A 15-inch minimum size, 4-bass creel limit would be in effect on lakes and ponds from 1 January to mid-April and November through December - essentially a Big Bass regulation for the late fall through spring fishery. A 20-inch minimum size, 1-bass creel limit would be in effect on rivers and streams from 1 January to mid-April and October through December (harvest limited to only the exceptional trophy-sized bass). This change would also apply to those river reaches contained within the Big Bass Program.

By regulating lakes and streams differently, fisheries managers can address the difference in fish harvest during the winter when ice fishing is popular.

Pennsylvania is home to more than 7 million bass fishing trips annually according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Only the warm-weather states of Texas and Florida can boast of more bass fishing activity on their waters.

The Commission will not vote on final adoption of the proposal until the July 1998 meeting, Written comments are also welcome. Letters should be addressed to: Executive Director - Bass Season, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.
For more information and the complete proposal visit the site at www.state.pa.us/Fish/nwoctmtg.htm

Three-Spine Stickleback ?

TIP line is a joint project between Indiana conservation officers, sportsmen and sportswomen
Indiana conservation officers have a new tool- Internet- Tip Line to help bring to justice people who break wildlife and environmental laws, Department of Natural Resources Director Larry Macklin announced today.

"With a few clicks of a mouse, Hoosiers can now use the Internet to report wildlife poaching, an oil or a chemical spill, or illegal destruction of wildlife habitat. The Internet is a convenient tool people can use to help us protect our precious natural resources," Macklin said.

Under the T.I.P. program, rewards are offered for information leading to the arrest of fish, wildlife and environmental law violators. Citizens who provide information are not required to give their names or testify in court. This information is investigated by the Law Enforcement Division.

Who are the poachers and how should you report them?

In recent years we have stretched the definition of "poacher" to include a person or group of people that kill fish and wildlife by means of pollution or by destroying valuable habitat such as wetlands and rivers. In many cases this type of poacher has a much more devastating effect on our fish and wildlife resources than the conventional poacher.

www.ai.org/dnr/lawenfor/tip.htm

Simply defined "poaching" is any illegal taking or processing of fish, game or nongame wildlife. To recognize illegal acts, a basic knowledge of fish and wildlife regulations is necessary. Brochures describing fishing and hunting laws are available from license vendors and from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.

T.I.P. is designed to help eliminate the illegal taking of Indiana's fish and wildlife and to stop the polluting and destruction of our rivers and wetlands.

The tools of the 20th century poacher are the back hoe, bull dozer and tank truck. If you see a bull dozer or back hoe altering or destroying a natural river or woodland report this potential violation immediately. Tank trucks backed up to a river, stream or drainage ditch could indicate the illegal dumping of pollutants or hazardous waste. Anyone witnessing this situation should call 1-800-TIP-IDNR as soon as possible. OR now you can report the observance by e-mail. Rewards are offered to callers whose information leads to an arrest. The TIP line is a joint project between Indiana conservation officers, sportsmen and sportswomen.

Cleveland Stadium Goes Fishing