Pennsylvania Game Commission executive director Carl Roe has again asked the legislature for a bump in hunting license fees. Roe testified before the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee in support of a bill sponsored by the committee's chairman, state Sen. Charles T. McIlhinney Jr. (R-Bucks), that would alter the license fee structure, which was last changed in 1999.

McIlhinney's bill would raise the cost of a resident adult hunting license from its current $20 to $26 in 2009, to $31 in 2012, and to $36 in 2015. In addition, antlerless deer licenses would rise from $6 to $13, migratory game bird licenses from $3 to $6, and nonresident adult hunting licenses from $101 to $151. The bill would decrease the nonresident junior hunting licenses fee from $41 to $6, and the nonresident junior combination licenses from $51 to $9, and reduce the number of consecutive days of service Pennsylvania National Guard and Reservist members would have to serve from 180 days to 60 days to qualify for reduced license fees.

The changes would occur in 2009 with additional changes in some license fees scheduled for 2015.

"While many ... other states provide general funds for their wildlife agencies, in Pennsylvania state taxpayers do not contribute to the commission -- only our hunters and trappers," said Roe. "The intent ... was to structure the legislation in such a way as to not place a burden on license buyers, but at the same time provide proper funding for the Commission. I believe Senate Bill 1527 strikes that balance."

The state senate has yet to vote on the bill.

Competitive fly fishing has yet to make the cut as a sanctioned Olympics sport, but the U.S. Youth Fly Fishing Team made a strong showing last week at the Fips-Mouche World Youth Fly Fishing Championship in Penacova, Portugal, narrowly missing a bronze medal.

Danny Marino (no, not that Danny Marino) ranked eighth overall in his first competition. Team member Nick Denardo, 16, of Pittsburgh didn't make the traveling squad, and Hampton's Heather Seitz, 19, was cut from the team.

Seitz was scheduled to compete in Colorado at the Sept. 8 America Cup, but left the team to take a gig as a salmon fishing guide on Russia's Kola Peninsula. She plans to return to Pittsburgh and to Pitt in late September.

John Ford, president of the U.S. Fly Fishing team, said the Fips-Mouche World Senior Fly Fishing Championship, the Olympics of competitive fly fishing, will be held on the limestone streams surrounding State College in 2012.

Lake Wilma, a 19-acre Greene County fishing destination also known as Blacksville Lake, has been closed to the public after a dispute between its owner Consol Energy and oversight authorities.

The lake, part of the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Cooperative Farm Game Program, has been overseen in terms of structural safety and integrity by the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration. Consol wants oversight shifted to Pennsylvania's Dam Safety Program, and complains its requests have been ignored.

A Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission report says MSHA told Consol to require Lake Wilma anglers and picnickers "to be hazard trained for this site and have appropriate safety gear (hard hat, safety glasses, boots, gloves, reflective vests and life jackets)." Unable to reply with the odd request, Consol posted No Trespassing signs.

The Fish Commission cautions anglers to avoid Lake Wilma until the dispute is resolved, and has discontinued fish stockings.