ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, March 27, 1997 TAG: 9703270060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
Johnny Shelton of North Carolina came into Camper's Paradise on Smith Mountain Lake last week with a striped bass that tipped the scales at 42 pounds. That fish had people wondering.
Will the state record be broken this season?
Shelton's fish, landed fish on a live shad, was knocking on the door of the record, which is a 45-pound, 10-ounce fish caught Feb.18, 1995, at Smith Mountain. That trophy was caught on live bait in the upper Blackwater River section by Terry Rogers of Thomasville, N.C.
Striped bass records from Smith Mountain have a history of coming along about every two to three years, so it is time. There are experienced anglers who believe the 20,000-acre lake holds a 50-pound fish. Others wonder if smaller stockings and heavier fishing pressure are cutting into that potential.
If a record is there, the best time to catch it is from now into May. The females are carrying a heavy cargo of more than a million green eggs that may add several pounds to their total weight.
There were two 40-pound-plus striped bass registered last year in the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries trophy fish program. Both were Smith Mountain catches. Douglas Weaver of Bassett had a 44-pound, 12-ounce catch and James Green of Man, W.Va., landed a 41-pound, 8-ounce fish.
The majority of Virginia's top inland stripers are Smith Mountain catches. Last year the lake accounted for 115 of the state's 160 striper citations. But Leesville Lake shouldn't be overlooked as a potential record producer. Dennis Baily of Huddleston got a 36-pounder there this month.
FISH OF A DIFFERENT STRIPE: The big question for fishermen this time of the year is what to try next. Not to be overlooked is the black bass fishing.
Ritchie Adkins used a jig lure to land a 9-pound, 3-ounce largemouth from Claytor Lake. Several 8-pound largemouth were caught at Briery Creek Lake the past week. Ronald Surface of Draper landed a 4-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth at Claytor.
Smith Mountain Lake has been yielding impressive numbers of bass in the 5 1/2- to 7 1/2-pound class. At the recent tournament there, the Smith Mountain Ruritan Club reported an incorrect name for the second-place team. It should have been Robbie Watkins of Spencer.
Fishermen in the Kerr Dam tailrace have been savoring an unusually strong run of striped bass from the base of the dam down to the Steel Bridge. Fish weighing up to 22 pounds have been striking bucktails.
BRIEFS: Gov. George Allen signed into law legislation that will make it illegal to impede an angler while fishing from a boat or the shoreline. It will take effect July 1. The legislation received heavy support from the Virginia B.A.S.S. Federation, a group that hopes to head off harassment from animal rights organizations. Uncertain is what impact the law will have on a wife who won't let her husband go fishing until the yard work is done.
It is now, ``Commander, Ma'am.'' Eunice T. Wright is the new commander of the Roanoke Valley Power Squadron, an organization devoted to boating safety in the region.
Will Strickland, 16, of Hillsville placed third in the intermediate division (ages 16-20) during the National Wild Turkey Calling Contest in Columbus, Ohio. Strickland was first last year in the Junior Division. Walter Parrott of Fredricktown, Mo., won the senior division, his fifth championship and second in a row. Parrott had better rack up as many victories as he can before Strickland is classified a senior.
Woo Daves of Spring Grove finished sixth at the Bassmasters Megabucks tournament in Texas. Daves won $10,000, but more important were the points he earned toward qualifying for the BASS Masters Classic, which has escaped him the past three years. Daves is ranked ninth in the Angler of the Year standings. Rick Morris of Virginia Beach is 23 and David Dudley of Lynchburg is 30th. The Megabucks event was won by Doug Garrett of Cobot, Ark., who took home cash and prizes that totaled $71,000.
Montana will be a bit closer April 3 when the Virginia Deer Hunters Association holds its Montana Night with Dick Idol, a noted trophy deer hunter. The fund-raising event will feature big buck displays and art. A major attraction will be the opportunity to participate in the guided deer hunt of a lifetime out of camps where Idol hunts. Tickets are $25 per person, $40 a couple and may be obtained by calling 804-743-1290.
LENGTH: Medium: 79 linesby CNB