Fish Kill Occurs on Lake Francis Case
July 30, 2008
CHAMBERLAIN, S.D.- South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officials received reports of a fish kill on Lake Francis Case on Friday, July 25. Anglers reported large numbers of dead fish south of the White River confluence area. Department of Environment and Natural Resources staff were contacted and a GFP staff biologist was dispatched on Friday afternoon to survey the situation.Â
Dead fish numbering in the hundreds were found from the mouth of the White River, down to the Elm Creek area. Species positively identified were native river fish including river carpsucker, channel catfish and paddlefish. Due to the decomposed condition of the fish, it is thought that the kill occurred earlier in the week.
After reports of the fish kill began to surface on Friday, other individuals who had been on Lake Francis Case in the vicinity of the White River earlier in the week reported seeing channel catfish and paddlefish exhibiting unusual behaviors.
The cause of the fish kill is currently unknown. Fish kills can occur naturally for a variety of reasons. High water temperatures, bacterial and viral infections, and low oxygen levels in the water are a few of the more common natural causes of fish kills. Fish kills stemming from toxic substances entering the water from human activities such as industrial or agricultural runoff can also occur. Isolated fish kills, such as the recent fish kill on Lake Francis Case, do not generally affect the long-term health of aquatic systems or fisheries quality.
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South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Offers HuntSAFE Course for Women
June 11, 2008
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department will be offering a HuntSAFE course for women on July 8, 10 and 12.
The course will be led by female instructors, and has been specifically designed for women and girls 11 years of age or older.
Registration begins on Monday, June 16, at the Game, Fish and Parks regional office located in Sertoma Park at The Outdoor Campus. Registrations are only accepted in person and students must attend all three sessions.
Students must be at least 11 years old to take the course, and must be 12 years old by Dec. 31, 2008 to hunt during the fall seasons.
For more information call (605) 362-2700, or for more other HuntSAFE locations visit www.sdgfp.info
, click on Outdoor Education and then click on HuntSAFE courses (firearms safety).
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Gov. Rounds Proclaims June as Great Outdoors Month
May 30, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds has proclaimed June as Great Outdoors Month in South Dakota.
In the proclamation, Gov Rounds states, outdoor recreation is an essential component of our well-being, with the ability to improve our health and build the human spirit. I encourage citizens and our visitors to take advantage of the many opportunities our state offers for family outdoor recreation.
Many opportunities for outdoor activities are provided by the South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks in their efforts to expand and enhance state parks, protect our wildlife heritage, and create programs such as “No Child Left Inside” which introduces youngsters to the wonders of the outdoors.
Several notable outdoor recreation opportunities will take place in June, including the following events:
- National Trails Day, June 7 - A day set aside to celebrate America’s magnificent trail systems and their countless supporters and volunteers. Several state parks will be hosting trail-related events that day. Info: www.SDGFP.info or www.AmericanHiking.org.
- Second Saturday Bird Walk, June 7, Outdoor Campus, Sioux Falls. Join a naturalist for a 7:30 a.m. stroll through Sertoma Park in search of birds. Sharpen your visual and auditory birding skills, learn birding tricks and how to choose binoculars and field guides. The class is free, but pre-registration is required at www.outdoorcampus.org or call (605) 362-2777. The Outdoor Campus offers many outdoor-related classes year round. Info: (605) 362-2777.
- Capitol Community Celebration, June 11, State Capitol Complex in Pierre. One of the highlights of this annual free community picnic is a rare opportunity for kids to fish in Capitol Lake. All kids aged 15 and under are invited. Bait, volunteers and limited equipment will be available. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. and wraps up with a band concert at 7 p.m. Info: (605) 773-6320.
- Luce Pioneer Day, June 14, Lake Herman State Park near Madison. The event celebrates the original homesteading pioneers with family activities, entertainment, vendors and historical demonstrations. Info: (605) 256-5003.
- National Get Outside Day, June 14, Oahe Downstream Recreation Area near Pierre/Fort Pierre. Participants will enjoy fun family activities all day, including geocaching, fishing-golf, Dutch oven cooking and other outdoor activities. The activities run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the event closes with an outdoor movie at 9:30 p.m. Info: (605) 223-7722.
- Becoming an Outdoor Family, June 20-22, Chief White Crane Recreation Area near Yankton – This annual weekend workshop offers classes on outdoor cooking, fishing techniques, GPS units (Global Positioning System), canoeing and many other outdoor skills. Registration is $50 per family and will be accepted until June 9 or until openings are filled. Info: (605) 773-3930.
- SDSU Bioblitz, June 28, Oak Lake Field Station near Brookings. Participate in an educational program and a scientific survey combined into one day. The objective is for scientists to count all the species of plants and animals they can find in a given area in a fixed amount of time. Come out and hike the field station grounds and see science in action. Ask biologists questions about how and why they study our local plants and animals. Presentations and displays are scheduled throughout the day. Info: (605) 367-8384.
- No Child Left Inside Resource Packs, ongoing, Pierre. Want to learn more about the outdoors while you’re exploring? GFP and the Rawlins Library in Pierre have teamed up to provide loaner packs full of resource materials designed for outdoor explorations. Packs include field guides, binoculars, insect nets, magnifying glasses and more. Info: Rawlins Library (605-773-7421) for family/individual backpacks; GFP (605-773-2541) for group resource trunk.Â
In addition, across the state a number of outdoor programs will be held in state parks throughout June, including bird walks, outdoor cooking demonstrations, hikes, fishing derbies and nature programs. For a list of upcoming events, visit www.SDGFP.info.
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West Bend Boat Ramp Parking Lot to be Closed for Striping
April 29, 2008
PIERRE, S.D. - The boat ramp parking lot at West Bend recreation area will be closed for striping during the early part of the week of April 28, weather permitting. Access to the boat ramp will still be available, as park personnel will direct traffic.
For more information contact Amanda Hellmann at (605) 773-2885.
— GFP —
 - South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks -
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Proper Measurement of Fish Critical to Fish and Fisherman
April 25, 2008
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department’s 2008 Fishing Handbook defines length of a fish as “the total length of a fish in inches, as measured in a straight line along a flat surface, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.” Sometimes the instrument used to measure a fish is just as important as how the fish is measured.
There are many commercially-made devices on the market today that allow anglers to measure their catch; however, not all are created equal. It has been found that the material with which the device was constructed can impact accuracy of its measurements. Some stick-on-rulers are known to shrink when exposed to various outdoor elements. The accuracy of these measuring devices can be compromised leading to illegal harvest of fish.
To avoid unnecessary citations and protect the fisheries resources of South Dakota, Game, Fish and Parks conservation officers and fisheries biologists suggest choosing measuring devices made of metal. To further reduce uncertainty, check with your local conservation officer directly, and ask what specific measuring device the officer uses. A commercially-made ruler can cost from $5 to $25. However, all are cheaper than a citation for a short fish.
“When we are doing compliance checks for length limits we use a flat metal ruler and if the anglers are using the same type of measuring device there should be no question on the actual length of the fish,” according to GFP Conservation Officer John Murphy of Pierre.
Harvest regulations are designed to spread harvest out and maximize opportunity for anglers using fisheries resources in South Dakota. The effects of those regulations are negated when anglers fail to comply.
Anglers are noted for using high-quality equipment while they’re fishing. They can help conserve South Dakota’s resources and avoid citations by making sure that the device they use to measure the fish that they catch is of a high quality, too.
–GFP—
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Proper Measurement of Fish Critical to Fish and Fisherman
April 25, 2008
PIERRE, S.D.—The S.D. Game, Fish and Parks Department’s 2008 Fishing Handbook defines length of a fish as “the total length of a fish in inches, as measured in a straight line along a flat surface, from the tip of the snout to the tip of the tail.” Sometimes the instrument used to measure a fish is just as important as how the fish is measured.
There are many commercially-made devices on the market today that allow anglers to measure their catch; however, not all are created equal. It has been found that the material with which the device was constructed can impact accuracy of its measurements. Some stick-on-rulers are known to shrink when exposed to various outdoor elements. The accuracy of these measuring devices can be compromised leading to illegal harvest of fish.
To avoid unnecessary citations and protect the fisheries resources of South Dakota, Game, Fish and Parks conservation officers and fisheries biologists suggest choosing measuring devices made of metal. To further reduce uncertainty, check with your local conservation officer directly, and ask what specific measuring device the officer uses. A commercially-made ruler can cost from $5 to $25. However, all are cheaper than a citation for a short fish.
“When we are doing compliance checks for length limits we use a flat metal ruler and if the anglers are using the same type of measuring device there should be no question on the actual length of the fish,” according to GFP Conservation Officer John Murphy of Pierre.
Harvest regulations are designed to spread harvest out and maximize opportunity for anglers using fisheries resources in South Dakota. The effects of those regulations are negated when anglers fail to comply.
Anglers are noted for using high-quality equipment while they’re fishing. They can help conserve South Dakota’s resources and avoid citations by making sure that the device they use to measure the fish that they catch is of a high quality, too.
–GFP—
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