Field Reports: Angler’s Xperience returns to TV

OUTFISH – An angling guru who’s figured out what makes fish tick – and bite – throughout the Northwest is returning to cable TV in January to share his fishing prowess.

Seth Burrill’s Angler’s Xperience is set to debut today and run Sunday mornings at 7:30 on Sports Northwest.

“This will be the biggest network that we have aired on,” said Burrill, who took a year’s hiatus when the economy went sour and sponsorships dried up.

“We’re talking millions of viewers, but our emphasis is still on education. This is the one aspect that viewers enjoy most about us and we have no intention of straying from that.”

Burrill has made a name in the angling world with instructional videos on techniques such as drop-shoting and targeting river fishing for chinook salmon.

These and other offerings are available on his subscriber Web site.

Check it out: http://www.anglers- experience.com/

Rich Landers

WILDLIFE – The trial of a North Idaho man who says he shot and killed a gray wolf outside his home in June because the animal was a threat to his neighborhood is set to start on Thursday.

Russell Glen Frachisuer pleaded not guilty to charges of killing big game during a closed season.

The 50-year-old reported the kill to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game in June, about four months before Idaho’s first public gray wolf hunt in decades began.

He told state wildlife officials he killed the animal near his Squaw Valley home to protect his dogs, his neighbors and their children.

Associated Press

WILDLIFE – Investigations into the illegal trafficking of bear gall bladders have led to prison time for one man and a hefty fine for another.

William A. Page, a meat cutter from Curlew, was sentenced to a year jail in Ferry County Superior Court after being convicted on six counts of unlawful trafficking in wildlife, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Page, 63, was sentenced Dec. 18 and was also fined $3,000.

Investigators say Page admitted buying 35 gall bladders in 2007 and 2008, including 17 from undercover officers. Investigators say some believe gall bladders have healing powers and can draw thousands of dollars on the black market.

In a separate case, Jason Yon, 51, owner of JAX Market in Spokane, was fined $1,000 in Spokane County Superior Court on Dec. 22 for two felony convictions of illegally trafficking in wildlife. He was found guilty of purchase four gall bladders during an undercover investigation.

Staff and wire reports

HABITAT – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission is scheduled to take action on a proposal to exchange additional land in eastern Washington with the Washington Department of Natural Resources at a meeting that starts Thursday in Olympia.

In the second phase of a major land exchange, WDFW would acquire 25,849 acres of shrub-steppe and lower-elevation forest habitats while WDNR would acquire approximately 12,424 acres of higher elevation forest habitat.

The proposed exchange would affect properties in Kittitas, Okanogan, Klickitat, Yakima, Asotin and Chelan counties as officials consolidate lands managed by the agencies.

In the first phase of the land exchange, finished in August, WDFW acquired 9,000 acres and WDNR acquired 5,100 acres.

 Rich Landers

HUNTING – Applications for Washington’s Master Hunter program will be accepted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife through Feb. 15.

An orientation on the application and certification process is set in Yakima for Saturday starting at 9 a.m. at the Valley Fire Department, 10000 Zier Road.

Details: wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/ masterhunter/

Rich Landers

FLY FISHING – Silver Bow Fly Shop in Spokane Valley is offering several winter fly fishing courses, starting Monday with a Winter Fly Fishing Clinic at 6 p.m. (preregister; space limited). Cost: $20.

•Three-day fly fishing classes run Tuesday through Thursday and Feb. 1-3. Cost: $75.

•Fly tying classes for various levels start Jan. 18.

Info: 924-9998

Rich Landers

SKIING – Nine days of activities, races, clinics and events will be featured in the first annual Sun Valley Nordic Festival Jan. 30-Feb. 7.

A $49, nine-day valley-wide trail pass is being offered as well as discounts on demos/rentals, lodging and dining.

Highlights of the festival include:

•Ski the Rails, a family-friendly “ski at your own pace” tour along the Wood River Trail.

•Nordic Night of Champions, a send-off celebration for local nordic Olympians.

•Downtown Ketchum Nordic Night & Concert, a celebration of all things Nordic at the future site of the Sun Valley Center for the Arts.

•200K Trails Challenge, a non-competitive challenge to ski all of our world class trails and be eligible for prizes.

•Nordic Sprint Races on a 1.5-kilometer course for cash prizes.

•Snowshoe Challenge on a 5K course, prizes.

•Author and Olympic skier John Morton offers behind-the-scenes observations from his experiences at seven Olympic Games at the Community Library.

•Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour screening.

•Boulder Mountain Tour, a 32K event with national status that attracts more than 800 skiers.

A “Half Boulder Race” will be offered for this first time this year for racers who want a little less challenge.

Other great activities include guided snowshoe treks, avalanche awareness program.

Info: www.svnordicfestival.com.

Rich Landers

SKIING – A new dog-friendly cross-country ski area near Hamilton, Mont., is offering about 30 miles of trails, including skate-skiing lanes.

The Como Trails Cross-Country Ski area opened recently after Tony Neaves and Randy Leavell of Hamilton scoured the region for four years to find an appropriate place to set tracks and groom broad trails that could accommodate skaters.

Neaves said the Lake Como area has an existing road system and a web of older overgrown roads and trails that could eventually be used to expand recreation.

Skiing is free, but donations are requested to defray grooming expenses.

Info: (406) 381-3943.

Staff and wire reports