Posted: Sun, 10 May 2009 08:32 AM - 6,751 Readers

By: Mike Leggett

Last Fishers event May 16 at Lake Travis

The final event of the Fishers of Men Central Texas Division tournament trail will be held May 16 on Lake Travis.

Team standings will close with the event, and regional qualifiers will be named. The tournament begins at Jones Brothers Park off RM 1431 in Jonestown. Find information online at fomcentex.com.

Ducks Unlimited event

The Dripping Springs Ducks Unlimited chapter will hold its annual banquet and fundraiser May 28 at the Salt Lick in Driftwood. The event will include dinner, raffles, games and a live auction. Tickets are available only by advance purchase at $50 for individuals, $70 for a couple. For information or to buy tickets, contact Dr. Chae Tracy, adjustfirst@yahoo.com or 512-858-9355.

TPWD tabs Melinchuk for resources post

Longtime Ducks Unlimited policy director Ross Melinchuk has been hired as Texas Parks and Wildlife's deputy director for natural resources.

Carter Smith, Parks and Wildlife's executive director, created the deputy position as a way to oversee the science and natural resource management within the department. Melinchuk will have supervisory duties over inland and freshwater fisheries and wildlife at the department.

Melinchuk, 55, has been with Ducks Unlimited since 1992. He worked with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies before then. He will start his new job on June 8.

In his new position, Melinchuk will answer directly to Smith as he begins working to hire directors for wildlife and coastal fisheries, as well as move the agency forward in difficult financial times.

Scott Boruff remains as the deputy executive director for operations while Gene McCarty is the deputy director for administration.

Lake Buchanan CC to host golf benefit

Members of the Lake Buchanan Conservation Corporation will hold a golf tournament Saturday to benefit the group's work at the lake.

The tournament at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet will feature a four-member scramble format. Entry fee costs $50 per player and includes greens fee, cart, range balls and lunch. Proceeds will help the group's stocking efforts at Lake Buchanan.

Entrants can register the morning of the event or earlier by contacting Frank Brossett at 512-234-0011 or George Bold at 325-379-1553. Entry forms also are at LakeBuchananCC.org.

Fishing hall to induct youth activist

East Texas youth activist Paul Hinton is the 2009 choice for induction into the Texas Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame.

Hinton, who lives in Hemphill, was chosen for his work as founder and director of the Hooked on Fishing — Not on Drugs program in East Texas, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. He will be honored at a dinner and reception in early June at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens.

Kayak seminars set

Veteran guides and kayak angling experts Lefty Ray Chapa and Sally Moffett will conduct a pair of weekend fishing seminars, May 30-31 and June 6-7, in Port Aransas.

The first seminar will focus on conventional tackle and techniques for catching redfish in shallow water. The June event will cover fly fishing for redfish using kayaks.

Advance registration is required. Each seminar is $220. For information, call 210-260-6154 or see kayak4redfish.com.

Shrimp season to close

Texas Parks and Wildlife has announced plans to shut down commercial shrimping in the Gulf of Mexico starting Friday.

The closure, which covers state waters out to nine miles, will remain in place until sometime in July, officials said.

Federal officials announced they would close Gulf waters out to 200 nautical miles to conform with the Texas closure.