Outdoors in RI: On fishing, dragonflies, politics, campaigns, polls, MSM, and 2A – Jeff Gross

by Jeff Gross, contributing writer, commentary, 2A

Photo, top: Jon Gray

Fishing at the Moose

While many of us anglers enjoy catching Small and Largemouth bass, there is great concern that these bass are predators in Moosehead Lake, Maine.  Understandably so, as I believe Moosehead has a natural spawn of trout.  These bass will eagerly devour the trout fry.  Very recently on the Fish Moosehead FB page an angler caught a white perch on the lake.  The white perch appeared to be an adult when comparing it to the foot in the photograph.  Adults can have 100s of offspring each year. 

The lakes I fish in in Belgrade are loaded with White Perch and, sadly to say, other unwanted species.  This year was another productive year for Crappies, which are fun to catch. Notice the mouth on the crappie pictured, as the fish can inhale a 3-inch trout fry easily.  Also caught were a number of 20-inch Pickerel.  Pickerel are a nuisance and unpleasant to catch as the Pickerel are coated with a sticky clear slime that makes a mess of everything.  The Crappies are thrown back, however the Pickerel are turned into Eagle bait.  A Pickerel was tossed out and the eagle was smart enough to grab it when this writer had his back turned hence no Eagle photo.  A request to eliminate all Pickerel was made by a pair of Maine guides who feel the Pickerel are a threat to the smallmouth bass populations in Belgrade.  Folks in the Moosehead Lake and other pristine lakes should do everything possible to keep White Perch, Crappies and especially Pickerel out of their waters.

Dragonflies

Recently Rhode Island beaches and other areas were swarmed by Dragonflies.  These massive swarms may be attributed to large numbers of Mosquitoes both in RI and in Maine.  While in Maine on day one, there were swarms of Dragonflies in the Belgrade lakes area.  These attractive insects, which many an artistic jeweler copies, are of great value. This year alone my boat was a heliport for dozens of Dragonflies looking to take a break from the mosquito hunting.  The dragonflies used my arms, fishing rod tip, and shoulders as rest areas as well.

Though an insect, they do not bite humans nor animals which is why they are so popular in the artistic world.  After a 3-day quick run to RI to direct the RIFGPA trout derby, this writer noticed immediately the Dragonflies had disappeared from the Belgrade lakes.  Needless to say, the Mosquitoes returned 2 days later.  Upon returning to RI in July the swarms of Dragonflies in Glocester wiped out many a mosquito as I have seen only one mosquito to date since returning.  This may lead to a lower heartworm issue in dogs as well.  Mosquitoes are known to transmit heartworms to our canine friends.

Campaigns

Currently in RI we are subjected to constant handcuffing of our constitutional rights.  Have the politicians taken the handcuffs off any rights? Hell, no! So I must ask why do Rhode Islanders keep reelecting these (some would call) “Socialists”?  If you truly valued the USA you would not vote for them. 

Many people think the Democrat VP candidate is a great thing. Clearly there is a lack of cognitive memory.  In late May of 2020 rioters burned down the 3rd Precinct in Minneapolis.  Walz did nothing to stop the attack, even when the Mayor of Minneapolis begged him to call in the National Guard. As Governor, he would be in charge of that call, or any other, to help the Minneapolis Police. Remember, the police headquarters was being burned to the ground at the time.

What would the VP pick do if it was China or Russia that attacked? What advice would he give a President at the national level? The serfs in the USA have already forgotten about the MN attack. So many have moved on from those darkest of days in our country, and are now more worried about where they will buy their next Marijuana for the weekend. 

Governor of RI steps out on 2A

The RI Governor has stated recently that he plans on legislating an Assault Weapons Ban (propaganda term) by putting a ban into his 2025 Budget. Upon speaking with a Democrat RI House Rep, it was stated that the Governor cannot add a line-item ban, as a ban would need to go through the legislative process. Speaking with a RI Senate Republican it was stated that he can put what he wants in the budget, as it is his budget, but an Assault Weapons Ban line item would be illegal. 

Note the “directive” posted by The White House with the simple note: “It’s time”. As the administration changes, in whatever way, there are some initiatives the president has said he wants to accomplish in the remaining months.

The good news is the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the Maryland Assault Weapons Ban. SCOTUS 2 days after the Bruen Decision granted Cert to the MD gun owners and GVR’d (Granted Cert, Vacated the 4th circuit ruling, and remanded the case back) the case back to the 4th Circuit.  The 4th Circuit continued their “unconstitutional” ways and again ruled AWBs can be banned. This is exactly what we as gun owners wanted.  By mid-September I bet, as well as Mark W. Smith, SCOTUS will have a new Writ of Certiorari on the desk and in all likelihood will grant the Cert request, only this time the 4th circuit will get spanked. I know that I predicted a game-over for the AWB in Dec 2023, however as I am a learning student I did not foresee the political games that are playing out in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th and 9th circuits. That said it looks pretty clear that the AWB issue will be over June 30th, 2025. A decision by SCOTUS declaring the AWB will apply to the entire US and all its territories, including Rhode Island. Whether any RI politician, legislator or official has an issue with it, the ruling decision will stand.

Politics & Commentary

A couple of folks have issue with my commentary on the political scene as of late. I bring to light the facts on the political scene, particularly involving 2A, as many MSM platforms are currently promoting misinformation.

We as gun owners, hunters and anglers need to have clear truth on who supports the 2A as well as the Constitution.  Donald J. Trump stated today in a press conference that people need to own firearms to protect themselves and their loved ones and property as crime and violence by criminal bad actors is out of control. That was a new speaking point. He even referenced how criminals would opt to go elsewhere if they saw a sign on a house or business that noted the establishment was legally armed. Interesting.

The Harris and Walz Democratic team have said they plan on eliminating the 2A and stacking the US Supreme Court to strike down positive pro-2A decisions. It’s hard to find this in writing because the websites for the campaign offer no information on any issue, just a call for fundraising. Many MSM outlets are already indulging in misinformation such as one large platform stated that a nationwide poll had Harris ahead of Trump by 23 points. Yes, 23 points!  I decided to play fact checker as I have access to many of the polls. The 23-point Harris lead was not identified anywhere, so be careful where you get your news. The same platform stated today that Harris had an 8-point gain on Thursday.  Jeff fact checked and found that an 8-point lead did not appear anywhere.

This election cycle will in fact be a foot race, however, to be fair Trump owned Thursdays polling as his worse poll was only a mere tie with Harris in one Georgia poll.  All the other polls had Trump ahead.  The lesson of the story is: use your intelligence and instincts, know the source (and their biases), and verify the facts yourself. You will see the facts with your own two eyes as the MSM are openly talked about now with a bias to the Democrats, and working in concert toward supporting the path into the White House. Verify my Fact Checking and judge for yourself in the August 8th paragraph here:

See you next week! – Jeff

___

Jeffrey “Jeff” Gross spent 21 years as an Analytical Chemist at the USCG R&D Center in Groton, Connecticut, Woods Hole Laboratories, and Helix Technologies. Changing careers is a “great learning experience for everyone”, Jeff says, and I’m an avid outdoorsman and conservationist, a student of the sciences, and the world. The US holds too many wonders not to take a chance and explore them”.

Jeff is the Model Train and Railroad entrepreneur. Proud Golden Retriever owner. Ultra strong Second Amendment Advocate and Constitutionalist. “Determined seeker of the truth”.  Jeff is a RIFGPA Legislative and Legal Officer, Freshwater Chairman, NRA Liaison.

His subjects include Outdoors, Second Amendment, Model Railroading, Commentary, and Whimsical. He can be reached at: [email protected].