ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, June 24, 1996 TAG: 9606240112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: Q&A - THE INSIDE ON THE
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
Q. I heard about a new lake near Briery Creek Lake where all those citation largemouth bass are caught. Is it going to be another big-bass producer like Briery Creek? C.M.
A. Probably not. The 740-acre lake, owned by Prince Edward County, is called Sandy River Reservoir and is located five miles east of Farmville. It is about 100 acres smaller than state-owned Briery Creek.
``Sandy River Reservoir will offer a different type of fishing that is less challenging than Briery Creek,'' said Dan Wilson, a state fish biologist. For one thing, it doesn't have large expanses of standing timber. That makes boating easier, but it also means less cover for big bass.
Early catches have included a 71/2-pound bass, probably a product of one of several farm ponds that were flooded when the lake filled in 1994. Notable recent catches have been small bass, sunfish - some of them keepers - and pickerel.
The lake has a double boat ramp and a 150-foot fishing pier. The ramp is open weekends only, but bank and pier fishing are permitted seven days a week. Restrictions on ramp use are expected to be lifted in July. Fishing, launching and parking are free. Outboards must be 10 horsepower or less.
The lake is reached by traveling Virginia 649 from U.S. 460 near Farmville. For general information contact Prince Edward County, 804-392-8837, or the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 804-392-9645.
Cobia are cooperating
Q. Last summer I enjoyed some excellent cobia fishing off Virginia Beach. Can I expect the same this summer? D.K.
A. The cobia season got started two weeks later this year than last year, but the citation count already is 146. That's better than for the same period in 1995, which was the best season on record. The leading fish is an 89-pounder, landed in the lower, western side of the Chesapeake Bay.
Expect the action to peak around the middle of July, slow a bit, then pick back up in August and early September, said Claude Bain, director of the Virginia Salt Water Fishing Tournament. Avoid weekends if you can.
``There are so many fishermen and so much chum on the water, I don't go on weekends,'' he said.
Cobia are a structure-holding species, usually found around buoys and wrecks, which limits their habitat. Fishermen are beginning to look for new fishing spots.
Bridging trail problems
Q. What's with the report that the Appalachian Trail has been trying to discourage overuse by removing blazes and taking down bridges? A.H.
A. That report came from a Maine newspaper article that was distributed by The Associated Press. There is no question that trail use is up this year, but the Appalachian Trail Conference said the article was wrong about efforts to discourage use.
``In certain sections of the trail, the local volunteers are evaluating the number of blazes, not to discourage anyone, but to determine their conformation with trail-making policies, especially for federally designated wilderness areas,'' said Brian King, a spokesman for the conference.
``No policy decision has even been considered to remove bridges,'' he said.
The conference strives to balance what is safe for hikers with protection of the resource, King said. ``If it's necessary for safety, it gets down,'' he said.
The article was correct in reporting that there is a general trend toward a more primitive approach to trail management, but discouraging use isn't a part of it, King said.
Have a question on the outdoors? Contact Bill Cochran, The Roanoke Times, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010; 540-981-3395.
LENGTH: Medium: 74 linesby CNB