News Briefs about fishing
January 2010

Michigan Versus Asian Carp
Michigan is suing to make Illinois close the locks from Lake Michigan to shipping canals so Asian carp, a voracious, invasive species, will not get into Lake Michigan and crowd out native species. Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin and Indiana are backing Michigan’s suit. (NY Times)

Japan Shares World Record Bass Record
The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) ruled that a largemouth bass caught in Japan last year ties the 77-year old record of a 22 pound, 4-ounce bass caught by Georgia’a George Perry. The new co-record holder is Manabu Kurita who caught his bass on Lake Biwa, a reservoir northeast of Kyoto. (IGFA)

World Bass Angler Championship
The 2010 Bassmaster’s Classic to determine the best bass angler in the world will be held on Lay Lake near Birmingham Feb. 19-20 with 51 anglers competing for top honors and big bucks. BASS has dropped the Women’s Bassmaster Tour, citing a drop in participation. (latimesblogs)

Census report: 17 million boat owners
The U.S. Census Bureau reports there are almost 17 million boat owners who spend $37 billion a year on boats. (Trade Only Today)

Angler protest Feb. 24 at US Capitol
Organizations representing recreational and commercial fishers have organized a “United We Fish” march on the U.S. Capitol Feb. 24 to protest new bans on fishing for red snapper, grouper, amberjack, sea bass and other saltwater fishes. Jim Donofrio of the Recreational Fishing Alliance, one of the leaders, said fishery science is weak and management is broken. Organizers want legislators to address the unintended, negative consequences of the Magnuson Stevens Conservation and Management Act, the federal fisheries law. (Recreational Fishing Alliance)

Feds Want to Contact Salt Anglers
U.S. fishery managers are building a contact list of saltwater anglers so they can ask them what and how many fish they are catching. The goal of the National Saltwater Angler Registry is to help get up to date information so fishery managers can better assess fish stocks, measure economic impact, and write better regulations.  Saltwater anglers in Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Virginia or the U.S. Virgin Islands need to register by phone, 888-674-7411, or online by clicking on Angler Registry at countmyfish.noaa.gov (Houma Daily Planet)

OUTDOOR GEAR AND DESTINATION SPOTLIGHT
Farsighted eyewear for the great outdoors
Mobile, Alabama – “Drug store readers” are a presbyopic’s best friend…indoors. But outdoors few things look as awkward as a person trying to wear drug store readers and sunglasses at the same time. Ono’s Trading Company has a solution, sunglasses with built-in bifocal magnifiers. No prescription is necessary; you just need to know your magnification number such as 1.5, 2.0, 2.5. Ono’s sunglasses are sold over the counter, in catalogs, and online. The latest model, Longitude, features titanium frames, 100 percent polarized protection, and grey lenses. Visit www.onostradingcompany.com or phone 866-865-4695. Prices range from approximately $60 to $160, depending on the model. (Ono’s Trading Company, Media contact: Bill AuCoin, wmaucoin@verizon.net. 727-522-2371)

Top Peacock Bass Rivers
For some anglers – and Larry Larson is exhibit one — the peacock bass is angling’s pound-for-pound best rod and reel opponent. It’s even better than the tarpon, he reports. Alas, one has to travel to South America to pick a fight. Larson polled members of the Peacock Bass Association. Here are their top peacock bass rivers. Brazil’s Negro, Agua Boa, Xeriuini, Tapera, Unini, Jufari, Matupiri/Igapo Acu, Madeira, Uniueixi, Cuini, Caures, Preta, Preto, Urabaxi and Araca rank highest, as do the Pasimoni and Paciba in Venezuela.  Destinations and guides are listed in PBA’s World Peacock Bass Directory. (Peacock Bass Association)

Fishing lure with colored tail snaps
Tulsa, Oklahoma – Aquatic science suggests that color contrast, more than other factors, is what helps a bass see a lure. Now, a Tulsa company is marketing a plastic worm with a slot in the tail that accepts a two colored snaps. Snap Tail Lure’s Robb Line says the extra color or colors – the angler can pair up snaps of six different colors – increases the chances that bass will see and strike the lure. (Snap Tail Lures)