DATE: Thursday, July 3, 1997                TAG: 9707030948

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY 

SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:  192 lines

A-LONE IN ITS CLASS LONE STAR LAKES PARK IS MORE THAN A FISHERMAN'S PARADISE. IT'S A A PLACE TO WALK, RUN, PICNIC AND RIDE.

THE TRUCK was parked by Crane Lake. Bubba was parked by the truck.

Bubba, a black Labrador retriever, sat on his rump while his master, Kenny Runyon, parked his rump in the boat, ready to spend four hours of peace, quiet and fishing.

Runyon's daily ritual is in the best ``that's-the-way-to-live'' tradition.

He lives that way at Lone Star Lakes, usually hanging in at Crane Lake. Many fishermen have favorite lakes, others lake hop.

``I work at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard,'' said Runyon, 42, a Suffolk resident - ``3:30 to midnight. I'm up at 5:30, then I'm out here.

``I fish about four hours - catfish, rockfish, bass, white perch, raccoon perch flounder,'' Runyon said, then went on - ``croaker, spot - anything you can think of.''

He is fishing and shopping at the same time.

``I eat most of what I catch. I have a large family,'' he said, counting off ``five kids, three grandchildren and my girl friend.''

Lone Star is fisherman-friendly: It has 11 lakes and two creeks, all of them fishable.

``Crane is my favorite,'' Runyon said. ``It's got a lot of good quality fish.''

A lot of good quality game can be found at Lone Star, but the only shooting allowed is with a camera.

``We have an abundance of wildlife and it's all protected,'' said Sgt. Annette Ferrell, the park ranger.

Camping is out too, except for the Scouts. They are granted the privilege in return for doing projects, such as building bird houses, that enhance the Lone Star environment.

There is horseback riding, archery practice with targets, hiking, picnicking, model airplane flying.

``This is the heaviest time of the year,'' Ferrell said. ``We average between 200 and 300 visitors a week.''

There's plenty of space. Lone Star covers 1,063 acres. About 500 of that is water - well-stocked and well appreciated by fishing enthusiasts.

``We have the early morning fishermen, the heat-of-the-day die-hards, and the evening fishermen,'' said Ferrell, who had one of the lakes named in her honor. ``It was called Lake Annette before I worked here. I used to fish there all the time.''

The name game seems popular at Lone Star.

Lake Wahoo was named after a Native American woman who worked there; Rainbow was named because algae forces it to change color; Crystal is clear; Finger, because aerial shots make it look like a hand.

Runyon and Bubba's favorite spot, Lake Crane, was named, or so rumor has it, ``because some people say a crane got stuck there while the lake was being dug,'' Ferrell said. It's not true, she adds.

Not everyone goes out on the lake to fish. There is a lot of shoreline fishing.

Brian Morton, a Windsor High school senior, likes to keep his feet on the ground.

He parks his gear-filled '82 Datsun, sheds his shirt, looks contented, and puts his line in the water.

``I like it here 'cause there are a lot of lakes and you can fish in a bunch of them,'' Morton said. ``I go from one spot to another. You don't need a boat to get to your spot.''

Fishing isn't all there is. Bicyclists, joggers, and walkers show up regularly, and for a good, simple reason.

``They prefer dirt to asphalt,'' Ferrell said. ``We also have a lot of sightseers.''

Fishing, though, is the big attraction, and for good reason.

``I do my best fishing here. There's more bass in the 10- to 15-pound range than anywhere else. The fish are healthy and beautiful, and the water is clean,'' said 42-year-old George Michalski of Chesapeake.

``One reason for that is that these are the only lakes where gas motors are not allowed, so there's no chance of a gas or oil leak,'' Ferrell said. ``It's better for the water and environment, and Lone Star is Suffolk's main water source.

``You can get everywhere in any lake with electric motors,'' she said. ``They're quiet, they don't spook the fish, and you don't disturb other fishermen.''

Michalski's initial fishing venture at Lone Star was successful and expensive, ``because,'' he said, ``I caught my first citation bass - eight pounds. I had to have it mounted.''

There are sightings of fish weighing 10 pounds or more, which brings us to the department of ``the-one-that-got-away.''

``Fish stories are often true,'' Ferrell said. ``They're called fish stories because, often, you don't have visual proof of those catches. They're the ones that got away - the dinosaur fish.''

For authentication, there are some tournaments, usually arranged by the fishermen.

``I'd like to see some sanctioned tournaments. I won a couple in North Carolina,'' said Michalski, who finds his way to Lone Star ``every day, during school. I'm out here as soon as my daughter gets on the school bus. In the summertime I'm here from early in the morning until about three o'clock.''

An early retiree due to a heart attack, he said he comes to Lone Star ``to relieve my stress. I'm out here practically every day.''

Ferrell is out there every day to work, and to enjoy.

``It's five minutes away from the hustle and bustle. Step in here and it's like stepping back in time. I like the quietness, serenity - and the family-oriented people who come here,'' she said. ``I know every inch of the 1,063 acres. Sometimes, I get off the shift . . . stay and fish.''

Ferrell remembers Brian Rogerson of Newport News who stayed too long - spending the day at Lone Star, instead of working.

``He caught a 36-inch long Northern pike weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces,'' she said. ``When his boss saw his picture in the paper, he asked him `How sick were you?' ''

Charles Carper, 72, of Portsmouth is not sick, but does suffer from arthritis.

He is on the scene with cane poles, ``because they're hardier. Throw 'em out, you don't have to reel 'em back every time. You catch twice as many fish as with a rod and reel. I fish in the same place all the time - average 10 to 25 catches every day. I'm here two or three times a week.''

He seldom has to swat, another plus for Lone Star visitors.

``Mosquitoes are no problem - not as severe as you might think around fresh water,'' Ferrell said. ``In the summer, bring bug spray - you should be okay.''

In the winter, some hardy folk show up, usually winding up with rock fish, some Northern pike and, with luck and skill, some bass.''

But the good, ol' summertime is the time at Lone Star, once owned by Lonestar Industries.

``They used to dig for marl, which is used in cement. That was from the '20s to the '50s,'' Ferrell said. ``Suffolk bought the area for $1.5 million and developed it as a wilderness park. They saved its natural amenities.''

Those amenities are appreciated.

``Nothing gives me the satisfaction of fishing,'' Michalski said, ``and of being in the outdoors in a place like Lone Star Lakes.''

Runyon would nod agreement - Bubba would woof approval. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos including color cover by JOHN H.

SHEALLY II

Stefano Churchill gets a helping hand with his line while enjoying a

day of fishing at Suffolk's Lone Star Lakes.

Graphic

LONE STAR LAKES, SUFFOLK

Map

The Virginian-Pilot

ENJOYING THE LAKES

If you want to go boating - here's how and where:

Nansemond River: Constant's Wharf is a public boat ramp on the

corner of Constance Road and Main Street. The six-mile trip to

Brady's Marina offers a view of wildlife common to the salt water

marsh. You go from urban to rural.

Brady's Marina is a boat ramp located one-half mile from Godwin

Boulevard. From here, you can go to Cedar Creek in Lone Star Lakes

Park. It is a six-mile trip.

You can go boating from Cedar Creek to Bennett's Creek in

Bennett's Creek Park, a trip of approximately 10 miles. The park is

a mile south of U.S. 17. Bennett's Creek, a saltwater marsh area, is

a narrow waterway. Lots of birds, lots of sea life. Plan your trip

for high tide.

Chuckatuck Creek has many inlets and coves, a lot of wildlife in

the salt marsh. Fish from your boat - it is salt water. Again, high

tide is the best time. Access is from Lone Star Lakes Park.

Western Branch Lake, Burnt Mills Lake and Lake Prince are part of

Norfolk's reservoir system, but located in Suffolk, between U.S. 460

and Virginia Route 10. It offers many coves to explore. The lakes

are restricted to small horsepower motors on fishing boats, so boat

traffic is minimal.

There may be charges in some areas. For information, call

925-6325.

Lakes Kilby, Speight, Meade and Cohoon are located in Suffolk but

owned by Portsmouth. The ramps at the Lake Kilby Treatment Plant are

closed indefinitely due to construction. Meade and Cohoon are on

Pitchkettle Road, Speight on Turlington Road.

Day passes are $4, shore fishing passes are $1.50. They are

available at the Lake Cohoon Fishing Station.

Annual boating passes are $20 for Portsmouth residents and senior

citizens, $40 for Suffolk residents.

Call 539-2201.

Lone Star Lakes Park is open seven days a week from sunrise to

sunset, April 1 to Oct. 31 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Nov. 1 to

March 31.

Fees: $2 per day per person for a fishing permit, $25 a year for

an annual individual fishing permit, $50 a year for a fishing permit

for families and their accompanied guests, $5 a year for those who

are 65 and over.

To picnic: $1 per day per car, $10 annually for residents, $20

for non-residents.

To ride horseback: $3 a day, $30 a year for families, $20 a year

per person. Bring your own horse.

To hike, birdwatch, sightsee or go crabbing: $1 per car per day,

$10 a year for an annual permit.

To fly model airplanes: $2 per day per person, $50 a year for a

family permit.

To shoot archery: $2 per day per person, $50 a year for a family

permit.

For information, including a list of rules and regulations, call

255-4308.

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