Thursday, February 16, 2006
Ocean stripers turn on
Bill Cochran
Recent field reports
Striped bass fishing along the coast of Virginia was lackluster in December and January. While there were some super-productive days for anglers, for the most part the fish were scattered and there was little bird activity to pinpoint them. The fish that were caught often were landed by anglers who boated all the way to the North Carolina line. Some anglers were beginning to wonder if the striper population was on a downward trend.
Then came a boom in early February. “As good as it gets,” was the word often reported about the fishery. It wasn’t just good, it was nearby. A hot spot was within a half-mile of Rudee Inlet on the south side of Virginia Beach.
The fishing has slowed the past few days. Anglers blame it on colder weather and the full moon. Word is that significant schools of big fish still inhabit the offshore wrecks. They could turn on with the current warming trend.
There is another interesting possibility being discussed. Maybe the spring run in the Chesapeake Bay will be early because it is apparent that some of the big fish haven’t gone very far south.
BILL
HIGH COST OF A BOAT SHOW
The man in Virginia Beach was fussing about the high cost of tickets to the Mid-Atlantic Boat Show in the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
“Eight dollars is too much,” he said.
Here is the strange point. He was a boat dealer with one of the biggest displays in the show.
How much is too much when it comes to being charged to enter an arena where salesmen are gathered to try to sell you a boat?
Fifteen dollars seems high. That’s what tickets cost at the Miami International Boat Show Feb. 16-20.
Eight dollars appears to be the going price. That amounts to a hefty $16 for a couple. Throw in a kid or two and it is even more, although many shows discount youngsters or let them in free if they are 12 or under.
Here’s where a boat show becomes a great bargain. When you are in the market for a boat. You’d spend $8 or more just for gas if you tried to visit each dealer at his place of business. Boat shows put all the dealers under one roof. They also stimulate competitiveness, and this can result in some dandy discount prices.
Another advantage, factor representatives often are available at shows. You can learn details from them that even the dealers aren’t likely to know.
So if you are attending a boat show just to be entertained, be aware of the word “show.” It isn’t a show. It is a display. If you are looking for a show you will get more for your money at a movie. But if you are thinking about buying a boat, the ticket price is a steal.
The Richmond Boat Show is set for Feb. 17-20 at the Richmond Race Complex. Tickets are $7. The Southwest Virginia Boat Show is scheduled for the Roanoke Civic Center Feb. 24-26 at $6.50 per ticket.
BILL
SELLING THE NATIONAL FOREST
Environmentalists are steamed over a Bush administration plan to sell a modest amount of national forest land, including about 6,000 acres in Virginia.
I side with the environmentalists in saying that selling public forestland, for the most part, is a bad move, even with the worthy goal of providing much needed funds for rural schools and roads.
But the environmentalists helped bring this on by their no-cut policy. Time was when forest counties received significant funds for roads and schools from federal timber sales, but logging has been cut back on national forests to unreasonable extremes through the efforts of environmentalists. That has been bad for the local economy not to mention many wildlife species that depend on a habitat that includes new growth.
The parcels up for sale don’t include places like Mount Rogers or the Appalachian Trail, no matter what foes of the idea may try to tell you. They often are isolated plots separated from the boundary of the forest and requiring special management challenges.
BILL
UPDATE ON SMITH RIVER
Months ago the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, along with Virginia Tech, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others, held a meeting before a roomful of anglers in Martinsville to discuss ways to improve the once great brown trout fishery on the Smith River in Henry County.
What’s happened since then? That’s what the Smith River Trout Unlimited Chapter would like to find out. It has invited representatives of DGIF, Virginia Tech, The Corps of Engineers, Phipott Lake and Dominion Power to a meeting March 2 in Martinsville.
“By bringing all concerned agencies together, we hope to hear the latest status of efforts to improve the Smith River fishery,” said Al Kittredge, TU vice chairman.
The public is invited. The meeting begins with a dinner, 7 pm. at Riana’s Restaurant in downtown Martinsville. For additional information, contact Kittredge at aakitt@earthlink.net.
BILL
FISHING REPORT
>Ponds can be some of the first water to shake off winter doldrums and produce early season fishing. That happened for Mike Ostrander and Elly Robinson of the Richmond area. Mike reported that they caught 47 bass and four pickerel from a pond. Most of the bass were in the 2-pound range, but some were much bigger. The largest weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
>A crappie tournament at Kerr Lake was won by Butch Arthur of Baskerville with a 10-fish catch that weighed 16 pounds, 8 ounces. Some anglers reported catching as many as 200 crappie.
>Lake Anna traditionally is an early season largemouth bass producer, and it is living up to that billing. Bass are being caught off the main points, at the mouth of creeks and along drop-offs in 6- to 10-feet of water. But don’t overlook water as shallow as 5 feet is the advice of Carlos Wood of High Point Marina. Work the docks, stumps and brush, Carlos said. Use slow moving lures that bump the bottom. That includes blue and black jig-and-pigs, Silver Buddies, three-quarter ounce spoons and Sassy Shad, he said.
JACK RANDOLPH
SORTING OUT BASS TOURNAMENTS
It seems as if every time I log onto the Internet there is an email from BASS about one of its tournaments. There is the Weekend Series, the Federation Nation, the Southern Tour, the Northern Tour, the Elite Series the Majors, the Classic. How do you keep them all straight?
James Hall, editor of Bassmaster Magazine, has gone a long way toward providing a fan-friendly understanding of the format. Think of it as a triangle, he said. At the bottom is the Weekend Series. This is for anglers who like to compete but don’t have the times or skills to do so on a major level. The Weekend Series provides scores of regional tournaments across the country. Included will be some events on Virginia’s Gaston and Kerr Lakes. One angler in the series will qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.
Next comes the Federation Nation. Federation members have their own series of events that progress from local to state to regional to national competition. The Federation recently has been in turmoil and a bunch of members, including leaders in Virginia, have bailed out. But there also are efforts to rebuild the Virginia and National organization. The big prize, and nobody else can touch it, of the Federation tour is that it sends six of its own to the Classic.
Then comes the Southern Tour and Northern Tour. These tours are designed to pit local pros with national pros. The Northern Tour will make a stop at Smith Mountain Lake Oct. 26-28. Each tour consists of five events and the top three anglers from North and South qualify for the Classic.
Above this is the Elite Series. This is the big leagues. It is open to the 110 top anglers who fish 11 events. There are three Virginians in the race, John Crews of Salem, Kurt Dove of Warrenton, and Rick Morris of Lanexa. The events are scattered from near the Mexico border in Texas to New York. None will be headquartered in Virginia. The nearest are the Potomac River, Charles County, Md., Aug. 10-13 and Lake Wylie, Charlotte, N.C., July 27-30. Thirty-six Elite Series anglers will qualify for the Classic.
The next level is the Majors, which involves three tournaments. The competitors are Elite Series anglers who do well. The winner of each Majors earns $250,000.
Then comes the Classic, which will have a field of 50 contestants and will lavish the winner with money and prestige. This year’s Classic is set for Feb. 24-26 on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Florida. It is the first time the event has been held away from its traditional mid-summer timeslot. Two Virginians are qualified: John Crews of Salem and Rick Morris of Lanexa. The winner takes home $500,000.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>Thanks to the work of Narrows’ Chief of Police, Tom Gautier, a 1.75-mile section of Wolf Creek in the Town of Narrows has been added to the state’s trout stocking plan. The first stocking will be in March. Additional fish will be released for a kids’ event in April and a third stocking is scheduled prior to May 15. The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries calls this “a great addition” to the trout program.
>It too early to say if it is a trend, but anglers continue to talk about the excellent winter surf fishing for jumbo-size bluefish at the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Guide Joe Malat said some anglers termed it was “better than the old days.” Big blues once were a reliable fall/winter treat at the Banks, but they all but disappeared the past decade or so.
>Look for the Advance Auto Parts logo at the Bassmaster Classic and at other BASS tours, including the Women’s Bassmaster Tour. The Roanoke headquartered company has become a major sponsor of BASS events. Other top sponsors include CITGO, Toyota, Triton Boats, Mercury, Purolator, Busch, Berkley, Lowrance, MotorGuide and TheraSeed.
>Flounder fishermen in Virginia this year will be under the same regulations as last season. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has voted to maintain the six-fish limit, 16.5-inch minimum size and no closed season. Virginia’s flounder take last year was nearly 29-percent below its recreational quota, which allowed the state to escape more restrictive regulations.
>The Annual Bluefish Derby out of Reedville has been around for 23 years. It stared strictly as a bluefish event at a time when big bluefish were the king of the Chesapeake Bay. But they all but disappeared. So the derby added a striped bass category, since that species suddenly was on the rebound. This year, the June 9-10 derby will have a new croaker category. The largest bluefish and striped bass will be worth $5,000. The biggest croaker will get you $1,000. Information from 804-453-5325.
>Officials from the Tennessee Valley Authority report they have found invasive algae, commonly called Didymo, below Watauga, South Holston and Norris Dams on the Tennessee River. The algae could have an adverse impact on trout and foul the hooks and lines of anglers. The Tennessee tailrace fishing is a big attraction to anglers.
>The habitat of the estimated 80 mountain lions in Florida is declining to the point that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says some of the animals should be relocated to other states in the Southeast.
>The annual Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT) set records in its 28th year, posting new highs in exhibit space and attendance. Held in Las Vegas this time, it will be in Orlando next year and will feature even more display space.
>Daisy Outdoor Products, famous for its Red Ryder BB gun, celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
Virginia Mountains Chapter Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Wyndham Hotel, Roanoke, Feb. 18, information or tickets from Mike Taylor, 540-977-0087 or 540-890-5133.
Ole’ Timey Tanning Workshop, Feb. 19-22, Holiday Inn 4-H Center, Appomattox, information/registration, 434-248-5444.
Natural resources education program for educators, Feb. 24 & 25, Holiday Lake 4-H Center, information from ext.vt.edu/resources/4h/holiday.
Southwest Virginia Boat Show, Feb. 24-26, Roanoke Civic Center.
Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 24-26, Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla.
Old Forge Sporting Claus 5th annual Fun shoot for Ducks Unlimited, Feb. 25, Providence Forge, $50 person, $200 for four-person team. Information from claytargetsonline.com/club.php/1900.
Dixie Deer Classic, March 3-5, North Carolina Fairground, Raleigh, N.C., dixiedeerclassic.org.
Appalachian Highlands Chapter of Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, March 4, Holiday Inn, Bristol, information from Mark Tester, 423-926-9323.
National Wild Turkey Federation banquet, March 4, 7 pm, V.F.W. building Hillsville contact Jerry Nester 276-398-2670.
Tidewater Fresh and Saltwater Fishing Expo, March 10-12, Virginia Beach.
Wilderness First Aid Class, March 25-26, Blacksburg, two-days of classroom study, hands-on practice that results in a two-year certification, $160. For additional information and to register, phone 703 836-8905 or visit wfa.net.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, March 21, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series tournament, March 26, Lake Gaston, Americamps in South Hill; Bassmaster.com for registration and details.
Spring gobbler season, April 8-May. 13.
Virginia Ducks Unlimited State Convention, April 21-22, DoubleTree Hotel, Charlottesville; information from Tom Colligan, TColligan@verizon.net.
Sixth annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival and Wine Tasting, Waynesboro, April 22-23; vaflyfishingfestival.org.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, April 25, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Annual Bluefish Derby, June 9-10, sponsored by Smith Point Sea Rescue, $5,000 prize for the largest bluefish and largest striped bass; $250 for largest croaker, information from Jett Hardware in Reedville, 804-453-5325.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 20, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 22, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 17, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Bassmaster tour event, Smith Mountain Lake, Oct. 26-28, register on Bassmaster.com
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Dec. 12, 4000 W. Broad St., Richmond.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net
