OHIO

OHIO
Bass College kicks off Cleveland Boat Show
CLEVELAND -- The inaugural Bass College will be one of the new features at this year's Cleveland Mid-American Boat Show, which runs Jan. 13-22 at the I-X Center.
Kicking off at 8 a.m. Jan. 14, fishing professionals Bryan Coates, Joe Balog and John Shirhal will cover topics such as: Lake Erie Smallmouth -- Tools of the Trade; Pitching and Flipping for Bass; Crankbaits and Spinnerbaits; Garmin Electronics -- Use of the Street Pilot; Fishfinders & amp; GPS Units and much more during the daylong event.
Registration fee for Bass College is $99 and includes refreshments, lunch, all printed materials, boat show admission and top quality fishing tackle and books (an $80 value).
The one-day Walleye & amp; Steelhead College returns for a second year Jan. 21. Topics covered include: The Excitement of the Silver Steelhead; Dive with Dipsys, Jets and more; The Challenges of Early Spring Fishing; Weight it with Snaps, Bottom Bouncers and Lead Core; and Night Stalking, Fishing When the Lights Go Out.
Registration fee is $99 which includes refreshments, lunch, all printed materials and boat show admission.
To sign up for either college, go to www.ClevelandBoatShow.com, scroll over "Tickets" and click "Purchase." To register and pay by phone, call the boat show office at (440) 899-5009 through Jan. 10 or the I-X Center at (216) 265-7100.
Another new feature is a 4,000-gallon aquarium-on-wheels, the Hawg Tank. The unique theater allows patrons to watch the lures cast into the water and see how bass react to the various presentations.
Other attractions include Kids Fishing Village, Sportsfishin' Simulator and Kids Fishing Pond.
Show hours are 3-9 p.m. Jan. 13, 17, 19 and 20; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 14; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 15; and Noon to 9 p.m. Jan. 16 and 18. Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors ages 60-over and kids 12 and under are admitted free of charge. A three-day pass is available for $24. All seniors will receive free admission Jan. 19 and all women free admission Jan. 17.
For more information, visit www.ClevelandBoatShow.com.
WILD School Site grantsto become available
The Division of Wildlife will again offer WILD School Sites grants in 2006 to local schools, government agencies, non-profit organizations and other school-oriented facilities to start a WILD School Site.
A WILD School Site is any school property used by students, teachers and the school community as a place to learn about and benefit wildlife and the environment, as an extension of the Project Wild educational curriculum.
The money is to be used as a start-up grant intended to help an organization to begin the development of a WILD School Site. Any educators interested in the grants or the WILD School Sites project should visit us on the Web at: http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Resources/wildschools/default.htm or call (330) 644-2293.
Hooked on fishing workshops offered
The Future Fisherman Foundation, in conjunction with the Division of Wildlife, will offer free "Hooked On Fishing -- Not On Drugs" workshops to teachers, club leaders and educators of other youth-oriented facilities.
HOFNOD utilizes fishing to enhance life skills and family communication.
A workshop is available at the Wildlife District Headquarters in Akron on Jan. 17, or in the city of Ashtabula Feb. 16.
For more information, visit http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/fishing/hofnod/hookedon.htm or call (800) WILDLIFE.
Ice fishing safety tips
The Division of Wildlife urges caution for those who venture out on ice-covered waters in northeast Ohio this winter.
The following are safety tips offered by the Division of Wildlife:
UFirst, always remember that ice-covered water is never completely safe.
UAnyone new to ice fishing, or interested in learning how to safely ice fish on Lake Erie, should seek out a licensed ice fishing guide. A list of certified guides for Lake Erie fishing is available by calling the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE.
UIf fishing inland, go with someone who has ice fished before for your first trip out. Ask at a local bait shop about known areas of thin or dangerous ice.
UAlways go out with friends and let others know when you will be on the ice and when you will return. If possible, take with you a cellular phone wrapped in a plastic bag.
UUnderstand wind chill factors, which are relative temperature guides. Although a thermometer may read 40 degrees Fahrenheit, a wind speed of 20 miles per hour can cause a body to lose heat as if the temperature were actually 18 degrees Fahrenheit.
UCarry two ice picks, screwdrivers, or large nails within easy reach to dig into the ice and pull yourself out should you have the misfortune of stepping onto thin ice. They are much more effective than bare hands. Also carry a whistle or other noisemaker to alert people that you are in distress.
UDress in layers and add extra clothing for the head, neck, sides and groin, which are the primary high heat loss areas. While wool and modern synthetics are good fabric choices for clothing, cotton should be avoided as it is a poor insulator.
UWear a life jacket. Life vests provide excellent flotation and some protection from hypothermia.
UKeep an extra set of clothes in your car in case you do need dry clothing.
UAvoid alcoholic beverages. In addition to reducing reaction times, alcohol lowers your internal temperature and increases your chances for hypothermia.
UNever drive a vehicle onto ice. Leave this to professional guides. This is extremely dangerous and most insurance policies will not cover ice fishermen's vehicles that have dropped through the ice.
Winter fishing
Fishing is a year-round activity in Ohio.
While currently the weather is not exactly suitable in northeast Ohio for ice fishing, once the temperatures drop again and the snow falls, fishing will be back in business.
Bluegill, crappie and saugeye are among the more abundant catchable fish found beneath the ice in ponds and lakes across Ohio.
Follow safety tips if planning to go ice fishing. Open water areas below a number of flood control dams offer good winter fishing action for saugeye, especially a week or so following a significant water discharge over a dam.
The Portage Lakes in Akron offer exceptional panfishing opportunities for crappie, bluegill, redear and pumpkinseed.
For maps of Portage Lakes and other fishing locations in northeast Ohio, call (330) 644-2293 or visit http://www.ohiodnr.com/wildlife/ Fishing/lakemaps/lmaps.htm
PENNSYLVANIA
Changes announced to snowmobile trails
FRANKLIN, Pa. -- The Pennsylvania Game Commission announced the closing of one snowmobile trail and the opening of another recently.
The trail located on State Game Land 86 in Warren County, a six-mile stretch beginning at Davey Hill gate and ending at the game commission parking lot, has closed. The trail has not received any documented use in the past two years, according to Northwest Region Land Management Supervisor William P. Anderson, who said the funds used to maintain the trail will be used on habitat work that benefits wildlife.
Also, the snowmobile trail on State Game Land 29 will reopen after being closed last year because of a logging operation. The trail is a four-mile stretch on the east boundary of the Allegheny National Forest.