Thursday, July 22, 2004
Move over bass classic: make room for snakehead contest
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Forget catch-and-released. In fact, put a hammer in your tackle box, so you can humanely club the fish you catch during this July 30 fishing tournament.
We aren’t talking about the Bassmaster Classic at Charlotte. The kill-all-you-can contest is the “Snakehead Roundup” scheduled for the Potomac River. The idea is to get anglers to assist in the control of the invasive snakehead fish, which has the potential to harm native species.
The roundup is sponsored by the Marina Operators Association of America and the National Marine Manufactures Association. Participating anglers will be offered prizes for any snakehead they catch. There is no entry fee; in fact, lures will be provided, and so will prizes, including a boat from Brunswick Marine.
You must register to participate: www.moaa.com.
Fishing will take place 8:30 to 11 a.m. on July 30, with headquarters at the Bell Haven Marina and Columbia Island Marine in Northern Virginia. Questions can be addressed to Mari Lou Livingood: mlivingood@nmma.org.
What are the chances of catching a snakehead? Good, which is bad. The fish is aggressive. Most that have been taken from the Potomac and its tributaries have fallen to hook and line. The sizes have ranged from 12-18 inches. All have been taken in shallow, grassy water.
BILL
CLASSIC CONTAINS 5 CAROLINA PROS
There won’t be a single contender from Virginia in the July 30-Aug. 1 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Wylie near Charlotte, but there will be five Carolina contenders who consider the lake home water, or near that.
Wylie straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina border, and the classic has five anglers who represent those two states. The only time BASS has visited the lake was in 1982
The Wylie pros are:
DAVID HITE, 39, Prosperity, S.C., winner of the 1999 Classic, two CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles and five BASS tournaments. Hite will be competing in his 10th Classic.
QUOTE: "I am very excited to have the Classic so close to home. Charlotte is an awesome city and Lake Wylie is a great lake. I'm sure there will be lots of fish caught."
JASON QUINN, 32, a Lake Wylie guide and Bassmaster Tour regular, in his third consecutive Classic.
QUOTE: “I'm real excited about how things worked out. I've always wanted to fish a big tournament on this lake and now I'll have the chance."
DUSTIN WILKS, 27, Rocky Mount, N.C., making his fourth Classic appearance after qualifying through the Bassmaster Elite 50 series.
QUOTE: “It's going to be a good tournament, I believe. There are fish on that lake that will suit anybody's style, so it can possibly be won doing anything."
CHRIS BAUMGARDNER, 44, Gastonia, N.C., winner of one BASS event and making his third Classic appearance.
MARTY STONE, 38, Linden, N.C., a two-time BASS winner and two-time Classic qualifier.
BILL
WHAT IS A DUCK BLIND?
The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has proposed new language to define what a floating and stationary waterfowl blind is. The idea it to cut down on the abuse and misuse of blind regulations.
Under new regulations the two classifications of blinds would be defined separately, rather than thrown together under a single subject, as is now the case.
The DGIF board is scheduled to give a final vote Aug. 19 on the following definitions:
>Floating blind means a floating device, whether in motion or anchored, that can be occupied by and conceal one or more hunters, uses a means of concealment other than the device’s paint or coloration and is used in the public water for the purpose of hunting and shooting waterfowl.
>Stationary blind means a structure erected at a fixed location either on the shore of the public waters or in the public waters for the purpose of hunting and shooting waterfowl. A stationary blind shall be (1) of such size and strength that it can be occupied by and conceal one or more hunters, or (2) large enough to accommodate and conceal a boat or skiff from which one or more hunters intend to hunt or shoot waterfowl.”
Both types of blind must be licensed.
BILL
ANGLING TIPS FORM THE KIDS
Can adult anglers learn anything from kids?
The answer may surprise you. When youngsters involved in the Wal-Mart Kids All-American Fishing Derby were asked how they caught their fish, they had some wise answers about pond fishing. Among them:
>Think variety. Cast to water that is shaded and sun-bathed, weedy or clear, shallow or deep. If you aren’t catching fish, change something.
>If a creek drains into the pond that’s a good place to fish because it brings fresh water and food into the water.
>Fish don’t like to swim in the current, so they will be hiding behind a log or a rock. Let the current drift your bait to where the fish are waiting.
>Let the fish take the bobber completely under the water and start to swim away before you strike.
>You easily can spook pond fish, so speak softly and walk quietly. Wear natural colors to blend into the background.
>When you hook a fish, reel it in slowly, but fast enough to keep the line tight. If the fish runs, stop reeling until the fish has stopped and is moving back toward you.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Virginia Trappers Association’s Convention and Sportsman’s Show, July 23-25, Luray, $5 admission, primitive camping available, information from Bryan Nelson, redfox12172@netscape.net.
The Triangle Bowhunters of the New River Valley has announced it schedule of three 3-D archery events on its property between Christiansburg and Blacksburg. Dates for the events are July 25, Aug. 22 and Sept. 19. Information is available from vfaa.ogr or from Jim Overfelt, jimo@vt.edu.
Bassmaster Classic, July 30-Aug. 1, Lake Wylie/Charlotte, N.C.
Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show, Aug. 13-15, Richmond.
Mother-Daughter Outdoors Event, Aug. 20-22, Appomattox, opportunity for women 9 and up to learn outdoor skills. Information from gif.state.va.us/events/
Virginia Outdoors Weekend, Sept. 17-19, for families, Westmoreland State Park, information from dgif.state.va.us/events/
Smith Mountain Striper Club fall tournament, Oct. 9., information from Rex Smith, smithrex@charter.net.
CITGO Bassmaster Open tournament, Oct. 14-16, Smith Mountain Lake.
Got an event? Let us know: xtails@earthlink.net
