News

Mother and daughter BASS anglers, Debra and Kim Petrowski of Arlington, Texas, both qualified to compete in the October 23-25 Women's Bassmaster Tour Championship presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors, the season-ending event on Lake Hamilton out of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

They won't be fishing against each other: Debra qualified in the pro division, 23-year-old Kim in the co-angler division. They earned their championship berths by staying in the top 20 in their respective divisions' points races after traveling the country together to compete in the 2008 circuit's four regular-season events.

"I'm really excited," said Debra. "I was confident I'd qualify, but I was anxious for Kim to make it too. Her qualifying makes the championship even more special for me."

Proceeds used to restore and protect grouse and woodcock habitat

OLYMPIA - Clam diggers got the go-ahead to proceed with the first razor-clam dig of the fall season starting today (Thursday, October 16). Additional digging opportunities are planned through mid-December.

Three evening digs are scheduled at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks October 16-18, while Long Beach is scheduled for two evening digs October 17 and 18. Digging will be restricted to the hours between noon and midnight.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) approved the digs at the four beaches after a series of marine toxin tests confirmed the clams were safe to eat.

Kalaloch Beach in Olympic National Park (ONP) will remain closed at least until spring 2009, said Karen Gustin, ONP superintendent.

"Kalaloch was closed for the entire season last year because the clam population was so low," Gustin said. "But there is a population of small clams now at Kalaloch that may grow to harvestable size by spring."

Gustin said biologists would continue to monitor their growth and survival throughout the fall and winter.

WDFW and ONP jointly manage the recreational razor clam fishery at Kalaloch.

For the beaches that are open to digging, Ayres suggests clam diggers take lights or lanterns with them due to the times of the low tides. He also recommended checking weather and surf forecasts before heading out.

Harvesters are allowed to take no more than 15 razor clams and must keep the first 15 they dig, regardless of size or condition. Each digger's clams must be kept in a separate container.

A license is required for anyone age 15 or older. Any 2008 annual shellfish/seaweed license or combination fishing license is still valid. Another option is a razor-clam only license available in annual or three-day only versions. Descriptions of the various licensing options are available on the WDFW website at fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov. Clam diggers are not required to display their licenses on outer clothing.

Ayres said more harvest dates would be announced following the December opener.

Opening dates and evening low tides in October are:

* Thursday, Oct. 16 (8:30 p.m. -1.5) Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
* Friday, Oct. 17 (9:17 p.m. -1.5) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
* Saturday, Oct. 18 (10:08 p.m. -1.2) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks

WDFW has tentatively scheduled two other digs through December:

* Thursday, Nov. 13 (6:27 p.m. -1.6) Copalis, Mocrocks
* Friday, Nov. 14 (7:15 p.m. -1.8) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
* Saturday, Nov. 15 (8:04 p.m. -1.6) Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks
* Sunday, Nov. 16 (8:54 p.m. -1.2) Long Beach, Twin Harbors Copalis, Mocrocks

SIDNEY, Neb. - As the Official Truck of Cabela's for six years running, Ford F-Series is the premier choice for outdoor enthusiasts, including Cabela's loyal base of customers. In fact, according to Ford's customer data, seventy-six percent of F-Series buyers hunt and fish. For 2009, Cabela's and Ford will strengthen their relationship with the debut of the Cabela's FX4 package on select F-Series Super Duty ® Trucks.

The '09 F-Series Super Duty Cabela's Edition FX4 package features a unique two-tone paint scheme in five colors: Black, Oxford White, Forest Green Metallic, Royal Red Metallic and Brilliant Silver Metallic with Sterling Grey Metallic lower body accents, running boards and wheellip moldings. Custom mud flaps and unique Cabela's badging finish off the exterior.

HERMANTOWN, MINN. – In his first stop Thursday on a swing through northern Minnesota, Todd Palin talked about the Alaska-like chill in the air and his support of gun rights and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, for whom the National Rifle Association had staged the rally and invited Palin as “special guest.”

COLUMBUS, OHIO - For many Ohioans, the fall season provides an abundance of new outdoor activities. From fall foliage walks and hunting Ohio's excellent deer herd to enjoying harvest season festivals, there are a wide variety of options available in the Buckeye State this fall.

One activity not to be missed is the tremendous fall fishing opportunities that are available across the state. The fish are feeding enthusiastically from Lake Erie to the Ohio River as they begin storing up fat reserves in preparation for winter, and this can make for some very successful fishing trips, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife.

RAINBOW TROUT
Thousands of rainbow trout, raised in Ohio's state fish hatcheries, are released into local fishing holes and neighborhood lakes throughout Ohio in the fall. This annual stocking provides excellent opportunities for anglers to continue fishing into the cooler months- and it's fun for the whole family.

An educational forestry field day will be offered at Indiana's Salamonie River State Forest, Sunday, October 26, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Indiana Department of Natural Resources district foresters Tim Eizinger and Brad Rody, along with several other resource professionals, will preside.

Tours of a portion of the state forest's new 56-acre plantation will be given. The area was planted this spring on property purchased with Indiana Heritage Trust Funds. The planting was made possible by a partnership between the Indiana Hardwood Foundation, Armstrong Industries, the Indiana Forest and Woodland Owners Association, and the DNR Division of Forestry.

Overland Park, Kansas - MidOcean Partners, a leading middle market private equity firm, and Bushnell Outdoor Products, the worldwide leader in sports optics, premium eyewear, and outdoor accessories for over 60 years, announced today that Bushnell signed a definitive agreement to acquire Ultroptic S.A of Barcelona, Spain via the Bushnell wholly-owned subsidiary Bushnell Outdoor Products SAS. Ultroptics is currently a Bushnell distributor and handles the full line of Bollé and Serengeti eyewear. The terms of the purchase agreement were not disclosed.

Olivier Ciaravino, Vice President and Managing Director of Bushnell Outdoor Products SAS, said, "Ultroptics has done an excellent job of establishing Bollé and Serengeti product lines through their own efforts in Spain. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bushnell, they will have even greater resources and capabilities to market, promote and expand these product lines."

KEY WEST, Florida- A simple plan of returning to where the tarpon bite was through the first day proved fruitful enough for teammates Troy Pruitt of Naples, Florida, and John Timura of Islamorada, Florida, to claim victory Sunday with 800 points overall at the ESPN Outdoors Saltwater Series presents Mercury Redbone Southernmost Light tackle Anglers Masters Celebrity Tournament.

During a successful Day One, Pruitt and Timura caught four tarpon early in the morning and put themselves in position for a comfortable lead. On Day Two, local guide Brian Helms brought the team to the same location for still more padding in the points before the hunt for bonefish, which eventually would secure Pruitt's SLAM. Pruitt caught two tarpon (200 points, bait) and one bonefish (100 points, bait) on Day Two.

Mitch Howell of Plantation, Fla., and Larry Vaught, with guide Tim Carlisle, who were in second place after Day One, finished as runners-up with 600 points overall.

Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens will check hunters entering San Bernardino County to prevent the introduction of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This checkpoint, which will be held at an agricultural inspection station, is a continuation of DFG's extensive educational outreach program and will be conducted October 20 and October 21. They are a part of an enhanced educational effort to supplement information provided in the hunting regulation pamphlet and the California Hunting Digest.

Checkpoints are an educational and enforcement tool to protect California deer and elk herds from CWD. Hunters play a key role in keeping CWD out of California. Wardens enforce all Fish and Game laws at checkpoints.

CWD has been found in 15 states and two Canadian provinces. It is a fatal neurological disease of deer and elk. It has not been found in humans.

Hunters are prohibited from bringing any portion of elk or deer into California that could contain CWD as outlined in the regulations. Wardens have authority to inspect harvested game and can conduct vehicle stops once vehicles enter California.

New California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document filing fees will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2009. The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) adjusts the fees annually pursuant to Fish and Game Code sections 711.4 and 713.

The annual fee adjustments are based on changes in the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Government Purchases of Goods and Services, as published by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The annual filing fee adjustments are available on the DFG Web site. DFG is mandated to post the new filing fees by Nov. 1 of the year prior to when they go in effect.

Fees for negative declarations and mitigated negative declarations will increase by $116.25 to $1,993, fees for environmental impact reports will increase by $161.50 to $2,768.25 and fees for environmental documents prepared pursuant to a certified regulatory program will increase by $55 to $941.25.
 

MENOMONIE — With less than 15 minutes left to go on the first day of the season, Brian Wellington was ready to climb down from his bear stand and call it a day.

A split second before resolution translated itself into action, however, he spied a dark shape at the bait pile. Raising his rifle, he took careful aim — and bagged himself his very first bear on Sept. 3.

The pros in the October 30-November 1 Bassmaster Central Open season finale on Lake Texoma out of Denison, Texas, will be fishing for points as well as for pounds.

The top prize of $45,000 is the goal of every pro in next week's tournament. But several of the pros are within range of another big prize - one of three 2009 Bassmaster Classic berths up for grabs through the Central Open - and they'll need points earned at Texoma to make that happen.

The top three finishers in the Central Open points standings, fashioned after the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points, after the Texoma event will qualify for the Classic, February 20-22 out of Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana. The Central Open pros will join 48 other anglers for the competition on the Red River.