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BFHOF Report
Conservation project grants will again be offered by the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
Since 2020, the Hall has provided more than $50,000 in grants to fund conservation efforts focused on enhancing fish habitat, tournament fish care, better public access, cleaner water, and similar projects that promote stewardship.
“We are also encouraging youth-oriented conservation projects that benefit local fisheries,” said Gene Gilliland who chairs the BHFOF’s Conservation Committee. “Projects we will support with these grants must have the endorsement of local fishery management agencies and be the right type of investment that coincides with the Hall’s mission.”
Past BFHOF conservation grants recipient efforts have included habitat enhancement work on lakes within Tennessee’s Bill Dance Fishing Trail, at Lake Belton in Texas, and also in Goose Lake at the Mazonia-Braidwood State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois. Grant funds have also assisted in building a ‘mobile fish care trailer’ used at high school tournaments in Alabama. Additional grants over the years have been used for projects in Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, and Virginia.
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Boat U.S. Report
Boat Ramps
It’s a question that’s been asked a million times: “Is everyone paying their fair share?” When it comes to those who recreate on the water together non-motorized and motorized vessel operators who mutually benefit from the use of launch ramps, boating safety programs, conservation efforts and more, a recently released U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) study says that answer remains unclear.
Discussions on the equitability of contributions to the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, a user-pay/user-benefit grant program administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, began from a mandate included in the Trust Fund’s 2021 Reauthorization from Congress.
Trust Fund revenue comes directly from import duties or excise taxes vessel operators pay on sportfishing equipment such as tackle boxes and fishing rods, but the single largest bucket of funding (49%) for the Trust Fund come from a special tax that only motorboat operators pay on fuel.
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BASS Report
Applications are being accepted until April 15 for the 2023 Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries. The two scholarships will honor female graduate students with a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in fishery management and conservation. The women selected will best reflect Noreen’s passion and commitment to the profession and to the sport of fishing.
This will be the seventh year that the American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee and B.A.S.S. have awarded the scholarships. In 2022 the honors went to Iowa State University student Madeline Lewis of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Noel Schmitz, of Sparta, Wis., who is studying at The Ohio State University.
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AFTCO Report
AFTCO Pro Mark Zona
AFTCO's Pro Team is expanding in 2023 with the addition of one of the most dynamic media personalities in the fishing industry, Mark Zona.
The co-host of Bassmaster and host of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show is a household name in the fishing and outdoors industry. Widely renowned and revered for his cunningly unscripted, unpredictable, and hilarious color commentary, Zona (aka “Z”) will join an already impressive lineup of anglers and outdoor personalities representing the AFTCO brand on and off the water. “I couldn’t be happier to partner with a company that has supported our industry for decades,” says Zona.
Known for being highly passionate, highly unpredictable, and highly entertaining, Zona will be outfitted with AFTCO’s wide range of technical fishing apparel including their ICAST award-winning outerwear, fleece, sun protection, and lifestyle gear throughout the 2023 season of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show and on the set of the Bassmaster Elite Series.
When asked about his decision to partner with AFTCO, Zona states, “I fish in extreme conditions throughout the country from the bitter cold to the brutal heat and thankfully AFTCO apparel has EVERY situation covered – their gear is 100% made for fishermen.”
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ICAST Report
The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) wrapped up this week and announced the best new products for 2023, as chosen by the media.
The ICAST Trade Show draws manufacturers from around the world and is where many of next year’s new fishing tackle products are displayed to tackle buyers.
Here’s a breakdown of the winners of each category:
Best of Show - Soft and Hard Coolers
Product: P88-MK Combo | PacBak
Best of Category — Boating Accessories
Product: Frabill ReCharge, Deluxe Aerator | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Best of Category — Boats and Watercraft
Product: BOTE Rackham Gatorshall + APEX Pedal Drive | BOTE
Best of Category — Footwear
Product: AFTCO Ankle Deck Boot | AFTCO
Best of Category — Ice Fishing
Product: Garmin LiveScope Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI | Garmin USA