Proposed changes for non-tidal fishing in Maryland waters next year will be discussed at a public hearing tomorrow night at the Tawes State Office Building in Annapolis.
Under the proposed regulations, Wilde Lake (Howard County), Union Mills Pond (Carroll County), and Gunpowder Falls main stem from Falls Road to York Road (Baltimore County) would be removed from the list of put-and-take trout fishing areas.
Antietam Creek (Washington County), Jennings Randolph Lake (Garrett County), Whittier Lake (Frederick County) and Centennial Lake (Howard County) would be added to the list of put-and-take trout areas.
The main stem of the Gunpowder from Falls Road to York Road would be added to the list of catch-and-release trout areas along with the main stem of the Youghiogheny River (Garrett County) from the tailrace at Deep Creek Lake to the Sang Run bridge. Both areas would be restricted to the use of artificial lures.
Striped bass regulations would be modified to permit two fish per day, with only one longer than 30 inches. Liberty Reservoir would be included under these regulations.
The proposed regulations also would create limited harvest fishing areas. These areas would have a total daily creel limit of 10 fish, only one of which could be a largemouth bass with a maximum length of 15 inches.
In Piney Run Reservoir (Carroll County), Stemmers Run Lake (Cecil County) and Wheatly Lake (Charles County), the proposals would create a daily creel and possession limit for sunfish and crappie.
Catfish also would be subject to daily creel and possession limits in Piney Run Reservoir, Stemmers Run Lake, Wheatly Lake and the main stem of the Potomac River.
The hearing is scheduled in conference room C-1 at 7 p.m.
Written comment on the proposed changes may be mailed to Dr. Robert A. Bachman, Fish, Heritage and Wildlife Administration, Tawes State Office Building E-1, Annapolis 21401. Comment must be received by Oct. 30.
Use life jackets
Although the boating season is in its latter stages, keep in mind that almost a third of the 47 water-related fatalities in state waters through August of this year were children under the age )) of 17.
Take life jackets with you and make sure that your children wear them.
Tourney winner
William Kramer of Gaithersburg recently won the Red Man Tournament Trail Northeastern Division qualifier bass tournament on the Potomac River. Mark Gay of Laurel finished second.
Six of the top 10 positions were won by Maryland anglers.
The survey says . . .
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation determined the following:
* Hunting, fishing and non-consumptive wildlife use such as bird watching or outdoors photography is popular, but apparently is not attracting a growing number of participants. Some 98 million U.S. residents over the age of 16 participate in one or more outdoor sports and spend $59.5 billion each year -- roughly 1 percent of the GNP.
* 34.8 million persons went fishing in 1991, averaging 14.5 days per year, and spent $25.3 billion on travel, equipment and other items.
* 30 million Americans went freshwater fishing; 8.7 million fished saltwater.
* 14 million Americans hunted an average of 17 days each and spent approximately $12.3 billion on travel, equipment and related items.
* 11 million hunters used 128 million days hunting big game; 7.5 million hunters used 76 million days to hunt small game.
* Migratory bird and waterfowl hunters numbered 3 million and spent 22 million days in the field.
* Those who spent their time feeding, observing or photographing wildlife numbered more than 76 million.