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Canadian
Association of Smallmouth Anglers
PO
Box 2051, Fall River, Nova Scotia, Canada B2T 1K6
NEWSLETTER
- FEBRUARY 2004
President’s
Message
Annual
General Meeting - Sunday
April 4th 2004
Auction
Junior
Members
Election
of Officers
Bill
Howard Memorial Award
Bob
Dechman Memorial Award
Catch
& Release Award
Sports
& RV Show - March
18th - 21st, 2004
Tournament
Schedule
Family
Discover Fishing Day 2004 - Sunday
May 30th 2004
Environment
Canada
-Lead Ban Press Release
MESSAGE
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Well
here we are - past the holidays and the New Year celebrations
and looking for (it really is too early) signs that Spring
is on the way. Some of us have managed to do some ice fishing
trips in New Brunswick. It certainly helps to pass those winter months
but you had better have your long underwear with you.
As
we start the new season I want to devote a few words to the
value of volunteering and hopefully encourage some of you to
devote time to your Association.
We
have been fortunate, through the years, to have a large, strong
membership. Those that have given generously of their time (particularly
at the Board of Director level) need replacement.
Since the last AGM we have had a couple of additions
to our Board which have been most welcome in the form of Eddie
Halfyard for the Tournament Committee and Jeff Kleinpaste to
head our Social Committee.
Having
said that, to keep CASA growing and vibrant there always has
to be a changing of the guard on a uniform and regular basis.
If this does not occur the Association becomes stagnant
and less effective. In my view, that would not bode well for the
fishery in Nova Scotia.
Since
CASA was formed there has not been one major initiative, with
respect to smallmouth bass, that does not bear CASA’s handprint.
I have attached the sheet we hand out, for new members,
at the Sport and RV Show. It lists just a few of the accomplishments
of our Association, which has, at the heart of its existence,
‘the fish’. I think it
is one of the reasons we have shared members with other organizations
that they turn to for tournament enjoyment or other activities.
I think there has always been an acknowledgment that
their membership in CASA is to support an organization that
is at the leading edge of protecting the fishery that we enjoy.
Nevertheless, the support should go beyond the simple
payment of an annual fee.
When
you read the press release of the action being taken by Environment
Canada to ban lead fishing gear, (attached at the end of the
newsletter), you will see why organizations, such as CASA, have
added importance. Nearly everything that we have recommended
has been adopted. As a matter of interest, it almost looks like
we wrote the release.
Think
about it.
Tony
Robinson
ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING - Time and Place
The
Annual General Meeting, with its popular format will be held
on Sunday, April
4, 2004 at the Grand Lake Community Hall. Activities, as usual will commence at 10 am. with
the business meeting followed by lunch at 12 am. and
then on to our ever famous auction.
Please
mark the date in your book now: Sunday,
April 4, 2004. There will be another mailout prior to the AGM with further details.
If
you have any items that you wish discussed at the annual meeting
please contact me. Tony Robinson at 453-1732
or my e-mail address is tony.robinson@cdr.ns.ca
Auction
As
you know our annual auction is critical to fund raising
for CASA’s ongoing operation and has been one of the reasons,
over the years, that we have never increased the amount
of our membership fee.
The
last couple of years the contributions/donations seem to have
been down a bit. Please
get into your garage/basement/attic (or your neighbours) and
get those items (fishing or otherwise) out to the AGM where
they will be passed along to the world-renowned auctioneer David
“I will sell you anything” Upright.
Junior
Members
It
is our custom at the end of the AGM, to award prizes and have
a little fun for the top five juniors of the year.
Again, we are always looking for your kind donations
for those junior members. If
you have anything in mind, large or small, please contact Dave
Upright who can be reached at 860-2220 or team_chiquita@yahoo.com
Election
of Officers
Most
of you will be aware, that the Annual General Meeting, we elect
the officers for the Association that make up the Executive.
Those offices are the President, Vice-President, Treasurer,
Secretary and two Directors at Large.
The other members of the Board of Directors, (committee
heads) are appointed by the Executive. We always need Members to help at the Board
level (see “The Message”) and if you are willing to put in some
time (it is not overly onerous) or know of someone within the
Association that would like to help out please get in touch
with Michael Robinson at 542-9110 or his
e-mail address is michaelr@ca.inter.net
Michael is heading up our Nomination Committee.
Note: It is extremely helpful (though not imperative)
that anyone offering to sit on the Board of Directors has e-mail
access. It has become
not only for CASA, but for many organizations, the most efficient
method of communicating with the full Board.
The
Bill Howard Memorial Award - Member of the Year
This
prestigious honor is given each year to a Member of CASA who
in the opinion of the Executive of the Board and Members has
made a substantial contribution to the Association. If you have anyone in mind please forward the
individuals name to Michael Robinson.
Michael’s phone number is 542-9110 and his e-mail
address is michaelr@ca.inter.net
The
Bob Dechman Memorial Conservation Award
Awarded
annually to an individual, group or organization that is
not a Member of CASA but has made an outstanding and recognizable
contribution to the sport fishery.
This
award is not necessarily granted each year but if you have a
person or organization in mind for their work during 2003 please
forward it to Michael Robinson his phone number is
542-9110 and his e-mail address is michaelr@ca.inter.net
The
Catch and Release Award
I
think most of our Members are familiar with this award which
is divided into two zones (Nova Scotia
and New Brunswick). There are minimum size requirements for each
zone.
If
you have any questions about the rules or need a copy of the
form on which you submit your entry please get in touch with Martin Dodge at 681-1819
or his e-mail address is m.dodge@ns.sympatico.ca
If
you are submitting any names or entries for the above items
please make sure that you have that done by February 29th.
SPORTS
AND RV SHOW
As
always, at this time of year, we are looking for volunteers
to man (woman) our booth at the Sport and RV Show (March 18-21, 2004). I hope all of you will give some thought
to doing so (see “The President’s Message”). It is frustrating, having the size of membership
that we do, to see the same people behind the table every year.
If
you have time to attend the show and drop by the booth to renew
your membership then chances are you can find a couple of hours
to contribute. It is
not a great burden and if you happen to work the booth with
Dave Upright it is downright hilarious.
It is also a great time to see a lot of people that you
may not have touched base with since last Fall.
Jeff
Kleinpaste will be getting our booth organized and rather
than waiting for him to call, take the initiative - why not
give him a call? Jeff’s
cell phone number is 441-0897 and his e-mail address
is andperry@accesswave.ca
See you at the show!
TOURNAMENTS
We
had a fairly disappointing attendance at our tournaments last
year. In fact, they turned
out to be money losers for your Association. This is the first time that this has occurred
since our first tournament in 1989.
As you know, for the 2003 season, we re-jigged the prize
money as discussed at the AGM last year and which the membership
supported. We also changed our usual lakes and moved a
tournament to Aylesford
Lake. That turned out to be a substantial failure
that was rather surprising considering that the change was discussed
and agreed to at the 2003 AGM.
Nevertheless,
the Executive, at its last meeting, decided to revisit this
issue and we have hopefully come up with a schedule/location
that you the members will find appealing.
The
tournaments will be as follows:
Sunday, July 4th
- Grand Lake
Sunday, September 12th - Porters Lake
Sunday, August 15th - Black River/Little River
Sunday, October 17th - (Ironman) -
Grand Lake
We
hope this change will, once again, boost up attendance and gain
your support.
FAMILY
DISCOVER FISHING DAY (2004) - Sunday, May 30, 2004.
A
very big thank you to Ken Enta for his outstanding efforts in
organizing this event on behalf of CASA and Nova Bassmasters.
For
the second consecutive year NOVA BASSMASTERS Association and
the Canadian Association of Smallmouth Anglers (CASA) will be
presenting a Family Discover Fishing Day (FDFD 2004). Our goal
is to introduce the novice, and in particular young anglers,
to the enjoyment of sport fishing. Time and location is 10.00
a.m. to 4.00 p.m., Sunday,
May 30th, 2004, at the Sackville Arena, First
Lake Drive, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia.
The
experienced angler will enjoy talking to the several semi-pro
and master anglers on hand and discussing techniques, equipment,
baits, locations, etc. The boat display will feature knowledgeable
people ready to pass on tips on how to choose the boat that
best suits your needs. The exhibitors will cover the entire
range of fishing activities. Useful and interesting information
will be found on conservation, habitat protection, as well as
safe boating.
For
the children, there will be free refreshments, games, contests,
and door prizes. The kid’s casting competition (where every
child is a winner) was one of the highlights of last year’s
FDFD. We will be holding the competition again this year. Rods
and reels will be supplied.
Several
other fishing clubs from around the province will join Nova
Bassmasters and CASA at FDFD 2004. You can discover their activities
and schedules planned for the coming season by speaking to them
at the Atlantic Outdoor Sports and RV Show. For more information,
look for us at the show March
18-21, 2004 at the Exhibition
Park, Prospect
Road, Halifax.
Come
on out. The admission for adults is only $1.00 and children
under 16 who bring an adult, get in free. For further information,
please check out the following web site www.novabass.com
or contact ken@novabass.com
Environment
Minister Moves to Phase Out Use of
Lead Sinkers and Jigs in Fishing
OTTAWA,
February 17, 2004 – In keeping with the Government of Canada’s
commitment to protecting and preserving Canada’s environment,
and the health of our wildlife populations, the Honourable David
Anderson, Minister of the Environment, announced today that
he will soon propose regulations that will bring about an eventual
prohibition on the import, manufacture and sale of fishing sinkers
and jigs containing lead.
“Lead
has toxic properties, and sinkers and jigs containing lead are
taking a toll on water birds, including the loon, a bird that
has come to symbolize the wilderness for many Canadians,” said
Minister Anderson. “Fortunately, this threat is largely preventable
– lead_free sinkers and jigs are affordable, work just as well,
and are becoming more readily available. I encourage everyone
in the fishing community to use these alternatives.”
Sinkers
and jigs that are lost while fishing account for about 18 per
cent of all direct lead releases into the environment, and represent
a major threat to water birds, such as the loon. Studies show
that up to 30 per cent of reported adult loon deaths during
the breeding season in eastern Canada
are the result of lead poisoning. The loons ingest the lead
sinkers or jigs when they ingest gravel to aid digestion, or
when they consume lost bait fish with lead fishing gear attached.
“The
Canadian Wildlife Service estimates that up to 500 tonnes of
lead in the form of lead sinkers and jigs is lost in our environment
every year,” said Minister Anderson. “That’s the equivalent
weight of dropping some 500 cars into our lakes, rivers and
streams each year.”
Restrictions
on the use of lead sinkers in Canada’s
National Wildlife Areas and National Parks have been in place
since 1997. Other jurisdictions, including Great
Britain and American states
such as Maine,
New Hampshire,
and Massachusetts
also restrict the use of lead sinkers and jigs. New
York State
will introduce restrictions this spring.
Environment
Canada
will be working with stakeholders, through our regulatory development
consultation process, to ensure a smooth transition to lead_free
products. Public consultations on the proposed regulations will
begin within the next 6 months.
Information
on lead free fishing is available at:
http://www.cws_scf.ec.gc.ca/fishing/index_e.cfm
or by calling Environment Canada’s Enquiry Centre at 1-800-668-6767
C.A.S.A.
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