ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602220023
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
A few warm days and a visit by the hatchery truck has lured impressive numbers of fishermen to the Roanoke River this week, but Lacy All isn't one of them.
All is hooked on big trout. For him, that means shunning state-stocked streams and heading to one of the growing number of privately operated fee-fishing areas.
Monday, All and three buddies fished the Pigg River Trophy Trout facility near Rocky Mount.
``We caught 11 trout,'' he said. ``Seven of them were from 4.2 to 5.6-pounds apiece. The 11 fish weighed 42 pounds.''
It can cost up to $25 to fish a pay program that specializes in trophy trout, but All believes it is money well spent.
``I'll save my soft drink money and go where there are big trout,'' he said. ``I'm all for them [private fee-fishing areas]. I am looking for more of them. I think we need more of them.''
The Pigg River operation (540-483-8242) has been open for about six months and is located on a 1 1/2-mile stretch of the River near Rocky Mount. Ed Wagoner, the owner, said many of the fish he stocks weigh more than 3 pounds, and there is an occasional 7-pounder.
Other fee operations recently have opened or are expected to open in Roanoke, Craig and Bedford counties. Last season, two opened in Patrick County and one in Bland County.
The granddaddy of them all is Cedar Springs Sportsman Lodge (540-686-4505), which opened on Cripple Creek near Rural Retreat five seasons ago. If you want to fish there any time soon, you'll have to do it on a weekday. The earliest weekend date open is July 6, a good indication of the popularity of these operations. Weekday dates aren't as difficult to obtain.
``We have had people breaking the snowbanks to get here,'' said Carlene Hilton, one of the owners.
The attraction is big trout, said Jim Hilton, who does the trout rearing for the facility.
``Nobody wants a 10-inch trout anymore,'' Jim Hilton said Wednesday. ``Nowadays they want 2- or 3- or 4-pounders. I guess I put in 30 brook trout this morning that were all 2 pounds.''
Paul Beaudoin, who operates the Big Pine (540-864-5555) trout facility in New Castle has started stocking bigger trout.
``We are stocking 1 1/2-pounds and up and we are putting in 3- and 4-pounders,'' he said.
Beaudoin will teach beginners how to fish, will filet your catch and will offer enticing recipes for cooking fish.
The major challenge facing fee operations is growing or locating enough bragging-size fish to keep clients happy.
``Apparently, there is a real shortage of big fish,'' said Jim Hilton.
Hilton provides trout for several of the fee operators, but he reserves many of the jumbo-size fish he grows for his own pay program.
``I'm not going to sell you the size fish we stock,'' he said. ``Every one is begging for the biggest trout we will sell them.''
TROPHY DEER: If big antlers excite you, even those tacked to a wall, there are a couple of places you can get an eyeful.
Friday through Sunday are the dates of the Western Virginia Sports Show at Augusta Expoland in Fishersville. The annual show will include a big buck contest, which will give the first look at trophy deer killed the past season. The event also will feature the ``Legendary White Tails of North America'' display. Hours are noon to 9:30 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Expoland is reached off Exit 91 of Interstate 64.
On Monday, the Virginia Deer Hunters Association is sponsoring ``A Montana Night With Dick Idol'' at the Holiday Inn-Kroger Center in Richmond.
Idol will be showing his Shed Antler Collection for the first time in the region. It features more than 100 deer and elk racks, including one of world-record size.
Tickets for the 6 p.m. show are $25 for singles, $40 for couples. Call Denny Quaiff, 804-275-2048. The program will benefit graduate research on deer at Virginia Tech.
LENGTH: Medium: 77 linesby CNB