University of Rhode Island professor David Bengtson will discuss the unusual fishing conditions in the upper Bay at the next meeting of the East Bay Anglers fishing club.

The meeting –– July 8 at 7:30 p.m. –– will be open to anyone who calls (401) 245-8375 for a reservation, said John Mazurak, the club's president.

"Fishermen have been experiencing unusual upper Bay fishing conditions during the past three years," Mazurak said. "Our members are anxious to understand what's behind these events."

For the past three seasons, large schools of baitfish have moved into the Providence and Seekonk rivers and have stayed there even during warm weather that would normally send them back into the ocean.

Meanwhile, flounder have virtually disappeared, and other species of non-game fish have become scarce.

Bengtson heads URI's Department of Fisheries, Animal and Veterinary Science. He has raised many species of fish in his lab.

The meeting will be held at the Riverside Sportsman's Club on Mohawk Drive in East Providence. Reservations are essential for those who aren't members.

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Vanessa Lisi, 12, caught a 42.2-pound striped bass last weekend to win both the ladies' and youth divisions of the Snug Harbor Marina June Moon Madness Tournament. She lives in Wakefield.

Alex Petrucci of Narragansett was the tournament's overall winner with a 49.5-pounder. A 47.3-pound striper taken by Greg Lisi of Wakefield won second place. Kingston, Mass., resident Ben Ewing caught a 42.8-pound striper to win third place, and fourth place was awarded to Mike Lanni of Narragansett for landing a 42.5 pounder.

The tournament attracted 50 anglers, said Elisa Jackman, organizer of the event. It was sponsored by Narragansett Beer, Star Rods, Penn Reels, and Captain Seagull's Sportfishing Charts. Proceeds will benefit the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and the Recreational Fishing Alliance.

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In celebration of Learn To Fish Month, the Wood Pawcatuck Watershed Association (WPWA) has scheduled three learn-to-fish sessions for beginner's under the age of 14 and two fly fishing classes for men and women of all ages.

Family Fun Fishing Days will be held on Fridays, July 3, July 10 and July 17 from 9 a.m. to noon at the state fish hatchery in the village of Carolina.

WPWA and Trout Unlimited volunteers will be helping children of all ages learn the basics of fishing. Parents, too, will enjoy helping their kids bait a hook.

The aquatic resource education program at the Department of Environmental Management is providing the hatchery and all the tackle. The cost is $10 for members or $15 for others.

Learn to Fly Fish classes will be held on Fridays, July 24 and July 31 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Barberville Dam's handicapped accessible fishing pier in Richmond. Trout Unlimited will provide all participants with rods and reels as well as expert instruction and advice. The cost is $5 for members, $10 for others.

To register for any of the programs, please call (401) 539-9017 or e-mail danielle@wpwa.org to register for any event.

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"Fish Hard Live Long" decals and shirts are spreading along the striper coast from Maine to Virginia.

"It's becoming a life-style brand for surfcasters," says Joe Lyons, the man behind surfcasting-rhodeisland.com, and the creator of the trademark brand.

Formerly a pre-press technician, Lyons created the brand after hearing some fishermen using the words about five years ago. His friend, Laurie Reilly, designed the image.

A destination's initials appear over a striped bass in an oval. The slogan, "Fish Hard Live Long," also appears in the oval. The design is especially popular on Block Island, Lyons says.

On the mainland, the shirts and decals are available in several locations, including Softouch in Galilee. Recently, some West Marine stores started to stock them.

Lyons has plans to broaden the line to other regions with other fish depicted.

tmeade@projo.com