Between the ongoing oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico and the vast areas of state and federal waters now closed to fishing, without immediate financial assistance, many of the region's recreational fishing-dependent businesses may not be in business by the 4th of July.

BASS, the worldwide authority on bass fishing, today announced that Bass Pro Shops, the world's leading supplier of outdoor gear, will build on the marketing alliance formed last year by assuming title sponsorship of the Bassmaster Opens in 2010-2011. With the agreement, final-day weigh-ins of select Bassmaster Open events will be held at Bass Pro Shops stores.

Established in 2005 to provide funding for restoring fisheries habitat and recreational fishing facilities devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the FishAmerica Foundation is expanding its Gulf Fund grant program to include fisheries and their habitats that are expected to be impacted by the April 22, oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Spring has sprung as an estimated 13 million Americans prepare to take their boats out of winter storage and on the water. For boaters, spring cleaning is a necessary annual tradition to ensure the protection and safety of every boater on the water.

Golden alga (Prymnesium parvum) has once again impacted two very important reservoirs and fisheries on the Brazos River system. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists have been monitoring golden alga blooms and resulting fish kills on both Possum Kingdom Reservoir and Lake Whitney.

Sportsman Channel's Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative is coming to Houston's Star of Hope Mission to help feed local residents in need on Friday, April 16 at 4:30pm. The Hunt.Fish.Feed.SM initiative is a unique outreach program that taps an underutilized food source-game meat and fish donated by sportsmen-to feed those struggling with hunger across America.

Three PAA members were awarded the BoatU.S. Foundation Environmental Leadership Award for their efforts to spearhead a cleanup project at Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama, prior to the 2008 PAA Corporate Cup.  Gary Klein of Texas, Shaw Grigsby of Florida and Tim Horton of Alabama received the award in February.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will distribute more than $862 million to all 50 states, U.S. commonwealths and territories, and the District of Columbia to support hunting, sport-fishing, and fish and wildlife conservation and education programs.

Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, and Tim Horton of Florence, Alabama, understand all too well that in order to catch the big one, you have to take care of our waterways.

The Anglers' Legacy program reached 200,000 Pledges, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) President and CEO Frank Peterson announced today. Anglers' Legacy, a national mission from the award-winning Take Me Fishing™ campaign, asks outdoor enthusiasts to preserve the legacies of boating and fishing by introducing at least one newcomer to the sport.