By JOHN MARTINO
Starting April 1, 2008, our state’s senior citizens will be required to purchase a discounted fishing license before plying public waters as a result of a bill signed by Gov. Mitch Daniels. For every purchase, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service will return $7.90 back to Indiana, where it rightfully belongs. The additional funding will go toward sport fish restoration projects and aid in the expansion of our state’s public access sites.
With the change, Indiana residents age 64 and older (born after March 31, 1943) must buy either a $3 senior license each year (which is lower than any neighboring states fee) or a one-time, $17 “Fish for Life” senior license. The $17 fee is the same price that 64 year-old anglers currently pay for their yearly license. However, the “Fish for Life” license would be the last license they would ever need to purchase to fish in Indiana.
“Gov. Daniels and our organized sportsmen’s groups really stepped up to help make this happen,” said Rob Carter, the DNR’s new director. “We hope the low cost won’t cause any hardships for our dedicated senior anglers.”
Indiana anglers age 65 and older, born before April 1, 1943, will not need to buy either of the two discounted licenses. In other words, any senior who currently fishes public waters for free will not be affected by the new law, except by reaping the benefits gained from the use of additional federal funding.
Last year, nearly 5,500 Hoosier anglers age 64 bought 2006 fishing licenses. If the same number were to buy a senior license in 2008, the state would gain $43,000 from the federal government. In just 10 years, the total would swell to $2.3 million. DNR statistics show that over 90,000 Indiana senior fish public waters.
The federal program is funded by excise taxes placed on fishing equipment and boat fuel. These funds are returned to various states based on their number of licensed anglers. Since Indiana senior citizens did not purchase licenses before the change, they could not be counted as licenses sold, even though they may have fished. So a portion of money generated by Indiana residents through their purchase of outdoor equipment and boat fuel was actually being distributed to other states.
This increase in funding will go a long way in purchasing land and constructing new access sites on many of our state’s lakes and streams. Funding will also go toward the construction of new ADA accessible facilities, repairing worn-out ramps and the re-modernization of our state’s eight public fish hatcheries.
Catfish tournament
Those interested in tying into some of our area’s “whiskered” fish will be pleased to note that the second annual Kokomo Reservoir Catfish Tournament will be held June 30. The contest will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude with a midnight weigh-in. Drop lines and float fishing will not be allowed and all fish must be taken with rod and reel only.
The cost has been set at $20 per person. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to this summer’s 24th annual Jim “Moose” Carden Kokomo Kids Fishing Clinic.
First place will be awarded in two categories — the heaviest catfish and total combined weight. All species of catfish can be weighed-in. Registrations will be taken at the public boat ramp located on Howard County Rd. 400 East, prior to the 6 p.m. tournament start time. No late registrations will be accepted.
Additional tournament details can be obtained by contacting Jeremy Dodd at (765) 860-9437.
Chance to help Camp Riley
The Indiana Bass Federation and Camp Riley for Youth with Physical Disabilities will present the 13th annual Riley Children’s Foundation Bass Tournament on July 8. The event will take place on Patoka Reservoir. The Newton-Stewart South Ramp has been designated as the tournament’s headquarters.
This is one of Indiana’s most worthwhile and largest tournaments with one winning team taking home a new Ranger boat.
Since this tournament’s inception, more than $75,000 has been raised for Riley’s camp for children with physical disabilities.
Camp Riley is a program of the Riley Children’s Foundation and takes place at Bradford Woods, Indiana University’s outdoor recreation center. Each summer, this special camp gives more than 200 youth with physical disabilities the unique opportunity to experience traditional camping activities in a setting tailored to their individual needs.
Because of the low staff-to-camper ratio and medical expertise required at the camp, the cost of attending Camp Riley is substantially more than typical summer camps. Tournaments such as these help provide children who may not have the financial means to take part in this opportunity.
If you would like to learn more about the Riley Children’s Foundation Tournament, contact Roger Eubank at (765) 453-4769.
Tournament results
• The Kokomo Bass Anglers recently came off a two-day tournament on Patoka Reservoir. After the first day of competition it was Dave Pross coming away the winner with four largemouth totaling just 1 ounce shy of 9 pounds. Second was Max Kelly with two fish weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce. Third place and “big fish” honors went to Ted bowers with a largemouth tipping the scales at 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
Wayne Eades came out on top after the second day of fishing with a five fish limit dropping the scales at 11 pounds, 5 ounces. A 3-pound, 3-ounce fish also gave him the “big bass” award. Sam Taskey took second place with one fish going 3 pounds, 3 ounces. Third place went to Bud Fields with a 2-pound, 6-ounce fish.
• Bob Rose and Terry Thor won the Monday morning Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney, sponsored by Ohio Marine, with four fish totaling 8 pounds, 3 ounces. Second place went to Jerry Pickett with four bass dropping the scales at 6 pounds, 8 ounces. Third place and the weekly event’s “big fish” honor went to Royce Cage and John Rawlings with two fish weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces. Their largest tipped the scales at 3 pounds, 5 ounces.
• Chris Monnot and Matt Temme swept the weekly Delphi-Delco team bass fishing tourney, held weekly on Mississinewa Reservoir. The winners carried five largemouth to the scales weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces. They also earned “big bass” honors with a largemouth tipping the scales at 2 pounds, 15 ounces. Second were Wayne Nolder and Bob Rose with four fish totaling 7 pounds, 4 ounces. Jerry Hogan and Rich Fye slipped into third place with four fish weighing 1 ounce shy of 7 pounds.
• Jason Shelton and Jim Palmer won the Wednesday evening Kokomo Reservoir open team bass tourney with five fish pushing the scales at 9 pounds, 13 ounces. Second place went to Brad Parsons and Ken Waisner with five fish weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Frank Brown finished third with four bass totaling 8 pounds. Rick Randolph took home the weekly event’s “big bass” pot with a 3-pound, 2-ounce fish.
Tribune catches of the week
Jack’s Tackle Center: Janet and Mike Dickey cleaned 33 crappies after a recent trip on Salamonie Reservoir. Taken on minnows, the Dickey’s largest crappie stretched nearly 16 inches in length.
Malone’s Nyona Lake Bait and Tackle: Bill Whaley hauled in several crappies with his biggest measuring 131/2 inches long, tipping the scales at 1 pound, 2 ounces. Whaley took his fish from Nyona Lake on live bait.
Nyona Lake also gave up a channel catfish dropping the scales at 18 pounds, 1 ounce to Matt Davidson. The fish was hooked on a night crawler.
Springhill Camp Ground and Pay Pit: Aaron Roberson struggled carrying out his 11 channel catfish sporting a stringer weight of 32 pounds. Roberson hooked his catch from the western Howard County pit using night crawlers.
John Martino is the Tribune’s outdoors columnist. He may be reached through the sports office.
