LITTLE ROCK — For Paul Crowder, the difference between fame and shame was $10.50.
On Feb. 28, Crowder caught a 16-pound, 5-ounce largemouth bass that appeared to break by 1 ounce the state record caught in 1976 by Aaron Mardis at Mallard Lake. However, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission soon discovered that Crowder did not have a $10.50 resident fishing license when he caught the fish. Crowder obtained his license about three hours after he caught the fish. Instead of celebrating a noteworthy accomplishment and enjoying the accolades that would have come with it, Crowder was charged with fishing without a license and filing a false report. Samuel Adams, an AGFC wildlife officer who handled the case, said his friend Pam Swiney was charged with aiding and abetting for signing off as a witness.
On Monday, Crowder and Swiney pleaded guilty to the charges in Cross County Court. Crowder was fined $170 for fishing without a license and $220 for filing a false report for a total of $390. Swiney was fined $220. Adams said the AGFC waived the points against the violations, so Crowder can continue to fish. Adams said that Crowder was previously cited for fishing without a license in 2004, and also for hunting or fishing on private property without permission in 2011.
Crowder has not responded to numerous requests for an interview, but we spoke with Swiney on March 10. Crowder was in the process of bonding out of the county jail that night and was unavailable for comment, but Swiney said Crowder was not aware that his license was expired at the time, and added that an “evil” woman snitched on him.
TECH WINS BIG BASS EVENT
The Arkansas Tech University bass fishing team won Cabela’s Collegiate Big Bass Bash last weekend at Lake Lavon in Texas.
Reagan Moore, Evan Barnes, Aaron Sarna and Evan Smith comprised the ATU team, but Moore dominated the 94-angler field. Her 7.84-pound largemouth was the biggest of 119 bass caught during the event, but she also caught the third-largest (6.38 pounds) and the 14th largest (4.48 pounds). She also caught a 2-pounder.
Kenneth Anderson, from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, finished fifth with a 5.62-pound largemouth.
YOUTH TURKEY CONTEST
The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation will hold a youth turkey hunting contest for eligible hunters participating in the statewide youth turkey hunting season April 7-8.
Eligible hunters must be Arkansas residents age 15 and under and must be accompanied by an adult. The adult may assist the youth hunter and may call in the bird, but, in accordance with AGFC regulations, may not kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the hunt. The turkey must also be taken only during the youth hunt.
A contest entry form will be available online at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation’s web site — www. agff.org — or by calling (501) 223-6468. Each entrant must include a photo of the turkey with his entry. Entries must be postmarked no later than April 20. The winning entry will be drawn at random, and the winner will be notified by telephone. The winner will receive a laserengraved Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation box call, a framed Arkansas Game & Fish Governor’s turkey print, and a Game and Fish Foundation ballcap.
“We’re trying to reach out to Arkansas’s young people and create some excitement about hunting and fishing,” Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation President Steve Smith said. “We’re reaching out to young people to make sure that the appreciation of outdoor recreation continues as we know it.”
WMA BLINDS
Ricky Chastain, the AGFC’s assistant chief of wildlife management, said AGFC staff members recently met with sportsmen in northeast Arkansas to discuss maintaining duck hunting blinds and holes at Black River WMA, Big Lake WMA and other areas. Chastain said the AGFC has not yet drafted a proposal, adding that any decision must account for public use that does not jeopardize federal funding for those areas.
The AGFC won’t consider a proposal until it completes a waterfowl survey on April 9. Commissioner Emon Mahony said he believes the commission should not see the results of the survey until its next meeting April 19.
“I don’t want to get it [the survey] and work on it before the meeting because I don’t want to feed the rumors,” Mahony said.
Commissioner Fred Brown concurred, saying, “There are some unbelievable rumors flying around. If it’s not available until the next meeting, they’ll know we haven’t seen it and haven’t dealt with it.”
Sports, Pages 20 on 03/29/2012