SPRING 2019 I FLWFISHING.COM
Largemouth bass – and really most
species of bass – are among the most
sought-after game fish in North America,
but not every part of the continent, nor
every state in the U.S., has native popu-
lations of bass. In Alaska, for instance,
bass are very much an invasive species
that can threaten the native populations
of other fish such as trout, salmon and
Arctic char.
While the appeal of having bass in
Alaskan waters is fairly obvious, they
aren’t meant to live there, and their inclu-
sion in the foreign habitat could have dev-
astating effects on the ecosystem. That
was never really a problem until Sept. 3,
2018, when an angler landed a largemouth
bass in the waters of Sand Lake near
Anchorage.
Biologists have been on the hunt for
additional specimens to determine whether
more bass have been introduced into
Sand Lake and if they could be reproduc-
ing. It’s unclear how the fish was intro-
duced into Alaskan waters, but the Alaska
Department of Fish and Game is asking
any angler that catches a largemouth bass
to not release the fish back into the water.
The agency is promoting the effort with
posters showing a bass and the headline
“WANTED! DEAD.”
Fishing License Sales
On the Decline In
Minnesota
2018 marked the worst year for fishing
license sales in Minnesota since 2013, and
the decline is somewhat troubling for those
who are intent on seeing the sport grow.
According to the Minnesota DNR, the state
sold just 805,242 fishing licenses through the
weekend after July 4, which was down about
41,000 from that same period in 2017.
Interestingly – and possibly corre-
spondingly – fishing license prices
increased in Minnesota in 2018 for the first
time since 2013, from $22 to $25 for a res-
ident license. Whether the reduction in
license sales is a result of the price
increase or some other factor related to
angling participation is unclear, but it’s an
issue many states are keen on examining.
The FLW Tour season opener on Sam
Rayburn Reservoir was a big-fish bonan-
za. Terry Bolton secured his first-ever Tour
victory with a 91-pound, 3-ounce four-day
total, including a massive 33-9 stringer on
day three. The top four finishers all tallied
totals of 80-plus-pounds.
All told, pros weighed in 4,375 pounds,
12 ounces of fish, to say nothing of the
thousands of smaller fish thrown back.
That’s equivalent to the weight of two fully
equipped Ranger Z521L bass boats with
an angler aboard each.
Big Sam Beatdown
One Man’s Treasure Is
Another Man’s
Invasive Species
Modern Fish Act Gives
Boost to Recreational
Saltwater Fishing
Industry
On Dec. 31, 2018, the Modern Fish Act
made its way through the final stages of
legislation and was signed into law by
President Donald Trump, giving a boost to
recreational saltwater fishing in the U.S.
According to the American Sportfishing
Association, the Modern Fish Act makes
important distinctions between recreational
and commercial fishery use and will give
federal managers the resources they need
to “improve access and promote conserva-
tion,” which will in turn promote better fish-
ing for recreational saltwater anglers.
The bill was first introduced in April
2017 and took more than a year and a half
to become law.
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