Thursday, May 18, 2006
Bill Cochran's Field Reports: Claytor Lake striper looking well
Bill Cochran is a Roanoke Times outdoors columnist.
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One marina on Claytor Lake has registered 20 striped bass and hybrid citations this spring. John Copeland takes this to mean that these species are doing well in the lake. He is the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist who manages the fishery.
The Claytor stripers have not suffered a parasite outbreak, like the one that has impacted fish in Smith Mountain Lake.
“The striper and hybrid populations are looking real strong,” he said. “We have good forage in the lake.”
Even so, there is an opportunity to improve striped bass habitat through adjustments in the generation schedule at Claytor Dam, Copeland said. Habitat suitable for this species declines sharply during the hot-weather months, and changes in generation procedures could help improve it.
Copeland is looking at ways to enhance the fishery of the lake fishery and its tailwaters as part of his response to American Power Co.'s request to re-license its power operation at Claytor. The procedure is a rare opportunity to get positive things done, and it comes along infrequently, he said.
The re-licensing process also has been under way at Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes.
BILL
TIM DONOVAN MR. DUCK STAMP
“So what else is new?”
That is the comment you could have expected when the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced that art work by Tim Donovan had been selected for the 2006 Virginia State Migratory Waterfowl Conservation Stamp.
Donovan, who lives in Lovettsville, won the right to provide the art for the 2000 and 2001 Virginia Duck Stamp. He won the Kentucky state duck stamp contest in 2000 and the Ohio state duck stamp contest in 1998. He placed fifth in the 2006 Federal Duck Stamp contest.
Donovan’s latest art depicts a pair of American black ducks. Black duck numbers have declined the past 50 years, reaching a “species of concern” classification by the DGIF and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Last year was the first when hunters in Virginia were required to purchase a Migratory Waterfowl stamp. Nearly 19,000 were sold, generating about $170,000 for waterfowl habitat work. Prior to that, purchases were voluntary.
The new stamp goes on sale July 1.
BILL
SIERRA CLUB WOOS HUNTERS
The Sierra Club has been widening its net to draw hunters into the organization, but some members don’t like the idea. Paul Watson, one of 15 national directors of the club, resigned as a board member just before the group’s convention this week in San Francisco.
He did so in protest to the organization’s essay contest titled “Why I Hunt.” First place prize is a hunting trip to Alaska.
Watson is quoted as saying: “You can’t love nature with a gun.” He had protested earlier when pictures of club leaders displaying hunting trophies were placed on the organization’s Web site.
The Sierra Club is said to be spending more than $200,000 annually on hunter outreach programs. Fewer than 20 percent of its members are hunters.
The club has associated itself with the Outdoor Writers Association of American, an act protested by the National Rifle Association. Scores of OWAA members dropped out of the writing trade group as a result. OWAA is scheduled to hold its annual conference at Hotel Roanoke, June, 2007.
BILL
OUTDOOR BRIEFS
>A new partnership, similar to Virginia’s Master Gardner Program, is training volunteers to work in their local communities to improve the environment. Information is available on virginiamasternaturalist.org.
>Anglers still are talking about an 18-inch gray trout caught by a fisherman near the Concrete Ships at Kiptopeke that had a 6-inch Storm lure in its stomach. The lure was an unusual find, but so was a trout that size. Gray trout, once were abundant, but have been scarce in Virginia in recent years.
>Florida is the latest of five states to pass legislation which calls for “no net loss” of public hunting land. The others are Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
>Violette Sesco is the oldest active tournament anglers in BASS events. She is fishing the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster tour at age 80.
>Jeff Foxworthy, of “You might be a Redneck” fame is a passionate hunter and manager of whitetailed deer. He will tell about successes he has had in quality deer management on his Georgia property during the June 24 Quality Deer Management Association convention in Valley Forge, Pa.
BILL
SALTWATER FISHING TOURNAMENT
Here are the standings in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament:
CROAKER: 3 pounds, 5 ounce, Howard Stutzman, Chesapeake, lower-western Chesapeake Bay.
FLOUNDER: 9 pounds, 9 ounces, ED Clark, Hardyville, lower-eastern Chesapeake Bay. SEA BASS: 7 pounds, 2 ounces, Steve Harding, Norfolk, off Virginia Beach.
SPECKLED TROUT: 12 pounds, 1 ounce, Barclay Shepard, Poquoson, Elizabeth River.
STRIPED BASS: 68 pounds, 1 ounce state record, Clay Armstrong, Mechanicsville, off Virginia Beach.
TAUTOG: 18 pounds, 1 ounce, Paul Hurtubise, McGaheysville, off Virginia Beach.
BILL
MEETINGS/EVENTS/SEASONS
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.
NRA Whittingon Adventure Camp for youngsters, June 11 for two weeks, teaches shooting and traditional outdoor sports, information from info@nrawc.org.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, June 20, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Hunters for the Hungry Sporting Clays Benefit Shoot, Edmunds Farms Sporting Clays, Halifax, June 24 & 25, information from Clarence Morris, 434-572-6986.
NRA Whittingon Adventure Camp for youngsters, July 25, for two weeks, teaches shooting and traditional outdoor sports, information from info@nrawc.org..
Virginia Outdoor Sportsman Show, sponsored by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association, Aug. 11-13, Mechanicsville, information from sportsmanshow.com.
Smith Mountain Lake Classic and Antique Boat Society Show, The Point at Mariners Landing, Aug. 11 & 12, woodenboats.net.
Belvoir Bowhunters 3D Tournament to benefit Hunters for the Hungry, Aug. 13, information from Bob Foster, 703-758-5540.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Aug. 22, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
National Hunting and Fishing Day, Sept. 23.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Oct. 17, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Bassmaster tour event, Smith Mountain Lake, Oct. 26-28, information on bassmaster.com.
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries board meeting, Dec. 12, 4000 W. Broad Street, Richmond.
Got an event? Let us know: xtrails@earthlink.net.
