The Fish and Boat Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced that registration has begun for the 5^th Pennsylvania Black Bass Workshop, April 22-23 at Blue Spruce County Park, near Ernest, Indiana County.

The workshop is designed to offer anglers, resource and facilities managers an opportunity to hear discussions on both black bass and habitat management, angling and other aquatic resource subjects. Boat launches and weigh-in facilities will also be covered.

Besides the PFBC and DCNR’s Yellow Creek State Park in Indiana County, other workshop co-hosts include: the Pennsylvania BASS Federation; U. S. Army Corps of Engineers; Marsh Creek Bass Club Ltd.; and Indiana County Parks and Trails.

Started in 1999 and held at different parks every year, the workshop is designed to offer bass anglers, biologists, conservation officers, resource and facility managers a chance to exchange ideas and information pertaining to the management of bass fisheries, bass habitat, bass angling and recreational facilities.

The “Black Bass Habitat” theme focuses on black bass fisheries habitat management at national, state and local levels. Discussions on black bass habitat management methods in lakes, impoundments and rivers are planned. Other topic discussions include: Keeping Bass Alive, Aquatic Vegetation Propagation and Answering Resource Questions.

The workshop is open to anyone interested in black bass conservation. Organizers invite attendees to share their knowledge and experience with other bass anglers, tournament organizers, fisheries biologists, park managers and state and federal agency administrators.

For registration information and other details, contact Denise Darnley, Yellow Creek State Park, 170 Route 259 Highway, Penn Run, PA 15765-5941. Tel: (724) 357-7913 or email: ddarnley@state.pa.us.

3/18/2005