ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 27, 1997 TAG: 9702270030
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
This time of year, when fishing teeters between winter and spring, the bass may be cold-water deep one place and warm-water shallow another. It is the same for crappie and stripers.
At Philpott Lake, bass fishermen continue to hook fish deep while probing vertically with Hopkins spoons, a technique that has worked well all winter. But the other day, one fishermen casting crappie jigs, a spring technique, caught three bass.
At Kerr Lake, catches of 3- to 5-pound bass are being taken in the shallow water of Rudds and Grassy creeks on Shad Raps, Rat-L-Traps and Speed Shads. Kerr fishermen also are catching 10- to 12-pound striped bass on live bait near Buoy 10. Crappie at Kerr are being hooked near the banks, but they are very silvery in color, an indication they've just arrived from deep-water haunts.
Just downstream, in Lake Gaston, tackle-shop operator Bobby Colston says the crappie are hitting but they are very deep.
At Lake Anna, big largemouth bass are being found in 4 to 8 feet of water, where they are striking shallow-running lures that include Silver Buddies, 5-inch grubs and Sassy Shads. Daniel Jeffries and Brian LaClair of Gordonsville had an eight-bass catch that weighed 20 pounds, 6 ounces. One couple on a guided striper trip at Anna caught 22 stripers in two days.
Smith Mountain Lake has been producing a few 12- to 15-pound stripers on bucktail jigs, as well as a few crappie, but nothing to really get excited about.
More enticing are the big bass that are beginning to show up in the catches of Briery Creek Lake fishermen. A 7 1/2-pounder was taken on a jig. George Watson of Appomattox landed a 91/2-pounder and Brady Huddlston of Hampton got one that weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces. The biggest of the bass are being hooked on large live minnows.
The past two springs a parade of jumbo-size largemouth have come from the 845-acre, state-owned lake, but state biologists have predicted a slowdown this spring. Fishing pressure has been heavy and the lake is starting to age.
The New River has yielded several 25- to 30-inch muskie. Mike Bulter and Carl Lee Martin of Pearisburg both landed a pair of them. A few bass topping 5 pounds have been taken from the New on pig-and-jigs and spinnerbaits.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY: Outdoor sportsmen came through the 1997 General Assembly with few losses and several gains. Anti-PETA legislation that makes it unlawful for anyone to disrupt lawful fishing sailed through, thanks to help from the Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation. The measure had a last-minute scare when Sen. Bo Trumbo tacked on a floor amendment to legalize non-artificial bait on the Jackson River, but the amendment failed.
Some $380,000 was budgeted to dredge Douthat Lake, where siltation is a problem to the point that trout survival in hot-weather months has been jeopardized.
A $250,000 budget amendment to build a training facility for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries on Smith Mountain Lake failed, but the idea of a center for warden training, and possibly more, will be studied.
A bill to make purchasing a lifetime hunting or fishing license less costly for the young and old was passed. In the future, youngsters up to age 12 will be able to purchase a lifetime license for $250, a $50 savings. On the other end of the age scale, sportsmen 45 to 50 will be able to purchase a lifetime hunting or fishing license for $200; ages 51-55, $150; 56-60, $100; 61-64, $50; 65 and up, $10. In the past, no matter your age, the cost has been $300.
A joint resolution directs the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to study the idea of requiring mandatory safety training of boat operators.
BUCK A WINNER: A Floyd County deer killed by Ronnie Perdue of Salem during the muzzleloading season has established itself as the buck to beat in competition this year. It was the easy winner during the Western Virginia Sports Show in Fishersville last weekend. The show is one of the first to judge deer killed during the 1996-97 season. Perdue's buck has been scored 215.4 in Boone and Crockett.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines KEYWORDS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB