The Times-Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 63

-THE SUNDAY TIMES, JUNE 12, 1988-SCRANTON, PA. C-15 Oou'Q'dlooirs Walsh Takes Big Step on Red Man Trail By JERRY PALKO Times Outdoor Writer Greg Walsh has won the Operation Bass Red Man Northeastern Regional tournament on the Susquehanna River out of Havre de Grace, Maryland. classic the last hurdle before the All American. Four more Northeastern Division Red Mans loom. Walsh will fish at least three of them the Hudson River June 26, Lake Cayuga July 24 and 1,000 Islands Sept.

11 and may fish Lake Champlain Aug. 14. If Im in the top five after the Hudson and Cayuga, I may skip tactical error. I was going to go up where I fished last year and try for a limit of smallmouth, but I drew a local who knew the river real well. I should have trusted my own instincts.

He knew the river well so I figured we were were active. to win the Susquehanna Red Man -but was disqualified because of an -fished mo're than 300 anglers from overlooked fish in the livewell. He Champlain and try and make it up at 1,000 Islands. It all dependswhere I stand. Walsh has fished the Hudson be- fore but admits he hasnt fished it that often and hasnt done well there on a consistent basis.

He blanked on the Hudson in 1987 but took eighth at 1,000 Islands. At that time of the year, its going to be tricky at 1,000 Islands, ne said. But I think the large-mouths should be on the outside of the weedlines and the smallmouths should be starting to go in a little shallower. As for Cayuga, he said he will definitely fish it and get some practice time in. I will prefish it.

The Scranton pro is sponsored by Browning, Ranger, GNB Stowaway, Stren, Eagle Electronics, Norbrook Tackle Systems, Johnson Outboards, Manns Baits, Lake Systems. Osmic Research, his own Hawg Wild lures and his brother Kevins Walshs Wigglers. A contingent of area anglers travelled to Maryland to participate in the third leg of the six event Northeastern Division circuit. Scranton police officer A1 Burian was able to manage only one smallmouth. He said he may have made a throughout the northeastern United States to take the $3,141 top prize.

It was a hard-fought battle, he told The Sunday Times. Down there you have two options. You can go 25 and 3Qjniles south to fish for largemouths. The largemouth were on the spawning beds a week ago. A majority of them are spawned out nd are difficult to fish figured that post-spawn smallies are a lot easier to catch than post-spawn largemouths.

I went about four or five miles upriver. It took me all day, but I caught seven keepers and two that I lost were over three pounds." Walsh weighed in a five-fish limit of 13 pounds one ounce, three pounds ahead of second-place finisher, Randy Macaluso of New Jersey. This was an important win for Walsh, who was forced to miss the Red Man opener June 5 on the Potomac River. It puts him 11th in the Northeastern Division standings. He must remain in the top 24 to progress to the Red Man Regional Classic.

Of all the tournaments Ive fished in my life, this is the one I had to do good in. I know that at any point in time any of those guys who were Weekend Bass Tournaments To Start Again Canada, where they -u- championship round. Weekend Bass is, By JERRY PALKO Times Outdoor Writer Canada, where they will fish the as the name Still, for those who want to try tournament bass angling for the first time, the WBC events are the GREQ WALSH Red Man event the combination of all the right things and some luck. The win earned him 50 points in i qualify for the Red Man regional classic. If he is able to do well in the remaining four Red Mans, hell qualify for the regional ones to try.

The event is cosponsored by Lures Unlimited, Peckville; Hum-minbird and Berkley. Fishing, in teams only, begins out of tne main launch area at safe light and weigh-in is at 1 p.m. Judging is by total weight. In addition to prizes and trophies, first place wins $500, second $250, third $125, fourth $75 and fifth $50. Sixth through 10th earns prizes and trophies.

There is also lunker prize and each contestant gets a free gift. This is a member tournament -which means you must join WBC to enter. Entry forms may be obtained at Lures Unlimited, 714 Keystone Peckville, or Weekend Bass Challengers, 528 Keystone Peckville. For membership info, contact WBC or see tournament officials Larry Mackinder, Frank Esposito or John Kapacs well in advance of the starting time Sunday morning. It seems like only yesterday that 30 of the best bass anglers in the area travelled to Steges Lake at Eldred Preserve Resort in New York to compete in 15 teams in the Weekend Bass Challengers 1987 championship round.

They had made it to the championship by finishing in the top five of the three WBC qualifying tournaments at Francis Slocum, Lake Henry and Walleqpaupack. When the day was over, midvalley anglers Gary Sholtes and Gary Gre-gorski took the crown and the top prize, a boat and motor. Next Sunday it all begins again. This time at Lackawanna State Park for the opening event of the three-tournament circuit. The top five teams at Lackawanna, along with the top five from later events at Prompton and Lake Henry, will receive an all expenses paid weekend Sept.

16-18 at at Simmons Lodge and Dorothys Fishing Resort, Chaffeys Locks, Ontario, JERRY PALKO Lead Shot Controversy Roars Again A Moscow outdoor sportsman sent me some information questioning the impending ban on -lead shot forwaterfowl hunting. The ban will go into effect in Pennsylvania tnis year and will be imposed nationwide in 1991 by the Fish Wildlife Service. The basis of the ban is the contention that ingested spent lead shot is responsible for the deaths of millions of waterfowl and a number of bald eagles. On more than one occasion Ive expressed suppport of the switch to nontoxic shot. The Moscow resident writes, While no responsible sportsman wants wildlife to be needlessly jeopradized, many people established experts in the field feel that steel shot is not a solution but just a tool being used by antigunners to curtail or abolish the use of firearms anywhere, anytime and for any reason.

If they succeed, it wont be long until they go after fishing too." The items he sent along are columns by James E. Reinke, president of the National Rifle Association, and articles from Guns and Ammo, one of which is written by Mike Maier, executive vice president of the Waterfowl Habitat Alliance and for 33 years a hunter and conservationist. If these authors are even marginally correct, says the Moscow hunter, the future of all hunting, targetshooting and even fishing are threatened. While assessing this as a highly controversial and emotional issue and emphasizing he is not trying to change my views, he asks I read the information since theres too much at stake to not investigate all information from both sides. I agree this is a controversial issue (though I dont think its an emotional one) and am indeed indebted to him for sending me the information, which I have read.

But Im still sticking to my guns. The articles are informative, raise some solid questions and offer some good arguments all which provide food tor thought but throughout those points are weakened by the underlying insinuation that the effort to convert from lead to steel is some sort of anti-hunting plot hatched by the radical antis ana aided and abetted by anybody else who opposes lead shot. Reinke talks about our enemies embarking on a program to use the lead pollution issue as a back-door approach to achieve de facto gun control and calls the lead shot ban a back door attack on our Second Amendment rights. While I agree the the antis are swooping down on the lead shot controversy, embracing it and using it to their advantage, I would suggest their association with the issue is neither welcomed nor wanted by the majority of those who support steel over lead. In the forefront of efforts to ban lead shot is the National Wildlife Federation.

Right behind are the Atlantic, Mississippi and Central Flyway Councils; the Wildlife Society and the 30 state wildlife agencies including Pennsylvanias and quite a lot of other wildlife, conservation and other pro-hunting organizations and individuals. The NWF, which was founded by a coalition of sportsmen, has 4.8 million members and 51 affiliate organizations. The three flyway councils represent 41 state wildlife agencies. The Wildlife Society has a membership consisting of 8,000 wildlife biologists, managers and administrators. While I agree with some of the points made by the NRA in particular questions about interpetation of the 1959 Bellrose report on waterfowl lead poisoning those made by the NWF tip the scales.

I dont believe steel shot is an anti-hunting issue. It is a conservation issue. And conservation and hunting go hand in hand. Without conservation there wouldnt be any game and without game theres no hunting. To quote the NWF, Rhetoric that proponents of steel shot are anti-hunters is patently false.

Were this true then the waterfowl hunters who use steel shot when they take to the marshes, the state waterfowl biologists and administrators who support the use of steel shot in their states, and the professional wildlife community that endorses steel shot must be labeled as anti-hunters. The plain and simple truth is that efforts to eliminate lead poisoning are based on the responsible sportsmans ethical duty to conserve the natural resources and protect the traditional values of properly regulated sport hunting. Still, as the Moscow reader notes, there are two sides to this. Waterfowlers or anyone else who wants to take the time to really study both sides of this before passing judgement should take the time to contact both the NRA and the NWF and ask for background information and studies. Tne NRA can be reached at 1600 Rhode Island NW, Washington, D.C.

20036. The NWFs address is 1412 16th NW, Washington, D.C. 20038. there can win any of these tournaments. I was fortunate enough to put it together and do it right.

While fortune may have played a role, it was Walshs angling skills that gave him the win. In 1986, he was co-winner of the Red Man Lake Wallenpaupack Tournament. In 1987 he took enough fish also has an Eastern Bass event win under his belt and titles from numerous area tournaments. A factor that made this Susquehanna win unique was that he caught alLof his bass on lures jnade by nis brother Kevin. I took them on Walshs Wigglers.

I wish I could say Hawg Wild lures because Im the one that makes Hawg Wild while Kevin makes the Wigglers. But I tell it like it is. I was using a crappie twister and I caught two of the fish on that. And two on an tfe-ounce jighead with one of Kevins four-inch twist tail minnows. I was fishing a shoal that was about 50 yards long with 12 to 14 feet of water on the inside and 25 feet of water on the outside.

It was a good 75 to 80-yards offshore. Walsh had caught bass on white wigglers working the same shoal during practice tne day before. But on Sunday, the white wasnt producing. My Color-C-Lector told me to go with a flourescent chartreuse so I switched. Then I took a 3 -pounder and my next one was my big one, the three-pound 11-ouncer.

I was using Dr. Juice on the jig every few casts and I think that helped. It was implies, an organization for weekend anglers as opposed to pros. Those who have won money big national events such as Red Man and B.A.S.S. are prohibited from competing for prizes in WBC tournaments.

Which means youre not up against pros. But dont get the idea that the competition isnt stiff. WBC events attract some of the best bass anglers' in these parts anglers such as Ben and Jesse Davis, Marco and Randy Troiani, Jude Kane, Frank Rempe, Dave Lewon-czyk, Dr. Alex Karpowicz, Dave Rosar, Rob Davis, Mike Glogon-ski, Wendell Hall, Harve Hallet, Jim Foley, James Wright, Linda Vanartsdalen, Paul Portonova, Jim Smith, Tim McLain, John Kovaleski, Don Hopkins, Margie Naegele, Walt Sinnwell, Dennis Fosbenner, Marty Oley, Charles Koch, Rich Yarasavich and Rich Rondomanski, all of whom out-fished hundreds of others to make it to the 1987 chamionship round. life and Marine Resources Department.

Everybody Ive talked to other than the wildlife department thinks that it is a great idea," Foxworth said in a recent interview. But Dan Dobbins, department coordinator and legislative liaison for the agency, said the department doesnt oppose the proposal. As a matter of fact, our commission has not taken a stand on it," he said. Were interested in it and investigating it to see whether it would make good economic sense. They have made money on them.

Were trying our best to determine under the present economic situation what financial level we would have to provide such a license and make money. Under Foxworths proposal, a lifetime state hunting or fishing license would cost $150. Yearly resident fishing licenses are $10 and yearly hunting licenses are $12. The cost of combination hunting and fishing licenses or sportsman licenses would be based on the age of the person. For a lifetime combination license, the price would be $200 for children up to 2 years old, $300 for anyone age 2-14 and $400 for anyone 14 or older.

An annual com- a James Wright and Linda Vanartsdalen will be back in the hunt for Weekend Bass laurels starting Sunday. is further-ahead in-weight after two year, He took his smallmouth on a white Yankee spinnerbait. Lake Ariel pro basser Bill Albright also managed only one fisha 1- pound 1-ouncer. Burian and Albright have been invited to the Yankee Bait Invitational June 19 at Lake Hopatcong, N.J. Clark Summits Tony Grigas, who took a 9-pound 9-ounce limit and racked up 24 points in the Red Man opener May 15 on the Potomac River, did not fare well on the Susquehanna.

He managed just a sqi single fish. Joe Bellucci, Jessup, also too while Frank Contursi blanked. Out of more than 300 anglers, only about half took fish. Approximately 24,000 anglers will compete in 120 Red Man regionals this year, but only the top 40 will make it to the All American where the top prize is $100,000 in cash and $50,000 in merchandise. Only one area angler has managed to make it to the AH American and that was Albright in 1985.

He finished ninth. also took one the state will still have their money And people move and die, but their money would always be there. Lifetime licenses would also be a convenience for outdoorsmen who dont want to have to renew their license every year and also could bring the state more revenue. Fox-worth said. If North Carolinas experience is any example, Foxworth is right.

North Carolina has sold lifetime licenses since 1981, and officials said they have had no problems. Its been a very popular program here, said Dick Hamilton, assistant director of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. We havent had any problems. I can see why there may be some reservation going into it, but we like it. Its worked real well.

The cost of a lifetime license in North Carolina ranges from $200 for an infant to $500 for an adult. Hie program has amassed a principal of about $14 million, which cannot be spent. The principal is now generating an interest income of about $100,000 per month, which is used to help fund the departments activities, Hamilton said. We havent lost any money. I would say that without reservation.

F.ielclINote TCE-SAC Melissa Oliver landed a 10y4-inch yellow perch to win top prize in the recent Thomson Consumer Electronics-Scranton Activity Club Childrens Fishing Derby at Lakawanna State Park. Winners in the 6 and under division, first through fifth, are Aron Shishinski, Kurt Moser, Kim Nelson, Jennifer Hameza and Chris Olechna. In the 7-10 division, William Bilinski, David Auliso, Brad Rogowski, Christina Piceda and, tied for fifth, Stanlet Bednarz and John Lavelie. In the 12-15 division, Amy Fredmonski, Todd Monahan, John Derenich, Stephen Polishan and Jennifer Olechna. SUSQUEHANNA TOP 10 In the Operation Bass Red Man tournament on the Susquehanna River out of Havre de Grace, Md.

Scranton's Greg Walsh took first place with a five fish limit weighing 13-pounds 1-ounce. He won $3,141. Rounding out tne top 10 were 2nd, Randy Macaluso, Long Branch, N.J., five, 10-pounds 1-ounce, 3rd, Millard Shields, Newport, five, 9-pounds 3-ounces, 4th, Benny Santanna, Elizabeth, N.J., five, 8-pounds 11-ounces, $781; 5th, Richard Pagano, East Brunswick, N.J., five, 8-pounds 1-ounce, $699 6th, Chester Sadowski III, Baltimore, five, 8-pounds 1-ounce, $618; 7th a tie, Tom Belucci, Long Branch, N.J., and Mike Luzier, Wheaton, both with five weighing 7-pounds 7-ounces and both winning $495 9th, Anthony Vicari, Baltimore, five, 7-pounds 5-ounces, $373; 10th, Charles Wetzel, Mulhca Hill, N.J., three, 7-pounas 4-ounces, $227. Wetzel and Dave Bitterman, Limmerick, split the lunker money of $500 each. Both had 3-pound 14-ouncers.

Walsh misses out on the lunker money by a mere 3-ounces. His biggest fish was 3-pounds 11-ounces. Donna Lee Boyle holds eight-pound, 23-inch bass her father, Donald, caught in a private pond in Tunkhannock. South Carolina Legislator Seeking Lifetime Licenses Coyotes Raiding Watermelons ATLANTA (AP) Coyotes have a well-deserved reputation as chicken thieves, but in the dry year of 1988 they are also raiding south Georgia watermelon patches. Coyotes, natives of the American West, were imported into Georgia in the 1930s and 1950s, and possibly other times officials havent discovered, by hunters looking for new game to chase, said Game and Fish Division biologist Bill Cooper.

Helped by other hunters who have moved them around the state, the crafty predators now are known to inhabit 148 of Georgias 159 counties, and unless they can follow a county line through the woods. Id be surprised if theyre not in many of the other 11, said Cooper, the states coyote specialist. Probably the biggest crop problem right now is watermelons. They are probably doing more damage, causing more losses, to them than to anything else, he said. Georgia has experienced below-average rainfall for several years and thirsty coyotes scrounging for water nave settled for watermelon.

By RICK SCOPPE AP Sports Writer COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) Its a yearly ritual for millions of Americans: hunting or fishing season comes and the forms are filled out for the proper license. Its a ritual a South Carolina lawmaker would like to end. State Rep. Eugene Foxworth, R-Charleston, believes South Carolina outdoorsmen should be able to purchase lifetime hunting and fishing licenses.

Its something outdoors lovers In neighboring North Carolina have been able to do for years. Foxworth said he plans to introduce a bill in the January session of the General Assembly that would allow the sale of such licenses. I think it's a good idea for the state," Foxworth said. It does not hurt anything. I sat down and talked with people all over the country about this, particularly in North Carolina, he said.

They're all enthusiastic about it. They really like it." He said the only reservations expressed about the proposal have come from the South Carolina Wild bination license now costs $17. A lifetime sportsman license, which allows for the hunting on wildlife management areas ana big game hunting, would cost $300 for children up to 2 years old; $400 for anyone age 2-14 and $500 for anyone 14 or older. A yearly sportsman license now costs $44. Under Foxworths proposal, the money collected from the sale of lifetime licenses would be used to create the South Carolina Wildlife Endowment Fund.

While the principal would remain untouched, interest from the principal would be used to help fund wildlife programs. The idea behind the thing is to build up this reservoir, he said. I think it will eventually make even more money for the state than is now made through yearly licenses. The principal stays there. So, after Im gone, the states still going to have my money.

Long after my grandchildren have grandchildren;.