Open water fishing season opens early (emergency law, global warming Maine)

[jpak]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=115867&catid=2

AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Governor John Baldacci signed an emergency law into effect Thursday, that allows open water fishing season to begin a week early.

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife says effective immediately, all lakes, brooks and ponds are open for fishing except for those that have normal opening dates later than April 1.

"People have been anxious to drop their lines given that ice fishing season ended too soon in some parts of the state, with many lakes and ponds experiencing early ice out conditions," Commissioner Roland "Danny" Martin said.

Many caught unawares by early opening

http://www.kjonline.com/news/many-caught-unawares-by-early-opening_2010-03-26.html

CASCO -- Bait dealers didn't know, small fishing supply shops didn't know and, most of all, most fishermen didn't know that open-water fishing season was going to start Thursday -- a week before the traditional opening day.

But none of them should feel bad. State fisheries biologists didn't know, either. "I found out yesterday," Francis Brautigam said Friday.

Brautigam, the state's head fisheries biologist in southern Maine, said, "For the most part, it was a surprise to most of the department that this would go through. You can't imagine the calls."

When emergency legislation was signed by Gov. John Baldacci on Thursday, the state's waterways were declared open as the bill's sponsor, Sen. Bruce Bryant, D-Dixfield, cheered.

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deniers suck

[Nihil]

1. Must be nice to have such a safe, stable, everything-under-control state ...

... as to allow them to rush through an "emergency law" for the sake of
a single week of extra fishing ...

:shrug:

No pollution, crime, energy problems, unemployment or discrimination issues,
just an incredibly urgent question on how soon can people start hauling
fish out of the water.