• Angler Reels in State Record Fish on Barbie Doll Rod and Reel

• Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for August 22, 2008

• Get set for Cabela�s Great Outdoor Days

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Angler Reels in State Record Fish on Barbie Doll Rod and Reel

RALEIGH, N.C. � That�s David Hayes� story and he�s sticking with it.  The Wilkes County angler used his granddaughter�s Barbie Doll rod-and-reel combo � all 2 � feet of it � to reel in a new state record channel catfish that measured 2� longer than the fishing pole.

Hayes landed the record-breaking fish, which weighed 21

pounds, 1 ounce, on Aug. 5 from a private pond in Wilkes

County while fishing with his granddaughter Alyssa, 3. According to Hayes, the unusual fishing experience began in the early evening with a trip to the garden for bait.  After collecting several black crickets, he and Alyssa went down to the pond behind the house to fish for bluegill, an activity the pair have enjoyed together since Alyssa was barely big enough to hold a fishing rod.

USCG proposes boat passenger weight changes

The US Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations governing the stability of passenger vessels and the maximum number of passengers that may safely be permitted on board a vessel.  The average American weighs significantly more than the average weight assumed in the current regulations, and the maximum number of persons permitted on a vessel is determined by several factors, including an assumed average weight for each passenger. 

Under this proposal, the assumed average weight of a 

passengerwould be raised from 160 lbs to 185 lbs.  

The Coast Guard is alsotaking this opportunity to clarify 

and update intact stability and subdivision and damage 

stability regulations.

Comments on this proposal should be submitted by November 18.  73 Fed. Reg. 49243, (August 20, 2008)

To view Federal Register document: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-18791.pdf

For more info and process for submitting or viewing comments:  

http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-18791.htm 

You may submit comments identified by Coast Guard docket 

# USCG-2007-0030 to the Docket Management Facility at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation. To avoid duplication, 

use only one of the following methods:

 (1) Online: http://www.regulations.gov.

 (2) Mail: Docket Management Facility (M-30), U.S. Department 

of Transportation, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.  

Phone:  202-366-9329.

 (3) Fax: 202-493-2251.

 (4) To ensure that comments are received on time, the preferred

 method is by e-mail: [email protected] or fax at 

202-395-6566. The subject line should include the docket 

# (USCG-2007-0030) and say ATTN: Desk Officer, 

U.S. Coast Guard, DHS. 

To view comments, as well as documents available in the docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov at any time. Enter the docket number for this rulemaking (USCG-2007-0030) in the Search box and click ``Go >>.''

NMMA opposes Coast Guard HIN proposal       

The Coast Guard is again considering the costs and benefits associated with a proposal to expand Hull Identification Numbers (HINs) by adding five characters. Four of the five additional characters would indicate length, hull material, principal means of propulsion, and vessel type, while the fifth would be a check digit.

The National Marine Manufacturers Association strongly opposes the Coast Guard proposal and submitted a position paper Aug. 15 outlining its concerns. They include:

� Excessive costs for boat-builders and the marine industry as a

whole � including marine bankers, dealers and distributors � with no direct  improvement of boating safety.

� Inconsistency in format with key trading partners, particularly the European Union.

� Data sought through HIN expansion is already available through other collection systems.

For more info, contact Cindy Squires at (202) 737-9776 or [email protected] .  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sportsmen say they prefer to elect a President who hunts or fishes

McCain preferred candidate among sportsmen, as well as the preferred sporting partner

WASHINGTON, D.C. (NSSF) -- Sportsmen have a solid history of voting, with 9 in 10 currently registered to vote and of those 83 % say they will  vote in the November election, according to a new survey by the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. Overall, there are an estimated 40 million sportsmen of voting age in the United States.

"Sportsmen are active voters and prefer candidates who align with them on hunting and fishing issues," said Jeff Crane, president of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation. "The attention presidential candidates give to sportsmen's issues is well-aimed."

Among sportsmen, Republican John McCain holds a significant lead over White House opponent Barack Obama, with a 14-point margin according to the survey. Asked who they planned to vote for in November, 45 % said McCain and 31 % said Obama.   Support for McCain among sportsmen extends from the voting booth to the field, the survey found.

Asked who they'd like to go hunting with, 49 % said McCain and 27 % said Obama. As a fishing buddy, 44 % said they'd prefer McCain and 31 % chose Obama.

"Sportsmen view John McCain as good company in the great outdoors," said Steve Sanetti, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which helped underwrite the survey. "They're just not sure how much fun Barack Obama would be in a duck blind."

By a 2 to 1 margin sportsman said McCain would be a better president on sportsmen's issues than Obama.

"Politically engaged sportsmen see John McCain as a supporter of their concerns," Sanetti said. "To sportsmen, I would say, don't be fooled.  Make it a point to know where the candidates you're considering for office truly stand on hunting and firearms issues."

A majority of sportsmen polled said that it is important for a candidate to share their views on hunting and fishing issues, although the survey indicated the economy, homeland security and the war in Iraq are the top concerns for all Americans this election season.

When it comes to sportsmen-related issues, sportsmen are most likely to say that it's essential that a candidate support ensuring gun rights, clean water initiatives, and sustainable energy development.

"With an estimated $76 billion economic impact on the economy annually and direct support of 1.6 million jobs, the next president will need to pay attention to issues that impact hunting and fishing," said Crane. "Sportsmen need to ask candidates where they stand on our outdoor issues and take this into account when they vote on November 4th."

Other key findings of the survey include:

►A significant portion of sportsmen say this November's election is more important than past elections regarding their ability to hunt and fish.

►On the specific topic of gun rights, sportsmen say firearm issues are more important now than in past elections. Three-quarters (74%) say they would prefer to elect a president who personally owns firearms.

►The telephone survey of 1,009 sportsmen was conducted July 10-24 by Braun Research on behalf of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation and Ketchum Global Research. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 %.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan group headquartered in Washington, D.C. A leader in promoting sportsmen's issues with elected officials, CSF works with the bi-partisan Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus in the U.S. Congress, as well as sportsmen's caucuses in state legislators around the country. The CSF does not endorse political candidates.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, based in Newtown, Conn., works to increase participation in and understanding of hunting and the  shooting sports; to reaffirm and strengthen their members' commitment to the safe and responsible use of their products, and to promote a  political climate supportive of America's traditional firearms rights.

The survey was also supported by National Association of Sporting Goods Wholesalers, Outdoor Channel, American Sportfishing Association and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. For more info: www.sportsmenslink.org.

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for August 22, 2008

Weather Conditions

The Great Lakes region was unusually dry over the past week.   In fact, many areas within the Great Lakes basin have experienced negligible precipitation in August.  For example, in Detroit, only 1/7^th of an inch has fallen as of Thursday, August 21^st.  Above average temperatures are expected throughout the region on Friday and Saturday.  The eastern portion of the basin is expected to experience some thunderstorms on Friday. Temperatures will drop over the entire region on Sunday and Monday, and precipitation may fall in the western half of the region on Sunday.

 Lake Level Conditions

All of the Great Lakes are above their levels of a year ago.  Lakes Superior and Ontario are 16 inches above their levels of a year ago, while the remaining Great Lakes range from 2 to 9 inches above last year's levels.  All of the Great Lakes are predicted to fall during the next month. Lakes Superior and Michigan-Huron are projected to drop 1 to 2 inches during that time, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are forecasted to fall 5 to 8 inches during the next month.  All of the Great Lakes, with the exception of Lake Erie, are expected to remain above their water levels of a year ago over the next few months.  Lake Erie is projected to be around last year's level starting next month.

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions

In July, outflow through the St. Mary's River was slightly below average, and outflows through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers were also below average. The Niagara River's outflow was slightly above average, while outflow from the St. Lawrence River was also above average.

Alerts

Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.  

Get set for Cabela�s Great Outdoor Days

Sidney, Neb. � Celebrate the start of hunting season and get ready for fall during Cabela�s Great Outdoor Days, starting August 21. The company�s biggest show of the year, Fall Great Outdoor Days offers seminars, sweepstakes, giveaways and great deals on great products - all under the big, green roof at Cabela�s.

Pro staff and representatives from top manufacturers will be on hand at Cabela�s Fall Great Outdoor Days to answer questions and give advice to improve your odds of success during the upcoming hunting season. Learn the newest tips and tactics through hands-on demonstrations and try before you buy on select items, including the newest bows, optics and other items.

Bring in a buck or bull and secure bragging rights as officials

from Boone & Crockett and/or Pope and Young will score

trophies on site. Check the store schedule for details and schedules.

Register for Cabela�s Sportsman�s Dream Package sweepstakes, with a $150,000 Grand Prize including a Ranger 1850 RS with Evinrude 150 outboard, 2009 F-Series Super Duty Cabela�s Edition truck and Mountain King Cabin. Other prizes include Kawasaki Teryx 4x4 RUV and $5,000 Cabela�s shopping spree.

Cabela�s largest sale of the year, with great prices on hunting, fishing and outdoor gear. Fall Great Outdoor Days runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 7 at all Cabela�s retail stores. To view event information and seminar schedules for the store nearest you, visit www.cabelas.com  and click on the Fall Great Outdoor Day banner.

Opening day for hunters Sept 1

COLUMBUS, OH - September 1 marks the opening day of the fall hunting season, with Ohio hunters taking to forests, fields and waters in pursuit of some of the state's most popular game, including squirrel, mourning dove and Canada goose.

The Ohio DNR predicts hunting for doves and Canada geese will be excellent this year. Squirrel hunting should be good. Hunters should still see good numbers of gray squirrels. They should be most abundant in the forested hills of eastern and southern Ohio. The outlook for fox squirrels is expected to be above average, with small woodlots adjacent to crop fields and trees near rivers and streams the best locales.

Rail, moorhen and snipe seasons also open on September 

1.  Teal season opens on September 6 and runs through September 21.

Hunting is one of the state's best recreational bargains, with a one-year license for Ohio residents costing just $19. Those hunting waterfowl must also purchase a federal Duck Stamp, along with an Ohio Wetlands Habitat Stamp, at a cost of $15 each. Federal Duck Stamps are available at many post offices. Ohio licenses and permits can be purchased from license vendors in the state, or online at wildohio.com.

Detailed information on these and other upcoming hunting seasons can be found in the 2008-09 Ohio Hunting Regulations, available where  hunting licenses are sold, online at wildohio.com or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

2008-09 Waterfowl Hunting Season Dates Set

Open houses will be held Sept 13, noon to 3:00 pm in all 5 wildlife district offices

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters will again enjoy a 60-day duck hunting season and a six-duck bag limit this year. The 2008-2009 waterfowl hunting season dates have been approved by the Ohio Wildlife Council and are the most liberal regulations allowed by the USFWS, according to the Ohio DNR.

The waterfowl hunting seasons are set to open Oct 18 in both Ohio's north and south zones. Hunters 15 years old and younger will have the opportunity to enjoy a special statewide season Oct 4-5. The North Zone duck-hunting season is Oct 18 -Dec 7, with a second season open Dec 20 - Dec 28.  In the South Zone, duck season is Oct 18 - Nov 2, with a second season Dec 6 - Jan 18, 2009. 

The daily bag limit for ducks is six, which may not include more than four mallards (no more than one may be female), one black duck, one pintail, three wood ducks, two redheads, and three mottled ducks. Due to continuing low breeding populations of lesser scaup, the USFWS has offered a mixed scaup bag limit with 40 days of a one-bird limit and 20 days of a two-bird limit. 

As a result, Ohio hunters can take one scaup ( North Zone from October 18 - November 17 and December 20 - December 28; South Zone from  October 18 - November 2 and December 26 - January 18), or two scaup (North Zone from November 18 - December 7; South Zone from  December 6 - December 25). Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit. Hunting season for canvasbacks will be closed. 

The daily bag limit for mergansers is five, of which only two may be hooded. The daily bag limit for coots is 15. Possession limits after the first day are twice the daily bag limit.

In the Lake Erie Canada Goose Zone, the goose season is Oct 18 - Nov 30 with a second season Dec 3 - Dec 28.  The goose season for the remainder of the North Zone is Oct 18 - Nov 30, with a second season Dec 17 - Jan 11, 2009. In the South Zone, goose season is Oct 18 - Nov 5 with a second season Dec 6 - Jan 25, 2009.

The daily bag limit for Canada geese is two.  Light geese (snows, blues, Ross') have a daily bag limit of 10, and white-fronted geese and brant have a daily bag limit of two.  The possession limit for brant and geese is twice the daily bag limit after the first day. The Late Canada Goose Season will not be offered this year.    

People planning to hunt waterfowl are required to answer several questions for the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey when purchasing their hunting licenses.  A state wetland habitat stamp endorsement and a valid and signed federal duck stamp are required when hunting waterfowl, in addition to an Ohio hunting license.  The 2008-2009 hunting licenses and wetland stamps are on sale now and remain valid through February 28, 2009.

Copies of this season's waterfowl hunting regulations, which include maps of the zones (Publication 295, Waterfowl Hunting Regulations), will  be available in mid-September to hunters at all license vendors, online at wildohio.com and at Division of Wildlife district offices in Akron,  Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia, or by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE.

Open houses will be held on Saturday, September 13 from noon to 3:00 pm in each of the state's five wildlife district offices to provide the public an opportunity to view and discuss proposed fish and wildlife regulations with state wildlife officials. Directions to the open houses can be obtained by calling 1-800-WILDLIFE or visiting wildohio.com on the Internet.

Topics are proposed rule changes, and include:

*The prohibition of possessing or propagating wild boar

*Establishing a minimum fence height for captive white-tailed deer

*Requiring mandatory tissue testing of captive deer 12 months of age or older that die or are killed on a permit holder's premise

*Giving the ODNR Division of Wildlife authority to enforce the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact agreement. States participating in the agreement share information about fish and game violators and honor each other's decision to deny licenses and permits. For example, if an Ohioan is convicted of a wildlife violation in a participating compact state, the individual's right to hunt and fish also can be suspended or revoked back home, providing a similar action would have resulted had the violation occurred here in Ohio.

*Fishing regulations regarding blue catfish bag limits, stream smallmouth bass length limits, and striped bass regulations.

A statewide hearing on all the proposed rules will be held at 9 a.m., Thursday, September 25 at the Division of Wildlife's District One Office, 1500 Dublin Rd in Columbus.

Game Commission presents testimony on License fee increase

CAMBRIDGE SPRINGS -- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe delivered testimony before a  Senate Game and Fisheries Committee in support of Senate Bill 1527, sponsored by state Sen. Charles T. McIlhinney Jr. (R-Bucks), who chairs  the Senate committee.

Under Sen. McIlhinney's bill, the following increases and decreases would be made to the present license fee structure, which was last changed in 1999:

- Resident hunting license would increase from $20 to $26, July 1, 2009; to $31 July 1, 2012; and to $36 July 1, 2015;

- Resident antlerless deer license would increase from $6 to $13 July 1, 2009; and to $16 July 1, 2015;

- Resident migratory game bird license would increase from $3 to $6 July 1, 2009;

- Nonresident adult hunting license would increase from $101 to $151 July 1, 2009;

- Nonresident junior hunting license would decrease from $41 down to $6 July 1, 2009; and

- Nonresident junior combination hunting license would decrease from $51 down to $9 July 1, 2009.

Additionally, Senate Bill 1527 proposes to reduce the number of consecutive days of service Pennsylvania National Guard and Reservist members would have to serve from 180 days to 60 days in order to qualify for reduced license fees.

"Toward the end of the 19th century, a group of conservation-minded sportsmen approached the General Assembly with a novel idea: create an independent agency to restore and protect the Commonwealth's wildlife," Roe said in his prepared testimony. "From this idea came the Pennsylvania Game Commission which for more than 110 years has managed, protected and conserved the Commonwealth's wild birds and mammals, while promoting this state's rich hunting and trapping heritage.

"When the Commission was first established it received a few hundred dollars from the general fund to finance its operations. This soon proved to be inadequate and the Commission and sportsmen organizations again came together and petitioned the legislature to create a hunting and trapping license and to designate that revenue from the sale of those licenses would help fund the Game Commission. This was by no means a non-controversial topic, in fact, in 1913 one of the first Commissioners wrote to the governor of the Commonwealth, and pleaded, 'Give us a resident hunter's license law and I will die happy.'

"While I do not intend to resort to similar pledges, we are essentially asking for the same thing that our predecessors asked for 95 years ago- adequate funding for the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Game Commission seeks public comment on Draft Woodcock Plan

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking public input for the next 30 days on a draft woodcock management plan, which can be reviewed on the agency's website www.pgc.state.pa.us  by clicking on "Draft Woodcock Management Plan" in the center of the homepage.

Developed by Bill Palmer, Game Commission biologist, the woodcock management plan provides a comprehensive and current summary of woodcock taxonomy, biology, population trends, habitat relationships and trends, hunter harvest, economic significance, partnerships and population restoration approaches in Pennsylvania.

The draft plan has a goal of returning woodcock populations to densities that provide improved hunting and viewing opportunities, and outlines two objectives and 20 strategies to achieve the goal.

The first objective focuses on monitoring woodcock populations statewide and on demonstration areas, as well as population demographics, hunter numbers and harvests, and determining woodcock hunter preferences, knowledge

and satisfaction.

The second objective is the heart of the plan, and calls for the creation of nearly 800,000 acres of early successional forest habitat on private and public lands.

"This will be a significant challenge," Palmer said.  "It will involve monitoring early successional forest trends, identifying and protecting  important breeding and migration habitats, establishing habitat demonstration areas and holding workshops to educate landowners,  developing partnerships with private and public landowners and conservation groups, creating habitat, identifying landowner preferences, and  securing the funding to accomplish the habitat work."

Public comments on the agency's woodcock management plan will be accepted until Sept. 19, via the website or by mail to: Woodcock Management Plan, Pennsylvania Game Commission, 2001 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.

The upcoming woodcock hunting season in Pennsylvania will open Oct. 18, and continue through Nov. 15.  The daily limit is three, and the possession limit is six.

Online video shows $15.9 million renovation to Wild Rose Fish Hatchery

WILD ROSE - Anglers and local residents on Aug. 18 joined Gov. Jim Doyle and Wisconsin DNR Secretary Matt Frank in celebrating the grand opening of new trout and salmon facilities at century-old Wild Rose State Fish Hatchery.

Video clips from the event, along with more information about the three-phase project to bring this workhorse of the state's fish stocking program into the 21st century is available here: Wild Rose Hatchery Renovation Video

VIDEO Length 5:45]