The Maine Ice Anglers Association has had a full agenda. In February, MIAA members joined forces with the Monmouth Fish and Game Association, hosting a public information meeting concerning upcoming ice fishing issues and legislative bill proposals. If passed into law, one particular bill proposal, LD-285, will prohibit anglers from using live bait in many Maine Lakes and Ponds.

The informal gathering was well attended and we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the members of the Monmouth Fish and Game Association for their generosity.

New waters open to ice fishing:
Several MIAA members attend the public hearing for the opening of Pleasant Pond in Caratunk to ice fishing. MIAA vice-president John Whalen of Canaan, along with several other members spoke in support of the proposed opening and conducted a follow-up effort for written and e-mail comments to back the proposal. We're proud to say the effort was successful and Pleasant Pond will be open to ice fishing in 2008. Special thanks to all members who took the time to write or e-mail their comments of support. It was this final effort that persuaded the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to open Pleasant Pond to ice fishing.

Now back to LD-285:
Proposed legislative bill LD-285 is expected to be scheduled for public hearing in the near future. The anti-bait bill: "An Act to Designate Additional Wild Trout Waters for Recognition and Protection" as written, is extremely disturbing. MIAA's governing officials contest this bill whole heartedly.

All waters included in this dangerous legislative proposal would be restricted to No-Live-Fish-as-Bait. Sadly, the Sportsman Alliance of Maine is supporting this bill, siding with two anti-bait activists including Trout Unlimited and the Dude Dean Angling Society.

We will provide more information about LD-285 on our web site and in print shortly. This SAM sponsored bill is not bait-angler friendly and MIAA officials have made SAM Director George Smith aware of our concern. Based upon the language of LD 285, IFW has developed a new list of lakes/ponds that would be impacted. We will have that list published on: http://www.neoutdoorvoice.com and http://maineiceanglers.org/

In the past, SAM was considered the "regulator" for all outdoors enthusiasts. It's now evident the organization has taken an about-face, supporting special interest groups with deep pockets.

As a grassroots association enacted to fight against such invasive proposals, MIAA officials have serious concerns about SAM's sponsored bill and the apparent departure of the "watchdog".

Maine State representative Theodore Kauffman of Bar Harbor is sponsoring LD-285 and all MIAA members are urged to contact Kauffman to voice concerns and opinions. Please don't shy away from contacting Kauffman. Keep in mind the selected official was elected into office by folks just like you. Remember nominated officials do have term limits and hopefully next election season, Kauffman will find himself on the outside-looking-in next election season.

Kauffman can be reached at 207-288-8930 (home) - 288-5015 (cell) – 288-4359 (fax) – 168 Millbrook Rd., Bar Harbor, Me 04609 (address).

Wall Street Journalist hooks up with MIAA:
Barry Newman, a staff reporter from the Wall Street Journal has been following Maine's ice fishing rebellion and contacted MIAA for assistance for an upcoming story he wanted to write. The reporter asked if MIAA officials could arrange a meeting with several ice fishermen and join them on an ice fishing outing. Newman specified he would like to venture north to one of the lakes or ponds subject for the No-Live-Fish-as-Bait restriction outlined in SAM's LD-285 proposal.

With the assistance of MIAA member Tim Jackson of Jack Traps located in Monmouth, Newman met with avid-angler Norman Chick who owns a camp on Ragged Lake. Newman reported that the overnight trip went well and he was anxious to do it again in the near future. Hopefully, Newman's Wall Street Journal story, when published, will reflect the good time had by all.

MIAA Officials appoint new media spokesman:
MIAA officials have appointed Dwayne M. Rioux as media spokesperson for the association. Rioux is the retired outdoors writer for the Central Maine Newspapers, the Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinel, and Portland Press Herald's Maine Outdoors Today.

Rioux now operates a bait shop and has vowed to do everything humanly possible to keep MIAA members informed on all upcoming issues. His shop, Harvest Time Baits, is located at 271 Taylor Road, Winslow. He can be reached at 873-4445 or mainelor@gwi.net. Feel free to contact him with any questions, concerns, or opinions.

Good News!
On March 7, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Joint Standing Committee unanimously voted to throw out LD-163 as written, a legislative bill proposal that would have banned the use of four bait minnow species for future generations. An amended bill would target only the black chin shiner for removal from the present baitfish list. This compromise is based upon IFW testimony at the hearing. The anti-bait bill sponsored by Representative Tom Watson of Bath was a complete deception and MIAA members can be proud that this particular sham will be no more. Rest assured that ice fishing is alive and well for now, but remember that LD- 285 will need to be dealt with next.

Honorable mentions - Let's give credit when due:
MIAA officials wish to express their deepest gratitude to members Scott Horne, of Wild Things Bait Shop, Oakland; Roger and Theresa Pelletier of Nicki's Bait &Tackle, Belgrade; Steve Staples and Vern Keith, the Bait Shop, Manchester; Tim Jackson of Jack Traps, Monmouth; Roland Bush of Hudson, Jeff Nicholas of Palmyra, Glenn “Bruce” Steeves of Raymond, and Jim Puckey of Lewiston for their devotion and contributions to the MIAA. All share a passion for angler rights and are always first in the line when things need to get done. These folks are a great asset to the MIAA.

Special thanks to Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques and Fisheries Director John Boland for their outstanding support and testimony on LD –163. Both DIF&W officials are certainly a credit to their department and all Maine anglers. Special thanks also goes out to new MIAA member Jeffery Worchester of Bangor, for stepping up to the plate and soliciting significant numbers of new MIAA members within the Greater Bangor area. Another member who has worked long and hard for MIAA is Bob Foster of Monmouth. Bob's outstanding advocacy for ice fishing and MIAA is stellar. We'd also like to make note of the huge contribution made by Butch Moore and the folks at NEOV, New England Outdoor Voice (neoutdoorvoice.com). There are others to mention; the Maine folks on Ice Shanty.com, As Maine Goes, Black Bear Blog, etc. Thanks to all!

Up-coming MIAA meeting: Finally, MIAA is planning to have a membership meeting in late April or early May. We are working on the agenda and invite members to send us any issues you wish to have included. There will be election of MIAA officers, all positions are open, and candidates are encouraged to run for office. All old and new members are urged to attend this important gathering. Remember power comes in numbers!!! Hope to see you all on the ice.