A final message from the 2012-2013 President…

Thank you to all OWAC members for the honor of serving you this year. When the new board members take office this spring, we will be voting in a new President. Serving our diverse, talented and very busy membership can be quite a challenge but it is also very rewarding. Thank you for your support and encouragement during the past year.

Just around the corner is the Loreto conference which looks to be exciting. I look forward to seeing all who are able to join us there. We will announce the OWAC Award winners at the Loreto conference but we will wait to present the awards at Tuolumne County. If you have questions, please contact John Henigin.

Coming in the fall, we will be at Tuolumne County for our Fall Conference which should be absolutely fantastic! You won't want to miss this one!

On a final note – keep a watch on the OWAC website, updates, changes and more to come – always in the service of the OWAC members.

Thank you again for a fabulous year...Alexia Retallack

NOTE: OUR CRAFT AWARDS WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT OUR SPRING CONFERENCE, BUT THE AWARDS CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT THE FALL CONFERENCE IN TUOLUMNE! MARK YOUR CALENDARS.

Cornell Birders Head to Texas for Record-Breaking Attempt

THE CORNELL LAB OF ORNITHOLOGY'S TEAM SAPSUCKER is heading to Texas during the third week of April in an attempt to break their own United States record for the most bird species identified by sight or sound during 24 hours. These six top-notch birders are driven not just to break records, but to raise a quarter of a million dollars for bird conservation work through supporters’ donations or pledges for every species tallied. The Sapsuckers hold the current U.S. record of 264 species, which they set two years ago and matched again last year.

Team Member Andrew Farnsworth says:

"Texas screams possibilities with its diversity of landscapes and migration pathways. Of course, birds have wings, and use them, so connecting the dots to find them all is a serious challenge of logistics, identification skills, and stamina."

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Outdoor Writers Association of California
2013 FALL CONFERENCE

SAVE THE DATES – SEPTEMBER 14-15-16

Multitudes of people visit Tuolumne County each year to enjoy and discover the natural, historic and recreational attractions that make our county the desirable “Vacationland” it is.

This perfect vacation destination offers four seasons of fun and adventure, a great mix of history, culture and the arts and exciting attractions.

Fall brings on the brilliance of fall and the Dogwood leaves glow among the Evergreen, Ponderosa Pines and Incense Cedars, while Black Oaks shimmer in golden hues. It’s harvest season in our orchards and vineyards which makes it the perfect time for barbeques and hayrides.

Whitewater rafting, horseback riding in the back country, skiing double black diamond and downhill single track mountain trails are just some of the activities that summon thrill-seekers from near and far. Milder yet fun-filled activities include finding that perfect fishing or gold panning spot, a great swimming hole or boating or kayaking on one of our 800 lakes or 811 miles of rivers and streams.

Plan to arrive early as this year holds a big treat the day prior to the conference. Saturday, September 14th, is the first day of the Me-Wuk Indian Acorn Festival, a popular regional Pow Wow which showcases the heritage of our local tribal band of Me-Wuk Native American Indians and other tribes that attend from all over the west.

Be looking for more information to come. You can view or request our vacation planner at www.YosemiteGoldCountry.com for a sneak peek at what we have in store for you when you come to Tuolumne County.

Sandy Gordon
OWAC Fall Conference Coordinator
SandyGordon1947@yahoo.com

Lisa Mayo
Director of Marketing & Sales
Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau
Lisa@GoTuolumne.com

Improved National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan Still Leaves Room for Concern

Sportfishing industry wants to see public access to recreation, such as fishing and boating, made a plan priority

Alexandria, VA – April 16, 2013 - The sportfishing industry supports the improvements in the administration’s final Implementation Plan for its National Ocean Policy (NOP) but still has concerns that the social, economic, public health and conservation benefits of recreational uses of our nation’s public resources did not receive the priority consideration that it deserves.

The American Sportfishing Association (ASA), which represents the sportfishing industry and the broader sportfishing community, supports the plan’s acknowledgment of the need to avoid closing off public recreational access. The plan also highlights the millions of dollars paid annually by recreational anglers in the form of excise taxes on fishing gear and state fishing license fees that go to funding management of marine resources.

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Denali Rods News and Updates

From Scott Estes, President, Denali Rods

Elite Series Update:
After the two event Texas swing, Hank Cherry is sitting in a respectable 56th place in the Elite Series Angler of the Year race. He finished 40th at the Sabine River on the back of a stout day 1 catch and managed a 68th at a tougher than expected Falcon. Not bad for fishing new water with the best anglers in the world!
 
Hank is also in 5th place in the Rookie of the Year race, which should tighten up significantly as the next several events are in much more familiar waters for the North Carolina angler. Read more about the Elite Series and Hank's results online.
 
Scheide Notches Top-10 at Smith Lake FLW Tour Event:
Longtime FLW and team Denali angler Ray Scheide has his season on the right track after a 10th place finish at the FLW Tour event held on Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake, March 7-10th. Scheide used a variety of power fishing techniques, including a jig and a crankbait to bring in mixed bags of largemouth and spots totaling 43-14. This start bodes well for Scheide, who currently sits in 21st place in the AOY race heading into the always tough Beaver Lake event, which Scheide won in 2009. Read more about Scheide's finish online.
 
New Denali Gear Hits the Shelves:
Calling all apparel junkies! We've finally released the new t-shirt and hat designs that we've been secretly working on for a while. They turned out better than we'd hoped, and are already available for purchase on our website. Go to http://www.denalirods.com/denalistore.aspx to check them out and get some of the latest swag now for the upcoming season!

Father and Son Battle Wind and Fog For Top Redfish Finish

“Cajun” Phil and Capt. Kevin Broussard Take Top Honors in First HT Redfish Series Event
 
 Eufaula, Al. (April 11, 2013) - The father and son team of “Cajun” Phil and Kevin Broussard recently took home $40,000 for their 44.78-pound first place finish in the inaugural 2013 Academy Sports and Outdoors HT Invitational Redfish Series event at Chalmette, Louisiana.
 
But the tournament proved a challenge for even the best of the best, including the long-time host of “Cajun” Phil & Capt. Kevin’s Outdoors & Fishing Television show and his son, a Lake Charles guide. By Day 3 winds reached 30 mph and pea soup fog made navigation difficult.

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Port of San Diego's Day at the Docks

THE 34th ANNUAL PORT OF SAN DIEGO'S Day at the Docks – themed “It’s all about fishing and so much more” – held April 21, celebrates the beginning of the spring sportfishing season.

The free day-long celebration and festival is on the waterfront at San Diego’s Sportfishing Landing, Harbor Drive at Scott St., Pt. Loma.  Parking on Shelter Island and frequent shuttles to and from the site are also free.   

From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the docks will be buzzing with kids catching their first-ever fish and parents attending fishing seminars and checking out the port’s fleet of sportfishers that provides first-class accommodations while traveling to some of the world’s most prolific waters.

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Who will be honored as Californian of the Year in 2013?

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR OWAC's prestigious Californian of the Year award, which will be presented at the 2013 fall conference in Tuolumne. All nominations need to be made by June 1, 2013.

Nominees should exemplify the spirit of the outdoors through contributions above and beyond the call of duty. Candidates are nominated by an OWAC member, and presented to the full membership for a vote.
 
With the fingers of OWAC stretching to the far reaches of the state, finding qualified nominees should be as easy as casting a line into a millpond. Think of someone who has dedicated his or her life to the betterment of the outdoors, or recently worked on a special project that benefited the outdoors industry.
Past recipients have been teachers, biologist, wildlife advocates, politicians and everyday citizens who have taken up a cause. We should continue this tradition with a stellar contingent of candidates. OWAC members are not eligible, and the award is not given posthumously.

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