FISHING

FISHING
Walleye tourney at Berlin
The fourth tournament for the Ohio Region teams on the Gander Mountain Grand National Walleye Cup is Sunday at Berlin Lake and it will help determine the Ohio Region Team of the Year and the top teams that will make the regional championships at Mosquito Creek on July 10-11.
In the Team of the Year race, Mike Defibaugh and Tom Defibaugh from Bellefontaine, Ohio, and Todd Kunk from St Henry, Ohio, and Adam Harlamert from Cold Water, Ohio, are tied in the race for Team of the Year honors with 13 points. John Clark from Dayton, Ohio, and Marc Colwell from Springfield, Ohio, are in third place with 16 points.
Openings still exist for the Berlin qualifier; call (800) 890-FISH (3474), or email info@walleyecup.com. There will be a trailer at the Bonner Road boat ramp from 6-8 p.m. the evening before the tournament for late entries. Teams are to meet at the Bonner Road boat ramp between 6-6:30 the morning of the tournament for registration and mandatory boat check. Take-off is at 7 a.m. with the weigh-in at 3 p.m. Checkout the standings or simply learn more about the circuit at www.walleyecup.com.
Title Sponsor for the GNWC is Gander Mountain. Other major national sponsors include Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, the Sportsman Channel, Berkley, Aqua Innovations, YoNet Folding Nets by AMFYOYO, VIB'E' Lure Company, TowTector Shield and UpNorthOutdoors.com. The Ohio Regional Skeeter Boats sponsor is Boat Boys of Newark, Ohio.
Poachers netted
& quot;Operation RIP RAP, & quot; an undercover investigation conducted by officers of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife, has resulted in the arrest of 10 people recently for the commercial sale of white bass and walleye caught by sport fishing.
The suspects are accused of illegally selling thousands of fish,
many of which were taken by the illegal practice of snagging. ODNR authorities believe all of the illegal fish sales occurred within the City of Fremont in Sandusky County.
OHIO
Hall of fame nominations taken
Nominations are now being accepted for the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame.
For the past 38 years, the Hall of Fame has been the state's top honor for individuals past and present who have improved the quality of life in Ohio through natural resources management, environmental education or scientific achievement.
Selection criteria and a nomination form are available on the Internet at ohiodnr.com or by calling (614) 265-6811. Nomination forms must be returned no later than July 1 to ODNR, 1952 Belcher Drive, Building C-1, Columbus, Ohio 43224.
Created by ODNR in 1966, the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame now includes 132 individuals, including John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed), explorer John Wesley Powell, conservationist/novelist Louis Bromfield, pioneering botanist Lucy Braun and farming conservation advocate Bob Evans. Selections for induction this year into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame will be made on or about Sept. 1. Award presentations will be made this fall in Columbus.
Ohio controlled huntapplications available
Hunters wanting to participate in Ohio's fall controlled deer and waterfowl hunts have until July 31 to submit permit applications for a lottery drawing.
These special hunts are held each fall on selected public areas to provide additional hunting opportunities.
Special waterfowl hunts will be conducted at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Lucas County), and on the Magee Marsh (Ottawa County), Mosquito Creek (Trumbull County) and Mercer (Mercer County) state wildlife areas. Special deer hunts are slated for the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Lucas County), NASA/Plumbrook Station (Erie County), Ravenna Training & amp; Logistics Site (Portage County), Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve (Jackson County), as well as the Mosquito Creek (Trumbull County) and Killdeer Plains (Wyandot County) state wildlife areas. Hunters can download permit applications and obtain detailed information about each hunt from the ODNR web site at ohiodnr.com .
Applications are also available where hunting and fishing licenses are sold, or by calling the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife's toll-free information line at 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Controlled hunt applications may also be obtained from wildlife district offices located in Akron, Athens, Columbus, Findlay and Xenia. A non-refundable application fee of $3 for each controlled hunt must be included with the application.
Successful hunters, selected at random from submitted applications, will be notified by mail in September.
More specific information about hunt dates and locations, including opportunities dedicated to youths, women, and mobility-impaired hunters, can be found on the application.
PENNSYLVANIA
2004 YHEC scheduled
Pennsylvania's 2004 Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is scheduled for June 12 at the Game Commission's Scotia Range in Centre County.
The top-scoring junior competitors (ages 11-14) and seniors (ages 15-18) will be eligible to take part in the National Rifle Association-sponsored International Youth Hunter Education Challenge, which will be July 26-30 at the Mill Cove Environmental Area (formerly Mill Creek site) and Mansfield University in Mansfield, Tioga County.
BOATING
Special June events
In observance of National Fishing & amp; Boating Week, June 5-12, community organizations across Ohio are joining with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to host a series of regional events that include boat rides, fishing opportunities and more.
ODNR, the Lake Erie Safe Boating Council and the Greater Cleveland Boating Association are co-hosting the Cleveland Boating and Fishing Festival today and Sunday at North Coast Harbor behind Cleveland Browns Stadium on the city's lakefront.
Events include free boat rides, fishing opportunities, displays, "Coastie" the safety boat, free giveaways, and more. Attendance and parking are free.
Harbor North Marina in Huron is hosting "Discover Sailing" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on today and Sunday. Participants who want to enjoy a one-hour introduction to sailing on Lake Erie are encouraged to attend this free event, co-sponsored by ODNR. Food and beverages will be available and participants will receive a 2004 Take Me Boating pin. For more information call (419) 433-6010.
The Dayton Canoe Club will host its annual "Paddle Safe, Paddle Fun" event from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Eastwood Lake located at Harshman Road and State Route 4 in Dayton. Instructional two-hour classes for beginners emphasize boating safety and beginner skills. Free demonstration rides are available.
Families and boaters also are invited to attend the "Alum Creek Boating & amp; Fishing Festival" from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on June 19 at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County. The event is held at the park beach and is free to the public. It includes free fishing for kids, free boat rides, live entertainment, special water demonstrations, safety displays, a hot air balloon launch, a sand pile treasure dig and fireworks. The event is co-sponsored by ODNR and the Central Ohio Safe Boating Council. For information call (740) 548-4631.
Additional information on other summer boating and fishing programs can be obtained by visiting the ODNR web page at ohiodnr.com