Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 22, 1994 TAG: 9409240023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The trend started in Greensboro at the BASS Masters Classic. The winner, viewed as a youngster among men, was Bryan Kerchal, a 23-year old rookie who lived with his parents and supported his fishing with a short-order cook's job.
The Classic outcome wasn't just a youth fluke. The recent Bassmaster Maryland Eastern Invitational, on the Potomac River, had several second-generation anglers on the leader board.
In fourth spot was Chris Daves, of Spring Grove, the son of 48-year-old Woo Daves, who has dominated competitive fishing in Virginia by competing in 13 Classics.
Finishing 15th., in a field of 325, was David Dudley of Lynchburg. Dudley's dad, James, fished the 1982 Classic.
The Maryland tournament, won by Larry Lazoen of Port Charlotte, Fla., saw eight Virginians finish in the money. Rick Morris of Virginia Beach was third. Woo Daves, of Spring Grove, was 18th.
The 1994-95 tournament format is helping capable newcomers break into the B.A.S.S. circuit. The invitational tournaments have been divided into Eastern and Central divisions. For youngsters, that means more tournaments and less competition from pros.
At the Potomac, the bass also were cooperative. The top three anglers weighed in better than 45-pounds apiece.
SALTWATER STRIPERS: Fishing for striped bass in the Chesapeake Bay should be excellent during Virginia's saltwater season, which is Oct. 27-Dec. 18. In fact, there is considerable hype about the 61-pound state record being broken.
The catch limit is two fish daily which must be 18 inches or longer. Anglers will be able to keep fish only Thursdays through Sundays, but can hook and release them other days.
You can do that right now. Good numbers of fish are in the bay, according to Lewis Gillingham, of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Some anglers are complaining that they can't fish for trout and other species because there are so many stripers.
That sounds like a nice problem to have.
SHAD DEBATE: Joe Brubaker, an angler from Franklin County, disputes a report by Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologists that the shad population has crashed in Smith Mountain Lake. He says shad are jumping around everywhere.
"They are here," he said. "You can go most anywhere in the evenings between 6 and 9 o'clock and see them."
Mike Duval, a state fish biologist, earlier reported that the lake's threadfin shad population had suffered a severe winter die-off and young gizzard shad numbers also have declined.
Some Smith Mountain anglers report that stripers are schooling on the surface where they are vulnerable to baits such as the Pop-R.
RIVER SMALLMOUTH: The Staunton River - the colloquial name for the Roanoke River in Southside Virginia - is best known for its spring striped bass and walleye runs. But gaining in popularity recently has been the flathead catfish.
Now there's more. Smallmouth bass fishing has been improving rapidly. The river is begining to produce citation catches, like the 5-pound, 14-ounce catch made by Brent Worley of Renan.
Smallmouth streams across the state, including the James, New and Shenandoah, are in excellent shape for fishing.
CLAYTOR GRAB BAG: Fishermen have been enjoying a variety of catches at Claytor Lake, including hefty catfish. Dallas Jewel of Dublin had a string of cats that weighed just over 23 pounds. Thomas Brown of Christiansburg landed a citation-size, 1-pound, 1-ounce sunfish. Brad Absher of Norton caught a 13-pound, 13-ounce muskie.
by CNB