Help Protect the Driftless Area From Silica Sand Mining!!

DNR and Governor need to hear from you:  Urge them not to retreat from their support for substantive protections for Driftless trout fisheries

Approximately ten days ago the substantive protections for southeast trout fisheries contained in Senate File No. 976 were stripped from the bill by senators whose districts are located far from the affected area.  In the next few days Senator Matt Schmit will seek to restore these protections for Driftless area trout fisheries via an amendment on the Senate floor.  It is important for all trout anglers to voice support for his efforts in the next few days.  The MN DNR and Governor Dayton are under increasing pressure to retreat from their strong support for the proposed state protections.  Your calls and e mails to them are critical to keep them from caving into industry lobbyists. The last opportunity to secure any substantive protections for SE MN trout fisheries this session is in the next few days (likely Wednesday, May 8) - when SF 796 is debated on the Senate floor.  

Only your calls and letters can turn the tide now.

If restored to SF 796, the protections for SE MN trout fisheries would be the only substantive protections to emerge from either legislative body this session.  Numerous silica sand mining bills and provisions, including ones calling for a regional impact study and a pause in permitting (moratorium) to allow for the adoption of state standards, have all been stymied by lobbyists and legislators from outside the affected areas of the state.  Do not be misled by claims that the remaining provisions, which contain only more process, will result in state minimum protections being developed.  The remaining provisions do not contain protective standards for southeast MN groundwater and trout streams, and do not give the MNDNR or MPCA authority to adopt such standards.  Now is the best time to let Governor Dayton, Commissioner Landwehr, and your senator know that the protective standards proposed by Sen. Schmit must be passed by the Senate and strongly supported by all of them throughout the conference committee process. 

In the past few weeks the DNR has come out in strong support of the three protective measures.  Commissioner Tom Landwehr has twice provided excellent, passionate testimony in support.  Minnesota Trout Unlimited continues to voice strong support.  However, those efforts alone can no longer overcome the numerous, well-funded lobbyists proposing toothless processes instead of substantive protections.  The DNR is under intense pressure from many industry lobbyists and, unless it hears from the many thousands of trout anglers who utilize this unique resource, may back away from commonsense protections for public waters and public fisheries.

How you can help

1.  Contact the MN DNR

DNR Commissioner Tom Landwehr has twice testified that the DNR supports the coldwater fisheries protections proposed by Sen. Schmit in SF 796.  However, industry pressure is growing on the MN DNR to abandon its support for substantive protections and settle for toothless process and delay.  The DNR needs to hear from you regarding how vital it is that all or most of the substantive protections proposed be enacted this session.  After thanking Commissioner Landwehr for his public testimony, remind him that more studies cannot take the place of conservative state setbacks from springs, trout streams, and groundwater tables.  Urge that he and his staff do all they can to ensure these protections be enacted this session.

Call Commissioner Landwehr via the DNR switchboard: 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367

E mail him at: tom.landwehr@state.mn.us

2.  Contact Governor Dayton

Governor Mark Dayton has the ability to influence legislation which he or his agencies feel strongly about.  The DNR has twice testified that it supports the coldwater fisheries protections proposed by Sen. Schmit in SF 796.  As industry pressure mounts against the DNR’s position, the Governor needs to hear from you how vital it is that these substantive protections be enacted this session.  Thank him for supporting the DNR’s public position, and urge him to do all he can to ensure that the DNR does not waiver under lobbying pressure.

Call Governor Dayton at 651-201-3400, or toll free at 1-800-657-3717.

E mail him using this form:  http://mn.gov/governor/contact-us/form/

Or contact him via his Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/GovMarkDayton

3.  Contact your Senator

Direct calls and letters to your Senator make a difference.  Legislators regularly meet or “caucus” together to discuss what issues their constituents are most concerned about.  Ask that he or she support any amendment offered by Sen. Schmit regarding protecting trout fisheries in SE MN, and ask that he or she press colleagues to do the same.

How to locate your state Senator:  Quickly locate and contact legislators by using the District finder tool on the State’s legislative website at: http://www.gis.leg.mn/OpenLayers/districts/

Simply type in your address and you will get a list and links to your representatives.  Then click on your legislator’s name and you will be taken to his or her individual web page.  You can also call the Senate switchboard at:  651-296-0504, or 1-888-234-1112

Key points you should consider making:

• You use and greatly value the world-class  trout fisheries in southeast MN
• You want your elected representatives to protect these fisheries, your recreation, and thousands of existing jobs
• Substantive restrictions must be enacted this session which will protect these fisheries, and also provide emerging silica sand mining businesses with a useful “roadmap” for avoiding uncertainty, delay and expense
• In southeast MN only (the Driftless area or Paleozoic Plateau) these minimum protections are needed:
• a setback from springs and trout streams greater than 3,000 feet (in the 6,000 to 4,000 foot range).
• a restriction against operating within 25 feet of the water table
• groundwater conservation measures, such as a million gallon cap per site, to steer businesses to other readily available sources like recycled water, warm surface waters or treated wastewater.
• Delay will only harm the fisheries, your recreation, and thousands of existing jobs dependent upon the these trout fisheries
• You expect the Legislature and Governor to find a way to enact these protections this session. 
• You expect the DNR to stand up for anglers, trout fisheries, and thousands of existing jobs, rather than withering before lobbyists

Redhorse Run on the Root

Spring Redhorse Run on the Root River

There is no better location to start the Another Fishing Show fishing blog, than in the clear waters that flow in the streams and rivers of southeastern Minnesota's Driftless area. My first memories of fishing began in these cold waters and I still fish there more than anywhere. With seemingly endless options of creeks, streams and rivers, the driftless area is like no other. With the highest concentration of springs anywhere in the world, it is no wonder why so many exotic fish call this place home.

Although I spend most of my time fishing trout in the SE Minnesota, whenever the river permits in April and May, I avoid the trout crowds and make the sucker run my priority. It still amazes me I can have my pick of the hundreds of gravel beds that are covered with these big and beautiful fish. Often visible by the hundreds, full of spring fever and color. With so many options swimming below, it is sometimes impossible to tell what you have hooked, until it is right in front of your face.

The Root has an incredible variety of species that swim in its waters. Besides the often sought after game fish that include brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, walleye and sauger. The Root also holds a collection of native and rare species, some only found in this watershed. My favorite targets include the shorthead redhorse, river redhorse, golden redhorse (the world record came out of this river), silver redhorse, greater redhorse, black redhorse, northern hognose suckers, quillback and white suckers. Catfish, gar and sturgeon have been known to swim these waters also, but are mostly found in the lower stretches closer to the Mississippi valley.

My best fish of the day.  Watch the video below to see more..

Presentation is not rocket science in sucker fishing, a crawler, hook and split shot can catch you a variety of species. But finding fishable water in the spring can be. Runoff from hundreds of streams complicate the Root river stream flow. Although most spring creeks that feed the valley water are crystal clear, a major part of the root from its source runs through open agricultural land which can complicate access and your ability to present to the fish. Keeping an eye on stream flow and flood gauges online is important before making the drive, and finding out the river will be your worst enemy.

A failed attempt at netting a big red!  Eventually got him..

It is a complete misconception that suckers somehow thrive in warm dirty water. Often mistaken for carp (no barbels? Its a sucker) who do well in a variety of conditions. Suckers do not tolerate warm water or silt. As much as a clean water fish as trout, and native to the waters unlike Browns and Rainbows, suckers are a perfect fit to their environment and do not harm populations of any game fish around them. Identification of suckers can be a tricky business also. Many of the redhorse caught can only be identified by the dorsal fin and the mouth of the fish. A White or hognose have obvious differences. But with such a variety of redhorses in these waters, without close inspection, it may be impossible to tell without a trained eye. Check out this great identification chart at www.moxostoma.com to help ID your ctach.

Why know the difference?  It's way cooler to say you caught a silver and a golden vs "a couple of suckers"

My first golden!  And didn't even know it until I got home..

Here is video from my most recent trip out. This was right after snow melt, and one of the warmest days of the spring. With snow approaching, I decided to head out on a Monday and take my chances that the river had come down a bit. I had already tried twice and was turned away by the chocolate churning water. Forced to trout fish (caught my biggest trout ever by the way, a 21-1/2" monster) I vowed to come back before spring got away. This day I was lucky to have timed my arrival perfectly, as the river was going down all afternoon and the action was constant and fast. I spent 12 hours on the river that day and it felt like 2. The sun decided to close up shop before I was ready, but that didn't stop me from having an awesome run. Hope you enjoy as much as I did..

Welcome to Another Fishing Show

Welcome to Another Fishing Show!

This is the first blog entry for the show : Another Fishing Show.  My name is Pete Wagner and my partner in crime is Greg Underdahl.  After countless hours on the boat and in the stream, Greg and me finally decided it was time to document our constant pursuit of fish and share it with the world.  There is nothing either of us would rather be doing than fishing.  My earliest memories revolve around being outdoors and chasing whatever moved with Greg.  Turtles, Snakes, Frogs, Salamanders (a score by the way), and even a misguided chipmunk capture (who later easily escaped).  This fascination with the outdoor world never left me, and eventually evolved into fishing.

Greg the Trout Slayer

I am not a big fan of fish on the dinner plate.  But I do think fresh walleye is one of the finest meals a person can sit down to.  But for the most part I am a biologist at heart, desperate to catch something so I can learn about it.  I do not and will not discriminate.  Nothing annoys me more than the term "trash fish".  Anything that can be caught in the water is worth learning about and understanding its place in an ecosystem.   No matter what the target,  how I fish revolves around a respect for the resource first.  Catch and release is the standard play for me, except for the unlucky northwoods walleye that crosses my path occasionally.

Me and a bass with a weight problem

You will see plenty of nonsense on the videos in this blog.  Intertwined with 2 guys who don't claim to be experts, they only have a passion for fishing like so many people around the world, and especially in our favorite state of Minnesota.  The goal is to not take things too seriously, unless of course we hook a big fish.  Then things get as serious as a heart attack.

Good fishing and we hope to see you on the water.