http://www.thespainforum.com The very latest fishing news and angling equipment reviews en Thu, 17 May 2012 02:01:50 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.thespainforum.com/images/orangetheme/misc/rss.jpg http://www.thespainforum.com http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/york-dec-expands-temporary-closure-shellfishing-areas-town-hunnington-386856/ Thu, 17 May 2012 00:07:17 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/new-york-dec6.jpg ...

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that it has temporarily closed additional shellfish lands in the Town of Huntington due to the detection of a marine biotoxin. All harvesting of shellfish (clams, oysters and mussels) and carnivorous gastropods (conchs, whelks, moon snails, etc.) in these lands is prohibited until further notice in an effort to protect public health.

This action was taken after DEC determined that shellfish samples collected from monitoring stations in Huntington Bay and Northport Bay tested positive for saxitoxin, a marine biotoxin that causes paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). The samples were tested as part of DEC’s Marine Biotoxin Monitoring Program.

This larger closure impacts approximately 7,500 acres, covering all the shellfish lands in Lloyd Harbor, Coast Guard Cove and Huntington Bay lying southerly of a line extending northeasterly from Lloyd Neck Point to Eatons Neck Point. The normally uncertified shellfish lands in Huntington Harbor are also closed for the harvest of carnivorous gastropods.

On April 10, 2012, DEC closed 30 acres in Meetinghouse Creek (Town of Riverhead) to the harvest of carnivorous gastropods. Meetinghouse Creek is closed to the harvest of shellfish year round.

On April 10, 2012, DEC also closed approximately 3,900 acres in western Shinnecock Bay (Town of Southampton) to the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods. However, on May 11, 2012, nearly 3,600 acres of underwater lands in Shinnecock Bay were re-opened. Approximately 317 acres remain closed in the area outside Weesuck Creek.

On April 12, DEC closed the normally uncertified shellfish lands in Northport Harbor and Steers Canal to the harvest of carnivorous gastropods, which feed on shellfish and may also accumulate biotoxins at levels that are hazardous to human health.

On April 26, 2012, DEC closed approximately 490 acres of underwater lands in Sag Harbor Cove and Upper Sag Harbor Cove (Town of Southampton) to the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods.

On May 2, 2012, DEC closed 2,200 acres of underwater lands in Northport Bay, Centerport Harbor and Duck Island Harbor for the harvest of shellfish and carnivorous gastropods.

DEC will reopen areas as soon as possible based on the results of laboratory analyses of shellfish and water samples that will be collected over the next few weeks. A taped message advising harvesters of the status of these shellfish areas may be heard by calling (631) 444-0480. The message will be updated during the course of the temporary closure. Maps and more information about current closures will also be available on the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/7765.html.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New York DEC Expands Temporary Closure of Shellfishing Areas in Town of Hunnington, Suffolk County



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Shooting And Airgun Forums ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/york-dec-expands-temporary-closure-shellfishing-areas-town-hunnington-386856/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/mustad-hoping-hook-million-promotion-deliver-1-4-million-cash-lu-386855/ Thu, 17 May 2012 00:07:17 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Mustad-Hook-A-Million-logo.jpg ...

Mustad, the world’s largest-selling fish hook brand, is hoping its Hook a Million promotion will deliver $1.4 million in cash to lucky anglers who set new world and state records.

Since the promotion started, there’s been an amazing run of big fish caught by anglers who have not been registered in the promotion. Three remarkable catches in three months tell the story:

• World Class Yellowfin Tuna: In January a 430-pound yellowfin tuna, the largest ever recorded, was caught on a Mustad Demon Perfect Circle hook near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico by Ronnie Tegland. The fish didn’t qualify as an IGFA World Record because two anglers touched the rod. Ronnie was not registered.
• State Record Largemouth: In February, Arkansas angler Paul Crowder caught a 16-pound, 5-ounce largemouth bass to set an Arkansas state record. Paul was not registered and unfortunately, the fish was not taken legally and the state record was rescinded.
• State Record Walleye: Jim Zimmerman of Wisconsin may have wished he had registered in the Mustad Hook a Million promotion. On March 11th, *he caught a 15.08-pound walleye that has been certified as a new Illinois State Record.
• State Record Largemouth: In March, Oklahoma angler Bennie Williams Jr. caught a 14-pound, 12.3-ounce largemouth bass to set an Oklahoma state record. Bennie was not registered.
• State Record Largemouth: In April,James D. Hitchens of Georgetown Delaware set a new state record with a 10-pound, 10 ounce largemouth bass. Ironically, James was not registered but his son, of the same name, was. Hats off to James…the fish was weighed and certified and then released safely back to the water.
• State Record Freshwater Striped Bass: 17 year old, Tyler Shields caught a 54-pound 2-ounce Striped bass on March 31 to set a new North Carolina state record. At age 17, Tyler was not eligible to participate in Hook a Million.* Anglers must be 18 years or older.

Registration in the Mustad Hook a Million promotion is FREE. To qualify for big cash awards, anglers must register in advance and simply catch the new record on any Mustad hook. There’s still plenty of time to register. The promotion runs through September 30, 2012 and includes 10 of the country’s most popular fresh and saltwater fish. These include Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, White Crappie, Coho Salmon, Striped Bass, Kelp Bass (Calico Bass), Red Drum (Redfish), Spotted Seatrout (Speckled Trout) and Yellowfin Tuna. It’s open to US residents 18 & over and to participate, anglers must use a Mustad hook and register only once at least 24 hours in advance of fishing.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Mustad is Hoping its Hook a Million Promotion will Deliver $1.4 Million in Cash to Lucky Anglers



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Shooting And Airgun Forums ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/mustad-hoping-hook-million-promotion-deliver-1-4-million-cash-lu-386855/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/ohio-high-school-fishing-state-championship-set-june-9-a-386854/ Thu, 17 May 2012 00:07:17 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FLW_TBF.jpg ...

The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, the Ohio Bass Federation, and the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Ohio High School Fishing State Championship.* The championship will be on Saturday, June 9 on the Ohio River.* The launch will be out of the downtown ramp (public use ramp) located near Gallipolis, Ohio.

The championship is a two person team event for students in grades 9-12. Registration for anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org. Check-in begins at 5:30pm EST on Friday, June 8 at the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Gallipolis, Ohio, with a mandatory rules briefing at 7pm EST. We highly encourage all teams to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.

“We are so excited to be hosting the second annual SAF Ohio High School Fishing State Championship in Gallipolis,” Executive Director of the Gallia County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bob Hood, said.* “The majestic hills paint a beautiful backdrop as the stunning waterways open the door for a unique adventure in this southeastern Ohio town. *We are making every effort to make sure this experience is a memorable one!”



Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25/ year and includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Conference Championship. Those winners will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2013. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2012 High School Fishing World Finals to compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarships and prizes. Each team that qualifies for a conference and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The National Champions will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.

If you’re not an SAF member, there’s a $25/per angler fee, which includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits for the year, as well as, free entry to ALL SAF sanctioned events!

Another unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student anglers,” SAF Program Manager, Alex Craw, commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly that. We also offer all TBF/SAF members 11 free online training courses in our member’s only online store with Faculty of Fishing’s angler advantage program. Put this package together with all the programs our affiliated state federations like the Ohio Bass Federation have to offer, and our partnership with FLW Outdoors, and the sky is the limit,” Craw continued. *“These young anglers and their families have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”

Event Details:

State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org.* Boat numbers are determined by date registered.* A $25 late registration fee applies to those registering at check-in. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.

Mandatory Check-in: Friday, June 8, 5:30-7pm EST, at the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 259 Third Ave., Gallipolis, OH,*45631; Mandatory rules briefing to follow at 7pm.



Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, June 9, at the Downtown/Public Use Launch Ramp on the Ohio River, 300 Block of First Ave., Gallipolis, OH, 45631.Takeoff and weigh-in times will be announced at the Mandatory rules briefing. Questions? Mark@bassfederation.com or 580-765-9031.

Host Hotel: Hampton Inn at Gallipolis, 444 State Route 7 South, Gallipolis, OH, 45631; Rooms will be available to tournament participants and their families at a special rate of $95 plus tax.* Call the Hampton Inn General Manager, Joshua Felty, at 740.446.8000 and ask for the Ohio High School Championship Tournament rate.* Book your rooms early to guarantee availability!

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio High School Fishing State Championship Set for June 9



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Shooting And Airgun Forums ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/ohio-high-school-fishing-state-championship-set-june-9-a-386854/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/20-year-sets-missouri-record-trotline-caught-largemouth-bass-386853/ Thu, 17 May 2012 00:07:17 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/smallrecord_bass_gilmore_5-15-12-300x225.jpg ...

In the Missouri State Record Fish Database, there are a few records listed that have only recently been set. One such record was that of a largemouth bass caught with trotline roughly ten years ago, which has just recently been confirmed to be broken. The new record-setter, David Gilmore, was also fishing with trotline and didn’t let the “alternative records” angler keep his hold for very long.

A trotline is a heavy-duty fishing line with baited hooks attached at intervals along the line. It is attached to two points to cover the width of a river, channel or other waterway.

The fish Gilmore caught weighed in at 9 pounds 2 ounces, which is 4 pounds 12 ounces lighter than the record largemouth bass caught by pole and line. See the full list of records here.

Original press release issued by Missouri Department of Conservation on May 15, 2012

A little luck nabbed a record size largemouth bass for 20-year-old Dylan Gilmore of Perry. Gilmore and his friend, Austin Lake, had set their trotline on April 27 using goldfish as bait, hoping to catch some catfish at Ka-Tonka Lake, located in Ka-Tonka Game Preserve and Sporting Clays Club in Ralls County. When they returned the next day to check their line, Gilmore realized they had caught something. When pulling the line to their boat, what he assumed was a catfish instead turned into something a little more.

“We knew something was on there,” Gilmore said. “I reached down and grabbed the fish and thought ‘oh my gosh, this thing is huge.’ It felt like a dream at first. I have never seen a bass that big in person.”

Gilmore was not quite sure what to do with the large fish, so he put it in a cooler with aerated water and headed to the Hobby Hut, a bait and tackle store, on Highway 19 in Perry.

“I shop at the Hobby Hut and figured they would know what to do with such a large fish,” Gilmore said. While at the store, Gilmore had the fish weighed. The scale read 9 pounds, 8 ounces. “Once I knew how much it weighed, I looked up the record online,” Gilmore said. “I found the web page on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) website. At first, I didn’t think I had broken the record, but that’s when I saw the line for alternative methods.”

The owner of the store allowed Gilmore to keep his fish in a tank until he could contact MDC. On May 1, Gilmore phoned Fisheries Management Biologist Ross Dames and told him about his fish. Dames met Gilmore at the Hobby Hut to get an official weight on the stores’ certified scale. At that point, Gilmore’s fish weighed in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 23.5 inches long; big enough to nab him a new state largemouth bass record for alternative methods.

“When I saw I officially had the record, I was pretty excited,” Gilmore said. “But it also made me think I should have called the Conservation Department sooner!”

Missouri’s previous state record, which stood for 10 years, was an 8-pound, 2.2-ounce, 24-inch fish caught via trotline, using goldfish bait in Country Boy Estate Lake in Boone County on Dec. 16, 2002.

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America. Largemouth bass are very aggressive fish and will strike at nearly anything they consider alive. Average size is 3 to 10 pounds, though the fish can reach as much as 20 pounds and can live for 10 to 15 years. Largemouth bass thrive in warm, moderately clear waters with little or no current. They can be found all over Missouri in all types of water including lakes, artificial impoundments of all sizes, permanent pools of streams, and quiet backwaters of large rivers. The fish are most active at dawn and dusk.

Gilmore was not sure what to do with his trophy fish. The owner of the Ka-Tonka club told Gilmore he could always release the fish and let it get bigger. Gilmore thought that was a good idea.

“I took a picture of me holding the fish and really, that satisfied me. So I turned it loose,” Gilmore said. “It made me happy to release it and it made the owner of Ka-Tonka Lake happy too. I hope someday to meet it again, and it will be even bigger. Then, maybe I’ll get a new record.”

It is still sinking in for Gilmore that he is now a record holder in Missouri. “It’s pretty exciting, something I know I can always have and be able to tell my son or grandson about,” Gilmore said. “I don’t know how long I will keep the record, but that doesn’t really matter. No matter what, I have the certificate that shows I held the record at one time, something I can always look back on.”

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 20 Year Old Sets Missouri Record for Trotline-Caught Largemouth Bass



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Shooting And Airgun Forums ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/20-year-sets-missouri-record-trotline-caught-largemouth-bass-386853/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/simmons-offers-performance-trail-camera-line-386850/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/simmons-camera-300x334.jpg ...

Simmons, a leader in high-quality, high-value sports optics for more than 25 years, has added three new trail cameras to its 2012 product line. Hunters can now monitor game activity around the clock, thanks to the new Simmons low-glow LED night vision technology.

Featuring a one-second trigger speed, full-color images up to 7 MP, and a high-quality 640×480 video mode, the Simmons trail cameras capture the quality and detail hunters demand. The multi image mode allows users to select from capturing one to three images per trigger, and the video mode is programmable to record five- to 60-second video clips.

Using low-glow LED flash technology, the cameras are virtually invisible to game. Add to that Simmons motion-activated, passive infrared (PIR) sensor, and hunters can monitor game out to 25, 40 or 45 feet (see chart below).

Thanks to an SD card capacity of 32GB, all three cameras can capture and store thousands of images. Powered by four AA batteries, the Simmons cameras offer an impressive six-month battery life for long-lasting, uninterrupted performance in the field. The easy-to-use LCD setup screen allows users to deploy the camera in just minutes.

Click here to view specs.

The Simmons Whitetail and ProHunter trail cameras will be available in May 2012 for an estimated retail price range of $79.99 – $129.99. Learn more about Simmons and its complete line of high-value sports optics at www.simmonsoptics.com or call 1-800-423-3537.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Simmons Offers Value and Performance with its New Trail Camera Line



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/simmons-offers-performance-trail-camera-line-386850/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/turnbull-national-wildlife-refuge-receives-high-marks-visitors-386849/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/usfws-logo7.jpg ...

An overwhelming percentage of visitors to Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge in 2010 and 2011 were favorably impressed with its recreational opportunities, education and services, according to a peer-reviewed government survey released today. Some 90 percent of respondents gave consistent high marks to all facets of their refuge experience.

The survey, commissioned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and designed, conducted, and analyzed by researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey, evaluated responses from more than 200 adult visitors surveyed at the refuge between July 2010 and November 2011. Turnbull was one of 53 national wildlife refuges surveyed.

The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the Service, is the nation’s premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat. Refuges protect thousands of species; more than 400 also are open to the public and popular recreation sites, noted for their hunting and fishing, paddling and hiking, environmental education programs and wildlife observation. More than 45 million people visited national wildlife refuges in 2011.

An estimated 65 % of the 177 survey respondents visited Turnbull multiple times over a 12-month period.* Seventy nine percent of survey respondents live within 50 miles of the refuge but most nonlocal visitors said that visiting Turnbull Refuge was a primary purpose or sole destination of their trip.* The top three activities respondents participated in included wildlife observation (82%), bird watching (71%), and driving the auto tour route (67%).

Prompted by local activists, sportsmen, and naturalists, President Franklin D. Roosevelt established Turnbull in 1937 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.** Located

southwest of Spokane, the 16,000-acre Refuge supports an extensive complex of wetlands, Ponderosa pine forests, Palouse steppe, and riparian habitats.* These habitats create exceptional species diversity, providing homes for hundreds of migratory birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, plants, and other life.

“Turnbull’s unique Channeled Scabland landscape formed by volcanic activity and glacial floods created diverse wildlife habitats that also attracts visitors from around the country,” said Turnbull Refuge Manager Dan Matiatos.* “Turnbull visitors treasure their refuge and make the work of managing this special place for both wildlife and people extremely rewarding for our staff, volunteers, and partners.”

Of survey participants,

• 89 percent reported satisfaction with recreational activities and opportunities;
• 85 percent reported satisfaction with information and education about the refuge;
• 87 percent reported satisfaction with services provided by refuge employees or volunteers; and
• 94 percent reported satisfaction with the refuge’s job of conserving fish, wildlife and their* habitats.

Some survey participants also volunteered enthusiastic comments, such as this one: “Refuges make me aware that I am a part of the American experience and not just an observer. Nowhere else do I feel such a deep sense of connection with the land, the plants, and the wildlife. Visiting a refuge is truly a spiritual experience.”

Among the most popular refuge activities visitors engaged in were wildlife observation, bird watching, photography, hiking and auto-tour-route driving.* Most visitors also reported viewing refuge exhibits, asking information of staff or volunteers and visiting a refuge gift shop or bookstore.

USGS social scientist Natalie Sexton was the lead researcher on the report. The survey is available here.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge Receives High Marks from Visitors



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/turnbull-national-wildlife-refuge-receives-high-marks-visitors-386849/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/ohio-high-school-fishing-state-championship-set-june-9-a-386848/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/FLW_TBF.jpg ...

The Bass Federation (TBF), in partnership with FLW Outdoors, the Ohio Bass Federation, and the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the 2012 Student Angler Federation (SAF) Ohio High School Fishing State Championship.* The championship will be on Saturday, June 9 on the Ohio River.* The launch will be out of the downtown ramp (public use ramp) located near Gallipolis, Ohio.

The championship is a two person team event for students in grades 9-12. Registration for anglers and their “coach,” who will provide the boat they compete in, is online at HighSchoolFishing.org. Check-in begins at 5:30pm EST on Friday, June 8 at the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau in Gallipolis, Ohio, with a mandatory rules briefing at 7pm EST. We highly encourage all teams to preregister online or by phone in advance to avoid late registration fees.

“We are so excited to be hosting the second annual SAF Ohio High School Fishing State Championship in Gallipolis,” Executive Director of the Gallia County Convention and Visitors Bureau, Bob Hood, said.* “The majestic hills paint a beautiful backdrop as the stunning waterways open the door for a unique adventure in this southeastern Ohio town. *We are making every effort to make sure this experience is a memorable one!”



Students and parents can go to HighSchoolFishing.org for details on the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and to sign up. Cost is only $25/ year and includes full TBF and FLW Outdoors benefits, including access to the all-new FLW Outdoors Magazine e-Edition and insurance coverage for students and their club. The winning two-person team from each state championship will advance to an FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing Conference Championship held in conjunction with a National Guard FLW College Fishing Conference Championship. Those winners will advance to the FLW Outdoors/TBF High School Fishing National Championship held in conjunction with the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Championship in the spring of 2013. All SAF members and state championship participants qualify for the largest event in high school fishing, the 2012 High School Fishing World Finals to compete for thousands of dollars in college scholarships and prizes. Each team that qualifies for a conference and/or national championship will receive a travel allowance to help offset expenses. The National Champions will also each receive a $5,000 scholarship to use at the university of their choice.

If you’re not an SAF member, there’s a $25/per angler fee, which includes full TBF/FLW Outdoors membership benefits for the year, as well as, free entry to ALL SAF sanctioned events!

Another unique feature of an SAF sanctioned event is the “angler testing” component. Anglers can take a free online test at HighSchoolFishing.org about boater safety, conservation and angler ethics, which makes them eligible for contingency awards at their state championship. “It’s an industry first by TBF and a tremendous way to emphasize the importance of education to these student anglers,” SAF Program Manager, Alex Craw, commented. “The Federation is driven by our desire to promote education through fishing and the testing component is designed to do exactly that. We also offer all TBF/SAF members 11 free online training courses in our member’s only online store with Faculty of Fishing’s angler advantage program. Put this package together with all the programs our affiliated state federations like the Ohio Bass Federation have to offer, and our partnership with FLW Outdoors, and the sky is the limit,” Craw continued. *“These young anglers and their families have opportunities unlike anything the industry has ever seen.”

Event Details:

State Championship sign-up: PRE-REGISTER ONLINE at HighSchoolFishing.org.* Boat numbers are determined by date registered.* A $25 late registration fee applies to those registering at check-in. The best way is to pre-register online at highschoolfishing.org.

Mandatory Check-in: Friday, June 8, 5:30-7pm EST, at the Gallia County Convention & Visitors Bureau, 259 Third Ave., Gallipolis, OH,*45631; Mandatory rules briefing to follow at 7pm.



Takeoff & Weigh-in: Saturday, June 9, at the Downtown/Public Use Launch Ramp on the Ohio River, 300 Block of First Ave., Gallipolis, OH, 45631.Takeoff and weigh-in times will be announced at the Mandatory rules briefing. Questions? Mark@bassfederation.com or 580-765-9031.

Host Hotel: Hampton Inn at Gallipolis, 444 State Route 7 South, Gallipolis, OH, 45631; Rooms will be available to tournament participants and their families at a special rate of $95 plus tax.* Call the Hampton Inn General Manager, Joshua Felty, at 740.446.8000 and ask for the Ohio High School Championship Tournament rate.* Book your rooms early to guarantee availability!

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Ohio High School Fishing State Championship Set for June 9



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/ohio-high-school-fishing-state-championship-set-june-9-a-386848/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/man-friend-life-jacket-386847/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/BoatUS4-300x288.jpg ...

It doesn’t take National Safe Boating Week (May 19-25) to remind us that life jackets are important, even for man’s best friend. But no matter water dog or a lap dog, the life jacket has to be right-sized – so how will you know it fits? The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety has released “Foundation Findings #52,” the latest boating safety equipment product testing series now chronicled in the June/July 2012 BoatUS Magazine, “It’s a Dog’s Life (Jacket).”

What are two key findings? With the dog in the life jacket, first ensure that straps and buckles don’t rub sensitive parts. This is especially important when the life jacket will be worn dry, on deck. Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but regardless, also look for foam floatation centered on the dog’s body to make swimming easy. Foundation testers also found that a lifting strap or handle is a must. For a full look at all of the Foundation Findings test results, go to www.BoatUS.com/foundation/findings.

National Safe Boating Week is also a great time to have two-legged friends aboard, but before you head out, it’s a good idea to brush up on a few safety tips. The Foundation has three fun and practical ideas:

The “DockIt!” game, which has you practice the spectator sport of boat docking, avoiding shoals and steering clear of boat traffic, is found at www.boatus.com/games. Or, put yourself at the helm of a speedboat with the Foundation’s “NavigateIt!” game, where following the rules of the road will keep you from sinking.

Going to have a youngster aboard but don’t have the right size life jacket? The Foundation’s Kids Life Jacket Loaner Program offers a range of children’s sized life jackets at over 570 locations across the country.

Don’t forget that a boat owner is also responsible for his or her guests. So while it may be common practice to allow them to drink, inebriated guests can really ruin a day when they become a safety risk or injure themselves.

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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/man-friend-life-jacket-386847/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/browning-power-pen-light-386846/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Hi-Power-Pen-Light-MID-3712210-hr-300x115.jpg ...

Light up the darkness with a small but powerful flashlight from Browning, the new HI Power Pen Light. The size of a ball point pen, this flashlight is incredibly bright for its size and will run up to 20 hours.

Powered by 2 AAA batteries the HI Power Pen Light uses Cree XP-C LED lights that creates a brightness of 85 lumens. The light will run for 20 hours on the low setting and 2 hours on the high setting. The HI Power Pen Light also has a Rapid-Strobe setting for personal safety and signaling.

The HI Power Pen light is constructed out of rugged aluminum and features a pocket clip. To help keep the light from being turned on accidently, it features a lock out tail cap switch. The O-ring seal design makes the light water resistant. The HI Power Pen Light comes with a bore light adapter.

Suggested retail value for the HI Power Pen Light** $34.99

Please visit www.browning.com for more*information*about Browning products.*

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - New from Browning, The HI Power Pen Light



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/browning-power-pen-light-386846/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/stopping-power-olympian-win-week-gun-talk-radio-386845/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/gun-talk-radio-logo1.jpg ...

It’s an Olympic athlete, the study of stopping power, a big legal win out of California, and Obama’s record on guns, this week on Tom Gresham’s Gun Talk Radio, the original nationally-syndicated radio talk show about guns and the shooting sports.

USA Shooting team member Kim Rhode is no stranger to the Olympic Games. She heads to London this summer with four Olympic Medals, not to mention dozens of National and World Championships, under her belt. Rhode drops by to talk skeet and more! http://www.usashooting.org/12-the-te...nteam/kimrhode

One of the great debates when talking handguns has always been stopping power. Greg Ellifritz, of Active Response Training, (http://www.activeresponsetraining.net), decided to get test the theories out, and extensively tested multiple calibers. Read more on what Ellifritz found at http://www.buckeyefirearms.org/node/7866.

It’s a huge gun rights win in Calexico, CA this month, led by The CalGuns Foundation and lawyer Jason Davis. A case that began in 2010 with a shotgun in the back seat ended with a settlement for the defendant and a training bulletin for law enforcement. Davis visits on Sunday with more on the wine. Read about the case at http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/s...d.php?t=572381.

Dave Workman, Senior Editor at TheGunMag.com, Communications Director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, and of course, Seattle Gun Rights Examiner writer, drops by Gun Talk with a rundown of President Obama’s record on guns. For this and more, go to http://www.examiner.com/gun-rights-i...e/dave-workman .

Enter to win a Liberty Safe! One grand prize winner will soon have a brand-new Franklin 25 gun safe in their home. And each week, Liberty Safe is giving away fifteen lighted baseball caps. Enter to win at http://www.guntalk.com/contest.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Stopping Power, an Olympian, a Win, and More – This Week on Gun Talk Radio



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/stopping-power-olympian-win-week-gun-talk-radio-386845/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/footbalance-taps-diverse-experience-robinson-outdoor-group-drive-sales-386844/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Footbalance-logo-300x155.jpg ...

Footbalance, an innovator in custom footbed technology, is proud to announce a partnership with Robinson Outdoor Group to represent Footbalance sales in the northeast territory of the United States.

Based in Madison, CT, Robinson Outdoor Group has more than a decade of direct experience in the wintersports, outdoor, athletic, footwear and fashion markets. Robinson also represents Tecnica ski boots, Tecnica footwear, the Original Moon Boots, Bizzard Skis and Powderhorn apparel.

“Robinson Outdoor Group currently works with more than 100 retail partners and continues to grow,” says Footbalance North America’s President and Business Manager Matt Kaplan. “So we have high expectations about how they will ramp up our sales reach and success in the northeast among multiple channels.”

“Footbalance is the perfect addition to our brand portfolio,” says Robinson Outdoor Group owner Nicholas Robinson. “Footbalance is the perfect product to help retailers gain new customers and add profitability to their footwear and wintersports business.”

Robinson Outdoor Group will sell to specialty retail shops that will mold the footbeds in fewer than ten minutes and use the Footbalance Recommendation System (FRS) software to provide a free overview of individual foot mechanics.

With its North American Headquarters in San Diego, California, Footbalance was developed by a Finnish physiotherapist specializing in podiatric medicine. The system enables the rapid production of fully customized footbeds at retail stores in less than ten minutes. Available for fittings at shops and special events across the US and Canada, Footbalance footbeds support your feet in proper alignment to promote healthy foot function, improving overall body alignment.

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - Footbalance Taps Diverse Experience of Robinson Outdoor Group to Drive Sales in the Northeast



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/footbalance-taps-diverse-experience-robinson-outdoor-group-drive-sales-386844/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/kayaker-attempting-break-record-speed-circumnavigation-great-britain-386843/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-16-at-3.13.54-PM-300x225.jpg ...

On the evening of Wednesday, May 16, kayaker Joe Leach plans on paddling through Port St. Mary harbour on the 15th day of his estimated 80-day journey. The record to beat is 80 days kayaking around the perimeter of Great Britain, a path that is debated to be between 7,000 and 11,000 miles (depending on how you measure).

Leach will stop into the port, located on the Isle of Man, an island between Great Britain and Ireland. This is a special stop for Leach as it is the island were Leach grew up. It’s also a place for him to stop and rest before he takes on a stretch of 60 miles of open sea between the Isle of Man and Belfast, Ireland, his next stop.

Leach, 24, said of the island in an interview with IOM Today, “I started paddling there, I got the hunger for sea from paddling in Port St Mary. It’s a playground for me.”

Traveling from Anglesey to the Isle of Man, he paddled 45 miles.

The answer to the question of why he’s doing this is not a simple one. On his blog, Leach writes, “it’s a complicated idea to explain fully, but I guess a big factor is the simplicity. Just sea kayaking for weeks on end, streamlining daily life down to the basics of negotiating myself and my kit from ‘a’ to ‘b’. I find this seriously appealing.”

On an ocean kayak, Leach is traveling as light as he can while carrying everything he needs. He’s outfitted with camping equipment and de-hydrated expedition packs, but he says he “cannot eat enough” considering all the calories he burns daily.

He doesn’t ask for them, but sometimes lives on people’s good graces. When he went to ask for water to cook with at someone’s door in Abersoch Bay, the family invited him in for supper, a shower and a bed. He’s gotten gifts of pastries, pints of beer, and lodging help from other people.

He’s had a particularly fond time following the dolphins that swim near the coast of Britain.

“I have had an amazing week … from Lundy Island to Pembrokeshire, there must have been at least 15 dolphins diving under the boat, they were really interacting. They really broke the monotony of the trip. In a yacht you are removed, in a kayak you are part of it. The dolphin moments are more magical when you are on your own, then they go away – you think did that really happen?”

After he graduated Castle Rushen High School, Leach studied PE at Bangor University and then became a kayak instructor in Cornwall. He was inspired to do the trip after he heard a presentation by kayakers Harry Whelan, Phil Clegg and Barry Shaw who previously completed the 80-day trip around the United Kingdom together.

Follow his progress and read his story at*www.joeroundbritain.wordpress.com.

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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/kayaker-attempting-break-record-speed-circumnavigation-great-britain-386843/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/canadian-woman-forgets-colliding-moose-broke-neck-386842/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Screen-shot-2012-05-16-at-4.07.09-PM-300x281.jpg ...

Following a near-fatal collision with a moose on a Canadian highway, a woman drove her car the remaining 25 miles to work with her windshield flattened and her car roof peeled away. Most interestingly, Michelle Higgins doesn’t even remember any of it happening – she lost all recollection of the incident as she continued along the Trans-Canada highway to her job. She arrived on time, but not unscathed.*The moose that sailed through Higgins’s windshield left a hoof-shaped bruise on her forehead and she arrived at work bleeding profusely and with two broken neck bones. The moose died on impact.

She had no idea what had happened until a co-worker rushed out to her panicking and asking if she was okay. Higgins didn’t even realize she was bleeding, nor did she realize the state her car was in until the co-worker pointed it out. She couldn’t explain what had happened and it wasn’t until detectives discovered moose hair, the hoof mark on Higgins’s forehead, and a dead moose that they pieced the entire incident together. Higgins still claims she has no recollection of the accident.

Watch a video report from CNN on the collision below.


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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/canadian-woman-forgets-colliding-moose-broke-neck-386842/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/20-year-sets-missouri-record-trotline-caught-largemouth-bass-386841/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Image: http://www.outdoorhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/smallrecord_bass_gilmore_5-15-12-300x225.jpg ...

In the Missouri State Record Fish Database, there are a few records listed that have only recently been set. One such record was that of a largemouth bass caught with trotline roughly ten years ago, which has just recently been confirmed to be broken. The new record-setter, David Gilmore, was also fishing with trotline and didn’t let the “alternative records” angler keep his hold for very long.

A trotline is a heavy-duty fishing line with baited hooks attached at intervals along the line. It is attached to two points to cover the width of a river, channel or other waterway.

The fish Gilmore caught weighed in at 9 pounds 2 ounces, which is 4 pounds 12 ounces lighter than the record largemouth bass caught by pole and line. See the full list of records here.

Original press release issued by Missouri Department of Conservation on May 15, 2012

A little luck nabbed a record size largemouth bass for 20-year-old Dylan Gilmore of Perry. Gilmore and his friend, Austin Lake, had set their trotline on April 27 using goldfish as bait, hoping to catch some catfish at Ka-Tonka Lake, located in Ka-Tonka Game Preserve and Sporting Clays Club in Ralls County. When they returned the next day to check their line, Gilmore realized they had caught something. When pulling the line to their boat, what he assumed was a catfish instead turned into something a little more.

“We knew something was on there,” Gilmore said. “I reached down and grabbed the fish and thought ‘oh my gosh, this thing is huge.’ It felt like a dream at first. I have never seen a bass that big in person.”

Gilmore was not quite sure what to do with the large fish, so he put it in a cooler with aerated water and headed to the Hobby Hut, a bait and tackle store, on Highway 19 in Perry.

“I shop at the Hobby Hut and figured they would know what to do with such a large fish,” Gilmore said. While at the store, Gilmore had the fish weighed. The scale read 9 pounds, 8 ounces. “Once I knew how much it weighed, I looked up the record online,” Gilmore said. “I found the web page on the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) website. At first, I didn’t think I had broken the record, but that’s when I saw the line for alternative methods.”

The owner of the store allowed Gilmore to keep his fish in a tank until he could contact MDC. On May 1, Gilmore phoned Fisheries Management Biologist Ross Dames and told him about his fish. Dames met Gilmore at the Hobby Hut to get an official weight on the stores’ certified scale. At that point, Gilmore’s fish weighed in at 9 pounds, 2 ounces and was 23.5 inches long; big enough to nab him a new state largemouth bass record for alternative methods.

“When I saw I officially had the record, I was pretty excited,” Gilmore said. “But it also made me think I should have called the Conservation Department sooner!”

Missouri’s previous state record, which stood for 10 years, was an 8-pound, 2.2-ounce, 24-inch fish caught via trotline, using goldfish bait in Country Boy Estate Lake in Boone County on Dec. 16, 2002.

The largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America. Largemouth bass are very aggressive fish and will strike at nearly anything they consider alive. Average size is 3 to 10 pounds, though the fish can reach as much as 20 pounds and can live for 10 to 15 years. Largemouth bass thrive in warm, moderately clear waters with little or no current. They can be found all over Missouri in all types of water including lakes, artificial impoundments of all sizes, permanent pools of streams, and quiet backwaters of large rivers. The fish are most active at dawn and dusk.

Gilmore was not sure what to do with his trophy fish. The owner of the Ka-Tonka club told Gilmore he could always release the fish and let it get bigger. Gilmore thought that was a good idea.

“I took a picture of me holding the fish and really, that satisfied me. So I turned it loose,” Gilmore said. “It made me happy to release it and it made the owner of Ka-Tonka Lake happy too. I hope someday to meet it again, and it will be even bigger. Then, maybe I’ll get a new record.”

It is still sinking in for Gilmore that he is now a record holder in Missouri. “It’s pretty exciting, something I know I can always have and be able to tell my son or grandson about,” Gilmore said. “I don’t know how long I will keep the record, but that doesn’t really matter. No matter what, I have the certificate that shows I held the record at one time, something I can always look back on.”

Outdoor Hub, The Outdoor Information Engine - 20 Year Old Sets Missouri Record for Trotline-Caught Largemouth Bass



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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/20-year-sets-missouri-record-trotline-caught-largemouth-bass-386841/ http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/spanish-queen-cancels-uk-visit-yahoo-fishing-386840/ Wed, 16 May 2012 23:48:19 GMT Spanish queen cancels UK visit
16-05-2012 10:22 PM

Spain's Queen Sofia cancels a vist to the UK for the Diamond Jubilee following disputes with London over the territory of Gibraltar.

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. ]]> Fishing News and reviews The Fisherman http://www.thespainforum.com/f192/spanish-queen-cancels-uk-visit-yahoo-fishing-386840/