Fish n Clips News

Not All Of California Goes Salmonless

Sun, 18 May 2008 05:54:18 -0600

With the much publicized California and west coast salmon closures, one river, the Klamath, survives and is predicted to have the second largest fall Chinook run in 30 years.

With numbers predicted in the 45,000 range for allocation to recreational and tribal anglers, this is still but a mere pittance compared to the pre-dam huge runs in the early 1960s.

"'Our stocks are not going to be exploited this year,' said Larry Hanson, a senior fisheries biologist with California Department of Fish and Game. 'They are going to return in really, really good numbers. We are, for the first time, in an enviable position.'" reports The Daily Triplicate's website.

"The California Fish and Game Commission still has to approve these numbers at its meeting in late June, but Hanson said he is confident the allocations would be implemented as recommended. The fall chinook season on the Klamath and Trinity Rivers will begin Aug. 15, and most of the catchable fish will be large 4-year-old salmon," continues the report.

For more on the announcement go to The Daily Triplicate.

USA team wins IGFA Offshore World Championship

Sat, 17 May 2008 05:52:40 -0600

"They held the same position -- fourth place -- the previous three days but the steady paced fishing of team members from Islamorada, Fla. USA, paid off in the end as they captured the title in the IGFA Offshore World Championship.

Despite a "slow bite" for most of the 63 teams of anglers in the fourth and final day, the five men representing their win in the Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic in the Florida Keys released two marlin and a dorado as a weight fish totaling enough points to win. The ninth annual event sponsored in part by the Secretaria de Turismo de Baja California Sur, hosts competitors from 27 nations on six continents, the single largest contingent of international teams to compete in a fishing competition," reports FishingWorld.com.

"The Outdoor Channel Offshore Classic team had an unbroken chain of days in scoring: Day 1 with three marlin - 900 points; Day 2 four marlin and a sailfish—1300 points; Day 3 with four marlin -1200 points and the final day two marlin and a 25 lb 6 oz dorado for a weight fish as insurance of 625.6 points for a four day total of 4025.6 points," the report continues.

For more go to FishingWorld.com

WFN going on Dish TV

Fri, 16 May 2008 10:03:07 -0600

Now all USA anglers will be in for a treat with our very own fishing channel dedicated to just that, fishing. Read the press release below.

NEWS RELEASE WFN: World Fishing Network HD Secures Carriage Agreement with DISH Network TORONTO, May 14, 2008 - WFN: World Fishing Network HD and Insight Sports announced today a carriage deal with DISH Network that sees North America's only 24-hour fishing channel added to the satellite television company's package of high-definition channels. WFN HD is available through DISH Network on channel 394. "With more than 50 million sport fishing enthusiasts in North America, WFN has been enthusiastically embraced," said Mark Rubinstein, President of WFN. "In just under three years, WFN has emerged as the industry leader in the world of televised fishing and lifestyle programming. The launch of WFN HD on DISH Network now enables millions of passionate anglers to become part of WFN's World Fishing Nation." Available 24-hours a day, seven days a week, WFN provides recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts with an entertaining and comprehensive line-up that covers a wide range of programming including American and Canadian angling, saltwater and freshwater fishing, professional competitions, expert advice, international tournaments, travel destinations and conservation. WFN's high-definition programming schedule features the sport's most popular personalities and shows including Dave Mercer's Facts of Fishing, Gary Cooper's Nice Fish, Sport Fishing on the Fly, The New Fly Fisher, Fishing the Flats, Fins N' Skins Classic Adventures and George Poveromo's Saltwater Fishing. The channel's original programs are headlined by WFN News and Reel Road Trip. WFN's hosts include Mark Melnyk and Mariko Izumi along with a variety of professional anglers highlighted by Dave Mercer, J.P. DeRose, Bob Izumi and Angelo Viola. Together, WFN's hosts provide viewers with an in-depth look at the sport of fishing and its many facets. WFN was originally launched within Canada in December 2005 as the first channel dedicated to covering every aspect of the angling and sport fishing industry. In November 2007, WFN secured its first U.S. carriage agreement with Verizon FiOS TV. Today, WFN is available in more than 20 million households through North American cable, satellite, and telecommunications distributors.

Library Checks Out Fishing Gear

Thu, 15 May 2008 05:32:19 -0600

Now, thanks to the public libraries in Coventry, Lincoln and Scituate, Rhode Island, you can check out fishing gear along with that copy of Trout Bums.

Actually this program has been in existence for the past ten years with the May spring opener being the high point in the check outs. Many are checked out by parents and grandparents to let their kids give fishing a try for a day of fun on the bank.

Forget to bring it back, it's 10 cents a day just like the book you forgot. Cheapest rental you'll ever find.

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association, of Arnold Road, in Coventry provides the gear. Dedicated to sharing fishing techniques, marine conservation and educating about the joys of fishing, this group keeps the gear in shape; all available for anyone with a library card.

For more on this story go to . The Providence Journal website

Columbia River Steelhead On Hold

Thu, 15 May 2008 05:27:47 -0600

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- "The lower Columbia River will remain closed to steelhead fishing until further notice to avoid the incidental catch of protected spring chinook salmon," reports the seattlepi.com site.

"Monday's announcement effectively delays the fishery for hatchery steelhead that was scheduled to open May 16 from the Interstate 5 Bridge downriver to the Rocky Point/Tongue Point line, a few miles east of Astoria, Ore.

Cindy LeFleur, of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, says the steelhead closure could extend as late as June 15, unless returns of upriver spring chinook begin to pick up," continues the report.

For the full story go to seattlepi.com

Shad Fishing May Be Banned

Tue, 13 May 2008 05:56:47 -0600

"American shad populations on the East Coast are at historic lows, and it's not just fishermen who are concerned. An interstate commission is considering new restrictions on shad fishing from Florida to Maine. In New York, environmental regulators have already set unprecedented limits on a fishery established before Henry Hudson sailed up this river in 1609.

How bad is it? Consider that an annual shad festival on the Hudson will be shad free this year," reports the website. newsday.com.

"Shad populations declined in the 20th century amid overfishing and construction of river dams _ which blocked spawning runs. As the losses mounted, Maryland in 1980 closed its shad fishery and Virginia followed in 1994, effectively closing the Chesapeake Bay. The Hudson _ dam-free for some 150 miles _ retains a modest commercial shad fishery with a handful of active operators _ including Mylod and Bud Tschudin of the M./T. Net Co.," continues the report.

Read more about this fish at newsday.com.

San Joaquin River - More Water

Tue, 13 May 2008 05:48:16 -0600

For salmon looking to find home, the San Joaquin River may just be the place. Water flow is going to be restored to a 60 mile stretch of this Washington state river and with some help from Mother Nature bring back salmon.

"Putting water back in the San Joaquin River, flowing north from Friant Dam and eventually into the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, will not restore the West Coast salmon runs of the past. But it won't hurt, either.

The Friant Water Users Authority, which fought for years to keep control of the water, has concluded that giving up some water use as proposed under the federal legislation is better than having a settlement imposed on water users by a federal judge," reports Recordnet.com.

Call for No-Keep Tourneys

Sun, 11 May 2008 09:18:19 -0600

Sighting a huge wanton waste of fish resources by tournament contestants, Charles Walsh, a correspondent, gives a good lashing to tourney organizers.

Noting all the past liberties with the fisheries around the US and the resulting stock depletions, Walsh sees the new 2008 west coast salmon ban as just another nail in the coffin.

"I fully support fishing tournaments, but it is time the organizations that sponsor the many fishing tournaments on the Sound (Long Island) take a long look at how they conduct their events with any eye toward reducing fish mortality. It is time that all the tournaments were made strictly catch and release," says Walsh on connpost.com.

"...thousands of not-quite-large-enough fish are killed for no reason. Oh, there is usually some story about the excess fish going to a senior citizen food program, but if you believe that you're probably still waiting to see the tooth fairy," continues Walsh.

So what do you think? Is it time to start putting-back? It is no less of an event if the fish are shot (photo), weighed and released. In fact, the photo op is usually a better trophy photo while the fish's colors are still vibrant than the one taken hours after the catch.

Let us know what you think. Voice yourself in the forum.

UK Giant Fred J Taylor Dies

Sun, 11 May 2008 07:20:26 -0600

One of the UKs popular fishing writers and pioneer in angling died on May 7, at the age of 89.

From his hospital bed he was still working, thinking about his next column.

A columnist, 26 books to his name, inventor of the Dog Nobbler fly, record carp holder, and the list goes on and on, is who Fred J Taylor is.

Not only an excellent angler but a writer that knew how to put the story on paper with the needed tips and lessons all with a sense of humor.

His prose will be missed.

NMMA Backs Less Restrictions

Sun, 11 May 2008 07:13:50 -0600

"The heavy hitter in the recreational marine industry - the National Marine Manufacturers Association - has stepped up to the plate in support of flexibility in rebuilding American fisheries.

The NMMA has thrown its muscle behind Rep. Frank Pallone Jr.'s, D-NJ, bill - H.R. 5425 - that would provide fisheries officials with the flexibility to manage healthy stocks that are not following a man-made time frame," reports the website APP.com.

At a time when recreational boat sales are declining in New Jersey and the fluke fish are rising, the NMMA see the need for change.

This is but one of many news items flowing over the Internet dealing with the National Marine Fisheries Service and their continued role as the gate keeper of our fish.