2008.07.01
What, if anything, should DGIF stock in Carvins Cove?
As I wrote about in a note in my Sunday column, Roanoke has tweaked its rules at Carvins Cove Natural Reserve, the 12,000-plus acre outdoor paradise at the center of which sits a pretty little reservoir.
Starting today the city will charge all users the same fees, and will also allow anyone to bring their personal boat (as long as that boat meets the city's inspection criteria).
The changes open the door for the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to once again take an active role in the lake's management. The DGIF had backed off for years because the previous rules that gave preferential treatment to residents of just a few localities essentially privatized the lake in the DGIF's eyes, and the agency doesn't work with private lakes with restricted access.
Even without DGIF help the lake has been doing pretty well. It's a pretty good bass lake, although it can be tough to fish. It also has some nice sunfish and some great crappies.
Could it be even better? I spoke with DGIF biologist Bud LaRoche on Monday and he thinks so. He says the DGIF would like to get back involved, and would probably stock walleyes and stripers.
If you follow the Virginia Angler Recognition Program you know the lake still has a few stripers from long-ago stockings. Last year it produced a couple of whoppers. When I moved here about 10 years ago I heard the walleye fishing was still decent even though it hadn't been stocked since the early 1990s. I haven't heard of any walleyes in a long time.
Whatever happens, we anglers won't reap the benefits for a while. If the lake is stocked it probably won't happen until next spring, so the fish won't be catchable size for a couple of years. Before putting any fish into the lake biologists will have to get out there and do some sampling to determine the forage. It used to have gizzard shad, LaRoche told me. Without a decent forage base a predator like stripers wouldn't work very well.
The question is, assuming the biologists find sufficient forage for stripers, what would you all like to see stocked out there? Just stripers and walleyes? Something we haven't thought about? Would you support special regs to protect certain fish? Or are you happy just letting the reservoir keep going on its own?
I think that it should be let to keep going on it's own. I don't think that game commision funds should be used to stock a pay water, which is basically what Carvins Cove would be by the fees charged for access. A boat launching fee only would be ok. Fee paying should be at commisnion owned propertys only on the pay as you go basis.
Comment by v allen esquire — July 2, 2008 @ 8:18 am
I feel like they should stock just walleyes. We have plenty of striper waters nearby, but no real good walleye waters in the Roanoke area.
I feel that anglers would also have more success fishing for walleye since the main bait used is night crawlers, and they are much easier to obtain than striper bait.
I think the lake in general is better suited for walleye fishing in general.
Comment by John — July 2, 2008 @ 9:06 am
Mark --
Is the lake deep enough that it might support rainbow trout in a "two-story" fishery? I have seen a few lakes where this really can work well -- and trophy bass production always seems to get a boost as a side benefit.
-- Mike Smith
Lexington, VA
Comment by Michael L. Smith — July 2, 2008 @ 10:30 am
The "outdoor paradise" won't be paradise anymore if Carvins Cove continues to get publicity about stocking stripers and walleye. Everybody and their brother will want a piece of the action. I say leave it alone.
Comment by Bryan Thompson — July 2, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
Thanks for the comments, everyone. Some interesting ideas there.
John, the ban on aquatic bait does pose some challenges for striper fishing. But you certainly can catch them on artificials so it's not like a striper fishery would be totally underutilized.
Michael, I actually asked Bud LaRoche about trout. The records he had, which dated back to the early 1970s, showed no trout stocking since then. But I've heard trout were stocked there at one time. It's an intriguing idea, especially when you look at what has happened in those California water supply reservoirs where those bass get huge gorging on stockers. One thing is for sure -- trout and stripers don't mix because the stripers really hammer them.
As for publicity ruining Carvins Cove, Bryan, there are different schools of thought on that. I certainly don't want to see it turn into a zoo, but I just don't see that happening no matter how good the fishing gets. For one thing, there's the horsepower restriction. And there's the 21-day rule, which limits pressure.
My personal belief is if something can be done to get more people out there fishing and enjoying the outdoors, let's do it -- even if it means I might have to share one of my favorite spots (and Carvins Cove is one of them) with a few more people.
Thanks for reading and, again, for the comments.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — July 2, 2008 @ 1:26 pm
How about some Northern Pike?
Comment by Scott — July 3, 2008 @ 11:33 am
Thanks Mark for beginning this blog. For a short period (less than 2 years) I have become an ardent fisherman at CC. In fact, I bought an inflatible bass boat to specifically fish it. Then I learned I couldn't use the boat, so I worked with the Water Authority folks to establish a safe standard to allow suitable inflatables.
CC is a beautiful resource and at first, I wanted to save it for the benefit of the locals. It is such a jewel. However, to your point it seems fair to share the "wealth". I hope we don't end up getting too much pressure to distract from fishing success. The beautiful layout of many of the coves, natually makes them almost a solo fishing site(s). So I expect, for those that like to fish shorelines and protected areas like the coves, we might see some added slowness in success levels.
I'll look forward to watching this site to become more informed on the progress at CC. Thanks again for getting this blog started.
Pete
Comment by Pete Kesler — July 5, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Interesting idea on the pike, Scott. That would add a unique dimension, but I won't even pretend to know whether or not it's biologically sound. Doesn't hurt to ask, though.
Thanks for the comments, Pete. You and I met out there one day when you were pulling your boat out and I was asking you a bunch of questions about it. That's one awesome craft!
Thanks for reading the blog, and taking the time to comment.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — July 5, 2008 @ 4:04 pm
Hi Mark:
Recently there was an article on June 18th regarding the Rutrough Road Point issue. I wondered if I could launch my boat there. Thanks in advance for the response.
Comment by Pete — July 6, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Mark
I was excited to find your blog on Carvins Cove. I have been so pained over that for years. The management to say the least has been beyond pathetic.
Kicking the DGIF out with their "agenda" rules was pretty close to criminal if you ask me.
We have this beautiful resource in the valley and it is utilized by very few regulars almost as a private club.
I strongly favor walleyes only, stripers are abundant in the Chesapeake and Smith mountain,Moomaw is a trout mecca.
Virginia, is a complete failure with walleyes as far as I am concerned. Forget the stripers and concentrate on walleyes with a good forage base.
Places like IA and KS for gosh sakes have created outstanding walleye fisheries
in recent years.
Bass are everywhere and who cares if they ever catch another one. Again go to Moomaw, Smith Mountain, Claytor. Philpot is a use your imaginatin walleye fishery.
Please encourage the powers to be to make an attempt to really have a walleye fishery in the area.
I probably ticked a bunch of folks off with the above comments and I was really just trying to get a reaction.
Whatever they do at Carvins Cove will be a godsend and tell the Zebra Mussel alarmists to get a life, that has been nothing more than a red herring to keep everyone out of there.
Comment by Dan Dombrosky — July 8, 2008 @ 6:26 pm
Mark,
Large & smallmouth bass along with crappie and sunfish/blue gill types have always been the backbone of lake fishing in this area of the country. I don't think that is going to change, so VDGIF should stock what is going to provide the best fishing for the most people. Stripers would be great fun if a proper supply of shad, etc. could be established. It's great to see some excitement about beefing up the fishing prospects at CC! Keep us posted!
Comment by Fred Bradley — July 9, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Thanks for the comments.
I replied to Pete via e-mail, but in case anyone else wonders about that launching spot on the Roanoke River near Explore Park, it's not a ramp so you must be able to hand-launch your craft.
Dan and Fred, thanks for adding your opinions to this discussion. I will mention this dialog to Bud LaRoche and his counterparts in hopes they see what the public is saying. I'll keep you posted on developments.
Thanks for reading.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — July 9, 2008 @ 2:26 pm
I think they should stock the special breed of smallmouth that only get 8 inches long. They can stock those, or fall fish.
Comment by scott — July 9, 2008 @ 3:43 pm
Scott,
No one (but me) has any idea what you are talking about. Of course, they will after Sunday's installment of the Summer Smallmouth Tour in The Roanoke Times.
mt
Comment by Mark Taylor — July 10, 2008 @ 7:33 am
Carvins Cove is a treasure of this area. I have dreamed of the day the DGIF would begin managing it again and stock Stripers and Walleyes again. Sure Smith Mountain is stocked with stripers, but there is a parasite problem still killing off fish in Smith Mountain. The lake has become so dirty and polluted I won't fish there anymore. Its too dangerous with all the boating traffic to try to fish for stripers in a canoe. Carvins Cove is my favorite place to go. If it is once again stocked, sure more people will come out. But the boating restrictions and ban on using live bait will weed out alot of fisherman. I sincerely hope and pray Stripers and Walleyes will once again populate that lake in heavy numbers!
Ted Cuddy
Comment by Ted Cuddy — July 26, 2009 @ 2:36 pm