Thursday, June 12, 2008
In search of ...
Bill Cochran
Recent mail
BILL: I was wondering if you could recommend a striper fishing guide at Smith Mountain Lake. Someone not only with good fishing skills but someone who would be good with three boys between 9 and 13. Fishing fools, if you will.
We are planning a trip at the beginning of August for a week and I thought it would be a good start to the week to learn how to striper fish from the experts.
KRISS WILSON
KRISS: What a great plan to take your boys fishing. The guide I have fished with most on Smith Mountain Lake is Dale Wilson, and he is good with kids, but there are a dozen others guides working the lake. You can get a list of them from the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center, 800-676-8203, They are found in the “Newcomers & Visitor Guide.”
BILL
BILL:
I am in need of your assistance. My dad and I won the muskie category of the 1971 Cave Spring Optimist Club Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake. I think it was Sowers Marina.
My dad died in 1995, and I would sure like to get some pictures or at least a newspaper article on the muskie story. I noticed that you skip over 1971 (See April 24 Cochran Column) but I would like your help if you know where to get some info. My dad’s name was William (Bill) S. Rogers. I know that a picture was taken because I remember it being in the newspaper.
BILL ROGERS JR
BILL: I have been digging into my files to see if I could help you. According to my records, the muskie category winner of the 1971 contest was Bill Blackburn and Bill Amos was second. Blackburn’s muskie weighed 16 pounds, 2 ounces. Could it be you have the date of your dad’s win wrong? I have a 1972 tournament brochure, which was the fourth year of the tournament. It contains a picture of a man and boy each holding a muskie. I wonder if that might be you and your dad. The picture has no identification or date. I will mail you a copy if you send me your address.
If you really want to do some digging, you could go to the downtown Roanoke Library and look through The Roanoke Times archives. The newspaper's in-house library is closed to the public, and even if it were open, it is unlikely you would find a picture. I know Outdoor Editor Mark Taylor recently had poor success running down historical pictures of the contest for a 40th anniversary tribute.
By the way, in the early days of the tournament the name of the headquarters was Saunder’s Marina.
BILL
