DNR Schedules Inland Fisheries Regulations Open Houses

Annapolis, MD (March 26, 2010) — Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fisheries Service has set the dates and locations for five inland fisheries open houses across the State. The purpose of the events is to present 2011 regulatory options for freshwater and non-tidal fishing in Maryland and to welcome questions and comments from the public. This public process allows fisheries managers to scope the opinions of interested citizens while providing information on topics that affect fish populations and fishing in Maryland.

The open houses are scheduled as follows:

Monday, April 12 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Appalachian Laboratory, 301 Braddock Road, Frostburg, Md.

Wednesday, April 14 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Seneca State Park Visitor’s Center, 11950 Clopper Road, Gaithersburg, Md.

Monday, April 19 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Visitor’s Center of Cedarville Natural Resource Area, Cedarville, Md.

Tuesday, April 20 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Glenwood Branch Howard County Library, 2350 State Route 97, Cooksville, Md.

Wednesday, April 21 from 3 to 6 p.m.
Natural Resources Police Eastern Region Office, Area 2, Route 309 and 404, Hillsboro, Md.

Everyone is invited to join DNR staff and enjoy light refreshments while learning about and discussing the future of Maryland’s inland fisheries.

The Inland Fisheries Division has prepared a series of informational posters to clarify the regulatory options.

Changes under consideration include:

• Adjusting the legal opening hour in put-and-take trout fishing areas to a later starting time.

• Removing the special catch and return designation from the Seneca Breaks area of the Potomac upstream to the mouth of the Monocacy to make it consistent with standard state regulations.

• Adjusting the upper catch and return boundary of the North Branch of the Potomac to a new overhead cable and red bank pole closer to the dam.

• Removing Herring Run, Gwynnbrook Pond, Prettyboy Reservoir, and Liberty Reservoir from the put-and-take trout fishing list.

• Adjusting the lower boundary of the Trophy Trout Fishing Area (limited to artificial lures and flies) on the lower Savage River from the mouth of the river upstream to the Route 135 bridge.

• Restricting fishing to the west bank (park side) of Catoctin Creek in the delayed harvest trout fishing area within Doubs Meadow Park at Myersville.

• Allowing fishing for trout and other species in March in the put-and-take trout fishing areas in Cunningham Falls Lake, Blairs Valley Lake, and Greenbrier Lake.

• Increase the allowable number of hooks per fishing line from two to three.

• Prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in Fisheries Management Areas.

The team has also put together posters covering hot topics such as:

• The state of blue and flathead catfish populations.

• Whirling disease, and Didymo updates and associated cleaning techniques for gear.

• The elements of scented and unscented plastic lures.

• DNR’s initiatives to increase youth and family fishing opportunities.

• Savage River and Reservoir restoration.

• DNR’s brook trout tagging study.

• Patapsco River watershed dam removal.

• Tidal largemouth bass status and issues.

DNR Inland Fisheries Division management activities are supported by the Sportfish Restoration Program (Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux) funds, and by fees from the sale of freshwater fishing licenses and trout stamps.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2009, is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 467,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries, and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic, and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov