Thursday, September 29, 2005

ARKANSAS FISHING REPORT

CENTRAL ARKANSAS:

Lake Conway: Bates Field and Stream said the lake is clear and a little
low. Bream fishing is good on worms, wax worms, crickets and TiniMite
bream jigs fished next to the bank. Crappie fishing is good on minnows
fished on the shady side of the cypress trees. Bass are good in early
mornings and late evenings on white or chartreuse buzzbaits and Zoom
Horny Toads fished around lily pads. Dark plastic worms are catching a
few fish near pads. Catfishing is fair on trotlines, yo-yos and jugs
baited with cut shad.

Little Red River: Lindsey's Resort said the river is low with most
generation coming in the afternoons. This leaves plenty of excellent
wading opportunities in the morning hours. In spite of fallout from
Hurricane Rita, Saturday provided some excellent fishing. Bait fishermen
did the best on Power Eggs, corn and nightcrawlers. Spin fishers also
did well with marabou jigs drifted under a casting bubble or cork. Fly
fishermen did well on sowbugs and scuds, especially in the morning.

Greers Ferry: Shiloh Marina said the lake is ultra-clear and low, making
fishing difficult. Kentucky bass are schooling early and late in the
day, randomly chasing shad. If you are in the right time at the right
place, you can catch a few on crankbaits. Walleye fishing is fair around
35 feet deep on nightcrawlers drifted over the flats in the lake.
Crappie fishing is fair around 12-14 feet of water.

Fish Finder Service said that after the almost six inches of rain around
the lake, the lake rose about nine inches but is now falling again. The
lake is at 453.21 and still eight feet low and falling. Largemouth and
Kentucky bass ganged up in the run-offs for two days and are being
caught frequently as are a lot of fish in the transition at the present.
Fish are moving to shallow water, but cooler weather is needed to
improve the bite. In the shallows, try traps, crank baits, jigs and
finesse rigs along with a top water lure early and late in the day. The
frog bite has been good throughout the day. The rest of the fish and
smallmouths are in anywhere from 40 to 60 feet suspended and are hard to
catch. When the fish are bottom feeding a Texas-rig or Carolina-rig is
working. Worms on both and lizards and rite bite cinkos on the c-rig are
also working well. The crappie fishing is excellent in standing timber
as well as around man made brush piles. A few bream are ganging up in
the areas around the docks. The catfish continue to bite well and can be
caught all over the lake. The walleye have slowed some due to the stain
, but should really turn on in a couple of weeks. The hybrid and white
bass action is hot right now and can be caught all over the lake using a
variety of baits. Also, black bass are schooling quite a bit now all
over the lake, you just have to be in the right spot at the right time.

Harris Brake Lake: Coffee Creek Landing said the water in the lake has
excellent clarity. Crappie fishermen are doing fairly well on small
minnows and jigs fished in 4-6 feet of water. Bass are back in the coves
and are going for spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms in 2-4 feet of
water. Catfishing is good on nightcrawlers and large live minnows. Bream
are also biting well. Most of the bream are coming from 4-6 feet of
water on crickets and worms.

Lake Overcup: Lakeview Landing said the lake is clear and extremely low.
Even the rains over the weekend didn't bring it back up. A few crappie
were picked up in the creek channels on minnows and jigs. The low water
has turned many fishermen away from the lake lately.

Cadron Creek: Wooster Grocery said fishing for all species has been
poor. A few bream have been caught on crickets and a couple of anglers
have caught a few crappie on live minnows.

Beaverfork Lake: Wooster Grocery said bream fishing is fair on crickets.
Bass and crappie are holding in the shallows and occasionally take
minnows. Some bass have been taken on top-water lures.

Little Maumelle River: River Valley Bait said the river is at normal
level, but the clarity is extremely poor. Bream are biting well in 3
feet of water. Try tightlining a red wiggler or a cricket at the base of
a brush pile or stump. Catfishing is good in the main channel on any
live or prepared bait. All other species are slow.

Lake Cargile: Beeson's Grocery said the lake is almost clear and low.
Bream fishing is good on red wigglers and crickets. Crappie fishing is
good on live minnows under a slip-cork rig. Bass fishing is fair at
best.

Lake Maumelle: Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bass fishing has been
fair to good on white spinnerbaits and white Zoom Flukes fished in
shallow water. Catfishing is fair to good on cut bait, rice field slicks
and minnows.

Arkansas River: Charley's Hidden Harbor near Oppelo said the flow from
Lock and Dam #9 is 11,000 cubic feet per second with the headwaters at
285.55 and the tailwaters at 264.80. Few fishermen have ventured out
onto the river due to the recent storms. Black bass are excellent on red
blood worms in two to four feet of water around timber. Horny toads in
black pearl are working well. Kentucky bass are schooling on jetty tops.
Try a crawfish color Gitzit. Some really nice fish in the 12 to 15-inch
range have been caught. Stripers are schooling on jetty tips near the
mouths of creeks. Use spoons and rattle traps in shad or pearl in these
areas. White bass are schooling late and early. Use rattle traps in
pearl color. Bream are near the bank. Use grasshoppers to pull in some
nice-sized bream. Catfish can be found below the dam. Try whole shad and
drift fish below the dam. Crappie are fair on chartreuse and red tube
jigs fished in the back water in three to six-foot depths near tree
stumps.

Arkansas River (Little Rock area): Hatchet Jack's Sport Shop said bass
fishing has been fair to good on buzzbaits fished around jetty points.
Quite a few catfish have been brought in on trotlines baited with live
shad. Striper fishing has been good early in the morning around the
Murray Hydroelectric plant. Try chartreuse Sassy Shads, Twistertails or
split tails. Catfish have also been good around the plant on shad,
slicks and nightcrawlers.

Sunset Lake: Turbyfill's said the lake is low. Bass fishing has been
good around the brush piles in 12 to 15 feet of water. Try using a
soft-plastic worm in red shad or other dark colors.

Saline River Access in Benton: Turbyfill's said the river is running low
and clear. Bass fishing has been good on the smallmouths around brush
piles on top-water lures. A few walleye have been picked up in the
deeper holes on brightly colored crankbaits.

Terry Lock and Dam: McSwain Sports Center said some catfish have been
caught below the dam on cut shad. The storms prevented most fishing last
weekend.

Clear Lake: McSwain Sports Center said the water is high and muddy. The
recent storms shut down the fish and kept the fishermen off the lake.
All species are slow.

NORTH ARKANSAS:

White River: Gaston's White River Resort said the river is running low
and clear. Only one generator was running all last week. Wax worms, red
worms and nightcrawlers caught quite a few trout. Yellow and orange
Power Eggs, Little Cleo Spoons and Buoyant Spoons in gold and red worked
well in the current. Fly-fishermen did well on olive wooly buggers and
small sowbugs.

Wilderness Trail said fishing for trout on the White River has been good
on Berkley Power Eggs in yellow and white or Nuggets in yellow and
chartreuse. Buoyant Spoons, and Little Cleos are the bait of choice
during generation. Fly-fishermen did well on olive Woolly Buggers, olive
scuds and sow bugs. The brown trout are being caught on Jointed
Countdowns, Shad Raps and Rogues.

Bull Shoals Lake: Wilderness Trail said lake temperature should come
down a little this week. As of Sunday morning, the lake temperature is
78.7 degrees. Lake level is about the same as last week, at 647.80. The
thermocline is at 31 feet and is 4 feet wide. Crappie pulled out of the
brush piles and moved out into the thermocline. Crappie minnows and
Swimming Minnows worked the best this week in 30+ feet of water.
Largemouth bass will still be on the banks in the mornings but with the
lower water temperatures some spinnerbaits and/or crankbaits should
start working. Also stay with your Carolina rigs but change your baits
over to smaller finesse worms, centipedes and Baby Brush Hogs or 5-inch
lizards. Smallmouth will move into transition banks and points to forage
on crawdads. The bite is already starting, but most of the smallies are
under 15 inches. Tubes, Spider Jigs, Mojo rigs with finesse worms or
centipedes and grubs will be your key baits for the next few weeks.
Kentuckies have been swimming with the balls of shad all summer, now the
shad are moving in toward the banks in the cuts and coves and the
Kentuckies will be forced to feed on crawdads along with the shad. Pop
R's and Chug Bug baits will start to pick up in the early morning;
tubes, Spider Jigs and Mojo rigged centipedes or Fish Doctors will work
during the day. Walleye are very hard to target during the fall
transition. Once the lake temperature makes the low 70s, the walleye
that have been holding in the thermocline will move toward the drop offs
and the points and forage on crawdads, sunfish or shad. They will be
scattered and difficult to pattern. Meanwhile stay with the spooning,
pulling bottom bouncers and long lining Hot'N Tots and Reef Runners in
30 to 35 feet of water.

Sugar Loaf Harbor said the water is low. Crappie are biting well along
the bluffs and in standing timber around 25 feet deep. Minnows have been
the best bait for the slabs. Walleye are biting spoons well on the flats
and long, extended points running from 28 to 55 feet deep. Catfishing
has been good on noodles and jugs baited with live bream or shad.

Lake Norfork: Cranfield Junction Quik Stop said the lake is clear and
around 10 feet low. Bream are biting well on red worms and crickets
fished around the brush next to the shoreline. Black bass are biting
well early in the morning on top-water lures and buzzbaits. Jigs and
plastic worms are also working during the day over the points in 25-35
feet of water. Hybrids are biting well on spoons, swim baits and
umbrella rigs fished in 35-45 feet of water. Catfishing is good on cut
bait and nightcrawlers fished on trotlines or jugs over major points and
creek turns. Crappie fishing has been best at night on minnows and jigs
fished over brush piles 35 feet deep.

NORTHWEST ARKANSAS

Beaver Lake: Southtown Sporting Goods said the lake is low and clear.
Bream are biting fair on worms and crickets fished 4-8 feet deep.
Crappie fishing is fair in 4-10 feet of water on minnows under a
slip-cork rig. Bass fishing is fair on finesse worms and slow-rolled
spinnerbaits in 20-30 feet of water. At night, the fish are moving up to
the shallower water and going for dark soft-plastic worms and black
spinnerbaits.

Hickory Creek Marina said the water level is low, but the clarity is
ideal. With the cooling trend, spinnerbaits and crankbaits on the flats
and long points are the places to head to for black bass. If you're
looking for stripers, they're holding in the open waters on the lower
end of the lake. Once the water temperature reaches 65 degrees, they
should make their push to the rivers. Crappie fishermen are doing well
under lights at night along drop-offs in 12 to 15 feet of water. Spider
riggers are also having some good luck in Big Hickory, Eden Bluff and
the Mouth of War Eagle Creek. White bass have been moving with the shad.
Look for surface activity in the early morning and late evening. Jigging
spoons have been producing good catches around balls of shad near the
surface activity. The best action is coming from across the water intake
and across from Eden Bluff. Incidental catfish catches continue with
crappie fishermen and white bass anglers. The bluff line at Hickory
Creek is still producing some large cats. Try fishing a large minnow
underneath a slip-bobber rig at about 30 feet deep for the best luck.

Lake Fayetteville: Lake Fayetteville Boat Dock said the lake is 6 to 8
feet low and the water is clear. Bluegill and redear sunfish are biting
red worms well in 5 to 7 feet of water at the base of brush piles.
Crappie fishing is fair in 10 to 12 feet of water on minnows fished
around any submerged brush. Catfishing is fair, but no details are
coming in from fishermen.

Lake Sequoyah: Lake Sequoyah Boat Dock said the lake is very low and
clear. Bream fishing is fair in 4-8 feet of water on crickets fished
around the stumps. Crappie are biting minnows and jigs well with the
best action coming from stumps and weed beds in 4-6 feet of water. Bass
fishing is good o buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms on the mossy
points and weed beds in the lake. Channel cats are biting well on
goldfish and nightcrawlers fished in the river channel around 8-10 feet
deep.

NORTHEAST ARKANSAS

Lake Hogue: With the cooling water, tilapia should be at their peak
weights and easy to catch. There's only a month or two left for tilapia
this season. The best bet is using red worms fished right on the bottom
near the rocks of the dam.

Lake Charles: Powhatan Landing said the lake is stained and low.
Catfishing is good on Sonny's Stinkbait, chicken livers and
nightcrawlers fished along the bottom.

Black River: Powhatan Landing said the river is running very low. Some
catfish have been coaxed into biting with chicken livers, nightcrawlers
and Sonny's Stinkbait.

Spring River: Many Islands Camp said the river is running clear and low.
Trout fishing has been good on Rooster Tails fished across the current
and salmon eggs drifted with the current. This will be the last report
for the season on Spring River.

SOUTHEAST ARKANSAS

Arkansas River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said there have been no reports of
good fishing.

SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS

Millwood Lake: Millwood Lake Guide Service said largemouth bass are
biting well and schooling upriver. The best schooling activity has been
in mid-day around Mud Lake, Horseshoe Lake and Clear Lake. Heddon Dying
Flutters, Clear Baby or Tiny Torpedos, Smithwick Rouges, Devil Horses,
all are catching the schoolers on top water in the last few days. Zoom
Horny Toads in black or Bass Assassin Shads in rainbow trout or gizzard
shad colors, are all taking good size bass in the pads and vegetation.
Jig bite continues improving. The most consistent bite remains at the
bases of cypress trees and knees, in approximately 6-8 foot depths.
Berkley 10-inch Power Worms in red shad or blue fleck colors are taking
keeper length bass along the river stair-step washouts where laydowns or
stumps are present. Crappie remain best early in the mornings. Best this
week on smoke or orange/white colored grubs, 12 to 14 feet deep, in
contact with planted brush piles and tops. The catfish bite is good
using live shiners or cut bait on yo-yos under cypress trees in the
oxbow lakes, and on trotlines in Little River set at 12-15 feet. White
bass are still randomly schooling in Little River and are hitting 1/4 to
1/2 oz Rat-L-Traps in chrome, white, or chrome/chartreuse colors. Good
areas this week continue to be in Little River around White Cliffs,
McGuire Lake, and Highway 71 landing. Once you find those schools of
shad, the whites are just below or adjacent to, the school on your
graph.

Lake Columbia: Steve's Marine said the yearling bass are schooling a
little all over the lake. Bream are biting well on red wigglers in 3 to
4 feet of water. Crappie fishing is fair on gray-and-pink jigs from 10
to 12 feet deep. Catfishing is fair on night crawlers.

Lake Erling: Steve's Marine said the lake is low. Catfishing is fair on
chicken livers. A few black bass have been caught at night on spinner
baits with large, black blades.

White Oak Lake: Charlie's One Stop said the lake is low and clear. No
reports for fishing have come in all week.

Lake Greeson: Lakeside Grocery, Motel/Bait Shop said the lake is low and
clear. Crappie fishing is good around 15 feet deep on minnows fished in
the brush piles.

Mountain Harbor Resort said hybrids have slowed but are still schooling
early in the mornings and late in the afternoons around the State Park
and the spillway. They are biting spoons, shallow-running crankbaits and
a wide variety of top-water lures. Bream are good on crickets and worms
off of points and shallow humps in 16-22 feet of water. Crappie are fair
on minnows and jigs in 15-21 feet of water off points and brush piles.
Catfish are fair in 15-18 feet of water off main lake points and rock
piles on nightcrawlers and different types of stinkbait. Some have had
good luck catching catfish on noodles, jugs or trotlines using shiners
or chicken livers. Largemouth and spotted bass are fair. Bass are being
caught on Texas-rigged worms and watermelon-colored jigs in 16-24 feet
on the outside edge of the grass and in brush piles. With the weather
changing, some largemouth and spotted bass are starting to move a little
bit shallower. Although many are still being caught on the outside edge
of the grass, some are being caught in the middle of the grass with
heavy jigs. Spooks and Pop-R's have also been successful used right
around the visible outside edge of the grass.

DeGray Lake: DeGray One Stop said the water level is still low on
DeGray. The recent storms kept many people off the water, but some
anglers did brave the waves. Bream fishing is good in 25 to 35 feet of
water on crickets fished along roadbeds and on the islands. Crappie are
fair at night along the creek channels and rocky points in 18 to 28 feet
of water. Hybrids and black bass are good in the early and late hours of
the day on top-water lures and Roostertails. The most action has been
around Edgewood, the mouth of Brushy Creek and the Caddo Bend area.
Catfishing is fair on live bait fished under jugs and noodles in 18 to
25 feet of water.

Little Missouri River: There is little action going on in the Little
Missouri because trout stockings have not been reinstated to the river
yet. \

WEST-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Lake Dardanelle: Early Bird Outfitters said the lake is high with all
the recent rain. Bream fishing is fair in 3 feet of water on crickets
and red worms. Bass fishing is fair in the weed beds and deeper grass on
a jig-and-pig combo. Shallow-running crankbaits are also working well
around any rocky banks. Catfishing is good on chicken livers, cut shad
and live bait.

Lake Ouachita: Mountain Harbor Resort said largemouth bass are still
fair early and late in the day. The best bets are with Texas-rigged Zoom
U-tails and Speed Worms in watermelon/red or red bug. The floating worm
bite is improving; try orange and watermelon seed trick worms in 12 to
20 feet of water near creek channels and points. Kentucky bass are
biting live crayfish in 18 to 25 feet of water. Walleye are very good
with many being caught on main lake points in brush piles 20 to 30 feet
deep. Silver spoons and 3" grubs have been the best bet. Stripers are
fair on live bait and hair jigs. The eastern end of the lake is
producing the most fish. Try the Brady Mountain Area, Spillway Bay and
Yorktown Bay.

Trader Bill's Sport Shop said the water is high and the temperature
ranges in the low 80s. Bream are biting well in 5 feet of water on top
of the moss line that is now submerged with the high water. Bass fishing
is good on the points using buzzbaits and Zoom Flukes.

Lake Catherine: Trader Bill's Sport Shop said the lake is at normal
levels and the water is stained. The storms chased some anglers off the
lake, but a few still went fishing. Bream are biting well in 5 feet of
water on red worms and crickets. Bass fishing was good on topwaters
fished over the points.

Lake Hamilton: Trader Bill's Sport Shop said fishing was slow last
weekend, but the year-end BFL tournament had quite a few anglers braving
the weather. Top-water lures like Horny Toads and buzzbaits worked very
well on the points, but anglers had to cover a lot of water to catch
their fish. A few nice fish were pulled off of docks using jigs and
soft-plastic crawfish imitations as well.

Lake Atkins: Lucky Landing said the lake is clear and at normal pool.
Crappie fishing is nothing short of amazing right now. The papermouths
are holding in 8 feet of water in the coves. Drifting minnows and jigs
across the open water underneath a slip cork is bringing a lot of fish
to the boat.

Lake Nimrod: Lake Nimrod Bait "N" More II says the lake is at normal
elevation for this time of year at 342. Crappie fishing is good but
they're still deep. Fishermen are using minnows and jigs. Bream are good
with worms or crickets. Catfish are good using stinkbait, turkey liver,
worms or yo-yo's baited with large minnows or goldfish. Bass are
hitting plastic worms and spinner baits.

Arkansas River: Tackle Box said the main channel of the river is muddy,
but the creeks have much better visibility. Bream fishing is fair in 4-6
feet of water on crickets fished in the brush piles. Bass fishing is
good on crankbaits fished over and around main river jetties. Catfish
are good on cut shad just below the dam.

SOUTH-CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Felsenthal: Crossroads said the lake is at normal level. Bream fishing
has been fair on red wigglers fished around any shallow structure.
Catfishing has been good on cold worms.

Saline River: Sanders Pawn and Bait said few anglers have been visiting
the river lately.

Cox Creek Lake: Sanders Pawn and Bait said the lake is dark and low.
Crappie fishing is fair with minnows deep after dark. Catfishing is fair
on trotlines

EAST ARKANSAS:

Arkansas River (Pine Bluff): The Tackle Box said the river is running
high and murky after the recent rains. Bream fishing is fair in 11/2
feet of water on crickets fished right next to the shoreline. Bass
fishing has been good on buzzbaits around brush and rocks when the sun
is behind the clouds. Catfishing is fair on worms and cut shad drifted
in the current.

River City Sporting Goods said the bream are biting fair on worms and
crickets around the brush in 4-6 feet of water. Largemouth bass have
been good on top-water lures, spinnerbaits and soft-plastic worms.
Catfish are fair in 25 to 40 feet in the main river channel on cut shad.

Maddox Bay: Maddox Bay Landing said the water is low with a slight
stain. Bream are biting well on crickets fished around brush piles and
stumps in 2-5 feet of water. They are also coming up for popping bugs
fished on the surface in the same areas. Bass fishing has been fair in
2-5 feet of water on crankbaits. A local tournament last weekend saw
some good bass brought to the scales. Catfish are good on stinkbait
fished anywhere near deep water.

Midway Lake: Ed's Boat Camp said the lake is too low for fishing.

Horseshoe Lake: Local fisherman Clyde Gregory said the lake is clear and
a little low. Crappie fishing is fair, but should improve with the
cooling waters. Bream fishing is good around 3 feet deep on crickets.
Some nice bull bluegills and stumpknockers have been pulled from the
cypress. Bass fishing is very good, with many bass between 3-5 pounds
being caught right now. The best action is on a white spinnerbait fished
in 3 feet of water around the lily pads and cypress trees. Catfishing is
good on stinkbait and nightcrawlers suspended underneath yo-yos around
the cypress trees.

White River Refuge Lakes: Ed's Bait Shop said the recent storms have
kept fishermen off the water.

Columbia River closes to chinook retention Saturday

Columbia River closes to chinook retention Saturday
River remains open to coho and steelhead angling
 
CLACKAMAS - Oregon and Washington fishery managers announced the main-stem Columbia River recreational fishery for retention of chinook salmon will close Oct. 1.
 
The closure affects angling from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington border and from Buoy 10 to the Tongue Point/Rocky Point line. The fishery will remain open for coho and steelhead through the end of the year.
 
"This action is needed to remain within conservation guidelines and allocation agreements," said Curt Melcher, a biologist with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. "The higher-than-expected catch rates in the recreational fishery, combined with a run size about 20 percent smaller than forecasted, have brought us to this point."
 
Oregon anglers are reminded of the following regulations:
* The Buoy 10 area is defined as that part of the Columbia River from Buoy 10 upstream to a line projected from Rocky Point on the Washington bank through red buoy 44 to the navigation light at Tongue Point on the Oregon bank.
* Salmon fishing in the Buoy 10 area remains open through December for adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead under permanent angling regulations.
* Salmon fishing from the Rocky Point-Tongue Point line to Bonneville Dam remains open for adipose fin-clipped coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead under permanent regulations through Dec. 31.
* The Columbia River from Bonneville Dam upstream to the Oregon-Washington remains open for coho and adipose fin-clipped steelhead under permanent regulations through Dec. 31.
###

Razor clamming to open on Clatsop and Gold beaches

NEWPORT - Razor clamming will reopen Oct. 1 opening along the 18 miles of Clatsop beach and Gold Beach. Other beaches around the state still have domoic acid levels too high to allow digging.
Recent testing by the Oregon Department of Agriculture found domoic acid levels less than 8 parts per million at all the sampling sites on the Clatsop beach from Tillamook Head to the mouth of the Columbia River, well below the 20 ppm that would trigger a closure. Razor clam harvesting will also open from the north spit of the Rogue River to the California boarder due to declining toxin levels.

Other Oregon beaches remain closed because of high domoic acid levels. Oregon Department of Agriculture officials said the beaches at Newport tested at 45 ppm, Waldport at 36 ppm and Coos Bay at 40 ppm - too high to open for clam digging.

Shellfish harvesting areas are closed to all harvesting when toxins exceed an alert level. Alert levels, 20 ppm for domoic acid provides a margin of safety and halt harvest before toxins reach a higher level that may cause illness.

ODFW staff recently completed the 2005 Clatsop Beach Razor Clam Assessment project. Preliminary results show an overall larger clam population than in 2004. But this year's survey shows the number of clams larger than 3 1/2 inches is lower than last year. A significantly larger number of smaller recruit clams bodes well for future seasons.

 The 18 miles of Clatsop Beach from the mouth of the Columbia to Seaside produce more than 90 percent of Oregon's harvested razor clams and associated effort. On average, the annual recreational harvest is 551,000 clams a year from 48,000 digger trips. 

A razor clam reaches maturity in its second year of life. A harvestable size of 31/2 inches is obtained in the first year of the clam and about 41/2 by the second year. Growth slows after the second year as energy is used for reproduction rather than accelerated growth.

A shellfish license is required to harvest all shellfish. The daily limit for razor clams is the first 15 taken regardless of size or condition.

For additional information please visit the Oregon Department of Agriculture website at http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/FSD/shellfish_status.shtml or call their shellfish hotline at 503-986-4728 or 1-800-448-2474.
 
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Bass Cancels Espn Outdoors Bassmaster Series Event At Sam Rayburn Reservoir Due To Impact Of Hurricane Rita

Bass Cancels Espn Outdoors Bassmaster Series Event At Sam Rayburn
Reservoir Due To Impact Of Hurricane Rita

Due to the impact of Hurricane Rita, BASS has cancelled the ESPN
Outdoors Bassmaster Series event scheduled on Oct. 9 on Sam Rayburn
Reservoir in Jasper, Texas.

Hurricane Rita left many businesses in the area without essential
services and unable to support a tournament of this magnitude.

Anglers who registered and paid for this event - along with the four
preceding it - are still eligible to qualify for the ESPN Outdoors
Bassmaster Series second-chance tournament, scheduled Nov. 11-12.
Qualifications will be based on performance in the four previous
divisional events.

All anglers who paid to fish the event on Sam Rayburn, regardless of
their qualification status in the second-chance tournament, will receive
a full refund.

For more information, please call 407-566-BASS.

Media Contact:
BASS Communications
(407) 566-BASS

New two-for-one midweek camping special available this fall at Minnesota state parks

The Minnesota Department Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Parks and
Recreation today announced a new two-for-one camping promotion where
customers who camp one night, Sunday through Thursday, will get the next
night free. The offer is good in October and November.

"The fall color season always brings visitors out to enjoy the scenic
beauty of our state parks," said Courtland Nelson, director of the DNR
Division of Parks and Recreation. "Fewer bugs and mosquitoes also add to
the benefits of fall camping."
Nelson added that if the string of good weather continues, he expects
state park campgrounds will continue to see good business this fall.

"Weekends usually are very busy in the fall, but after Labor Day,
midweek business slows down, " Nelson said. "We would like to encourage
more midweek use of our campgrounds and hope visitors will take
advantage of the 'two for one' camping this fall."

The promotion offers campers an opportunity to buy one night's camping
and get the next night of camping free. The nights must be consecutive,
in the same park, and must occur between Sunday and Thursday. The free
night applies for a campsite of the same price.
If customers choose to change to a more expensive site the second night,
they must pay the difference.

The promotion applies to most state parks and includes campsites in
horse camps, group camps, rustic sites, semi-modern sites, full hookup
sites, electric sites and remote sites.

The promotion does not apply to camper cabins, group centers, lodging,
campsites in state forest campgrounds or to parks where camping is not
available after Labor Day. That list includes Carley, Hayes Lake, Kilen
Woods, Lake Louise, Monson Lake, Old Mill, Red River and Schoolcraft
state parks. Camping will not be available at Judge Magney State Park in
November. Also, campgrounds in some state parks that are holding special
deer hunts will be temporarily closed for a few days in November.
Visitors are asked to call ahead to the park or check the special deer
hunt information on the DNR Web site for details and dates.

Customers who already made midweek reservations in October will receive
a refund for the second night of camping when they arrive at the park.
Camping is first-come, first-served; no reservations are needed or taken
for state park camping after Nov. 1.

Some shower and modern restroom facilities close for the season in late
September or early October; facilities in other parks remain open until
late in October or until a hard or continued frost occurs. Rustic
conditions and fees apply when water lines are drained and modern
restrooms are closed for the season. All parks, however, have vault
toilets available for use year-round.

Visitors who have questions about camping fees, facility availability,
fall colors or other seasonal information should check the DNR Web site
at www.dnr.state.mn.us. Specific information about conditions at all
state parks will be listed on each individual state park Web page under
"Seasonal Updates."

Questions also can be directed to the DNR Information Center at (651)
296-6157 or toll free at 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367).

Bear Killed by Homeowner in Lake City; Cubs Taken to DOW's Wildlife Center

A homeowner in Lake City shot and killed a bear on Sept. 27 - but it was a shooting that Colorado Division of Wildlife officers say could have been avoided through community action.
     
The bear that was killed and her two cubs had been given easy access to food in town and had become habituated to human contact, said Lucas Martin, district wildlife manager for Lake City. Martin had been told that some people in Lake City were intentionally feeding the bears and other wildlife. He even received reports that people had been seen petting the cubs.   
     
"Feeding bears is illegal and it is dangerous for humans and the animals," Martin said.
     
Many homeowners in Lake City do not properly take care of their garbage, so bears can easily get into trash cans to forage for food.
     
"Bears are smart animals. Once they get food out of one trash can, they'll go to every trash can in town," Martin said.
     
The man who shot the bear had not been feeding the animals and he stores his garbage in a bear-proof container. He was not cited for the incident.
     
About 3:30 a.m., Sept. 27, the man's two dogs started to bark and act irritated. Before letting them out, he looked outside to check if a bear was at his trash can. When he didn't see a bear he let the dogs out. Within a few seconds the man heard one of the dogs barking and saw a bear at the trash can.
     
He called the dog and it ran towards the house with the bear giving chase. After the dog ran into the house the bear stopped just a few feet off the porch. The man grabbed his rifle and yelled at the bear to try to scare her off. When the bear made a movement that appeared threatening, the man shot her.
     
The bear ran off and died quickly about 40 feet from the cabin. As the man walked toward the dead bear he heard the crying of the two cubs that had climbed about 50 feet into a Ponderosa pine tree.
     
The man called the DOW about an hour later and Martin went to the scene. With the assistance of a local company that provided a "bucket truck," Martin was raised near the cubs. He tranquilized the animals and placed them in a bear trap. Later that morning he drove the cubs to the DOW's Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center near Del Norte where they'll be raised and trained to live in the wild. While there is no guarantee that the cubs will survive once placed in the wild, the DOW has had good success with previous rehabilitation and release efforts.
     
There is a serious complication for the cubs, however. They have already been taught to associate people with food.
     
J Wenum, area wildlife manager, said that the incident could have been avoided. A similar incident occurred in 2004. Wenum fears that this will be a yearly occurrence unless the Lake City community takes action. 
     
"We have a serious problem in Lake City with some people not taking care of their garbage properly and with some people feeding wildlife," Wenum said. "People think feeding small animals does not create problems, but that inevitably attracts large animals. And that leads to problems like this."
           
The DOW offers this reminder: A fed bear is a dead bear.
     
Please, follow these guidelines if you live in bear country:
 
·        Never feed wildlife to attract them for viewing. It is illegal to feed wildlife. Food left out for small animals will attract large animals such as bear, deer and elk.
 
·        Keep garbage in airtight containers inside a garage or storage area. Clean trash cans with ammonia to reduce odors that attract bears.
 
·        Food scraps that produce odors should be placed in the freezer until garbage-collection day. This would include meat scraps, and fruit and vegetable scraps.
 
·        Place garbage for pickup outside just before collection. Do not put out trash cans the night before pickup.
 
·        Use a bear-proof dumpster. If you don't have one, ask a trash-removal company for options.
 
·        Take down birdfeeders when bears are active. Once a bear finds a birdfeeder in a yard, it will likely look around the neighborhood for other easy foods within reach. It's recommended that bird feeders be brought in at night.
 
·        Do not start a compost pile in bear country. The odor attracts bears.
 
·        Do not leave pet food or dirty dishes outdoors at night. Store pet food indoors.
 
·        After cooking on a grill, leave the burners on for a few minutes to burn the remaining scraps and liquids completely. The smell of barbecue sauce and grease can attract bears.
 
For more information on living with wildlife, go to the DOW Web site at
http://wildlife.state.co.us/Education/LivingWithWildlife/BearCountry.asp.           

Wednesday, September 28, 2005

IGFA & San Diego Sportfishing Council Young Angler’s Tournament

IGFA & San Diego Sportfishing Council
Young Angler’s Tournament
Pepper Park, National City

The final tournament in this year’s Young Anglers Tournament Series was held on Saturday, September 17th at the Pepper Park Pier in National City. Over 75 young anglers and their families turned out to enjoy this fun filled day. These tournaments are “open” to the public and are provided “free” of charge. The weather was perfect and fishing a little on the “slow side”, however it was an excellent opportunity to learn that patience and perseverance prevails. Three of our age groups failed to catch any fish in the prescribed time frame however a winner was determined by a drawing. The Tournament Overall Angler was a tie between two age group winners. The Tournament results are as follows:

Age Angler Score

6 yrs. Thomas Orozco 15 pts.
6 yrs. Jazmin Glaman 10 pts*
7 yrs. Christopher Rouston 5 pts.
8 yrs. Joey Mets 5 pts.
9 yrs. Alyssa flores 15 pts.
10 yrs. Andrew Pena 5 pts.
11 yrs. Victor Precidio Drawing
12 yrs. Jake Anderson Drawing
13 yrs. Samuel Cisneros Drawing
14 yrs. Corey Dennis 5 pts.
15 yrs. James Thomas 5 pts.

* So few fish were caught and Jazmin did catch several fish. A decision was made by the judges that she be recognized for her efforts and was awarded a prize.

Overall Tournament Winners

Thomas Orozco age 6 years
Alyssa Flores age 9 years

The 2005 tournament series marked our third year of competition. These tournaments are jointly sponsored and supported by the International Game Fish Association and the San Diego Sportfishing Council. This year all of our overall tournament winners will be nationally recognized by the IGFA and are invited to attend the Junior Angler World Championship Tournament in Florida during the month of July, 2006.

We would like to recognize those industry partners, retailers and sportfishing organizations who so graciously contributed their time, efforts, dollars and knowledge in making these series of tournaments a success. Fishing Trips were provided by the San Diego Landings, H & M and Pt. Loma. All of the tournament’s “loaner” tackle was provided by Okuma Fishing Tackle. Age Group Prizes and raffle winnings were provided from West Marine, Boater’s World, Wal-Mart Stores, Target Stores, SquidCo, Maxima Fishing Line, Zebco/Quantum, Friends of Rollo and the Chuck Byron Galleries. Members of the United Pier & Shore Anglers of California formed the backbone of our volunteers along with members from the San Diego’s Rod & Reel Club and the Fly Fishers.

The goal of these tournaments is to encourage young anglers and to promote pier fishing as a affordable and fun family experience. For more information about volunteering or being a participant in the 2006 Young Anglers Tournament Series, please contact the San Diego Sportfishing Council

Southern Oregon hunters can harvest radio-collared animals

ROSEBURG - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists remind hunters they can legally harvest radio-collared and ear-tagged deer, elk, cougar and bear in southern Oregon, provided they have the appropriate tag.

Biologists have radio-collared and ear-tagged a number of deer, elk, cougar and bear throughout southern Oregon as part of on-going wildlife research projects. Both buck and doe deer, along with bull and cow elk can be seen with collars or ear tags.

ODFW asks hunters to return the radio collar or ear tag to any ODFW office along with the date and location the animal was harvested.

Habitat Restoration Grants Available To Washington Landowners

OLYMPIA, WA-Private landowners can receive up to $50,000 in federal
grant funding to help restore fish and wildlife habitat on their
property for "species at risk" through a program coordinated by the
state Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW). Applications are being
accepted until Dec. 16 for habitat restoration projects through the
state's Landowner Incentive Program (LIP). The DFW is developing a
portfolio of potential projects to submit to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service for funding in 2006. Qualifying landowners are typically
eligible for up to $50,000 in assistance. In addition, another $50,000
will be set aside for smaller grants of up to $5,000 each. Eligible
landowners must be able to make a 25 percent contribution, which can
include cash and labor. For more information, contact the DFW's LIP
coordinator, Ginna Correa, at: (360) 902-2478.