Studies show that largemouth bass tournaments contribute significant amounts to local economies. Local businesses that benefit from bass fishing events include:

sporting goods stores

tackle shops

boat dealers

marinas

hotels - motels - bed and breakfasts

restaurants

In most largemouth bass tournaments, catches are placed in a live well, and released after being weighed by officials. Fish that die while in captivity are worth fewer points and in some cases dead fish are not eligible at all.

After being weighted, bass are either released immediately or placed in tanks and treated for stress and slime coat injury, then released back into the water.

Spinnerbaits are excellent lures for catching bass, crappie, bream, yellow perch and other freshwater fish, especially during cool weather when fish are sluggish.

Most panfish spinnerbaits use a special metal arm and jig combination. One end of the arm is equipped with a swivel and a silver or gold blade. The other end of the arm is equipped with a snap for connecting to the jig.

These simple designs have several advantages:

 - Their modular construction allows anglers to easily change soft plastic lure bodies or jig heads.

 - Most models can be purchased with or without a jig.

 - Simple spinnerbaits catch a wide range of species, including largemouth bass, black crappie, bream sunfish, rock bass, yellow perch, and chain pickerel.

 - Anglers can choose from a variety of soft plastic bodies, marabou jigs or add bait strips.

 - Due to their design, spinnerbaits are less likely to get hung up on limbs or other underwater obstructions. 

 - Spinnerbaits can be worked very slowly, allowing sluggish fish time to react.

- Pulsating spinner blades create pressure waves as well as bright flashes which attract fish in murky water.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a new report, Trends in Fishing and Hunting 1991-2006: A focus on Fishing and Hunting by Species.

The report provides a detailed look at fishing and hunting by species and offers a wealth of information on national and state fishing and hunting expenditures, participation rates, and demographic trends.

The report is an addendum to the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation. It represents a comprehensive survey conducted by the Service’s Wildlife Sport Fish and Restoration Program (WSFR).

The report includes the following summaries:

For fishing, participation has dropped for nearly all types of fishing (i.e., freshwater and saltwater) and species of fish. One species for which fishing hasn't significantly dropped is flatfish.

The declining numbers of anglers have increased their average days of fishing so that overall fishing effort has remained stable.

To download a complete copy of the report please visit:

http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/NationalSurvey/reports2006.html

source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

In February, 2011, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) plans to begin stocking rainbow and brown trout into freshwater streams and ponds across the State. According to the agency, approximately 327,000 fish will be released.

The stocking schedule is online at www.dnr.maryland.gov/fisheries/stocking and is also available at DNR Regional Service Centers and license vendors. Anglers can also call 1-800-688-3467 for fish stocking updates.

Pre-season stocking usually starts in the eastern part of the State followed by the western region as the weather warms up.

source: MD DNR

Update: In 2011, some Maryland stocked trout were infected with whirling disease