Here is an important issue for fishermen in British Columbia that I wanted to share with you all. It is a re-print from Alexandra Morton’s blog.

Please sign the petition at www.adopt-a-fry.org to help the cause.

See blog for further information:   http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/

Dear Minister Shea:

On August 26 you sent duplicate letters to many people dismissing the impact of salmon farms on British Columbia. I can only imagine the response to collapse of the world’s largest sockeye salmon river, the Fraser River, has come directly from Ottawa. Your letter provides stark insight into the Federal Conservative government’s course of action.

With an entire ministry at your disposal you told the public:

“The coastwide scope of the decline that has occurred across all Pacific salmon species suggests that this decline is associated with much larger ecological events than localized salmon farming.”

This is entirely inaccurate as there has NOT been a coast-wide collapse across all Pacific salmon species, quite to the contrary. The people of British Columbia are looking at a bull’s-eye collapse pattern with good returns all around the dead center – which is our extremely valuable Fraser River sockeye.

Really interesting – even within the Fraser River, the Harrison sockeye, which scientists report migrate to sea via fish farm-free Strait of Juan de Fuca, are returning at twice the DFO forecast.

The missing Fraser River sockeye salmon were observed as smolts by DFO as they migrated in the river. They were abundant and large. They entered the sea in late spring 2007, turned north into a heavily industrialized salmon farming area, where I examined some of them as they were being infested with sea lice and then they disappeared. These are the only sockeye that collapsed to less than 10% of forecast.

While you are telling the public all salmon species collapsed coast-wide, your highest-ranking BC official is publishing letters in newspapers also telling us that fish farms are not responsible for the collapse because the lice species I and others counted on the young sockeye in 2007 are not found on farm fish.  First of all, there were two species of lice on the sockeye smolts, the large salmon louse and the smaller Caligus. Second, the fish farm company on the Fraser sockeye migration route, Marine Harvest, frequently reports Caligus in their website data. Specifically they report 16.5 Caligus per fish for a total of 8 million breeding on the Cyrus Rocks farm early this July as our newest sockeye generation was passing that farm. Because Caligus frequently jump fish to fish this species is also a strong potential disease vector.

As he exonerates fish farms, he goes on to say he will work with First Nations and other fishermen to conserve sockeye.  Minster Shea, you closed this fishery at the beginning of the season there has been extremely little fishing on this stock of sockeye.  Your Ministry has absolutely no valid scientific or legal reason to omit fish farmers from the investigation and ensuing action to protect the Fraser sockeye.

You also wrote that DFO has “taken significant action…” by “monitoring” farm lice and doing “ocean circulation studies.”  These are studies, not “significant action.” Your letter tells people you can’t protect our salmon with closed-containment farms until this is “practical and realistic” for the fish farmers with head offices in Oslo, Norway. Minister Shea, you work for the people of Canada. Your primary mandate is protection of our wild salmon and whatever else is going on in your office no one has rescinded this mandate yet.

History is clearly repeating itself. In 1997, DFO scientists reported that the collapse of Canada’s North Atlantic cod stocks, one of earth’s greatest human food supplies, was because DFO ignored the science, misinformed the public, offered plausible but inaccurate theories, reprimanded scientists who spoke freely and took no action(1). No one in DFO was held accountable when Canadians lost this vast resource. Here in 2009, I would argue you and your department are ignoring the science, misinforming the public, offering plausible but unconfirmed theories and taking no action on a highly documented and obvious factor that reoccurs worldwide wherever there are salmon farms(2). You must be held accountable or it is clear from experience where this is heading.

The Fraser sockeye contribute far more to the economy and employment than salmon farms and they transport ocean nutrients into much of this Province feeding the trees that produce oxygen, remove carbon and help stabilize our climate. An enormous number of British Columbians live in the Fraser watershed and are breathing oxygen produced by salmon fed trees. These are planetary systems we literally cannot live without. First Nation women have written me in anger and anxiety at loosing an essential part of their diet.

The very concept of farming salmon in net pens is unconstitutional in Canada because it attempts to privatize ocean spaces and own schools of salmon in the ocean. The industry appears in violation of many sections of the Fisheries Act.  It breaks the natural laws of wild salmon, which never remain stationary. Your record of fish farm defense includes a recent assertion that the industry’s by-catch of wild fish is not a “significant problem.”  And you refuse to acknowledge the science and act on the information that the fish farm viral ISA pandemic is spreading in imported salmon eggs(3).

Reading the outpouring of articles, letters to editors, emails to me and the 17,000 signatures thus far on my letter to you asking simply that you enforce the Fisheries Act on salmon farms I don’t think western Canada is ready to loose their fish like eastern Canada. The actions required are simple:

1 Within your investigation on the fate of our sockeye, require full disclosure of the health and stocking of every salmon farm in BC from 1986 – present and run analysis against health records in enhancement facilities near and distant from salmon farms, including the 2007 salmon farms from Campbell River to Port Hardy.
2 Close the fish farm fishery on the Fraser migration route just as you have closed commercial and sport fishing.
3 Apply the Canadian Fisheries Act to fish farms and start laying charges for violations.
4 Support the Canadian fish farmers who want to reinvent their industry on land, with an eye to siting these facilities in job-starved towns
5 Ensure that marketing of both farmed and wild salmon is maximized to benefit us all, instead of driving down the price of both
6 Remove your science branch from the political DFO body and reinstate the Fisheries Research Board  - which was a cutting edge, world class, Canadian, scientific powerhouse. Start using, instead of muzzling, your scientists.
7 Form local area management councils compromised of the people who depend on wild salmon and understand the complexities of their regions.
8 Apply the phenomenal wealth of science now available to harness the salmon’s own remarkably successful biology to restore our runs.

If you won’t take these steps please resign along with your Pacific Region senior staff and make way for people who will honor Fisheries and Ocean’s contract with the public of Canada, present and future generations, to protect our salmon.  The enormous pink salmon return this year – fish that were allowed to go to sea without farm lice, is a clear statement by the fish themselves that British Columbia can have abundant wild salmon, even running through the biggest city in our Province, Vancouver,  City of the Salmon

Wild salmon are a gift on a magnitude far greater than any oil well, river power project or the few jobs from a Norwegian industry that imports fish from the south Pacific, throws them in our ocean and pulls out less fish.

Read the list of 17,000 people and counting who have signed my letter www.adopt-a-fry.org <http://www.adopt-a-fry.org> asking that you apply the laws of Canada to salmon farms. They are First Nation chiefs, business people, politicians, entertainers, environmentalists, stream keepers, they are the people of British Columbia, not a fringe group you can brush aside.  Minster Shea, you have failed us in your response to the collapse of earth’s largest sockeye salmon run and this is not alright with British Columbia.

Alexandra Morton, R.P. Bio
Echo Bay, BC  http://alexandramorton.typepad.com/

1 Hutchings, J.A., Walters, C. and Haedrich, R.L. 1997. Is Scientific Inquiry Incompatible with Government Information Control?  Canadian Journal of Aquatic Science. Vol 52.
2 Ford, J.S. and Myers, R.A. 2008 A Global Assessment of Salmon Aquaculture Impacts on Wild Salmonids. PLos Biology 6(2)
3 Vike, S., Nylund, S., and Nylund, A. 2008. ISA virus in Chile: evidence of vertical transmission. Archives of Virology. Vol. 154. (note: “vertical” means via eggs)

How to Select the Right Fishing Rod

Rods used to be simple, made with plain bamboo and twine. Fishing line was made from horse’s hair. It required a lot of maintenance, had to be thoroughly dried between fishing sessions and often rotted away.

Time passed and someone designed a rod that could be more easily stored. The rod could separate into different pieces and had metallic loops to act as guides for the fishing line. A wheel was added to store the fishing line, which was now made from silk. The silk line was an improvement, but it also needed to be dried before being stored.

Fishing Gear of Today

Advances in technology have brought many changes to the world of fishing. One of the most amazing breakthroughs is the development of carbon composites, which now allows fishing rods to be made of carbon and Kevlar (yes, the stuff that makes bullet-proof vests bullet-proof). These rods are extremely strong and durable, and are amazingly lightweight.

Fishing line reached its ultimate when scientists developed synthetic materials from petroleum. Many products were born, among them nylon, the perfect material for fishing line. The wheels for the line advanced, too. No longer a simple spool, today’s fishing reels can be open-faced or closed, mounted on top or below the rod, can freely let line out or use a special catch to regulate the flow.

To Choose a Rod, Know Your Fish

All of these technological advances bring with them the need for research. A plain bamboo rod and horse hair won’t quite do anymore. Sure, you can give it a try, but why not see what your local retailer has in stock? Before you buy, though, you need to know what type of fish you’re going after.

Fish vary in size, so the rod will need to vary in size and/or strength and durability as well. A lightweight rod, such as a fiberglass rod, should suffice for small freshwater fish of 5 pounds or less. If you’re going after bigger fish, though, particularly game fish, you’re going to need a bigger rod. These fish are heavy, fight hard and will put tremendous strain on the equipment. Select a strong rod that can handle the battle.

Understand the Water

Where you’ll be fishing makes a difference, too. Fishing from the riverbank or the shore of a lake usually requires a 12 or 13 foot long fishing rod. If you’re in a boat or on a branch jutting into the stream, you’ll need a shorter, 6 foot rod. Fly fishing requires yet a different size rod, usually 10 or 12 feet long, because this type of fishing involves the angler wading into shallow waters to cast.

Where to Get Information

Beginners should watch other anglers to see what they use. Ask questions. Experienced fishers are usually happy to share tips about equipment and gear. You can also visit your local sporting goods store. The personnel there can explain the equipment each type of fishing requires. Before you know it, you’ll be in the great outdoors, snagging your first fish.

After a very long 3 years, Dan Eggertsen is finally ready to reveal every fishing secret 12 old school walleye fishermen use to manipulate walleye’s instincts… catching them almost at will.

They discovered these “genius” techniques to feed their families when they were growing up…

You’ll be in a very small group of fishermen to ever see what Dan is about to reveal… and you’ll also be one of the FIRST.

Now you can have the secrets these guys have kept hidden from the world…for decades. (Ever ask an old master how he’s catching so many? Somehow they never give you the FULL story)

It’ll be your choice.

And how would you like to out catch your buddies almost every time?

I’m here to tell you it’s all possible.

The information Dan is about to show you is nothing short of a walleye fishing breakthrough… presented by some of the greatest old school fishermen in the country.

You’ll soon be using their amazing secrets to manipulate the primal instincts of walleye.

“Luck” will have nothing to do with how many you haul in consistently… almost any time you want to.

So, if you are ready to end frustrating walleye fishing trips forever…

If you know there are things some of the old guys are doing that the rest of us don’t even realize…

You are about to be thrilled.

Go to:

http://www.systemsalesmachine.com/app/?Clk=2847750

It’ll only take a few minutes to see everything here:

http://www.systemsalesmachine.com/app/?Clk=2847750

Finally, I want to thank everyone for the kind words you’ve been sending. It means a lot to me.

Gone Fishin’,

Pete

P.S. In case you’re wondering if the audio clips are the real old school walleye fishermen behind this… yep! And they are ready to show you everything…

Go to:

http://www.systemsalesmachine.com/app/?Clk=2847750

A knot is only useful to you if you remember how to tie it.

I could show you knots until the cows come home, but
if at that critical time, when you’re out on the stream,
you’ve rooted around in your tackle box until you found it,
“old faithful”, you’re favourite lure from days gone by,
and you go to attach it to your line…

But you’re drawing a blank.

“How did I do that knot again? Over, under through the
whatcha-ma-call-it? Oh drat!

I FORGET!”

Don’t get stuck in this terrible situation where the only way
out is to either:

a) Ask someone and risk looking like some newbie who’s
never fished a day in their lives. Can be very hard to
do after you’ve talked up how many fish you used to
catch and how big they were. Don’t want to look like a
liar…

b) Give it your best guess and risk losing your gear and
any fish you manage to hook because the knot wasn’t
quite right and it slipped free

One such viewer got stuck in this exact predicament. He
writes:

“Is there an easy way to remember how to tie the knots you’ll
need even if you don’t have years of experience fishing; and
only fish maybe a dozen times or so per year? I’m getting back
into surf fishing after 25 years away…”

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

Should you ever be able to untie a knot after you’ve
tied it??

One viewer wrote in with this question:

“What is a simple knot that can be used to tie terminal
tackle lures etc to your line without much reduction in
line strength and can be tied and untied to avoid
constantly having to cut off current tackle in order to tie
on anther lure?”

First of all, I want to start by saying that if your knot
can be untied, then it wasn’t a good knot to begin with.

Your knot should be so tight that even a great white
shark can’t get that sucker to slip. Otherwise you risk
losing all the fish you hook and your tackle to boot.

However I understand your desire to not have to
constantly be re-spooling your reel and to save some
dough by not wasting your line.

So I’ve come up with some solutions to this
dilemma that don’t involve untying your beautiful,
strong, perfect little knot (who has the fingers or the
patience to even do that with such a tiny line anyway?)

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

A serious problem that many fishermen encounter
is the frustration of not being able to get their knots tight
enough.

Having to ask countless times for help from a fishing
buddy to get your knot tight enough where you feel
comfortable casting it out there, makes them annoyed
and leaves you feeling like an idiot.

But rather than dealing with losing a lure and missing
out on some good fishing, getting help seems like the
best solution to the problem until you learn how to
make your knots tight enough.

Now it isn’t because you are a weakling or a wimp that
you can’t get your knots tight – don’t let anyone tell you
differently. You just simply don’t know the tricks to
get it tight yet.

With the proper training on how to get your knot to snug
tightly down, you too will be casting confidently and your
days of asking for help will be long gone.

Edmund C. wrote in for help with this very same
problem, “How do I tie it so that it doesn’t come loose?”

I just tackled this problem head on in my latest video.

So if you often feel the frustration of losing fish and tackle
because your knots are too loose, don’t lose your cool!
Instead try some of these tricks on for size:

• Lubricate your knot: Often just adding a bit of soap,
or in a pinch some saliva will give your line the
added oomph it needs to slide tightly into place.

• Take care when tying your knot: Don’t rush when
tying your knots. Take the time to ensure that you’ve
got it good and tight before casting it out into the
abyss.

• For heavier lines you may want to use pliers to help
get your knot the tightest it can be. I keep a small
pair on a retractor on my fishing vest.

• It is not recommended that you use your teeth very
often to either tighten your knots or cut line. The line
is harder than the enamel in your teeth and you could
notch your teeth if you do this.

• When tying knots in super braid, be sure to wear a
pair of gloves to help get your knots tight without
cutting up your hands.

Keep those knots tight and the fish will make it into your
boat every time.

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg
http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

In fishing there are many “tails” that we often encounter.
There’s the:

• Fishing tale: A story of a mighty struggle and hardship
  that a fisherman underwent while trying to land a fish
  that got away. Typically followed with a gross
  exaggeration of the size of that elusive fish;

• Fish tail: The back end of the fish, used for swimming;

• Pony tail: What can be found on many female fishermen
  while out on the stream (and some men too);

• Rooster tail: The spray that comes off the back of a
  boat travelling at high speed;

• Tailing a fish: Grabbing the fish at the narrow part of the
  tail to pick it up without a net; And a

• Tailing loop: In fly casting is a very open cast that you’ve
  misjudged. It could even cause you to get hooked by
  mistake.

One tail that many fishermen often wonder about, but
don’t often ask because they fear that they will look like
a “donkey’s tail”, is how long to leave the tail (or tag end)
of the line after tying your fishing knot.

I received just that exact question from Ted over in
the UK, “I never know how much line to leave or how close
to the hook I cut.”

The video you just watched demonstrated how much of a
tail you should leave after completing your knots.

Here’s to good fishing!

Pete Nalleweg

http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

To celebrate the launch of our site we’ve decided to run a fun contest for fishermen…

The Grand Prize

Free Registration to the Online Course “Fishing Knots With Pete” AND a Spool of Berkley Fishing Line (exact type TBD depending on the type of fishing the winner prefers)

The contest rules are very simple.

Here’s How To Enter:

Watch the video lessons posted on this entry and simply tell us what you think. It’s that easy!

Submit a quality story or comment and you’ve got 1 Entry into our Contest (1 entry per participant per video)

Want More Entries?

Link to BestFishingKnots.com and we’ll give you 3 More Entries!

Write a blog post (with link) about BestFishingKnots.com or this contest and get 6 More Entries!

Additional videos will be added to the contest over the next two weeks, so check back often to increase your chances of winning.

Rules:

• Max 7 Entries Per Participant
• Contest Ends May 15th
• Winner Will Be Notified Via Email

(If you wish to link back, feel free to link back to any existing post, or simply to our main page)

For additional information on the course, visit: http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

Want to be updated via email when new videos come online? Sign up today for our newsletter at http://www.bestfishingknots.com

Tell us your biggest question about knots and we’ll get it answered for you on our video newsletter that goes out twice a month.

Simply post your knot question below and watch your email box for the answer coming to you soon.

Here’s to good fishing!

To celebrate the launch of our site we’ve decided to run a fun contest for fishermen…

The Grand Prize

Free Registration to the Online Course “Fishing Knots With Pete” AND a Spool of Berkley Fishing Line (exact type TBD depending on the type of fishing the winner prefers)

The contest rules are very simple.

Here’s How To Enter:

Watch the video lessons posted on this entry and simply tell us what you think. It’s that easy!

Submit a quality story or comment and you’ve got 1 Entry into our Contest (1 entry per participant per video)

Want More Entries?

Link to BestFishingKnots.com and we’ll give you 3 More Entries!

Write a blog post (with link) about BestFishingKnots.com or this contest and get 6 More Entries!

Click below to watch the video:

Additional videos will be added to the contest over the next two weeks, so check back often to increase your chances of winning.

Rules:

• Max 7 Entries Per Participant
• Winner Will Be Notified Via Email

(If you wish to link back, feel free to link back to any existing post, or simply to our main page)

For additional information on the course, visit: http://www.bestfishingknots.com/fullcourse.html

Want to be updated via email when new videos come online? Sign up today for our newsletter at http://www.bestfishingknots.com