Sportsman want Lake George protected from invasive species and their 24/7 access to fishing protected.
Sportsmen don’t want any invasive species in the pristine waters of Lake George because they are a threat to the fisheries and the water purity. Anglers have seen the decline of water conditions and the fisheries of many bodies of water throughout NY. Fishermen enjoy travelling from one lake to another so they can fish different species and they have seen conditions change and are aware of the effects that invasive species can make to any body of water. Sportsmen take measures to prevent transporting and introducing invasive species from one body of water to another. Sportsmen read the signs located at public boat launches regarding invasive species as well as the many brochures with information on the prevention of the spread of invasives.
Members of the Lake George Fishing Alliance believe that education of all boaters is of great importance and a key factor to prevent the spread of any invasive species from one body of water to another. We highly respect and promote the Lake Steward program to help educate all boaters. Sportsmen are against any suggestion or ideas of the Park Commission’s Committee on Invasive Species Prevention to mandate boat inspections and to gate any public boat launch to prevent access and launching of a boat when an inspector is not on duty. Anglers don’t fish only between the hours of 9 to 5. Many sportsmen begin hunting or fishing before sun-up. We also hunt and fish 12 months of the year and not just during the Lake George tourist season. Sportsmen want and need 24/7 unrestricted access to launch our boats at all public boat launches that our hunting and fishing licenses fund.
Walt Kendall
President of the Lake George Fishing Alliance
www.lgfa.org