Thanks for stopping by the new official Team 57 website!
Allow me to introduce myself! My name is Dana, otherwise known as "Fisherman57" on FISHINGNETWORK.NET
I am by no means an "expert" angler, but I truly enjoy the outdoors and all that it has to offer! What could be better than spending a day on the water at any of the beautiful lakes that we here in California are so lucky to have. If saltwater fishing is your weakness, look no further than our grand Pacific Ocean, it is truly the most spectacular and diverse fishery in the world!
I fish both fresh & saltwater, but surf fishing is my preferred game! When I came aboard Fishing Network, I soon became aware that it was much more than just another "fishing website". The members are truly eclectic and the site is made up of many types of people and personalities. Like many other members, I soon developed friendships that grew directly from "FNN" and in return I felt I needed to give something back.
Our members are made up of those who have a passion for fishing. We like to share our information with others, tell our fishing stories and post our photos and reports on FISHINGNETWORK.NET On occasion, we all get together to enjoy everything in person!
Team 57 events are legendary in the fishing community! If fishing is your passion and friends are what you seek, I highly recommend that you join Team 57 and participate on Fishing Network. It is truly a place for everyone with any interest in the sport of fishing. Our t-shirts are the easiest way to identify a Team 57 member at the lake. It's always fun to spot another member while you're out fishing and strike up a conversation. Who knows, you may meet a new lifetime fishing buddy!
There are currently many different designs of official Team 57 t-shirts, and if you fish the waters of Southern California on a regular basis, sooner or later you're going to spot someone wearing one! I guess you could say that once you have a Team 57 t-Shirt, you are formally on the team! But remember, there are no "dues", or "fees" or any cost at all to be part of Team 57. You are never obligated in any way to purchase a t-shirt! All we ask is that you help support the Team 57 motto of "Family, Friends, Fun & Fishing". That's what its all about.
For those of you that miss a particular Team 57 get-together, our "event" t-shirts usually become available for sale on this website soon after the actual event is held! Remaining sizes can be very limited so order as early as you can! Many of our t-shirts are exclusive only to this website, so if you're looking for that unique Team 57 t-shirt in your exact size, this is the place! Most all of our t-shirts are available in sizes that range from small to 5X!
With even MORE new designs coming in 2010, our t-shirts will soon be available at your local tackle shop as well as some of your local "pay lakes". Each and every Team 57 t-shirt that we sell is a high quality, 100% cotton, professionally silk screened t-shirt! In addition to the awesome Team 57 graphics, every shirt we sell also carries the FISHINGNETWORK.NET logo!
We'll also be debuting "FishGirlz" soon, a whole new line of TEAM 57 apparel just for the ladies! 2010 will also see the release of the long awaited Team 57 hat!....... and best of all, everything will be available right here on the TEAM 57 website! I invite you to take a quick look thru the pages of our website, enjoy all the TEAM 57 member photos, shop "Store 57" for that Team 57 t-shirt you've been wanting and then navigate over to FishingNetwork.Net where all the fun begins!
Thanks again for stopping by and checking out the new Team 57 website!
I look forward to you becoming our newest Team 57 member!
Team 57 encourages all of our members to practice "Catch & Release" whenever & wherever possible and to follow all California Department of Fish & Game Rules & Regulations.
We also understand that for some anglers, keeping a fish to eat is the ideal way to end a day spent fishing. In fisheries where the stocks are responsibly managed & maintained, such as "pay lakes", this is not a problem with certain species, however an increasing number of anglers now prefer to return their catch to the water. They do this to help minimize the impact on the fish they so love to catch.
In many cases, releasing fish back to the water helps ensure that they mature and maybe even eventually spawn, which in turn helps to maintain a healthy fishery for future generations of anglers to enjoy.
In California for example, Largemouth Bass are not stocked by the state, and "Catch & Release" fishing is just one way to help maintain a good, healthy population of this particular freshwater species in our opinion.
When practicing "Catch & Release", anglers can easily take a few basic steps to help the survival of released fish. Many unintentional injuries and deaths can be prevented by following these simple handling rules for fish you intend to release:
Be attentive and set the hook immediately to stop the fish from swallowing the hook.
If the hook is swallowed completely and there is no way to safely remove the hook, cut the line off as close to the hook as possible and then release the fish. Never use force to remove a hook.
Whenever possible, leave the fish in the water while removing the hook. If you need to remove the fish from the water, wet your hands in order to protect the mucous layer on the outside of the fish.
Never use the gills or eyes to hold the fish. On larger fish, always try to support their weight properly with both hands.
Revive fatigued fish by supporting them in a swimming position in the water and gently move them back and forth to help until they swim off on their own.
Buy & use a knot-less landing net. Theyre less damaging to the fish and help prevent tangled hooks.
If you want to photograph your fish, have your camera ready, as the less time the fish is out the water the better.
Use barb-less hooks whenever & wherever possible.
Use an "unhooking mat" of a suitable size for your type of fishing, and never lay a fish on the ground.
Protect our fisheries for future generations of anglers by respecting our fragile environment and all that it offers us every day.
Last but not least....... leave your fishing spot cleaner than when you arrived.
