DORCHESTER MSSA CHAPTER 11 FISHING CLUB

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                          Next Meeting - Thursday, February 16th, 2006
                              7.30 p.m. - AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

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President and Secretary - Clint Waters

Vice President - Bob Watson

Legislative Committee - Charles Hutchinson

Treasure - Charles Hutchinson

Membership Committee - Bob Watson 

Club Fishing Tournaments Committee - Chuck Prahl and Jesse Maffuid

MSSA Tournament Committee - Bob Granados and Ken Barwick

Crab Feast and Raffles Committee - Jim Kubista and Norman Bell

Guest Speakers - Jesse Mauffuid

Club Fishing Trips - Bob Watson and Cliff Lindale

Chapter Flea Market - Chuck Prahl

                          NEXT MEETING - THURSDAY, February 16th, 2006

                                  7:30 p.m. - AMERICAN LEGION POST 91

The MSSA is working to provide a unified voice to preserve and protect the rights, traditions and the future of recreational fishing.

                                         NO UNITY - NO VOICE - NO FISH !

January was a mild month - the warmest on record.  That gave some of our members a chance to do some fishing in local ponds and a trip or two over to the Power Plant.  Any day you can get to go fishing is a good day. February is here and now it looks like the cold weather is back.

There is something I want you all to do right now. Check your mailing label on your newsletter or your membership card to see when your membership expires.  On your mailing label or card is the date your membership expires. When I was putting the labels on the newsletters last month, I noticed a lot of our membership renewal is coming up, including my own.  If your membership runs out in a month or two, send it into the main office or renew at our flea market with the show special and get six chances to win $1,000.00 plus a packet of lures.

FLEA MARKET

Our flea market is set for February 25th at the American Legion. See the flyer with your newsletter for information and please, after you read the flyer, don’t throw it away.  Put it in a place where others can see it and hopefully come to our flea market. We have sold out all of our vendor tables. This will be our biggest flea market ever.  There should be great bargains for everyone. So get your fishing supplies early at our flea market.  A VHF radio will be given away at the flea market.  ( webmaster note : Flea Market opens to the public at 9 A.M. and goes till the last angler leaves.  The American Legion Post 91 is located at the foot of the bridge in Cambridge, Md on the Choptank River ).

Do me another favor. With your newsletter and flyer there are six chances for $5.00 to win a choice of a trolling, spinning or trolling rod and reel combo. Don’t set these chances aside but right now take $5.00 or write a check to MSSA Dorchester and put it with your chances.  Bring your money and chances to the flea market or mail them to Jim Kubista, 100 Linthicum Drive, Cambridge, MD 21613. This is very important and we need everyone’s support. Also, again this year, MSSA is giving away to new members a chance to win a free fishing trip with Joe Riley on the “Muff Diver” out of Ocean City. Last year our new member from Dorchester County, Timothy Mills, won the trip. So bring your friends or fishing buddies who aren’t members to the flea market, get them to sign up and they could win this free trip.

YEARLONG FISHING TOURNAMENT

Our yearlong Club fishing tournament is officially underway.  The bragging board and measuring board are set up at the Recreation Center, 504 Poplar Street, in Cambridge.  Your fish has to be officially checked in at this site.  Stop in to check in your fish or just stop in to see who is catching what and where.  This event should be and can be a lot of fun all year.

GUEST SPEAKER

Our speaker this month is Derek Blockbank of the National Wildlife Federation.  Derek will be speaking on Mercury pollution in Maryland. Mercury pollution is increasing in our ponds, rivers and bays all over Maryland.  I feel as fishermen and sportsmen we need to get all the information we can on mercury pollution and how it’s affecting us all. This is part of the Clean Air Act that we all need to support.

  See you at the meeting or on the water or at the flea market..

  Clint

 P.S.    The last year or so our Club has been involved deeply with the          Menhaden depletion problem, trying to help clean up the Bay and the yellow perch netting problem.  These are all good problems to try to solve.  However, I want you to remember that we are a fishing club first and foremost.  We were formed to help each other become better and more informed fishermen.  Every third Thursday we get together to talk fishing and try to inform each other on how, when and where to fish.  We have a buddy system to help everyone get a chance to go fishing.  I know personally last year I fished and took a lot of our members fishing on their boats and mine to help them and myself become a better fisherman.  Remember, 90% of all fish caught are by the 10% who have the knowledge of our fishing area.  So come to our meetings, get involved and become a better and more knowledgeable fisherman.