Chance for young anglers to show skills

DeKALB - The Shabbona Lake Sportsman Club is offering four days of free and competitive youth fishing. In the 12th annual Young Anglers Fishing League at Shabbona Lake, young anglers 16 years old and younger will compete on teams of five and will amass points over the four-night period of the tournament based on the fish they catch. Anglers are encouraged to come with a team of five already assembled. In the case that a team is short an angler there are extra participants ready to step in and become a team member. There is a practice night set for July 9 at the boat-launch area at Shabbona Lake. On July 16 and 19 anglers again meet at the boat launch area, on July 23 the meeting place is Lakeside Tackle, and on July 30 everyone should meet by the dam. According to tournament director Rich McElligott, anglers can expect a family atmosphere at each competition and an awards ceremony and picnic is set for Aug. 13. “We got this tournament started because there were a lot of fishing derbies that were just one day,” McElligott said. “Here we repeat this for four or five weeks. The extra time really helps kids become better casters. They get more comfortable taking fish off the hook and learn how to bait also. Through the tournament they will use different tactics and will fish in different areas.” Participants have been as young as three. Last year 36 anglers - 18 boys and 18 girls - took part in the festivities. “The tournament gives kids another avenue,” McElligott said. “Not everyone is a basketball, baseball or football player.” Applications and rule sheet are available at Allen Marine and Lakeside Tackle in Shabbona. For information contact Rich McElligott at 815-824-2523. Fish Virus The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is taking emergency action after a fish disease that has been spreading through the Great Lakes has made its way into Illinois waters of Lake Michigan. Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) has been detected in two fish species sampled in Lake Michigan. VHS, an aquatic virus previously unidentified in the Midwest, is not harmful to humans but can kill a significant number of fish. The IDNR issued a press release calling for diligence in following the emergency procedures from boaters and recreational anglers. The procedures stipulate for the elimination of natural water from all equipment when leaving a body of water. That all bait buckets, livewells, baitwells, bigles or any compartment that can hold natural water be emptied. Live VHS species are not to be removed from any waters. A VHS susceptible fish may be caught and kept, but can not be transported live from the waters where they were caught. Also, wild-trapped fish being can be used as bait only in the waters where they were legally captured. VHS is passed by direct contact with an infected fish, by a fish consuming infected prey, or simply by contact with the virus as it is contained in the water. The highly contagious virus causes fish to bleed to death. There is no vaccine and the IDNR is using control methods of surveillance and eradication to quell the virus' onslaught. Fish stocking and transportation rules are also being changed. Fish from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan,Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York must be certified as VHS free. Any susceptible species used to stock public waters must be certified as VHS free regardless of where they came from. The following fish are VHS susceptible: Black crappie, Bluegill, Bluntnose minnow, Brown bullhead, Brown trout, Burbot, Channel catfish, Chinook salmon, Emerald shiner, Freshwater drum, Gizzard shad, Hybrid (Tiger) muskie, Lake whitefish Largemouth bass, Muskellunge, Shorthead redhorse, Northern Pike , Pumpkinseed, Rainbow trout, Rock bass, Round goby, Silver redhorse, Smallmouth bass, Spottail shiner, Trout-Perch, Walleye, White bass, White perch and Yellow perch. Worth the wait Squirrel hunting season opens Aug. 1 in Illinois and runs through Feb. 15. It closes during firearm deer season Nov. 16-18 and Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. Hunting hours are one-half hour before sunrise and one-half hour after sunset. There is a daily limit of five squirrels. Grant deadline Applications for the Special Wildlife Fund Grant Programs administered through the IDNR are being accepted through Aug. 1. Illinois Habitat Funds and State Pheasant Funds are available for any eligible non-profit organization that meets the grant's criteria. For more information or for a new application form and instructions contact the IDNR via snail mail at the Office of Resource Conservation, Federal Aid/Special Funds Section, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, Ill, 62702-1271, by phone at 217- 782-2602; or on the IDNR website. The program mat also be reached by e-mail at dnr.specialfunds@illinois.gov