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

DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994                   TAG: 9411030066
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

DRY FALL A LOW POINT IN STATE'S TROUT-STOCKING PROGRAM

Dry weather has kept the flow of many streams so low they are unfit for trout, said George Duckwall, the cold-water hatcheries supervisor for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

So the trout are trickling out to ponds, small lakes and the handful of large streams that have a decent volume of water.

The impoundments that have been stocked include: Bear Tree Lake in Washington County; Clifton Forge Reservoir in Alleghany County; Sherando Lake (upper and lower) in Augusta County; and Hales Lake in Grayson County.

Streams that have received fish include the Smith River (dam and lower) in Henry County, the South Fork of the Roanoke River in Montgomery County, Dan River (below the powerhouse) in Patrick County, Cripple Creek in Wythe County and the delayed-harvest section of the South River in Augusta County.

Along with anglers, Duckwall wishes the list was longer.

``We really need to stock trout now,'' he said. ``Hatchery space is limited because next year's crop of trout are hatching and begining to feed, and this is a time of year when dry weather often causes less water to be available for rearing fish.''

There have been autumns in the past when state officials have stocked trout into streams with a puny water supply. Too often the fish would fin about in small, clear pools, showing no interest in the lures and baits tossed their way. Then outlaws would take over with snag hooks, nets and even clubs.

Fish officials now attempt to avoid this problem by delaying stocking until the stream volume and water temperature are suitable for fish.

``While water temperatures are compatible with the requirements of trout, newly stocked fish wouldn't stand a chance to avoid poaching and heavy predation,'' Duckwall said of the current situation.

Even at the Smith River, where the water flow usually is adequate, anglers reported they could see trout but the fish were reluctant to strike for a couple of days following the recent stocking. In time, they became more cooperative, and that sent some anglers trudging to Rakes Sports Center in Bassett, where they plunked a couple of 4-pound-plus rainbows and a 21/2-pound brook trout onto the scales.

Fish officials aren't releasing stocking information ahead of time, but say they will reveal the streams that were stocked during the week each Friday. That information will be available from InfoLine by calling 981-0100 (382-0200 in New River Valley) and requesting category 3017.

GROUSING TIME: At least some sportsmen afield since Monday have reported the grouse season is off to a sluggish start.

It is way too early to say for certain, but it doesn't appear last year's flush rate of 1.10 grouse per hour of effort is going to improve dramatically. In West Virginia, the flush rate last season was 1.59 birds per hour, which was a nice increase over the previous season, but well below the two-bird average of the late 1970s and early '80s. The best place to find grouse in Virginia may be in areas where undergrowth has been stimulated by the activities of gypsy moths.

PHILPOTT BASS: Fall is a prime time to catch trophy smallmouth and largemouth bass from Philpott Lake. Many of the bigger bass traditionally are hooked on crawfish, but Billy A. Jones of Stuart used a surface-splashing Devil's Horse lure recently to land a 9-pound, 4-ounce largemouth.

Cooler water temperatures have improved fishing for black bass and striped bass at Smith Mountain Lake. A few stripers weighing more than 20 pounds have been caught, some on lures fished just before and after daylight.

Lester Hayden of Pulaski landed three smallmouths at Claytor Lake that totaled 15 pounds. Claytor also has produced white bass weighing more than 21/2 pounds. The good fishing could be spoiled by the annual fall-winter drawdown of Claytor.

Fishermen at Lake Moomaw have been catching smallmouths weighing more than 4 pounds. Trout fishing has been slow, but Moomaw turned out a brook trout that weighed nearly 4 pounds.

CLASSIC ACT: David Dudley of Lynchburg is ranked fourth in the Bassmaster Eastern Invitational standings.

The top five fishermen on the circuit will qualify for the BASS Masters Classic. Dudley is 32 points out of first place, held by Jay Yelas of Jasper, Texas. In second place is Kevin Wirth of Shepardsville, Ky.; third is Larry Lazoen of Port Charlotte, Fla.