Thursday, February 17, 2005
DGIF spending practices examined
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
You had to like the way John Montgomery Jr. handled the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ effort to examine the agency’s procurement practices. During a DGIF committee meeting at the agency’s headquarters in Richmond last week, Montgomery, a department board member, came by the press table and thanked the media representatives for being there. There were four of us.
He thanked the handful of guests present. He said he and other representatives would be willing to address questions at the close of the meeting, although they would be limited in what they could say. There was legal counsel present to make certain everyone remembered that a state auditor was in the process of reviewing credit card use by several top officials of the agency.
It had been a long time since such feelings of openness and good will were evident at a DGIF board function. Was this the first step in restoring the credibility and cordiality of the agency? Let’s hope so, although dark days loom ahead.
Montgomery, a lawyer, is a new board member from Sandston. He and two other members were assigned by board chairman Dan Hoffler to look into DGIF spending practices following extremely bad publicity in the wake of a 17-day African safari taken by Hoffler, executive director Bill Woodfin and two high-raking game wardens.
Hoffler, Woodfin and the two wardens were not present at the committee meeting, nor were any department heads, with the exception of Ray Davis, the agency’s chief financial officer. Davis was there to recommend checks and balances to help assure that the department’s procurement practices are above reproach.
What he didn’t recommend may have been the highlight of the meeting. He did not recommend that employees cut up their credit cards. The cards are essential for employees to do their job, and they are cost effective, Davis said.
The recommendations that were made included a three-person committee to review credit card purchases before and after they are made. Events, travel or purchases of more than $2,500 would require pre-approval by the review committee.
The recommendations are expected to be presented to the full board during its March 24 meeting.
Attending the committee meeting was Lee Albright, a Montebello resident who blew the whistle on what he called questionable spending by agency officials. Afterwards he said that the recommendations likely would not have prohibited the credit card use being questioned because it was carried out by top officials of the agency. But in the future, officials will be aware someone is looking over their shoulders, he said.
BILL
MAKE READY FOR CROSSBOW HUNTING
There is a very good chance that crossbow hunting is in the future of Virginia sportsmen. A bill, HB 2200, that gives the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries the authority to establish a crossbow license, sailed through the General Assembly passing unanimously in both the House and Senate.
Few pieces of legislation get by that unscathed. It gives DGIF a strong endorsement to set up the season as quickly as logistics allow. Discussion of the concept could come up as early as the next DGIF meeting set for March 24. All that is needed is the governor’s signature, and that’s not likely to be withheld.
The bill generated very little debate among sportsmen. Twenty years ago there would have been an outcry by bowhunters, who would have protested sharing their season with crossbow hunters. That didn’t happen this time.
Maybe there are so many deer and so many places to hunt and such a lengthy bow season that archers didn’t view crossbows as a threat to their sport. Or maybe they figured that if crossbows attract new recruits to the declining number of hunters then it would be worth their while to share the woods
BILL
GARVEY IS BACK IN THE SADDLE
“Couldn’t stand it any longer. More than a year is long enough to sit around.”
That is the report coming from Bear Den Mountain, home of Garvey Winegar.
We’ve missed Winegar. For years, he was the popular outdoor columnist of the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Now, more than a year into his retirement, Winegar has decided to do an online outdoor column.
His objective: “To write about animals, birds, fish and plants in their natural habitat using fact, fantasy and feverish speculation.”
Winegar is as good as they come at doing just that, and he will put a spin on this craft that you won’t see from the likes of your average outdoor writer.
“Readers are warned ahead of time that I subscribe to the philosophy of Raphael Sabitini, who was ‘…born with the gift of laughter, and the sense that the world was mad.’”
See what I mean! The Web site is adventuresinnature.blogspot.com/.
BILL
FLOUNDER REGULATIONS CONSIDERERD
Officials of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission are looking at four potential flounder regulations for 2005 and will hold a hearing to discuss them Feb. 22. The options under consideration are:
1. 16.5-inch minimum size limit, eight fish limit and Jan. 1-Mach 28-closed season.
2. 16.5-inch minimum size, six catch limit and no closed season.
3. 16-inch minimum size, four limit, closed periods of Jan. 1-March 28 and July 11-17.
4. 16-inch minimum size, three limit, closed periods Jan. 1-March 28 and July 11.
The public hearing is set for noon, Feb. 22 at the Marine Resources Commission headquarters in Newport News. Written comments will be received through Feb. 21. Send them to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Ave., Newport News, Va. 23607.
BILL
FISHING REPORT
Rex Smith landed and released a 39-inch striped bass from Smith Mountain Lake, an unusually large one in view of the die-off of jumbo-size stripers in the lake. Smith, who is the past president of the Smith Mountain Striper Club, estimated that the catch would weigh 22 to 25 pounds. Fishing with Smith was Tim Woods, who was collecting stripers for Department of Game and Inland Fisheries parasite research. Woods comment about Smith’s catch: “It’s too big. It won’t fit in my cooler.”
Chickahominy Lake is producing hefty catches of largemouth bass and pickerel. Spinnerbaits are a top lure for both species. Some of the bass weigh better than 5 pounds, and some of the pickerel better than 3 pounds.
Blue catfish catches are impressive in the lower James River. Barndon Phelps of Chesterfield reported landing two over 40-pound apiece.
Big crappie are showing up in Kerr Lake, where Robert Price of Rustburg reported landing a limit from the Bluestone Creek area. The top three weighed 2 pounds, 1 ounce, 2 pounds, 2 ounces and 2 pounds, 4 ounces. The Bomber Speed Shad is picking up bass in the lake, and catfish up to 42 pounds are being landed.
At Moomaw Lake, one angler limited out on bass and another on crappie. A few yellow perch up to 1.5-pounds apiece are being caught.
Lake Anna Guide Glen Briggs reports that the Sturgeons Creek area is loaded with threadfin shad, so many that it is difficult to entice a striped bass with a lure at times. But Briggs and his clients have been up to the challenge, catching three to eight striper per outing.
JACK RANDOLPH/BILL
SPORTS SHOW IN FISHERVILLE
Cabin fever is curable with a two-prong approach. First, get out of the cabin. Second, visit some place where there’s loads of outdoor gear, services, contests and exhibits to drool over.
You’ll have to find your own way out the door. But the 18th annual Western Virginia Sports Show in Augusta Expoland in Fisherville, Feb. 25-17 ought to provide all the incentive you need for fishing, hunting, camping and trail-riding inspiration.
“We’re excited about this one, because we have displays and nationally known experts we’ve never had before,” said Mark Hanger, producer of the Western Virginia Sports Show.
Among them, the 2005 Bass Pro Shops “King of Bucks” display, which includes 25 mounted deer heads, including world and state records.
Also, Harold Knight, host of TV’s “Knight & Hale’s Ultimate Hunting Show,” Jack Paluh, nationally known wildlife artist and a 3-D benefit archery shoot.
If you think you are pretty good with a turkey call, you might want to enter the annual calling contest scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday. Prizes are up to $250.
The event can be reached off the I-64 Fisherville exit (Exit 91) near Staunton. Additional information is available at westernvasportshow.com.
GARVEY WINEGAR
TOM MANN WAS BASS INDSUTRY GIANT
Tom Mann, one of the giants of the modern bass fishing movement, has died at age 72 as a result of heart problems. Mann was best known as a tournament fisherman in the early days of BASS and as owner of Mann Bait Co., the maker of flavored Mann’s Jelly Worms.
While an Alabama conservation officer, Mann designed a tailspinner lure that he called Little George, after then-Governor of Alabama George Wallace. Millions were sold, many to anglers who fished white bass at Virginia’s Claytor Lake.
The Little George launched Mann’s lure-making business, which he began in his home with his children packaging lures. He always was innovative and is credited with starting the soft-bait business with his famous Jelly Worms ordered according to flavor, not color.
A big, likable man, Mann promoted his lures on the tournament trail. Once he came to the Smith Mountain Lake regions bearing an advertising campaign under the banner, “Mann for President.” He was a cutup who enjoyed fishing several Virginia tournaments with his young sidekick, Johnny Morris, who went on to establish the Bass Pro Shops empire.
As Mann’s business boomed, he took an in interest in sonar. Although he lacked training he electronics, he began experimenting with fish-finding technology that lead to Humminbird depth finders, which were later sold under the Techsonic brand.
“Think Like a Fish” is the title of a 2002 autobiography by Mann, which tells the story of a poor boy who started a business with $5 and eventually generated auxiliary industries and a multimillion-dollar annual cash flow.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>Maryland has called for a cap on the number of menhaden that commercial fishermen can take from the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich, Jr. and the Menhaden Management Board of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission support the effort. Virginia legislators recently turned down an effort to have menhaden managed by scientists rather than the General Assembly.
>The rich history of Botetourt County has been commemorated in 10-heirloom Winchester Model 94 rifles. All but one has been sold and the Botetourt 4-H Shooting Education Club will raffle it. Information is available from Glenda Snyder, 540-473-8260.
>Newspapers, including the Washington Post and The Roanoke Times, have given considerable space to the off-the-wall idea of Alan Gardner, a county commissioner in Utah, who wants to place the snakehead fish on the federal endangered species list. The fish is an undesirable that has taken a finhold in Virginia’s Potomac River where it is considered a threat to black bass populations. Gardner said snakeheads should be protected because “there are not very many of them.”
>BassFan.com reported that one in four of bass tour wins and one in four of the top five tour places involved flipping and pitching jigs and soft baits.
>Del. George Edwards, Republican leader in the Maryland House, says he's tired of politicians who don't live in bear country but try to pass laws banning the hunting of bears. Edwards has introduced a bill that would require the state to trap some of the cunning animals and distribute them in every county in the state.
>What happened to the Smith River fishing reports posted on this site by guide Al Kittredge? Maybe all that wading in the river caught up with him. Kittredge is scheduled for hip replacement surgery.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Botetourt 4-H Shooting Education Club, 7 p.m., Feb. 17, Fincastle Firehouse, information from Glenda Snyder, 540-473-8260.
Western Virginia Sports Show, Feb. 25-17, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, information from westernvasportshow.com.
Smith River Trout Unlimited meeting, 7 p.m., March 3, Rania’s Restaurant in downtown Martinsville (147 E. Main St.), dinner, program includes Shane Pinkston demonstrating how to make furled leaders and Larry Townsend on tying Smith River Bandit and Townsend Beetle. Guests welcome. Information from Pinkston, 276-638-3757.
Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 25-27, Roanoke Civic Center.
Appalachian Highlands Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society Banquet, March 5, Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Bristol Convention Center, Bristol, Va., information from B.G. Young, 423-534-6542.
Tidewater Fresh & Saltwater Fishing Show, March 11-13, Virginia Beach Pavilion, information from 575-437-7616.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., March 4, Moneta Community Center.
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.
The 2005 Virginia Ducks Unlimited State Convention and Banquet, March 18 and 19 at the Kingsmill Marriott in Williamsburg.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, 7 p.m., April 1, Moneta Community Center.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 1-3, Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, Va. 804-425-6556.
Youth day spring gobbler hunt, April 2.
Cave Spring Optimist Club Tournament, Aprils 29, 30 and May 1, Smith Mountain Lake.
Spring gobbler season, April 9-May 14.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s American Outdoor Experience, Bristol Motor Speedway, May 13-15, information from americanoutdoorexperience.com.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
