The results are in, and Dakota Wright from Laconia, NH topped the final leaderboard Sunday morning with a salmon weighing 3.70 pounds and measuring 22.50 inches to win the 31st annual Winni Derby. He caught the winner when fishing around Welch’s Island in Gilford. He wasn’t named the official winner until he passed a polygraph test to verify that he caught the fish in Lake Winnipesaukee. This year, prior to the start of the derby, officials announced that they would be enforcing derby rule 15 of the bylaws. Dakota went home with over $13,000 in prize money. The lie detector rule hasn’t been used in the past, and was incorporated this year because of rumors of cheating in recent derbies, although they have no proof that anyone has actually cheated. Not a bad day’s catch! Most anglers gave up after a tough day of fishing on Friday due to the extreme winds. Persistent anglers like Dakota and his two fishing buddies were rewarded. The second place salmon prize tipped the scales at 3.60 lbs and 22.75 inches. It was caught by Ryan Piotrowski of Boston. The top lake trout this season was hooked by Raymond Combs from West Halifax, VT at 7.68 pounds, 28.25 inches. He took home a check for $5,000. Alan Bishop from Orland, ME was a close second with his 7.64 lbs., 28.25 inch lake trout and Artie Crocker from West Gardiner, ME came in third with a 7.56 lbs., 28.25 inch laker. Finishing first in the Junior Salmon Angler Division was 11-year-old Christopher Gelinas of Loudon, who won a 14-foot Alumacraft boat and a trailer for landing a 3.08-pound, 20.675-inch salmon. Hunter Duval, 9, of Merrimack took second place with a 2.9-pound, 21.875-inch salmon, and Trevor Brennan, 6, of Rochester came in third with a 2.8-pound, 20.375-inch salmon.
Fishing is a great way to spend some quality time with family or friends in the great outdoors. Free Fishing Day kicks off 2013 National Fishing and Boating Week, a nationwide observance encouraging families to have fun together on the water. This year’s Free Fishing Days in Massachusetts and Maine will be June 1-2. Anyone can fish recreationally for free on both fresh and salt water during these two days. New Hampshire’s Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 1, so plan to get out and cast a line with your family and friends on New Hampshire’s lakes, rivers and streams. On Free Fishing Day, state residents and nonresidents alike can fish any inland water or salt water in New Hampshire without a fishing license. Vermont’s Free Fishing Day is June 8.
The arrival of spring means the arrival of newborn and just-hatched wildlife. These youngsters soon venture into the world on shaky legs or fragile wings and are discovered by people living and working nearby. Every year, the lives of many young wild creatures are upset by people who take baby wildlife from the wild in a mistaken attempt to “save” them. These well-meant acts of kindness tend to have the opposite result. Instead of being left to learn their place in the world, young wildlife removed from their habitat are denied important natural learning experiences that help them survive on their own. If these animals are released back into the wild, their chances of survival are reduced. Avoid these problems by following one simple rule when coming upon young wildlife: If You Care, Leave Them There! The young are quite safe when left alone because their color patterns and lack of scent help them remain undetected. Baby birds found on the ground may be safely picked up and placed in a nearby bush or tree. Parent birds are not disturbed by human scent. Leave fawns (young deer) where they are found. Fawns are safest when left alone because their camouflaging color helps them remain undetected until the parent returns. Only when young wildlife are found injured or with their dead mother may the young be assisted, but must then must be delivered immediately to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Please note, it is illegal to possess most wildlife in Massachusetts without a permit.
This past winter, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife conducted a “Park Waterfowl” survey. The survey, which ran between Jan. 6-26, 2013, has been conducted every 5 years since 1973. Park waterfowl are wild ducks and geese that spend part of the day during a given time of year at sites where they have access to human-provided food. This year, a total of 10,108 mallards, 292 American black ducks and 1,583 Canada geese were counted on 145 sites in 84 municipalities. Five hundred twenty-six other types of waterfowl were counted as well, including gadwalls, American wigeon, Northern pintails, ring-necked ducks, buffleheads, hooded mergansers, mute swans, American coots, mallard-black duck hybrids, and scaup. This long-term survey has revealed some interesting information, especially about mallard ducks and Canada geese. Mallard numbers have declined over time due to a decline in the number of feeding sites and increased competition for food with Canada geese. Despite their decreased numbers, the mallard is still the most common duck found in the Northeast. Canada geese, on the other hand, are not as reliant on handouts from people as mallards and are thriving in the state, particularly in eastern Massachusetts.
Turkey season will come to an end here in Massachusetts this Saturday. To date, over 600 big birds have been checked in online. We will have a complete report of harvest results in a few weeks.
