Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 6, 1995 TAG: 9503070011
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The catch limit on put-and-take streams is six daily. All fish under 7 inches in length must be released alive immediately. Special-regulations streams have more restrictive size and catch limits. These are listed in the 1995 Virginia Freshwater & Saltwater Fishing Regulations brochure, available from license agents or the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 4010 West Broad St., Richmond, 23230; 804-367-1000.
License costs more
Fishing licenses are valid January through December. The cost of an annual resident fishing license is $12.50. A trout license is $12.50, which represents a $6 increase over last year.
You need both licenses to fish designated trout waters, and if those waters are in the Jefferson-George Washington National Forest you also need a national forest stamp, which costs $3.50.
Sportsmen are given the option of buying a forest stamp that is valid July 1 through June 30 or Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, depending on whether they want it to run concurrently with the fishing or the hunting season.
Fishermen age 65 and older are required to buy a $1:50 state fishing license and a $12.50 trout license, but they don't need a national forest stamp. Holders of the old $5 lifetime licenses, no longer available to senior citizens, need no other licenses.
Disabled fishermen can purchase a lifetime license for $5. Information is available from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
Fishermen who aren't required to buy a license of any kind include:
Residents under 16 years of age.
Landowners, their spouses, children and minor grandchildren within the boundaries of their own land.
Tenants on the land they rent and occupy if they have written permission of the landowner.
Guests fishing individually owned private ponds.
The legally blind.
Pay as you go
Virginia has three fee-fishing areas, Big Tumbling Creek, Crooked Creek and Douthat Lake, where anglers are required to purchase a $4 daily license in addition to their regular fishing license. A trout license is not required.
Money from the daily fee is used for frequent restocking of catchable-size trout. The daily limit has been increased from five to six. The fee program will not go to a year-round format, but will continue to open the third Saturday in March. It ends Labor Day at Big Tumbling Creek and Crooked Creek, but extends through Sept. 30 at Douthat Lake. After that, regular trout regulations apply.
Here's a look at the areas:
BIG TUMBLING CREEK: This is an aptly named stream that surges out of the mountains west of Saltville, creating a series of waterfalls and deep pools as it moves swiftly through the state-owned Clinch Mountain Wildlife Area.
At its headwaters is 330-acre Laurel Bed Lake, which is included in the fee program.
The Big Tumbling area is reached by turning off Interstate 81 at the Chilhowie exit and following Virginia 107 north to Saltville. At Saltville, turn left on Virginia 91, then right onto 634 (Allison Gap), left on 613 and right on 747. Primitive camping is available.
DOUTHAT PARK: A 70-acre lake and a section of Wilson Creek below it are part of the pay program in Douthat State Park near Clifton Forge.
Lake fishing is done from the bank or from small boats. Rental boats are available at a concession, or you may bring your own car-topper. Electric motors are permitted. The park's campground is open to accommodate fishermen. Park information is available by calling 703-862-7200.
The park is on Virginia 629 north of U.S. 60.
CROOKED CREEK: This meadow stream, near Galax in Carroll County, can be reached by turning left off U.S. 58 onto Virginia 620 west of Hillsville.
It draws fewer fishermen than the other pay areas, even though it has had the reputation of producing citation-size rainbow trout.
Turn 'em back alive
Some streams or sections of streams have programs designed for the angler who enjoys fly or spinner fishing and who releases most of the trout caught. These streams operate under special regulations, such as small catch limits and large minimum-size limits. Most require the use of artificial lures with a single hook, some are for fly fishing only.
The better-known examples are: a portion of Smith River in Henry County, Little Stoney Creek in Giles County, Mossy Creek in Augusta County, Rapidan River in Madison County, Jackson River in the upper Hidden Valley area of Bath County, Stewart's Creek in Carroll County, Back Creek immediately below the Vepco pumped-storage complex in Bath County and Sinking Creek in Craig-Giles counties.
Other special-regulation streams are listed in the fishing regulations brochure, several of them new to the program this year. The new ones include Big Wilson and Little Wilson Creeks in Grayson County, two sections of South Fork Holston River in Smyth County and Roaring Fork in Tazewell County.
Also new ...
Daily trout limits at Philpott, Mooman and Flannagan lakes have been lowered from six to two and the minimum-size limit increased from 10 to 16 inches.
An additional two weeks of catch-and-release fishing has been added to the programs at Back Creek, North River and South River.
The size limit has been increased to 12 inches in special-regulations sections of Green Cove and White Top Laurel creeks.
A national forest stamp no longer will be required for fishing Moomaw Lake, the Jackson River below Gathright Dam and Wilson Creek below Douthat Lake.
A trout license won't be required on designated trout water from June 16 through Sept. 30.
The long and short of it
Under the new Virginia Angler Recognition Program, a trout can qualify for trophy status either by weight or length. In the past, minimum weights only were accepted.
A brook trout must weigh 2 pounds or measure 16 inches; brown trout 25 inches or 5 pounds; rainbow trout 22 inches or 4 pounds.
Application forms are available at most tackle shops. State inspected scales are required for weights. To certify a fish by length, the measurement must be verified by a witness or a photograph must be take of the fish next to a measuring rule.
Stocking stuffers
State fish officials will not announce ahead of time the streams that will be stocked. Plans call for releasing that information after the stocking has been completed. Stocking information will be available by calling the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries' district office in Forest, 804-525-7522. Officials are studying the idea of having an around-the-clock 900 number that provides stocking information for a toll, but this is not in place.
The Roanoke Times & World-New InfoLine will contain a weekly list of streams that have been stocked. The number is 981-0100, then enter category 3017.
Egging them on
Early season ishermen will garnish their hooks with everything from canned corn to worms to spinners to artificial flies. Here's a look at some of the most popular baits.
POWER BAIT boomed onto the market in the '90s to edge salmon eggs into second spot as the top commercial bait. Power Bait is the brand name of Berkley, the originator of the bait, but it now also is manufactured by other companies.
The bait is molded on a hook, then fished much the same way as a salmon egg.
A size 10 baithold hook is a good choice for fishing this dough-type bait. Use dry hands to mold it onto the hook in a ball shape about 11/2 times the size of a salmon egg.
SALMON EGGS come in a variety of colors and flavors. A couple of popular ones are the shrimp-scented pink and corn-flavored yellow. It is prudent to carry two or three shades and flavors. A fish that has seen a bellyful of pink eggs, for example, might suddenly jump on a yellow one.
Keep your fishing line light and your hooks small for the best results. Hooks should have a needle point, so the eggs can be threaded without breaking. A size 8- or 10-salmon-egg style is a popular choice.
CORN is the least expensive of the processed baits. Simply use a can of whole-kernel corn off the grocery store shelf. One to three kernels on a hook generally is all that is necessary.
WORMS fall into several varieties, including night crawlers, red wigglers and the garden kind you can dig yourself. They can work especially well when the water is up and discolored after a rain. Hook them so the ends are free for a wiggling effect.
MINNOWS are a favorite bait of fishermen who realize that trout are fish eaters. A small minnow often will entice a trout that has seen and rejected a variety of corn, salmon eggs and worms.
Spinoffs
Small spinners or fly-and-spinners are excellent for catching trout. They can require more skill than bait and can be viewed as a link between bait and fly fishing.
Under most circumstances, choose lures that have spinners about the size of your little fingernail. One of the most popular has been the Joe's Fly. Other productive spinners include the Panther Martin, Rooster Tail, Cottontail and Mepps.
The best weights range from about 1/64th to 1/16th ounce, but in large streams and discolored water a larger size can be productive, especially a Mepps.
Caught on the fly
Interest in fly fishing is growing rapidly. There are a number of quality fly shops where anglers can get help on equipment, fly selection and techniques. Among them are Orvis in downtown Roanoke, The Outpost in Hot Springs and Murray's Fly Shop in Edinburg.
The fly fishermen - or even bait fishermen - searching for streams to fish will find information in the revised edition of Roanoker Harry Slone's ``Virginia Trout Streams A guide To Fishing The Blue Ridge Watershed.'' It is available in many book stores.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***