Initiative targets wild cat management
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has now entered the Arizona ballot initiative process for the 2018 election cycle.
Jim Unmacht, executive director of the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation, said its goal with this action is to get Arizona voters to reject a century of sound scientific wildlife management from our Arizona Game & Fish Department biologists, and turn over the management of wild cats to the ballot box, with an emotion based, non-factual initiative.
On behalf of all Arizonans, the Arizona Game & Fish Department manages over 800 species of wildlife including mountain lion and bobcats. To remove the management of these cats from their purview would not only disrupt the balance their wildlife managers seek on a daily basis, it would also have a negative impact on the other 798-plus species they manage.
Unmacht says people need to do three things:
• Do not sign a petition for this initiative.
•Do not make a contribution to HSUS, Arizonans for Wildlife or any other supporter of this initiative.
• Tell everyone you know what is going on!
Hunt happenings
• Youth Quail and small Game Camp Oct. 13-15: Hosted by Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club (YVRGC) with the assistance of the Yuma region IV office of Game and Fish. This event is one of the greatest events of the year for youth hunters age 17 and under who are accompanied by parent or guardian with the AZ hunt license required for youths 10 years or older. No hunt license is required for youths 9 years and younger as long as they are accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian. Call Thom Mango at 928-581-0638 or Crystal Mango at 928-503-1193 for information or email smallgamecamp@gmail.com. Also visit the Facebook page at https://www. facebook.com/smallgamecamp. Registration for this event is required for both the youth and volunteers – sign up with the Yuma Region IV Game and Fish office at 342-0091. Jean Wilson
For a good share of fishing fun for the whole family, go after the gullible bluegill. They will eat most anything that moves, can be caught at most Yuma-area waters and are mighty good eating to boot.
Prime water for big bluegill must include plenty of shoreline vegetation that provides them with cover and food. Tree stumps and other timber, including tulies, are good habitat for this species of fish, providing good cover and an excellent underwater structure where food from plants can grow.
Big bluegill migrate in and out of the vegetation feeding areas, usually in the morning and evening, along established routes like drop-off ledges and weedy points. Boat docks and bridge piles are other prime gathering areas. Weed beds with a clear-water covering of several feet are also productive. The first 20 feet out into deeper water from the edge of reeds, cattails, lily pads and sunken weedbeds also bring good results.
An important factor in fishing for big bluegill is to work your bait, lure or fly slowly. If that doesn’t work, go even slower.
Worms are considered the best bait, but remember that bluegill have small mouths and will merely pluck at bigger bait. Use just a bit of worm — like a small, active red worm. Meal worms, dillies, crickets, small grasshoppers and even small canned shrimp are also good.
There has long been a tendency to overharvest bluegill the same as we do bass in our quest for bigger fish, so if your goal is a population of jumbo bluegill, then the larger fish should be protected by the same catch-and-release policy we use for bass. Enjoy the fishing and keep enough for a tasty meal, but let those bigger bluegill go back to the water to flourish and propagate the species.
Fishing clubs
• Desert Bass Anglers, “The Fun Way to Fish”: Check next week’s column for results of yesterday’s Team Bass Tournament out of Fisher’s Landing or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.
Club reminders: Thanks to all for using the black bags at the scale area to weigh your fish. If you have a fish 5-pounds or larger, use a separate weigh bag. Please return plastic bags after releasing your fish at the end of the dock in deeper water. You may also put them back in your livewell to take them to the current. Note: The 1st team out of the money receives a free lube, oil and filter sponsored by FTS Automotive Center. VERY IMPORTANT: be aware that refuges in Martinez and Ferguson Lakes are closed now with no entry for fishing allowed.
Mac and Bobbi want you to be aware that water levels are fluctuating quite a bit and the September storms brought new debris into the river. Sandbars are moving and bigger. Normally water is falling on Saturdays. If fishing backwaters, watch the water levels and don’t get stuck!
• ABA American Bass – Yuma Division: If you haven’t yet fished the Yuma area ABA tournaments, they will begin when weather cools — call Jeff Woods at (952) 824-0553 for information on becoming member and get signed up to fish. I’ll have the results of the Mittry Lake season opener as well as a tournament schedule for 2017-18 shortly.
Heads Up: The Directors will be hosting a barbecue for Yuma qualifying teams at the Havasu Regional ABA Championships being held in November. Anderson Toyota is also hosting a BBQ on the night of registration. For any teams that qualified and are planning to be in Havasu on that Wednesday (1st day of official pre-fish), join us Wednesday evening at Jeff’s condo pool for a get-together over refreshments and some red rock crabs (lobsters) — need a count for how many to catch for the bbq.
• The “Desert Draw Series Bass Fishing Club” is being formed by Michael Obney who will hold a “meet and greet” at 1 p.m. on Oct. 14 for interested fishermen and ladies at his home located at 11229 E. 24th Place (south side of I-8, off Fortuna Boulevard in the Foothills). Call Mike at 928-750-7081 with your questions. He’ll be glad to hear from you.
• Yuma’s High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any youngster to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing boats and equipment as well as guide the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing know-hows. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.
Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.