Several receptacles have been installed at the Iowa Great Lakes boat ramps allowing anglers to recycle old fishing line.

The hope is that now the line won’t hurt fish, fowl or boat props. I’m sure shore anglers will appreciate this as well, considering just about every angler out there has found themselves snagged on someones old line.

The receptacles are next to boat ramps at  Emerson Bay, Templar Lagoon and at the Hwy. 9/71 bridge.

Spirit Lake-based Pure Fishing will recycle the old line.

Hopefully this idea will spread throughout the state.

The National Fish Habitat Action Plan has unveiled the 2010 10 “Waters to Watch” list, a collection of rivers, streams, lakes and watershed systems that will benefit from strategic conservation efforts to protect, restore or enhance their current condition.

The 10 “Waters to Watch” are representative of freshwater to marine waters across the country including lakes and reservoirs that are improving through the conservation efforts of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan-a bold initiative to reverse persistent declines in aquatic habitat.

The Action Plan’s 10 “Waters to Watch” Initiative was first unveiled in 2007 through its Fish Habitat Partnerships. Since 2006, the Fish and Wildlife Service has provided $8.5 million to support 188 on-the-ground projects in 36 states, leveraging $20 million in partner match, to address the priorities of the Fish Habitat Partnerships, along with funding from several other State and Federal Agencies and NGO’s.

Diamond Lake, Iowa -(National Fish Habitat Partnership – Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership)

This project focuses on improving water quality by shifting the lake to a clear water state using water-level management to consolidate bottom sediments, re-establish aquatic plants, and control common carp populations. The restoration of Diamond Lake is Iowa’s inaugural shallow lake restoration project providing resource management professionals with experience and expertise for managing shallow lakes. The project also provides stakeholders a demonstration of the restoration potential for other shallow lakes.

The only other nearby lake named on the list was Lake Vermilion, in MN.

This restoration project, under the Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership, through the National Fish Habitat Action Plan involves Diamond Lake, a 166-acre shallow natural lake in northwest Iowa. Historical records indicate this lake once had a thriving and diverse aquatic plant community, clear water, and a healthy aquatic ecosystem. For the past 80-100 years, however, the lake has exhibited poor water quality, excessive blue-green algal growth, and extremely limited fisheries and wildlife habitat.

This project focuses on improving water quality by shifting the lake to a clear water state using water-level management to consolidate bottom sediments, re-establish aquatic plants, and control common carp populations. The restoration of Diamond Lake is Iowa’s inaugural shallow lake restoration project providing resource management professionals with experience and expertise for managing shallow lakes. The project also provides stakeholders a demonstration of the restoration potential for other shallow lakes.

During winter 2006-07, the initial efforts to enhance this 166-acre basin were completed with the installation of a drawdown tile designed to allow the lake to be periodically dewatered to eliminate rough fish and to allow for the germination of aquatic plants and consolidation of bottom sediments. A winter rotenone project in January 2008 eliminated the few remaining rough fish in the lake. Excessive rain in late summer 2007 prevented a successful drawdown. However, a successful drawdown was realized in summer 2008 through the continuous use of the drawdown tile and the temporary use of an auxiliary diesel pump, which was purchased with Lake Restoration funds. The outlet of the lake was also lowered about one-half of a foot to a more natural elevation, which will prevent excessive shoreline erosion, tree toppling and should provide for water levels more conducive to aquatic plant growth. Despite a cool spring, re-growth of vegetation did well over the summer.

A “reef” fish barrier was installed during winter 2008-09 to prevent the re-infestation of rough fish into Diamond Lake. The barrier is best described as a flow-through rock weir. At present, the lake contains exceptionally clear water and has diversified stands of emergent vegetation on the lake’s perimeter and sub-mergent vegetation within the lake. Migratory bird use has been excellent with several thousand shore birds and waterfowl observed on the lake during early fall 2009. Fingerling yellow perch were stocked spring 2009 and northern pike will be stocked in 2010.

This is the Diamond Lake in Northern Iowa, off Hwy 86 , not the Diamond Lake near Montezuma, off HWY 63 near Lake Ponderosa.

14th Annual Youth Fishing Derby Pre-registration is at Bacon Creek General Store May 1st – 15th

Children ages 4-12, must preregister for the event, which is being held at Bacon Creek Park on Saturday, June 5. Registration forms are available at Long John Silvers/A&W Restaurant, 4420 Sergeant Road, and the Bacon Creek Country Store, 2520 Gordon Drive.

A parent’s signature and a $5 entry fee are required with a completed registration form. Each participant will receive a new rod and reel, tackle box and tackle, fishing instruction, a shoreline lunch, and a chance to win a new bike in RiverCade’s River City Anglers Casting Contest.

The number of participants for the annual fishing derby is limited, Claeys said, adding that those interested should sign up as soon as possible.

The Hy-Vee Fishing Derby is a fun, free event that is open to the public. With an anticipated visitor attendance of more than 30,000 people, it provides children up to the age of 15 the chance to fish and win prizes.

Funds raised go directly toward Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa’s mentoring programs. The funds will be used to match children with a carefully-screened, caring Big Brother or Big Sister mentor.

Grab your fishing pole and come down to Water Works Park on Saturday, May 15 from 8-1 p.m. to participate- there is no registration for this event. Children can experience the joys of reeling in the “Big Fish” when they participate in the Hy-Vee Fishing Derby. Catch a tagged fish and win a prize of your choice! Fish cleaning stations are available for those who wish to take home the fish. Fishing licenses are not required to participate in the event. Only children under the age of 15 are allowed to fish at Water Works Park on the day of the Derby. All children must be accompanied by a adult.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for more than 200 volunteers to help the day of the Derby.

More information is available here.

At a meeting last week, the Clive City Council voted 5-0 to pay for a topographical survey of the area where the pond would be built. The council will vote on a final plan for the project after the survey is completed.

The council also voted to accept a $99,000 grant for the project from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources as part of the I-Jobs program. The total project cost is estimated to be $250,000 to $300,000.

Community Development Director Doug Ollendike told the council that the pond is an innovative way to manage the stormwater. It will be designed to look like a natural wetlands area.  Hopefully it will be well stocked too! I’d love to have another pond I could bike to, since I always worry about getting run off Lake Halice.

What: Big Mil’s Bait Shop

Where: 913 1/2 W. Mississippi Drive, Muscatine.

Hours: 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Saturday, open until 10 p.m. in the summer.

Phone: 563-517-7320

Big Mil’s Bait Shop opened just in time. Scott’s Outdoors had just closed. Owner Nathan Bleu, 36, and manager Mil Burroughs, 46, recognized the opportunity and jumped on it.

“Mil put the whole thing together,” Bleu said.

“He knows more about fishin’, and I know more about business,” Mil joked. “We’re each other’s bosses.”

Bleu and Burroughs said they hope to have a fishing contest and a “Wall of Shame/Wall of Fame” for smallest and largest Mississippi River catches.

The shop offers a full supply of live bait from nightcrawlers to wax worms to minnows. Bleu said he will be bringing in brown crickets, bullheads and goldfish in the next week.  Burroughs said they will eventually sell beer, too, after they get their liquor license, but for now, fishermen can grab soda and snacks at the shop.

Mitchell Lake

Members of the Mitchell City Council voted unanimously Monday evening at City Hall to approve the purchase of a used SolarBee water circulator to combat algae in Lake Mitchell.

The City Council’s Finance Committee voted to provide $20,250 for the purchase. The remainder of the necessary funds — $6,750 —will come from the Lake Mitchell Advisory Committee as a 25 percent match.
The unit, which sells for approximately $50,000 new, will cost $22,000. Installation in Lake Mitchell will cost $5,000.

The council also awarded a $5,180 bid for work on a handicapped fishing dock to Colwell Concrete Inc., of Mitchell.

The Iowa DNR is tagging 26-walleyes for the upcoming season.

25-fish carry 100 dollar marks. The one fish has a 1,000 dollar tag.

The $1,000 fish tagged last season is still swimming around out there in Clear Lake. The prize money is still good through the end of May.

Its Fishing Season Again

Alright, I’m not an Ice Fisherman, which is pretty much why this blog has been dormant this winter. I’m still alive though and if the weather and my alarm clock cooperate, I hope to be out fishing in the morning.