Thursday, March 19, 2009
Optimist Club goes for 41st tournament
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
The 41st edition of the Cave Spring Optimist Club fishing tournament on Smith Mountain Lake is set for early May, and Ike Harris, a founding member of the club who has worked every contest, is wondering if this might be the most challenging of them all.
“I think it will be affected by the economy,” he said.
The May 1-3 event already is taking some hard knocks when you consider that one of the tournament’s sponsors, Sportsman’s Warehouse, is going out of business. The club not only was depending on the giant outdoor store to donate merchandise but also to provide an outlet for ticket sales and a meeting place for a planned seminar on the fishes of Smith Mountain Lake.
Last week, shortly after the closer was announced, word came of the death of Melvin Crewson, owner of the Minnow Pond in Southeast Roanoke. Crewson had been the long-time champion of tournament ticket sales and a contributor of merchandise.
Even with these drawbacks, the tournament is following a familiar format by offering $15,000 in cash prizes, as in the past, said Harris. The entry fee remains $40.
Prizes are being offered for the four heaviest fish in categories for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, muskie, crappie, catfish and striped bass. First place is $1,000; second, $500; third, $300 and fourth, $150. Fishing begins at 7:30 a.m. May 1 and concludes at noon May 3. Funds made by the event go toward the club’s youth programs.
Tickets can be purchase by mail -- $40 plus 50-cents shipping -- from the Optimist Club of Cave Spring, P.O. Box 1276, Salem, Va. 24153. Ticket outlets in the Smith Mountain Lake area are contest headquarters Foxport Marina, Crazy Horse Marina, Virginia Outdoorsman, Captain’s Quarters and Franklin Outdoors. In Roanoke, they can be purchased at Metro Heavy Duty Distributors, 913 McDowell Ave. (next to the Regional Trash Transfer Station).
The contest will include the Fifth annual Bill Cochran Youth Tournament on May 2, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Youngsters 12 and under don’t have to pay to participate as long as they are accompanied by a paying adult. Competition will be in two categories, for the largest carp and sunfish. Prizes will include saving bonds.
BILL
HUNTERS CRANK UP FOREST DEBATE
A group of outdoor sportsmen, ranging from grouse to bear hunters, are soliciting George Washington and Jefferson National Forests supervisor Maureen Hyzer to set aside more land to be managed for wildlife. The forest, headquartered in Roanoke, is in the process of revising its management plan.
Hunters exerted a higher volume of involvement when it became obvious that most of the forest input was coming from supporters of no-cut wilderness and roadless areas. Wildlife needs are best served by diversity of habitat that includes new growth.
Meanwhile, the Senate has been reworking a stalled wilderness bill that would exclude from management more than 2 million acres of forest land in nine states, including Virginia. The bill was passed by the Senate but rejected by the House.
A recent letter to Hyzer from two Virginia Congressmen, Gerald Connolly and James Moran, was critical of the forest plan, claming it would create logging in several scenic areas.
“We appreciate the Forest Service’s efforts to balance the multiple uses of the National Forest, said the Congressmen. That’s basically the same thing the hunters are saying, only balancing the multiple use of the forest to them means more management for wildlife, not less.
BILL
PROJECT HEALING WATER HAS LOCAL CHAPTER
Project Healing Water, an organization that uses fly fishing as a means of physical and mental therapy for wounded soldiers, has an active chapter based in the Roanoke Valley that is soliciting new members. It will be participating in a trout fishing trip to Escatawba Farm near Covington March 25 and 26.
Driving the chapter are Josh Williams of Franklin County and Chris Rowland of Roanoke.
“I am really trying to build up the program here, as it is sometimes hard to get the word out to all the vets that deserve this opportunity,” said Williams, an amputee medically retired staff sergeant of the U.S. Army. “The program did wonders for me, and I owe so much to them,” he said.
Based at the Salem VA Medical Center, the chapter has been taking participants fly fishing on ponds as well as teaching fly tying.
The Roanoke Valley Chapter and the Richmond Chapter received a grant to take eight veterans to Escatawba where Dunlap Creek is stocked with trout.
“Derrick Barr owns the place, and it’s absolutely amazing,” said Williams. “We are hoping to get these vets on some nice fish. If nothing else, at least give them the opportunity to forget their troubles or handicaps.
Additional information is available from Williams at Josh.Williams@aecom.com.
BILL
NEW STRIPER TOURNAMENT AT SMITH MOUNTAIN
During her brief tenure as president of the Smith Mountain Striper Club, Angie Behan seldom saw eye-to-eye with several other leaders in the 600-member organization. It didn’t matter if the subject was fishing tournaments or the annual Christmas banquet, there was discontent.
So Behan and the club parted ways, but this doesn’t mean she is out of the picture on the lakefront. She is directing an April 11 tournament called the Smith Mountain Lake Striper Fest.
The tournament follows by one week the annual spring tournament sponsored by the Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club.
“The response has been overwhelming,” Behan said of her tournament, which she says is sponsored by Glenda McDaniel of Long and Foster Real Estate.
Within three days after it was announced by word of mouth nearly 25 teams had signed up, Behan said.
The tournament has a $100 entry fee for teams of up to six anglers. There is an optional $25 big fish bonus. First place is a guaranteed $1,000, said Behan, and second is $750. The contest headquarters is Captain’s Quarters. Additional information can be received from smlstriperfest@yahoo.com.
The spring tournament of the Smith Mountain Lake Striper Club is set for April 4 with headquarters at Captain’s Cove. Tournament director is Frank Skillman, whose fishing expertise recently was featured in an article by Mark Taylor of the Roanoke Times. Skillman can be reached at 540-721-1220.
BILL
RIFLE BAN TALK BRING OUTCRY
It would reduce jobs, not crime.
That’s what the National Shooting Sports Foundation had to say about Attorney General Eric Holder’s comment that the Obama Administration will attempt to reinstate a ban against semiautomatic rifles. Didn’t Candidate Obama promise during a visit to Southwest Virginia that he wouldn’t mess with gun rights?
A ban would cause jobs to be lost in a difficult economy, have no effect on reducing crime and deprive millions of law-abiding sportsmen and gun owners of their Constitutional right to own the firearm of their choice, said the foundation.
Since the November election, gun owners have feared the Obama Administration would seek legislation that would infringe on Second Amendment rights and this caused a huge increase in gun sales.
Holder said the ban is necessary because of drug wars in Mexico. Even key leader in his party, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, were cool toward Holder’s proposal.
Meanwhile, gun owners have been jolted by H.R. 45, introduced by Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), and known as the “Blair Holt’s Firearm Licensing and Record of Sale Act.” As the name implies, it calls for licensing before a handgun or a rifle with detachable clip could be purchased. The process include registration, photo and thumbprint.
BILL
TROUT HERITAGE DAY APRIL 4
If you pine for the past when there was a festival-like opening day to the trout fishing season, then Trout Heritage Day just might interest you. It is set for April 4 on 16 streams and lakes that will be closed briefly and freshly stocked with trout.
With the exception of the state’s pay fishing areas -- Douthat Lake, Crooked Creek and Big Tumbling Creek -- the Heritage Day waters will be closed on April 3 for stocking and reopened 9 a.m. April 4. Fee-fishing areas will be closed slightly longer, March 30April 3.
The following streams and lakes are included in the program:
Beartree Lake and Big Tumbling Creek, Washington County
Bark Camp Lake, Scott County
Cripple Creek (Ravens Cliff), Wythe County
Crooked Creek (pay area), Carroll County
Douthat Lake, Bath County
Jennings Creek, Botetourt County
Lake Witten and Lincolnshire Lake, Tazewell County
Liberty Lake, Bedford County
Middle Fork Holston River, Smyth County
Passage Creek, Shenandoah County
Pedlar River (upper) Amherst County
Pigg River, Franklin County
Robinson River and Rose River, Madison County
Tinker Creek, Roanoke City
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
- No telling how many minnows Melvin Crewson dipped for Roanoke Valley anglers heading to Smith Mountain Lake, the James River and Carvins Cove. Crewson, who died last week of an apparent heart attack at age of 67, was a familiar face in the bait and tackle business. When he opened his own store, he called it the Minnow Pond. The latest edition was located in Southeast Roanoke and was reopened Feb, 13 after being heavily damaged in a fire. Crewson’s wife, Christine, says she plans to keep the business going.
- Carl Godfrey is the new assistant director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ Wildlife Division. He replaces Bob Ellis who moved into the chief director position which was vacated when Bob Duncan was promoted executive director of the agency. Godfrey received his wildlife training at Penn State and Virginia Tech and has been a district wildlife biologist.
- Bob Pride, veteran leader of the Coastal Conservation Association of Virginia has been elected the organization’s chairman. Newly elected board members are Murphy Sprinkle, Penn Vaughan and Bill Swanner.
- The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has proposed that the minimum size of a sea bass be boosted from 12 inches to 12.5 inches in order for the state to be in compliance with Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commissions requirements. The proposed regulation will be considered at the agency’s March 24 meeting in Newport News.
- The first Bassmaster Elite Series contest of the season produced huge catches at Lake Amistad in Texas. Winner Jason Williams posted a four-day catch that weighed 96 pounds, 6 ounces. Mike Iaconelli landed the big fish of the tournament, a 12-pound, 13-ounce largemouth, the largest of his career. Even with a screamer like that, he managed to place only seventh. The Elite Series comes to Smith Mountain Lake April 23-26.
- The National Shooting Sports Foundation has urged the National Park Service to reconsider its policy to ban the use of traditional ammunition made with lead components on park land. The foundation pointed out that neither humans, wildlife nor the environment are harmed by the use of such ammunition and that the effort is “not based on science.” Bullets made from tungsten, copper and other non-lead materials are more costly. The ban also would impact lead fishing tackle.
- An update of International Game Fish Association world records lists a record all-tackle barrelfish landed at the Norfolk Canyon off Virginia by Andre Franklin. The fish weighed 20 pounds, 15 ounces. The boat captain was Skip Feller.
- Robert Harkness of Elizabeth, W.Va., won the FLW Bass Federation National Championship on Bull Shoals Lake, Mo. His three-day limit weighed 40 pounds, 13 ounces. It was worth $100,000 for the 50-yer old plus a berth in the $1 million All-American and $2 Forrest Wood Cup.
- Country music star Carrie Underwood didn’t make hunters happy when she said that a portion of her rendition of “Home Sweet Home” on Fox Broadcasting’s American Idol would go to the Humane Society of the United Sates, a leading anti-hunting organization.West Virginia has a new Web site tool to help anglers locate streams that have been stocked with trout. Go to www.wvdnr.gov and look under “Fishing” then click on Trout Stream Map.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 23, Warrenton, Taylor Middle School. More information from www.dgif.virginia.gov.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 23, Woodstock, Shenandoah County Board of Supervisors Meeting Room.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 24, Richmond, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 24, Farmville, Prince Edward County High School.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 24, Abingdon, Abingdon High School.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 25. Franklin, Paul D. Camp Community College Regional Workforce Development Center.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 26, Augusta County, Buffalo Gap High School. More information from www.dgif.virginia.gov.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 26, Salem, Glenvar Middle School.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., March 26, Warsaw, Warsaw Campus.
Appalachian Highlands Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society Sportsmen’s Banquet, March 28, Holiday Inn, Johnson City, Tenn., information from Donna Vance.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hunting/trapping proposal public input meeting, 7 p.m., April 1, Chatham, Chatham High School.
Roanoke Valley chapter National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, April 2, Corned Beef & Co., $55 single, $80 couple, ticket info from Crystal Hockenbery, 366-9700.
Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 3, 7 p.m. Moneta Community Center.
Tidewater Boat Show, April 3-5, Hampton.
Youth spring turkey hunting day, April 4, 2009.
Smith Mountain Striper Club Spring Striper Tournament, April 4, 5 a.m.-4 p.m., weigh-in at Captain’s Quarters, tournament chairman is Frank Skillman, 540-721-1220.
2009 spring gobbler season, April 11-May 16.
Smith Mountain Lake Striper Fest team tournament, April 11, $100 entry fee for teams of up to six anglers, $25 optional big fish bonus, sponsored by Glenda McDaniel of Long and Foster Real Estate, tournament director Angie Behan, $1,000 first place prize, headquarters Captain’s Quarters, information from smlstriperfest@yahoo.com.
Ninth Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 18 and 19, on the banks of the South River in Waynesboro, $15.
Bassmaster Blue Ridge Brawl, Smith Mountain Lake, April 23-26, Parkway Marina, Huddleston.
Smith Mountain Striper Club annual lake report meeting, May 1, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, program by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist Dan Wilson.
North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, May 31-June 4, Hatteras, N.C., $1,445, limited to 45 participants.
Board meeting of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to finalize hunting/trapping regulations, 9 a.m., June 2, DGIF headquarters, 4000 West Broad St., Richmond.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
