Thursday, January 22, 2009
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Stripers active at Smith Mountain Lake
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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Charles Burks (left) and Dale Wilson with trophy Smith Mountain Lake striper.
Veteran fishing guide Dale Wilson reports “really good” winter striped bass fishing at Smith Mountain Lake. Charles Burks from Lynchburg recently fished with Wilson and landed a 41.5-inch striper
“I could not find a place to weigh the fish,” said Wilson. ”I guessed the weight around 25 pounds.”
Burks hooked the fish on one of the 3/8-ounce bucktails that Wilson makes.
“We caught over 20 stripers that morning,” said Wilson.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- The Roanoke Valley Friends of the NRA netted a record $23,000 at its banquet in October and has scheduled an Aug. 29 date for this year’s banquet at the Salem Civic Center. The “Friends” committee will met shortly to allocate grants to organizations that promote shooting sports.
- Kenny Parr of Spring Grove, who was active in the National Wild Turkey Federation and other outdoor causes, died last week at age 61. He was a long-time director of the Virginia State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and a founding member of the Torsten-Peterson Chapter.
- The fact that Kim Bain-Moore will be the first woman to fish in the Bassmaster Classic has stimulated interest in the early struggles of women angers. The subject is embraced in an ESPN2 feature, titled the “51st Qualifier” being aired several times prior to the Feb. 20-22 Classic. Posted dates/times are Jan. 31 and Feb. 7 at 7:26 a.m.; Feb. 14 at 5:26 and 7:26 a.m.; Feb. 21 at 5:26 a.m.
- Many trade shows are seeing a decline in attendance, but not the recent SHOT show in Orlando, which displayed shooting, hunting and outdoor equipment. Attendance was up 3 percent compared to the event’s last visit to Orlando in 2007. The show attracted nearly 50,000 people, including nearly 1,500 media representatives.
- A bill to end commercial harvesting of wild striped bass in state waters and to manage the resource for recreational fishermen has been introduced in the Massachusetts. The bill prohibits the sale of wild striped bass in the state and sets a recreational daily bag limit of one striper measuring between 20 and 26 inches, or alternatively, one fish of 40 inches or greater per angler. Stripers Forever, an organization that advocates managing wild stripers as game fish, was instrumental in proposing the bill.
- Outdoor sportsmen can buy and sell anything from a fishing rod to a bass boat in the new classifieds section of ESPNOutdoors.com. The new service has enjoyed a strong start with hundreds of searchable listings, ESPM officials report.
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Nation’s Outdoor Sportsmen’s Show, Dulles Expo Center, Jan. 23-25, nationsoutdoorshow.com.
Virginia Boat Show, Jan. 23-25, Richmond, affinityboatshows.com.
George Washington National Forest workshop on the forest plan, Jan. 29, 6:30-9 p.m., Rockbridge County High School, Lexington.
Fly Fishing and Wing Shooting Show, Charlotte Merchandise Mart, Jan. 30 & 31.
Virginia’s quail and squirrel seasons closed Jan. 31.
Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club meeting, Feb. 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program on raising stripers by Ken Mitchell, manager of the Vic Thomas Hatchery.
Virginia’s grouse season closes Feb. 14.
Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show, Feb. 20-22, Rockingham County, details from vasportsshow.com.
Richmond Boat Show, Feb. 20-22, Richmond Raceway Complex.
Saltwater Sportsman 2009 National Seminar Series, six hours of fishing instruction from the pros, Feb. 21, Virginia Beach Convention Center, $55, nationalseminarseries.com.
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to consider hunting/trapping regulations, 9 a.m., Feb. 26, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St., Richmond.
Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 27-Mach 1, Roanoke Civic Center.
Western Virginia Sports Show, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville, Feb. 27-March 1.
Virginia’s rabbit season closes Feb. 28.
Hooked for Life silent auction, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Feb. 28 Colonial Avenue Baptist Church.
Smith Mountain Striper Club swap meet, March 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.
National Capital Boat Show, March 13-15, Chantilly.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 3-5, Hampton.
Youth spring turkey hunting day, April 4, 2009.
2009 spring gobbler season, April 11-May 16.
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 31-June 4, Hatteras, N.C., $1,445, limited to 45 participants, www.ncsu.edu/cpe/fishing.html.
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 31-June 4, Hatteras, N.C., $1,445, limited to 45 participants.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
