Web Connection April 2008

SuperUser Account — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 20:56:10 GMT

ADVERTISER, WEBSITEAbu Garcia, www.abugarcia.com All Star Rods, www.allstarrods.com Aquacide, www.KillLakeWeeds.com Armor All, www.aa-ownercenter.com Berkley Fireline, www.berkley-fishing.com Berkley Tec, www.berkley-fishing.com Booyah, www.booyahbaits.com Bose, www.Bose.com/AWMS2 Bradford Exchange, www.collectiblestoday.com Cabela’s, www.cabelas.com Cajun Line, www.CajunLine.com Daiwa, www.daiwa.com Eagle Claw, www.eagleclaw.com Fenwick, www.fenwickfishing.com Garmin, www.garmin.com Geico, www.geico.com Gulp! Alive!, www.berkley-fishing.com Honda Marine, www.hondamarine.com Humminbird, www.humminbird.com Lindy Tackle, www.lindyfishingtackle.com Lowrance, www.lowrance.com Mercury Marine, www.MercuryMarine.com Minn Kota, www.minnkotamotors.com Nissan Marine, www.nissanmarine.com Northland Tackle, www.northlandtackle.com O. Mustad, www.mustad.no/slowdeath Plano, www.planomolding.com Progressive Insurance, www.progressive.com Quantum, www.quantumfishing.com Rancho, www.gorancho.com Rapala, www.rapala.com Seaguar, www.seaguar.com Shimano, www.fish.shimano.com/spinning Southern Kentucky Lakes & Rivers, www.mykentuckyvacation.info Hormel Spam, www.spam.com Stratos Boats, www.stratosboats.com Suzuki Marine, www.suzukimarine.com Tohatsu, www.tohatsu.com TroutKrilla, www.YUM3X.com U.S. Navy, www.navy.com Ugly Stik, www.shakespeare-fishing.com Versus Country, www.versuscountry.com Yakima Bait, www.yakimabait.com YUM, www.YUM3X.com

Meet NAFC Member Mark Hanowski

SuperUser Account — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:26:13 GMT

Click to read Mark's first published article: Power Fishing for BassIt takes decades of experience, years of studying and a lifetime on the water to become a master angler. Or does it? Mark Hanowski, a 12-year-old from Little Falls, Minnesota, had the gumption to write a letter to us here at NAFC Headquarters explaining his love of fishing. He even sent us a how-to article on power bass fishing. In the process, he became one of the youngest published fishing writers you’ll ever find.The sixth-grader spends 80 days a year on the water–during the summer, that is, when he’s not stuck in school. “In May I’ll be sitting in my classroom looking outside and I wish I could be out fishing,” Mark says. “I daydream about catching a nice fish.”Mark catches plenty of nice fish. As a kid–well, as a younger kid–Mark honed his skills fishing the fertile Mississippi River with his dad and grandpa. He developed a childhood crush on big bass. He’s already got a 5-pound smallmouth and 6-pound largemouth to his name.He wouldn’t mind becoming famous, but this is one 12-year-old boy who doesn’t dream about becoming a professional baseball player. In fact, one of the biggest burdens in Mark’s summer schedule are those darned 6 p.m. baseball practices that cut short his fishing day.“When I grow up I want to be either a professional bass fisherman or a bass fishing journalist who works for a major magazine and gets paid a fair amount,” says Mark, noting his back-up plan is to work as a biologist and make fish attractants for baits.The scientific side of biology doesn’t scare Mark. In fact, science is one of his favorite classes and he studies fish, water quality and wildlife to better understand his quarry. “He’s weird,” admits Mark’s dad, Tom. “He gets the magazines and the videos and he watches all these fishing shows and he sits and studies fishing.” Mark’s family has known about his obsession for years. As a 6-year-old during an outing on the pontoon boat, Mark ignored a pouring rain and kept fishing while the rest of the family huddled under the canopy. “He refused to come in,” recalls Tom. “He was happy as a clam.”“The only bad thing is I didn’t catch a single fish, but it was still fun,” says Mark. “I like the suspense of when you might catch a fish, not knowing if you’re going to get a bite or not. You know its going to pay off eventually.”Of course Mark’s passion will pay off eventually. After all, decades of experience, years of studying and a lifetime on the water await him. In the meantime, Mark doesn’t mind being an unusual sixth-grader. “When I talk about fishing to my classmates they don’t get it,” he says with a laugh. “They look totally confused and just walk away.”On the Mark More about the 12-year-old fishing writer…Grade: 6th Favorite Movies: Advanced Bassin’ Today and Bass Location Secrets Favorite Actor: Adam Sandler Favorite Actress: Jessica Simpson Favorite Video Games: Guitar Hero and Rapala Pro Fishing Favorite Restaurants: Perkins and Subway Favorite Singers: Eric Clapton and Aerosmith Favorite Body of Water: Mississippi River Dream Birthday Gift: A bass boatCLICK HERE TO READ MARK’S FIRST PUBLISHED ARTICLE: POWER FISHING FOR BASS

How to Fish Bass

SuperUser Account — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:17:31 GMT

Mark Hanowski, Little Falls, Minnesota, is a 12-year-old fishing fanatic who sent us a letter explaining his love of fishing. He also included this article, below, with tips on catching bass. The NAFC staff thought he made some good points. See for yourself.I like to power fish. This means finding a place that you like to fish and that you think holds bass, then work the area hard, efficiently, and fast. Yet, sometimes, we have to slow down our presentations and work an area through efficiently. Like if I am power fishing in a bay and am moving along at a fair pace and I am starting to get hits, but I can’t seem to hook a fish. Then I need to slow down and work the area with a different bait or presentation. Always remember that bigger lures mean bigger fish, even if that means fewer strikes. If you find an area that you know has fish but you are not getting hits on your last five similar lures, then try a totally different lure. For example, if I am fishing a weeded cove with a jig and pig, and I know there are fish there but they will not hit, then change to a spinnerbait, or even a buzzbait if the water is shallow enough. A key thing to do when fishing bass anytime of the year is to analyze what you see, and think of an approach. If you are studying a lake map and have a plan, but then the conditions change, then you are going to have to analyze what the conditions are and adapt to the situation accordingly. You also have to take into consideration the season, present and predicted weather, water clarity, water temperature, etc. So a lot of things come into play when it comes to making a pattern. Remember that patience isn’t just about throwing different lures until you get a bite. It’s also about fine-tuning to get the best results possible. A bass is a bass is a bass. The bass doesn’t change. Only the conditions change, and you must adjust accordingly.It is important to have an idea of what will happen before you start fishing, so you have a starting point. This reduces that lost feeling you get when you look over 10,000 some acres of water. Next, you should have some confidence lures you want to use so you try to find places you can fish them, conditions permitting.The key here is to remain versatile and flexible, in case you don’t get to use them as much as you want, because that can blow your confidence. Finally, you have to believe that you will get the fish dialed in. This comes with experience, and a lot of time spent on the water!Editor's Note: Thank you, Mark, for sharing your story and passion. We hope to hear more from you in the future.

Superline and Terrific Trout

SuperUser Account — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 14:55:00 GMT

Most anglers treat trout with kid gloves when it comes to line choice, but I’m not one of them. In fact, I’ve made an all-out switch to superline like FireLine Crystal or Stren MicroFuse when fishing stream trout. Why? Well, I’m glad you asked.Superline stands up the constant abuse of rocks and doesn’t twist like monofilament or fluorocarbon. Plus, its high strength and low stretch make it much easier to pop baits out of snags and streamside brush, as well as set hooks, which has always been tough when using stretchy, low-poundage monos.To satisfy my paranoid side, I usually add a 3-foot fluorocarbon leader using a uni-to-uni for stealth, although my tests have shown even that might not be necessary.Case in point: When Crystal was first introduced, Berkley gave me a couple spools. A week later I was crouched in the dew-soaked grass along an aquarium-clear spring creek narrow enough to straddle without straining your ankles. I tied an in-line spinner direct to the FireLine—no leader—and proceeded to catch 19 trout before breakfast.The translucent line nearly disappeared under the water, and if the trout saw it at all, they certainly didn’t give it enough thought.

Sunfish in the Weeds

SuperUser Account — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:57:18 GMT

It’s difficult to fish right in submergent vegetation. Unless the water is very clear or the weedtops grow nearly to the surface, you normally can’t see the weeds well enough to place your bait in the openings.But when sunfish are actively feeding, there is no need to fish right in the weeds. The fish are more likely to hang around the edges of the weeds or over the weed-tops, opening the door to numerous fishing methods. A light spinning outfit spooled with 6-pound-test mono is a good choice for fishing in most types of submergent vegetation. A longer pole works better in shallow weedbeds, where the openings are visible, because it helps you place your bait in the right spot. How to Fish Shallow Submergent Weeds Work a shallow weed flat by setting a slip-bobber rig to keep the bait just above the weedtops. Cast upwind and let the rig float downwind of your position, varying the angle of successive casts to cover all water within casting distance.Motor slowly over a deep weed flat or along a weedline, looking for schools of sunfish on your depthfinder. When you spot some fish, toss out a marker. Try casting to them. Or, repeatedly slow-troll over the area using a slip-sinker rig. How to Fish Deep Submergent WeedsMake a slip-sinker rig for fishing in weedy cover using a 1/8- to 1/4-ounce bullet sinker for weight. If necessary, peg a corkie or other small float to your line about a foot above the hook to keep your bait riding above the weeds.Motor slowly over a deep weed flat or along a weedline, looking for schools of sunfish on your depth finder. When you spot some fish, try casting to them or repeatedly slow-troll over the area using a slip-sinker rig.

Web Links April 2008

SuperUser Account — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:14:59 GMT

Sporting Vehicles FTC & EPA Report:www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut10.shtm Tailgate & Tonneau Cover Report: http://www.trucktestdigest.com/PDFfiles/SEMATonneauStudy2007.pdf Fishing Tools Creek Company:http://www.creekcompany.com/indivdisplay.php?primaryAutoID=17&Cat=2 Buck’s Bag:http://www.bucksbags.com/cm_item.asp?id=210Fishing AdventuresAnimas River trouthttp://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/WhereToGo/HotSpots/SouthwesternHotSpots.htmFort Peck Lake multispecieshttp://fwp.mt.gov/fishing/guide/q_Fort_Peck_Lake__1068985477252_0_1.aspxLake Ouachita stripershttp://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/WhereToGo/HotSpots/SouthwesternHotSpots.htmhttp://www.arkansas-adventures.com/albright/http://www.mountainharborresort.com/lodging/Sacramento River stripershttp://www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/stripedbass/fishingtips.asphttp://www.dfg.ca.gov/fish/Fishing/http://www.fishingtrips.com/Wilson Lake crappieshttp://www.outdooralabama.com/fishing/http://www.bnmpoles.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_id=165Lake Erie Smallmouthshttp://www.1stclass-bass.com/ Benefits LifeLock:http://www.lifelock.comRaise The Buzzbait BarBooyah Bait Co.:http://www.lurenet.com/catalog.aspx?catid=BOOYAHBAITCO

Fishing Q & A April 2008

SuperUser Account — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:08:33 GMT

Why do some spots "replenish" quickly? How do fish "recycle?"Reuse, Replenish, Recycle Q: I often hear the terms “a spot replenishes” or “fish recycling on a spot.” I know this means new fish move into a spot. How do you determine which spots recycle quickly and which ones might tame more time?Member Dwight Alexander Charlotte, North CarolinaA: In lakes and reservoirs, the quick-to-replenish spots tend to be those on the migration routes – say along creek channels or mainlake areas, for instance – as well as spots that hold lots of forage. Areas that don’t replenish quickly tend to be near the backs of pockets or in small feeder creeks that harbor limited numbers of resident fish.In rivers, spots adjacent to the current will recycle more quickly. Eddies right off the main channel with good bait numbers are known to recycle quickly, but the amount of forage in the area is key. The more bait that’s around, the faster fish will recycle and move into a spot.Diseased FishQ: Should I keep a fish that is obviously diseased, even if it’s under the size limit or out of season? Could I get in trouble for keeping a diseased fish if it’s out of season?Life Member Steven Hunt Baltimore, MarylandA: Never keep a fish that’s not of legal size, or a fish caught out of season. Whether the fish is sick or healthy, an ethical angler has a responsibility to comply with fisheries regulations. Also, the fines for keeping a sick fish are the same for a healthy fish.Eating a freshly caught, but diseased, fish generally poses no human health risk from the disease, provided the fish is fully cooked. Prepare the fish as you normally would, but I recommend removing the skin from the fillet.If the disease did result from a chemical contaminant in the water, eating the fish will usually pass the contaminant onto the consumer. Therefore, anglers who like to eat their catch should always keep track of fish consumption advisories.Above all: Play it safe. It’s not worth eating that tasty walleye fillet if it makes you sick.

Fishing News April 2008

SuperUser Account — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:07:46 GMT

Angler Hooks Limo OMA, TX—Bob Faulkner said he knew he’d hooked something pretty big while fishing at Lake Texoma earlier this year. He was preparing to remove his boat from the water at a launch when his 27 1/2-foot boat suddenly stopped.When the Pottsboro, Texas, angler used his anchor in an attempt to remove the submerged obstacle, he discovered a large piece of vinyl attached to it.The fisherman contacted the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, and after four tries, they reeled-in Faulkner’s catch--a Humvee stretch limousine that had earlier been reported stolen.New Boat Stickers Don’t Stick WILMINGTON, DE—There’s just one minor problem with the new permit sticker that licensed saltwater anglers in Delaware were required to place on their boats beginning January 1—it doesn’t stick to watercraft and quickly disintegrates in salt water after one day.Delaware fisheries administrator Roy Miller says the complaints began pouring in soon after the first stickers were issued and anglers began trying to put them on their boats.“It’s most unfortunate,” Miller told the Wilmington News-Journal. “It’s more criticism that we don’t need.”As in other states, Delaware requires a freshwater fishing license, but only last year approved a license for saltwater fishing as well. With last year’s reauthorization of the Federal Fisheries Act (Magnuson-Stevens), lawmakers and fisheries folks recognized that the state could fail to qualify for some federal dollars without a method to accurately track the number of saltwater fishermen.The potential loss of federal monies spurred the state into action, and a new license was hastily created--as was the boat sticker.Edward Dwornik, who owns the company contracted to supply the stickers said he wasn’t aware there was a problem until the complaints began. He described the stickers’ apparent aversion to salt water and watercraft surfaces as “a material failure.”Once new materials are thoroughly tested, new decals will be mailed to Delaware saltwater anglers, Dwornik said. In the meantime, saltwater fishermen are being told to carry their sticker in case they need to present it for license verification.Angler Endures Hairy Situation CHESTERTON, IN—Call it a lousy day of fishing and a bad hair day rolled into one. A Lake Michigan angler’s disconcerting catch of a clump of what appeared to be human hair resulted in the dispatching of divers near the Port of Indiana. Nothing was found during their four-hour search.The Indiana State Police forensic laboratory will be testing a clump of hair hooked by an angler near the warm water discharge of Mittal Steel USA’s Burns Harbor facility.The clump—about the size of a “saucer” and brownish in color—appears to be human, DNR Conservation Officer Gene Davis told the Chesterton Tribune today, but at this point its origin is unknown. The hair, he noted, is not attached to any skin or other organic material and is simply loose in a clump.Guides Protest Madison River Fees BOZEMAN, MT—Fishing guides and outfitters are protesting a new plan that requires payments for guiding clients on a popular portion of Montana’s Madison River. The permits, approved by Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, cost $90, or 3 percent of a commercial guide’s gross revenues from river trips. The program is aimed at reducing and managing anglers and day use on heavily used stretches of the Madison.At a recent public meeting held to discuss the fee program, dozens of outfitters and businesses owners spoke out against the plan.But officials from FPW and the Bureau of Land Management defended the policy, insisting it is necessary to prevent over-crowding and ensure the health of the popular trout fishing river.“This is to obtain compensation for commercial use of public resources,” said Tim Bozorth, a BLM field manager. ”If we leave this for a free-for-all, it may be taken out of our hands and end up in the (state) legislature.”California Dodges A Bullet After Oil Spill SAN FRANCISCO, CA—California anglers breathed a sigh of relief last November when a fishing closure was lifted in San Francisco bay in the wake of a massive oil spill. After a 900-foot cargo ship sideswiped a tower on the Bay Bridge, authorities instituted a recreational and commercial fishing ban that impacted everything from sturgeon to halibut to striped bass. The ban was lifted several weeks later after it was determined that the 58,000 gallons of fuel had only moderate impacts on fisheries. While thousands of ocean birds were oiled, the bay fisheries emerged largely unscathed. One conservationist said, “We were lucky.”State-By-State Boating Infrastructure Grant PlansAlabama: The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, in cooperation with the Huntsville/Madison County Marina and Port Authority, will receive nearly $345,000 and match that amount with more than $500,000 to construct nine slips for visiting boats and a fuel pier at the Ditto Landing Transient Boating Facilities.Arkansas: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in cooperation with JAPB LLC, will receive $1 million and match that amount with more than $3 million to construct a dual purpose wave break and tie-up facility for up to 36 visiting boats in Little Rock.California: The California Department of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with the City of Stockton, will receive nearly $1.4 million and match that amount with nearly $1.4 million to construct new dockage for up to 46 visiting boats throughout the Stockton Marina. The proposed facilities will include dockside utilities and other amenities.The California Department of Boating and Waterways, in cooperation with San Francisco Waterfront Partners, will receive more than $425,000 and match that amount with the same to construct dockage for 22 visiting boats as part of the larger rehabilitation project on San Francisco Piers 1½, 3 and 5.Connecticut: The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, in cooperation with St. Clements Castle, will receive more than $1.8 million and match that amount with the same to construct dockage for 35 visiting boats at the Saint Clements Marina near Portland.Florida: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in cooperation with the City of Jacksonville and other partners, will receive more than $600,000 and match that amount with more than $1 million to provide dockside utilities to 78 visiting boat slips at Metropolitan Marina Park.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in cooperation with Martin County, South Florida Water Management District, and other partners will receive $500,000 and match that amount with more than $10 million to conduct one-time dredging operations necessary to maintain access to a multitude of visiting boating facilities in the county.Georgia: The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the City of Savannah, will receive $1 million and match that amount with more than $4.4 million to construct a 1,000 linear foot floating dock for visiting boats.Maryland: The Maryland Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with Chestertown Marina, will receive more than $405,000 and match that amount with more than $225,000 to construct 25 slips for visiting boaters with dockside utilities.Michigan: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, will receive nearly $1 million and match that amount with more than $600,000 to construct 30 slips for visiting boats in the planned Peshawbestown Marina located in the Grand Traverse Bay. The proposed project will also include fuel and sewage pumpout stations, and restroom/shower/laundry facilities.New York: The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, in cooperation with Port of Oswego Authority, will receive nearly $434,000 and match that amount with nearly $150,000 to rehabilitate and convert existing commercial wharf facilities into access for up to 40 recreational visiting boats. The proposed project will also include dockside utilities and restrooms/showers.North Carolina: The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Town of Bellhaven, will receive more than $155,000 and match that amount with the same to construct approximately 900 linear feet of docking access for visiting boaters to provide access to the local community and safe harbor mooring.Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, in cooperation with the Mellon Foundation, McCune Foundation, Heinz Endowment, NiSource and other partners will receive $1,350,000 and match that amount with nearly $5.3 million to construct dockage for up to 17 visiting boats at the South Shore Riverfront Park located in Pittsburgh.Rhode Island: The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Division of Fish and Wildlife, in cooperation with the City of Newport, will receive $713,000 and match that amount with more than $250,000 to construct a centralized "state of the art" facility for visiting boaters. The proposed project includes restrooms and other amenities for visiting boaters.Texas: The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in cooperation with the City of Port Aransas and other partners, will receive more than $366,000 and match that amount with more than $200,000 to construct 16 slips for visiting boaters in the Port Aransas Municipal Harbor. The proposed visiting facilities are part of a larger marina renovation project that also includes providing dockside utilities, sewage pumpout facilities and other improvements.The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in cooperation with the City of Port Lavaca and other cooperators, will receive more than $660,000 and match that amount with more than $220,000 to construct 48 permanent slips for visiting boaters in the Nautical Landings Marina. The proposed facility expansion also includes construction of restroom, shower and laundry facilities for boaters, improved navigation aids, and other facility improvements.Virginia: The Virginia Department of Health, in cooperation with the City of Norfolk and other partners, will receive nearly $340,000 and match that amount with nearly $350,000 to replace the existing deteriorating dock facilities at the Waterside Marina in Norfolk. The proposed project will also provide dockside electrical service to boaters.The Virginia Department of Health, in cooperation with Poquoson Marina Associates LLC, will receive more than $300,000 and match that amount with the same to construct 20 slips for visiting boats. The proposed project will also remove deteriorating dock infrastructure.Wisconsin: The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the City of Green Bay, will receive nearly $765,000 and match that amount with the same to construct facilities for visiting boaters along the Fox River.

North American Fishing Club