Bass record crosses the Pacific- Tom Stienstra Outdoors
July 23, 2009
The most hallowed of all fishing records – the world record for largemouth bass – has been broken in Japan, pending certification. But the West's top fishing experts believe a new record will be set in California, perhaps in the Bay Area.
A 22-pound, 5-ounce bass was caught earlier this month in Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, by a 32-year-old angler named Manabu Kurita. That fish tops the epic 22-4 bass caught in 1932 in Georgia by George Perry, the mailman who certified the weight of the fish at his post office.
Most anglers believe that a bigger bass is already out there in the south San Joaquin Delta east of Brentwood. This is where Dee Thomas, a pro bass fisherman inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame, hooked, played and saw a bass he said was likely a world record. At the time, Thomas was testing a new lure with undersized hooks. Catching the big fish was an accident, he said, and when it made a diving burst, it dislodged the small hook.
In addition to the delta, the list of lakes that could produce a world-record bass include several from the Bay Area: San Pablo Reservoir, Lake Chabot and Del Valle in the East Bay hills; Berryessa and Spring Lake in Napa and Sonoma counties. Then there's Dixon, Casitas, Miramar, Hodges, Wohlford, Morena, Miramar, Castaic and Isabella in Southern California. These lakes have all produced some of the biggest bass in history. Other lakes in Texas, Florida and across the south are also in the running.
“We have everything in California that's needed to produce a world-record bass,” said Dan Bacher, editor of the Fish Sniffer. “We have Florida-strain bass that get huge, trout plants for food, and a mild climate for a long growing season.” That's why 16 of the 20 biggest bass ever verified were from Southern California.
“The chances of a new record right here are excellent,” said Jonah Li, a bass expert who fishes with pro anglers and owns Hi's Tackle Box in South San Francisco. “But watch what happens,” he added with a laugh. “Catching it will probably be an accident.”
Pat McDonell, Southern California editor of Western Outdoor News, agreed: “The person who catches the world-record bass will probably be some happy little kid who catches a trout on Power Bait. Then the giant bass grabs the trout and chokes on it and that little kid brings up the fish, and says, 'Look daddy, look at my big fish.' Who are the luckiest fishermen on Earth? Little kids. It will never be somebody who actually tries for it.”
The biggest bass ever verified weighed 25 pounds, 1 ounce, a female full of eggs, which was foul-hooked (snagged) and then released at Dixon Lake near Escondido in 2006. It was named “Ol' Spot” for a black spot near its head. The same fish, identified by the spot, floated up dead last year, but weighed 2 pounds less because it was no longer in spawning mode.
According to Ken Duke of Bassmaster, who first reported the 22-5 bass in Japan, it was caught on a live fish similar to a bluegill. The bass was not released, but taken home and frozen. In a YouTube video, Kurita says: “I knew it was a big fish, but I didn't think it was this big. I did not know if it was a new world record or not. Click link below for full story.
via Bass record crosses the Pacific.
Free web service connects hunters with places to hunt in Texas
July 23, 2009
By Staff of Texas Parks & Wildlife
Email Print Tell us your story Comment
Research surveys show that finding a place to hunt is a barrier for many people in today’s Texas, which is why Texas Parks and Wildlife Department created the Hunt Texas Online Connection, a free Web service that allows anyone to view hunting opportunities posted by private landowners across the state.
In early 2008, the department invited landowners to list hunting lease opportunities in Texas for free, including last-minute openings. Currently, hunters can search more than 450 hunting opportunities by lease type, county, game animal, cost per hunter and other parameters. The service is free to both hunters and landowners.
“Anyone looking for a hunting lease in Texas can use this free service to find listings from landowners throughout the state,” said Linda Campbell, TPWD program director for private lands and public hunting. “This is one way we’re trying to better serve our license-buying public. It’s important to keep the Texas hunting tradition strong, since hunting supports wholesome family recreation, pumps more than a billion dollars per year into Texas local economies, and provides an economic incentive for private land stewards to protect wildlife habitat.”
To register, landowners can visit the main Hunt Texas Online Connection Web area on the TPWD Web site. Click “Get Started,” select a username and password, log in, and start looking at hunting opportunities. Leases can be seen without registering and logging in, but users must register in order to contact landowners.
After users fill out the online registration form, they’ll get an email with a long URL ending in the word “activate” — users must click this link to complete registration. If users don’t receive the activation email, it might be because a security system is blocking it. In that case, users could try placing hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us in their address book or allowed email rules.
Hunters and landowners will determine if they are the right fit for each other, and all transactions will be between landowners and hunters. The new service also provides links to privately operated hunting lease Web sites as a convenience for the public. TPWD does not independently verify, endorse or warrant any of the information posted on Hunt Texas Online Connection, or any information contained on the privately operated hunting lease Web sites that are linked from the service.
Anyone can email questions, comments and suggestions about Hunt Texas Online Connection to hunt.texas@tpwd.state.tx.us. The TPWD Wildlife Information staff at 512 389-4505 can also provide basic assistance with the service.
Kentucky Hunting Access Grows with Elk Foundation Help
July 23, 2009
MISSOULA, Mont.—By facilitating agreements between corporate landowners and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has helped open or secure over 250,000 acres for public hunting access.
The milestone was recognized at a recent meeting of agency commissioners.
Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commissioner Dr. Jon Gassett said, “The Elk Foundation has been vital in this process—without them we wouldn’t be nearly as successful in obtaining these landowner agreements. The Elk Foundation gets things done with coal and timber companies that we, as an agency, have a hard time accomplishing. They have built a great relationship with landowners in Kentucky.”
Participating companies include Molpus Timberlands, KY River Properties, Begley Lumber and International Coal Group. Some lands were previously closed, others were historically open but scheduled to be leased—each situation was different.
David Ledford, initiative director for the Elk Foundation in Kentucky, explained, “Each agreement is different because each landowner had specific goals and sideboards. We worked with companies on an individual basis and helped them determine how to structure hunting access on their lands. Some agreements came together quickly, others took time, but the results are good news for hunters in Kentucky.”
At a June 11 meeting, Gassett presented Ledford and RMEF Regional Director Bill Carman with limited edition art prints as a token of thanks from Kentucky hunters.
Most of the state’s 11,300 elk are on private lands. More than 46,000 people applied for a chance to hunt them, and this fall more than 1,000 lucky selectees will take to the hills in pursuit of a Kentucky elk. Helping hunters and other wildlife enthusiasts access this growing resource is imperative, says Ledford.
Gassett said, “The coal industry has done great things for wildlife in Kentucky. In fact, without the coal industry, elk wouldn’t be here. We appreciate what they’re doing for public hunting access, too.”
For more information and regulations governing public hunting opportunities on corporate lands, visit the KDFWR Web site at http://www.kdfwr.state.ky.us.
About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.6 million acres—a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.
via 2009 News Releases.
Game and Fish to consider 60 day duck season | Arkansas News
July 23, 2009
By Joe Mosby
Arkansas News Correspondent
LITTLE ROCK — State wildlife officials Thursday recommended a 60-day duck season with a daily limit of six ducks, of which four could be mallards.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will consider the recommendation by its wildlife management division at the commission’s Aug. 20 meeting, after season guidelines are handed down by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The 60-day, six-ducks-a-day season is the maximum allowed under the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Adaptive Harvest Management Plan that has been in effect since the late 1980s. The maximum has been in effect in Arkansas for the past dozen years. Surveys this summer have shown duck breeding conditions are good in Canada’s prairie regions and in the upper Midwest of the United States.
Two options were given in the proposed duck hunting dates by the wildlife staff. Both have three segments. One is Nov.26-Dec. 6, Dec. 6-24 and Dec. 26-Jan. 31. The other option is Nov. 21-29, Dec. 10-23 and Dec. 26-Jan. 21.
A two-day youth hunt was proposed for Feb. 6-7, but commissioners promptly objected and suggested Dec. 5-6 for the youth hunt. February is too late, too cold, one commissioner said.
The duck season dates also include the hunting of coots and mergansers.
The wildlife staff also proposed changing the daily duck limit for Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area to three ducks a day, of which two can be hens. Previous limit was one hen a day. Click link below for full story.
via Game and Fish to consider 60 day duck season | Arkansas News.
Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Seeks Opinions From Turkey, Waterfowl Hunters
July 23, 2009
Frankfort, Ky. – The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is seeking opinions from turkey and waterfowl hunters about seasons and bag limits. Department officials today launched an online questionnaire at fw.ky.gov to obtain hunter opinions about proposals affecting turkey and waterfowl hunting.
The turkey questionnaire asks hunters whether they want to retain the current opening weekend of the general spring season – currently the Saturday closest to April 15 – or if they prefer for the season to always start on the second Saturday in April.
The waterfowl questionnaire seeks input about changing or retaining the current bag limit for hen mallards. The questionnaire also asks hunters whether the current youth-only waterfowl season for the Eastern Zone should remain on the first weekend of November, or shift to the first weekend of February, which is the same date as the Western Zone youth-only waterfowl hunt.
The questionnaires will remain online through August 10. Results will be compiled and submitted to the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission for further consideration at its August 14 meeting.
Hunting trophy stripers in July – Fall River, MA – The Herald News
July 5, 2009
By Charley Soares, Special to The Herald News
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jul 04, 2009 @ 11:24 PM
The local gin mill was the gathering place for all the usual suspects that assembled there to decry the state of warm weather fishing while waiting for news of the first good catch of summer stripers.
They weren’t completely idle; they didn’t expect the active fishermen to walk in and provide them with detailed information on their forays so they sent out scouts.
There wasn’t a boat ramp that we frequented that didn’t have the obligatory old timer under their guise of taking their wives out for an ice cream cone and catching a summer afternoon of evening breeze.
These gents would casually walk over to our boats and ask the obligatory questions. “How did you do? Catch any fish? Leave a few out there for me. Where were you fishing? …”
One especially aggressive man, who was not satisfied with my “OK” response, actually climbed into my boat while I was hooking up the winch cord. I looked up to find him lifting the cover of my fish cooler which held four stripers. After impolitely asking him to step down, he smiled and drove away.
The following morning there was at least half dozen new trailers in the Padanaram parking lot whose owners weren’t out fishing but searching for any boats that were. My advice to fishermen is don’t allow old wives tales about summer weather doldrums to keep you off the water.
Despite everything you may have read or been told about the June full moon, I have the records of stripers from 50 to 70 pounds that prove that more trophy bass are landed in July and August than a few days on either side of what has always been a very productive June full moon. Click Link Below For Full Story
via Hunting trophy stripers in July – Fall River, MA – The Herald News.
Texas study examining lead issue in dove hunting | Houston Chronicle
July 5, 2009
By SHANNON TOMPKINS Copyright 2009 Houston Chronicle
Shannon Tompkins Houston Chronicle
A Texas study comparing lead shot and non-toxic shot in real-world dove hunting conditions hopes to answer questions about the effectiveness of non-toxic loads some see as the fugure for wingshooters.
Texas has taken the lead in trying to answer vexing questions with which wildlife managers have wrestled for more than three decades: how prevalent is ingestion of spent lead shot by doves, what health-related problems are associated with the hugely popular birds swallowing the toxic pellets and are there viable non-toxic alternatives to lead shot in dove-hunting situations?
More than two decades after biologists and wildlife managers began a phase-out of lead shot for waterfowl hunting after intense research showed ingestion of spent lead shot was annually killing millions of ducks and geese, wildlife professionals still have relatively little information on lead shot’sits effects on the nation’s dove population.
A package of multiyear research projects being conducted by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department hope to produce some of the first large-scale data quantifying the issue ofhow lead impacts on doves. It’s also to providinge hard science on the effectiveness of options should evidence suggest lead shot be banned for dove hunting.
TPWD currently is involved in research to gauge hunter awareness of the issues surrounding lead shot and doves, and their attitudes toward the possibility of banning lead shot for dove hunting. For Full Story Click Link Below
via Texas study examining lead issue in dove hunting | Shannon Tompkins | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle.
3-D bowhunting a great practice | CJOnline.com
July 5, 2009
By Marc Murrell
Created July 4, 2009 at 5:04pm
Updated July 4, 2009 at 11:44pm
The 8-point buck stood motionless on the trail. I silently drew the 65 pounds of my Mathews bow and paused when I reached my anchor point. The 30-yard pin settled on the center of his chest as I touched off the release. The Easton carbon arrow found its mark with a thud behind the buck’s front shoulder, exactly where I aimed.
My reward for a perfect shot? It wasn’t venison in the freezer, but a perfect score on target 18 at the Kansas State 3-D Archery tournament years ago. All that practice paid off in my early years of bowhunting and its benefits are still seen each fall even now. Venison in the freezer is often a pleasant by-product of many tournaments over the years and things learned along the way.
3-D tournaments aren’t without controversy as to their actual benefit. Hard-core bowhunters claim that many 3-D competitors worry about nothing more than speed and winning. While that may be true, an individual has to be concerned about his or her own motives for entering these tournaments. Each archer’s situation is unique and one not better than any other.
For a bowhunter who wants to become a better shot, there’s not a better opportunity than shooting 3-D tournaments. Grab your hunting bow, outfit it with exactly the same equipment you hunt with and head to the range. Click Link Below for Full Story
via 3-D bowhunting a great practice | CJOnline.com.
Crossbow issue to be revisited – PennLive.com
July 5, 2009
BY MARCUS SCHNECK mschneck@comcast.net
After fierce debate among sportsmen and members of the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, crossbows are legal for use in archery seasons for bear and deer this fall and winter.
However, the agenda for this week's meeting of commissioners is expected to include preliminary consideration of a proposal from Commissioner Ron Weaner, who describes himself as an “avid archer,” to again restrict crossbow use, even before the new legalization.
Under his proposal, crossbows would be permitted during the first two weeks of the statewide early archery deer season; only by disabled hunters with a permit to use crossbows for the remainder of the early archery season and the late archery season; for all deer seasons, including the early and late archery seasons, in wildlife management units 2B, 5C and 5D; only by disabled hunters with special permits during the two-day archery bear season; and in muzzleloader deer hunting seasons by hunters with a license.
When he requested consideration of the proposal at the conclusion of the April commissioner meeting, Weaner said, “If it can happen for this year [which began July 1 for the new hunting license year], I'd like to see it happen this year.”
However, if commissioners give preliminary approval to the proposal this week, it would need to come up for second consideration and final approval in the future.
All materials offered to hunters for this fall and winter's hunting seasons list crossbows as legal throughout all archery seasons on deer and bear. Click Link Below for Full Story.
via Crossbow issue to be revisited – PennLive.com.
Ducks Unlimited supports bill to benefit hunters
July 5, 2009
Act makes hunting opportunity on public lands top priority
WASHINGTON – June 29, 2009 – Ducks Unlimited applauds the introduction of two bills aimed at ensuring the next generation of waterfowl hunters has access to the duck blind, and protecting America’s rich hunting heritage. The Hunting Heritage Protection Act, introduced by Sens. Max Baucus Mont. and Saxby Chambliss Ga. in the Senate and Representative Denny Rehberg Mont. in the House would require federal lands to be better managed for hunting.
“Waterfowl hunting is a proud tradition, and we are pleased to see Congress acknowledging that,” said Barton James, director of public policy for Ducks Unlimited. “Waterfowlers have been supporting federal lands through duck stamp sales for 75 years, and we welcome this effort to ensure that hunting remains a part of America’s conservation legacy.”
“Waterfowlers have had a tremendous impact on conservation, but loss of access is limiting the positive benefits that duck hunters bring,” said Chambliss. “This bill will help protect and expand hunter access, and ensure that waterfowl hunters can continue to be champions of conservation.”
The measure would require federal lands, when possible, to be managed in a way that supports, promotes and enhances hunting opportunities. The bill also calls on federal agencies managing federal lands to submit an annual report to Congress explaining denial of access for hunting on federal lands. Additionally, agencies would be required to submit prior written notification to Congress before limitation affecting access to hunting on 5,000 acres or more becomes effective.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than 13 million American’s participate in hunting, and sportsmen contribute more than $76 billion to the US economy each year and support 1.6 million jobs. Hunting is recognized as an environmentally beneficial activity and is an important component of effective wildlife management.
With more than a million supporters, Ducks Unlimited is the world’s largest and most effective wetland and waterfowl conservation organization and has conserved more than 12 million acres. The United States alone has lost more than half of its original wetlands—nature’s most productive ecosystem—and continues to lose more than 80,000 wetland acres important to waterfowl each year.
Neil Shader
nshader@ducks.org
202.347.1530
Recent Comments