ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 26, 1996 TAG: 9609260044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: OUTDOORS
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
David Ashcraft was able to fill his livewell and his billfold when the Bassmaster Virginia Eastern Invitational was switched from Kerr to Gaston lake, because of high water at Kerr.
The 42-year old from Bismark, Ark., won the $35,000 top prize by landing a three-day catch of 10 bass that weighed 37 pounds, 2 ounces.
You get an idea of how tough the fishing was by the skimpy size of the winning catch. Only 33 five-fish limits were taken by the 330 tournament anglers, 37 fishermen failed to catch a single keeper and only one angler, Takahiro Omori of Japan, landed a limit all three days.
Even so, that was far better than could have been expected at Kerr, where water from Hurricane Fran had covered the launching ramps.
Kerr peaked at 318.53 feet on September 11 and is expected to still be 10 feet (elevation 310) above normal pool today. When it drops to about elevation 303 and clears some, look for excellent autumn bass action.
Gaston, which is just downstream from Kerr, doesn't fluctuate as much, but it was high during the tournament and some anglers said they couldn't remember a time its tributary, Pea Hill Creek, has been muddy like it is now.
Catching big bass made the difference for Ashcraft. His final-day take was only three largemouths, but they weighed 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Gaston is know as a big-bass producer, but just one citation was entered during the tournament, an 8-pound, 9-ounce catch by Tennessee fisherman Gary Alverson.
``I did not catch any big fish until after 11:30 every day,'' Ashcraft said.
Two Storm Magnum Wiggle Warts, one chartreuse, orange and herringbone, the other chartreuse with a blue back, worked well for him. He used the lures to target big rocks and stumps in main lake pockets. Other bass were hooked on a Arkansas Hawg Caller spinnerbait, which Ashcraft said he ``slow rolled off stumps or rocks.''
While Ashcraft stuck to the lower end of the lake, second place angler Gerald Swindler of Warrior, Ala., fished up the lake with a jig and spinnerbait.
``I skipped the jig under docks and I was slow-rolling the spinnerbait in deep grass,'' he said. His total was 35 pounds, 8 ounces.
The tournament was tough on Virginia anglers. In 24th place, Ivan Morrie of Virginia Beach was the ranking Old Dominion entry, with 21 pounds, 13 ounces. It was even worse for a couple of Virginia's best-known tournament fishermen. David Dudley of Lynchburg was 114th and Woo Daves of Spring Grove was 246th with one bass that weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces.
Next stop on the B.A.S.S. tournament trail is the Potomac River, Oct. 10-12.
DOUTHAT IS BACK: The fee-fishing program at Douthat Lake has been reinstated and is scheduled to continue through Monday.
``The cool wet weather over the past few days has cooled the lake sufficiently to begin trout stocking again,'' said Gary Martel, fisheries division chief for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The regulars at Douthat have argued that there was no reason to discontinue the fee fishing in the first place, but fish officials said high temperatures and low oxygen were causing trout mortality.
The department has a proposal to extend the Douthat fee season to Oct. 30 next year, but the agency also wants to eliminate the summertime program from June 16 to Sept. 14.
BRAGGING RIGHTS: Fishing at Lake Moowaw has been disappointing for most of the season, but Kenny Givens of Covington has given it a shot in the arm. While fishing near Fortney Branch boat ramp, Givens reported landing three northern pike. The largest weighed 131/2 pounds and measured 40 inches. The others weighed 9 pounds and 81/2 pounds.
Michael Bradford of Roanoke earned a citation in the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament with a white marlin catch and release. He was fishing from a private boat at the Cigar off Virginia Beach.
LENGTH: Medium: 73 linesby CNB