing or by sending an e-mail or letter to IFW in support.  WE NEED YOUR HELP in getting this passed. Thanks

 Next a LD?   An Anti-Bait bill is in the works, and it seeks to remove 4 baitfish from the present baitfish list. The bill has not been published yet, but information gathered from “inside sources' tell us that several small groups of 'progressive fisheries activists' have developed a bill that would reduce several (4) legal baitfish from the present list.

Emerald shiner and Spot tailed shiner are two (2) of the fish that are included in the bill's language. These fish have been on the legal baitfish list for over 30 years, the question is, why” they” want to see these fish removed from the list. We will let you know more when we get all the info. In addition, an anti-splake bill is in the works. Title; An Act to protect Wild trout From Exotic Species Sponsor; Rep. Ted Koffman.

Summary; this bill would prohibit splake from being stocked in waters where they could spread to wild trout waters. It is the belief of the “progressive fisheries activist” that Splake can and will reproduce in the “wild” with brook trout. Splake have been produced in the hatchery for over a 100 years and all research past and present indicates that fear is unfounded. MIAA does not support this bill and we encourage all members also to support this position with letters and e-mail and help defeat this LD. MIAA 's position is that IFW has qualified Fisheries personnel that should be making these decisions about fish stocking, not the Legislative Committee or unqualified “ activists” that have no fisheries knowledge. Splake have provided excellent fishing opportunities in numerous locations where other types of cold- water fish will not survive.

Please contact Mr. Koffman and let him know your position. Contact person; Theodore S. Koffman ( D- Bar Harbor. Address 168 Mill Brook Rd. Bar Harbor Me. 04609. Home E-mail koffman@acadia.net,Web Site www.tedkoffman.com State House message phone- 800-423-2900. WE NEED YOUR HELP.

Another LD is being written to add another 300 lakes and ponds to the NLFAB (No Live Fish as Bait) list. When MIAA gets the full text of the LD, we will place it on our web site for all to view. All of these bills are originating from a joint effort of the Sportsman's Alliance of Maine, Trout Unlimited (TU), and Dud Dean Angling Society (DDAS). These organizations intend to reduce and eliminate ice fishing opportunities and these bills certainly reflect our opinion.

All folks that love to ice fish need to get involved in opposing these new LD's and appear at hearings, write letters, send e-mail and contact your Representative or Senator and ask them to oppose these LD's Your sporting opportunities are in danger of being eliminated by folks that do not ice fish, do not fish with live bait, and who do not respect the rights of others in the sporting community. It's up to us, the ice fishermen & women to defend our sport!! You can be sure TU, SAM, and DDAS will not!!

Please send your dues in for the 2007 season, and to help fight those who want to stop our way of fishing.  
Jim President Maine Ice Anglers