The Florida Fishing Experts
Specializing in Florida Bass Fishing on all of the Florida Freshwater Lakes.

Bob Wattendorf, a fisheries biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), recently received the “Conservation Educator of the Year” award from the Florida Wildlife Federation.

In 2008, Wattendorf initiated an effort to bring together a statewide coalition of agencies, universities and businesses to encourage families and children to participate in nature-based recreation.  The collaborative effort resulted in formation of Get Outdoors Florida! (www.GetOutdoorsFlorida.org), a coalition of more than 100 active partners, including major state and federal agencies and diverse groups interested in offsetting the problems associated with “nature-deficit disorder,” a term coined by Richard Louv in his book “Last Child in the Woods.”

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and his Cabinet recognized the Get Outdoors Florida! Coalition in 2009, when they signed a resolution recognizing the Children’s Outdoor Bill of Rights for Florida.  The coalition, integrated into the Children and Nature Network, is working to extend the reach of such programs as President Barack Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative (www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors), and first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Outside (www.LetsMove.gov) program to combat obesity.

“Conservation education today is all about integrating efforts to introduce newcomers to the beauty and value of an active, nature-based lifestyle,” Wattendorf said.

Researchers have documented the health, education and societal problems associated with too much time spent indoors and dealing with electronic media. Research now shows that embracing a lifestyle change — spending more time outdoors in nature, whether, fishing, birding, paddling, gardening or just hiking in the woods — leads to a happier, healthier and smarter population (www.childrenandnature.org).

During his 31-year career with the FWC, Wattendorf has served to promote Florida as the Fishing Capital of the World, worked with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation to bring about best practices for “Boating, Fishing and Aquatic Resources Stewardship Education” and helped craft the “Federal Aid Supplement for Aquatic Education Programs.”

The Florida Wildlife Federation is a nonprofit conservation education organization composed of thousands of concerned Floridians and people from all walks of life who have a common interest in preserving, managing and improving Florida’s fish, wildlife, soil, water and plant life. As the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation, it has been helping Florida’s wildlife since 1937.

In presenting the award on behalf of the Federation, Preston Robertson, vice president for conservation, praised Wattendorf “for his tremendous efforts on behalf of conservation and the need to get Floridians outside and into the natural world.”

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

FWC-News Release

June 11, 2010

Bass anglers on Florida’s renowned Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho for short) have hit the jackpot – again. Anglers are catching their limits of trophy-size largemouth bass with astounding regularity, as the lake proves and improves its reputation as one of the top-five destinations in the world for those who seek the ultimate bass-fishing experience.

During the past several weeks, local tournament anglers have discovered a veritable bonanza of trophy-size bass, as catch rates continue to heat up.  One possible reason, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists, is that the extended cold winter delayed spawning and post-spawn feeding activity.

Last weekend’s Toho Open, a one-day tournament, saw the fifth-place finisher catch a five-fish limit tipping the scales at 31 pounds, while the winners,  Jerry Williams and Jessie Windsor of Orlando,  netted more than 38 pounds.  Mark Detweiler at Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee reported that at local tournaments hosted there on Wednesday nights, participants boasted winning totals in excess of 20 pounds.

“Big bass have shown themselves in ever-increasing numbers since last fall.  I’ve been fishing here since 1983 and I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s mind-boggling,” said Terry Segraves, a well-respected professional angler who lives in Kissimmee and serves as a tourism spokesman for the area.

According to local experts like Segraves, patterning the big fish is not difficult.  Early morning anglers are finding schooling fish in the 1- to 2-pound range, with some much bigger fish mixed in those schools.  However, the really big fish are feeding on the edges of the deep grass beds after the sun comes up.  Typically, anglers catch the big fish a few hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset, as is the case here. However, what is unusual is that they’re also catching big stringers of trophies throughout the day.

FWC fishery biologist and avid bass angler Marty Mann believes the great trophy fishing is the result of the agency’s aggressive management of Lake Toho, the birthplace of the first large-scale drawdown (1971) to improve of fish and wildlife habitat. In 2004, the FWC conducted its most recent in a series of drawdown projects on Lake Toho.

“One of the biggest problems for sportfish is decaying plant and animal materials that build up on the bottom of a lake over time. These sediments cover and suffocate the eggs of sportfish and rob oxygen from the water as they decay,” said Mann.

Improvements to fish habitat are accomplished by lowering the lake to expose mucky sediments to sunlight and air, thus allowing sediments to consolidate into a hard substrate.  In some places, crews scrape dried sediments and truck them to disposal areas.  The result is a clean, hard, sandy bottom.  Once the water level returns to normal, the hard bottom provides quality spawning areas for sportfish and a substrate that promotes the growth of beneficial aquatic plants, where bass can feed and grow to trophy size.

Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Tom Lang welcomed the news that the fish are biting.  “For our visitors looking for memory-making experiences to punctuate their vacation or holidays, this is good news.  We recommend they get here fast, because you never know when the tide may turn with the fish.”

For more information on bass fishing in Osceola County’s Lake Tohopekaliga, go to the Freshwater Fishing area of MyFWC.com/Fishing and select Fishing Sites and Forecasts, or contact the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau at VisitKissimmee.com.

BassOnline.com is Florida’s Largest Freshwater Guide Service and Outfitter, specializing in Florida bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers.
To learn more about Florida bass fishing, visit Bass Fishing Blog. Also visit or sister website Florida Bass Fishing, Lake Okeechobee Fishing, Bass Fishing Florida, Florida Peacock Bass, Everglades Fishing

News Release

June 8, 2010
Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459
Coleen Curran (SMI Cold Therapy), 704-900-7275

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has teamed up with the “Wounded Warrior Project” to recognize the service of our nation’s injured war veterans. The FWC presented war veterans with five-year fishing-license bonus packages containing items donated by the freshwater fishing industry.

The FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management presented the promotional package of tackle samples, fishing publications and discount coupons to each of the Wounded Warrior Project veterans as part of its current promotion of 5-year freshwater fishing licenses. For information on that, visit MyFWC.com/License.

The Wounded Warrior Project is taking U.S. war veterans on fishing excursions on Lake Okeechobee. A pair of Iraqi war veterans went fishing June 7 and 8, guided by a professional bass angler, and caught more than 60 bass. During a two-day excursion last month, another pair of Iraqi war veterans caught approximately 50 bass.  Two more fishing trips are planned for August and October.

The trip was sponsored by SMI Cold Therapy of Butler, Pa., a manufacturer of cold-therapy products and services for post-operative patient care in hospitals and surgery centers, and byBassOnline.com, Florida’s largest freshwater guide service and outfitter for bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers.

BassOnline.com is Florida’s Largest Freshwater Guide Service and Outfitter, specializing in Florida bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers.
To learn more about Florida bass fishing, visit Bass Fishing Blog. Also visit or sister website Florida Bass Fishing, Lake Okeechobee Fishing, Bass Fishing Florida, Florida Peacock Bass, Everglades Fishing

Contact: Coleen Curran 704.900.7275 or ccurran@solutionmatrixinc.com

CLEWISTON, FL (June 1, 2010) – Iraqi veterans Joshua Rockwell of Scranton, PA and David Calhoun of Wyalusing, PA caught more than 50 bass on their two-day fishing trip to Lake Okeechobee with Bass Master Pro Angler Mark Shepard.

Their trip was sponsored by SMI Cold Therapy of Butler, PA, a manufacturer of cold therapy products and services for post-operative patient care in hospitals and surgery centers, and by Bassonline.com, Florida’s largestfreshwater guide service and outfitter for bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers. Calhoun and Rockwell are the first of eight wounded vets to make the journey to Florida to experience some of the world’s best bass fishing.

Bass Master and FLW Pro Angler Mark Shepard, a Bassonline.com guide, has more than 25 years experience fishing in Florida and 10 years of guiding on Lake Okeechobee.

The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service members.

Three more fishing trips on Lake Okeechobee are planned. The next trip is June 7-8 with WWP vets Gary Harris of Ft. White, FL and Jake Williams of Vista, CA.

Rockwell, a medically retired machine gunner, joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 2006 and was injured in October 2007. While on patrol with a Humvee team, his left foot was crushed in the line of duty.

Calhoun, 45, a medically retired battalion armor and training manager, joined the Army in 1985, saw five deployments and was injured in July 2003. His Humvee was on the outskirts of Baghdad, when an IED hit and flipped his vehicle. The explosion destroyed Calhoun’s kneecaps and trapped the driver, Lt. Jonathan Pruden. Despite his injuries, Calhoun carried Pruden to safety before the vehicle was engulfed in flames.

The Florida Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management will award a 5-year freshwater fishing license along with a promotional package of tackle samples, fishing publications and discount coupons to each of the WWP veterans as part of its recent promotion of Florida, the Fishing Capital of the World. For information, visit http://myfwc.com/license/Freshwater_5-year-license.htm

BassOnline.com is Florida’s largest freshwater guide service and outfitter, specializing in Florida bass fishing on Florida lakes, canals and rivers. For more information, visit Bass Fishing Blog or Florida Bass Fishing, Lake Okeechobee Fishing, Bass Fishing Florida, Florida Peacock Bass or Everglades Fishing.

SMI is a women-owned, veteran-operated manufacturer of the highest quality cold therapy products for the orthopedic community. Our post-operative products are designed for inpatient and outpatient procedures including total joint replacements and sports medicine. Our simple-to-use, long-lasting, 3.5-hour Gel Bag Compression Bandage Wrap System requires fewer nurse interventions and is changing the orthopedic standard of care. SMI’s facility-specific protocols create efficiencies that enhance patient care while achieving improved clinical outcomes and cost reductions. Headquartered in Butler, PA, SMI is proud to be made in America. For more information, visit www.solutionmatrix.com or call 724.431.6147.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Fish Busters’ Bulletin

June 2010

Fritz Friebel 20-pound, 2-ounce bass

Bob Wattendorf

Fishermen around Florida are assisting the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) by filling out surveys on bass fishing.  The information gathered, along with scientific information, will help create a draft Florida Black Bass Management Plan.

This plan is an evolving strategy to establish Florida as the undisputed “Bass Fishing Capital of the World,” in addition to being the “Fishing Capital of the World.”

Florida currently is the “Fishing Capital of the World” based on the number of anglers, amount of time spent fishing, economic impact and tourists who take advantage of our resources. The most recent National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation again ranked Florida No. 1 in in-state anglers (2.8 million), angler expenditures ($4.4 billion), angler-supported jobs (75,068) and state and local taxes generated by sport fishing ($440 million). In addition, Florida has far more International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records than any other state or country.

Similarly, Florida produces many of the world’s premier bass fisheries, and bass anglers spend more than 14 million days each year here, which generates $1.25 billion for the state’s economy. With 3 million acres of freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 12,000 miles of rivers, streams and canals all loaded with bass, Florida is a Mecca for bass anglers.

The Florida largemouth bass population is genetically unique and has been stocked worldwide because of its potential for rapid growth to trophy size (more than10 pounds). Moreover, Florida has shoal, spotted and Suwannee bass, each of which exist in discrete areas and require specific habitat and food bases to maintain their populations. Programs such as the Black Bass Grand Slam promoted in BassMaster Magazine are drawing more attention to these limited populations – necessitating greater attention to conservation practices.

Florida’s native and widely dispersed populations of black bass are available  in thriving natural habitats within a 30- to 60-minute drive from anywhere in the state, except for the Keys.

BASS’ top 25 bass of all time now includes 20 fish from California, two from Florida, two from Japan and one from Georgia.  In both California and Japan, the bass in question are imports that came from Florida.

To make the most of your fishing license dollars and federal excise taxes on fishing tackle and motor boat fuels, the FWC is beginning to hold meetings with a citizens’ Technical Advisory Group to look at the results of the first two waves of public surveys. Visit MyFWC.com/BassPlan_Survey to see the preliminary survey results, and sign up to review and comment on the first full draft plan, due out sometime in August. The final plan is anticipated to be approved in early January 2011 after additional public input.

To encourage bass anglers to catch and properly report Florida’s next state record bass, BountyFishing is hosting a Million Dollar Bass Bounty. The contest is open to all anglers legally fishing in any public body of water in Florida from July 5 to Aug. 1. Sign-up costs $7 per day or $19 for one week, but the first 1,000 entrants will receive a 50-percent discount and pay just $38 for all four weeks. To sign up for the Florida Million Dollar Bass Bounty or a free June fishing tournament, visitwww.bountyfishing.com/FL.

BountyFishing.com provides anglers an opportunity to compete in fishing contests to win cash and prizes from their favorite fishing spots. To promote catch-and-release fishing, BountyFishing uses FBI-strength image-analysis software to validate winners based on catch photos. For a free trial offer of an Internet-managed fishing tournament, visit www.bountyfishing.com/FL. A part of your tournament fees goes to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc., a non-profit, public-support organization that enhances FWC conservation efforts. However, neither the FWC nor the state of Florida endorses any individual company, and Bounty Fishing is solely responsible for its products and fulfillment of any offers.

BountyFishing will share information with the FWC as part of the Black Bass Management Plan initiative. FWC biologists are certain a largemouth bass exceeding the current official record of 17 pounds, 4 ounces (set in July 1986) is waiting to be caught. In 2008, an 18-pound, 8-ounce bass was caught, photographed and released in Florida. It exceeded the record but was not certified by an FWC biologist; nor was a 20-pound, 2-ounce hawg hooked in 1923, or several other bass reported to our “Big Catch” angler-recognition program.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS