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Ray Sasser's outdoors notebook REI clinics aim to peddle paddling 04/12/2001 By Ray Sasser / Outdoors Writer of The Dallas Morning News Recreational Equipment Inc. is hosting Paddlesports Day 2001 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Big Thicket Area of White Rock Lake. The biannual event is expected to attract more than 400 visitors and is designed to introduce outdoors enthusiasts to water recreation as it relates to canoeing and kayaking.
Factory representatives from Prijon, Old Town, Ocean Kayak, Dagger, Perception and Mad River will conduct clinics and provide product information and general paddling advice.
Pre-registration at REI Customer Service, 45151 LBJ Freeway in Farmers Branch costs $5 for REI members, $10 for non-members. On-site registration costs $10 per person. For additional information, call 972-490-5989.
Wildlife benefits
Two upcoming events are aimed at helping very different kinds of wildlife. On April 19, McKinney Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is hosting its annual fund-raiser at the Collin County Auction Barn, 2462 East University, McKinney. The reception begins at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 in advance or $65 at the door by calling 972-542-6109.
On May 3, Rivercrest High School, Hwy. 271 north of Mount Pleasant, will host the Northeast Texas Quail Appreciation Day. Registration fee is $10, which includes lunch and handouts. The seminars and tours will be conducted by Dr. Dale Rollins and Dr. Billy Higginbotham of the Texas A&M Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife biologists. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Or you can pre-register by calling 903-572-0261 or 903-572-5201.
Arkansas angler wins
Mark Goines of Shady Point, Ark., caught five bass that weighed 14 pounds to win the final day of the Everstart Central Division Tournament at Sam Rayburn Lake on Saturday. Goines earned $50,000 after making the two-day semifinal cut of the pro division with 10 bass that totaled 24 pounds, four ounces.
Jack Thomas of Highland Village was second in the 172-person co-angler field. Thomas' final day catch of five fish that weighed 11 pounds, one ounce, earned him $4,000.
Boating courses
With recreational boating season just around the corner, there are a number of boater education courses coming up in the Dallas area. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is holding a one-day course in Lewisville on April 21. For information, including pre-registration, call Delmo Johnson at 972-458-7400 or by e-mail delmojohn
North Texas Education Center has one-day boater education classes scheduled for April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Oct. 13 and Nov. 10. All dates are Saturdays. Each class lasts for seven hours and includes a $13 safe boater certification fee.
North Texas Education Center is on Joe Pool Lake, 5411 Robinson Road, Grand Prairie. For information or registration, call 972-263-1214.
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