MISSOURI March 2004 Volume 65, Issue 3 CONSERVATIONIST Vantage Point Got Fish? F ishing is not only fun, but therapeutic. One of my favorite sayings is, “Each day spent fishing adds another day to your life.” According to the latest national survey, the three most popular reasons people fish are to relax, for the fun of catching fish, and for the opportunity to be outdoors. When selecting places to fish, people prefer to go to uncrowded, litter-free areas where the water is clean and the fish are healthy. The Conservation Department’s sport fisheries man- agement philosophy focuses on providing a variety of fishing opportunities for novice and experienced anglers alike, with an emphasis on close-to-home opportunities. The way you fish and the species you prefer to catch is purely up to you, as is the amount and quality of gear and supplies you bring. Fortunately, a very large and responsive recreational boating and fishing industry exists to meet all possible needs for fishing tackle and equipment. The Conservation Department wants to improve our waters and the surrounding lands for all anglers, regard- White less of whether they prefer sitting in a folding chair on a Cliff pond bank, or in a soft boat seat on a large reservoir. The fish don’t play favorites, and neither do we. ▲ The conservation agent responding to a call from Whenever possible, we manage sport fish populations someone needing assistance. to sustain themselves with natural reproduction. Most ▲ The area manager checking to see if the proper fish you catch in Missouri hatch in the wild. If natural information signs are posted. reproduction of sport fish isn’t enough to keep up with ▲ Aconstruction crew building a new boat ramp. angling pressure, we increase populations by adding fish Not all fisheries related work is conducted near the produced at our hatcheries. water. More camera work would show Conservation With the 2004 fishing season about to get into high Department employees miles away, working to enhance gear, I encourage you to pull out the calendar, call the the quality of your fishing adventures. You might see: family around the kitchen table and plan your first trip ▲ The Regulations Committee passing a rule that of the year. For an added treat, invite someone who has ensures more consistent catches. never experienced the joys of fishing. ▲ An administrative assistant preparing the weekly Planning a fishing trip may seem like a lot of work, but fishing tips report. it doesn’t compare to what the Conservation Depart- ▲ Atechnician printing regulations signs. ment does in order to make Missouri lakes and streams ▲ Adesigner putting the finishing touches on the inviting and enjoyable. area map. If I could show you some video footage from a time- ▲ Ahatchery crew feeding catfish destined for your lapse camera set up at a public lake or stream access, favorite small public lake. here’s what you might see: From fisheries biologists, to area managers to the ▲ The maintenance crew leader mowing the grass. commissioners who authorize management regulations, ▲ Aheavy equipment operator grading the parking lot. Conservation Department employees are doing every- ▲ Local volunteers picking up litter. thing they can to improve the fishing in Missouri waters ▲ Afisheries biologist sampling the fish population and, hopefully, add a few days to your life. by electrofishing. ▲ Aresource technician eradicating nuisance weeds along the shoreline. Steve Eder,Fisheries Division Administrator Contents March 2004 Volume 65,Issue 3 4 THE FISHING BUG —By Mark Van Patten Mayflies are key to good fishing for smallmouth bass and trout. 8 NO MUDDY WATERS FOR STREAM TEAM —By Kathryn Buckstaff A high school Stream Team program graduates 4 8 students committed to good water quality. 12 A SURVIVOR’S TALE —By Randee Wahlgren My bout with breast cancer brought me closer to my family and its turkey hunting tradition. 15 TOO MUCH SUGAR! —By Gus Raeker & Mike Stambaugh Sugar maple trees are crowding out more desirable species along our river corridors. 19 WHERE THERE’S FUEL, THERE COULD BE FIRE —By George Hartman 12 15 Devastating fires in the West have taught us to monitor and manage forest floor fuel loads. 24 BEST FISHING TRIP —By Boyd Clemens We weren’t rich,but we had all the materials for a memorable day of fishing the creek. DEPARTMENTS Reflections 2 News & Almanac 28 COVER American woodcock by Jim Rathert 19 24 Printed on recycled paper with soy ink. Contact Us: Web page:http://www.missouriconservation.org Subscriptions:free to adult Missouri residents; out of state $7 per year;out of country $10 per year. Send correspondence to Circulation,P.O.Box 180,Jefferson City,MO 65102-0180. Phone:573/522-4115,ext.3856 or 3249 E-mail General Questions:[email protected] E-mail Magazine Subscriptions:[email protected] March 2004 1 Reflections MESMERIZED absolutely amazing! I could almost hear ground,but on all the conservation The January 2004 issue just arrived,and the water churning as the ship sails ground that I have been hunting for I have read it from cover to cover.It is along and the sound of the pole crack- some 50 years. excellent! Every article was well written ing as the mast hits the tree.I’d give it a Dean Stroup,Eureka and informative. perfect “10.” Not only are the articles outstanding, Also,the picture of river shoals on PUKE,BUZZARD! but the photos and illustrations are excep- the back cover is beautiful with the dif- Your nice article on buzzards omits one tional.I found myself studying every detail ferent shades of blue and mauve and important piece of Missouri cultural his- of the color illustrations on pages 4-5,7,8, the fog over the water. tory.Mother,who would have been 103 12,and 16.The photograph on pages 10- Mrs.Edward Russell,Cameron if still alive,used as her favorite expres- 11,mesmerized me for several minutes,as sion,“Well puke,buzzard,puke.”I have did that on page 14. Your article,“The Wild Missouri River,” imparted this vulgarism and the reason The comparison of the old/new river reminds us of what a joy and challenge for it to students for more than 30 years. on page 13 reminded me of the oxbow the “real”Missouri River must have been Buzzards will stuff themselves in the lakes I used to fly over at low altitude. for the Corps of Discovery. course of their cleanup operations.If Although I will never build a dugout, Today’s river is an example of nature threatened,they often need to lighten the I feel I could with the text and illustra- rendered asunder.Hopefully,future gen- load,so to speak,and can do so with the tions offered in the article by Jim Low. erations will allow the river to at least accuracy of an old-time tobacco spitter. And believe it or not,I was so taken partially regain some of its majesty. Their gastric juice is so strong that it with the photograph on page 24,that I Fred Boeneker,Glendale can blind an animal and take paint off a was actually trying to figure out a way car or truck.Those who would run afoul to frame it.“Our”conservation maga- USING OUR TOOLS of a turkey buzzard in the middle of the zine is always well done and informa- In “Continuing the Voyage of Discovery,” road may well find themselves unleash- tive,but this one is a definite “keeper”. the author says we have better tools for ing even more direful curses. Thank you. information gathering than Lewis and Michael B.Dougan,Tecumseh Doyle H.Wyatt,Lawson Clark.That’s true,but we better start using them or the quail and rabbits will COUNTING BIRDS Michael Haynes,who did the cover illus- be like the Carolina parakeet:extinct. In your article “The World’s Best Bird- tration for your January issue,is The problem is not just on farm watcher,”you state that according to the American Birding Association,Pete Win- ter is the world’s top-ranked living bird- watcher. On the latest list of the ABA,Tom Gul- lick of Spain is listed as number one with 8,195 world bird species.George “Pete” Winter is number two with 7,716 species. David Easterla,Maryville DANCING The article on prairie chickens was a delight to me.Years ago,my husband and I lived in the Sandhills of Nebraska and often heard the birds booming. Only once did we see them.Along the road a big flock was going through the FASHIONABLE FROG routine—dancing and booming and Gene Pattie Jr.of Marshall,snapped this photo of a bullfrog surfacing beneath a blowing up their beautiful orange sacs. beetlespin lure.He spotted the frog on his parent’s 3-acre lake near Dewitt.Frogs I’ve never forgotten that mystical morn- sometimes bite at lures.This one seems more interested in wearing the lure than ing.What a sight! in eating it. I’ve heard that the American Indians 2 Missouri Conservationist MISSOURI CONSERVATIONIST copied the prairie chickens for some of MORE FISHING their dancing. I enjoy the Missouri Conservationist, Harriett Rumbaugh,Fulton which I have received for 42 years.I read GOVERNOR Bob Holden the issues from cover to cover,and THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION Stephen C.Bradford HEARING VOICES many times over! The magazine’s quality Anita B.Gorman I want to commend the Conservation has improved immensely during this Cynthia Metcalfe Lowell Mohler Department.Recently,I bought the CD time period. DIRECTOR John Hoskins “Fiddles and Forests”and the audiotape I would enjoy seeing more articles DEPUTY DIRECTOR John W.Smith “Voices of the Hills,A Journey to Shan- pertaining to catfish and carp fishing. DEPUTY DIRECTOR Stephen J.Wilson non County.”The instrumentation, However,I understand that not every- ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Denise Garnier ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR Robert Ziehmer vocals and accompanying narrations are one has the same desire to fish and read INTERNAL AUDITOR Robbie B.Briscoe not only entertaining but historically about those fish. DIVISIONS informative about our state’s early set- Your office in St.Joseph has always ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES Carter Campbell FISHERIES Steve Eder tlers,especially the Scots-Irish.Because I been ready and willing to assist me FORESTRY Bob Krepps HUMANRESOURCES Debbie Goff I am of Scot’s-Irish descent,this music when I need information,lake and river OUTREACH & EDUCATION Lorna Domke plays well to my ears and soul. conditions,etc. PRIVATE LAND SERVICES Lisa G.Allen PROTECTION Dennis Steward Harry McGuire,Lee’s Summit Dave Estes,St.Joseph RESOURCE SCIENCE Dale D.Humburg WILDLIFE Dave Erickson The letters printed here reflect readers’opinions about the Conservationist and its contents. REGIONAL OFFICES Cape Girardeau/Southeast—573/290-5730 Space limitations prevent us from printing all letters,but we welcome signed comments Columbia/Central—573/884-6861 Kansas City—816/655-6250 from our readers.Letters may be edited for length and clarity. Kirksville/Northeast—660/785-2420 Springfield/Southwest—417/895-6880 Ask the Ombudsman St.Joseph/Northwest—816/271-3100 St.Louis—636/441-4554 West Plains/Ozark—417/256-7161 Q:Why do some trees keep their leaves through the CONSERVATIONIST STAFF EDITOR Tom Cwynar winter while some of the same types of trees MANAGING EDITOR Bryan Hendricks ART EDITOR Ara Clark (oaks) lose theirs? ARTIST Dave Besenger ARTIST Mark Raithel PHOTOGRAPHER Jim Rathert A:Conservation Department botanist Tim Smith addressed PHOTOGRAPHER Cliff White this matter in the November 1991 issue in an article titled STAFF WRITER JimLow STAFF WRITER Joan Mckee “Nature’s Procrastinators.”It’s an intriguing situation involving CIRCULATION Laura Scheuler mostly oaks,but sugar maple,beech,hornbeam and eastern hophornbeam can also have this trait,known as marcescent (or late-falling) leaves. The Missouri Conservationist(ISSN 0026-6515) is the official monthly Most leaves develop a separation layer due to hormonal changes,resulting in the publication of the Missouri Department of Conservation,2901 West Tru- manBoulevard,Jefferson City,MO (Mailing address:P.O.Box 180, leaf falling in autumn.Marcescent leaves delay the separation process.During winter Jefferson City,MO 65102.) Subscription free to adult Missouri residents; out of state $7 per year;out of country $10 per year.Notification of the leaf appears to be dead,but the base of the leaf remains alive.As the weather address change must include both old and new address (send mailing label with the subscriber number on it) with 60-day notice.Preferred warms in the spring,the leaf goes through a process similar to other leaves and even- periodical postagepaid at Jefferson City,Mo.,and at additional entry offices.Postmaster:Send correspondence to Circulation,P.O.Box 180, tually separates and falls. Jefferson City,MO 65102-0180.Phone:573/751-4115.Copyright © 2003 by the ConservationCommission of the State of Missouri. According to Conservation Department botanist Tim Smith, the marcescent species are farther north than where they originated and haven't yet adapted com- pletely to a shorter growing season.They don't take their cues from the arrival of fall weather and get their leaf separation business taken care of before it gets too cold for them to accomplish it. Now is a good time to be thinking about tree care.The Conservation Department has a number of helpful publications.For details visit www.mdc.mo.gov/forest/library/. Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Missouri Department of Conservation is available to all individuals with- Ombudsman Ken Drenon will respond to your questions,suggestions or complaints out regard to their race,color,national origin,sex,age or disability.Com- plaints of discrimination should be sent to the Department of Conser- concerning Conservation Department programs.Write him at P.O.Box 180,Jefferson vation,P.O.Box 180,Jefferson City,MO 65102,OR U.S.Fish & Wildlife Ser- vice,18th and “C”Streets NW,Washington D.C.20240, City,MO 65102-0180,call him at 573/522-4115,ext.3848,or e-mail him at Missouri Relay Center —1-800-735-2966 (TDD). <[email protected]>. Printed in USA MMaarrcchh 22000044 33 THE Finding mayflies in a stream is usually a sign that the fishing will be good. FISHING BUG BY MARK VAN PATTEN, PHOTOS BY JIM RATHERT Standing knee deep in the Gasconade River trying to decide what fly to tie on to my line,I was startled by the nearby splash of a feeding smallmouth.Soon, I started spotting lots of floating mayflies,and fish began rising regularly around me to sip them from the surface. After identifying the specific mayfly hatching, I tied on a #12 Mahogany Quill dry fly to my leader. The artificial dry fly was the closest match I could make to the Isonychia bicolor mayflies the fish were eating. Mayflies occupy the same clean-water streams as trout and smallmouth bass.Mayfly imitations like the Mahogany Quill (above) are deadly when fish are taking mayflies off the surface. 4 Missouri Conservationist March 2004 5 Because mayflies don’t tolerate pollution,their presence attests to a stream’s high water quality. I picked out a rising fish and cast to it. The fly landed quietly on the surface of the water drying its wings before about 4 feet upstream from where the fish had taking its first flight, which will take it upstream to mate. It splashed and drifted into the feeding lane. Water and is at this point that the insect is most vulnerable to fish. flashes of bronze erupted as a smallmouth attacked When I started tying flies 37 years ago, I had no idea the fly. The fight was on. My reel buzzed as fly line that mayflies and smallmouth bass often occupied the stripped from the spool. When I finally landed the fish, I same stretches of streams because they had similar held it up and admired it, before releasing it. My imitation needs. Most Missouri mayflies are very sensitive to had worked. Smallmouth bass are suckers for mayflies. organic pollutants and require high oxygen levels. Small- The Isonychia bicolor mayfly lives among the rocks at mouth bass also do best in clean water with high levels the bottom of streams. The I. bicolor, like all of Mis- of oxygen. Both the insect and the fish that eats it souri’s mayflies, is an invertebrate. It has no backbone. require the same environmental conditions. Since it can be seen without a magnifier, it is considered That’s why the upper reaches of the Gasconade pro- a macro-invertebrate. vide such good smallmouth bass fishing. The headwaters I. bicolor remains at the bottom of the stream in its nymphal stage for a year. As the nymphal stage nears How to stock a fly box. completion, the nymph swims to the surface of the When you sit down at your fly tying station,you should try to imitate what water, and a transformation takes place. When the you saw on your last trip to the stream.Carrying a journal on the stream is a mayfly reaches the surface of the stream, its exoskeleton good idea for jotting down important tidbits of information like the color cracks open much like a cocoon. and size of the insects,the weather conditions and the time of year.Journals The winged subimago (young adult) struggles to free are also a great way to relive fantastic fishing adventures. itself from its final aquatic nymphal shuck. It then sits 6 Missouri Conservationist of the Gasconade River are in mostly rural areas in the Pick it up—Pack it out Ozarks. Cattle farming and some row cropping con- If you enjoy fishing,you probably already know how important it is to keep tribute only a small amount of nutrients, pesticides and our streams clean and healthy.Everyone should pack out their own trash, herbicides to the stream. Even though the Gasconade is but it’s also helpful to pick up trash that others may have left behind. one of Missouri’s longer streams, it doesn’t flow through Become an official caretaker of a section of your favorite fishing stream any major municipalities and is not impacted by munici- by joining the Missouri Stream Team program.Find out more about the pal water treatment plants. Stream Team program at <www.mostreamteam.org> or call 800/781-1989. If you spend much time wading rivers and streams looking under rocks, you’ll soon learn that water quality and insect populations are usually connected. In some streams, you won’t find a mayfly nymph, nor will you Leeches, aquatic worms and black flies also may live find a stonefly nymph or a caddis fly larva. These bugs in clean, unpolluted water, and there are some excellent are sensitive to pollutants and will not live in a stream fly tying patterns for these creatures. However, a healthy that has a history of pollution. aquatic ecosystem should harbor a diversity of macro- Asuccessful fly fisher understands the relationship invertebrates, including the sensitive ones. between the insects represented on a hook, the fish, and Some streams are polluted by lagoon spills, leaking sep- the condition of the stream or water body he or she is tic systems or myriad other pollution sources. If the prob- fishing. The next time you visit a new stream or an old lems are intermittent, the stream might still be healthy favorite, walk out into a riffle and look at the bottom of enough to support macro-invertebrates that are somewhat some of the rocks. tolerant of disturbances. You may find crayfish, or sow If all you find in your stream are pollution-tolerant bugs, or those wild and crazy, side-swimming scuds. insects like aquatic worms, leeches and black fly larva, it Fortunately, there are patterns in fly tying books for is likely that fishing won’t be good. The absence of the all of them. It is good to be able to identify various sensitive species and the presence of only the tolerant macro-invertebrates like the mayflies, caddis flies, and species indicates long-term exposure to pollution. Sensi- stoneflies. Until you can identifiy them, look in your fly tive macro-invertebrates mean clean water and healthy tying pattern book and try to match the insect you see in ▲ fish populations. size, color and shape. The clean water and mayfly connection offers another bonus:plenty of smallmouth to strike your lures. March 2004 7 No Muddy Waters For Stream Team Reeds Spring High School students adopt a stream and a clean water philosophy. By Kathryn Buckstaff,Photography by Cliff White T ugging on boots, gloves and goggles, a group of teenagers wades into a creek just downstream from a wastewater treatment plant. This is not some strange initiation rite into a secret society. Instead, these kids are helping protect one of Missouri’s most valuable resources. These kids are card-carrying (laminated, of course) members of Stream Team #432, from Reeds Spring High School. This year, the 15 juniors and seniors who are members of the team will test the waters of Railey Creek in Stone County at five locations each month. For their past efforts, the team, which was formed in 1993, was one of three Missouri high schools honored with the 2002 Stream Team Achievement Award from the Missouri Department of Conservation. Reeds Spring High School Stream Team The students from Reeds Spring High School are among 46,000 volunteers members floated the James River to statewide who participate in Stream Team projects. Being a stream team pick up trash and test water quality. 8 Missouri Conservationist