Recreation

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 20 October 2007

LOWER LAKE – Redbud Audubon will host a very special meeting in addition to its regular monthly chapter meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23.

Jessica Griffiths, wildlife biologist for the Ventana Wildlife Society on the Big Sur Coast, will discuss

“The Wondrous Recovery of the California Condors” from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brick Hall, 16374 Main St., Lower Lake.

In 1987 the last wild California Condor was taken into captivity to join 26 others in a captive breeding program to save these rare and magnificent birds.

Five years later, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service began to release young condors back into the wild. This captive breeding and release program has achieved soaring success. Today, the world population of California Condors exceeds 200 birds!

Ventana Wildlife Society, currently, the only nonprofit releasing condors in California, monitors a healthy condor population in Central California, with plans to establish a total of 150 condors in the wild.

Come learn from Ventana’s wildlife biologist the story of how these amazing endangered birds were saved and now serve as a powerful symbol of wild bird reintroduction.

All ages will enjoy this FREE program.

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Details

Written by: Lake County News Reports

Published: 17 October 2007

Sorry we missed a report last week. I was away fishing (Hat Creek) for part of the week and fell behind in such things … But I’m back this week and I’m bearing some good news.

We’ve had some good wet weather this last week and, while the lake level hasn’t risen, the catfish bite has turned on big time. Nearly every angler through the door has reports of a few (or more!) catfish being caught. The bass are biting in shallow water, and there are early signs of some crappie biting. Here are the details.

Let’s start with the whiskerfish this week. One bass angler came into the store to lodge a complaint. Apparently he had ordered bass minnows and we sold him catfish minnows. We had a good chuckle together and he picked up some more big healthy jumbo minnows and went back at it.

The lesson – jumbo minnows are catching some catfish. The recent rains have kicked this bite into gear. So now’s the time to get out and do some catfishin’. Mackerel, nightcrawlers, anchovies, shrimp, livers – you name it – should all prove effective this time of year. No particular location is standing out yet, so try your favorite spot.

The bass bite is very typical of this time of year. The folks lobbing jumbo minnows are catching plenty. Those fishing the artificials are working harder. The good news is that many of the typical two pound clone bass are being caught with a few nice 4-, 5- and 6-pounders in the mix. We are hearing more about fish from shallow water – not shallow flats, but shallow water adjacent to drop offs. Next to minnows, Speed Worms, drop shot rigs, and jerk baits reign as top lures and techniques this week.

There are some early grumblings about a crappie bite up at Kono Tayee. I haven’t had many reports on this, but for those just itchin’ to set the hook on some early crappie this might be a lead to chase down. Please drop by, call in (994-FISH), or email me (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) a report if you get into ‘em.

For the sport shooters among us, and there are many, the Pope Valley Fire Department and the Pope Valley Gun Club are hosting their annual Turkey Shoot and Breakfast fundraiser this Sunday, Oct. 21. Come out and join us in Pope Valley for a fine time shooting trap – there will be stations for beginner, intermediate and advanced shooters. The FD is having breakfast from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the fire house. Shooting begins at 8 a.m. and runs until sundown. Fun games and activities for kids of all ages and a super raffle are also on the agenda. Trap shells are available for purchase at the shoot. Tri-tip sandwiches, hot dogs, nachos and drinks will also available. Come on out and support this great cause and have a lot of fun doing it!

Bob Rider owns Lakeshore Bait & Tackle in Clearlake. Visit his Web site at www.994fish.com or call him at 994-FISH (3474).

{mos_sb_discuss:2}

Details

Written by: Editor

Published: 17 October 2007

BENTON, Ky. – The 2007 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year title in the BP Eastern Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Series came down to a battle between two seasoned veterans at the fourth and final qualifier of the season on Pickwick Lake last week. In the end, BP pro David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., edged out Chevy pro David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., by two points with a total of 688 out of a possible 800.

"Consistency is everything out here," said Walker, who has amassed more than half a million dollars in winnings and earned a record 33 top-10 finishes in his FLW Outdoors career. "It's just great to be able to do this against the caliber of anglers that fish the FLW Series. I'm proud to be a part of Team BP, and I couldn't do this without the support of my wife and daughter. They travel with me everywhere I go. It's great to have them along."

Walker started the 2007 FLW Series season off by finishing 62nd at Lake Okeechobee in January. At the Series' next stop, on Lake Dardanelle in May, he finished third. Walker then finished the season out with a 27th place effort on Lake Champlain in September and a 24th place showing at Pickwick Lake last week.

Fritts, who holds the FLW Tour record for wins with four, including three in a single season, almost took the title away from Walker by finishing 20th at Pickwick. Had he finished just three places higher, he would have won.

As the Eastern Division Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year, Walker will lead the division's top 30 pros into the FLW Series Fish-Off where they will face the top 30 pros from the National Guard Western Division in three days of head-to-head competition to determine who will advance to the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. Walker, the No. 1 BP Eastern Division pro, will face the No. 30 National Guard Western Division pro and the No. 1 Western Division pro will face Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo., the No. 30 Eastern Division pro. The No. 2 qualifiers will face the No. 29 qualifiers, etc. The winners of these head-to- head match-ups will proceed to the Forrest Wood Cup along with the top 30 co- anglers based on accumulated weight at the Fish-Off. The pro with the heaviest overall weight will also earn $25,000, and the co-angler with the heaviest overall weight will earn $5,000.

The Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year title in each division of the FLW Series is determined by the total accumulated points from four regular-season events. Two hundred points are awarded for a win, 199 for second, 198 for third, etc.

Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year honors and Fish-Off qualifiers in the National Guard Western Division will be determined following the division's final tournament Oct. 24-27 on Clear Lake in Kelseyville, Calif. The location of the Fish-Off, which will be held Feb. 7-9, 2008, will also be announced immediately following this event.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America's largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world's leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.

Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division Fish-Off Qualifiers

Place Name City, State Points

1 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 688

2 DAVID FRITTS LEXINGTON, NC 686

3 PAT FISHER BUCKHEAD, GA 659

4 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 659

5 JT KENNEY DAYTONA BEACH, FL 636

6 CLARK WENDLANDT LEANDER, TX 633

7 DAVID DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 632

8 DAVE LEFEBRE UNION CITY, PA 625

9 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 624

10 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 619

11 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 617

12 GREG BOHANNAN ROGERS, AR 616

13 KEITH MONSON BURGIN, KY 610

14 SCOTT MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 600

15 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 599

16 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 597

17 MATT HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 593

18 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 590

19 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 590

20 KYLE MABREY MCCALLA, AL 590

21 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 588

22 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 584

23 JOE THOMAS MILFORD, OH 582

24 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 576

25 DEREK REMITZ MADISON, AL 573

26 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 571

27 KEVIN BISHOP HILTON, NY 571

28 KIP CARTER LOGANVILLE, GA 570

29 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 568

30 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 568

{mos_sb_discuss:2}