All www.boat-ed.com courses meet the new online delivery standard adopted by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), which requires students to study a minimum of three hours. This change went into effect Jan. 1, 2012.

The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF) briefed members of Congress yesterday on two simultaneous disasters impacting recreational fishing caused by the effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the total closure of substantial ocean fisheries by the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Today, after more than six months of speculation and anxiety, we may finally discover what will happen with one of the biggest brands in boating and fishing.

A federal-level task force appears determined to develop a rushed policy that will ultimately govern anglers' use of public waters, including the likely expansion of no-fishing zones into the Great Lakes. Any such recommendations will be met head-on by BASS and several other sportfishing advocacy groups.

Under near perfect weather conditions, college bass fishing's premier event concluded with Murray State University slipping past University of North Texas to claim the 2009 BoatU.S. Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship title. Murray State joins past champions North Carolina State (2006), Texas A&M (2007) and University of Arkansas (2008) as winners of the event

American Bass Anglers (ABA) and the Union Sportsmen's Alliance (USA) have teamed up to further the sport of bass fishing among union members while promoting the conservation of our Nation's natural resources. American Bass Anglers will offer USA members the opportunity to participate in specially designated ABA activities and services. USA members will be able to track their point standings and compete against their union brothers and sisters within their designated trade association in the same manner that ABA Competition Team members presently track their standings.

Berkley, America's leading fishing tackle brand, and BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, announced today that the Columbia, South Carolina-based tackle company has renewed its long standing association as an official sponsor and supporter of BASS. Berkley will continue as the official fishing line and soft plastic baits of BASS and its prestigious tournament trails and events.

BASS, the worldwide leader on bass fishing, and Evan Williams Bourbon, the country's second-leading selling Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey, announced today that Evan Williams has increased its investment with BASS as an official sponsor of the organization and its prestigious tournament structures. The company first joined BASS as a sponsor in 2003.

The PAA is changing the 2009 Tournament Series format from a Pro-Am to a Pro-Observer format. The response and sign up on the Pro side has been overwhelming, but time constraints for this inaugural season in setting up and filling the co-angler side have forced the change in format.