Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

Recent columns

• 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
• Mail archive

Bill's Field Reports

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

Resources

• Trout stocking schedule

It should be easier to catch a keeper-size flounder in Virginia this year. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has relaxed sport fishing regulations for this popular saltwater species that is so much fun to catch and great to eat.

The size limit has been lowered from 17 inches to 16.5 inches. Unlike last year, there will be no closed season. The daily keep limit of six fish per person remains unchanged.

A one-half inch reduction in the size limit may not sound like much, but it makes a world of difference in flounder fishing as to what you can bring home and what you have to toss back. The figure especially will benefit the Eastern Shore area, where flounder tend to average a bit smaller than in the Chesapeake Bay.

Last year, flounder fishermen in Virginia came in well under their total catch quota set by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. That’ why Virginia officials were given the opportunity by ASMFC to relax founder regulations this year. The 2004 target was 741,000 fish. Anglers reported landing 584,000. This year’s target is 800,000.

VMRC’s officials had the option of lowering the length limit to 16 inches, but with that came a smaller bag limit and a closed season. Last year the season was closed Jan. 1-March 28, which wasn’t all that restrictive since the dates encompassed a time when flounder aren’t that active.

Anglers generally seem to be pleased with the new regulations.

DUCKS UNLIMITED BACK

After missing a year, the Star City Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is back with a fund-raising banquet in Roanoke. The event is scheduled Friday, Mach 4 at the Roanoke Country Club. Doors open at 6 p.m. and a dinner is set of 7:30 p.m.

“This event has been missing for the past year and we have some fresh blood to get things rolling again in Roanoke,” said Kenneth Andres, a committee member. “We have a strong membership in the Roanoke Valley and the event is open to all who wish to attend.”

Funds generated by DU banquets go primarily for waterfowl habitat improvement projects that benefit ducks, geese and other wildlife.

The admission for the Roanoke banquet is $75 per individual; $125 per couple and $650 for a corporate sponsorship.

For ticket information, contact Andres: 540-982-5580.

“We have had a great response so far and are looking at better than expected numbers for the event. It is set up to be an exciting and eventful night,” said Andres.

KEEPING UP WITH BOB GOOCH

Bob Gooch says he is slowing down, but that can be difficult to determine considering his vigor. Gooch is one of the most prolific and popular outdoor writers in Virginia. He lives in Troy with his beloved wife, Ginny.

For 42 years, he wrote a weekly syndicated outdoor column that appeared in more than 30 newspapers at its peak. Gooch, who is in his 80s, stepped away from that recently, turning the column over to Chris McCotter.

“Old age,” he gives as the reason. “But I still try to stay active, though I don’t do much hunting and fishing anymore.”

Articles by Gooch have appeared in every major outdoor magazine, and at last count he had written 20 books. I have two of his recent ones on my desk. One is titled “Lake Fishing in Virginia.” Published by the University of Virginia Press, it covers more than 60 lakes in Virginia.

The other is “The Ultimate Guide to Squirrel Hunting,” published by the Lyons Press.

Gooch always has had the knack of choosing out-of-the-mainstream subjects. While others write about deer, he chooses squirrels, and while some are attracted to trout and bass, he covers pickerel.

There is no discrimination in his heart, be it critters or people. Gooch always has had an eye out to encourage new writers. I recall many years ago when I first met Bob and Ginny at Chickhominy Lake. They invited my wife, Katherine, and me and our son Preston, who was about 5, to share a cabin with them during a writer’s meeting. Most people probably would have tried to stay away from a young family with a 5-year-old, but that’s never been the style of Bob and Ginny. They always have brought class to our profession.

REPORTING ROGUE BOATERS

If you’ve been on Smith Mountain Lake, chances are you’ve seen a reckless boater and thought, “Someone should report that guy!”

Now you can be that person.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in cooperation with the Smith Mountain Lake Water Safety Advisory Council has launched a new program to facilitate reporting violations. It is called “Lake Watch,” and is designed to give game wardens extra eyes.

The program will provide a brochure that gives guidance on how to report a violation and what type of information will be needed by game wardens to investigate the incident. Violations can be reported by calling 800-237-5712.

SUPER SPOT IS SUPER

If you happen to be in the Waterfront Grocery & Tackle Shop on Lake Guntersville in Alabama, you can figure on being limited in the number of Cordell Super Spot lures that you can buy. Like two per person. Because the guy standing in line behind you also wants to buy a couple.

The Super Spot may be the most popular lure in the country at the moment and has been flying off tackle shop shelves. Zell Rowland won the weekend’s Bassmaster Tour on Lake Guntesville, relying heavily on the Super Spot. Other tournament anglers also tossed this lipless lure. Tim Horton, who finished 12th, estimated that over half of the participants used the Super Spot as their primary lure.

Rowland, who won $100,000, said he relied on a red and gold, one-half ounce Super Spot for most of the tournament. The rest of his fish came on a Smithwick Rogue and a jig.

The Super Spot was a winner on Guntersville because anglers were able to rip it through the vegetation or work it extremely slow to entice a strike.

FISHING REPORT

>Hugh Kent of Saluda landed a limit of crappie in the Chickahominy River. Pickerel are dominating the action on Chickahominy Lake. Elwood Shiflett of Bumpass got six that weighed up to 6 pound apiece. Kenny Glenn of Richmond landed 25 one trip and on a second outing with Carl Godsey of Richmond the catch went up to 35. The fish were hitting plugs.

>Bass fishing is picking up in Kerr Lake, and one crappie angler there caught 10 fish that weighed a total of 19 pounds.

>The James River produced a blue catfish that weighed 60 pounds, 6 ounces.

>At Holiday Lake, Greg Heath and Kenny Ames of Appomattox caught seven bass and two pickerel while fishing from a canoe. One of the bass weighed 8.5 pounds. They also had bass 5 pounds and 6 pounds. All were released.

>Largemouth bass fishing has been good at Lake Anna where Guide Glenn Briggs reports finding fish on hard, clay points in water 3-to 5-feet deep. Other bass can be located feeding in coves on the abundant schools of threadfin shad that can be found there.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

>The Community Safety and Services Committee in Winchester recommended this week that the city become part of the state’s urban archery program. Earlier Winchester officials voted down the option. The recommendation would have to be approved by the City Council. If so, Winchester would be the 19th locality in Virginia to be part of the state program, which is designed to deal with growing problems of urban deer.

>Anglers and boaters help fund the Sport Fish Restoration (Wallop-Breaux) Account to the tune of more than $200-million annually through a 13.5-cents per gallon federal tax on marine fuel. That figure could be increased by more than $100 million per year if the full 18.3 cents per gallon tax went to the cause. A bill has been introduced in Congress that would accomplish this.

>Virginia’s Mark Hicks (Mineral) placed sixth in the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Tour Tournament on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville. His four-day 63-10 pound catch earned him $14,000 and valuable points toward the Bassmaster Classic. Texan Zell Rowland, who landed 87-pounds of bass worth $100,000, won the tournament.

>This week’s snowstorm was a gift to ski resorts like Snowshoe in West Virginia. As February ended, the season’s total snowfall was at 90 inches. At the same time last year it was 148 inches. The resort gets an average of 180 inches per season, which means there will a lot of snow to shovel between now and spring if that is to happen.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

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.

Star City Chapter of Ducks Unlimited Banquet, March 4, 6 p.m., Roanoke Country Club, information from Kenneth Andres at 540-982-5580.

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 http://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 www.americanoutdoorexperience.com.

Wilderness First Aid, May 17-18, Blacksburg, an 18-hour, two-day class that results in a two-year certification, $160, registration/information from http://wfa.net.

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