Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 5, 1995 TAG: 9501050037
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
``Bass fishing has been superb,'' said Spangler, who lives in Moneta. ``I had a smallmouth on the other day, and I had to sit down after she got off because I was so nervous.''
Spangler had hooked and lost the fish on an earlier outing. He decided to back off and leave the fish alone before going after it again. He waited seven days.
``When I went back, she hit a grub and ran around a rock and sawed off. I estimate she was six or seven pounds.''
Next up is round three.
``I'll go back. I know where she lives.''
Spangler landed a 5-pound, 11-ounce largemouth that measured 211/2 inches. Take note of that length. Another one-half inch would qualify the bass for trophy fish status under the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' new measuring system.
The length system is designed to let a fisherman measure and release a fish and still earn trophy fish recognition.
``The concept is beautiful,'' said Spangler. ``I love to catch and release.''
But the 22-inch minimum length set for a largemouth isn't long enough to equal the old eight-pound weight standard, he said. What's more, he's not certain if the 20-inch smallmouth minimum will match the five-pound weight standard.
``And that fish was fat,'' he said of the largemouth he caught. ``I mean a fat bass.''
Spangler said he and fellow members of the Star City Bassmasters have used a catch, measure and release system in tournaments for a number of years. The national standard measurement board that members use charts a 22-inch largemouth as a six-pounder, which is two pounds under what the state has established.
The lengths in the new trophy fish program were set by fisheries biologists who attempted to come up with measurements that would match the weigh standards as closely as possible, said Paul Bugas, the biologist in charge. But the process wasn't an exact science.
``It will vary from season to season, place to place,'' he said. ``But anybody who catches a 22-inch largemouth has a trophy.''
STRIPERS SCARCE: David Caldwell caught a 37-pound striped bass at Smith Mountain Lake, his largest in more than 25 years as an avid striper angler. But some of the joy of that catch is tempered by what Caldwell sees as overall poor striped bass fishing at the lake.
``The fishing at Smith Mountain Lake is really going downhill,'' he said. ``We just don't have the fish; it is just not as much fun anymore.''
The fall-early winter striper action especially has been disappointing for many fishermen.
``It has been off a little bit,'' said Kathy Franceschini, a lake guide.
The weather during much of the late season was unusually warm and dry, Franceschini said. That appeared to keep the fish deep, although the action the week of Christmas was especially good, she said.
Even with the arrival of cold weather, Franceschini isn't certain if the stripers will go shallow this late. They may stay deep.
HELPING ELK: During its brief history, the Blue Ridge Chapter of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation has established a reputation of being a record-setting fund raiser for elk and other wildlife.
The organization's officers say there still is a need for people willing to help continue that trend. The chapter has scheduled its annual banquet for Feb.25 and is looking for sportsmen willing to work on the event. A committee meeting has been set for Jan.11 at 7 p.m. at Roanoke Gravley Sales, 3042 Orange Ave. Just show up if you want to help or call John Rokisky, 772-1414, or Wayne Gould, 985-0352.
SNOWBOARDING: Diann Roffe-Steinrotter will try snowboarding for the first time Jan.12 at Massanutten Ski Resort near Harrisonburg. But she isn't exactly a stranger to the slopes. Roffe-Steinrotter was a gold medalist in the 1994 Olympic super giant (ski) slalom.
The three-time Olympian is participating in a ``Learn to Snowboard'' program funded by the Ski Industries of America. This is another example that snowboarding in not a fad. She will be on hand to talk with skiers and snowboarders throughout the day.
by CNB