TMCnet News
Hook, line & sinker: State targets lagging fishing license sales(The Pantagraph (Bloomington, IL) (KRT) Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) Apr. 17--Illinois is joining forces with several states to boost lagging fishing license sales. The initiative calls for conservation officials in Illinois, Idaho, Wisconsin and Virginia to participate in a "lapsed angler recruitment program." With support from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF), the states will use direct mail marketing to reach people who once had fishing licenses, but stopped renewing. Thirty states nationwide will take part in the program next year. "This partnership between the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and RBFF is a great way to get anglers and would-be anglers excited about fishing in the Land of Lincoln," said Mike Conlin, IDNR office of resource conservation director. "Illinois offers 1.5 million acres of outstanding fishing opportunity -- from Lake Michigan, to the big rivers, to our downstate reservoirs, to scenic lakes and streams. ... The direct marketing and other promotional efforts of our partnership with RBFF will help Illinois citizens and visitors to our state realize how much fun fishing is -- and how important they are to maintaining and enhancing fishing opportunities today and for generations to come." RBFF says marketing research last year revealed that more than two-thirds of the study's 1,000 respondents bought their first boat to fish. Three-quarters said fishing was their most popular activity to do while boating. As a result, the organization hopes boosting fishing license sales will have a positive impact on boating, too. In Illinois, fishing license sales peaked at 1,011,627 in 1975. Sales dipped to their lowest point in modern times in 2004 when IDNR sold 659,482 licenses. The agency sold 742,722 in 2007 compared with 788,942 a decade earlier. IDNR spokeswoman Paris Ervin cited several reasons for slower sales, including how wet the spring is when many people buy their licenses. The 2008 Illinois fishing licenses went into effect April 1. Cost is $13. Seniors receive a discount and military home on leave are free. For more information, visit www.dnr.state.il.us. RBFF at is a nonprofit organization established in 1998 to increase participation in recreational angling and boating. Among other efforts, RBFF is behind the Take Me Fishing media campaign. Fish tales wanted It's time to get the weekly fishing report started. But I need help. E-mail or send a recap of your fishing adven-tures and even a picture or two to or 301 W. Washington St., Bloomington, 61702-2907. Tournament notes -- Justin Williams and Tim Potts won the Bass 25 circuit event Saturday at Clinton Lake with two bass totaling 7.5 pounds. Travis Boley and John Mikinny were second with 7.45 pounds, including the big bass of the tournament, a 4.85-pounder; Austin Anderson and James Duvall were third. The circuit, which caters to people with boats that have a 25-horsepower motor of smaller, has 10 spots for teams left for the remainder of the season. Contact Tom Cassel at (309) 275-4555 or Domenic Theison at (309) 840-4851. -- The Central Illinois Division of Fishers of Men kicked off the 2008 tournament season Saturday at Clinton Lake with temperatures in the 30s with rain and winds at 15 to 20 mph. Still, Brent Sporleder of Fisher and Kevin Cupp of Mansfield won with a five-bass limit of 18.84 pounds, including the largest bass of the tournament that weighed 5.43 pounds. They used jigs, lizards and tubes fishing deep main lake wood and fished slow. Brad Lutz of Fisher and Kyle Danhausen were second with a limit weighing 16.06 pounds. Third place was Bryan Williams and Michael Sanders with five fish that weighed in at 10.21 pounds, earning them $573.50. The next event is May 10 on Clinton Lake. Entry fee deadline is May 2. Contact Carl Parks (217) 621-1386 or email [email protected] -- The Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail saw just two fish caught at Jim Edgar State Fish & Wildlife Area. Bob and Kona Taylor caught them. They measured 35.5 and 33 inches. -- The Illini Division of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League will compete at Rend Lake in Benton on April 26. Anglers may register for the tournament online at or by calling (270) 252-1000. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers. Scott Richardson is Pantagraph outdoor editor. Contact him at (309) 820-3227 or email . To see more of The Pantagraph, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pantagraph.com. Copyright (c) 2008, The Pantagraph, Bloomington, Ill. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |