Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020 - 4

Pennsylvania
Tackle
by Timothy D. Schaeffer

Executive Director
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

photo-Alex Zidock Jr.

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater readers know better
than anyone about the incredible fishing and boating
opportunities that abound in Pennsylvania in every month
of the year.
What most people probably do not know is that
Pennsylvania is also home to a number of businesses
who produce many of the items in their tackle boxes and
fishing vests. After a visit to Felmlee Lures, Lewistown,
last summer, it immediately became clear that there is
a story to tell about what is going on at facilities across
Pennsylvania.
Throughout 2020, we will be featuring articles about the
following Pennsylvania-based companies and introducing
readers to the stories behind the products they sell. The
line up will include the following:
* Jan/Feb: Felmlee Lures
* Mar/Apr: Thomas Spinning Lures, Inc.
* May/Jun: Hopkins Fishing Gear, Inc.
* Jul/Aug: Renosky Lures
* Sept/Oct: Grandma Lures
* Nov/Dec: Bay Rat Lures
As you enjoy the articles, it
is important to keep in mind
that businesses do even more
for recreation and conservation
than providing equipment to help
people catch fish.
"No one cares more about
clean water and healthy fisheries
than the recreational fishing
community, as evidenced by the
financial contributions we make
to these efforts through excise
taxes, license fees and donations,"
said Mike Leonard, Vice
President of Government Affairs
See page 22 to
for the American Sportfishing
read the "Felmlee
Association (ASA). "Since its
Lures-A Local
inception in 1950, the Sport
Advantage" article.
Fish Restoration program has

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * January/February 2020

provided billions of dollars to fund fisheries conservation
and public access to aquatic resources, providing
opportunities for the nation's 49 million recreational
fishermen to enjoy time on the water."
In 1950, the Sport Fish Restoration Act (DingellJohnson Act) was enacted to provide federal funding to
states for the restoration, conservation, management and
enhancement of sport fishing opportunities. The Act was
expanded in 1984 with the Wallop-Breaux Amendment
to provide further funding by including excise taxes on a
wider range of fishing tackle and equipment, motorboat
fuel, and duties on imported boats and fishing tackle.
Revenues from excise taxes paid by companies like
those we will be highlighting are placed in the Sport Fish
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. The United States
Fish and Wildlife Service administers the Trust Fund and
distributes funding to state fish and wildlife agencies for
fish management, species and habitat restoration, habitat
protection, land acquisition, scientific study, population
monitoring, aquatic education, and access for fishing
and boating.
Through this "user pays, user benefits" model, anglers
and boaters purchase equipment manufactured by the
companies that pay the excise tax, and they receive direct
benefits like abundant, sustainable fish populations and
safe, accessible boating facilities.
The Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund
requires reauthorization every 5 years through the federal
transportation bill. The Angling and Boating Alliance,
chaired by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies'
Government Affairs Director Jen Mock Schaeffer (no
relation), is leading this reauthorization effort for the
angling and boating community. Other members of the
Alliance include ASA, Association of Marina Industries,
Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, Boat Owners Association
of the United States, Congressional Sportsmen's
Foundation, National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators, National Marine Manufacturers
Association and States Organization for Boating Access.
The bipartisan Sport Fish Restoration and Boating
Safety Act of 2019 (HR 4828) would reauthorize and
extend the Trust Fund into 2024. This is likely one of
several stand-alone pieces of legislation that will be
amalgamated into a comprehensive transportation
package and is expected to move through the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in
early 2020.
With this in mind, we
hope you have an even
greater appreciation
of how important our
Pennsylvania-based
businesses are to the future
of fishing and boating in
Pennsylvania.
www.gonefishingpa.com

http://www.gonefishingpa.com

Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - January/February 2020

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