ACE ROD MAKER AND REPAIR GUY

In mentioning Bill Dettmar is last Sunday's print column I hit the deuce instead of the trey on the keyboard. His correct house phone number is (908) 359-1830. You can also e-mail him at cdettmarstites@aol.com. His cell phone is (908) 625-7322.

I don't wear glasses when I type on the computer and that might be the problem. I've been transposing letters or numbers lately.

Bill just doesn't build or repair fly rods, but a full range of spinning and conventional reel rods and will make one to your specs.

I have an old saltwater glass rod I won at least 20 years ago and Bill is giving it a makeover with new guides and grip. So if you've got some gear laying around that could use an upgrade or are looking for a new toy for the coming fishing season, give Bill a shout.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Hackettstown Hatchery and plans are under way for a celebration. Hackettstown is the warm-water fish producing facility for New Jersey anglers and has been since the trout rearing work was shifted to Pequest when that operation got up and running.

DOVE HUNTING IN NEW JERSEY?

Read a headline like the above and the first reaction of long-time Jersey hunters is "good luck with that."

The antis are so well organized, and financed, here in the Garden State that a proposal to allow hunting for "the bird of peace" is not likely to happen.

Never mind that it's great sport, tough shooting and doves taste good.

The Upland Game Committee of the Fish & Wildlife Council is working on getting a dove season.

As outdoor writer Jim Stabile e-mailed me, Michigan - where he used to work - has about a million hunters and they couldn't get a dove season passed.

You want to hunt doves, go across the river to Pennsylvania.

TU PUSHING FOR FLAT BROOK CHANGE

Trout Unlimited wants a Trout Conservation Area on the Flat Brook, specifically a 1.5 mile stretch that would be open to year-round fishing. The proposal doesn't say where exactly that stretch would be, but claims the current fly fishing stretch would remain unchanged.

TOO MANY DEER? YUP!

Nearly 75 percent of respondents to a survey taken by a Hopewell Township group to study the locale's deer situation said that "deer cause many problems and solutions are needed."

And this is from hundreds of replies that showed only 10 percent of these folks hunt deer.

The basic conclusion of the group, which it has recommended to the township committee, is that a permanent deer task force be put in place, with funding of course, and that there are too many deer and too few places to hunt them.

We'll have a more detailed report in a future print column.

HUNTERDON ANGLERS

Just received a copy of the Hunterdon Anglers newsletter. Great job for initial efforts. Lots of color photos, fishing reports on the Valley, how-to articles, etc.

The new club was featured in the Trentonian several weeks ago in the print version of the outdoor column.

The new outfit is soliciting members who want to participate in a club that is open to all and has a "share the knowledge" motto and attitude when it comes to techniques and fishing spots. Beginners and those who want to learn more about fishing Round Valley and Spruce Run reservoirs are encouraged to join.

For info on the club e-mail prez Ed Harabin at double.anchor@yahoo.com or board member Jim Stabile at jimvstabile@aol.com.

JAIL TIME FOR POACHER

An Allegheny County, Pa. man has been the first to be sentenced to a jail term under the state's new fines and penalties system.

Anthony Mark Marasco was slammed with more than $4,750 in fines and will serve two concurrent 90-day prison terms after his conviction for his fourth poaching-related incident in the past 13 years according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Ouch.