Bass fishing, IHSA to hook up in 2009
By MVP Outdoors, Special to the Pekin Times (02/20/08)

The Illinois High School Association recently approved executive director Marty Hickman's recommendation to add a bass fishing tournament in the spring of 2009.

Illinois will become the first state in the country to sanction bass fishing as an official sport at the high school level.

“The level of support for a bass fishing tournament, from both our membership and from other non-school groups, has demonstrated clearly to our Board that this event is one with potential tremendous value to our schools,'' Hickman said. “Implementing such an activity will enable our schools to provide another opportunity for students that will enrich their educational experience and keep with the Association's mission.''

The early planning stages suggest the tournament may have as many as 300 teams, with eight sectionals, with the state tournament taking place on the centrally located Lake Shelbyville.

Bass fishing has already gained popularity at the college level, with teams competing through the Collegiate Bass Anglers Association. The University of Illinois ranked sixth nationally in the CBAA and finished in first place in the Big Ten last year.

Deer & Turkey Classic

The annual Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic will be held this weekend at the Interstate Center in Bloomington.

Show hours are 2-9 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Further details are available by calling 1-800-324-3337, or at www.deerinfo.com.

This ‘n that

•  Illinois fishing, hunting and sportsmen combination licenses for 2008 are available from DNR Direct license and permit vendors, online through the IDNR web site at http://dnr.state.il.us, and by calling 1-888-6PERMIT (1-888-673-7648). The new license year starts April 1.

• The 2008 Illinois Fishing Information Guide is now available at many IDNR offices, license and permit locations, and online at http://dnr.state.il.us/fish/digest. Regulations in the guide are effective April 1, 2008, through March 31, 2009. Illinois Free Fishing Days for 2008 are June 6-9.

• llinois quail enthusiasts continue to be leaders in quail conservation, having formed three new Quail Forever (QF) chapters in the state. New QF chapters in Madison, McDonough and Perry Counties bring the total to 15 QF chapters dedicated to improving Illinois quail habitat.

• With the resurgence in recent years of both river otters and bobcats in Illinois, State Representative. Brandon Phelps (D-Harrisburg) has introduced House Bill 4632, to allow trapping of river otters, as well as create a trapping season for bobcats. Although both furbearers are rarely seen because of their nocturnal nature, their populations have risen dramatically in Illinois during the last 10 years. The bobcat population in the state is estimated to be between 2,000-3,000, with river otters ranging from 10,000 to 15,000.

• As most of the hunting seasons are coming to and end, MVP Outdoors writer Jason Forck continues to look for new ways to keep in the outdoors even though the colder weather makes it less comfortable to bear.

• Read more about his “Handing Down The Tradition,'' where he takes his family for hikes in the cold weather to look for deer antler sheds after the hunting seasons at MVP Outdoors online at http://www.MVPOutdoors.com.

• A hunter safety class will be offered March 7-8 at Gander Mountain in Peoria. Further details are available by calling 309-692-4110.

• A hunter safety class will be offered 5-10 p.m. March 13-14 at Kickapoo Sportsman's Club. Further details are available by calling 309-697-8783 or 309-243-7217.

• The Illinois River Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever will hold its banquet Saturday at the Countryside Banquet facility in Washington. Further details are available by calling 309-444-8181, 444-3416 or 243-5336.

• Presley's Outdoors in Bartonville will host an Easter Seals benefit archery shoot Saturday from 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Further details are available by calling 309-697-1193.

• Black Diamond Archery 3-D event will be held Saturday and Sunday in Canton. Further details are available by calling 309-668-2844 or 309-647-5015.

• The Spoon River chapter banquet of Pheasants Forever will be held March 1 at Canton's Heritage Grand Inn. Further details are available by calling 309-486-3753 or 647-0348.

• Pekin Archers 3-D shooting event will be March 1-2. Contact pekinarchers@yahoo.com.

• The River Valley Gobblers' National Wild Turkey Federation banquet will be held March 8 at the Pekin Moose Lodge. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. All paid orders for the River Valley Gobbler's seventh annual banquet received by Saturday will be entered into a drawing for $250. Drawing will be held the night of the banquet, and participants must be present to win. Ticket prices ($45 single, $60 couple) include a one-year membership to the NWTF, six issues of Turkey Call magazine, the Shawnee Gobbler newsletter, and dinner the night of the banquet. Further details are available by calling 309-830-2811 or 309-726-1997.

• The Bartonville Chapter of Ducks Unlimited has a Duck Hunters Night Out beginning at 5 p.m. March 22 at the Bartonville American Legion. Tickets are $25 and sold at Presley's Outdoors in Bartonville. Further details are available by calling 309-635-7578.