2009.03.09
Fishing was pretty hot on warm weekend
Matt Wimmer sent in this shot of the great brown trout he caught Sunday while fishing at Potts Creek in Craig County. The fish was 22 inches long and weighed 5.2 pounds.
The creek was stocked on Friday, and Wimmer said some locals told him it was like "opening day" on Saturday. But they must have put plenty of fish in because it was still loaded on Sunday. Wimmer said he caught nine, releasing all but this one, and his brother caught five. They were using Trout Magnet jigs.
Sounds like others had some good fishing, too. In a comment to an earlier posting, blog reader Jim Basham said he had good fishing for bluegills and crappies in a pond near Stewartsville. On Friday my friend Tom Maynard went back to the Claytor Lake, where we had caught some nice yellow perch a few weeks ago, and he said they caught a bunch more.
I was hoping to get out Sunday but got caught up working on a project at the house and couldn't get away. A warm stretch this early in the season is always nice, but we all know that the best fishing is yet to come.
Nice Brown, congrats!
Comment by Todd Hostetter — March 9, 2009 @ 2:53 pm
Great brown! Sure would be nice if they would put browns and brookies in Stoney and Wolf in Giles.I'm tired of all the very small rainbows.They need to stock more browns and brookies period and less rainbows!
-Cliff, I'm not sure about Wolf, but I seem to recall that Big Stony doesn't get browns in part because there is an imperiled darter in the creek and I think there is concern about fish-on-fish crime. Also, there are some native brookies in there already and they don't like putting browns in native streams. (There are some wild browns, too, though not as many as there were before a lime truck crashed into the creek a few years ago and wiped out everything downstream.) I've caught stocked brook trout in that stream but it's been a few years. mt
Comment by cliff — March 10, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
Is anyone else tired of catching all rainbows in general?
I'm as guilty as the next person for using Powerbait when a stream has been stocked with all rainbows, but it's a shame to see kids being taught to only use the "Play-Dough," and it's not nearly as fun or challenging to fish with it.
By stocking more browns and brooks, anglers would be forced to actually "fish."
Comment by Matt — March 11, 2009 @ 7:31 am
The native brookies are well above the stocked section for the most part.They used to stock browns and brookies in Big Stoney . Wolf is new to the stocking list(4 years)big creek with lots of room for fish.It needs to be an A stream an get a heavy dose of browns when its stocked. It could be like Potts Creek which has a good number of hold over fish into the summer.I'm just tried of seeing all the little rainbows for the most part.
-I remember when they added Wolf to the put-and-take program. Sounds like a nice creek. I wouldn't expect many (if any) changes to the stocking plan while Coursey Springs is off line. When that hatchery gets going again and production capacity increases substantially, there's no reason the DGIF can't expand the trout program. For example, I'd personally like to see the stocked section of the Roanoke River expand now that the Roanoke River Greenway is in place and access has been improved downstream from Carilion Roanoke Memorial. There's room there for more put-and-take water and more delayed harvest water. mt
Comment by cliff — March 11, 2009 @ 1:08 pm
Near Tragedy or am I over reacting...?
At 4:34 PM March 11, 2009 A high school track was running around Pandapas Pond which is typical during the week Temp was about 50 degrees.. After retrieving snag fishing lures in under water structure wearing Neoprene Waders the water had to been about 35-40 degrees.
About a group of 14 runners dove into Pandapas Pond and swam out to the small island offset of the middle.
Yes you read it correctly Swimming in Pandapas Pond. Not only is this illegal, but "very stupid" with the water as cold as it was very dangerous Hypothermia could set in with the body perspiring then diving in the water is a sure you can send the body into shock and drown.
With the kids running around the Island trying to encourage more kids to join them 2 more swim out to the island...So the teens on the island seem so caught up in there glee of accomplishment not realizing the real danger their in I quickly call the The Blacksburg Police Department.
When I reported to them what was happening the kids started to swim back from the island back to the main body of land onto the path.
One kid started to struggle his Strokes not strong he's treading, dog peddling swimmer stroke, treading, this is not looking good I am taking off my jacket the kids more closer to him seem to rally around their each other ignoring the kid still in the water.
I am on the far side by the bathroom if I go in at that distant I will not make it in time at the same time I am relaying this to Blacksburg Police phone operator he tells me that the Pond area is out their jurisdiction....
And I need to talk to the Game Warden let me get you his number.
Mean while I m out of my jacket the kid finally makes it to a point where he's standing up walking to the bank he's out of the water..
While I'm on the phone a woman jogging past over hears me and ask me do is the kids doing something wrong? I said you Damn right they are they don't suppose to swim in the pond and as cold as it is re visiting the past 2 minutes She said I will tell them not to do it again...
Some of the other Anglers said I was over reacting that was fishing there, one told me I could try minding my own business and just finish what I was doing 2 other anglers was in dismay.
This incident has weighed heavy on my mind these past few days could this been a tragedy could that kid have drowned or am I making needless waves running the risk of someone losing their jobs by saying something.
Making waves or funeral arrangements it's the public call because I feel I've failed the public as a concerned citizen.
Comment by Backlash — March 14, 2009 @ 11:06 am
Matt Wimmer
Sorry to take away from your great catch but please understand my dilemma.
Comment by Backlash — March 14, 2009 @ 11:11 am
With a spray of Berkley Gulp Alive Scent, Dave Mercer catches a fish on a plain fishing hook, answering the question - Do scents make sense?
hideous laugh included.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=1&q=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DRpD8JRIsrsY&ei=mpG-SaH2Moe3twfYutz3Cw&usg=AFQjCNFAMlSimHd0s3ZRQhGZHJguMcz4Wg
Comment by Stactic Lines — March 16, 2009 @ 12:52 pm