Bainbridge Island, Washington - The top names in Fly Fishing have joined forces together to put togther a world-class fly fishing outfit as a fundraiser for Trout Unlimited-Alaska to help with their efforts protecting the Bristol Bay watershed.

I have been lax with my dedication to Midwest ice fishing.

My preoccupation with other issues has taken precedence over this facet of sport fishing. But I managed to make up for it when I joined Babe Winkelman, Spence Petros, Mike Seeling and guide Eric Haataja on the shores of Lake Michigan.

My wife suggested I go to the doctor and get checked out. I suggested she go shopping and keep herself occupied and stop making recommendations as to what I should be doing.

I had just finished scouring the basement shelves for the umpteenth time, hoping to find a particular spinning reel I had put away. After 20 minutes I decided it was an exercise in futility.

Most fisherman probably have heard of Ted Takasaki.

Takasaki, a local boy who emigrated to Brainerd, Minn., is one of the all-time greats in the world of walleye fishing. He began his tournament fishing career by teaming up with John Campbell, another local. They tore up the Masters Walleye Circuit, then split up and entered the Professional Walleye Trail and the FLW Walleye Tour. Both Campbell and Takasaki are in the listings of all-time top money winners.

Feb. 14--Illinois this week became the first state in the nation to recognize fishing as an official sport at the high school level, according to organizers of the program.

The Illinois High School Association voted unanimously to sanction a state bass fishing championship in the spring of 2009. Efforts have been launched to secure sponsors, said Terry Brown of the Bloomington-based , a main advocate of the move.

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I have the opportunity to present the inaugural issue of MARLIN WORLD.

LINK TO MAGAZINE: http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=pgptf

1. Click anywhere on the screen to ZOOM in and read.

The idea for Outdoorsman Exchange came about in an instant, but in a way it was sometime in the making – we just didn’t realize it at the time.

For years my husband, Paul, has wanted to go on an elk hunt. I’ve encouraged him many times. He and his brothers talk how they should all go elk hunting out west with their Dad before age took its toll on him. Pursuit of that dream sounded good but there was always the financial reality check that held my husband back. He couldn’t justify spending money on a guided hunting trip and felt a guided trip was the only way to go for a successful hunt. This voice inside kept telling him - we need to save money for more sensible things like kids braces, college funds, etc. Most everyone can relate to these thoughts, unless you’re an heir to a fortune.