
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 14, 1994                   TAG: 9410140089
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: VIRGINIA   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
DATELINE: RICHMOND NOTE: ABOVE                                 LENGTH: Medium

NEXT YEAR, IT'S TROUT FOREVER

Virginia's trout season goes eternal on March 18, 1995. That is the date of the final opening day. From then on, it is year-round fishing. No closed season. Go when you want.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries approved the new concept Thursday with surprisingly little controversy, considering the crowds that turn out annually for opening day on streams such as the Roanoke River and Tinker Creek. The vote of the department board was 7-to-1.

The only opposition came from the Roanoke Valley. Granger Macfarlane, board member from Roanoke, cast the nay vote. He said afterward that he thought opening day was an enjoyable family affair, a time when youngsters are introduced to fishing.

"If they are pleased and enjoy it, they will be longtime fishermen and fisherwomen," he said.

But Gary Martel, the department's fish division chief, said the year-round season had strong support from anglers. A mail survey of trout license holders showed 73 percent favored it. Seventy-eight percent of participants in the recent 11 public hearings across the state said they wanted to give the boot to opening day. The idea has been supported by Trout Unlimited members for a number of years.

"Doing away with opening day, which currently takes a significant portion of our hatchery production, will provide us with increased levels of efficiency in operating our trout hatcheries," said Martel.

The state now raises and stocks 300,000 trout for opening day, Martel said. That is one-third of its annual production.

By spreading that production out, hatcheries should be able to grow an additional 100,000 trout annually, Martel said. Money also can be saved by eliminating the game warden patrols necessary to make certain fish aren't caught before the season begins, he said.

Opening day was left in place for next season, because many anglers have set vacations around it, Martel said.

It is a gala, vacation kind of an affair, said Leon Turner of Fincastle, who likened it to the coming of Christmas. A past member of the game and fish board, Turner opposed changing the season.

"Opening day brings people out, especially kids who fish one day a year. Campgrounds fill up. Everyone seems to have a good time."

Giving up opening day will work a hardship on country stores that depend on first-day crowds to provide a financial boost, Turner said.

That thought also was troublesome to members of the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors. The board informed the game and fish department of its opposition to changing the trout fishing schedule.

Martel said he thought the year-round season would profit small business, since anglers would be out more often to buy fishing supplies and snacks.

The game and fish board appointed William Woodfin Jr. its executive director. Woodfin, 46, was named acting director of the agency by Gov. George Allen in June.

by CNB