DNR monitors non-native fish status in Lake Wawasee

Non-native white bass are firmly established in Lake Wawasee, but have had no noticeable impact on other fish or fishing in the 3,400-acre Kosciusko County lake, according to the DNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

DNR biologists captured 11 white bass in early June during their latest fish population survey at Indiana's largest natural lake. During a similar survey in July 2004, three white bass were caught.

"Someone apparently stocked white bass in Wawasee without a permit about six or seven years ago," said Jed Pearson, a DNR biologist who has monitored the lake since 1975. "We first started getting reports from ice-fishermen who caught several small white bass during 2003. Since then, more and more anglers have caught them."

To keep tabs on Wawasee fishing, the DNR surveys its fish population about every five years. The results are used to track its long-term status and trends that could be related to habitat changes, fishing pressure and introductions of non-native species.

Although white bass are a popular sport fish and are native to some Indiana lakes, Pearson said he thinks they could upset the balance within Wawasee's fish community if they become abundant.

White bass, a silver-colored fish with dark horizontal spots, are predatory fish that typically feed on other small fish. If their population expands, they may eat enough small perch, bluegills, crappies and largemouth bass to affect overall fishing quality.

The DNR prohibits the stocking of fish in a public lake without a permit because of the potential damage to the fish population already there.

"No one applied for a permit to stock white bass," Pearson said. "Had they done so, we would not have approved the request. The lake simply does not have the type or amount of forage fish needed to support a large white bass population."

Wawasee already has a high numbers of predator fish, including one of the largest northern pike populations in the state, as well as largemouth and smallmouth bass, so food could get scarce if white bass numbers increase.

In turn, biologists hope these same predator fish will help keep white bass numbers low. During the recent survey, they caught 85 pike ranging from 15 to 34 inches long.

"Wawasee has always been a great place to fish for pike," Pearson said. "Fishing for bass, bluegills, crappies and perch has also been good."

"White bass are just the latest in a list of species that have gotten into Wawasee, going all the way back to carp stockings in the late 1800s," said Pearson.

He said such intruders included clams from Asia, zebra mussels, Eurasian water milfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, purple loose-strife, and even some pacu, a fish from South America.

Law - Indiana Conservation Officer Deland Szczepanski receives

Indiana Conservation Officer Deland Szczepanski was recently honored at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division's annual awards program held on May 28, 2008 in Indianapolis.

A Meritorious Award was presented for the capture of a fleeing felon following an assault perpetrated against Officer Szczepanski after he observed a violation while on patrol on February 9, 2008. 
Szczepanski quickly located the attacker at a residence where he was arrested without incident.
 
Szczepanski is assigned to Vermillion County.

Wilderness First Aid course, Salamonie Lake, June 21-22

A two-day Wilderness First Aid course will be offered at Salamonie Lake on June 21 and 22, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The course will provide participants with the opportunity to earn WFA certification in a fun and interactive environment taught by qualified EMS educators.

Wilderness medicine is providing first aid or more advanced patient care to the sick and injured that are more than one hour from definitive medical care. Situations involving wilderness medicine can include hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing in remote areas, or providing care in an urban environment that has been ravaged by a natural or man-made disaster.

The course is $130 per person and includes textbook, handouts, WFA certification good for three years, and gate entrance fee.

Space is limited. To register, call (317) 338-4354.

The St. Vincent Indianapolis Hospital wilderness first aid course is being offered in partnership with the DNR and Indiana Conservation Officers.

Minimum age for participation is 14.  A parental consent signature on the application form is required for participants younger than 18.

Summer music series coming to Fort Harrison

Featuring dates with the Indianapolis Symphonic Band, July 20 and Aug. 2, a series of free concerts is coming to Fort Harrison State Park this summer. 
 
The concerts are part of a unique partnership that includes the Lawrence Parks Department and Ivy Tech. The concerts will be free, but the normal State Park gate fee will apply. The fees are $5 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Monday-through-Thursday fees are $4 per in-state vehicle and $7 per out-of-state vehicle.
For other news on happenings at the state park, call (317) 591-0122.

Fort Harrison State Park to Host Father's Day Kayak and Canoe Demo and Jr. Geo-Caching Games on Saturday, June 14th

Families, kids, GPS and paddling enthusiasts are all invited to the first annual Fort Harrison Canoe and Kayak Day on Saturday, June 14th at Delaware Lake, Fort Harrison State Park, from 11:00a.m. to 4:30p.m, in partnership with Dick's Sporting Goods of Indianapolis, Indiana. 

The event will permit park visitors to go out onto Delaware Lake and try out new kayaks and canoes from brand-name boats such as Wilderness Systems, Victory, Perception, Islander, Field and Stream, and Mad River.  Dick's Sporting Goods will be giving away a free kayak at 4:45p.m.

Dick's Sporting Goods will also host the Jr. Geo-Caching Games for Youth, where kids and adults work together to learn the basics of GPS map tracking.  No GPS unit or batteries are required; participants may win a free prize as part of the Geo Caching Games.

The Paddle Demonstration and the Geo-Caching Games for Youth are free of charge and are open to youth of all ages.  The free kayak drawing will be held at 4:45p; the drawing is free but you must be present to claim your prize.  The normal DNR weekend gate fee of $5/carload in state and $7/carload out-of-state applies.

More information on the workshop is available by phoning The Lodge at Dick's Sporting Goods at 317-576-0300 or the Nature History Center at 317-591-0122, Wed - Sun, 8a - 4:30p

Volunteers needed for annual State Fair Fishing Pond

For the third year in a row, the Indiana State Fair will feature a free fishing pond to help children learn how to fish. The DNR needs various types of volunteers to make this effort a success once again.
Each volunteer will receive a free fair ticket for each day they work and a T-shirt to wear for their shift. No experience is necessary.

The pond will be open for the duration of the fair, Aug. 6 -17, with two shifts each day available to volunteers, 9 a.m.-noon, and 4 -7 p.m., except for Aug. 6 and 9, when no morning session will take place.

Six volunteer positions are open, one more than last year. A tent for Angler's Legacy, which needs to be staffed, has been added. Angler's Legacy is a program focused on involving adults in fishing through teaching someone to fish or taking someone new fishing every year.

Volunteers are also needed at the fishing station to help one to two kids fish every 15 minutes of the three-hour shift. At the arts and crafts station, volunteers will help kids with a craft activity when they have finished fishing and pass out gift bags to the children.

Those who prefer a more low-key volunteer position can sit in the equipment tent's shade and repair poles as needed to keep the fun going. Finally, volunteers are needed to help at the registration table; these individuals will help sign up kids to fish by taking their information and giving them a wristband for the day.

Contact Leland Kinnett, State Fair Fishing Pond coordinator, at LKinnett@dnr.IN.gov or (317) 562-1338 with your name, phone number, address, job, shifts and days desired. If you would like to bring friends along to help, please provide their information.

Wood spirit carving field course, June 21

A wood spirit carving field course will be offered by the Indiana Dunes State Park Nature Center and the Friends of Indiana Dunes, Saturday, June 21, at 9 a.m. 

The field course will be held in the campground shelter, near the Nature Center.  Participants will learn the art of spirit carving and get a chance to carve their own project from cottonwood bark. All necessary tools, knives, and wood will be provided. Individual instruction will be provided by field course leader Tony Spanley.

The fee for the program is $25. Only 10 spots are available. To reserve a spot, call (219) 926-1390, by June 20. Participants will receive a waived gate fee at the state park for the day.