Lord Help Us

Liz Cheney is running for the Senate seat now held by Michael B. Enzi, onetime fly-fishing partner of her father.

LINK (via: Ski Curbed)

There's only one slight problem, Enzi has no plans to retire.

Western senators (except the ones from Alaska) press Obama to block Pebble

On the eve of a lobbying trip to D.C. by John Shively, CEO of the Pebble Partnership, Senators Patty Murray, Washington; Jeff Merkley, Oregon; and Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, both of California, are asking President Barack Obama to consider blocking the proposed Pebble Mine.

LINK (via: Anchorage Daily News)

It could get worse, much, much worse. Tea Party darling Joe Miller is running for Begich's Senate seat.

North Carolina Gamefish Bill Shelved

Despite the economic data supporting the designation of speckled trout, red drum and estuarine striped bass as gamefish, House Bill 983 was recently shelved by North Carolina lawmakers.

LINK (via: Forbes)

Senators likely to hit EPA nominee over ‘expensive powerplay’ with Pebble Mine

Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s Environmental Protection Agency nominee will get her confirmation hearing this week. McCarthy is expected to face questions regarding the EPA's spending taxpayer dollars holding meetings regarding environmental assessments for the Pebble Mine in Bristol Bay, Alaska, as well as exceeding its authority by arguing it can veto the mine.

LINK (via: The Daily Caller)

Leading the Spanish inquisition against McCarthy will be the dynamic duo of Republican Senator David, diaper wearing Vitter and House Republican Paul, evolution and the Big Bang theory are lies from the gates of hell Broun.

Meanwhile Rapala has joined the fight against Pebble. (via: In Fisherman)

Fly Fishers Disagree on Silver Creek Restoration Proposal

To mitigate the imapct of sediment build up there is a proposal to do restoration work on Silver Creek’s Kilpatrick Pond. Good for the fish but, as always, there are some who don't care for the proposal.

Magic Valley covers the restoration plan and debate in depth, along with instructions on how you can submit your own comments. A public hearing on the proposal will be held on March 19th.

LINK (via: MagicValley)

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Tables Fish Protections

Florida state fishery rulemakers have thrown a plan to create rules for what's a game fish and what's a sport fish back into the water.

"They began changing things and making exceptions," said Tom McLaughlin, a Boca Grande charter fishing captain who supported the concept.

"It was a little rushed and got a little confusing.... Then it started to cave in on itself," said McLaughlin, a former Tavernier resident.

After more than two hours of testimony and discussion, FWC board members directed agency staff to "look into creating some type of parameters specifically for bonefish and tarpon," said FWC spokeswoman Amanda Nalley.

Concerns that other species, such as sea trout or permit, could wind up as designated sport fish or game fish apparently doomed the plan.

"This was entirely about permit," McLaughlin said. "Basically, the only opposition came from divers who spearfish out of the Tampa area. They organized and got about 20 to 25 divers to show up in Orlando."

The rule reaching the FWC would have created a recognized sport-fish designation applied to species so economically valuable to the recreational economy that only catch-and-release fishing would be allowed.

LINK (via: Keys Net)