One state knows the value of fishing
I know it's old hat, but I am continuing my campaign to let Illinois Tourism honchos know they are truly missing the boat.
First, let me thank colleague, Jim Shepherd of the Outdoor Wire for reminding me about the angling facts of life.
Shepherd reported this week that fishing is big business in Georgia. According to Georgia state officials, the annual estimated economic impact is somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.9 billion.
That is serious money - even to banks and car companies who seem to have government-issued ATM cards to the U.S. Mint.
But Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue believes the state is not capitalizing on fishing, and he's determined to use his administration to help harvest the capital he believes the state is leaving in anglers' pockets.
Earlier this week in Atlanta, Perdue was joined by FLW Chairman Irwin Jacobs to announce that Atlanta will host the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, the championship of the FLW Tour.
With the 2009 fishing tournament championship scheduled for Pittsburgh, it seems Jacobs and the FLW are looking to ramp up the national awareness of the sport. Seems he has a willing partner in Perdue - and Georgia.
Well done, governor.
Kids stuff: Texas teenager Kyle Nitshke of Willis caught Budweiser ShareLunker No. 456 from Lake Conroe on Dec. 13.
The 13.07-pound largemouth bass should qualify as the new junior angler state record by 0.01 pound. Interestingly, Nitshke was fishing in the Ignition Bass Tournament with his friend Tyler Goetzman, who caught the former record fish at Lake Conroe on Jan. 13, 2008.
"We had a limit by 8:40 and started culling," Nitshke said. "We caught 14 keepers. She (the ShareLunker) hit a crankbait in 6 feet of water about 12:30."
The fish was 21.5 inches in girth and 25 inches in length.
Nitshke and Goetzman won the tournament with a bag of 32.85 pounds of fish.
Fishing update
Despite the near zero temperatures in our area, caution is the watchword for ice anglers.
Fox Chain: There are some close-to-shore areas that appear to be safe with a few mid-lake spots tossed in for good measure. Those areas include Pistakee Lake; the very north end of Channel Lake and sections of Lake Marie. The bluegill bite seems to be getting most of the attention from anglers willing to go out and brave the cold.
Lake Zurich: There are some safe areas on this lake, but hardly a soul out there is working the weed areas.
• Mike Jackson's radio program can be heard Sundays from 6-7 a.m. on WSBC 1240-AM.