Recreation

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Written by: Editor

Published: 13 January 2013

OROVILLE, Calif. – FLW College Fishing is headed to Lake Oroville Jan. 19 for the first of four stops in the Western Conference.

Fifty college teams will be competing for a top award of $2,000 and a berth in the Western Conference Invitational tournament.
 
“This tournament will probably be won on some sort of umbrella rig,” said Mercury pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif., who has six career top-10 finishes on California fisheries in FLW competition. “The one I like and use is the Picasso School E Rig. Rig it with 3½-inch Yamamoto Swimbaits, and concentrate on the points and rocky bluffs. That will play a huge role there.
 
“If they weren’t biting on the umbrella rig, my backup pattern would be a standard drop-shot rig,” Ehrler continued. “I prefer to use a ¼-ounce sinker rigged with a No. #2 Gamakatsu Drop/Split Shot hook and a 4½-inch Roboworm. Pick your poison, any color should work.”
 
Ehrler said the winter has been fairly cool and California has seen a pretty decent amount of rain, pushing water levels up a few feet. When water levels raise a couple of feet on eastern fisheries it can have a drastic effect on the fish. Not so on Lake Oroville, says Ehrler.
 
“In those deep clear lakes like Oroville and Shasta, there really isn’t any cover in the water,” he said. “When the water comes up it doesn’t mean that there is more cover; it just means that there is more water. They’re essentially going to be in the same spots.
 
“I’d tell the college anglers to just fish the main body of the lake; don’t run up any of the creek arms,” Ehrler went on to say. “Fish the main-lake points. Find areas that have a good, steep drop on it – pretty much anywhere in the main lake. If you throw the School E Rig or a drop-shot, you’re going to be in great shape.”
 
Ehrler predicts that the winning college team will bring 10 to 12 pounds to the scales.
 
Anglers will take off from Spillway Launch located off of the Oro Dam Blvd. on Canyon Road in Oroville, Calif., at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. Weigh-in will be held at the park beginning at 1:30 p.m. Takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.
 
Schools competing in the Lake Oroville tournament, which is hosted by The City of Oroville, include:
 
Arizona State University – Austen Schmalz, San Carlos, Calif., and Jordan Schuler, Peoria, Ariz.
Arizona State University – Cody Corley, Chandler, Ariz., and Evan Anderson, Brooksfield, Ariz.
California Polytechnic State University – Kyle Greenlaw, Magalia, Calif., and John Zeolla, Oak Park, Calif.
California State University – Alex Pisarki, Costa Mesa, Calif., and Alfredo Gutierrez, Inglewood, Calif.
California State University-Chico – Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., and Brandon Walker, Carlsbad, Calif.
California State University-Chico – Nick Carrico, Oroville, Calif., and James Rodgers, Willows, Calif.
California State University-Chico – Koulton Westbrook and Kevin Chen, both of Vacaville, Calif.
California State University-Chico – Bo Harkins and Michael Braswell, both of Walnut Creek, Calif.
California State University-Fresno – Cory Kerber, Kerman, Calif., and Jeremy Pitts, Visalia, Calif.
California State University-Fresno – Dustin Franco, Hollister, Calif., and Joseph Piedimonte, Salinas, Calif.
California State University-Fresno – Kong Moua and Cynthia Vang, both of Fresno, Calif.
California State University-Fresno – Shai Van Gelder, Palo Alto, Calif., and Corey Harris, Fresno, Calif.
California State University-Fresno – Thomas Duval, Santa Cruz, Calif., and Moses Menchaca, Clovis, Calif.
California State University-Long Beach – Justin Gangel, Valley Center, Calif., and Alex Cox, Long Beach, Calif.
California State University-Monterey Bay – Andrew Sjostrom, Mariposa, Calif., and Joshua Smith, Clovis, Calif.
California State University-Monterey Bay – Arik Anastasiou, Discovery Bay, Calif., and Victoria Johnson, Marina, Calif.
California State University-Monterey Bay – Matthew Diaz and Sebastian Resendiz, both of Castroville, Calif.
California State University-Sacramento – Chase King, Lodi, Calif., and Seth Trujillo, Sacramento, Calif.
California State University-Sacramento – Jeremy Wallimann, Oakdale, Calif., and Christopher Wells, Twain Harte, Calif.
California State University-Sacramento – Joe Perna, Sacramento, Calif., and Jeff Taluban, Salinas, Calif.
California State University-Sacramento – Thomas Kanemoto, Elk Grove, Calif., and Kyle Derbish, San Bernardino, Calif.
Colorado State University – Alex Stuart and Austin Young, both of Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Colorado State University – Chris Sabina, Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Zachary Zasada, Greeley, Colo.
Dixie State College of Utah – Mathew Baker, Ogden, Utah and Nordel Erickson, St. George, Utah
Eastern Washington University – Cy Floyd, Wenatchee, Wash., and Mackenzi Brunner, Cheney, Wash.
Eastern Washington University – Tyler Wasiilewski, Cheney, Wash., and Jarid Gabbert, Spokane Valley, Wash.
Eastern Washington University – Nick Barr, Lacey, Wash., and Jarred Walker, Moses Lake, Wash.
Humboldt State University – Alex Robbins, Novato, Calif., and Jeffrey Russell, Eureka, Calif.
Humboldt State University – Andrew Chang, Rossmoor, Calif., and Erich Coulter, Castro Valley, Calif.
Humboldt State University – Derrick Hicks, Sacramento, Calif., and Christine Heckler, Folsom, Calif.
Humboldt State University – Joe Won, Cerritos, Calif., and Christopher Childers, McKinleyville, Calif.
Oregon State University – Ryan Lampi, Warrenton, Ore., and Scherf Montgomery, Fremont, Ohio
Oregon State University – Zach MacDonald, Willits, Calif., and Ryan Sparks, Haines, Alaska
San Jose State University – Andrew Sumi, San Francisco, Calif., and Jake Newby, San Jose, Calif.
San Jose State University – Anthony Lee, San Jose, Calif., and Travis Bounds, Roseville, Calif.
San Jose State University – Cody Wilson, Newark, Calif., and Adam McAndrews, Santa Clara, Calif.
Sonoma State University – Brendan Castro, Lafayette, Calif., and Brandon Fischer, Rohnert Park, Calif.
Sonoma State University – Adrien Briens and Ernest Gorham, both of Carlsbad, Calif.
University of California-Santa Cruz – Tyler Brownell, San Diego, Calif., and Jason Coslovich, San Jose, Calif.
University of California-Santa Cruz – Greg Christie, Paradise, Calif., and Jacob Sandler, Fairfax, Calif.
University of Colorado-Colorado Springs – Justin Solverson and Petei Decker, both of Colorado Springs, Colo.
University of Nevada-Reno – Brandon Cramer and Anthony Milano, both of Petaluma, Calif.
University of Oregon – Kaitlin Tanner, Missoula, Mont., and Eric Lee, Mather, Ore.
University of Oregon – Kyle Schneider, Beaverton, Ore., and David Wilson, Sacramento, Calif.
University of Oregon – Mitchell Cole, Jefferson, Ore., and Zachary Niesen, Mill Valley, Calif.
University of the Pacific – Ryan Tsuda, Gilroy, Calif., and Sean Widger, Tracy, Calif.
Utah Valley University – Aaron Warner, Orem, Utah, and Cathleen Martinez, Spanish Fork, Utah
Utah Valley University – Seth Hausman, Sandy, Utah, and Weston Brierly, Eagle Mountain, Utah
Utah Valley University – Tate Brown, Heber, Utah, and Zachari Taylor, Hansen, Idaho
 
FLW College Fishing teams compete in four qualifying events in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western.

The top 15 teams from each regular-season tournament will qualify for one of five conference invitational tournaments.

The top 10 teams from each conference invitational tournament will advance to the 2014 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
 
College Fishing is free to enter and FLW provides boats and drivers for each competing team along with travel allowances.

All participants must be registered, full-time undergraduate students at a four-year college or university and members of a fishing club recognized by their college or university.
 
For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow College Fishing on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/FLWFishing . Visit www.CollegeFishing.com to sign up or to start a club at your school.

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 12 January 2013

Helping to protect California’s natural resources is now just a few mouse clicks away.  

This week the Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) launched the online sales of the 2013 Warden Stamp and the award-winning publication Outdoor California.

The Warden Stamp Program was initiated in 2010 to address the need for better equipment and training for the state’s wildlife officers and to provide funding for special law enforcement programs. There are fewer than 400 wildlife officers (formerly called wardens) to patrol and protect 159,000 square miles of California's natural habitat.

“From catching poachers to stopping polluters, wildlife officers put their lives on the line every day to protect California’s natural resources,” said Chief Mike Carion of CDFW’s law enforcement division. “Due to funding levels, our enforcement staff often lack the necessary equipment to get the job done safely and efficiently.”

For $5, individuals can purchase the newly designed 2013 Warden Stamp. All funds raised from the sales of the stamp go to purchase essential law enforcement equipment for wildlife officers and to support CDFW’s K-9 program.

For more than 60 years, Outdoor California has celebrated the state’s natural habitat and wildlife with compelling features and stunning photography.

The bimonthly magazine offers behind-the-scenes access to the fascinating work of department environmental scientists and chronicles cases brought by CDFW wildlife officers in the Thin Green Line feature. Annual subscriptions for the magazine are just $15.

CDFW adds the Warden Stamp and Outdoor California to its catalogue of products and services available through its Automated License Data System (ALDS). The department introduced ALDS two years ago to simplify the purchasing needs for the state’s hunters and anglers.

The online capabilities have made it easier for thousands of sports enthusiasts who have Internet capabilities to purchase the state-required licenses, tags and stamps without traveling to a CDFW office or agent.

To purchase the Warden Stamp or Outdoor California, please visit  www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing/ols/ .

This year's stamp was sponsored by the California Game Wardens Foundation and the Sportsfishing Conservancy, which is also selling the Warden Stamp online at http://sportfishingconservancy.org/ .

Details

Written by: Carrie Wilson

Published: 12 January 2013

Question: Is it legal to catch lobster with a noose? I want to make a sort of noose of PVC pipe and an elastic band (from the sling of a sling spear). This would not at all harm the lobster if caught in the noose. (Anonymous)

Answer: No, this is not legal. The only approved methods for sport take of lobster are by hand or with hoop nets (California Code Regulations Title 14, section 29.80).

Capturing largemouth bass for aquarium

Question: One of my friends has a large aquarium and is interested in putting some largemouth bass in it. I would like to know what the regulations are for catching a largemouth bass in a local lake and then transporting it live to his tank. It would never be released into a different body of water, and it would be taken legally. (Azure C.)

Answer: Transporting fish alive from the water where they are taken is prohibited (California Code of Regulations, section 1.63). Laws allowing certain species of live fish to be maintained alive in closed-systems do not authorize possession in home aquariums. Your friend can legally buy bass for his or her aquarium from a licensed aquaculturalist, as long as he or she does not release it into the wild.

Selling an old mounted bear head

Question: I live in Washington State and need some help with a question that pertains to California rules. I have a friend who lives in California that wants my old mounted bear head for his cabin. It is about 60 years old, been in the family for years and passed around from one member to the other.

I tried reading the rules on the Internet about taxidermy things and got confused. I don't want to get in trouble if I send it to him, and I don't want him to get in trouble for having it. It's not for resell, just for his personal use. Would we be breaking any laws if I send it to him? (Sue N.)

Answer: It is legal under California law for you to give the bear mount to your friend, and for your friend to possess it for personal use. However, sale within California is prohibited.

According to retired California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Capt. Phil Nelms, you will need to check with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to make sure it is legal under their laws. Please provide your friend with as many details as possible regarding the description of the mount, your name and contact information, your friend's name/contact info, etc.

A declaration of entry form for any wildlife entering the state is required (Fish and Game Code, section 2353). This form is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement/docs/declaration_form.pdf . It would be best for your friend to come pick it up or for you to take it to him. If you ship the item from Washington to California, the packaging must contain the following information as required by federal laws pertaining to wildlife movement from state to state.

Title 50 Code of Federal Regulations, § 14.82 Alternatives and exceptions to the marking requirement.

(a) The requirements of §14.81 (requires all the information on the outside of the shipping container) may be met by complying with one of the following alternatives to the marking requirement:

(1)(i) Conspicuously marking the outside of each container or package containing fish or wildlife with the word “fish” or “wildlife” as appropriate for its contents, or with the common name of its contents by species, and

(ii) Including an invoice, packing list, bill of lading, or similar document to accompany the shipment which accurately states the name and address of the shipper and consignee, states the total number of packages or containers in the shipment, and for each species in the shipment specifies:

(A) The common name that identifies the species (examples include: Chinook (or king) salmon; bluefin tuna; and whitetail deer) and whether or not the listed species is venomous; and

(B) The number of that species (or other appropriate measure of quantity such as gross or net weight).

The invoice, packing list, bill of lading, or equivalent document must be securely attached to the outside of one container or package in the shipment or otherwise physically accompany the shipment in a manner which makes it readily accessible for inspection.

The complete Code of Federal Regulations Title 50 is available online at www.dfg.ca.gov/enforcement .

Carrie Wilson is a marine biologist with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While she cannot personally answer everyone’s questions, she will select a few to answer each week. Please contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .