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Recreation
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- Written by: Editor
The California League of Park Associations (CALPA) strives to provide mutual support and networking among the Cooperating Associations linked to the California State Parks System.
This year’s CALPA conference is May 12-15, and is being hosted by the Mendocino Area Parks Association.
The conference will provide importance assistance to Cooperating Association members who are finding their parks facing one of the most challenging periods in California State Park history.
This year’s CALPA conference will include: networking opportunities with other co-op associations and park staff; the latest information on what is happening with parks and in interpretation; and possible solutions on issues co-ops and parks are or might be facing.
For more information about AMIA visit www.andersonmarsh.org.
Contact AMIA by email
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- Written by: Editor
The Anderson Marsh Interpretive Association’s (AMIA) holds a once a month guided nature walk, followed by a ranch house tour.
This spring, walks will be held on two upcoming Saturday mornings: May 21 and June 11.
The May and June Nature Walks are ADA accessible.
Experience the flora and fauna of the marsh and Cache Creek in spring, hear about the history of the area and after the walk, tour the 19th century ranch house.
Join Park Docents Gae Henry and Henry Bornstein in front of the ranch house at 7:45 a.m. for time to experience the early morning wildlife to be found in the ranch house and barn complex yard – walk begins at 8 a.m.
Anderson Marsh State Historic Park is located on Highway 53, between Lower Lake and Clearlake.
For more information about the walks email
For more information about the park, you may also visit www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=483.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Bass are actively spawning, crappie are in the coves, keys and sloughs. Big cats are on the hunt. The water temp is in the low to mid-60s. There's ample water and lots of great fish habitat this year.
Here's the breakdown.
Bass anglers are finding quality fish in 4 to 10 feet of water. Look for bass to be holding tight to cover. A paddle-tail worm drawn just fast enough to get the tail thumping has been doing the trick. Jumbo minnows are still whacking 'em too!
I'm not hearing any specific hot spot reports just good consistent fishing with quality fish in the 2- to 5-pound class.
Crappie anglers are having success in the Clearlake Oaks Keys and Rodman Slough. Medium (that's the tiny ones) minnows are top fish getters while some of the classic mini jigs are working too (pink and white, smoke with sparkle, red and white).
And like the bass bite, this isn't a gangbusters, fill your livewell to overflowing, kind of bite. But, if you like eating crappie they are being caught. Reports are showing 1 to 2.5 pounders are common.
Catfish, after weeks of waiting, have finally kicked into gear just in time for next weekend's Catfish Derby. You'll find big cats prowling around the islands.
Classic tactics with slip sinker or a three-way rig will do the trick.
Mackerel, anchovies, clams, chicken liver, shrimp, shad and live jumbo minnows are doing the work.
It's Derby Time and we're stocked up! The annual Catfish Derby is taking place May 13-15 this year. This event draws more than 500 adult anglers and more than 100 youth fishermen. What a great time, too!
Applications are available at Lakeshore Sports in Clearlake or online at the www.clearlakeoaks.org site. With action heating up on the whiskerfish, the derby should turn out some great fish!
Lastly, don't forget about Lake County's quagga mussel inspection program. You MUST have your boat inspected before putting in the water.
The process takes just a couple of minutes and will cost you only $10 for tags that are good all month. We do the inspections at our store. The key to passing is simple: Clean, drained and DRY.
Bob Rider is owner of Lakeshore Sports, located at 14913 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, Calif., telephone 707-994-FISH (3474) and online at www.994Fish.com.
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- Written by: Editor
DFG’s new Automated License Data System (ALDS) means that the application process for both will be simplified and streamlined.
“ALDS offers tremendous improvements that hunters have been anticipating for many years,” said DFG License and Revenue Branch Chief James Fong. “Hunting licenses are available from more locations than ever before and for those applying for the annual Big Game Drawing, there is no longer a need to fill out multiple forms and manually mail them to a single DFG office.”
Customers applying for a license for the first time via ALDS may initially experience a slow license sales transaction. In subsequent years, the process will be faster, as the customer’s information will be retained in the system.
Under ALDS, purchasers of a hunting or fishing license are issued a “Get Outdoors” identification number (GO ID) that is printed on all license documents. The GO ID is used to retrieve a customer’s information each time they purchase a license or apply for drawings in the future.
In addition to purchasing a license, hunters can now apply for the Big Game Drawing at any DFG license sales office, license agent or online. When the transaction is complete, the customer will receive a receipt to show their hunt choices have been entered in the drawing.
To qualify for the Big Game Drawing, an application must be submitted and the sales transaction completed before midnight on June 2, 2011. All premium deer hunt tags, and elk, antelope and bighorn sheep tags are awarded through the DFG Big Game Drawing. Mail-in applications are no longer accepted.
The implementation of ALDS also means:
Hunters can obtain deer and bear tags at the time of purchase from a local license agent.
Hunters who purchase licenses and big game tags online will receive them in the mail within 15 days.
State Duck and Upland Game Bird stamps are validations in ALDS and printed on the hunting license. Hunters must have the validation in their possession while engaged in this activity. DFG will continue to print and offer the physical stamp which can be mailed, upon request online, to the purchasers after July 1 each year.
Customers must provide legal identification and a telephone number when they make their first purchase through ALDS. Customers can still purchase licenses for other people if they provide the other person’s hunting license from the previous year and driver license number.
DFG will no longer accept a Hunting License Declaration as evidence of meeting a hunter education requirement. Hunters must have a prior year’s California hunting license or a hunter education certificate to purchase a new hunting license.
To find a license agent near you, to purchase items online or for more information on ALDS, please visit www.dfg.ca.gov/licensing.
To learn more about the Big Game Drawing application process, please view the 2011 California Hunting Digest (2011 Big Game) at www.dfg.ca.gov/publications/digest/.
Additional drawing opportunities
Two new fundraising random drawings, for a deer tag and an elk tag, will also be held this year. The drawings are open to anyone 12 years of age or older, for $5.40 per chance, per tag.
Applicants do not need a valid hunting license to apply, and may apply for the drawings as many times as they wish.
Proceeds from all fundraising tags are deposited into the newly established Big Game Management Account, which is used to benefit antelope, elk, deer, wild pigs, bear and sheep populations.
An advisory committee reviews and provides comments to DFG on all proposed projects funded from the account.
Recent activities funded by revenue from the fundraising tags have included helicopter surveys, other deer and bighorn sheep studies, and improving both hunting access and water source improvements for sheep and deer.