Friday, April 04, 2003

Trout Heritage day is close

By MARK TAYLOR
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   It's not quite opening day, but Virginia's new Trout Heritage Day is close.

    Hoping to please anglers who miss the carnival-like excitement of the trout opener, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries will stock 16 waters today and early Saturday morning. By announcing the stocking, fishermen can plan their weekend ahead of time, knowing trout will be swimming in their favorite fishing holes.

    In a change from last year's Heritage Day, fishing starts at 9 a.m. Saturday. All Heritage waters are closed to fishing today.

    A list of the Heritage Day waters:

    Beartree Lake, Washington County

    Bark Camp, LakeScott County

    Clinch Mountain Fee Fishing Area, Washington County

    Cripple Creek (Ravens Cliff), Wythe County

    Crooked Creek Fee Fishing Area, Carroll County

    Douthat Lake Fee Fishing Area, Bath County

    Jennings Creek, Botetourt County

    Lake Witten, Tazewell County

    Liberty Lake, Bedford County

    Lincolnshire Lake, Tazewell County

    Middle Fork Holston River, Smyth County

    Passage Creek, Shenandoah County

    Pedlar River (upper), Amherst County

    Pigg River, Franklin County

    Rose River, Madison County

    Tinker Creek, Roanoke

    Waynesboro plays host

   to Fly Fishing Festival

    Fly fishermen will descend on the South River in Waynesboro this weekend, and not just to cast to the river's colorful trout.

    Constitution Park on the river's banks will play host to the third annual Virginia Fly Fishing Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

    The event will offer a variety of activities and seminars. Experts will teach folks about tying flies, fly casting, bamboo rod building and fishing destinations. Many fly shops and outfitters will be on hand to sell their wares. Several top-tier fishing products will be given away in raffles.

    Lefty Kreh, arguably one of the world's most famous fly anglers, will be on hand Saturday. Among the other fly angling personalities scheduled to appear Saturday is Harry Slone, author of "Virginia Trout Streams" and a weekly trout-fishing column on Roanoke.com. Sunday's headliner will be Harry Murry, proprietor of Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg and a well known guide, instructor and fishing writer.

    The festival will run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information call (540)942-6705 or see vaflyfishingfestival.org.

Let any elected or appointed official know what you think and how you feel by CLICKING HERE.