'Newspg12.indd' by The Newscaster

Florida Manatee Festivalheld in downtown Crystal River Crappie anglerscrappie are favorite happy targets for freshwater

enjoy a cool-weather new year

Welcome to 2014. Black

The 27th-annual Florida Manatee Festival will be

anglers, so join the fun, check your fishing license and the list of top sites and tips below and

(U.S. Hwy. 19 and neighboring areas) on Sat., Jan. 18, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Sun., Jan.

go fishing. What better way to start off a new year then with some healthy outdoor activity

19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

and a mess of fresh fish?

This annual event celebrates Crystal River's most famous resident, the West Indian

Crappie are among the most popular freshwater fishes in Florida. Their deep body

Manatee. Over the two days, attendees can enjoy manatee tours, childrens activities, live

with nearly symmetrical dorsal and anal fins and a speckled pattern on the body make them

music at two entertainment venues, great food at two food courts, a beer garden, arts and

easy to distinguish. Crappie spend much of their time offshore, feeding on small fish. This

crafts, a fine art show and much more.

time of year they will be preparing to spawn and, as the temperatures reach 62-65 degrees

Highlights will include live music by Lester Freeman, one of the original recorders

Fahrenheit, they move inshore to build nests in colonies. Nests over gravel or muddy bot-

of the hit song, `Some Kind of Wonderful and a Civil War era blockade runner scow replica

toms in depths of 3-8 feet are fanned by males.

presented by the Crystal River Boat Builders. Admission is $4; children 10 and younger

Crappie eat crustaceans, insects and small fishes. A bright, 1/16-oz. to 1/8-oz. jig

Citrus County Housing Services Home

or Hal-flies will produce once they are inshore. If they are schooling offshore, drift Missouri

minnows or grass shrimp below a float, with a #4 hook and small split shot. Depth is key, as

Energy Assistance IVR Appointment Line

crappie school at the same level, so experiment until you find the right depth.

Crappie (aka speckled perch or papermouth) longer than14 inches or heavier than 2 pounds

Citrus County Housing Services has a new automated `interactive voice response

qualify for a Big Catch angler-recognition certificate (www.BigCatchFlorida.com). Youth

telephone system that will help clients schedule a home energy assistance appointment and

under 16 can participate with an entry longer than 10 inches or heavier than 1.5 pounds.

hear information regarding the program and/or required documentation needed for an ap-

Easy registration makes people eligible for both Big Catch and TrophyCatch (which rewards

pointment without waiting to speak to a program assistant. The Low-Income Home Energy

anglers for catching-documenting-releasing largemouth bass heavier than 8 pounds), as well

 

Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps low-income families with home heating and cooling

as a drawing to take place in October 2014 for a Phoenix bass boat powered by Mercury.

Looking for the best places to go? Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Com-

           

 This  toll-free utilizedLIHEAP appointment scheduling and

new,  service will be   for 

mission (FWC) fisheries biologists compile annual lists of top fishing sites for bass, crappie,

is available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. Callers who require special assis-

bream, catfish or striped bass. It is available at MyFWC.com/Fishing (select "Freshwater"

tncecanconnect  toaliveoperatorfollowing  phone menu prompts, Monday

a    directly    by  the

and "Fishing Sites and Forecasts"). You can also find quarterly updated regional forecasts

  throughFridaybetween 1012 and2pm to 4pm.    

     am and  pm     

for other key water bodies, with links for more current information. Here are the selections

Te is user friendly. caller can the promptstogetthe information

 h system  very        The  follow      

for your best black crappie fishing in 2014, as compiled by Cheree Steward, FWC fisheries

needed and/or to schedule an appointment if available. The system provides a confirmation

number indicating that an appointment was successfully scheduled.

Lake Talquin (8,800-acre reservoir, west of Tallahassee)

Appointments are scheduled up to two weeks in advance. When those slots are full, new

Lochloosa Lake (5,705 acres, between Gainesville and Ocala)

appointments will open up daily or in the event of cancellation. Households may begin call-

Lake Weir (5,685 acres, south Marion County)

ing the toll-free IVR line effective January 6, 2014. Calls will no longer be accepted on the

Lake Griffin (10,000 acres, Lake County)

existing LIHEAP number. The new number is 855-806-9648.

Lake Monroe (9,406 acres, near Sanford)

For more information, please call Housing Services at 352-527-5720.

West Lake Tohopekaliga (18,810 acres, south of the city of Kissimmee)

Lake Kissimmee (34,976 acres, east of the city of Lake Wales)

BUDDY & FRED'S HARDWARE

Captains Cove Outfitters

      

39 W. Hwy. 40 · Inglis, FL · (352) 447-5610

                                                    

    

More Than A Bait Store

        

Even though we have a great bait selection!

            



$ave Gas - Money - & Time



No Need to Shop Ocala/Orlando

   Your fishing supplies are right here In Inglis

 

Serving Inglis, Yankeetown, Dunnellon, Hernando, Crystal River & Homosassa

 

Captains Cove Outfitters

   S. Orwell Pt., Homosassa, Florida 34446

Phone (352) 489-4588 Fax (727) 362-4788

                  i Website, www.thenewscaster.com M-Sa 5:45-6pm Sun. 5:45-5pm

   Russell, Publisher) thenewscaster1@gmail.com

SHIMANO Top Shelf Dealer

   

Email (Debbie Russell, Editor) debbienewscaster@gmail.com

Costa 580 P Dealer

  

All Our Staff are Fishermen

    

Local Guides Available

   

We have a Clean Family Friendly Atmosphere Deep Blue

Top Quality rods & reels for beginners

  

Business Card Ad

to start  our Wednesday, October 2, 2013 issue selection of Saltwater Tackle

    in



BUDDY & FRED'S HARDWARE 



                                     

 

         

 





 



                                



     

  

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