Maumee River "Meet Your Stream" Dates in April, May
#1 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 25 January 2007 - 11:41 AM
I don't know if this could coincide with the trip to the ol Muddy Maumee that was in planning or not... But I could use some help this spring in a couple of programs I'm running at Side Cut Metropark during the peak of the Walleye Run. I have interpretative signage and small aquariums that were developed or bought with a NANFA Education Grant.
The plan is to have some fish on hand that aren't found in the lower Maumee, that we collect in the morning or the day before. We'll have a shelter house and all the fixins (like electricity), so we can really go nuts with all the species we would like to display. Then we'll do seining demonstrations and display the catch. I have a 30' bag seine, which if you've never used one before, you won't believe how many suckers you've been missing with your regular seine lol. There is a downside to this though... It's name is the gizzard shad hehheh.
Anyway, it should be a lot of fun, and if I can get some volunteers now, that would be awesome.
The dates are April 21st (Walleye Festival) and May 12th (Toledo Naturalists Association).
I will post the Travellin' Fish Show signage on a separate thread so people can see it. Might stimulate some thoughts about customizing it for other watersheds.
Thanks, and hope to see you out!
Todd
#4 Guest_chad55_*
Posted 27 January 2007 - 12:53 PM
Chad
#5 Guest_smbass_*
Posted 27 January 2007 - 01:41 PM
#6 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 27 January 2007 - 05:47 PM
Nothing to worry about Chad... I have probably 10 pairs of the breathable nylon and 3 pairs of neoprene. I have at least 5 different seines that are legal in Ohio and Michigan, and a bunch more that I have on permits. Probably the toughest thing to do is get footing, which you can buy some cheap tennis shoes that are 2 sizes too big and voila, you're in business. The tough thing for you will be finding time with school, games, girlfriends that sort of stuff
Todd
#7 Guest_NateTessler13_*
Posted 28 January 2007 - 01:54 AM
#8 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 28 January 2007 - 11:06 AM
Only thing though is, I'm not there that often, do you know of any tributaries that are pretty bad news that need some cleaning?
All of them, if you want to address the real issues in the watershed which are Ag and Urban run off. I mean the state won't even do anything to ecourage grass buffer strips on the moraines where there's enough gradient to make a difference. There's step one.
But you're probably looking for garbage to pick up... There are Clean Your Streams events every fall sponsored by the Maumee RAP through the BG EPA office. I can get you in contact with those folks. We also have a local event called "Get the Lead Out" where we pick up fishing generated trash after the walleye run.
What I think would be REALLY effective is to walk around DURING the walleye run with garbage bags and fliers about the non-game aspects that are making this a really great experience for them catching the walleye. You get in there in the mid-afternoon and guys are bored, and they'll come up to you and talk as soon as they see you picking up trash. Probably the best and most concentrated bang for the buck, and I'd be into working with you guys on something like that. Perhaps it can be a mini-rendition of the Travellin' Fish Show.
Todd
#9 Guest_NateTessler13_*
Posted 29 January 2007 - 01:24 PM
#10 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 29 January 2007 - 05:12 PM
Yeah... If you think that mussel guide was cool, you should see the live action video of the mussels infecting their hosts. It still blows my mind, and I'm used to looking at it.
Todd
#11 Guest_smbass_*
Posted 29 January 2007 - 05:22 PM
#12 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 29 January 2007 - 08:11 PM
The group he is talking about is the BG marine biology club/lab.
They'd be a good group to present "Hey! Who you callin' Fat Mucket?!?" on the perils of pearly mussels in the Maumee and abroad.
I don't know if you've seen the Unio Gallery or not... http://unionid.missouristate.edu/
Definately download the broken rays, combshells, black sandshell, L, perovalis, villosa iris videos showing host attraction/infection. Also check out the detail on the kidneyshell conglutinate. I've merged all of this into a powerpoint and even have some of my own video.
I showed a shortened version to 250 inner city kids last spring and OWNED their attention once that snuffbox slammed shut on the logperch. I imagine it'd have a similar effect on undergrads
Todd
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