Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 26, 1994 TAG: 9405260008
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Flounder fishing along the sea side of the Eastern Shore isn't nearly as impressive as it was 15 years ago, but it has improved enough to merit attention. The salt marshes that stretch lazily from ports such as Oyster, Quinby, Wachapreague and Chincoteague are offering decent flounder action this spring. The number and size of fish have improved.
A 7-pounder was landed at Chincoteague recently, but a large percentage of the catches are throwbacks, fish shorter than the 14-inch minimum size. Clear water is the key to success for anglers.
Flounder also are being taken along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, Lynnhaven Inlet, off Cape Charles, in Hampton Roads and at the Cell.
Trout stocking will continue into early June, but if you are an avid angler you've noticed the weekly stocking list has been growing shorter. The past week or so, water levels have dropped and water temperatures have climbed. This decline in trout habitat means the best sport now is found at the larger, better-quality streams. The Jackson and Smith rivers are examples. The Jackson below Gathright has been high much of the spring, but should remain excellent for fly fishing into the summer months.
While it comes too late for Memorial Day Weekend, a special stocking of large trout is scheduled next week at Douthat State Park Lake. Plans are to release a load of big trout - many weighing more than 4 pounds - at the close of fishing June 1, which means fishing for them will begin the next morning. The special stocking is being funded by the Douthat concessionaire, with help from some fishermen.
The time has come to give serious attention to the state's major warm-water streams. Prime examples are the James and New, which are Virginia's best producers of trophy smallmouth bass and muskie.
The two rivers - especially the James - have been high much of the spring, but they have reached good wading and floating levels. The most enjoyable approach is to float in a canoe or johnboat while using light tackle to cast to bass and panfish. Try top-water lures and leadhead jigs with twister tails. This fishing holds up all summer.
It's time to get out the flyrod or lightweight spinning outfit and cast for sunfish. The best spots will be small impoundments, the sort of places anglers can go on a holiday weekend without being harassed by pleasure-boating traffic.
Briery Creek Lake, near Farmville, has started to turn out hefty sunfish, a few of them citation size. Crickets are the most popular bait (you can pick them up at nearby Worsham Grocery), but fly casters also have been doing well with white or black popping bugs.
The best sunfish action is just beginning at Gatewood Lake in Pulaski County. Mike McManus, the concessionaire, has weighed five citations, but the fish are just starting to move onto their spawning beds. That means the peak is yet to come.
Many of the fish are being caught after they've left their spawning beds and gone to weedbeds, McManus said. Traditional fishing methods, such as casting meal worms or nightcrawlers, work well, but growing numbers of fly fishermen are discovering a black gnat pattern can be deadly.
Farm ponds and small private impoundments also are excellent spots to cast for sunfish.
\ HOT SHOTS: The second Homestead Cup Sporting Clays Championship, scheduled Friday through Sunday in Hot Springs, is expected to attract 200 shooters, some of them top American and foreign competitors.
The notables will include Scott Robertson and John Kruger, co-captains of the 1994 All American Team. Kruger is a former national champion and the 1992 U.S. Open Champion.
by CNB