Outdoors digest 2/28/03

Bass Fishing League events set for Kentucky lakes

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. -- The Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League LBL Division will begin its season on Kentucky and Barkley lakes March 15 for the first of five regular-season events. The tournament will pay as much as $32,850 based on full fields with as many as 400 anglers participating.

Anglers will take off from Kentucky Dam State Park in Gilbertsville at 7 a.m. Weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Boater Division competitors will vie for a top award of as much as $5,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of as much as $2,500.

Additionally, boaters who participate in the Ranger Cup incentive program are eligible to receive a $1,000 bonus for winning the tournament or $500 if they are the highest-finishing Ranger Cup participant in a tournament. The boater will also will receive a $1,000 bonus from Garmin if his boat is equipped with a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/Sounder.

The LBL Division's second stop will be April 12 on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Cadiz followed by another stop there June 21. The fourth regular-season event will be July 19 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville followed by the final regular-season event, a two-day tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Paris, Tenn., Oct. 4 and 5.

LBL Division anglers who finish the regular season ranked in the top 30 based on year-end points standings will advance to the Beaver Lake regional in Rogers, Ark., Oct. 14 to 18.

Federal Judge Affirms Conservation Court Action

A federal court judge in Kansas City has ordered AmerenUE to face liability claims in Miller County for a spring 2002 fish kill at Bagnell Dam. That fish kill resulted in the loss of over 43,000 fish valued at $3.2 million.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) filed a law suit in Miller County after AmerenUE, formerly known as Union Electric, had filed an action in federal court. AmerenUE's action claimed that its federal license to operate the dam prevented state courts from hearing damage claims against the privately owned utility company.

In her ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Nanette K. Laughrey found, "the Federal Power Act leaves the issue of damages caused by Union Electric's operation of its facility at Bagnell Dam to be determined by state law." Judge Laughrey dismissed other matters pending in the case as she sent the