Catch-and-release important to conserve fishing traditions

Now that the bass spawn in our area is just this side of being over, we need to think seriously of future fishing opportunities and practice catch-andrelease as often as possible if we hope to conserve fishing traditions.

It’s a benefit to the fisheries to be ethical anglers using catch-and-release techniques. In fact, it is often mandatory with certain size, season and bag limits, so it’s a good idea to check the regulations to know what is expected.

But the catch-and-release program only works when fish are “successfully” released back to the water, so whenever possible, use the following guidelines:

• Use a hook (barbless is suggested) made from metals that rust quickly and set the hook immediately so the fish doesn’t swallow it.

• Land the fish quickly — don’t fight it to exhaustion.

• Decide whether to keep or release the fish as soon as it is hooked.

• Minimize handling — a wet cotton glove or rag will help to hold the fish while protecting it’s mucous and scales. Support the fish by the midsection and tail — don’t handle the fish by the eyes or gills.

• Keep the fish in the water if possible, while gently removing the hook with needle-nosed pliers or cut the leader when the hook cannot be removed quickly or is lodged too deep,

• When releasing, if the fish does not swim away immediately, resuscitate it by moving it gently back and forth into the current until the gills are working normally. Even bluegill, too small to keep, have an excellent chance of growing bigger, if it’s successfully released after being caught.

Fishing clubs

• American Bass — Yuma Division: Latest news from Jeff Woods indicated the Bass tournament just held out of Fisher’s Landing was a huge success. Jeff reports, “With 21.20 lbs. John Turner & Jim Waits sack em again to win their third in a row!” “Some say it’s not how you start but rather how you finish. After struggling to find a big bite in the first three tourneys of this season, Turner & Waits have dominated the final three events with consecutive back-to-back-to-back wins, of which their most impressive victory coming in the ABA Yuma season’s final event. Topping the field of 15 boats with a massive bag of 5 largemouth bass weighing in at 21.20, they also made a serious run at grabbing the cumulative 8lb. big fish pot, with a beautiful 7.39 lb’r anchoring their impressive catch. The duo said their bite was an early morning of frog fish, grinding out the rest of the day flipping fish out of heavy cover at or near the mouths of a few select backwaters.

Unlike Turner & Waits, our second place finishers, the team of Craig Johnson & Brenton Lute, proved once again that consistency is the way to success in this game. Weighing in a solid bag of 17.75 lbs., they may have finished a bit back from our leaders, however not only did the circuits most consistent team get a nice pay day for their efforts, they also captured some critical points in the team of the year race. With their 3 consecutive wins, Turner & Waits put some real heat on our reigning Team of the Year champions, but Johnson and Lute with yet another 2nd place finish, squeaked by Turner & Waits to take home their second consecutive year honors as Team of the Year! “Our congratulations to Brenton Lute & Craig Johnson, on your 2017/2918 Team of the Year Champions for another outstanding year!”

Third place went to Robbie Ballew & Wallace Wright, who after missing a few events, came back strong weighing in 16.06 lbs. The pair said their bite came on basically throwing swimbaits all day. Not only did Robbie and Wallace have a great day on the water, they swept the raffle prizes by taking home both the Directors cash for the event and the gift certificates to FTS Tire Centers.

Next up: The June 2nd ABA YUMA FISH OFF CHAMPIONSHIP. Get your team entered, you won’t want to miss it, it’s going to be epic! A big Thank you to all our sponsors, especially FTS Franklin Tire & Service Center!

• Desert Bass Anglers “The Fun Way to Fish”: To complete the fishing report from last week’s column, let me add the 3rd place winners, the team of Robert Murray/Mike Edwards weighing in their 14.72 lb. bag of bass caught to take 3rd place overall. Congratulations on some good fish’n guys! Stay in practice for the May 5th open team bass tournament launching out of Fisher’s Landing — details forthcominng or call Mac or Bobbi McDermott at 726-1984.

• Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club: Results of the latest Sportsman’s Hideaway/IRS Bass Derby show the Ronny McKay/James Roberson team hitting the jackpot taking not only 1st place with their 18.43 lb. total but the #1 Big Fish honors with their big bass weighing in at 6.21. They didn’t stop there though, also taking the 2-pound pot with a weight of 2.37 to triple their success. Taking 2nd place was Logan Walker/Bryce Drake with their 18.04 total followed in 3rd place by Robby Ballow/Wallace Wright with their 16.26 lb. total of bass weighed in. The #2 Big Bass was won by Brian Shadd with team member Tommy Ray with a 5.21 pounder. Daniel Harlin caught the #3 Big Bass weighing 4.87. Good Fish’n to the 39 teams who fished this event. Call Clint Fraser at 580-3231 or Danny Woods at 448-8476 with questions. The next YVRGC tournament will be the Ted Townsend Memorial Catfish Derby May 5-6 — call Mathew Phillips at 919-9907 or Mark Loghry at 920-0233 for details. The Big Bass Board Qualifying Derby will follow on May 19 as well as the Big Bass Dinner and Derby on June 15-16. Call Fraser or Woods for details or feel free to attend the May 2nd meeting at American Legion Post 19 Hall, 2575 Virginia Dr. with a reasonably priced and delicious dinner at 6:30 p.m. the business at 7 p.m. Everyone is most welcome.

• Fun Bass Tournament for Forum Members: Bob La Londe of CNC Molds N Stuff at 222.CNCMolds.com, is planning the fun tournament at Colorado River waters for members April 28th to include a short day from first-launch to final weigh-in with a 2 fish limit per round instead of 3, and 2 meals instead of 3. Just be sure all fish are live at weigh-in — dead fish will be penalized. Visit La Londe at Yumabassman.com/forum for details or to get in as a forum member to fish the fun competition.

• Desert Draw Series Pro/Am Bass Fishing Club: Hope to have results from yesterday’s tournament or call Michael Obney at 928-7507081. • Be sure to take advantage of what Obney offers in his fishing endeavors with this new club with the next tournament May 19th at Mittry Lake.

• Yuma High School Bass Fishing Club: A great way for any High Schooler to learn all about fishing for bass. Members of both the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club and Desert Bass Anglers assist the kids in providing them with boats and equipment as well as guiding the youngsters, both guys and gals, in gaining a good share of fishing knowhows. Call Terry Hurt, school sponsor, at 580-6567 or visit StudentAnglerFoundation.com to get started.

• Pictures needed: Peggy Stankovich at Fisher’s Landing is looking for photos taken with Jess Fisher, Donnie Fisher or Swede Ferguson. She’d like to borrow them, then return them in pristine condition or you could email them to fisherslandingevents@gmail.com or bring them to Fisher’s office to be scanned. Peggy will appreciate a call at 619-838-8020.

Shooting sports

• 4-H shooting sports: For information on a great organization for youngsters with their training season beginning in September, call the Yuma 4-H office at 726-3904 or Stan Gourley at 344-0740.

• Renegade Archers of Yuma: Please give us a call — Kevin at 726-0953 or Jean at 247-4450 — if you’d like to shoot the trail of 3D animals at 9 a.m. Sundays at the Foothills Archery Range. Bring your youngsters for “Free” archery shooting instructions — we’ll be glad to assist in their learning (call ahead so we can bring along extra bows and arrows). • The practice area at the Range is open (also free use) daylight hours all week for archers practice and enjoyment.

• Yuma Trap and Skeet Club: Anyone interested in trap and skeet? Shoot 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays and Sundays. Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 4 p.m. at Adair Park. Call Bob Avila at (928) 919-0622. The Yuma Young Guns with the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP), will practice 6 p.m. Monday April 23 at Adair Park, traveling to Ben Avery Park in Phoenix 4/21 and 4/28. Call Head Coach H. McNutt at 928 580-0918 for details. The Board meeting is 4/30 at 6 p.m.

• Yuma Territorial Longrifles Club: Regular “open” black powder matches are 1st and 3rd Saturday’s at the Adair Park range at 8:30 a.m. Call Roger Bickel at 726-7453 — ask about .22 matches.

• Cholla Gun Club: Shooting is ongoing at the Adair Park metallic silhouette range — get your firearms in order and join in the shooting. All shooters welcome. Sign-up at 8:30 a.m. for shooting at 9 a.m. sharp. Matches open to the public with instructions when necessary. All firearms must comply with NRA guidelines. The club business meeting is 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday now through March at Villa Alameda RV Park. Pistol and rifle matches including a share of black powder, silhouette and vintage rifle matches held the 4th Saturdays and/or Sundays, alternating Tuesdays as well as Wednesdays and Fridays: Call Glenda Graves at 928-580-0915 for shooting times. Watch for their shooting schedule changes coming soon.

• High Power Rifle and Pistol Club of Yuma: Check with Joseph Murek at umpire1@q.com or Gerald Brooker at brookergerald@att.net or call 1-858-349-1311 or call Paul Lerma at 580-7456. Club junior “Whipper Snipers” shooters activities as well as a list of matches are listed on the club web site at hprifleyuma.net. Check it out!

• Yuma Matchmasters: A variety of matches are offered each month at the range, all open to shooters at 7 a.m. with the steel challenge the 1st Saturday, Multi-gun matches the 1st Sunday. IPSC combat matches held the 2nd Sunday with the Cowboy Fast Draw the 3rd Saturday and SASS cowboy matches the 4th Saturday. Interested in Cowboy Action shooting? Call Irene Snyder at 209-6134598 or Bob Wiles at 920-2158 with questions.

• Southwest Bowhunters Archery Club: Archery is offered to archers on Sundays with their practice range also open all week. Call Keith Parsels at 782-1097.

Hunt happenings

• Outdoors Skills camps for all ages: Visit: www.azgfd.gov/OutdoorSkills for dates and details on programs being planned to get you and your family ready to go hunting, camping, learn outdoors skills, fishing, hiking, shooting archery, geocaching, and learning about wildlife with programs taking place at Arizona’s State Parks as well as other locations around the state.

On June 16 there will be a family event for youth to compete in silhouette target shooting with a scoped .22 rifle, equipment provided and a potluck lunch, raffles and prizes. Free! Begins at 8 a.m. at Sierra Vista Shooting Range, Sierra Vista hosted by Huachuca White-Tail Club. Register by June 8 with Tom Green, 520-255-1652 or visit tmgreen_1@ hotmail.com.

J.A.K.E.S. Day on June 23 will be for kids 17 and younger to learn basic outdoors skills. All equipment will be provided. Lunch and a 1-year National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) JAKES membership is included FREE. Location is sierra Vista hosted by Huachuca Gould’s Chapter of NWTF. Register by June 18 at www.nwthuagoulds.org. Call John Mullican at 520-508-4272 or visit 2dbmill@msa.com or Wayne Kaiser at 520-678-9827, lmkwak@cox.net.

• The first overnight camp coming in June-July will teach outdoors skills at summer adventure camps in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Chrstopher Creek, and the rim country will be hosted by Arizona Outdoor Experience. Contact Kent Younger at 623-810-4633 from 6-9 p.m. or visit younger@azoutdoorexpeerience.com or Register at www. azoutdoorexperience.com for camps taking place from June of this year on into 2019.

I’ll report prior to other events and camps coming up beginning in July as dates come close.

Contact Jean Wilson at jeanrenegade@ gmail.com or call 247-4450.