Some would say if you have never had a chance to catch a fish, then you really haven't experienced Oklahoma, but you can at this year's sixth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo slated for Sept. 25-26.

The Wildlife Expo, held at the Lazy E Arena just north of Oklahoma City, provides visitors a chance to fish for free in a stocked pond. Other angling-related opportunities at the Expo include seminars, bowfishing simulations, kids casting games, fly fishing and fly-tying lessons, fish filleting demonstrations and exhibits hosted by Wildlife Department fisheries personnel. Visitors can speak with experts on a range of fishing topics such as the Wildlife Department's paddlefish program, black bass tactics, fishing tackle and more. Visitors can even sample delicious fried fish at the Expo's popular Taste of the Wild booth, where volunteers serve up free samples of wild game snacks.

Despite the wealth of limits toted across the scales on the first day of the 2010 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Opens, big bites were hard to come by. To Elite Series pros who have not already done so, the Northern Opens represent another avenue to qualify for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic. The competition is as stiff as ever with 23 Elite anglers gunning for one of the two Classic spots available to Northern Opens anglers.

Hatchery to remain open to Trout Fishing Lottery permit holders
COLUMBUS, OH - Beginning August 1, the Castalia State Fish Hatchery will be temporarily closed to visitors and tour groups. The temporary closure will run through September 11, 2011, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

The BoatUS Trailering Club's Top 3 Reasons for Trailer Mishaps
ALEXANDRIA, Va- With the boating season now in full swing, the miles are starting to add up for the thousands of boaters and anglers trailering their boats and fishing rigs to their favorite waterway.

LOVEWELL RESERVOIR -- The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is advising the public to avoid contact with water in Lovewell Reservoir, which is located in the northeast corner of Jewell County.

The next Weekender report, the outdoor-recreation guide produced by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), will be distributed Wednesday, July 28.
With the new edition, Weekender will go to monthly- rather than semi-monthly- publication. Weekender will be distributed on Wednesdays, on or by the first day of each month.

Action: Reopens Baker and Skagit rivers sockeye fisheries.

Effective Dates: Immediately through July 31, 2010.

Species affected: Sockeye salmon.

Location: Baker River from mouth to Highway 20 bridge; Skagit River from the Dalles Bridge at Concrete to a point 200 feet above the east bank of the Baker River.

Fort Smith, AR - No BS marketing speak for XCalibur's new series of Square Lip shallow-running crankbaits. The new baits don't need it. They've got XCalibur's quality, durability, and the most advanced technology, components, color patterns and textures that catch bass. The Square Lip wobbles with a semi roll to show its flash to bass down below and its silent swim projects a realistic baitfish look, sound and feel with water displacement - a real plus when bass are spooky or in very clear water.

DENVER, COLORADO - The Wright & McGill Co. and Skeet Reese have worked closely together to design a new series of spinning reels that will not only stand up to the rigors of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments but are priced so the average fisherman can use the gear that professional anglers like Skeet Reese use everyday.

ALEXANDRIA, VA - The Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) today revealed new research that helps define the impact of anglers and boaters in social media. The Social Media Audit, conducted by RBFF and Magnet 360, evaluated anglers and boaters in three market segments - new, casual and avid. Key findings include: (1) Fishing and boating are very popular topics in social media, (2) More people share experiences about fishing and boating in social networks like Facebook and Twitter and (3) Avid anglers and boaters tend to post more in forums, where the conversation is focused on specific topics like techniques, equipment and repair.

OLYMPIA, WA - A Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) proposal to treat several eastern Washington lakes and a stream to eliminate undesirable fish species will be discussed at three public meetings later this month.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has announced the recreational fishing season for red snapper in state and federal waters will close at 12:01 AM on July 24, and will remain closed until June 1, 2011. LDWF chose to enact the same action for Louisiana waters to enhance the effectiveness and enforceability of NOAA regulations and to ensure the recreational red snapper quota is not exceeded in the 2010 fishing year.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will provide more than $3.3 million to support 68 fish habitat projects in 36 states across the nation under the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP). An additional $9.9 million in partner contributions, over $13.2 million in total, will go toward restoring and enhancing stream, lake and coastal habitat, as well as to improving recreational fishing and helping endangered species.

Population abundance allows for conservative adjustment
Annapolis, MD - In response to a dramatic 60 percent increase in the Chesapeake Bay blue crab population, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is taking steps to eliminate the 9-day female blue-crab harvest closure period that runs from Sept 26-Oct 4 for the 2010 season. DNR fishery scientists have determined that this minor adjustment to the 2010 crab regulations will not jeopardize harvest targets designed to keep Maryland on track to building a sustainable fishery.

The recreational harvest season for red snapper in all waters of the Gulf of Mexico off Florida closes on July 24. This closure was established to limit the harvest of red snapper in the Gulf and help rebuild overfished stocks so anglers can enjoy better red snapper fishing in the future.