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Bill Cochran

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• The buck to beat -- if you can
• Blueline tilefish record finally verified
• Virginia bass angler earns spot in Classic
• Saltwater striper hatch down

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Sponsor Hounds, a Roanoke-based promoter, is bringing its outdoor show back to the Roanoke Civic Center July 31-Aug. 2 under a new name: the Outdoor Classic.

This will be the organization’s third outdoor show in the Roanoke Valley. A previous show was held at the Roanoke Civic Center and the most recent one was at the Salem Civic Center. It drew a disappointing number of attendees.

Show director Waynette Anderson says the show will feature a number of vendors who will be displaying hunting, fishing and outdoor products and services. There also will be a bevy of outdoor experts who will teach seminars on a variety of subjects. They include:

• Jeff Watson of J & L BRUINS on bears and bear safety.
• Joe Austin on waterfowl secrets.
• Travis Dalton of Mossy Oak on tree-stand safety.
• Don Quackenbush on hunting dog training.
• Teddy Carr on bass fishing and waterfowl hunting.
• Frank Addington, Jr. on trick shooting.
• Bruce Ingram on smallmouth fishing and fall turkey hunting.

Show hours are July 31, 3-9 p.m.; Aug. 1, 10 a.m. to 7 pm.; Aug. 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Additional information can be found on outdoorclassicva.com.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS

• Good news for duck hunters. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports that duck populations have seen an overall population increase, with some species showing a dramatic jump. Canvasbacks are up 35 percent from a year ago.
• Look for legislation in the 2010 General Assembly aimed at reigning in the swelling blue catfish population in the lower James River where fish have grown to more than 100 pounds. Commercial watermen say the big and abundant cats are gobbling up too many crabs, which they depend on for a living. Fisheries biologists say data is lacking, but they don’t see catfish as a threat to crabs, certainly not like other challenges, including the loss of grass.
• Virginia’s move to require training for all boat operators kicked in with its first phase July 1 when PWC operators ages 14 to 20 were required to carry proof that they have passed a boater safety course. All boaters are required to receive training by 2016.
• The NRA is hosting a series of free meetings throughout Virginia to train volunteers for grassroots election activities as the November election approaches. The first meeting is set for July 16, 6:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel in Virginia Beach. “Virginia’s elections will be ground zero for the enemies of freedom to try and turn the tide against our gun rights in the Commonwealth, serving as a launching pad for their national gun ban crusade,” the NRA told its members.
• The application period for quota hunts sponsored by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has opened. There are hunting opportunities for waterfowl, deer, dove, rabbit, quail, bear and spring gobblers. Included is the annual hunt for big bucks on Radford Army Ammunition property. Information at HuntFishVA.com.
• Virginia’s Eastern Shore is scheduled to receive $2 million in Obama stimulus funds to create 24 acres of oyster reefs and 100 acres of sea grass beds with an eye toward restoring the bay scallop. The grant is the only one of its kind in Virginia.
• Three BASS staffers have set out to catch all eight members of the black bass family, a challenge that has been dubbed the BASS Slam. Their quest, which involves five days and 3,200 miles, is being updated on Bassmaster.com.
• If you are like me, your buddies have swollen your e-mail list with word of a bill, SB 2099, that would allegedly require gun owners to list their firearms on their tax documents and pay upward of $50 per gun. It may sound real, but there’s nothing to it, says the National Sports Shooting Foundation.
• The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries hopes that buying a floating waterfowl blind permit will be easer this year now that they can be purchased at all license agents or online at dgif.Virginia.gov.
• USA Custom Rods has unveiled a new line of spinning and bait-casting rods that are finished in Mossy Oak Break-up, Pink Break-up and Mossy Oak Duck Blind patterns.

VIRGINIA SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT

The Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament has registered its first Spanish mackerel of the year and produced new leading entries in the spadefish, bluefin tuna and tuna categories. Here are the standings:

BLACK DRUM: 84 pounds, 12 ounces, William Brown, Hampton, Inner Middle Ground; C-13

BLUELINE TILEFISH: 20 pounds, 4 ounces, David Akridge, Jr. Norfolk, caught at Norfolk Canyon.

COBIA: 105 pounds, 2 ounces, Keith Cole, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

CROAKER: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, David Morris, Hampton, Fort Monroe.

DOLPHIN: 39 pounds, Robert Manus, Ark, Triple Zero’s.

FLOUNDER: 10 pounds, 9 ounce, James Breen, Newport News, Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

GRAY TRIGGERFISH: 4 pounds, 4 ounces, Julie Ball, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.

SEA BASS: 8 pounds, 4 ounces, Rob Collins, Norfolk, wreck off Virginia Beach.

SHEEPHEAD: 14 pounds, 4 ounces, Lesley Inge, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake Bay.

SPADEFISH: 11 pounds, 12 ounces, Alysa Eastwood, Charlottesville, Chesapeake Light Tower.

SPANISH MACKEREL: 4 pounds, Jacob Hogan, Bowling Green, Ind., inshore wreck.

SPECKLED TROUT: 13 pounds, 14 ounces, Michael Whittaker, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.

SPOT: 1 pound, 2 ounces, Chris Brooks, Virginia Beach, Elizabeth River.

STRIPED BASS: 66 pounds, 8 ounces, Pete Johnson, Hampton, Smith Island.

TAUTOG: 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Skip Feller, Virginia Beach, wreck off Virginia Beach.

TUNA (BLUEFIN): 134 pounds, Douglas Boarman, Ophelia, the Fingers.

TUNA: 230 pounds, Jeff Creekmore, Chesapeake, Norfolk Canyon.

WAHOO: 51 pounds, Steven Carter, Heathsville, Norfolk Canyon.

MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, July 10, 7 p.m., program on water safety, Moneta Community Center.

South Holston Fly Fishing Fest, July 18, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., on South Holston River near Bristol, Tenn., anglers, artists, activities, vendors, $5 entry fee.

Outdoor Classic show, Roanoke Civic Center, July 31-Aug. 2, information from outdoorclassicva.com.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Aug. 7, 7 p.m., program on fly fishing with Dover England, Moneta Community Center.

Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament, North Carolina Outer Banks, Aug. 10 and 11, information form Kevin Crum.

Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Aug. 16, check vfaa.org for for details or contact Jim Overfelt.

Roanoke Valley Friends of NRA banquet, Aug. 29, Salem Civic Center. Address questions or ticket purchase to Mike Kessler or Al Milton.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, Sept 4, program by Captains Spike and Kathy Franceschini, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.

Hunters for the Hungry banquet, Sept. 12, 5:30 p.m., Roanoke Moose Lodge #284, 3233 Catawba Valley Drive, Roanoke County, $20 single, $35 couple, children under 12 free, tickets from Dave Sarmadi Mitsubishi, Jeff Fletcher, 540-985-6523 or Fred and Phyllis Wells, 540-992-3874.

Virginia Big Game Western Regional Contest, Sept. 12 and 13, Rockingham County Fairground, Harrisonburg, information from vpsa.org or John Ritenour, 540-434-8028.

Triangle Bowhunters of Montgomery County 3D tournament Sept. 13, check vfaa.org for details or contact Jim Overfelt.

Virginia Big Game Eastern Regional and State Championship, Sept. 26 and 27, Southampton County Fairground, Franklin, information from vpsa.org or Kenneth Pickin 757-229-0409.

Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.