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Recreation
- Details
- Written by: BoatUS Foundation
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Next week, March 18 to 24, is a great time to take a boating safety course.
Why? It’s perfect timing just before the start of the boating and fishing season and the week-long “Spring Aboard” public service campaign makes it easy for boaters to take a boating safety course.
The educational effort is a partnership of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), government, and nonprofit partners including the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water.
The BoatUS Foundation offers a no-cost NASBLA and state-approved online boating safety course for 36 states at www.BoatUS.org/Free.
The course fits into busy schedules, allowing boaters to stop, and then start again where they left off any time of day or night, and is loaded with interactive animations, videos and photos to give boaters an education that goes well beyond the basics of boating.
Upon successful passage course takers can easily print their state’s proof of completion.
More than 1.4 million boaters have taken the foundation’s courses since 1997.
US Coast Guard statistics indicate that of the accidents where the level of operator education was known, 80 percent of boating deaths occurred on boats where the boat operator had never received boating education instruction.
- Details
- Written by: Editor
The two-hour walk will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Visitor Center parking lot and will be a slow walk along Cole Creek, Kelsey Creek and Kelsey Creek Slough.
The walk will cover about one mile of paved road and established trails.
Gear will be pointing out wildlife, flora, fauna and native uses of plants along the trail.
Participants should wear sturdy shoes and bring binoculars and water.
Rain will cancel the walk.
Clear Lake State Park is located at 5300 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville.
Entry into the park is free for those participating in the walk.
Anyone having special needs should contact the Clear Lake State Park Kiosk seven days a week between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. For more information call 707-279-4293.
- Details
- Written by: Rick Pyorre
FORT BRAGG, Calif. – On Saturday, March 10, Terrace Middle School Vikings sent seven wrestlers – five boys and two girls – to compete in the weekend’s Fort Bragg Middle School Wrestling Tournament.
All seven competing wrestlers brought home medals.
The Vikings finished with five gold medals, two silvers and one bronze.
In the boys’ varsity division, Hayden Fowler (110 lbs.) went 4-0 with two pins to win a gold medal.
Nathan Pyorre (80 lbs.) was 2-0 to win his gold medal and then also went 1-1 wrestling up at 88 pounds to win a silver medal.
Elijah Alvarez (124 lbs.) went 1-1 with one pin to win his silver medal.
In the girls’ varsity division, Ashley Pyorre (103 lbs.) and Kiley Bartell (145 lbs.) each went 2-0 with two pins to win gold medals.
In the boys’ junior varsity division, Anthony Gersailia (152 lbs.) was 3-0 with two pins to win his gold medal and Asher Reese (103 lbs.) went 1-2 with one pin to win a bronze medal.
Rick Pyorre is a coach for the Terrace Middle School Vikings wrestling team.
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
Bag limit vs. possession limit?
Question: Can you please clarify the difference between a bag limit and a possession limit? Is the possession limit always double the bag limit? (Anonymous)
Answer: California Fish and Game Code, section 18 describes "bag limit" as the maximum limit, in number or amount, of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles or amphibians that may lawfully be taken by any one person during a specified period of time.
FGC, section 19 defines "possession limit" as the maximum, in number or amount, of birds, mammals, fish, reptiles or amphibians that may be lawfully possessed by one person.
To answer your second question, no, the possession limit is not always double the bag limit. The possession limit and bag limit are frequently different so you must pay attention to what the regulations are for the fish, game or other species you are attempting to take to ensure you don't take more than what is authorized by either the bag limit or possession limit.
As an example, during the waterfowl season (which just ended), the daily bag limit is seven ducks. The possession limit for ducks is triple the daily bag limit so a hunter can legally possess 21 ducks.
Can I bowfish when it's not archery season?
Question: My understanding is that archery equipment is not allowed for use on Type A wildlife areas for the take of upland or waterfowl hunting during the regular seasons.
However, if I use a bow with fishing attachments such as a line attached to the arrow and reel, am I allowed to use this equipment to "fish" during the off seasons when fishing is allowed on the areas? (Ray)
Answer: For purposes of the wildlife areas managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, fishing is defined in California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 550(b)(11) to include "using bow and arrow fishing tackle as defined in section 1.23." Section 1.23, titled Bow and Arrow Fishing Tackle, states "such tackle must have the arrow shaft or the point, or both, attached by a line to the bow or to a fishing reel (includes crossbow)." Section 550(h) states that "Fishing on Department land shall be allowed except as otherwise stated in subsections 551(o) [relates to possession of a concealed firearm], 551(y) [relates to property-specific fishing regulations], and 630(e) [relates to fishing restrictions and additional regulations on ecological reserves] of these regulations, or when the area is closed according to these regulations or posted by the Department with signs that prohibit entry or fishing."
Inland spearfishing?
Question: I know most of the regulations for spearfishing in salt water. But I am from Sacramento, and the ocean is a bit of a drive. I am wondering if I can spear fish in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers.
If I can, then what time of the year and for what species of fish? I'd also like to know what other bodies of freshwater are open for spearfishing in northern California. (Mike)
Answer: Mike, thank you for your question regarding spearfishing in freshwater. Spearfishing is slowly becoming more popular in inland waters.
California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 2.30 authorizes spearfishing in several locations, but the regulations are crafted to avoid authorization of spearfishing in any salmon spawning area. Looking at a map of the different fishing districts in California on page 2 of the California Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations book may help.
Spearfishing is allowed only in:
(a) The Colorado River District for carp, tilapia, goldfish and mullet, all year.
(b) The Valley District and Black Butte Lake (Tehama County) for carp, tilapia, goldfish, striped bass, western sucker, Sacramento blackfish, hardhead, Sacramento pikeminnow and lamprey, from May 1 through Sept. 15, except that no spearfishing is allowed in:
(1) Shasta County (see section 2.12).
(2) Tehama County except Black Butte Lake.
(3) Butte Creek (Butte County).
(4) Feather River below Oroville Dam (Butte County).
(5) Designated salmon spawning areas (See FGC, section 1505).
(c) The Kern River from the Kern-Tulare county line upstream to the Johnsondale Bridge for carp, goldfish, western sucker, hardhead and Sacramento pikeminnow, from May 1 through Sept. 15.
(d) See bullfrogs (section 5.05).
Spearfishing for bullfrogs is another expanding fishing activity, especially in areas where managers are attempting to reduce their populations.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, please email