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BIRMINGHAM AREA WAL-MARTS HOST FLW TOUR PRO NIGHT

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 11:56:18 -0400

BIRMINGHAM AREA WAL-MARTS HOST FLW TOUR PRO NIGHT

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — Fishing fans will have the opportunity to meet some of the most accomplished anglers in the world of competitive bass fishing at three Wal-Mart stores in the Birmingham area Saturday, March 29, from 6-8 p.m.

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Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:58:59 -0400

Recreational Fishing Under Attack

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 16:36:42 -0500

Recreational and Sport Fishing Enthusiasts -- voices are needed to help stop the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) from implementing the Red Snapper Interim Rule.

Orange Beach, AL (PRWEB) November 12, 2006 -- Recreational and Sport Fishing Enthusiasts -- voices are needed to help stop the National Marine Fishery Service (NMFS) from implementing the Red Snapper Interim Rule.

In order to counter the thousands of signatures from environmental groups requesting the NMFS to drop the Red Snapper Total Allowable Catch (TAC) to 5.8 million pounds, the Orange Beach Fishing Association (OBFA) has created an online petition. This petition supports the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's decision to delay, by four months, any further action on Red Snapper, and supports the voluntary buyout of a portion of the commercial quota which would then be transferred to the recreational sector. It is not a question of if Red Snapper should be protected, but how they should be protected. The new rules create an undue burden on recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts.

Among other things, the NMFS interim rule proposes:

•    Setting the Red Snapper TAC at 5.8 million pounds, proportionately reducing the commercial and recreational quotas
•    Reducing the recreational bag limit to 2 fish
•    Setting the for-hire captain and crew bag limit at zero
•    Reducing commercial minimum size limit to 13 inches

This Interim Rule is being pushed by environmentalist groups based on flawed data. Recreational and sport fishing enthusiasts nationwide must speak up and let the NMFS know this is not acceptable to the recreational fishing sector! Your signature on this petition will have an impact!

Please visit www.OrangeBeach.ws/OBFA_Info.html for additional information and a link to the OBFA's online petition. Please don't delay, as time is running out for your support of this positive action.

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Press Contact: Ken Cooper
Company Name: The Orange Beach Community Website
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 251-981-4455
Website: http://www.OrangeBeach.ws

Alabama Fishing License Buyers to be Surveyed

Thu, 09 Nov 2006 15:07:18 -0500

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Auburn University's Department of Agricultural Economics are asking Alabama fishing license buyers for their cooperation. During November, Auburn University will conduct a mail survey to better understand the State's recreational fishing public.

Randomly selected fishing license buyers will be asked questions such as which type of fishing they do, where and how often they fish throughout the year, and what other activities they do while fishing. Additionally, the cost and value of fishing to anglers will also be explored. According to the 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, anglers spent $723 million on fishing trips and equipment in Alabama during 2001.

Summary information from the survey will be shared with the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division, with results used to improve the overall experiences of anglers. The surveyed information from anglers will be kept confidential and used only for research purposes.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Parks, State Lands, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR and Alabama's state public fishing lakes, visit www.OutdoorAlabama.com.

New Outdoors Column to be Available on Web and for Print

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 12:21:45 -0500

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announces that David Rainer, longtime outdoors editor of the Mobile Press Register, has joined ADCNR as an outdoor writer. Rainer will pen a weekly column on a variety of topics. The new column, Outdoor Alabama Online, will cover a gamut of outdoors activities such as viewing bald eagles at Lake Guntersville, hunting white-tailed deer during the breeding season, catching bull redfish along Alabama's scenic coast and other timely conservation issues. Outdoor Alabama Online premiers the week of November 13 at www.outdooralabama.com.

In addition to posting the Outdoor Alabama Online column weekly on the ADCNR Web site, it is also being made available to media outlets for publication. We encourage you to run it as a weekly column. It can be downloaded from the Web site or can be provided electronically through e-mail.

Fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and other nature-based recreation produce a $4.3 billion annual economic impact in Alabama. Therefore, we believe the wildlife conservation column will add a new dimension to your news and information coverage that will be popular with a broad array of readers.

If you are interested in picking up the Outdoor Alabama Online column for publication, please contact the ADCNR Information & Education Section at 334-242-3151.

Scott Wins $1 Million Stren Series Championship On Wheeler Lake

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 13:25:26 -0500

Decatur, Alabama - With 11 top-10 finishes dating back to 1995, Ricky D. Scott is no stranger to FLW Outdoors competition. Most of his success, however, has come in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League for weekend anglers. Most, that is, until Saturday. That's when the Van Buren, Ark., angler netted a $125,000 victory in the Stren Series Championship on Wheeler Lake and earned a berth into the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Ark., Aug 2-5, 2007, where he will fish for the sport's first $1 million award.

Scott qualified for the Stren Series Championship as the Central Division's No. 15 seed and proceeded to catch five bass weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces Wednesday to finish the opening day of competition in fourth place. He focused his opening-day efforts around barge pilings, where runoff from the day's rain was pouring soybean dust into the lake. His bait of choice was a homemade 3/8-ounce spinnerbait with white blades and a white skirt.

After a cold front swept through the region Wednesday night, bringing bluebird skies and brisk winds to Wheeler Lake, Scott's runoff dried up, so he targeted wood cover in less than a foot of water below Flint Creek on Thursday. He stuck with his spinnerbait, though, and the spot paid off with five bass weighing 8-14 to boost his opening-round total to 23-3 - good enough to advance to the final round of 10 pros as the No. 3 seed.

On Friday, Scott arrived at his fishing hole only to find his wood cover high and dry. Overnight the lake dropped almost 2 feet, so Scott was forced to change locations once again. This time he found an area of stained water adjacent to a shallow mud flat and proceeded to catch the third heaviest limit of the tournament on his trusty homemade spinnerbait. The 16-pound, 2-ounce catch gave him what turned out to be an insurmountable 6-pound, 2-ounce lead heading into the final day of competition.

His four bass, 7-pound, 6-ounce catch Saturday - caught once again on the same homemade spinnerbait, plus one fish on a Lucky Craft Pointer - pushed his final-round total to 23-8 and sealed his victory by a comfortable 4-pound, 4-ounce margin over A&W pro JT Kenney of Daytona Beach, Fla. Kenney finished the final round with 10 bass weighing 19-4 to win $55,000.

"It was tough today," Scott said. "I didn't catch my first keeper until 11:30, and I covered a lot of water. I hit all my spots that produced yesterday and couldn't get anything. I didn't know how it was going to turn out. I've been doing this for a long time, and days like today make it all worthwhile."

Rounding out the top five pros were Kellogg's pro Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa. (10 bass, 18-1, $38,500); Ott Defoe of Knoxville, Tenn. (10 bass, 15-14, $31,000); and Thanh Le of Las Vegas, Nev. (10 bass, 15-8, $24,000).

Kenney (Northeast Division) and Defoe (Southeast Division) joined Scott (Central Division), Jason Borofka of Salina, Calif., (Western Division), and veteran pro Stacey King of Reeds Spring, Mo., (Midwest Division) as the first five pro qualifiers for the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup.

Monte Knight of Quitman, Miss., took top honors and $62,500 in the Co-angler Division Friday with three bass weighing 5-3. He caught two of his bass on a Bill Norman Fat Boy crankbait in chartreuse and black and one bass on a drop-shot rigged Zoom finesse worm in grasshopper color while fishing with veteran pro Stacy King of Reeds Spring, Mo.

"I knew it was going to be tough when I just had two fish," said Knight, who won a Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament in the Mississippi Division earlier this season. "That's why I tied on a drop shot and with 15 minutes left, I caught my last fish."

Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Alan Hench of Lititz, Pa. (three bass, 4-12, $5,500); Thomas Rizzo of Rochester, Pa. (four bass, 4-11, $4,500); Kerry Barnett of Waldron, Ark. (two bass, 2-11, $6,000); and Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss. (two bass, 2-3, $5,500).

Co-angler Bill Gift of Alix, Ark., earned the Evinrude and Stren Co-angler of the Year award as the highest finishing points champion this week. Representing the Central Division, Gift finished in 16th place and received a Ranger 520VX powered by Evinrude as Co-angler of the Year.

Overall, 40 bass weighing 76 pounds, 9 ounces were caught by the 10 pro finalists Saturday. There were five five-bass limits caught and more than 99 percent of the bass were released alive.

Scott earned an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VX equipped with Lowrance electronics, a Minn Kota trolling motor and EverStart batteries plus $50,000 cash. He also received a $25,000 bonus from Ranger Boats and a $10,000 Ranger Cup bonus for a total award of $125,000.

Coverage of the Stren Series Championship will be broadcast to 81 million FSN (Fox Sports Net) subscribers in the United States as part of the "FLW Outdoors" television program airing Dec. 3. "FLW Outdoors" airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time. "FLW Outdoors" is also broadcast internationally to approximately 350 million households in Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary, the United Kingdom, among other others, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world. Additionally, FLW Outdoors is proud to provide tournament coverage to more than 800,000 servicemembers stationed around the world in 177 countries and aboard Navy ships through broadcasts on the American Forces Network.

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, Stratos Owners' Tournament Trail, 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 exceeding $37.9 million through 249 events in 2006.

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

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 Wal-Mart.com.

$1 Million Stren Series Championship Set To Kick Off On Wheeler Lake

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:43:17 -0400

Decatur, Alabama - The $6 million Stren Series is headed to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., November 1-4 for the $1 million Stren Series Championship, where the winning pro will take home as much as $140,000 in cash and prizes and the winning co-angler will earn as much as $70,000 in cash and prizes.

"A lot of what the fish do at Wheeler will depend on the current conditions," said National Guard pro Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., who qualified for the championship as the No. 15 seed in the Midwest Division. "Water levels and weather conditions are going to be two big factors. This time of year, fishing is usually pretty tough. A lot of fish will be caught, but they will likely be in the 12- to 14-inch range."

With stable weather and water levels, Newton predicts the bass will be in shallow-water grass beds in 4 to 8 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, crankbaits and soft plastics will be the choice baits, but they will be fished at a very slow pace.

"I think the key will be fishing a slow presentation," he said. "Pros will need to catch 10 to 12 pounds a day to have a shot at winning."

Anglers will take off from Ingalls Harbor at 7 each morning. Wednesday and Thursday's weigh-ins will also be held at Ingalls Harbor, which is located on Highway 20 W. in Decatur, beginning at 3 p.m. As part of the festivities, Lynn Layton Chevrolet, located at 2416 Highway 31 S. in Decatur, will host Chevy Pro Night on Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Friday and Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Ave. S.W. in Decatur beginning at 4 p.m. The community is invited to attend the Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 2 p.m. Friday and noon Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Admission to all activities is free.

Two hundred pros and 200 co-anglers (the top 40 based on points standings from each of the Stren Series' five divisions) will compete for two days on Wheeler Lake to determine the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers who will advance to the final round based on their two-day accumulated weight.

Weights are cleared for the final round and co-angler competition concludes on day three with the winner determined by the day's heaviest catch. Pro competition concludes on day four, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.

The winning pro will earn an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VX equipped with Lowrance electronics, a Minn Kota trolling motor and EverStart batteries plus $50,000 cash. If the winner is the original owner of a qualifying Ranger boat powered by an Evinrude or Yamaha outboard that is used during the tournament, he will also receive a $25,000 bonus from Ranger and an additional $25,000 Evinrude/Yamaha bonus for a total award of $140,000. The winning co-angler will receive a fully rigged Ranger 519VX plus $15,000 cash. If the winning co-angler meets Ranger and Evinrude or Yamaha contingency guidelines, he will also receive bonuses totaling $15,000 for a total award of $70,000.

The Stren Series Championship is being hosted by the Decatur/Morgan County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, visit Decaturcvb.org or call (800) 524-6181.

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

Madison County Lake Temporarily Closed

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:54:26 -0400

The Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) announces that Madison County Lake is temporarily closed due to the resignation of Lake Manager Carole Brewer. The lake will re-open in the near future under the management of Allen Smallwood of Gurley, Ala.

Madison County Lake is located 11 miles east of Huntsville and is popular with anglers for bass, bream, catfish and rainbow trout. Trout season at the lake begins the day after Thanksgiving each year, when the fish are stocked in a 1½-acre area of the lake. Trout are also stocked in December and January. WFF anticipates the trout season will proceed without interruption. For questions about the lake closing, call the Fisheries Section at 334-242-3471.

Accident Temporarily Closes Tennessee River To Boating

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 13:00:06 -0400

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources temporarily closed the Tennessee River to boating between mile 258 and 260, near Wilson Lock and Dam due to a barge accident. This portion of water will remain closed until the reopening of the safety zone established by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The section of water is closed to the operation of all vessels and watercraft, including commercial and recreational fishing vessels and watercraft, except for the following: law enforcement vessels or other official emergency vessels, and non-fishing commercial traffic in transit through the waters of the state.

Yamaha's Fish With A Champion Sweepstakes Won Today by Connie Lively, Linc, Ga.

Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:35:06 -0400

Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 5, 2006 — Connie Lively, a bass fishing fan from Linc, Ga. is the winner of the Fish With A Champion Sweepstakes sponsored by Yamaha Marine Group. Her winning entry was drawn today from among thousands at the close of the 2006 FLW Tour Championship in Birmingham.

Ms. Lively won her choice of two days fishing with Clausen, a Yamaha pro angler, in October 2006 on Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks or in November 2006 on Smith Lake in Alabama. Travel and hotel accommodations are included.

Media Contact:
Mike Walker
Walker Agency
mike@walkeragency.com

Map Helps Canoeists Plan Route in Mobile-Tensaw Delta

Tue, 25 Jul 2006 16:31:27 -0400

A new map of the Bartram Canoe Trail is now available to those planning a canoe trip in the Mobile-Tensaw Delta. The map, published by the State Lands Division of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, folds out to 24 x 35 inches. An overview of the trail system is on one side, while the other side contains detailed maps of 13 individual parts of the trail. Maps may be requested by telephone at 334-242-3484 or by sending an email to dcnr.media@dcnr.alabama.gov.

The Bartram Canoe Trail system provides opportunities for recreational boaters, specifically canoeists and kayakers, to enjoy the rivers, streams, lakes sloughs and bayous of the Delta. The area has more than 50 rare and endangered plant and animal species that inhabit its wetlands and waterways. Designated routes wind through the Delta along a series of interconnected waterways that stretches for 200 miles. The new map is a useful planning tool for those who want to explore the nation's second largest river delta. A description for each portion of the trail along with distances, beginning and ending places and recommended water levels is included on the map. Additionally, Global Positioning System coordinates are listed for put-in/take-out points and camping sites and platforms.

National Guard Junior World Champion To Be Crowned

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:52:31 -0400

Sixty-two anglers ages 11 to 18 to compete in National Guard Junior World Championship

Gadsden, Alabama - Since the National Guard partnered with FLW Outdoors and TBF (The Bass Federation) earlier this year, it has stepped up in support of the youth and conservation at every opportunity, and that commitment to the next generation of anglers will be more visible than ever during the 2006 National Guard Junior World Championship held in conjunction with the upcoming Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship in Birmingham, Ala., Aug. 2-5.

"Since its inception in 1636, the National Guard has been about building strong communities," said Sgt 1st Class Frank O'Laughlin of the National Guard Bureau. "In order to build strong communities you need the help of organizations that build strong individuals. The TBF does this by teaching character and values. It is an honor to partner with them, as we share a similar and parallel vision. One of the most paramount things for us to do in every community we serve is to make a lasting, positive impression - to make a difference - and we are doing that alongside FLW Outdoors and the TBF."

$500,000 on the line in Birmingham during $1.5 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship

Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:51:14 -0400

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (July 19, 2006) - They've driven thousands of miles, spent weeks studying lake maps and water conditions, and made countless casts in preparation for this moment. Now 48 of the world's top professional anglers are headed to Birmingham where they will square off in head-to-head competition on Login Martin Lake Aug. 2-5 for a shot at winning $500,000 in their sport's crowning event - the $1.5 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship and Outdoor Show .

Anglers from 28 states and Japan qualified for the championship after competing in six qualifying events stretching from Lake Okeechobee in Florida to Lake Champlain in New York. These qualifiers are seeded according to their Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year rankings and No. 1 will compete against No. 48, No. 2 against No. 47, No. 3 against No. 46, etc. This bracket-style competition has produced some exciting matches that will likely lead to some nail-biting finishes as Arkansas legends Larry Nixon (No. 8) and George Cochran (No 41) face off in the opening round alongside Gain Rookie of the Year Gabe Bolivar (No. 7) and veteran Gary Yamamoto (No. 42) among others. The complete championship field and head-to-head pairings are posted at FLWOutdoors.com.