UNREEL

A few pics from I-Bay yesterday

Sen. Ted Cruz introduces legislation to hunt cormorants! “Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Katie Britt have introduced the Responsible Cormorant Management and Control Act of 2026, legislation aimed at giving states and other eligible managers more tools to control double crested cormorants. The bill would require the Interior Department to establish regional management frameworks for cormorant take while keeping populations at sustainable levels. And hunting could become part of that management. The bill specifically directs the Interior Department to examine the feasibility of issuing licenses to hunt double crested cormorants. It also identifies state licensed lake and pond managers as potential entities authorized to take the birds. The legislation comes amid concerns about cormorant impacts on fisheries, aquaculture and private waters. This does not immediately create a nationwide cormorant hunting season. Instead, it would establish a framework for managing the birds and require Interior to report to Congress on the feasibility of licensed hunting. A House companion has also been introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg of Michigan. “ Aaron B. Futrell, Author, The Deer Stand Devotional The Sportsmen Party

Like this year? Lake levels are running almost 1.5 ft over long term average

We’re the two guys USDA or USFWS. They’re both Feds but I believe Fish & Wildlife controls migratory birds. Either way good to hear

I’m thinking of doing the same thing. Looking for a reasonably good digital scale to back up the Boga. One that reads on the light side of course. 😋

Left I-Bay 0615 and ran east towards Webster Park to get ahead of the pack. Set up in 15ft looking for a derby brown. Got a few in that 12-30 ft range but NOTHING close to 10lb. Trolled to Ginna, turned around and moved out. Had a good pick of teenagers and one bow in 50-60 ft when just east of Hedges the 7 color fires and we land a king that the Boga Grip scale says just over 20lb. Now it’s 1:40, we’re about 8 miles from the dock and the ONLY Monroe Co. weigh sta closes at 3PM. Start clearing 5 lines, while bringing in the 5 color it gets hit. 250 ft run and 20 minutes later land a foul hooked 19lb. I’m whooped. We made it to the Charlotte weigh sta at 2:50 and the scale says 19lb 13oz. F*#!%!. Looking forward to the summer derby and the Monroe Co. Classic.

All good points Brian. And only one weigh station in Monroe Co that closes at 3PM