Make No Mistake: The Fight Against Asian Carp Continues

Dear Friends,

Today the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision on our Asian carp lawsuit. Unfortunately, they declined to take up our motion to reopen the Chicago Diversion case and address the threat of Asian Carp through the legal system. It is important to note, though, that the Court did NOT say they dismissed the merits of our claim that Asian carp are an immediate and significant threat to the Great Lakes.

So, make no mistake: this is NOT the end of our battle to protect our Great Lakes jobs and ecosystem from Asian carp. While I am investigating every legal option available to us, there are other ways to protect the jobs and ecology of the Great Lakes basin today. With your help, we can make it happen.

A silver carp, an invasive species and a variety of the Asian carp, is pictured by

the Illinois River in central Illinois. (Marlin Levison/Star Tribune/Associated Press)

 

1) Urge President Obama to Take Action


In early February, the federal government released its Asian Carp Control Strategy Framework as "proof" that the Obama Administration is addressing the threat of Asian Carp. To date, the inadequate, half-hearted measures it proposed, like closing the locks a few days per week, have yet to even be put into place.

The delays continue despite a supposed April 30th deadline for implementing the protections. Meanwhile, Asian carp eDNA is still being detected at the O'Brien Lock near Lake Michigan, and the Asian carp super-highway remains wide open.

This lack of action is even more disappointing in light of President Obama's earlier commitment to pledge zero-tolerance for new invasive species in the Great Lakes.

We must call on President Obama to act today by directing the Army Corps of Engineers to block the path of Asian carp between Illinois rivers and the Great Lakes basin.

ACTION: Please call President Obama at 202-456-1414 and urge him to take serious action to protect the Great Lakes today. The White House needs to hear from concerned Great Lakes citizens like you.

2) Help Rep. Dave Camp Promote the CARP Act

Rep. Dave Camp has been a leader in promoting legislative solutions to the threat of Asian carp. He has introduced the CARP Act (H.R. 4472), which will implement many of the commonsense Great Lakes protections suggested in our lawsuit. Also, in a show of bipartisan support, Senator Debbie Stabenow has introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate, S.294.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid could take action to protect the Lakes but have failed to make our region's concerns a priority.

ACTION: Call Pelosi at 202-225-0100 and Reid at 202-224-3542 to let them know your opinion on the urgent need to protect the Lakes.

Citizens need to tell the Obama administration and Congress to move forward with both immediate and long-term actions to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. This is not just about closing shipping locks for a while. The federal government and Illinois also need to act smartly and aggressively toward a permanent, comprehensive plan for physically separating the carp-infested Chicago waterways from the Lakes, while still accommodating other public interests.

While President Obama has turned a blind-eye to the other Great Lakes states in favor of Illinois, it is clear now that he is responsible for our economy and ecology. He could protect Michigan by either ordering the Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action or by calling for the passage of Rep. Camp or Sen. Stabenow's bills. I would be glad to host that bill signing anywhere along the thousands of miles of Michigan Great Lakes shoreline.

Thank You

Thank you for all you have done over the past several months to support our efforts to protect the Great Lakes from Asian carp. As residents of THE Great Lakes state, we have a special perspective on the blessings of the bountiful resources provided by our lakes and waterways.

Please take a moment to tell your friends and neighbors to call the President and Congress to share their insights about the Great Lakes and urge our elected officials to act right away.

If you haven't joined the conversation on Facebook, please sign on to our page today. Every day citizens are driving the conversation about why they love the Great Lakes and what they've done to protect them. Join the discussion today!

Mike Cox, Attorney General

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Supreme Court Stays Out of Asian Carp Dispute

Associated Press

April 26, 2010

Michigan has led the legal fight to close the locks, arguing that the ravenous carp, weighing up to 100 pounds, could decimate the lakes' $7 billion fishing industry by starving out competitors such as salmon and walleye.

Mike Cox, the state's attorney general and a Republican candidate for governor, said responsibility for blocking the carp's advance now lies with President Barack Obama and Democratic congressional leaders. The Obama administration sided with Illinois in opposing closure of the locks.

"While President Obama has turned a blind eye to the millions of Great Lakes residents who do not happen to live in his home state of Illinois, it is now up to him to save thousands of Michigan jobs and our environment," Cox said.

Read the Full Story

U.S. Supreme Court Reject Michigan on Asian Carp

Bloomberg Businessweek

April 26, 2010

The U.S. Supreme Court, rejecting a bid by Michigan, refused to order Illinois and the federal government to permanently separate the waters of Chicago-area rivers and canals from Lake Michigan to stop the migration of Asian carp.

Today's rebuff was the third this year for Michigan at the nation's highest court, which previously declined to order the temporary closure of area locks and dams as a step to keep the carp from entering Lake Michigan. Illinois officials and President Barack Obama's administration urged the court not to get involved.

Michigan and other Great Lakes states say that, should the carp reach Lake Michigan, they would spread rapidly, consume nutrients needed by other species and potentially devastate the region's $7 billion sport-fishing industry and much of its tourism business.

"The fight to protect Michigan's jobs and environment now falls to President Obama and Congress," Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox said in a statement.

Read the full story

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My Family Ocean Fishing Excursion in Florida

My Uncle Pete and I email often and swap fishing stories and talk about getting together to fish and trying to find the time to do it. Well, we found that time this year. I was planing on visiting my parents and sister in Florida this year with my son Kyle and my Uncle Pete and Aunt Ann just happened to be coming down to their house in Florida during the same time...so my Uncle Pete did not waste any time planning a fishing trip for us all to enjoy.

My Uncle Pete reserved a 6 hour fishing trip with Captain Phil Dugger Jr. of Podzilla Charters. Captain Phil is a full time U.S.C.G. licensed and fully insured guide who docks in Gasparilla Marina, which is located in Placida, on the southwest coast of Florida situated between Sarasota to the north and Ft. Myers to the south.

Gasparilla Marina is just minutes away from World Famous Boca Grande Pass and some of the best backwater fishing in the world. We fished the Back bay and Flats out of his 21 foot custom Shallow Sport that can run in less than 4 inches of water and will get anglers where the fish are at the lowest of tides. The design also allows for a very stable fishing platform and short tower (better to locate the fish)...and we were all about locating fish!

(My son Kyle with his 1st fish of the day)

Despite the Dolphins following our boat and circling around us waiting for fish to be released from our lines, We caught many fish such as; Sea Trout, Spanish Mackeral, Sting Rays, Lady Fish, Black Tip Shark, Button head Shark, Catfish, Mangroves, Jacks and other smaller species of fish. The weather had just started to get warm in Florida during our trip, apparently the winter months were very chilly this year, so the larger fish were not in the bay yet.

(Aunt Ann)                                                              (Uncle Pete)

Captain Phil is a Florida native and has over 35 years experience of light tackle saltwater fishing. He was very professional and always made sure we had bait on our lines (shrimp). We learned many things about the fish we caught such as; what fish have stingers, what fish bite, what fish poop all over the boat, what fish are good to eat and what are not. My son, Kyle really enjoyed asking the Captain questions about his business such as; has anyone ever fallen over board?....Has anyone lost a fishing pole to a fish in the water?....Has anyone just not listen to what they were being told?...Has anyone ever caught a barracuda?...etc...Kids ask the funniest questions and Captain Phil was very patient and answered them all.

(Sting Ray)

(Button Head Shark)

We all caught many fish this day...My Uncle Pete caught approx 15 1/2 fish...because a shark came up and bit off 1/2 of a sea trout he was trying to get into the boat. My Aunt Ann caught a sting ray and the button shark. My son, Kyle caught the black tip shark memories that will last his life time.

(we all caught fish)

(I caught an abundance of smaller fish)

I recommend you look Captain Phil up if you are in the area, and plan your own family fishing excursion.

(Captain Phil, Me, Kyle - infront of the fishing cleaning station - we kept some Sea

Trout and Spanish Mackeral for dinner that night - and Phil cut the fillets for us)

If you are interested in reserving a fishing trip with Captain Phil, please feel free to contct him in one of the following ways:


Website: http://podzillacharters.com/


Toll-Free: 1-800-774-0356

Local: 941-629-2708

Fax: 941-629-2708

E-mail: philduggerjr@podzillacharters.com



Mailing Address:

Capt. Phil Dugger Jr.,

21280 Edgewater Drive

Port Charlotte, FL 33952


                  

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Fishing For A Cause (FFAC) Lures Catch Fish

Hey Anglers, 

I just received photographs of a FFAC wire harness in use on Walleye and White Bass last week. 

The Harnesses and other lures are available for purchase on www.FishingForACause.com. 

I encourage everyone to visit the new site, purchase some lures, take and send more photos - and help us in our fight to prevent breast cancer. 

She's So Fly, Sherri Russell

(white bass)

(nice Walleye)

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The Thrill Of Anticipation - Dry Fly or Die

By Massimo Tirocchi, custom bamboo rod maker - visit http://www.t-rods.it/

At the beginning of the season often the rivers are not fishable for anglers like me "Dry Fly or Die". In these conditions the trouts are under a tree or under a bush, feeding or just having some rest.

In these conditions a good TLT tecnique helps. Most of the time you need to find the trouts under a bush or in others difficult places. TLT allows to do that with specific casts (overlapped, underedge and more)**

Waiting for the hatch

Ephemerella Ignita made a good job

Lady Sangro

Farius Trout - 45 cm

Indica 7'2" #3 - bamboo ferruled

Indica 7'2" #3 - bamboo ferruled (detail)

**Way back in the in the early seventies Roberto Pragliola developed a unique method of fly casting the Italians call TLT, or Tecnica Lancio Totale, which, when translated means, Total Cast Technique

International instructor and fly tyer (Flyfair, Danish Flyfestival, FFF-Conclave, several evetns and trade fairs), founded the Italian Fly Fishing School SIM(Scuola Italiana di Pesca a Mosca), EFFA Master Fly Casting Instructor, very innovative fly caster, originator of the TLT-technique, developed very special rods mainly used for dry fly fishing (TLT) and fly tying tools, member of IBRA(Italian Bamboo Rodmakers Association)

             
Note from editor: 

Massimo, thank you for the wonderful story and photographs, they are amazing!   I am especially looking forward to receiving my new custom rod from you and dry fly fish for trout here in the U.S.

Everyone, here are a few photos of my custom rod that I just ordered from Massimo Tirocchi.  I specifically wanted black only thread and a custom rod holder to suit my personal tastes.  Massimo was very accomodating and patient discussing different rod handle options with me...he loves working on traditional styles with a touch of modern flair to reflect the fly angler of today's personality.

(bamboo rod made especially for She's So Fly Sherri Russell)

(custom ordered cork-wood-black rod handle - to suit my personality)

(finished rod assembly)

  

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Benefits to Hiring a Fishing Guide

Now that you have planned a fishing trip, what do you do after that? Sure you can try to navigate unfamiliar waters, and hope to catch fish in places that you do not know if they even exist, or you can do something better and hire a fishing guide. There are many benefits to hiring a fishing guide. They may be more expensive then trying to do it alone, but the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages.

First, and most importantly on a fishing trip, you will catch more fish. Fishing guides are in the waters every single day and know exactly where the best pockets of fish live. They are familiar with the habits of the particular fish species and when the best time to catch them is, and where in the water they tend to swim to during certain parts of the day. This can only mean one thing - catching more quality fish that you can keep and hopefully later eat. They simply put you in the right place at the right time.

A fishing guide is usually experienced in the particular lake or river in which you are fishing in so they know the waters well. They can show you how to run the waters, where the safest place to fish is, and where to find the stream areas that hold the most fish. They teach you where and where not to go so that you can make the most of your fishing expedition.

Fishing guides also come equipped with the latest and most modern equipment. They may even let you try out some of their top of the line fishing equipment. Through the day you will find out what the best fishing rods are, as well as any new reels and line you may want to purchase so that you can fish by yourself later on using the newest equipment. You get lots of tips and advice on where to buy the equipment and the tackle, as well as how to use it if you are unfamiliar with fishing gear.

Another benefit to hiring a fishing guide is that you learn how to catch fish. That may sound like common sense if you are already a fisherman, but many times if you are in new waters that you have not fished you may not be able to reel them in as often as you would like because you do not know how. They often teach you more efficient ways to fish with less effort.

Lastly, if you went fishing by yourself you would have to pay for the boat, the gear, the lessons, as well as the licenses you may need to fish in a certain area. Hiring a fishing guide will help you to avoid all these fees.



                     

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Fishing Organization (Fishing For A Cause) To Benefit National Breast Cancer Awareness

Fishing For A Cause is leading an effort in 2010 to benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.


Fishing For A Cause (FFAC) is a not for profit, fishing organization that assists charities nationwide by providing them a means to accept donations. This year’s beneficiary is the National breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF)


She’s So Fly, a top fishing and outdoors website for women, currently has a trademark licensing agreement with the NBCF to use their name and trademark symbols in efforts to successfully market custom painted fishing lures and other miscellaneous fishing merchandise, with proceeds to benefit the NBCF in return.


Sherri Russell, editor of She’s So Fly and the founder of FFAC, resides in the state of Michigan and is an avid fly fisherwomen and novis lure angler. Her current goals are to introduce women to the sport of fishing and the healing benefits of getting outside and enjoying our natural resources and bring awareness to breast cancer research.


The 2010 goal of FFAC is to raise a minimum of $10,000 for breast cancer awareness through its licensing agreement with the NBCF through sales of special custom logo fishing lures, FFAC logo merchandise, donated guided fishing trips, donated fishing equipment, and cash donations received on the Fishing For A Cause website, http://fishingforacause.com/.


To support of FFAC, feel free to browse around the website, recommend their custom fishing lures to others you feel may be interested, read about the anglers on their FFAC Pro Team and the FFAC partners and sponsors, shop for FFAC logo clothing items, maybe purchase a donated fishing trip or fishing merchandise, and take a peak or add to their photo gallery and much more.


FFAC is accepting donations for fishing related items to auction off or sell through our website and new merchandise will be added on a continuous basis throughout the year.


To inquire about the benefits of becoming a FFAC sponsor and donating a guided trip or merchandise to raise money for the NBCF, please contact Sherri Russell at sherri@monaviewholdings.com.


Fishing For A Cause would like to thank the many generous "sponsors" who are participating and believe in FFAC service efforts. This current effort is being made possible with their support and collaboration...Please keep in mind that the main focus of this effort is to help save the lives of women, some of which will be our mothers, aunts, sisters and daughters.


FFAC can help change lives through our efforts...on behalf of the NBCF, the crew at She’s So Fly would like to thank everyone in advance for help in this cause.

Contact Information:


Fishing For A Cause – Sherri Russell
P.O. Box 101
Newaygo, Mi, 49327


Email: sherri@monaviewholdings.com

             

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