Thursday, February 14, 2008
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Trial date set for Woodfin
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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A two-day trial date of April 14 and 15 has been set for William Woodfin, former director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries who was indicted in September for misusing state funds in 2004 to make purchases for an African safari.
Woodfin, who headed the DGIF for 10 years, is charged with embezzlement, a felony.
Also charged is Terry Bradbery, former chief of the DGIF Law Enforcement Division, and Michael Caison, former assistant chief. Bradbery’s trial is set for April 16 and 17; Caison’s April 21 and 22. The trials are scheduled to be held in Richmond.
The three had filed motions for a single trial, arguing that it would be cost saving since they face similar charges and plan to call a large number of the same witnesses. The request was denied.
Caison faces two charges of misusing state funds. Woodfin and Bradbery each face a single count. Each charge is a felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and up to a $100,000 fine.
BILL
BRIERY CREEK OUTLOOK PROMISING
Briery Creek Lake, Virginia’s best producer of jumbo-size largemouth bass, should have a good season, but the catches of 10-pound plus fish could be down this year.
“I think 2008 will provide anglers with very good catch rates and a high proportion of bass in the 2- to 6-pound range,” said Vic Dicenzo, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist. And there will be some 10- to 12-pounder caught, he predicted.
But it success of anglers probably won’t be like it once was, when more than 100 trophy bass annually were reported caught from the 845-acre impoundment near Farmville.
For one thing, a slot limit designed to reduce the take of big bass is doing its job. In addition, below average recruitment has occurred since 2003. “Which means we are not adding a lot of new fish to the fishable stock each year,” Dicenzo said.
Then there is the reduction in sunfish, an important food for bass, and a higher density of vegetation, which can impede the food intake of bass, Dicenzo said. “Those are two things we will look to improve in the future,” he said.
Fishing pressure in the spring is so intense that some fishermen have switched to summer fishing.
“Many anglers have dedicated themselves to learning how to catch big bass in the heat of the summer or in the fall,” Dicenzo said. “The summer catch is excellent.”
BILL
SEN. SMITH STANDS ALONE, AND THAT’S GOOD
Senate Bill 263, which would impose harsh penalties for those convicted of carrying a gun or bow onto private land without permission to retrieve dogs, passed the Senate 38 to 1. The negative vote was cast by Sen. Ralph Smith, D-Botetourt County.
Smith’s vote wisely was based on the fact that the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is conducting a major study of hound hunting and legislation on the issue should not be imposed until the findings of the research is available.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Hot Springs, who early on was quoted as saying he had not heard about the study.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>>H.B. 1352, a bill that would have changed the way board members of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries are appointed, has been narrowly defeated, 47-52. Board members currently are appointed by the governor.
>>Reasonable saltwater temperatures and plenty of bait are keeping jumbo striped bass in Virginia, according to Dr. Julie Ball. Hot spots include Cape Henry, False Cape and the North Carolina line, she said. Large pods of bait and diving birds are guiding anglers to the fish. Catch-and-release anglers, including fly fishermen, continue to find fish along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
>>The latest update of International Game Fish Association world records contains two Virginia catches, an 8-pound, 11-ounce croaker taken by Norman Jenkins of Portsmouth in the Chesapeake Bay on Aug. 7, 2007 and an 8-pound, 4-ounce spadefish on 12-pound line. That fish was caught at the Chesapeake Light Tower, June 11, 2007, by Dr. Julie Ball of Virginia Beach.
>>The Virginia Charter Boat Association has a list of more than 100 licensed captains willing to take you fishing. The Web site is fishva.org. The site can be helpful in organizing a saltwater angling trip, but be aware there are some good captains not on the list.
>>Maryland may be next door to Virginia, but it is far apart in philosophy when it comes to hunting. Maryland lawmakers are dealing with two anti-hunting bills. One would set a minimum hunting age of 13 and the other would ban bear hunting in the state.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Richmond Boat Show, Feb. 14-17, Richmond Raceway Complex, information from agievents.com.
Western Virginia Sport Show, Feb. 15-17, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, westernvasportshow.com
The Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 15-17, 2008, Rockingham County Fairgrounds, Harrisonburg, vasportsshow.com.
National Wild Turkey Federation conference, Feb. 21-24, Georgia World Conference Center, Atlanta.
The Virginia Outdoor Sportsmen’s Classic, Feb. 22-24, Roanoke Civic Center, vaoutdoorsportsmensclassic.com.
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 22-24, Greenville, S.C.
Dixie Deer Classic, Feb. 28-March 2, North Carolina State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, dixiedeerclassic.org.
Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 29-March 2, Roanoke Civic Center.
National Capital Boat Show, March 7-9, Dulles Expo Center, information from agievents.com.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 4, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program by Dan Wilson, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist.
Youth spring gobbler day, April 5
Spring gobbler season, April 12-May 17.
Seventh annual David H. Horne Memorial Hunters for the Hungry Golf Tournament, May 7, Birkdale Golf Course, Richmond; contact Braxton Bell, 804-739-3010.
Twenty-fifth annual Bluefish Derby, June 13 & 14, Reedville, information from Jett’s Hardware, (804) 453-5325.
Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Oct. 18.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.