We Love Outdoors August 30, 2021 - Episode 22

In this week's episode of We Love Outdoors with Rich Davenport, your humble host gives some updates across NY, including a new state record crappie being caught near Albany on 8/21/21.  The 4 lb 7 oz white crappie was confirmed by DEC and is the largest crappie ever caught in NY.  August is also invasive species awareness month, and a recent discovery of hydrilla, or water thyme has been discovered in North Tonawanda in a marina off the Niagara River.  Although the unwanted aquatic invader appears limited to the marina itself, boaters and PWC operators are advised to make sure propellers are clear of weeds by giving a blast in reverse while the engine trimmed up a bit to dislodge any seaweed parts before entering the river.  Work is underway to eradicate the plants from the marina.  DEC is also seeking reports from the citizens concerning Asian long horned beetles and Spotted Lanternflies, both invasive insects are from Asia and attack hardwoods, fruit trees and other crop plants like grape vines. EHD has reared its ugly head again in NY, an insect-borne virus from the Reoviridae family that is transmitted via biting midge flies from the genus Culicoides, near the Albany area, with 14 reports of dead deer exhibiting signs of EHD infection.  According to DEC 4 cases have been confirmed. The Innovative Outdoors Walleye Tournament was held last weekend.  Good weather and cooperative fish were the order of the day, winners brought 5 lb average fish to the scales, largest walleye caught for the tournament was 9.26 lbs.   The NYSCC held their annual membership convention in hybrid format on Saturday, 8/28, with DEC personnel providing updates on the fish and wildlife sides, including updates to changes in deer hunting regulations due to deer plan, and status of those proposals and where they stand in the process of being codified.  Increased CWD surveillance is planned for Region 9, Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, after the confirmation of CWD positive deer at a game farm in Warren, PA, just south of the NY border.  No additional cased of CWD have been found in NY since 2006 and the confirmation of several captive deer suffering from CWD in the Oneida county area.  The panfish plan is still being evaluated, but initial comments showed favorable positions for lowering the sunfish daily creel limit from 50 to 25, as well as increasing the crappie minimum keeper size from 9" to 10".  Other parts of the plan got panned pretty badly, especially in the trophy waters ideas.  DEC clarified this is not a management plan, bad choice of words, and n o scientific need exists to make these changes, rather this is for some anglers and their desire to catch larger sunfish and crappie.  If, after 5 years, the plan doesn't work, it can be scrapped - sure. Oneida Lake Walleye limits are also proposed to change, reverting back to the 15" and 5 per day statewide limits, as populations have recovered in Oneida Lake to allow this to occur.  Yellow perch and rules governing daily limit, minimum sizes and even consideration of prohibiting sale of hook and line caught perch are once again emerging.  Fish hatchery renovations are growing in necessity, with Caledonia needing their ponds covered and Randolph needing a total rebuild. Lake Ontario is being considered for a National Maritime Sanctuary designation, comment period open until September 10, 2021.  This would cover waters of Lake Ontario from Wayne County, eastward to Clayton, or maybe in the Thousand Islands, up to Chippewa Bay.  More information is available at NOAA's website (noaa.gov), under Maritime Sanctuary. Finally, NY has a new Governor, but will Kathy Hochul be any better than Handsy Andy?  Time will tell...