Celebrate Free Fishing Day Sept. 27th in California
September 26, 2008
Free Fishing Day is Sept. 27 and the Department of Fish and Game (DFG) invites anglers to enjoy California’s abundant fishing opportunities. Twice a year a complimentary day of fishing sets aside the normal requirement for anyone 16 years and older to possess a California fishing license. All other fishing regulations, such as bag and size limits, gear restrictions, fishing hours and stream closures remain in effect. The previous 2008 Free Fishing Day was June 7.
“This is a great opportunity not only to go fishing but to take a novice or youth fishing,” said DFG Fisheries Branch Chief Neil Manji. “Anglers can enjoy surf fishing, dunking a worm for bass or trout fishing in the Sierras.”
The state features more than 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,172 lakes and reservoirs, and 80 major rivers. It also has more than 1,100 miles of coastline and hundreds of native fish and shell fish species.
DFG offers several fishing-related programs designed to help everyone enjoy one of the nation’s most popular outdoor sports.
For the novice angler, DFG offers Fishing in the City, part of the Urban Fishing Program. The idea began in 1993, to provide fishing opportunities to Californians living in the Sacramento, San Francisco and Los Angeles metropolitan areas. Fishing in the City clinics teach kids how to fish and provide the chance to fish close to home. DFG stocks dozens of ponds with trout in winter and catfish the rest of the year. More information is available at www.dfg.ca.gov/fishinginthecity
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Free Fishing Day can also help launch new anglers into DFG’s new fishing incentive and angler recognition program called the California Fishing Passport program. The Passport program is for people of all ages and skill levels. Anglers are encouraged to catch all of the different sport fish species that occur in the state and can use the passport booklet as a guide. More than 150 different species of freshwater fish, saltwater fish and a number of ocean shellfish species can be found in California and are included as part of the Passport Challenge. More information is available at www.fishingpassport.org.
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National Hunting and Fishing Day in Georgia This Saturday!
September 24, 2008
In celebration of the passion for the outdoors that you share with 64 million other Americans, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division encourages you to get out and participate in one of the many activities that will be held this Saturday in honor of the 2008 National Hunting and Fishing day. Saturday, Sept. 27 is a statewide celebration and there will be events suitable for the whole family.
By geographic location in the State, events include:
- Northwest Georgia: Outdoor Adventure Day (James H. “Sloppy Floyd State Park), Kids Fishing Event (Summerville State Fish Hatchery)
- Northeast Georgia: Outdoor Adventure Day (Unicoi State Park), Kids Fishing Event (Lower Pool Park at Buford Dam), Family Fishing Festival (Chattahoochee Forest National Fish Hatchery)
- Central East Georgia: Outdoor Adventure Day for Youth (McDuffie Public Fishing Area)
- Central West Georgia: 3 Kids Fishing Events (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center, Ocmulgee Public Fishing Area, Big Lazer Public Fishing Area), Family Day at Shooting Range (Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center)
- Southwest Georgia: Outdoor Adventure Day (Flint Riverquarium)
- Southeast Georgia: 2 Kids Fishing Events (Hugh Gillis Public Fishing Area, Evans County Public Fishing Area), Outdoor Adventure Day/JAKES Day (Paradise Public Fishing Area)
- Coastal Georgia: Outdoor Adventure Day (Richmond Hill Fish Hatchery)
In addition to these events, a free fishing day is offered to all Georgia residents on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008. On this day, residents do not need a fishing license or a trout license to fish on any public waters in the state including lakes, streams, ponds and public fishing areas (PFA). Residents do not need to obtain a wildlife management area (WMA) license to fish on a PFA, WMA or on Waters Creek on this day.
The U.S. Congress and President Nixon established National Hunting and Fishing Day in 1972 to recognize generations of hunters and anglers for the time and money – more than a billion dollars each year – they donate to wildlife conservation programs.
For more information on NHF Day in Georgia, visit www.georgiawildlife.com , and then select “Get Involved.”
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National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day: Get Outside and Get Involved In Nature
September 24, 2008
This month nature is calling for families and people of all ages to help clean up public lands and connect with the outdoors through two of America’s traditional pastimes.
September 27 is both National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day. Both events highlight the Nation’s bountiful natural resources and encourage families and people of all ages to get outside?and get involved.
“America’s public lands and fish and wildlife resources are for everyone to enjoy, but also to conserve and help sustain for future generations,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Director H. Dale Hall. “These two events not only give us a reason to get outdoors, they also remind us that nature needs us as much as we need her.”
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance public lands. In 2007, 110,000 volunteers built trails and bridges, planted trees and native vegetation, and removed trash and invasive plants.
And it’s a day when people can visit all Federal lands–including national wildlife refuges–without paying an entry fee. This year, September 27 and 28 will be “fee free” days on national wildlife refuges and many other Federal lands.Â
Volunteers will get a coupon they can use on any other day to enter a national wildlife refuge or other Federal land without paying an entry fee. About 38 national wildlife refuges charge entry fees, while entrance to the remainder of the approximately 380 national wildlife refuges open to the public is free of charge.  Â
National Hunting and Fishing Day is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. About 270 national wildlife refuges have fishing programs, and more than 300 hunting programs are offered on national wildlife refuges across the country.
“The more time families and children spend outdoors, the more likely they will learn to nurture nature and embrace conservation values,” Hall said. “Hunting and fishing are two great ways to do that.”
In addition, the National Wildlife Refuge System has compiled the first comprehensive online guide to refuge hunting opportunities nationwide. Written to help hunters plan their next adventure, Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges is organized by state. It not only gives a brief description of each hunting program, but also indicates which species can be hunted, provides directions to refuges, and includes special stories on subjects such as hunting safety and archery hunting. Your Guide to Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges is available online at http://www.fws.gov/refuges/hunting/ Â
For a list of National Public Lands Day and National Hunting and Fishing Day events at refuges, hatcheries and other Service lands and facilities near you, visit http://www.fws.gov/refuges/SpecialEvents/FWS_SpecialEvents_Search.cfm
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
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Plan to Attend Wildlife Expo at NCSU Centennial Campus
September 24, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. – A free, family-friendly Wildlife Expo will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh, part of the statewide celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day.
From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. there will be programs, demonstrations and activities, along with free parking, and some added events:
- Eugene Hester, wildlife biologist and photographer
Learn about wildlife photography and how to get that shot.
- Fly-fishing demonstration
Learn to fly-fish, with casting demonstrations and the basics needed to get started.
- Eastern Carolina Hunting Retriever Club
See hunting dogs at work in field conditions.
- Eastern Long Hunter re-enactment
A living history demonstration of how early American mountain men lived.
The Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education is located at 1751 Varsity Drive on N.C. State University’s Centennial Campus. For more information, click here or call 707-0205.
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New Mexico Weekly Fishing Report - 9/23/2008
September 23, 2008
Free fishing day is Saturday, Sept. 27
Grab your rods and pack up the family. Saturday, Sept. 27, is a Free Fishing Day as New Mexico celebrates National Hunting and Fishing Day. No license is required to fish in public waters, although bag limits and all other rules apply.
Lake levels — Click here for the latest water storage reports from New Mexico reservoirs.
Sept. 23, 2008
This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers. Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.
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Catches of the week
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Conchas Lake: Sept. 20, Michael Bock of Albuquerque caught a 3.9-pound smallmouth bass.
Heron Lake: Sept. 21, Mark Bayliss of Raton caught a 19.25-inch kokanee. He was trolling an orange Cripplure.
Ute Lake: Sept. 21, Craig Dillion of Colorado Springs caught a 5.29-pound largemouth bass. He was fishing a tournament.
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If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include name, date, location, type of fish, length and bait used.
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NORTHEAST AREA
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CHARETTE LAKES: Trout fishing on the lower lake was good using salmon eggs, worms and corn/marshmallow combinations. Fishing was fair using worms for perch.
CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 37cfs. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, spinners and copper john barrs. We had no reports from the gravel pit lakes.
CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species but there were a few trout taken by anglers using worms.
CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was fair using liver, minnows, night crawlers and dough baits for catfish. Fishing was slow for all other species but there were a few smallmouth bass, crappie and white bass caught by anglers using minnows and crank baits. The fish were scattered at various depths.
COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was very good for anglers using worms, yellow power bait, spinners and a fly and bubble. Angler James Howden reported that he and his fishing partner caught limits of 12 inch trout this last week and experienced some of the best fishing all summer.
EAGLE NEST LAKE: Trout and kokanee fishing was fair-to-good this past week for anglers fishing from boats and from the bank. Best baits were sparkle power bait, garlic cheese, spinners tipped with corn and salmon eggs. A few perch were taken on worms and power bait. Kokanee snagging season opens October 1.
HOPEWELL LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing at Lake Maloya was good using sparkle power bait and salmon eggs. Fishing at Lake Alice was good for anglers using corn.
LOS PINOS RIVER: Trout fishing was good for anglers using salmon eggs and worms.
MAXWELL LAKES: The water was extremely low and fishing was slow.
MCALLISTER LAKE: Due to poor water quality, the lake will remain closed until further notice.
MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using power bait, Pistol Petes and salmon eggs.
MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using power bait, salmon eggs and worms.
PECOS RIVER: Water flow near the town of Pecos as of Monday morning was 51cfs. Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs, worms, power bait and bead head prince nymphs.
RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery was 80cfs. Trout fishing was very good using wooly buggers, spinners, salmon eggs and night crawlers.
RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 276cfs. Trout fishing in the Pilar area and above Taos was good using streamers, night crawlers, San Juan worms and spinners.
SHUREE PONDS: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
STORRIE LAKE: Trout fishing was good using power bait and salmon eggs. Best reports came from anglers fishing near the inlet.
UTE LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass was fair-to-good for some but slow for others. Best baits were swim baits, top water lures and spinner baits. Fishing was fair using top water lures, crank baits and spinners for white bass. A few walleye were taken by anglers using bottom bouncer rigs with night crawlers or minnows at 20-to-25 feet. Fishing was fair using liver and minnows for catfish.
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NORTHWEST AREA
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ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using deep running crank baits and bottom bouncer/worm rigs for walleye. Fishing was slow-to-fair using tubes, jigs and worms for smallmouth bass. We had no reports on other species.
ANIMAS RIVER: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was very slow for all species.
CANJILON LAKES: We had no reports from anglers this week.
CHAMA RIVER: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 586cfs and 843cfs respectively. Fishing below El Vado was slow-to-fair using night crawlers, streamers and spinners for brown trout and salmon eggs for rainbow trout. We had no reports from below Abiquiu.
COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. A few small bass were taken by anglers using minnows.
EL VADO LAKE: Fishing was slow. A few trout were taken by anglers using night crawlers, spinners, power bait and salmon eggs.
FARMINGTON LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing improved this past week. Several anglers did well using worms for fish up to 14 inches. A few were also taken on salmon eggs and wooly buggers.
HERON LAKE: Took a little longer but anglers still managed to catch some limits of kokanee this past week. The fish were scattered from the surface to about 60 feet. Best baits were orange and yellow Panther Martins and Cripplures. Fishing for all other species was slow.
JEMEZ WATERS: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 21cfs near Jemez Springs. Trout fishing on the Jemez, the Cebolla and the Rio Guadalupe was fair-to-good using worms, night crawlers, copper john barrs and salmon eggs.
LAGUNA Del CAMPO: (Burns Canyon Lake) We had no reports from anglers this week.
MANZANO LAKE: Fishing was slow.
MCGAFFEY LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing for smallmouth bass was slow but there were a few taken by anglers using jigs, spinner baits and tubes. Fishing was slow-to-fair trolling spinners tipped with corn for kokanee. The kokanee snagging season opens October 1. A few northern pike were caught by anglers using spinner baits and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
RAMAH LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
RIO PUEBLO: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using an assortment of small flies.
SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was at 832cfs. Trout fishing in the Quality Waters was very good for anglers using size 20-to-26 emergers and pheasant tail nymphs under a strike indicator. The best action was reported by anglers fishing the Texas Hole area. They caught several good size brown and rainbow trout. Fishing through the bait waters was good using worms, salmon eggs, streamers and spinners.
SANTA CRUZ LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
SEVEN SPRINGS BROOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.
TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was fair using night crawlers, flies and worms for bluegill. Fishing was slow-to-fair using dough bait, hot dogs and night crawlers for catfish. Trout fishing at the Catch and Release pond was poor.
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SOUTHWEST AREA
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BEAR CANYON: Fishing was slow for all species.
BILL EVANS LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BURN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was light.
ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair-to-good trolling and casting crank baits and spoons and using top water lures and grubs for white bass. The best reports came in from anglers fishing near Kettle Top and the mouth of McRae Canyon. Fishing was good using cut bait, shrimp, dough bait and liver for catfish. Fishing was slow-to-fair using top water lures, tubes, spinner baits, jigs and jerk baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Striped bass fishing was slow.
ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
GILA RIVER: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 111cfs. Fishing on the Forks was slow for all species.
GLENWOOD POND: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was slow-to-fair using worms, power bait and salmon eggs for trout. We had no reports on other species.
PERCHA DAM: Fishing was fair using chicken liver and worms for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
QUEMADO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using wooly worms and Pistol Petes. A few fish were also taken on power bait. We had no reports on tiger musky.
RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 38cfs. Fishing below Caballo was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. We had no reports on other species.
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SOUTHEAST AREA
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BATAAN LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was good using salmon eggs under a bobber, power bait, spinners and bead head nymphs.
BOSQUE REDONDO: Fishing was slow-to-fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish. One largemouth bass was caught by an angler using worms. We had no reports on other species.
BOTTOMLESS LAKES: Fishing was slow. Stocking has been suspended.
BRANTLEY LAKE: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.
CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was fair using power bait, salmon eggs, wooly buggers and spinners.
JAL LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.
LAKE VAN: We had no reports from anglers this week.
PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 129cfs. Fishing for catfish was good using liver, night crawlers and stink bait. Four good size walleye were caught by anglers using night crawlers.
PERCH LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.
RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow near Hollywood on Monday was 24cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.
SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair trolling crank baits and spinner/worm rigs in the main channel for walleye. A few smallmouth bass were taken by anglers working the east side and using tubes, worms, brush hogs and crank baits. We had no reports on other species.
SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was fair using crank baits, minnows, bottom bouncer/worm rigs and grubs for a mix of walleye and white bass. A few smallmouth and largemouth bass were taken by anglers using spinner baits, tubes and crank baits. Fishing was fair using liver and night crawlers for catfish.
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National Hunting and Fishing Day Comes to North Carolina
September 16, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. – For the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, National Hunting and Fishing Day on Saturday, Sept. 27, is as much about involvement as it is a celebration.
All four of the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s education centers will host and participate in National Hunting and Fishing Day events:
John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville will hold a wildlife expo for youth. For more information, call Kris Smith at (910) 868-5003.
Centennial Campus Center for Wildlife Education in Raleigh will also hold a wildlife expo. For more information, call Beth Gunn at (919) 707-0205.
Outer Banks Center for Wildlife Education in Corolla will be a part of a Ducks Unlimited Greenwings youth event at Mackay Island Wildlife Refuge. For more information, call Sharon Meade at (252) 453-0221 ext. 8.
Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education near Brevard will hold a fly-fishing seminar, demonstrations and falconry exhibit. For more information, call Emilie Johnson at (828) 877-4423
But National Hunting and Fishing Day is just a one-day example of year-round efforts by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, which offers free hunter education courses, Becoming an Outdoor-Woman workshops, youth hunts, disabled sportsmen and mobility impaired opportunities, and a fishing tackle loaner program.
“National Hunting and Fishing Day is an appropriate way to honor the countless men and women who continually contribute their time and resources to conservation efforts nationwide,” said Walter “Deet” James, the Hunting Heritage Biologist for the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. “It is also an exceptional chance for those who do not currently hunt or fish to envision what they might be missing – hunting and fishing are excellent opportunities for getting close to nature, family, and friends in the outdoors.”
National Hunting and Fishing Day, formalized by Congress in 1971, was created to celebrate the conservation achievements of hunters and anglers that benefit all who appreciate wildlife and the outdoors.
For more information on N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission wildlife and fishing education centers, hunter education programs and what it takes to become a North Carolina sportsman, go to click here. For more information on National Hunting and Fishing Day, visit www.nhfday.org.
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Georgia Governor Perdue Signs Proclamation for 37th Annual National Hunting &Fishing Day
September 15, 2008
In celebration of the passion for the outdoors that you share with 64 million other Americans, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division encourages you to get out and participate in one of the many activities that will be held in honor of the 2008 National Hunting and Fishing day. Governor Sonny Perdue recently signed a proclamation in honor of the conservation efforts led by America’s hunters and anglers, recognizing Saturday, Sept. 27 as NHF day in Georgia, noting the plans underway for a statewide celebration.
Events that will be offered in Georgia include SEVEN Outdoor Adventure Days (activities will differ at each event – but some highlights include birdhouse building, archery and air rifle shooting, trout fishing, hunting dog demonstrations, exhibits and more), kids’