State fisheries management staffers will stage a public hearing on Aug. 16 to discuss two important initiatives of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

According to DIF&W biologist Ron Brokaw, the two proposals call for instituting a five-line limit during ice-fishing season on Phillips Lake in Dedham, and managing Cathance Lake as a “Classic Salmon” water, which would increase the likelihood of that lake producing big fish in the future.

The hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Room 102 of the science building at the University of Maine at Machias.

Brokaw said attendees aren’t required to make long speeches, and said even a simple “I like the idea” or “I prefer to keep things as is” would provide needed public input to DIF&W officials.

Brokaw has spent considerable time promoting the idea of Cathance Lake becoming a classic salmon water, and said spring fishing this year indicated that large fish can grow in the lake.

“The proposal represents one of the most exciting freshwater fishing possibilities to come down the pike in Washington County in a long, long time,” Brokaw wrote.

“I’m encouraged to know that there are many supporters, but must acknowledge there are also numerous opponents,” he wrote.

Brokaw said he hopes anglers will flock to Machias to be heard.

“It should be quite an evening and all those with an interest are urged to attend to insure their voices are heard at one of the most important fishery hearings in Washington County in 30 years,” Brokaw wrote.

DU plans annual banquet

The DownEast Chapter of Ducks Unlimited will hold its 34th annual fundraising banquet and auction on Sept. 22 at 5:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Bangor Banquet and Conference Center on Hogan Road.

All tickets must be bought in advance, and none will be sold at the door. Tickets are available for $45 for a single and $65 for a couple, and the price includes dinner and DU membership.

The live and silent auction will contain limited-edition wildlife prints, decoys, guns, knives, and other hunting equipment.

For more information, call David Poll at 884-4592, Tom Duff at 989-6082 or Ernie Boynton at 942-6246.

Since its founding in 1937, DU has raised more than $1.6 billion, which has contributed to the conservation of more than 10 million acres of prime wildlife habitat in all 50 states, each of the Canadian provinces, and in key areas of Mexico.