For the first time this century, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has stocked largemouth bass in Saguaro and Apache lakes.

But that's not all - at the end of October, biologists and volunteers stocked smallmouth bass in Apache and Canyon lakes.

Volunteers and biologists are building Pisces pyramids (artificial habitats) along the exposed lake bottom at Canyon Lake while the lake level was lowered for routine maintenance on the dam. In fact, more volunteers are needed.

It's all part of a two-year, $2 million effort by the Game and Fish Department to boost the fisheries at Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes that were severely impacted by golden alga blooms the last several years.

It's time again for Arizona's bald eagles to begin their breeding activities, and outdoor recreationists are asked to help protect important breeding areas by honoring the closure of 21 areas across the state. Various land and wildlife management agencies close the breeding areas for part of the year, beginning in December, to protect the state's 48 breeding pairs of bald eagles. Some of the closure areas are located near popular recreation sites.

"Even though the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list earlier this year, they still require the public's help to reproduce successfully and flourish in the state," says Kenneth Jacobson, head of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Bald Eagle Management Program. "Human activity near active bald eagle nests can cause a breeding pair to leave its eggs uncovered, leading to a failed breeding attempt. It can take only 30 minutes for a breeding attempt to fail."

Spring Time Bassin'
by Charles Stuart
June is here and my fingers are itching to get bass fishing! Due to local DEC regulations, we are not permitted to fish for bass on Long Island for a few more weeks, so I will discuss the techniques I use for upstate New York and Connecticut. Despite a short, mild winter, the bass will begin their annual movement towards the shoreline in preparation for feeding and bedding. Males will bite more readily close to the shoreline, however the larger females will hold back, usually at the first or second drop-off. This annual ritual is probably the best time to catch that lunker fish you have dreamed about. Let us first look at clear water conditions. Keep your distance from your target area, reduce shoreline or boat noise to a minimum. Fish only small baits that will make as little surface movement as possible. This is the perfect time to fish light lines with a six foot spinning rod and reel combo. Pale green and pumpkinseed colors will produce well at this time of the year. As you know, I like to use dipping dye and so a small section of the tail dipped in chartreuse will certainly get a lot of attention. Jig and pork combinations are a natural presentation and will draw detectable bites from the larger fish. The best color is without doubt

Spring Baits and How to use them
by Jim Reaneau
I wrote this article several years ago and thought it would be a good time to redo it. The spring is and exciting time of the year. Whether you are a beginner or expert you will be able to catch fish from the bank or a boat. The shallows will be alive with all species of fish. Most all fish start spawning at the same time. Crappie, bass, perch, and many others.

First I will start with the most popular the spinner bait. This bait is the easiest to fish as you throw it out and reel it back. This sounds easy, but sometimes this is all you have to do. This bait doesn t hang up as much as other baits. As long as you keep it

Split Shots

We've all had those days on the water-nothing seems to be working. Your tackle box looks like the Tasmanian devil just went through it. If it were possible, you would tie the kitchen sink on the end of your line. It's time to go to the basics, something simple. I can't think of anything more basic then a spilt shot and a plain hook. This combination has worked for me
during the hardest of times while walleye fishing. It has saved many days on the water from becoming total failures. The beautiful part of this rig is how it can be fished. You can anchor with them, troll them, and cast them.

So You Want To Be A Musky Hunter
By David Christian

The sport of muskie fishing is taking the world by storm. With the evolution of the Professional Musky Tournament Trail and a total of 33 states now stocking muskellunge in their waters, more and more people are becoming involved in this extreme freshwater sportfishing adventure. Catching the elusive musky is a treat in itself and capturing one of trophy proportions can be related to taking a whitetail buck or trophy gobbler.
One of the questions I am asked by my clients is, "how can I get started musky fishing?" The best way for a beginner is to hire a guide and spend the day casting your heart out. If you still feel the urge to become involved with this sport after you feel the aching back and sore muscles then it is time to get your own equipment together. Musky fishing can be a very rewarding sport but it is one that takes a lot of work and determination. Countless hours on the water throwing heavy baits with no action deter a large number of anglers from ever becoming involved, but the sight of the "freshwater

So You Want To Be A Fisherman
By Stan Moore

We all have visions of what it takes to be an adventurer and outdoorsman. Well, bare with me, as I tell you how you may someday catch all the trout you want and brave the outdoor life without getting into trouble as those Hollywood chaps would have you believe. First of all this is not a comedy and it is not a farce. This story is a compilation of my thirty eight years of fishing experience. I have been an outdoorsman all my life, except for the last five, which I regret, because I love to fish, hunt, and camp in the wild places of America.

It all starts on an uneventful day in the winter months. I have these fantasies of a great granddaddy of a Rainbow as it grabs my bait on the other end of a line which is floating

Peconic River Stripers & Blues
By: Capt. Ray Kelly

Very few anglers know of the fantastic fishing in Riverhead, New York. The Peconic River is home to excellent fishing. Riverhead is undergoing major changes. One of the largest shopping malls, The Tanger Outlet Mall, is located in Riverhead. Riverhead town has refurbished the waterfront area. The town marina has dockage for large and small boats with electric, water and cable. There are picnic tables. It is really a great place to fish from the dock especially for children.

In August, snappers start to bite and any child or adult can catch them right from the

Our Alaskan Fishing Adventure
By Danny Pierce

Click Here for a profile of Cody Pierce

We saw a sweepstakes on television which was being offered by, well known television fishing personality, Babe Winkelman. Chevrolet Trailblazer and Rayovac Batteries were the sponsors for the sweepstakes. There were 2 grand prizes up for grabs and you could choose the one you wanted to enter. One was a 2 Week African Safari, hunting with Babe. The second was a five day saltwater Alaskan fishing trip, fishing with Babe, at Waterfall Resort just outside of Ketchican, Alaska. The second part of the fishing adventure was that the trip would be filmed and shown on Babe's television show. We talked it over and decided a gazillion people would enter the sweepstakes. We knew if we weren't in it we could not win it so we optioned to enter the sweepstakes despite the odds.

Ahoy There One And All!

By: Captain Smitty of the RIPTIDE

The Salmon season opened today for those of us who can fish below Pigeon Point! What a glorious morning it was for everyone! The anticipation was running high on the docks early in the morning with everyone expecting great weather. The talk was of last year's opener and how there was such great fishing and such crummy weather. There was much talk about the "wind sailor" Jelly fish (Velella velella) that float on the surface of the water. All of the old salts remember the great years ('97 and '95) when they were around and how they always foretell of a good season ahead. Even though I have been