Thursday, January 20, 2005
Big striper no longer so big
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Only seven striped bass citations were registered from Smith Mountain Lake in 2004. None of the fish was much over the minimum citation requirement of 20 pounds or 37 inches.
“A big fish at Smith right now is anything in the teens,” said Dan Wilson, the DGIF biologist who manages the fishery. “The larger sizes are just in short supply, especially after 14 to 15 pounds.
On the positive side, there are good numbers of striper up to around 26 to 28 inches.
The big fish suffered a die-off believed to be caused by a parasite. In the past, 40-pound striped bass have been caught from the lake and the number of citations is in the hundreds.
BILL
WHISTLE BLOWERS REVEALED
The latest chapter in the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ African safari was played out on Page 1 of the Sunday Roanoke Times. A story by Mark Taylor revealed that Lee and Paulette Albright of Montebello are at the center of the inquiry into the department.
The Albrights became activists when about two years ago they said they were given the run around by top DGIF officials after they questioned why the popular Montebello hatchery was closed to tourists. They have been at odds with the agency since.
More recently the Albrights plunked down $3,000 to obtain credit care records that now are being reviewed by a state auditor. The Albright name surfaced when Lee appeared in Nelson County General District Court to dispute the amount he was charged for documents under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Albright won nearly an $800 judgment in the case.
The Albrights told Taylor that the records show unnecessary expenditures among the agency’s leaders, even as the department had cut programs and personnel, citing budget shortfalls.
BILL
STRIPER CLUB GOES NATIONAL
The Smith Mountain Striper Club has signed a partnership agreement with the National Striped Bass Association.
“Our members become their members as well, and receive a subscription to their NSBA Magazine,” said Smith Mountain Club president Ron Curtis.
NSBA has scheduled tournaments in Virginia, at Claytor Lake on Feb. 12 and Smith Mountain Lake, June 2-5.
BILL
SMITH RIVER RECREATION
The Southern Environmental Law Center has been working with citizens in Martinsville and Henry County toward making the Smith River and the region around it a tourist destination. Tossed around has been biking/hiking trails, paddle sports and trout fishing. The law center is working with a local group called “Rivers to Trails.”
Trails are a great idea, but most anglers realize that the river would be a stand alone tourist destination of widespread interest if simply the trout fishery there was restored to its glory days. That, apparently, will take new equipment and new direction at Philpott Dam, where water is released for power generation.
One Smith River angler said he really wouldn’t look forward to sharing a Smith River pool with a paddler or floater.
BILL
FISHING REPORT
>Mike Snead of Covington caught a 5.42-pound brown trout in the Jackson River about 3 miles below Gathright Dam. The fish measured 26 inches.
>John Zenius, who operates a tackle shop in the Claytor Lake/New River area, reports that it has been a productive winter to catch muskie in the New. He is aware of seven caught that weighed more than 30 pounds apiece.
>Lake Anna largemouth bass are hitting lures that include a jig-n-pig, Silver Buddy and large plastic worm in a dark color fished slow and deep. Danny Dobson of Front Royal landed a bass that weighed 7.5 pounds. Striped bass also are being taken.
JACK RANDOLPH
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>Julie Ball registered 18 citation catches in the 2004 Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, making the Virginia Beach angler the leader in the Virginia Expert Saltwater Angler category. She posted 11 release citations and seven catch citations, all of different species.
>The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries shooting range on the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area in Charles City County has been reopened. The range had been closed since December 22, due to vandalism.
>Bruce Stanton, who worked in the sports department of the Roanoke Times prior to accepting a position at Pradco, recently was named general manager of Pradco, the nation’s largest lure manufacturer.
>Maryland Natural Resource Officers charged a man for interfering with hunters who were hunting geese near his property. According to the Washington Star, Allan Pulliam, 37, of Mechanicsville, Md., was charged with interfering with hunters, carrying a loaded gun in a vehicle, reckless endangerment, disturbing the public peace and possessing a controlled dangerous substance.
>Don Corkran has left BASS -- again. When BASS moved its headquarters from Montgomery, Ala. to Orlando. Fla., Corkran, who is the organization’s Federation director, stayed behind. He cited being close to his family and operating a part-time business as reasons not to make the move. Corkran had left BASS previously, but was rehired in 2003 to help smooth out conflicts between BASS and the Federation.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
50th annual Virginia Boat Show, Jan. 21-23, The Showplace, Richmond, royalshows.com.
Bassmaster University, where pro instruction anglers on bass fishing, Jan. 22-23, Wyndhan Hotel Richmond Airport, Richmond, instructors include Kevin VanDam, Denny Brauer, Shaw Grigsby, Woo Daves, Zell Roland, and Mike Auten. Information from 866-732-BASS.
Smith River Trout Unlimited meeting, 7 p.m. Feb. 3, Rania’s Restaurant (147 E. Main St.) downtown Martinsville, Larry Townsend and Ben Cochran will demonstrate tying Smith River dry flies, guests welcome, more information form Shane Pinkston, 276-638-3757, or Ted Tomczak, 276-629-2962.
Richmond Ducks Unlimited Wild Game Feast, Feb. 3, Tredegar Iron Works, $75, information from durichmond.com.
Mid-Atlantic Sport & Boat Show, Feb. 5-13, The Pavilion, Virginia Beach, 757-446-2655.
Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show, 50th anniversary, Feb. 5-13, State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg, Pa. Reported to be the largest consumer show of its kind, easternsportshow.com.
Washington Boat Show, Feb. 9-13, Convention Center, Washington, D.C., 301-468-6701.
Tidewater Fresh & Saltwater Fishing Show, March 11-13, Virginia Beach Pavilion, information from 575-437-7616.
National Capitol Boat Show, March 10-13, Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Va. 804-425-6556.
Wilderness First Aid Class, March 12-13, Blacksburg, 18 hours of hands-on instruction and study that results in a two-year certificate, coast $160, visit wfa.net.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 1-3, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Va. 804-425-6556.
Youth day spring gobbler hunt, April 2.
Spring gobbler season, April 9-May 14.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net
