Thursday, June 02, 2005
Changes troublesome at Philpott
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
In the past, Smith River anglers have been able to call Philpott Dam and get the generation schedule for a week. This information is vital in planning a fishing trip in the tailrace section of the river, because when the generators come on the Smith grows big, powerful and frigid. It is no place to be standing around in waders.
Those week-ahead reports are no longer available. Now you call and get a day-to-day announcement of the generation plans, and that comes with a disclaimer that says “subject to change without notice.”
“I’ve had to turn down clients because we can no longer be assured of a time to fish,” said guide Al Kittredge. “Just when the Henry County/Martinsville elected officials and local population is beginning to realize the economic value of the Smith River, along comes the Army Corps of Engineers to once again jab its thumb into the eye of all who might benefit from an improvement in the fishery.”
The Corps announced in May that Philpott Dam had left the Southeastern Power Administration and now comes under Dominion Virginia Power, which manages plants in parts of Virginia and North Carolina.
Kittredge, who has been guiding on the river for eight years, said that he had found the day-to-day generation announcement unreliable. One day, for example, he and clients had gone to the river on an announced 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. generation schedule. The generation extended until 5 p.m.
“Fishermen are finding that the period of generation is much longer than in the past and weekends without generation can no longer be counted on,” said Kittredge.
BILL
DUCKS UNLIMITED NEEDS WORKERS
The Star City Chapter of Ducks Unlimited is looking for committee members to help host its 2006 annual fundraising banquet.
“The past annual meeting was a success and a great indicator for the level of interest in the Roanoke Valley,” said board member Kenneth Andres. “We are looking for young, energetic and conservation minded people to help prepare for next year’s gala. We feel we will have one of the top events of the year and its all for a great cause.”
The chapter is planning an evening of food, auctions and music for next year’s meeting. People interested in helping with this wildlife and land conservation effort should contact Kenneth Andres at 540-982-5580 or andresken@yahoo.com.
BILL
SALTWATER STRIPERS
Some friends and I fished the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel last week for striped bass. We landed several with bluefish mixed in, but the results were a bit disappointing compared to what I am accustomed to catching there. We were casting Windcheater plugs to the riprap of the third and fourth islands.
Deeper into the Chesapeake Bay, Capt. Ferrell McLain reported excellent fishing while chumming for stripers.
“We had them swimming around the boat so you could try to ‘pick your fish,’ McLain said.
BILL
FRESHWATER FISHING
>Maybe most people don’t think of carp as being a vegetarian, but they love mulberries. An old trick is to fish for them in streams were mulberry trees line the banks, their fruit falling to the water. Larry Moody has been enjoying success catching carp under mulberry trees along the Appomattox River. He baits with one berry and lets it drift in the current without weight.
>Fishing for sunfish remains productive, especially in farm ponds, small lakes and some streams. Little Creek Reservoir has been a hot spot for shellcrackers. Greg Rose of Prince George and Mike Withers of Chester landed 50 apiece on red wigglers. Sunfish also are hitting in the Nottoway River and in Briery Creek Lake. Briery produced another lunker largemouth bass, this one a 9-pound, 1-ounce trophy.
>Lots of catfish are being caught below Kerr Dam. Cats up to 40 pounds have been landed in the lake. Fishing for white bass has been good in the upper lake.
>There are plenty of eating-size perch in the Intercoastal/Back Bay area of Virginia Beach.
JACK RANDOLPH, BILL
SNAKEHEAD FISH GETTING BIG
Tom Woo of Fort Belvoir was fishing the Potomac River at the Mount Vernon Yacht Club when something hit his artificial worm “like a freight train,” he told the Washington Post. He reported that the fish leaped out of the water a foot and a half. It was a sneakehad fish that measured more than two feet, big enough for a picture in the Washington Post.
This is one of 15 snakeheads reported from the river this year. Scientists are concerned that the non-native species will throw the river’s ecosystem out of whack.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>A 124-pound blue catfish caught from a section of the Mississippi River in Illinois by 33-year-old Tim Pruitt is a potential world record. The current record is a 121.5-pound catch from Texas. Pruitt’s fish dragged him 3 miles downstream before he could land it. The fish is on display in a Cabela’s store in Kansas City.
>The National Striped Bass Association has scheduled a major tournament on Smith Mountain Lake June 4 and 5. Registration will be at Bernard’s Landing 6-to 8 p.m. June 3 and 5:30 to 7 a.m. June 4. Information is available from Warren Turner, warren@fishNSBA.com.
>Stripers Forever, a national organization of recreational anglers, announces its support for HR 2059, a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., D-N.J., the ranking Democrat on the House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans. The bill would prohibit the commercial harvesting of wild striped bass in Atlantic coastal waters and in federal waters up to 12 miles offshore.
>Lake Chesdin is not getting the credit it deserves as a big bass producer, says Jack Randolph, who compiles a weekly fishing report. So far this year the lake has surrendered three bass over 9 pounds and a fourth over 10 pounds. Only Briery Creek Lake claims more big bass. In addition to huge bass, Chesdin has striped bass that frequently get into the 20-pound range.
>The National Rifle Association’s Political Victory Fund has endorsed Bill Bolling for Virginia Lieutenant Governor in the June 14 Republican primary election. “Sen. Bolling has demonstrated his commitment to protecting the rights of law-abiding firearm owners and sportsmen during his decade long tenure as a state legislator,” said Chris Cox, NRA;s chief lobbyist.
>BASS and FLW take notice. ABC’s broadcast Sunday of the Indy 500 had ratings that were up 40 percent over the previous year, thanks to interest in Danica Patrick. Wouldn’t ratings of TV fishing tournaments also jump if a woman top contender could be found?
>The 2005 Federal Duck Stamp art competition, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious wildlife art competitions, will be held in Memphis on Sept. 14 and 15. This will be the first time in the 71-year history of the event that the stamp art will be chosen outside of Washington, D.C.
>Bob Gooch, a well-known and highly popular outdoor writer who lives in Troy, has had a rough spring as a result of a number of physical problems. One of his doctors called him a “tough old bird.” Gooch is in his 80s. “Bob is much better,” reports his wife, Ginny.
>Want to go saltwater fishing but don’t want to buy a fishing license? You are in luck. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has designated June 3, 4 and 5 as Free Fishing Days. No saltwater license will be required, except on headboats, charterboats and rental boats.
>Check realecamping.com for a detailed directory on campgrounds, RVs, and cabins available across the country.
BILL
SALTWATER TOURNAMENT
There are new leaders in the croaker and gray trout categories in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Here are the standings:
BLACK DRUM: 93 pounds, 6 ounces, John Quigley, Baltimore, Md., lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay.
CROAKER: 3-pounds, 12 ounces, Victor Williams, Wicomico Church, lower Potomac River.
FLOUNDER: 11 pounds, 7 ounces, Michael Behe, Sr. Franklin, Pa., Wachapreague.
GRAY TROUT: 12 pounds, 12 ounces, Troy Major, Hayes, upper eastern Chesapeake Bay.
SEA BASS: 6 pounds, 14 ounces, Chad Stoker, Chesapeake, caught off Virginia Beach.
SPECKLED TROUT: 11 pounds, 3 ounces, Brain Pomije, Chesapeake, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 63 pounds, 8 ounces, state record, Paul Leckner, Greenbackville, Bradford Bay.
TAUTOG: 15 pounds, 10 ounces, John Scappari, Monroe Township, N.J., ocean off Eastern Shore.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Smith River Trout Unlimited picnic meeting, 7 p.m. June 2, Corps of Engineers picnic tables at the foot of Philpott Dam. Attendees asked to bring a side dish, information from Ted Tomczak, 276-629-2962, or Shane Pinkston, 276-638-3757.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public meeting on hunting, fishing, nongame and boating issues, 6:30 p.m. June 2, Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon.
National Striped Bass Association tournament, Smith Mountain Lake, June 4 and 5, information from Warren Turner, warren@fishNSBA.com.
Fourth Annual Pigg River Ramble Canoe Race and Second Annual Breakfast on the Blackwater Fun Float, June 4 and 5, information and registration from historicrockymount.com/events/pigg_river_2005.pdf.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public meeting on hunting, fishing, nongame and boating issues, 6:30 p.m. June 6, DGIF headquarters, Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries public meeting on hunting, fishing, nongame and boating issues, 6:30 p.m. June 7, Northside High School, Roanoke.
Triangle Bowhuners 3D archery shoot, entire family can participate, June 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., information form Jim Overfelt: James.Overfelt@vfaa.org.
Return to Nature fund raising banquet, guests are Richard Petty and Ward Burton, July 19, Cattle Annie’s in Lynchburg, $60 per ticket, funds go for reaching youngsters with a conservation message. Doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. Information from return2nature@aol.com. Tickets at 434-847-4671 or ballowax.com.
Western Division of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 10 and 11, Rockingham County Fairgrounds near Harrisonburg, see vpsa.org for details.
Urban archery season, Sept. 17-30 and Jan. 9-25.
Eastern Division and state finals of Virginia Big Game Contest, Sept. 24 and 25, Southampton County Fairgrounds, Franklin, see vpsa.org for details.
Bowhunting season, Oct. 1-Nov. 18 and Dec. 5-Jan. 7.
Fall turkey hunting season, Oct. 31-Nov. 12; Nov. 24 and Dec. 12-Jan. 7.
Muzzleloading season east of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 5-18.
Muzzleloading season west of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 12-18
Deer hunting season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 19-Dec. 3
Deer hunting season east of Blue Ridge Mountains, Nov. 19-Jan. 7
Late muzzleloading season, Dec. 17-Jan. 7.
Got an event? Let us know: xrtails@earthlink.net.
