ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, March 24, 1996 TAG: 9603250020
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-10 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
The trouble with fishermen is all they want to do is fish.
``That's our downfall,'' said Jim Brewer, who owns a tackle shop in Charlottesville and publishes a hunting and fishing journal called the Virginia Outdoor Weekly. ``There are so many of us, but we aren't organized.''
The fact that fishermen would rather fight fish than fight for fishing has been a problem in the battle to secure angling rights on the Jackson River, said Brewer, who is a leader in the effort.
So Brewer and fellow members of the Thomas Jefferson Chapter of Trout Unlimited have a novel plan: They are offering fishermen a chance to cast for trout and help pad the Jackson River Defense Fund at the same time.
The TU chapter has been stocking the lower section of Moormans River in Albemarle County and charging anglers a $25 annual fee to fish it. Most of the money goes for restocking, carried out about every other week, but $10 of each angler's fee is earmarked for the defense fund.
Brewer told members of the Roanoke Valley TU Chapter that Moormans River has become one of the finest fly fishing streams in the state, drawing anglers from as far away as Virginia Beach.
``The place is loaded with big, fat rainbows ready to put a serious bend in any fly rod,'' he said.
One angler recently caught and released 30 trout up to 18 inches in length. There have been impressive early-season hatches, including one about a week ago when the air filled with stoneflies, big hummers size 8 or better.
The program offers catch-and-release through May 31. After that, trout may be kept, but by summer, the water is running so low that the fishing is over. The system is called ``delayed harvest.'' It takes advantage of the river during cool-weather months, when it runs full and has temperatures that are ideal for trout.
Brewer invited Roanoke TU members to develop a similar program on a stream in their area. If every TU chapter in the state did, 10 new trout fisheries could be born, and the defense fund would benefit, he said.
``There are more and more fly fishermen and less and less places to go,'' he said.
A big one anglers don't want to let get away is the excellent fishery on the Jackson River below Gathright Dam in Alleghany County. Fishermen lost an early round there when an Alleghany County court ruled streamside landowners could post their property against all fishing - even float fishing - if they could link ownership of their land to Crown Grants issued in the 1700s. Naturally, many said they could.
What this means, Brewer said, is a licensed fisherman can launch from a public-access point on the Jackson, float a navigable stream, fish for trout stocked by the state and get ticketed at the request of a landowner.
At first, the Virginia Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal, but the court recently reversed itself. Anglers were ready to make a federal case out of the issue or take it to the General Assembly if the court had not reconsidered, Brewer said.
``We beat the King of England once, and if we have to, we will beat him again,'' he said. ``We are just absolutely committed.''
But if that is to happen, more fishermen must become involved.
``There are a million of us, but our political clout is zero,'' he said. ``The only people interested in this case to date are fly fishermen and TU members.''
The B.A.S.S. Federation is beginning to take notice, as it should. So should hunters. Outdoor sportsmen are too fragmented, Brewer said. There are organizations for bass fishermen, turkey hunters, deer hunters, trout fishermen and others, but they all tend to pursue their special interest. No one speaks for everyone. That makes it easy for the opposition.
``Right now, they know we are just a bunch of blank pistols out there,'' Brewer said.
Information on Moormans River fly-fishing permits is available by calling 804-987-7112.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 linesby CNB