Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 16, 1995 TAG: 9502160060
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
At Western Branch Lake near Suffolk, some of the fish weigh a few ounces less than 2 pounds. That is getting close to the 2-pound, 2-ounce state record, caught April 13, 1986, on the New River by Roderick Elliott.
The area below Walker's Dam on the Chickahominy River also is producing trophy-size yellow perch. Others are being caught on the lower James, the Mattaponi and the Pamunkey rivers.
The perch fishing on the Mattaponi turned on quickly last week and has produced several fish that topped the 1-pound mark.
A perch must weigh 1 pound, 4 ounces or measure 13 inches to earn a citation from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The top citation-producing spots in Virginia, in order, are Chickahominy Lake-Chickahominy River, Potomac River, Mattaponi River, Lake Moomaw, Claytor Lake, Pamunkey River, Western Branch Lake, Lake Burnt Mills and Northwest River.
While Claytor and Moomaw are the big Western Virginia producers, a few yellow perch can be found in Smith Mountain Lake.
BIG CATS: Looking for ways to keep warm on the water? Well, Pete Logan of Chesterfield worked up a sweat recently while fishing the lower James River. Logan hooked and landed a 45-pound, 15-ounce blue catfish. Other catfish in the 18- to 20-pound class have been taken from the river.
ANGLING FOR CITATIONS: Virginia's new Angler Recognition Program has been receiving high praise from fishermen, according to Ann Skalski, its coordinator. The program replaces the old citation system and allows fishermen to enter a catch that meets minimum length or weight standards.
``The reception is wonderful,'' said Skalski, who set up displays on the program at the recent Bassarama in Richmond and Bass Expo in Hampton. The emphasis on catch-and-release in particular won praise from muskie and bass fishermen, she said.
Most of the negative comments concerned the $4 fee that must accompany an application. The old system was free.
The charge is designed to offset the cost of the improved citation certificate, Skalski said. What isn't generally known is fishermen under 16 can register a fish without paying the fee, she said.
PUBLIC VS. PRIVATE: Not many years ago, deer hunting meant going to a national forest, but no longer. During the past season 88.6 percent of the state-record 209,272 kill was taken on private land. Only 20,186 deer were killed on public land, including national forests and state-owned property.
100-PLUS: The snow continues to pile up at ski resorts, passing the 100-inch mark this week when Appalachian Ski Mountain in North Carolina reported a base of 82 to 105 inches.
Snowshoe had a 50- to 82-inch base Wednesday; Wintergreen reported 54 to 64 inches.
SAILING INTO SUNSET: Don Kuykendall was there each spring when packs of hungry bluefish moved into the Chesapeake Bay. Often he would have a group of Western Virginia anglers aboard his charter boat, called the Dol-El.
One of the most popular charter skippers on the bay, Kuykendall, who has been battling cancer, says he no longer is in the business.
``We regret to tell you that we have sold our charter vessel, Don-El, and have retired from the fishing charter business,'' read a letter from Don's wife, Ella May.
``You know Don's health situation,'' she said, ``and even though he's doing great, he does not have the stamina to handle long hours on the water.''
As in the past, Don Kuykendall plans to visit his friends at the outdoor show Feb.24-26 in Fisherville.
by CNB