More info about the tournament.......
Striped bass and muskie to play bigger role in tournament
By Bill Cochran | Special to The Roanoke Times Apr 18, 2017
Next year is the big one, the 50th anniversary of the Smith Mountain Lake Fishing Tournament. Few angling events in Virginia are that old or that big or harbor that many memories.
The fast approaching half-century mark has tournament director Sid Witt talking with excitement about “the Big 50” while preparing for the not to be overlooked 49th edition set for May 5-7.
The contest has been a fundraiser for its sponsor, Challenger Little League Baseball, which provides boys and girls with mental and physical challenges an opportunity to play organized baseball. The Cave Spring Optimist Club was the founder of the tournament and sponsor for much of its existence. Most people still call it the “Optimist Tournament.”
This year’s format is little changed from recent years. Contestants can enter fish they catch in six categories: largemouth bass, muskie, crappie, smallmouth bass, catfish and striped bass.
First place for the heaviest catch in each category is $1,000 cash; second, $500; third, $300 and fourth, $150.
While Witt is expected to hold back some surprises for next year’s “Big 50,” there are a couple of new developments for this year. They involve two species that don’t get a lot of attention from contestants because they are difficult to catch. We are talking about
striped bass and muskie.For striped bass, the contest must work around a state-imposed slot limit that requires stripers 30 to 40 inches to be released alive. In recent years, the contest set a minimum of 41 inches for stripers. That simply was too demanding for anyone to enter one, or even fish for stripers. The result was fewer tickets sold among serious striped bass fishermen.
“We are going to open this up with the hopes of drawing the striper gang back,” Witt said.
The 2017 tournament will accept striped bass catches on the lower end of the slot, from
24 to 29 inches.“[That] should result in many more striper anglers wetting a line as the potential for catching a 29-inch striper is much higher than a 40-plus striper,” said Mike Ward, president of the Smith Mountain Striper Club and co-director of the Striper Mafia Tournament Series.
Fishermen who target stripers in the tournament must be prepared to keep their catch in good condition for live release, Ward said. Considering the size of the species and its delicate nature when captured, stripers can’t be tossed into a crowded livewell and be expected to survive when bounced around the lake all day, he said. For catch and release to work, you need a jumbo-size livewell or a tube-like sleeve designed to protect a striper in captivity. Most importantly, you must immediately get your catch to the weigh-in.
As for muskie, the Smith Mountain population has been on the skids; there hasn’t been one of these toothy characters entered in the tournament since 1988.
Witt and his crew were giving serious thought to dropping muskie from the format, then Cory Ramsey landed a 33-pounder in mid-March that measured 48 inches. That dropped jaws and pumped up hope that at least a few muskie remain in the lake, counting the one Ramsey released in the upper Roanoke River arm. The feeling is that muskie will get some additional attention during the upcoming tournament.
“We basically stock surplus muskie when we have them in the upper Roanoke side [from Hardy to Indian Creek], so if someone were to look for them that would be the best chance of encountering one,” said Dan Wilson, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist.
The contest entry fee is $40. Gill’s Creek Marina is the tournament headquarters and weigh station. Tickets and information are available there and at Franklin Outdoors, Captain’s Quarters, Bay Roc Marina, Trader Jerry’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse and Salem Hydraulics. For information call 540-204-2054.
A special kid’s contest is scheduled May 6, when youngsters age 12 and under will be awarded up to $100 for the largest carp and largest sunfish (bluegill). Youngsters get to fish free, but must be in the company of an adult who possesses a tournament ticket.
www.roanoke.com/sports/outdoors/bill-cochran-striped-bass-and-muskie-to-play-bigger-role/article_cabe78e7-30b5-5794-9f17-21dc38c4424f.html
.....I think it was a very good point to bring up.
