Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

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• Drum fishing on Virginia’s Coast comes in two colors
• Elk advocate finally gets his day
• Turkeys are plentiful, so why are hunting regulations so tight fisted?
• Anglers say closure of the point of Cape Hatteras is for the birds
• Column archive

Bill's Mailbag

• Putting down a bear cub brings complaint
• Recommendations for Virginia’s Wild Turkey Management Plan
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Bill's Field Reports

• A. Willis Robertson great name for new DGIF headquarters
• Big striper smashes Optimist tournament record
• Field reports archive

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David Dudley of Lynchburg reeled in a $125,000 check as winner of the $1 million Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division Tournament on Lake Okeechobee. His four-day catch weighed 64 pounds 2 ounces.

That boosted his career winnings to more than $2.2 million, second only to legendary Rick Clunn. Most of Dudley’s success has been on the FLW Outdoors tour. He became the youngest angler to surpass $2 million in career winnings in 2006 at the age 30.

Dudley opened the tournament in 20th spot and adjusted his approach to advance from there.

FUNDS AVAILABE FOR WILDLIFE

If you have land suitable for turning into quail habitat, the federal government has attractive financial incentives to help you get the job done.

An average of $65 per acre for 10 years is being offered landowners for establishing upland bird habitat buffers. It is part of the Continuing Conservation Reserve Program of the Farm Bill.

Steve Capel, farm wildlife supervisor of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, is urging Virginia landowners to look into the program, which has allocated funds for 3,600 acres of habitat improvement in the state. Information is available at local Farm Service Agency or Natural Resources Conservation Service offices, known as Farm Service Centers.

The called-for practice involves planting habitat buffers along the edge of fields. Some of the work begins in late winter, so participants need to check into the program right away.

Contracts are signed for 10 years, but funding is not guaranteed beyond 2007, because the program must be updated through Farm Bill action.

Buffers are designed for quail, but benefit other wildlife, including turkeys, rabbits and certain songbirds, Capel said.

WHAT’S THIS! BIG FLOUNDER?

Dr. Julie Ball isn’t certain if the flounder think it still is fall or already spring. An impressive number of these flatfish currently are being caught as a byproduct of striped bass fishing along the coast of Virginia.

Flounder are being landed by anglers trolling trolling for stripers off Cape Henry and Fisherman’s Island, Ball reported. One boat reported catching nine from the Cape Henry area. Daniel Scott of Williamsburg hooked an 8-pound flounder while jigging for stripers near Fisherman’s Island.

“If anglers wish to cash in on this unusual flounder surge, drifting the edges of channels, shoals and deep holes could proved very productive right now,” Ball said.

Meanwhile striped bass continue to prowl the lower bay and inshore ocean waters near Virginia Beach. Some of the fish are in the 40- to 50-pound range.

Speckled trout remain available in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and Willoughby area and tautogs can be found in the lower Bay and on the inshore wrecks.

CASH FOR FISHING DIARIES

Members of the Smith Mountain Striper Association have kept diaries for a number of years on the hours they fish and the stripers they catch. The information is passed onto the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries where it is used in the management of the lake.

“Information gathered from the diaries provides important data that could not have been collected otherwise,” said Dan Wilson, a DGIF fisheries biologist.

The problem: of the 276 diaries distributed for the 2006 season, only 14 have been turned in.

DGIF officials hope to improve the return rate by offering a financial incentive to participants this season. A rotating reward ranging from $10 to $50 will be offered to anglers keeping and returning diaries.

“Your cooperation is vital to the continuation of this program and for the continued improvement of this fishery,” Wilson told association members.

Diaries for the 2007 season can be received from Wilson by contacting him at dan.wilson@dgif.virginia.gov.

AND THE WINNER IS: ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

It is a good thing that the Rockbridge County Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation has a robust membership of nearly 200. A bunch of them were needed to carry home awards won at the state chapter meeting in Roanoke.

The Rockbridge Chapter was just about all-everything, being honored for the most adult members, the most youth members, the highest netting fund-raising banquet ($39,289), the best Women in the Outdoors event, the best youth (JAKES) event.

With the awards came word that the chapter’s JAKES event will take a top national honor later this month at the national convention in Nashville, Tenn. The Franklin County Longbeards also will receive national recognition for JAKES work.

Other winners on the state level:

>Wildlife Manager of the Year: Joe Watons, a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries wildlife biologist.

>Law Enforcement Officer of the Year: John Cobb, a DGIF game warden assigned to Caroline County.

>Volunteer of the Year: Curt Breeding, Richmond.

>Outstanding Land Steward: Rick and Linda Layser, Middlebrook.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY UPDATE

Bills making progress in General Assembly in addition to ones calling for mandatory boating education (see this week's Cochran column) include the following:

>A measure that would change the name of Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ enforcement agents from “game warden” to “conservation police officer” passed the House 98-0.

>Legislation that would let DGIF increase or decrease the cost of a non-resident hunting license by $100 every three years passed the House 98-0. Under current law, non-resident licenses can be increased by only $5 every three years.

>A bill that would make blood or breath testing protocol for boating under the influenced consistent with that of driving a vehicle under the influence passed the Senate 39-0.

>A measure that would eliminate the three-shell limit in a shotgun when hunting non-migratory wildlife passed the house 94-0.

Search all these bills and their status at the General Assembly Legislative Information System site.

OUTDOOR NOTES

>Friends of the NRA chapters across Virginia raised just over one-quarter million dollars, half of which will stay in the state to fund projects that enhance shooting spots. The program funded 49 of 57 grant requests, many of them involving youth shooting programs. A grant request by Hunters for the Hungry for money to help process deer for the needy was not approved.

>A 17-pound, 7-ounce blueline tilefish caught off Virginia Beach by Jenny Manus is among the latest updates of world record catches listed by the International Game Fish Association.

>Ducks Unlimited commemorated its 70th anniversary Jan. 29. The organization has endured good times and bad while focused on its mission to conserve North America’s waterfowl populations and habitats.

>The February issue of “Guns & Ammo” Magazine contains an article on how some indoor shooters are discovering that they have high levels of lead in their blood and what they are doing about it.

>Not happy with its treatment by the mainstream media, the NRA launched its own news service Monday. Among it many features is a blog by NRA executive and native Roanoker Wayne LaPierre titled “What They Didn’t Tell You Today.” It can be found at NRANews.com.

>Visitors to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge near Virginia Beach will be treated to a new wildlife viewing opportunity this spring. Duck Unlimited has worked with refuge officials to restore 5.5 acres of shallow water wetlands and provide an observation blind open to the public.

>A short course designed for forest landowners concerned about the legal and emotional challenges of passing their land to the next owner is being broadcast to localities across Virginia Feb. 20, 27 and March 6. Information is available from Virginia Tech’s Jennifer Gagnon.

>The Augusta County Farm Bureau has donated $8,000 to build a custom refrigeration trailer to store deer taken from farms where the animals are causing crop damage. The deer will be donated to Hunters for the Hungry.

>Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States, a major opponent to hunting, said in a California newspaper that the Democratic take over of Congress is a victory for the animal-protection movement. Pacelle lauded the fact that a dove hunting season was defeated by voters in Michigan, even through the NRA poured pro-season money into the referendum.

>Tom Ricks is scheduled to become general manager of BASS, effective Feb. 12, according to ESPN. Ricks has most recently been general manager of Pure Fishing, a worldwide leader in fishing tackle products.

>Greasy Creek Outfitters, a fishing guide service headed by Mike Smith in Floyd County, has an updated Web site.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Smith Mountain Striper Club meting, 7 p.m., Feb. 2, Moneta Community Center, program on AEP re-licensing.

The Fly Fishing Show, Feb. 2-4, Charlotte Merchandise mart, Charlotte, N.C., flyfishingshow.com.

Western Virginia Sports Show, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, Feb. 16-18, information from Mark Hanger, 540-337-7081.

The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 16-18, Rockingham County Fairgrounds in Harrisonburg. More information from vasportshow.com.

Richmond Ducks Unlimited Wild Game Feast, Feb. 21, Science Museum of Virginia, 3:30 p.m., $85, includes DU membership, information from durichmond.com.

Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 23-25, Roanoke Civic Center.

CITGO Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 23-25, Birmingham, Ala.

The National Wild Turkey Federation’s 2007 National Convention and Sport Show, Feb. 22-25, Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville, Tenn.

Dixie Deer Classic, March 2-4, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, N.C. info from dixiedeerclassic.org.

Shenandoh Valley Sportsman’s Alliance banquet, March 3, details from Myron Reedy.

Bedford Outdoor Sportsman Association Sport Show, March 10, Bedford Armory, information from Steve Grant, 540-586-3807.

Celebration of American woodcock, March 11, 1-5 p.m., Canaan Valley State Park, W.Va. $25 donation, panel of experts, information from Dennis LaBare, 304-358-3154.

Hooked For Life banquet, April 20, Roanoke, will feature bass fishing pro Jay Yelas, information from www.hookedforlife.org.

BASS Elite Series, June 7-10, 2007, Smith Mountain Lake, information from bassmaster.com.

Outdoor Writers Association of America conference, June 16-19, Hotel Roanoke.

The Western Regional Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 8 & 9, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, information from vpsa.org.

The Eastern Region and State Championship of the Virginia Big Game Show, Sept. 22 & 23, Southampton County Fairgrounds in Franklin, information from from vpsa.org.

DGIF meetings

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, March 27, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 5, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, July 17, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 21, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 16, 9 a.m. at agency’s headquarters, 4000 W. Broad St.

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