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Bill Cochran Field Reports: Smith Mountain Striper Club sets Oct. 3 open fishing tournament
Posted: Wednesday, September 9, 2015 7:30 am
By Bill Cochran | Special to The Roanoke Times
Come early October, the striped bass in Smith Mountain Lake are likely to be found most anywhere. Many will be moving up both arms of the lake and others will continue to hold to the deep water in the lower lake.
“By the first of October, it can be anyone’s game,” said Mike Ward, president of the Smith Mountain Striper Club.
So what better time to hold an open tournament, which the club plans to do Oct. 3.
“It has been several years since we have held an open format tournament,” said Ward.
“Open” means the tournament welcomes all participants, not just club members.
This is a catch-photograph-release team tournament with a $75 per team/boat entry fee.
The winner will be determined by which team has the longest combined length when its top two fish are measured.
“I would expect that the winning team would need to have at least one fish in the high 30-inch range and then one in the 28- to 32-inch range,” Ward said.
The top four teams will earn cash prizes. Teams can be composed of from one to four fishermen. There is an optional $25 big-fish pot.
As for the diversity of the fishing in early October, Ward had this to say: “Some surface feeding can be common first thing in the morning, so casting top-water plugs could produce a nice fish or two. Pulling live bait with a mix of planer boards, light lines and downlines will certainly be a go-to technique.”
The tournament headquarters is Captain’s Quarters near Hales Ford Bridge. Entries from Leesville Lake will be accepted.
Rules and registration forms can be found on
www.smithmountainstriperclub.comOutdoor briefs
John Crews, professional bass fisherman and lure maker, expects to move into his new Salem headquarters early October. Crews said he is shooting for a grand opening in mid-October. The 8,000-square foot building is located in West Salem near Wal-Mart.
If you are searching for a place to hunt this fall, don’t overlook the many opportunities in Virginia State Parks. For information on hunting opportunities, special programs and cabin reservations visit
www.virginiastateparks.gov.
Renowned fly-casting instructor Dusty Sprague is scheduled to conduct a “Teach a Man to Fish” program Sept. 26, at the Boys Home in Covington. It is designed to introduce residents of the home to fly fishing and the disciplines it involves. Sprague will be assisted by Jacob Ott, director of outdoor pursuits at the Greenbrier Resort and members of the local Trout Unlimited Chapter. The fishing will be held at a pond stocked with bass and panfish. Information from
www.boyshomeofva.org. For more information on Sprague, go to
www.dustysprague.com.
There are new leaders in the tuna and wahoo categories of the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Rick Barberi of Pensacola, Florida, entered a 268-pound tuna he caught in the Norfolk Canyon off Virginia Beach. This was the 22nd catch in the class, which does not include bluefin tuna. Andrew Dively of Enola, Pennsylvina, entered an 80-pound wahoo he landed of Wachaprague.
Parker Bows in Mint Springs is giving away 10 of its ThunderHawk crossbows during a promotion the next 10 weeks. You can register for a chance to win at
bit.ly/10crossbows.
Seasons/Meetings/Events
Sherwood Archers Jamboree, Sept. 12-13, 3-D shoot 8 a.m.-noon both days. For information, contact John Scyhers; longbow333@msn.com or at 540-520-6276,
www.sherwoodarchersroanokeva.com.
Basic hunter education course, Sept. 12, 9:15-5 p.m., Sportsman’s Warehouse, instructor Ralph Graybill, 540-427-5125, register at
www.huntfishva.com.
Hunters for the Hungry Roanoke-Area Banquet, Sept 19, Roanoke Moose Lodge on Virginia 311, at the foot of Catawba Mountain, tickets $25 for a single, $40 for couple, kids under 12 free, information and tickets from Ralph and Lois Graybill, 540-427-5125 or John and Wanda Reed, 540-427-4788.
Triangle Archers 3D shoot Sept 20, at 25-target club range in Blacksburg, registration 9 a.m.-noon, $12, $25 families, $6 kids, trophies or money, information from Jim Overfelt, 540-552-8023 or james.overflet@vfaa.org.
The H.C. Edwards Chapter of the Ruffed Grouse Society banquet, Sept. 26, Expoland, Fisherville, more information from Kenny Wilkinson at 540-255-2433, or rkjpinetrail@verizon.net.
Virginia State Big Game Contest, Sept. 26-27, Hampton Roads Convention Center, $10, $7 youngsters 13-17, sponsored by Virginia Peninsula Sportsman’s Association. This show will judge deer, bear and turkey taken east of Blue Ridge then will combine those with winners from the west in state competition. Information from
www.vpsa.org.
Smith Mountain Striper Club open tournament, Oct. 3, $75 per boat, catch-photo-and-release format, length of two fish determines winner, information and registration at
www.smithmountainstriperclub.com/tournament-info.html.
www.roanoke.com/sports/outdoors/
