In early October, an angler reported catching a northern snakehead, an aquatic invasive species, in a pond located on private property in Gwinnett County, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).
Introducing youngsters to fishing takes preparation, practice, and patience—but their first catch could get them “hooked” for life.
The new issue of Slider Lures “SliderLines” has a lot to read about, learn and see. Read it, save it, print it. Whatever you, don’t miss this edition.
By DAVID RAINER
Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
While perusing social media during this seemingly endless summer, I kept seeing photos of slab crappie that were coming from the Alabama River.
Wait, I thought those slabs were caught in the spring when the crappie are spawning or in the fall when the weather and water temperatures have considerably cooled.
Turns out, these anglers were taking advantage of the latest technology to defy the common theory that big crappie are hard to catch during the dog days of summer, which appear set to last into October this year.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program, now in Season 7, has awarded prizes for the catch and release of more than 9,000 largemouth bass since the program began in 2012. To date, 7,303 Lunker Club, 1,751 Trophy Club, and 66 Hall of Fame fish make up the milestone.
Sixty-seven members of the Shoals Youth Bassmasters out of 121 on the roster fished the final tournament of their 2019 season on Pickwick Lake September 21. A nice morning welcomed the young anglers but the cool air did not last long before giving way to hot finish by 11 AM.
Whether in business or in life, the chance for a new beginning is very rare. It’s even more uncommon that you get that chance with a group you already know and trust. For the greatest tournament angler in the history of our sport, that unique position is a reality. When the 2020 Bass Pro Tour kicks off, the deck of angling legend Kevin Van Dam’s Nitro will be fully rigged up with Lew’s rods and reels.
TVA is working in collaboration with the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) and other organizations to stop the spread of Asian carp. Through public awareness, emphasis on commercial fishing and hosting the occasional bowfishing tournament, TWRA hopes to control these invasive fish currently living in some Valley waterways.
Once upon a time, the lakebeds of the newly flooded Tennessee Valley reservoirs were rife with habitat—small trees, stumps, plants and crops were available for fish to swim to, through and around, and for microorganisms, algae and macroinvertebrates to make homes in and on. Hence, a healthy food web was created and maintained for many years.
“Over time, the reservoirs are aging and all of the vegetation and the cover for fish that were in the reservoirs when we flooded them are not there now,” explains Shannon O’Quinn, senior water resources specialist at TVA.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) 2019-2020 High School Fishing Program offers high school fishing clubs or teams the opportunity to apply for the Florida Sport Fish Restoration R3 Fishing Grant. This grant program is focused on recruiting new anglers, retaining active anglers and reactivating lapsed anglers to ensure the future of fishing in Florida.