Bill Cochran

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For an outdoor writer, coming across an enticing story can be ever bit as exciting as catching a trophy fish. That’s what’s always made fishing with Claude Bain such a treat. Chances are you’d get both the story and the fish.

When hosting writers looking for articles, Claude would arrive at the dock wearing the kind of clothes that would lend themselves to a color photograph. And when the fish was caught, he knew exactly how to hold it for the camera. No belly shots when Claude was doing it. That put him on about as many magazine covers as Britney Spears.

I have mentioned recently in my Field Reports that Claude will retire Aug. 31 as director of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. It is a position he has held for 20 years. He is 57

In this column, I want to pay tribute to a man who has been so helpful to me and others all of those years. He didn’t just work with journalists and operate a major tournament. He made the sport of saltwater fishing better for everyone.

This isn’t an obit. Claude is alive and well. But I have to admit that I write this shrouded with sadness over his departure as tournament director. He is leaving this dream job because it deserves “new blood,” he said.

No doubt there are anglers who are more knowledgeable about a certain species of fish than Claude is, but I know of no one who has a greater grasp of saltwater fish and fishing in general. He has kept up with 34 species. That’s how many are eligible for tournament recognition.

Often on trips to and from the fishing grounds I’d turn on my tape recorder and ask Claude questions about the fish we were pursuing. At the end of the day I would have precise information on the biology of the species, the history of its fishing, the tackle and techniques used to catch it, the conservation efforts needed to preserve it, not to mention how many citations were landed the season before and the weight of the state record. All that and a nice fish or two for the camera.

Claude knows how to present information. He has a law degree from Washington and Lee. He is skillful with statistics, having worked for Merrill Lynch. He knows outdoor writing after publishing the “The Virginia-North Carolina Fishing Report” for five years, one of the pioneer regional outdoor tabloids.

With that kind of background, and with a passion for fishing, he was top choice when the tournament director’s job opened in 1987 at the retirement of Claude Rogers, who had held the position since 1958. The two Claudes have been the only directors during the 50 years of the tournament. Next in line is Lewis Gillingham.

Why does the state sponsor a fishing tournament? For one thing, it brings in tons of tourist dollars. For another, it provides a sound database on the population trends of 34 important fish species.

Even so, through the years there were politicians who wanted to end the program in the name of frugality or at least do away with the expensive and handsome wall plaques given to anglers earning a citation.

That chatter stopped when the new saltwater-fishing license, rather than tourism dollars, began funding the event several years ago. As for the coveted laminated plaques, they have spelled success for the program. Bain leaves the tournament on solid footing and far more prestigious than copycat contests in many other states.

Last year the tournament awarded 5,290 trophy fish citations. That was the eighth’s best count in its history. The top-four years were 2001 to 2004, which means this decade has been the “good old days” for anglers.

During his tour, Claude has made the tournament a year-round affair and doubled the number of eligible species, but most importantly he has emphasized catch-and-release. Forty percent of the citations are awarded for releases. Claude gave this concept a jumpstart when he landed and released a striped bass in excess of 50 pounds.

For a guy who can pursue a multitude of species, what is Claude’s favorite catch? I think I am safe in saying it is red drum taken in the surf of the barrier islands of Eastern Shore. He has a 16-foot johnboat rigged for maneuvering the shallow water that leads to the islands.

The past two springs, during trips with Claude, our group has reeled in a red drum. Claude landed one, and then profusely apologized because I hadn’t hooked it.

He held it for a picture, tagged it, release it and watched the gallant, copper-hued fish swim away.

Virginia’s saltwater ambassador was at work. We are going to miss him.