McClory: Division of Fisheries and Wildlife changing online format this month

In early June, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) Web site will have a new look; part of an ongoing statewide effort that results in a standard “look and feel” among all state government agency websites. You’ll also see this new look on the Web sites for the Department of Fish and Game, Division of Marine Fisheries, Office of Boating and Fishing Access and the Division of Ecological Restoration. New and useful features for the new format include wider pages, enhanced “breadcrumb” navigation, and mobile phone/tablet viewing readiness. The DFW main Web page address remains the same, www.mass.gov/masswildlife, and the information from the old address will have been moved to the new Web site. You will need to update any favorites, or bookmarked or saved searches, on specific DFW Web pages as those links will no longer work.A few weeks ago, I observed something that really bothers me and I hope the word gets out about how dangerous it could be! As a matter of fact, I would consider it a life-threatening event! While boating on Sebago Lake a few weeks ago, we witnessed another family enjoying a day on the lake just as we were. Up on the front, on the bow, there was a young lady sitting with her legs hanging out over the front of the boat, holding onto the bow rail. This is not the first time I have seen this. I cannot believe a captain would allow a young child to be sitting in such a vulnerable position. All it would take is a rogue wake from another boat or a sudden change in speed or direction and the child could lose her grip and fall into the water in front of the boat. The chances are not very good that the captain could stop in time so as not to hit the girl or so as not to force the child under the boat only to get chopped up by the prop! Everyone in a boat should have an assigned seat and they should stay put when the boat is under power! Please, if you are a boat owner and have children, don’t allow this to happen and spread the word! I’m not done yet. Soon after this incident, a pontoon party boat came cruising by, again with a family enjoying a day on the lake. After they passed us, I glanced over my shoulder and I couldn’t believe what I saw. There were two people, one on each side of the motor, sitting down on the deck with their feet dangling in the water, while it was under power! Again, these people are not thinking at all about the safety of their passengers. One good bump on a wave and, if either fell in the water, they would be sucked down into the prop! Please, if you see this happening, try to mention it to the captain and hopefully he will thank you instead of telling you to mind your own business.All of the recent rain and cool night temperatures have cooled off the water, and coldwater fish like salmon and trout are on the bite. Lake trout fishing on Sebago turned back on last week. Reports of 10-plus pound fish are being echoed across the lake. Two trophy fish of 12 and 16 pounds have also been recently caught. Trolling flatfish just off bottom on the lower shoals using the perch scale and fire tiger pattern in the U-20 and T-4 size is working very well. If you enjoy deepwater fishing with downriggers and are looking for trophy lake trout, Sebago is the place to go! Salmon fishing also has improved over the last week at Sebago. Try Mooselook Wobblers, DB Smelt and Flashkings first thing in the morning. Fish three feet of lead core with a 25-30 foot leader of 4-6 pound mono. My favorite spot this time of year is in front of Nason’s Beach and Spider Island. Find the 50-foot water and stay in it.From the Kittery Report, Pete Santini at Fishing FINatics in Everett reports: “Flounder are still rocking around the Deer Island Flats on the Zobo Rig baited with seaworms and lots of black sea bass around Peddocks Island rock piles. ? Cod still good out by Boston Light with some keepers up to 25 inches. ? Big tuna spooling striper fishermen out in front of Gloucester Harbor all the way to Egg Rock, and the S