by Nick Mellby and Larry Urbanski, Co-Chairs, Fisheries Committee

FISHING LOGS: Please remember to keep up and send in your fishing logs. It is fine to submit your logs together at the end of a month or at the end of a season, but it is very important that this information be saved and sent in. Both the Department of Natural Resources and your Fisheries Committee are extremely interested in the number of fish caught in Ten Mile Lake. DNR is interested because of their role in stocking the lake with walleye fry, and the Committee because of the commitment we have made as part of the Lake Management Long Range Plan to collect data on TML fishing resources. You can get logs from any member of the Committee, or make up your own, or make copies of the log that came with your Handbook materials along with the mailing of the Summer Newsletter. If you make up your own, please be sure to include the following information:

Send logs to Larry Urbanski, 5376 County Road 71 NW, Hackensack, MN 56452. (You can also e-mail the data to ljbanski@uslink.net.)

OTHER FISHING INFORMATION: The Fisheries Committee is collecting fishing-related data to be placed in a central database. Any TML-specific or general data relating to history of fishing in TML, habitat, surveys, studies, et cetera would be appreciated. Please contact any member of the Fisheries Committee.

SIGNMAKER WANTED: The Fisheries Committee is looking for a person who has woodworking skills and might be willing to use these skills to make us a sign. The Department of Trails and Waterways has given us permission to place a "Catch and Release" sign at the main public landing. Materials for making the sign will be provided. Contact Larry Urbanski, 218 547-3107 or Nick Mellby, at
ljbanski@uslink.net or nick.mellby@wellsfargo.com.

WALLEYE HEADS: Keep turning in your walleye heads, if you are still fishing. The Committee hopes that fishermen will continue to participate in this effort through the fall. Thanks to all those who have contributed their fish heads for study!

CIRCLE FISHHOOKS: While it is not a new item, the circle hook is getting a lot of attention from freshwater sport fishermen. This hook's design allows for extremely effective hooking and holding of nearly every fish species. It looks somewhat odd: unlike the traditional J-shaped hook, the circle hook has a generally circular shape and a point that turns inward to the shank at about a 90E angle. Circle hooks come in most popular sizes and are being manufactured by most major tackle companies. They are a little more expensive than conventional hooks. (Picture provided by SLN Corp., Sebastian, FL.)

Here's how the circle hook works: the fish grabs the baited hook and starts to swim away; the line tightens slowly and usually pulls the hook out of the throat and to the corner of the mouth, where the point rotates and pierces the jaw hinge or cheek. Once the fish is hooked, it cannot escape. You will need some practice to be successful using the circle hook. Most of us were taught to pull up sharply on the rod to set the hook when a fish hits your bait. With circle hooks, patience pays off as the fish will hook itself. If you try to catch the fish the way you were taught, you'll end up just pulling the hook and bait right out of the fish. Let the fish chew on the bait and let the hook do its job.

Other advantages: releasing fish back to the water is much easier with circle hooks, and the fish has a better chance for survival. A clumsy or careless fisherman is less likely to accidentally sink such a hook into his finger, ear, or clothing. An article on the Internet claims that "little kids and little old ladies never miss with circle hooks." For more information about circle hooks, do an Internet search for 'circle hooks'; you will find hundreds of articles.

ICE FISHING: Think about giving ice fishing a try this year. You won't have to worry about any crowds!

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