Things swam smoothly as anglers and Department of Environmental Conservation officials

took another dip into the bait regulations bucket Tuesday evening.

About 75 ardent anglers and area and state DEC officials gathered at the Sheridan Parkside

Community Center in Tonawanda for the next round of public input the DEC is seeking ahead of

any altering of regulations for transporting bait in New York State.

After a series of fish kills, the result of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in 2005 and

2006 in New York State, DEC officials imposed a ban on any transportation of uncertified bait

and other fish, in October 2007. This was done to prevent fish infections from being

introduced into untainted waters.

Opposition to the transportation ban centers on this: An angler can't catch baitfish in one

Lake Erie tributary and take it to another location on the lake even though this would not

introduce an infection that is not already present in the lake.

Dr. Andrew Noyes, DEC fish pathologist from the Albany office, pointed out that VHS and

seven other pathogens have been detected in fish species tested statewide during the past 10

years. After the initial discovery, the DEC acted promptly to control harmful pathogens.

"We tested 42 sites before the 2007 ban and another 59 sites after the 2007 transportation

ban was imposed," Noyes told anglers at the Tuesday meeting. He added that 180 sites in all

have been tested during the past three years with no signs of VHS, which typically strikes in

the spring when water temperatures reach 40 to 50 degrees, or other pathogens.

"The spread of these viruses is the ultimate concern," said Shaun Keeler, the fish

regulations coordinator at the Albany office. In his introductory remarks, before public

comments were made, Keeler and other DEC officials clearly voiced an interest in making a

change in current bait transportation bans.

Several speakers stressed the necessity of using baitfish taken only from the waters in

which they were captured.

Patricia Riexinger, DEC director of the Division of Fish, Wildlife, and Marine Resources,

formerly from Western New York, said, "We will be responsive to the needs of anglers in this

issue," as she welcomed guests and their input.

Keeler outlined four general options DEC personnel have been considering: Establishing an

Erie and upper Niagara River corridor along Routes 90 and 290 on which bait can be

transported; establishing additional transportation corridors; allowing bait to be used

anywhere on the same body of water; and no overland ban whatsoever.

Again, whichever transportation means may be allowed, baitfish would be legally allowed

only for use in the waters from which it had been taken.

About a dozen attendees made statements/comments and posed questions after the formal DEC

presentation.

Dave "Woody" Woodworth, Southtowns Walleye Association president, began with an appeal to

reduce regulation impositions that he believes reduce the enjoyment of the sport of fishing.

"While we [SWA members] work hard to get out the proper information to our membership, we've

seen an increased amount of stress put upon anglers with regulations that amount to government

harassment."

Woodworth ended with an appeal to simplify the regulations.

Paul Stoos, Erie County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs baitfish transportation committee

chairman, pointed to a corridor proposal made shortly after the 2007 ban had been imposed.

Stoos stressed the ban is not working. "About 75 percent of anglers fish illegally and we

don't have the enforcement presence to successfully conduct a ban."

Dave Barus, ECFSC fish committee chairman, pointed out that Erie County sportsmen and women

lead the state in purchasing sporting licenses. "At one time this county sold 104,000

licenses; now we still lead the state but are down to about 74,000 licenses."

Barus suggested that part of the sales reduction — along with fee increases —

can be the result of bait bans and vastly increased costs of purchasing certified

baitfish.

Rich Davenport, ECFSC recording secretary, pointed out the effect on bait dealers on inland

waters was much lower than the economic and recreational losses suffered by those along the

Great Lakes corridor.

Sue Guenther, SWA vice president, read relevant excerpts from a letter sent to Art Newell

in the DEC Bureau of Fisheries. Guenther's letter stressed hardships imposed on anglers,

especially the lack of emerald shiners, an essential baitfish when perch fishing on Lake Erie,

as the season progresses each year.

Helen Domske, with New York Sea Grant, has coordinated many public-input gatherings on the

baitfish and other fisheries issues. Domske noted the importance of Dr. Paul Bowser's studies

at Cornell University's college of aquatic studies. She reasserted the willingness of NYSG

staffers to assist in this baitfish issue.

Bill Nowak, representing State Senator Antoine Thompson, listened to all commentary with

concern. Thompson currently chairs the Senate Conservation Committee.

During a question and answer session, additional commentary was offered. Bob Hollingsworth,

well known tournament angler and devoted recreational fishermen, cited the necessity of using

emerald shiners when perch fishing in Lake Erie.

"They may or may not work on other waters, but no other bait will work on perch as well as

emeralds," he asserted.

Noyes explained that salted minnows have to be certified because some pathogens thrive in a

frozen state if the tissue isn't fully dried when salted and then frozen.

At the end of questioning, angler Kevin Tone respectfully acknowledged the need for a ban

with earlier die-offs but ended with the comment, "The time for this ban has passed."

Riexinger suggested that anyone who wants to be updated on this and other DEC issues should

subscribe to the free, weekly "Field Notes" available at

dec.ny.gov/about/63801.html.

Additional public input meetings will be held Wednesday, 7-9 p.m., across the state. In

Western New York, the meeting will be at Region 8 Headquarters in Avon, call (585) 226-5324,

and at the Bath Sub-Office, call (585) 226-5324.

For those not able to attend, public comments can be forwarded until Sept. 10 to: Shaun

Keeler, NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233 or e-mailed to: fishregs@gw.dec.state.ny.us.