Not much to say about the FLW Championship except that Greg Hackney won.  And the fishing was about what everyone expected.  Some love the challenge that these waters offered and others found it very frustrating to fish for 12 inchers. 

Here’s what Jay Yelas who fishing the Classic had to say…

You have to approach Pittsburgh the same way you do other tournaments. You’re either going to have to pick an area or find a pattern that you can use while covering a lot of water. However, your expectations are going to have to be reduced as well. If I remember correctly, during the 2005 Bassmaster Classic, Kevin VanDam won the three-day tournament with 12 pounds, 15 ounces – so it’s going to be tough. As far as tackle, plastics are going to be huge. There are also going to be some fish caught on small crankbaits and jerkbaits. Basically, you’re going to be fishing for 12- to 13-inch fish the entire time. Again, if I remember correctly, I think the biggest fish caught during the 2005 Classic weighed in at 2 pounds, 15 ounces. And that’s why you can’t be wasting a lot of your time fishing big jigs trying to find 4-pounders because those large fish really don’t live around there.

Clark Wendlandt isn’t much more optimistic…

It’s going to be tough. If you look at the ’05 Classic, it only took about 12 pounds to win (over three days). I think the biggest fish caught during that event was just under 3 pounds, so you really have to approach this tournament in an entirely different way. It might fish a little bit better than the Classic, but it’s still not going to be easy. In this tournament you’re really going to have to focus on catching keeper fish. You’re going to have to adjust your mindset, because unlike most of the other tournaments we fish where you try to catch big fish, here you’re going to have to concentrate on just catching a limit. And that’s what I’m going to be focusing on – just trying to catch a limit every day. If you’re able to do that, I think you’ll make the cut. But like other events, it’s also going to come down to making the right decisions at the right time.

So a repeat of the 2005 Classic might give an even longer lasting impression that PA doesn’t have quality fisheries.  While at some level this is good as it keeps people off our waters, but for the many people who make their living with small businesses for fishermen near PA’s waters this is an impression that simply isn’t good.

I fished Lake Gaston about 20 years ago.  The lake had some big bass in it.  I have a friend that ranks Gaston as one of his favorite lakes in the US.  Should be a fun tournament for these guys. 

In an interview yesterday, Martone said he supports broad inclusion of the crossbow during Pennsylvania hunting seasons

Martone’s “yes” vote for crossbows would result in a 4-4 tie among board members, who narrowly voted last week, with Martone’s seat vacant, to give preliminary approval to regulatory changes that would restrict use of the sporting arm. That vote was not binding for the September archery deer season, when crossbows are still permitted.

So, the PGC will have another special meeting on the topic October 5 and 6.  If the vote is tied, rules state that no action will be taken and the measure to restrict crossbow usage will not be enacted and full inclusion as is currently in the regulations will remain.

Fish and Boat Board, Executive Director Agree to Leadership Transition Plan

Harrisburg, PA - The Board of Commissioners of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) and Executive Director Douglas Austen announced today that they have mutually agreed to a transition in leadership of the organization.

“Both the board of commissioners and Dr. Austen intend to make this transition happen in a seamless manner such that the activities of the agency will not suffer nor will our efforts to protect, conserve, and enhance the resources be in any way reduced,” said immediate past-president Len Lichvar. “Philosophical differences between a board and its chief executive officer frequently happen and this in no way reflects any performance issues on the part of Dr. Austen, as some newspapers have reported.” 

Austen agreed that such a transition can happen in an orderly manner.

“I respect the board’s authority to find a new executive director when there are differences in philosophy and will assist in any way possible to ensure that the work of the commission proceeds without delay,” he stated. 

Over the next several months the commission will initiate the process of hiring a new executive director.

“The Fish and Boat Commission has made great progress on many fronts under Dr. Austen’s leadership,” said Commission Vice President Bill Worobec. “The focus on habitat restoration, hiring new biologists to work on our great rivers, rebuilding our hatcheries, establishing an exceptional access program, and wonderful partnerships with other agencies and conservation organizations, all have been beneficial.” 

Over approximately the next six months, Austen will continue to fulfill the role of executive director but will primarily focus his efforts of three key federal initiatives - the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act; reauthorization of the Sportfish and Boating Restoration Act (also known as the Dingell-Johnson/Wallop-Breaux Act) which provides about 20-25% of the agency’s funding; and climate change legislation that will provide the states with funds to implement on-the-ground conservation actions to enable aquatic resources to be more resilient to the effects of climate change. 

Deputy Director Brian Barner will continue to assist the executive director in day-to-day operations.

Dr. Austen joined the PFBC in January 2004 and came from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  During his tenure with the PFBC he has served as President of the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, as leader of the workgroup that wrote the National Fish Habitat Action Plan and now as vice-chair of the National Fish Habitat Board. He co-chaired the Governor’s Task Force on Outdoor Connections. Dr. Austen has been a frequent speaker at events by conservation organizations throughout Pennsylvania, has published numerous articles in scientific journals, co-authored two book chapters on fisheries management, and co-authored a National Research Council report on management of riparian lands. Earlier this year, he hosted eight open house events and conservation leadership breakfasts throughout the Commonwealth to inform and engage the public in commission activities.

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities. For more information about fishing and boating in Pennsylvania, please visit our website at www.fishandboat.com.

Pymatuning is seeing a lot of early activity

Compare the deer harvest by the annual numbers

• 2008-09 - 336,000
• 2007-08 - 324,000
• 2006-07 - 362,000
• 2005-06 - 354,000
• 2004-05 - 409,000

It is doesn’t take a statistician to see the downward trend.  I am not convinced yet that our increase is not simply due to the terrible weather that hampered the first day in 2007-08. 

The second piece of good news is one that I am more excited about.  Hunting license sales were up by about 5,000 from last year (656,474 compared to 651,589).  Again, this number does not prove that the downward trend of hunting license sales is over but it is a positive sign.  In my past writings about the issue, I have always acknowledged that there is a base number of hunters in Pennsylvania that will always hunt.  I would be very happy and encouraged if we have found that base at its current level.

But there is some bad news mixed in these numbers.  Junior and non-resident hunting license sales were both down.  I am very concerned about the junior numbers.  The drop in junior license sales is an indicator that the potential base of 650,000 hunters is on shaky ground.

Only time will tell on both of these issues, but I am choosing to look at the glass as half full (at least for the moment).