23 January 2013

Ice Fishing Derby reset for February 3rd

CHANGE OF PLANS
The Ice Fishing Derby planned for this weekend
has been re-scheduled to
Sunday February 3rd
Deadline for submitting applications extended until Saturday, February 2nd by 6 pm at the club's headquarters

Moodus Sportsmen's Club Ice Fishing Derby on January 27th has been postponed. We will try for Sunday February 3rd.

Bashan Lake and Lake Hayward are wide open and the wind open up a large section of the Moodus Reservoir on the upper section. Even if it freezes over tonight it will not be safe on Sunday and with Friday's light snow someone could walk over thin ice.
We would rather be safe than sorry! We don't need our own version of the deadliest catch!

Stay tuned for any other changes by checking this webpage.



22 January 2013

UPDATE ~ MSC's Annual Ice Fishing Derby - January 27

Ice Fishing Derby - Jan 27th - this coming Sunday

With the cold weather predicted this week (single digits at night and teens in the day), we know that the Moodus Reservoir will lock up solid.

However Bashan and Lake Hayward are wide open as of today and we are doubtful if they will be safe. We will check all the lakes either Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. There has been some discussion about canceling a week but the forecasters are already saying the following week is going to warm up.

We will have to make a decision Friday but a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. That means if we have one lake surface that is safe (Moodus Reservoir - 451 acres) then we should hold the derby, even if only on Moodus Reservoir. The following Sunday is the Super Bowl, not that I think we have a lot of 49ers or Raven fans.

Participation is key and members participating in the derby will be needed. If you haven't gone before we can put together enough fishing gear to cover you - just remember to pick up you fishing license and dress warm - you always can remove layers.

11 January 2013

Connecticut Sportsmen's Mailing List

      Stay up-to-date with Bob Crook's Sportsmen's Legislative e-mail alerts list
      Drop a short note to Ctsportsmen.com asking to be added to the notice e-mail.
      Make sure that once you have done this to allow the emails to be exempted from your spam filters, since his alerts go out to many others at the same time.

Hunting Regulations - DEEP Needs Your Opinions

Be on target!
Don't be the target


2013 DEEP Proposed Amendments to Hunting and Trapping Regulations



Send your comments to Ms. Elaine Hinsch, DEEP Hearing Officer at Elaine.Hinsch@ct.gov and give your support for the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection ["DEEP"]Regulations Proposal currently being considered. Comments must be received by January 17, 2013. A summary of the main proposed changes include:

 •      Non-motorized bicycles shall be prohibited on any wildlife management area posted against such activity.
 •      Field dog trial permit prices are increased.
 •      No person shall possess in excess of 30 Common Snapping Turtles.
 •      Coyote and fox hunters hunting from a blind are exempt from fluorescent orange requirements when hunting from a blind, except during any firearms deer or fall firearms turkey season.
 •      The crow hunting season is changed from 3rd Saturday in October through the first Saturday in March; to Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from the second Saturday in August through November 30; and from the second Saturday in January through the Last Saturday in March on Mondays through Saturdays.
 •      Some fur tagging requirements have been dropped and can now be reported by phone or internet.
 •      Dogs may be used to hunt turkeys during the fall firearms season on private lands only.

      You can find the entire regulations proposals on the DEEP Website, http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?A=2586&Q=514086&depNav_GID=1511.

The Regulations Hearing held on January 3, 2013 was poorly attended. There was little input from sportsmen. This could result in many comments being received against the proposal from anti’s and only a few in support from sportsmen.

We urge you to take a few minutes to send an email to the Hearing Officer in support of the proposed changes.

Comments can be as simple as, “I support all of the DEEP’s Proposed Amendments to the Hunting and Trapping Regulations presented at the January 3, 2013 hearing.” If you support some, but oppose others, feel free to do so.

In an ideal world, if a bunch of anti’s make idiotic comments, it is the Hearing Officer’s responsibility to rebut them with the facts (a bad idea repeated 100 times is still a bad idea!). However, the way it really works is that if the Hearing Officer’s report states, for example, “That 600 comments were received in opposition and only 4 in support,” that’s the info that the anti’s will bring to the legislators on the Regulation Review Committee.

Make sure to send your comments to Ms. Elaine Hinsch, DEEP Hearing Officer at Elaine.Hinsch@ct.gov. Comments must be received by January 17, 2013.

If you want to send a hard copy by snail-mail:

Ms. Elaine Hinsch, DEEP Hearing Officer
RE: DEEP Hunting and Trapping Regulation Changes
Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106-5127

06 January 2013

MSC's Annual Ice Fishing Derby - January 27

We're back at it again (ice coverage permitting)!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2012 : 6 am – 1 pm
Lake Hayward | Bashan Lake | Moodus Reservoir

Weather/Ice decision: 4:00 pm Saturday 1/26, please call 860-873-3381 to confirm
|| Rain / no ice date: February 3rd ||

Print this out and fill it out. You can enter by:
          • Show up at the club in person on Saturday, January 26th, between 4 and 6 pm.
          • Mail it to: MSC, PO Box 11, Moodus, CT 06469
            MUST BE POSTMARKED BY MONDAY, JANUARY 21st
          • Complete it and scan and e-mail to moodussportsman@gmail.com.
            MUST BE E-MAILED BEFORE FRIDAY, JANUARY 25th by midnight.

Additional copies of this application can be picked up at the Moodus Package Store or email us at moodussportsman@gmail.com and we can send you a blank pdf form.

Even if the Tournament is not held this year due to lack of ice, could you please send us your email contact information to the address below so we can notify you next year.

NOTE: To receive this notice next year, you must give us your email address. We are discontinuing the hard copy mailing for 2014

Club Calendar of Events

JANUARY
7      Monthly and Annual Board of Directors Meetings
12    Game Dinner 6:00 p.m. Snow date 13th at 4 pm
27    Ice Fishing Derby Rain Date – Feb 3rd

FEBRUARY
3      Super Bowl Sunday
4      Monthly Meeting
9      Sat. & 10 Sun. Smelt Trip or first ice
16    Game Dinner 6:00 pm Snow date 17th at 4pm
23    Archery Course 8 am – 4 pm

MARCH
4      Monthly Meeting
9      Game Dinner 6:00 pm Snow date 10th at 4 pm
22    Friday - DEP Hunter Safety Course 6 pm – 9 pm
23    Saturday - DEP Hunter Safety Course 8 am – 5 pm
24    Sunday - DEP Hunter Safety Course 8 am - 2 pm
29    Project Graduation - Friday