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With the arrival this week of cool weather, as well as the quickly approaching bow opener, many of us are focusing on hunting season. But plenty of folks are still fishing, and doing well.

Doug Goldsmith sent me this shot of his buddy, Paul Johnson of Salem, with an awesome New River smallmouth bass. The fish was 20.5 inches long and was the biggest of a recent day they spent on the river's Whitethorn section. They were drifting and bouncing baits along the bottom, and also took a number of fish in the 14- to 18-inch range.

I actually got on the James yesterday for a few hours. I didn't focus on fishing but did have my gear and spent some time casting. I caught a few smallish bass on Senkos. The water is pretty low, but still better than it has been at this time the past few years.

The highlight of the day was when I spotted a large fish near a tree that had recently toppled into the water. At first I thought "carp," but then I realized the thing was at least 3 feet long. Muskie! It had seen me and was swimming so there was no point to even fish for it. But at least I know where he was so maybe I can go back there and try for him later this fall.

I also saw four river otters bobbing around together. I'll say this: They were cute. But those things can really do a number on fish populations.

I hope those of you who read The Roanoke Times have seen the series I'm working on this summer.

Since June, photographer Sam Dean and I have been traveling to some of Virginia's smaller public lakes, talking to the anglers we meet along the way, and sampling the fishing at places that typically don't get a lot of attention.

Being something of a fly fishing snob, Sam has pretty much stuck with that type of tackle, while I've been fishing with conventional gear. My approach has usually been more productive, but fly gear has been better on waters that are more heavily pressured.

We struggled to figure out a name for the series, and eventually settled on "Tucked Away Treasures," which was a line in the story about the first destination, Lexington Reservoir.

Because Sam was going to be on vacation this week, we pulled a double last week, hitting Lake Witten near Tazewell one afternoon, camping, then going to another lake not too far away. (The identity of the second lake will be revealed when the story runs on Sunday.)

We had high hopes for Witten. It's got some monster bass, a few of which can be seen in this gallery on the DGIF's Web site. But it's clear and gets a ton of pressure, so I figured our best hope was to catch something after dark. Unfortunately, just as it was getting dark a nasty thunderstorm rolled in and we had to get off the water.

Not only was the fishing trip disappointing, but we were really sweating dinner. Sam had picked up a couple steaks that we planned to grill over the campfire. But first we needed a fire. Fortunately, Sam is probably the best fire starter I've ever seen. Seriously. Even in the pouring rain he got one going. He did knock one steak into the fire but I was able to retrieve it with my Leatherman's pliers. Sam ate it.

If you've missed any or all of the stories, Chris Zaluski in our online department has put together a cool interactive map with links to the stories, photos and the great videos Sam has done at most of the lakes.

We've got two more trips to do. One is set and we're pretty sure about the final installment. But I'd be happy to entertain suggestions.

I got back late last night from a two-day trip for the Tucked Away Treasures series Sam Dean and I have been doing on fishing on some of Western Virginia's smaller public lakes.

We spent a few hours yesterday afternoon at the Bath County Recreation ponds, and had the chance to meet Chasten Taylor (left), her sister Tresten, and their cousin Jacob. The kids were from West Virginia, and were at the ponds with their grandfather, Ralph Hamilton.

The kids were a hoot, and I love this shot Sam got of them posing with their mess of bluegills. Fifteen-year-old Chasten and 11-year-old Tresten were really giving 12-year-old Jacob a hard time. He had caught only two fish and they made sure he didn't forget that. They were also teasing him for being "short." Jacob was a good sport, and I think he'll get the last laugh. At least about the height thing.

Yesterday was a long day, and today will be another long one. I'm not complaining.

I was at the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Smith Mountain Lake, on the boat with Kevin VanDam.

As some joker noted when the marshall/angler pairings were announced Wednesday afternoon, the pairing wasn't an accident. I requested to ride with VanDam so I could write a story, which ran today, about a guy that many think is the best tournament bass angler of all time.

VanDam had a pretty good day. He had 15-7 and is tied for 12th, and within striking distance of the lead. This was his best fish, a largemouth that was in the 4.5-pound neighborhood.

Today's pairing was random, and I'm set to go out with Mark Tyler.

Being on a boat and not fishing for eight hours can get pretty boring. But because these guys are doing a lot of sight-fishing for spawners, it can actually go pretty fast because that's interesting even for the guy in the back of the boat.

I have always thought that I could see fish pretty well but VanDam humbled me. The lake was pretty choppy yesterday but he was still spotting them. He said it was because I had crappy sunglasses -- unlike his Oakleys. (One of his big sponsors.)

I didn't say anything on the water, because observers can't aid anglers in any way, but I actually saw a couple decent fish he didn't see. 

VanDam seemed to think things could be really good today, with more fish coming shallow and wind laying down to allow for better visibility. We'll see.

Anyone who carefully examines data compiled for the Virginia Trophy Angler recognition program will notice inconsistencies.

For example, the smallmouth bass Angler of the Year had a 6-pound, 8-ounce fish. Yet in the general listings there’s a 7-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth listed. What’s up with that.

And what about the year’s largest yellow perch, which is an ounce heavier than the existing state record? Why isn’t it a new state record?

Same goes for that 15-pound brown trout, another fish that exceeds the state record.

Then there are those confusing length measurements, some of which clearly don’t collate to the fish’s weight.

The inconsistencies stem from the basic structure of the program, for which the application process is, shall we say, flexible.

An angler can take a trophy fish to a tackle shop or other location with a certified scale, and have an objective witness verify the weight and measurements. But an angler also can print off an application from the Internet, have a buddy sign as a witness and also be awarded a citation.

Having to process more than 6,000 of those applications per year, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries simply can’t verify inconsistent or confusing information. As long as the $4 fee is included with the application, the catch will go in the database.

But there are certain standards.

That weight of that 7-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth bass may very well be accurate. But it wasn’t a certified weight, so the fisherman isn’t eligble for an Angler of the Year award.

The yellow perch weight apparently was certified — although the fish’s listed length of 14 inches is strangely short. But angler Spencer Musick of Speedwell, whom I could not reach for comment regarding the catch, didn’t pursue the necessary steps to apply for a state record, a process that requires, among other things, that a Department of Game and Inland Fisheries biologist personally verify the fish. Does that mean Musick simply didn't realize the fish was a state record? (And that has happened.) Or was that weight not accurate? (And that has happened, too.)

The answer is simpler for Will Helmick’s 15-pound brown trout.

The fish, like 126 other trout Helmick has registered for citation awards over the past three years, came from a fee fishery. And while the DGIF will happily send an angler a certificate for a big fish caught at a commercial operation, those fish are not eligible for record consideration.

What it comes down to is that while the awards go on a public list, a citation is really just a piece of paper. The true measure of the trophy is something the angler knows best.

I'm working on an update on the status of the Beat the Elites tournament, the event some Roanoke-area bass anglers planned as a four-day event to coincide wit the Bassmaster Elite Series Blue Ridge Brawl that will be at Smith Mountain Lake on April 23-26.

Organizers of the Beat the Elites said they would not hold the event if they didn't get 50 boats. Registration has closed. On the Web site there's now mention of a new option, which seems to be something like a big fish tourney over those four days. But I can't figure out if that's a replacement for the Beat the Elites tournament (it kind of seems like that) or if it's in addition to it.

The tournament organizer should be able to clarify this, right? Unfortuntely, I can't get the guy to return my phone calls or e-mail. I would have an easier time understanding this apparent blow-off if I had, like 17,543 other people, slammed this controversial concept. But I haven't.

I'm just hoping maybe someone out there entered the Beat the Elites, or knows someone who has, or at least can give me some idea what's going on.

If you've got some info, please feel free to post a comment here or send me a personal e-mail at mark.taylor@roanoke.com. Thanks in advance.

Well, no one took Static Lines up on his offer of a float tube fishing adventure on Pandapas Pond over the weekend. But that didn't stop him. He went out and had a good day.

This nice bass hit a  Rapala Super Shad Rap.

This picture kind of cracks me up, but when you're in a float tube and going to release the fish, this is the best you're going to do.

Static said he saw quite a few bass, as well as some big pickerel. He also saw lots of trout anglers, plenty of whom were giving funny looks to the guy in the float tube!

I actually pulled one of my float tubes out yesterday in hopes I can use it at for some pond fishing this spring. Unfortunately I think it has a slow leak but it should be fixable.

Guide Tom Maynard sent me this shot of client Steve Schachtshneider of Charlotte, who fished with Maynard two days last week on the New River.

They were two good days.

Maynard, who isn't prone to exaggeration, said that they had 59 smallmouths, with seven topping 4 pounds. The biggest was 4 pounds, 12 ounces. They also had two muskies.

Maynard also said that Schachtschneider is a "superior fisherman," so that no doubt helped. But the bottom line is this is just an ideal time to rope big smallmouths.

When water is clear this time of year I usually fish with a jerkbait, such as a Rapala Husky Jerk or X-rap, or a Smithwick suspending Rattlin' Rouge. If the water has some color, I'll toss a big thumper spinnerbait or maybe a big weedless jig.

By the looks of the rain headed our way, we'll be dealing with stained water this weekend. If rivers get up too high, it could be a complete washout. But if they just rise a modest amount and don't get too muddy, the fishing could be fantastic.

I recently mused that I wouldn't be surprised if Smith Mountain Lake could produce a winning bag in the 65- to 70-pound range at the upcoming four-day Bassmaster Elite Series tournament in late April. Proof that the lake can produce impressive catches came at yesterday's David Fritts Outdoors tournament out of the state park.

Rick Tilley (left) and partner Johnny Martin of Moneta had 25.64 pounds to win. Their kicker fish was an awesome 8.93-pounder.

It's rare to see one 8-pounder in a tournament at Smith Mountain Lake. This tournament had two. Runners up Bo Grosvenor and Jimmy Henderson had an 8.48-pound largemouth in their 20-pound bag.

Having won another tournament the day before at the lake, and with several more tournaments on the horizon, Tilley said he preferred to stay mum on the team's fishing techniques. I can't say I blame him.

Thanks to Rob Bailey at SMLfishingGuide.com for sending me this shot.

Jay Berenzweig of Blacksburg said he and a buddy have been doing well on smallmouths in the lower New River the past couple of weeks. They've boated good numbers of fish in the 15- to 19-inch range.

This one is quite a bit bigger.

Berenzweig said the fish taped out at 22.5 inches. He didn't weigh it before the release because his scale is broken. He said he estimated the fish's weight at 6 to 7 pounds, and he added that he has no regrets about releasing the beautiful bass, which hit a Rapala minnow.