Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.

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Bill Cochran's Outdoors

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• 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
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Bill's Field Reports

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

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• Trout stocking schedule

The striped bass fishery at Smith Mountain Lake is on a rebound, but it isn’t likely to fully shake a parasite problem, according to Dan Wilson, a biologist of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Wilson told members of the Smith Mountain Striper Club that the infestation of parasites is expected to vary, but stay near current levels, which are much reduced from when the copepods first showed up in the early 2000s. There is no known way to eradicate them in a large lake environment, he said.

“The parasites have not disappeared in any waters they have become established, so there is no evidence that they will ever go away,” Wilson said in written remarks to the club.

The parasites are thought to have played a role in a major die-off of adult stripers about a decade ago when they were at their highest concentrations.

The concern now is that they might slow the growth of striped bass, Wilson said.

They can cause increased respiration which boosts metabolism, meaning the stripers need more forage to survive.

“More food going to metabolic needs may be less resources going to growth,” he said. That could be a problem when it comes to producing the trophy stripers that once put Smith Mountain on the map.

“We have to wait a few more years to observe fish stocked after the fish kill to get a better idea of what to expect,” Wilson said.

Answering a question often asked, Wilson said there is no evidence that eating fish infected with the copepods can cause harm to humans.

>Things got a bit fishy this week when a bill that would elevate the striped bass as Virginia’s saltwater fish came up for a vote. This is the legislation that has received reams of attention because it is supported by a fourth-grade class in Newport News.

When the vote came in the House, Jackson Miller, R-Manassas, offered an amendment to replace striped bass with menhaden. It came within a vote of being approved.

Menhaden, a small, stinking fish, is often called the most important species in the Chesapeake Bay because it offers food for stripers and other fish, not to mention birds. It also is the target of a huge commercial market.

Several bills that would have created better management for menhaden were voted down this session; thus, the amendment to the striper bill was a last minute effort to draw attention to that.

Following a lively debate, the striper bill passed 80-16.

>A bill supported by the Virginia Bear Hunters Association that would expand the chase season to 24-hours a day was shot down in a Senate committee after clearing the House with an 89-7 vote. Bear hunters are lashing out at Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Montross, over the demise of the bill.

>A bill that would allow the use of tracking dogs to find wounded or dead deer or bear during the hunting season has passed the House and Senate.

>A Senate-approved bill that would have allowed localities to give owners of boats a partial property tax exemption was killed in the House. The purpose of the bill, said its sponsor, Sen. Richard Stuart, R-Stafford, is to keep yacht owners from moving their craft out of state at tax time in order to avoid high property taxes. When they do, they often have their boat serviced while out of state, and that means lost jobs for Virginia marinas.

TURKEY AWARDS GO TO VIRGINIANS

Virginia grabbed a bunch of awards during the National Wild Turkey Federation’s 35th convention in Nashville.

>Franklin County Longbeards won the Best JAKES Event Award for clubs attracting up to 250 youngsters.

>The Halifax Area Chapter of NWTF won the Best JAKES Cooperator Award.

>Marvin Gautier of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries won the Joe Kurz Excellence in Wildlife Management Award.

>Bobby Woods of Dante placed second in the Friction Division of the Grand National Turkey Calling Championship which attracted dozens of the country’ most skillful callers.

VIRGINIAN COULDN’T MAKE A MOVE IN BASS CLASSIC

John Crews, Virginia’s only entry in the Bassmaster Classic, finished 17th, unable to make a move up the ranks during the Louisiana Delta event.

The winner was Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., his second consecutive Classic victory and fourth total. B.A.S.S. called VanDam “Arguably the world’s best bass angler.”

Crews, who lists his hometown as Salem, was in 16th place opening day and held that spot the next day, which was good enough to make the cut. In the final round he dropped to 17th. He landed a limit of five bass each day for a 38-pound, 8-ounce total worth $12,900.

VanDam’s total was 69 pounds, 11 ounces, earning him $500,000. Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala. was runner-up, his fourth second place in the Classic.

LET’S TALK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries owns more than 201,000 acres on 39 Wildlife Management Areas across the state. How much use are these areas receiving? The agency wants to talk to you about that.

Five evening workshops in March have been scheduled to receive input from hunters, anglers, boaters, hikers, bird watchers, horseback riders, field trail participants and other users of the areas. It is part of research being conducted by the DGIF with assistance from the Virginia Tech’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences.

Here is the schedule:

>March 9, 7-9 p.m., John Barton Payne Community Room, 2 Courthouse Square, Warrenton

>March 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Virgil Grissom Library, Newport News

>March 10, 7-9 p.m., DGIF Richmond headquarters, 4010 W. Broad Street

>March 16, 7-9 p.m., Augusta County Government Center, Verona

>March 17, 7-9 p.m., Wytheville Community College, 122 Smyth Hall, Wytheville.

OUTDOOR BRIEFS:

>Hunters for the Hungry set still another record for the poundage of venison it distributed to the needed in 2010. Some 407,796 pounds were processed and distributed, which amounts to 1.6 million meals, said Gary Arrington, the program’s special events coordinator. The group has scheduled its annual fund-raising banquet in Roanoke on Sept. 10.

>Flounder fishing in Virginia will get a one-inch break this season. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has chosen a year-long season with a 17.5-inch minimum size and four-fish daily limit. Last year’s 18.5-inch limit resulted in a huge number of undersized flounder being thrown back.

>What kind of grouse hunting season have you had? “Worst in 37 years,” reports Cliff Rexrode of Waynesboro. “Only went seven days because I couldn’t get motivated to go out with so few birds. Had a total of seven flushes and for the first time in 37 years did not kill a grouse in Virginia.”

> Skip Johnson, 80, who for 49 years wrote a popular outdoor column for the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette, died early this week. His “Woods and Water” column was the voice of the outdoors in the Mountain State. At the time of his death, he was working on his sixth book, this one on mountain lions, a subject he was passionate about. It was to be titled “Longtailed Cats,” according to his friend John Lutz of the Eastern Puma Research Network.

>A disappointedly small crowd turned out for the Greater Virginia Sports and Big Game Show the past weekend in Harrisonburg. One vendor said business was down 70 percent, blaming the downturn on warm weather that lured would-be attendees to outside activities.

>Maryland officials have been cracking down on illegal gillnets in the Chesapeake Bay. So far this month they have tallied 26,000-pounds of illegally caught striped bass -- nearly 13 tons. Authorities have ban commercial fishing and are offering rewards for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of netters.

>New figures show a 3.6 percent increase in hunting license sales in 2009. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reacted by saying, “This is great news for our industry and everyone associated with hunting.”

>After years of watching sales of elk licenses decline, Colorado wildlife officials are launching a nationwide ad campaign to bring more hunters to the state.

>A number of sportsmen groups have praised the Obama Administration for launching the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative which has an agenda for conservation practices and reconnecting Americans, especially children, to the outdoors. The final report has been released.

>Chris Avena is inviting hunters to join his SeeMeHunt.com, a new interaction social network just for hunters. Members can create a profile, upload pictures and videos and speak directly to earth other, Avena said. It is free.

MEETINGS, SEASONS AND EVENTS

Virginia Ducks Unlimited State Convention, Feb. 24-26, Kingsmill Resort, Williamsburg.

Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 25-27, Roanoke Civic Center, admission $7.50 except Friday when it is free.

Western Virginia Sports Show, Feb. 25-27, Augusta Expoland, Fisherville.

Smith River Trout Unlimited meeting, March 3, 6:30 p.m., Rania’s Restaurant, Martinsville, fly tying demonstrations, review of new trout regulations on Smith River, impact of proposed fishing license increases, guests welcomed, additional information from Darrin Doss.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, March 4, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center, annual Spring Swap.

Highland Drummer Chapter of Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, March 5, Blackwell’s Restaurant, Lewisburg, W.Va. doors open 5:30, information from Charlie Brown.

Roanoke Valley Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, March 7, Holiday Inn on Starkey Road, information and tickets from Billy Hall.

Sportsman banquet sponsored by the Appalachian Highlands Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society, March 12, Holiday Inn, Johnson City, Tenn. information from Spencer Young, 276-644-3378.

Catchin’ for Kids Sportfishing Show, Khedive Shrine Center, Chesapeake, March 18-20, fishing seminars taught by expert anglers, $5 admission, kids under 12 free.

Fly-tying and casting workshop with Virginia Coastal Fly Anglers at Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, March 19, 9:30 to 4:30, $40 members, $50 nonmembers, information and register at 757-595-9135.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, April 1, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center.

Spring gobbler season April 9-May 14.

Eleventh annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival, April 16 and 17, Waynesboro.

Smith Mountain Striper Club members/guest tournament, April 16, $25 for members; $30 guests, information at March 4 and April 1 club meetings, 7 p.m. at Moneta Community Center or from Mike Bondzus, 540-576-2841.

Botetourt Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, April 30, Lord Botetourt High School, information and tickets from Richard Pauley.

Smith Mountain Striper Club meeting, May 6, 7 p.m., Moneta Community Center program on striped bass fishing strategies by Marshall Harris.

Augusta County Area Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, May 7, Verona Volunteer Fire Department, Verona, information and tickets from Leonard Tolley.

North Carolina State University Sport Fishing School, June 5-9, Hatteras, N.C.

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