THE LATEST NEWS

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 26, 2017) – Fishing League Worldwide (FLW), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, has established a new partnership between its nonprofit arm, the FLW Foundation, and Keep America Fishing, the sport’s leading grassroots advocacy group, to implement Keep America Fishing’s Pitch It soft-plastic disposal and recycling program at FLW tournaments. The initiative, rolling out at events from New York to California in early 2017, aims to minimize the number of soft-plastic lures improperly disposed of in our nation’s lakes and rivers.

The FLW Foundation will provide Pitch It bait recycling bins at every FLW tournament across five tournament circuits in 2017. FLW tournament directors will encourage competitors to use the bins onsite and talk to fans about the importance of proper bait disposal. The program will be backed by ads in FLW Bass Fishing magazine and promotion on FLWFishing.com.

“Fishing participation – including tournament competition – is on the rise and soft-plastic lures are the most widely used bait type,” said Liz Ogilvie, American Sportfishing Association’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Those factors combined mean this program is an excellent opportunity to teach both avid anglers and new-comers that conservation is an essential part of the fishing experience. Anglers are the front-line advocates for our fisheries, and properly disposing of trash, including soft plastic baits, is a simple action with a big impact.”

In addition to environmental conservation, the FLW Foundation connects America’s youth to their national resources and promotes education and an active lifestyle. This mission is accomplished through diverse public and private partnerships that teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as they relate to the outdoors, encourage an active lifestyle with time outside enjoying our nation’s rich natural resources, and provide funding and support for high school and college initiatives relevant to conservation, fishing and healthy outdoor activities.

“In addition to youth fishing recruitment, retention and reactivation, the FLW Foundation seeks to advance sound conservation practices, environmental stewardship and boating safety,” said FLW Vice President of Operations Dave Washburn. “As leaders in the bass fishing community, FLW anglers have a responsibility to protect our lakes and rivers for future generations by recycling worn-out soft-plastic baits. Our goal is for tournament anglers to lead the way in bait recycling just as they led the way in establishing the nearly universal catch-and-release ethic that helps ensure vibrant bass fisheries.”

To learn more about the Pitch It program, or to make the Pledge to Pitch It, please visit pledgetopitchit.org.

To learn more about the FLW Foundation and its initiatives, or to make a donation, please visit FLWFishing.com/foundation.

About FLW

FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2017 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW conducts more than 274 bass-fishing tournaments annually across the United States and sanctions tournaments in Canada, China, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat: @FLWFishing.

About Keep America Fishing

Keep America Fishing® is the grassroots advocacy program of the American Sportfishing Association, working to ensure that America’s 46 million anglers have clean waters, abundant fisheries and access to both. Learn more, join and take action on fisheries issues at home and across the country at KeepAmericaFishing.org.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On the day before President Barack Obama left office, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) issued an edict to ban lead fishing tackle and ammunition from hundreds of thousands of acres of land and water managed by that agency. Executed without stakeholder input, the controversial action has sparked outrage from fishing and hunting communities.

National Conservation Director Gene Gilliland said that B.A.S.S. “joins our state fisheries management agency partners and ASA (American Sportfishing Association) in calling on the new administration and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to put a hold on the order.

“This 11th hour order, just hours before the new administration was to take office, was an obvious attempt to push through an order that is part of the previous administration’s environmental agenda without full consultation among all the stakeholders.”

Scott Gudes, ASA’s vice president of government affairs, added, “The sportfishing industry views this unilateral policy to ban lead fishing tackle, which was developed without any input from the industry, other angling organizations and state fish and wildlife agencies, as a complete disregard for the economic and social impact it will have on anglers and the recreational fishing industry.”

Signed by FWS Director Dan Ash, Order No. 219 requires “the use of nontoxic ammunition and fishing tackle to the fullest extent practicable for all activities on service lands, waters and facilities by January 2022, except as needed for law enforcement and safety uses, as provided for in policy.”

Fortunately, action was taken by the new Trump administration the day after the rule was issued that could hinder its effectiveness. A memorandum issued from the White House to departments and agencies announced a freeze on implementing new regulations, pending review. Still, individual jurisdictions within FWS might choose to enforce the rule.

For years, environmentalists have attempted to gain a complete ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle by filing lawsuits. They’ve done so, Gilliland said, “despite the lack of a clear connection in many cases of negative population-level impacts on fish and wildlife.” But their arguments have been rejected by the courts. At the same time, selective bans have been implemented where research suggests a need for them, such as in some northern waters, where loons ingest lead shot.

“In the limited instances, where lead fishing tackle is demonstrated to harm local wildlife populations, the sportfishing industry supports actions to minimize or eliminate these impacts,” Gudes said. “However, unnecessary and sweeping bans such as this Director’s Order will do nothing to benefit wildlife populations and instead will penalize the nation’s 46 million anglers and hurt recreational fishing-dependent jobs.”

If not rescinded, it also will damage the partnership between the federal agency and the states, according to Nick Wiley, president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. “This action flies squarely in the face of a long and constructive tradition of states working in partnership with the service to effectively manage fish and wildlife resources,” he said.

“The Association views this order as a breach of trust and deeply disappointing given that it was a complete surprise and there was no current dialogue or input from state fish and wildlife agencies prior to issuance. It does a disservice to hunters and anglers, the firearms and angling industries, and the many professionals on staff with the USFWS who desire a trusting and transparent relationship with their state partners.”

For further information or to arrange an interview with Gene Gilliland, contact JamieDay Matthews, B.A.S.S. communications coordinator, 205-313-0945, jmatthews@bassmaster.com.

About B.A.S.S. Conservation
For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. Conservation has focused on issues related to fisheries and aquatic resource conservation. We work with government agencies to develop sound management policies that protect and enhance aquatic resources. We partner with others to ensure government policies provide for these resources without compromising sportfishing opportunities. And through the B.A.S.S. Nation, we provide volunteer efforts to enhance fisheries resources and protect our sport. B.A.S.S. is world-renowned for state-of-the-art tournament fish care.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

Huntsville, AL – January 25, 2017 — T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., of Huntsville, Alabama, announces that it will be a partnering with legendary Bassmaster Elite Series and Major League Fishing angler Kevin Van Dam for 2017.

T-H Marine CEO Jeff Huntley stated, “Working with KVD is amazing.  Not only is he known as one of the most dominant bass fishermen of all time, he is also one of the greatest promotors of product in history.  He could pick any product in any category to have on his boat, but he used our products many years before we ever sponsored him in any way, even before we could even dream of deserving space on his jersey.  Kevin believes in what we are doing to make boating and fishing better with great products.  He works really hard for things he believes in and we are so glad he is on our Pro Staff.”

“I have worked with T-H Marine over the last few years on a number of individual signature products such as the KVD Kong, Two-Way Alarm and Hydrowave”, said Kevin Van Dam.   “In addition, I have had my Nitro rigged with an Atlas Hydraulic jackplate and Hot Foot foot throttle for years. I am very excited to partner with T-H Marine to promote the full line of products. We already have a number of new products in the works to make me, and every other angler, more efficient on the water.”

“We are fired up to partner with Kevin Van Dam across our full product line. He is an angler that pushes his equipment to the limit in pursuit of more wins and he doesn’t compromise on quality. In addition, he is always thinking about the next product that will give him an advantage over the competition. It is an exciting time for T-H Marine” said Jimmy Mason, Director of Marketing, T-H Marine.

T-H Marine is celebrating its 42th Anniversary of business and has grown to be one of the largest manufacturers of boating and fishing accessories in the U.S. T-H Marine provides parts to every boat manufacturer in the country and distributes them thru virtually every major distributor and retailer of boating and fishing products. To learn more about T-H Marine, please visit www.thmarine.com .