Asain Carp comments at Ann Arbor Meeting; Feb. 3

   Officials are taking comments during a public meeting to be held Feb. 3 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest, 1275 S. Huron St. Ypsilanti.
   Two sessions will be held each day, from 2-5 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m. Each session opens with a half-hour presentation, followed by the opportunity to comment.
   To register your request to comment and for more information, go to http://glmris.anl.gov and click on the "Getting Involved" button.
   "At meetings elsewhere around the Great Lakes, residents have to make it clear that allowing Asian carp to get entrenched in the lakes, their tributaries or other smaller parts of the system would represent a disaster far greater than what Chicago may think it faces.

   "The carp vacuum up algae and other small food that is the start of the feeding chain for fish that anglers prize. One variety of Asian carp jumps out of the water when riled, putting people on personal watercraft, in particular, at risk. The carp now make up as much as 90% of the living mass in some Mississippi tributaries, a situation that would spell disaster in places like Lake St. Clair or Saginaw Bay.
   "So far, federal agencies have moved with slug-like speed. The study currently under way could take as long as five years. Michiganders need to urge the study officials to move faster, spell out more alternatives and, above all, weigh the potential damage throughout the Great Lakes basin. No one takes that more seriously than the people of the one state that sits entirely within it," according to the Detroit Free Press.com.
   You can and should get involved by making your comments known either through these public meetings or by letting your elected officials know of your concerns.
   Allowing Asian Carp into the Great Lakes will affect the loss to Michigan both financially in terms of tourism, and also the loss of jobs in a variety of areas.

Walleye-101; free semars with Lance Valentine to make you a better fisherman

   This Sunday's column is about Walleye-101, the phenomenal fishing seminars presented by Lance Valentine.
   Valentine, who fished the pro walleye circuit for several years found his calling, teaching others how to be better anglers.
   What you see is what you get. He readily shares information with anyone. There are no secret baits, tricks, or fishing spots. Valentine is an open book. Ask him a question and you'll soon find out.
   And hold those thoughts about running out and buying new tackle. "Don't buy anything else until you learn how to use what you already have, then you can go out and fill in your tackle box with the right equipment," Valentine said.
   Another Valentine tip: "Fish one bait or presentation. Leave everything else home. This forces you to pay attention to what you are doing and really fish a jig, crankbait, or whatever else you are using. You'll come away a better fisherman because of it."

   For more information on Walleye-101 seminars, other activites, or products, visit http://www.walleye-101.com/.

Through the ice, you need to feel the bite

Because fish during the winter tend to bite rather softly you need to feel the bite. Sitting on a bucket on frozen water watching line that is down through a hole in the ice can be monotonous.
Try different presentations. That means not so much changing lures or lure color but try various jigging techniques.
You might run all the way to the bottom and thump it a few times causing a cloud of dirt particles to erupt. Sometimes a curious fish in the area may come over to see what is causing the disturbance.
But to better tell when you get a bit you must be able to feel your line. That's why some use very light line like sewing thread. Add a spring bobber to the rod and you have a set up that should detect a bluegill sneezing at 15-feet.
Bobbers for ice fishing aren't sensitive enough. Unless the fish you target are walleye or some other larger fish.
Another way to tell if you are getting hits is to watch your line. If it moves, it may not be the wind. To be sure, give it a set.

Ice fishing-think lite!

"Make sure you have light line spooled on," Glen Uhl said. "Better make that sewing thread." He was referring to really thin and light line. This time of year, panfish on a lot of Oakland County lakes are particular.
They seem to be a little more than line shy. So much so that sizing down is one trick that appeals to them. Therefore lighter line, like sewing thread.
Any good sewing supply store will know what you are talking about when you ask for thread to be used for ice fishing. It's actually nylon, but very light while still strong.
And the light line translates into those small teardrops we talked about a few days ago. Unless you're on Saginaw Bay and have the walleye dialed in, there's no need to heavier Rapala's or baits like a Swedish Pimple.
Keep it simple, small and slow. Fish are lethargic but still looking for something to eat. Slow your jigging down.
Begin your search just off the bottom and work your way up. It's not uncommon to find fish suspended especially this time of year. Good luck!

Teardrops; still popular with hard water anglers

Just when you think not much can change in the teardrop world, out comes new ones better than their older cousins.
Teardrops are those tiny baits you swear wouldn't catch a thing because of their size. But time and again, they fool even the most experienced ice angler.
When you add bait-a mousie, spike, waxworm or minnow-the small, size 18 hook is covered. There's not room for anything more. Maybe that's why fish hit them with so much agression. It looks like too tempting a morsel to pass up.
Whatever the reason, teardrops aren't losing their popularity. At the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit, there were several tackle dealers showing their version of this time-worn bait.
Stopper lures had some really tiny ones. I asked what made theirs different from the competitions and was told theirs are made from tungsten.
You might know that we would be getting down to some of these "designer" metals before too long.
Why tungsten? Because it's heavier and gives the bait a faster fall which translates into getting back down to where the fish are, quickly. That is important when fishing through a hole cut in the ice.
Take too much time and those fish below you have a tendency to move off in search of greener pastures. Better make that readily available bait.
Whether you choose these fast falling baits or opt for something that is more standard, carry a good variety of colors, sizes and shapes in a small box every time you go ice fishing.
From bluegills, and perch right up and including crappie and walleye, teardrops bring em' in.

New Stuff!

One item that caught my eye at the Ultimate Fishing Show was a new version of a lure wrap. These wraps are just that. They wrap around lures tied to line on your rod and around the rod.
The wrap helps keep lures from tangling with other rods and lures, getting hooks caught in clothing, carpet, of flesh, and makes it easier to transport rods with lures already tied on.
These are called Lure Secure and are made in Minnesota for this Michigan-based company. One thing that attracted me to these wraps is their transparency.
Being a totally visual person-I need to see things to have an idea-I prefer to see my equipment rather than open pouches and drawers.
The clear material on a Lure Secure allows me, at a glance, to know I have a crankbait, jig or jerkbait tied on.
For corporations, clubs, and other organizations, these wraps can be customized with a logo. Besides adding to the employment here in Michigan, owner Gary Talarico says the company that manufactures his product is helping it's employees.
"This company employs recovering people who have alcohol or drug problems. They work for a year, then the company finds them more permanent jobs." So it's a win, win, win.
First for the people recovering that it helps, next for Michigan workers, and finally for us fishermen.
For more information visitwww.luresecure.com or call (877) 4FISH11.

KVD has time for everyone

The worlds best bass fisherman, Kalamazoo resident Kevin VanDam is definitely an attraction at fishing shows.
The past Saturday, VanDam appeared at the Ultimate Fishing Show-Detroit. He gave two seminars on the shows Lake Ultimate, then held a Q & A for over an hour in one of the seminar rooms.
And that's Kevin VanDam. He's wildly popular, much sought after, and highly thought of by anglers of all level of experience.
Normally, seminars last about one hour. VanDam's always go longer. That's not his doing, rather it's the crowd that follows him wanting more from KVD.
Once the program is over, he picks his rods and tackle bag up, setting off for the next appointment, meeting or to answer the many messages coming in on this phone.
The trouble is, he never gets far. Following his last Lake Ultimate appearance, I offered to help him carry his equipment. "No thanks, Rog. I've got it," he said.
As he walked down the steps from the lakes dock, there waiting for him had to be a hundred or more people.
They all wanted just a moment with this ambassador of bass fishing. Some were content to be in his presence and listen as he answered questions.
Others asked him to sign a photo, cap, perhaps a favorite lure, or something else they considered worthy of his autograph. Still others asked him to pose for a picture.
Always accommodating, he would set his equipment down, move in next to the person, smile, shake hands, wait for the camera to click, then start out again, trying to get to the confines of the shows office for a quick bathroom break or a bite to eat.
Being Kevin VanDam means more than fishing. It's the part about meeting the public that he does really well. He seems to always have just a little time for every person.
That's just one of the parts that go to making him the great and wonderful person he his. Ever humble and appreciative, make no mistake. He's till the ever consummate fishing tournament contender.
He can go from nice guy to all business quicker than you can say Strike King, one of his sponsors.
A seminar or after seminar experience with VanDam is truly an educational experience.