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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 3 tournament results b’s Bo

FISHING HOLE Northwest River BFH

Fishers of Men Virgina EastTour - Teams consisting of one angler The Sturgeon Creek Marina Lake Bob’s Fishing Hole held several nament Director Andy Lavin has over 19 and one under 19 will Anna Winter Series concluded bass tournaments last month and announced the 2020 schedules fish five events around the at the end of January with the will commence their weekly events for both theTeam circuit and the region. team of Matt Martin and Josh this month. Legacy Division. On March 28 the teams begin Hall crowed the Winter Kings with The heaviest sack for February The VA East Teams will open on Lake Anna out of Sturgeon 160.65 pounds of bass caught in went to Dustin Alley and Joey Der- February 29 on the Chicka- Creek Marina. On April 11 they 10 events - 49 fish total. ezinski with three for 12.20 lbs. hominy River out of Rockahock, will visit Lake Chesdin fishing This despite a strong charge by See www.facebook.com/bob- then fish again April 4 on Lake out of Seven Springs Marina. Nate Sullivan and Eric Johnson sfishinghole for more results and Chesdin from Whipponock On May 9 they will fish Lake who won three out of the last five event dates. Marina. On April 18 they will Gaston out of the Pea Hill Public events. For info visit www.face- travel to Lake Anna’s Anna Point Boat Landing. May 30 will find book.com/sturgeoncreekmarina. Marina. On May 16 they will them at Chickahominy Lake out fish Bugg Island out of North of Ed Allen’s & Bait. June Bend.June 6 will see them on 13 will be the final event on the tidal from the Chickahominy River out of Hope Springs Marina. They will Rockahock close the season June 27 on For more information visit the James River out of Osborne www.facebook.com/sturgeon- Landing. creekmarina. The popular Legacy Series trail, with Curtis Weldon as Tourna- ment Director also has dates announced. Martin/Hall with Week 8 winning bag. Alley/Derezinski’s February 12.20.

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4 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 tournament results

The longest-runnning bass tourna- ment series on the tidal Potomac Team Tournament River is back for 2020 with the Bass Trail Tournament Trail following dates: April 4, April 18, The VA Top 100 trail debuted last The Hooker Bait & Tackle Team May 17, June 13, June 21, July18, VA Elite70 Tournament Director year and paid out an amazing The Tournament Trail (HBT4) has an- August 1, August 22, Oct.3-4. All Steve Camp has announced the team of Ryan Ingalls and Brad nounced its dates for 2020. tournaments launch from Leesyl- schedule for the 2020 trail. Wilkerson took first with 19.48 lbs All events will go out of Chicka- vania State Park. The teams will start the season and $10K! Hoffman and Gardner hominy Riverfront Park/Rt.5 ramp. 52 teams fished the two-day 2019 on Saturday, March 21 on Lake Anna were second with 18.83 lbs. and Six tournaments with a two-day Classic held September 21-22 with out of Anna Point Marina. Next up is won $4,200. Tyson and Phillips classic will be held. Dates are as a $18,400 total payout. a visit on Saturday, April 4 to Smith were third with 18.75 lbs. - good for follows: March 28, April 18, May 30, PJ Mosley and F. Rahimi werer Mountain Lake to fish out of Parkway $2,800. The team of Terry Olinger June 13, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, October first with 30.77lbs. Vince Morris Marina. Stop #3 will be Saturday, and Jeremey Southerly took over 24-25 (CLASSIC). and Chris McManus were second May 2nd on Lake Gaston out of Holly the the regular season points race For more information and the with 27.19lbs. Grove.The teams will fish Saturday, and will look forward to the Cham- 2020 touranment schedule visit The duo of Josh Burnley and Jason June 20th on the James Riverout of pionship held in March 2020. www.hbt4.com. Tibetts were crowed 2019 Team of Hopewell Marina. Friday and Satur- For more information visit www. the Year. day Oct 16-17 will be the two-day vatop100.com. For more information visit www. fall event held on Buggs Island out potomacteams.com. of . This trail features full fields of 75 teams representing many of the best anglers in the state. Camp is now accepting entries. For more information visit www. vaelite60.com.

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 5 March 2020 Staff & Editor-in-chief W o o d s Waters C.C. McCotter MANAGING EDITOR Christine McCotter One SHOT VA TURKEY HUNT PUBLISHER Turkey hunters across are preparing for the biggest Woods & Waters Publishing, LC spring gobbler event in the Old Dominion. 16 PRO STAFF C.C. McCotter - Freshwater Pete Wallace - Saltwater Steve Chaconas - Potomac River Peter Brookes - Kate Ahnstrom - Wingshooting Ken Davis - River Fishing STAFF WRITERS Walter V. Claxton • Steve Chaconas Ryan Rogers • Aaron Ball Peter Brookes • Kate Ahnstrom 18 Montana Grant FEATURES REGIONAL PRO STAFF The Area Sportsman’s Authority For Over 30 Years Authority For Over 30 Area Sportsman’s The Aaron Ball Steve Chaconas Jeff Poling BIG FISH BEST BETS ‘20 12 Donnie Bell Tom Cundiff Jared Mounts 12 Where to go for largemouth, smallmouth, crappie, Lin Bell Ed Hall Rich Newton muskie, striper & catfish. C.C. MCCOTTER Larry Boykin Red Fisher Robert Runnett VA WILDLIFE GRANTS 36 CORPORATE OFFICE & ADVERTISING Learn how this inspiring outreach funding is phone (540) 894-9144 20 reaching young outdoor enthusiasts. MOLLY KIRK 28 email [email protected] SKEETER FXR REVIEW www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com The boys in Kilgore set the bar higher again with DEADLINE for April edition 26 a new hull and features. WALTER CLAXTON is Friday, March 13 44-LB BASS LIMIT? woodsandwatersmagazine Find out what lure helped two fishing buddies 34 record a record-setting catch. W2 STAFF $1.50 Prespawn Bass Tips @woodsnwaters Learn how to be a cold crankin’, Ned Woods and Waters Publishing, L.C. is not responsible for any injury or damage received as 36 riggin’, a-rig fool. C.C. MCCOTTER 26 a result of any technical information or advice in 26 the magazine.The contents do not necessarily represent the views of Woods & Waters Publishing L.C. GMCO Maps used with permission. Plus... Departments RMC Earns CSI Award TOURNAMENT RESULTS Woods and Waters Publishing, L.C. assumes no 19 4 responsibility for delivery after magazines are 19 Record Spotted Bass 8 FIRST CAST mailed. All delivery complaints should be Pull, Bang, Crush! OUTDOOR MARKETPLACE addressed to your local postmaster. 22 9 Send change of address to: 24 Hidden Bay Reefs 10 READER LETTERS WOODS & WATERS MAGAZINE, C.C. MCCOTTER COVER PHOTO BY PHOTO BY COVER 38 Dave Farrington 19 WHAT’S NEW 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024. 30 Tidal Potomac Bass 22 WINGSHOOTING Home Office (540) 894-9144.Woods & Waters HOOK, LINE & THINKER Magazine is a monthly publication owned and 30 published by Woods and Waters Publishing, L.C., 32 REAL ESTATE/RENTALS 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024. Copy- Regional Reports 34 BOAT REVIEW right © 2020, Woods and Waters Publishing, L.C. Chickahominy Lake/River Potomac River W2 PROFILE All rights are reserved. U.S. subscriptions - $14.50 38 48 38 for 12 issues, $24.50 for 24 issues. Back issues 40 Richmond/James 50 NW River/Back Bay 39 CHICK/JAMES TIDES $2.50. Manuscripts, photos, and letters should 42 Lake Anna 51 Saltwater 49 POTOMAC RIVER TIDES be addressed to: The Editor, Woods & Waters Smith Mountain Lake Shenandoah Valley OUTDOOR SERVICES DIR. Magazine, 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 46 52 54 23024. Editorial material is welcome but cannot 47 Buggs Island/Gaston 53 Upper James 55 CALENDAR OF EVENTS be guaranteed unless exclusive.

6 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 7 EXCE Facebook.com/woodsandwatersmagazine R L O 1987 L first cast E O N

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2020 s 34 Year Bring On Spring, Big Fish And Gobblers!

Well, the winter that wasn’t is almost over and with the change Profile. Farrington is the Dave of Dave’s Tournament Tackle; maker of season comes truly warmer weather, big fish and spring gob- of 100’s of thousands of for the past 35 years. blers. In this edition we welcome all of these pending milestones We reviewed Wayne Young’s second book on underwater struc- and offer you information on how to enjoy the woods and waters tures in the Chesapeake Bay. Kate Ahnstrom tells about a bunch with your friends and family. of upcoming great shooting events in her monthly Winged Wisdom First up is our eagerly-anticipated Big Fish Best Bets piece. column. Steve Chaconas shares the news of a new collaboration This annual article uses Virginia Department of Game & Inland on studying tidal Potomac River bass between DC, Maryland and citation data to determine trends and helps us to predict Virginia. where you can find the biggest , smallmouth There’s all that plus our Regional Focus Reports, Tide/Moon bass, crappie, muskellunge and blue catfish around the state. We Charts and Calendar of Events in-between our covers this month. had a reshuffling of sorts in largemouth category that I’m sure I hope you are inspired to send us a Comment on our Facebook you’ll want to read about. site or email us at [email protected]. Next up is an article by a friend at DGIF’s Virginia Wildlife We are now accepting nominations for our publication. Molly Kirk covers the annual Virginia One Shot annual Most Influential People recogni- Spring Gobbler Hunt championed and installed by post DGIF tions. Forward your candidate’s name Director Robert Duncan. This important fundraiser and heritage and contact info and we’ll follow up. building event is going strong, scheduled for April 17-18 this year We’re looking for men and women and you can read all about it on page 16. that have demonstrated exemplary Kirk is at it again this month helping us better understand leadership in the outdoor sports in how Virginia Wildlife Foundation grants are helping connect the categories of retail, conservation Virignia youth to the outdoors. This program is doing critical and fellowship. Send your nominations outreach among youth from diverse backgrounds around the state by March 13, please. and I think you’ll be insipred. Until next time, remember to cher- We have a bunch of other inspiring fish tales for you, too. Da- ish, protect and conserve the out- vid Colgin reached out to share his story of amassing a 44-pound doors while sharing it with others. five bass limit this winter. I wrote a piece on Cold Crankin’, Ned Riggin’, A-rig Fools that’s intended to help you catch more bass this month. Longtime W2 marketing partner and icon in the regional fish- ing industry Dave Farrington is the subject of this month’s W2

Indicate card used Great Christmas gift idea!

Indicate if Name renewal Our Readers Do It Outside!

Now you don’t have to miss a single issue. Get a one or two-year Address subscription started today and have the region’s top hunting and 2 City State ZIP fishing magazine delivered to your home. Each month W is filled with great articles featuring new product information, events, des- Credit Card # Exp. tinations, fishing and hunting reports from all over the region. Subscribe for one year (12 issues) & get the Subscribe for 2 years (24 issues and get two Woods & Waters Truck/Boat Sticker! W&W boat/truck stickers! $ 50 PAY JUST $ 14 50 FOR 12 ISSUES PAY JUST 24 FOR 24 ISSUES For credit card orders, go to www.woodsandwatersmagazine.com. Make checks payable to Woods & Waters Magazine: Woods & Waters Magazine, 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024

8 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 EXCE R L Great Gift Ideas... O L E Outdoor Books Kayak Fishing The Chesapeake O N Bay 1,2 & 3 DVDs

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by Bruce Ingram $1495 Reveals the best spots, every rapid and access point and Waters much more. 192 pgs., 12 maps. Magazine’s The James River Outdoor Marketplace by Bruce Ingram $1195 Paddlers to anglers will find this guide book a great tool when plan- Special Offer: $ $ ning trips. 136 pgs., 15 river maps. 24.95 ea.(only 4 S&H!) W2 Truck Sticker & The New River River Smallmouth River Smallmouth W2 Cookbook! Summer Patterns Fall Patterns by Bruce Ingram $1295 Both for just .. Noted author and kayak angler Jeff Little has created Covers fishing the river from the 95 highlands of NC to the valleys of VA $12 , s&h included! the ultimate kayak fishing DVDs. Filmed on the Rapp. to the gorges of WV. 174 pgs., 8 and Susquehanna Rivers. river maps. $ 95 12 yes, send me this gift idea special 60 minutes each. $ South Branch & You can also order online at: 20.95 $ Upper Potomac woodsandwatersmagazine.com (only 4 S&H!) by Bruce Ingram $1295 A guide to paddling and fishing the South Branch and Upper Potomac Rivers. Smoke Hole Canyon on the GMCO Maps South Branch to Great Falls. Cooking For Use What the Pros Use! Spoons .$ 95 # Chickahominy River ...... 9 Sportsmen PRO SERIES (incl. Chick Lake) W2 Pro Pack: Three, 3/8-oz. by A.J. Balita $1095 spoons great for bass, striper, Over 200 great and local recipes Tidal James River ...... $995 white perch & more. for deer, small game, waterfowl PRO SERIES and fish. Great gift. 126 pgs. (Richmond to Chick Lake) Jig-N-Shad Spoon .$ 95 Silver holo- Richardson Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Is.)...... 10 gram tape, 112 Cap W2 Caps PRO SERIES great for and Show your colors when .$ 95 hunting or fishing with our Upper James River...... 9 fluttering comfortable & stylish caps. PRO SERIES Capt. Mack’s Super Spoon $ 95 .$ 95 Holoscale NEW! 26 Lake Anna ...... 9 tape great PRO SERIES for jigging or Shipping & handling not incld. fluttering Occoquan Reservoir ...... $995 PRO SERIES Holoscale Flex-It Spoon .$ 95 tape and Safe Passage Necklaces Lake Gaston ...... 9 a flexible PRO SERIES design .$ 95 $ Tidal Potomac ...... 9 Qnty. plus s&h below. PRO SERIES 12.25 Rappahannock River ...... $995 PRO SERIES Smith Mountain Lake ...... $995 PRO SERIES W2 truck & boat sticker included with all purchases! Northern Chesapeake Bay...... $1295 Harve de Grace to Little Choptank Shipping & Handling Fees Southern Chesapeake Bay .... .$1295 Please allow two to four weeks for delivery. Smith Point to Virginia Beach NEW! $0 - $10.00 ...... $3.75 Back Bay/North Landing R...... $895 $10.01 - $24.00 ...... $5.25 North Bay down to North Carolina $24.01 - $30.00 ...... $8.25 NEW! $30.01 - $40.00 ...... $11.50 Chesapeake Bay Wall Map...... $35.99 $40.01 - $50.00 ...... $13.75 Made from buffalo horn, resin or paua shell Full Color. From Havre de Grace, MD to Virginia Beach and from Richmond to Atlantic Ocean, in- Over $50 ...... $15.00 $ hipping incld. 19.95 s cluding the entire Eastern Shore. Rolled never *VA residents MUST add 5.3% sales tax. folded. Perfect for framing. Laminated. To order any item, check the products you want, cut out the page and send it with name, address, check, money order or credit card information to: Woods & Waters Marketplace 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024 or call 540/894-9144.

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 9 New W2 Caps Are Great Gifts! Olive UVA Khaki/White Navy/White dear

Dear Woods & Waters Magazine,

Here’s a photo of my son, Tyler, with a nice 6-15 bass he caught while fishing at Lake 95* * 95 * Mooney February 1.

$19 *Please add$20 The Virginia Classic Cap The Richardson Dale Utterback No need for words. The logo says it all. Woods & Waters Virginia $8 s& h Style R112 that started it all. Stafford, Virginia embroidered patch on a Legacy vintage canvas, super-soft mesh- High front trucker cap with mesh and back cap with snap back adjustment. snap back. Embroidered logos. To place and order send check or money order to: Woods & Waters, 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024 or call 540.894.9144 with credit card information.

Virginia’s Hottest Aluminum Fishing Rigs Are Now In Hopewell!

Congratulations. That’s the biggest bass we’ve seen yet pulled from Mooney - land of the little fish! - ED XClusive Pro Series X21 Pro 21’ long • 95” wide Dear W2, weighs 1,580 lbs. I wanted to thank C.C. McCotter and Woods & 250 hp capacity Waters for the informative and inspiring article on the new Green Top shooting range that appeared in the February edition. With all the politics surrounding 2nd ammendment rights this winter it took courage to feature a shoot- ing range in the lead story of the magazine. I personally don’t visit indoor ranges much but I enjoy shooting at my home and think opera- tions like Green Top’s are great for the tradi- tion - safe, affordable, wholesome and family friendly. My check is included for a two-year • Featuring SeaDeck Surfaces subscription. • Yamaha Outboards James Vinson Xplorer Series • Your Choice of Midlothian, VA Motor & Electronics • All Welded Construction • Unibody Injected Foam Construction Don’t Overpay For • Xpress Camo Paint w/ Lesser Aluminum Boats! Xtreme Coat Liner Reader Letter • Xpress Duck Guidelines Boat Graphics We welcome your correspondence and • Xpress Duck photos. Letters must be sent to our office (114 Boat Accessory Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024). Others email us (woodsandwatersmagazine@gmail. Rail com). Paper photos cannot be returned. If we run your letter or email, we will sent you one 219A E. Poythress St., Hopewell, VA of our truck/boat stickers. 10 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 dear

Dear W2,

Here’s the LDAWG, a.k.a. Larry Boykin with a bass he caught fishing with me on Lake Anna in February. He was using a Dave’s Tourna- ment Tackle Tiger Shad . Guy’s a true Virginia outdoorsman!

Rocky Sylvester Chesterfield, Virginia

W2 would like to welcome Larry Boykin to our 2020 Pro Staff. He’s a great angler and hunter with lots of friends all over the state. You can catch up with him on Facebook. - ED

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 11 W2’s Big Fish Best Bets For 2020 BY C.C. MCCOTTER submit the citation form and the $5 fee. the heaviest recorded at 9-5 June 22. Submit a photo of your big catch to The lake is approximately seven If you are a serious, trophy- Woods & Waters Magazine and you’ll be miles and 3,200 acres of cypress knees, hunting angler you know entered their annual Big Fish Contest, lily pads, stumps, hydrilla, milfoil and that it’s about the time to winners to get a coveted W2 truck/boat duckweed that is accessed at Ed Al- get out on an area lake or sticker. Winner of the Country Chevrolet len’s Boat & Baits or Eagle’s Landing. B Big Bass award will receive some Chevy The tidal Chickahominy River flows river and start putting that new fish- ing license to work. All across the re- swag and a $50 Green Top gift card. about 22 miles from Walker’s Dam gion waters are warming to that magic And now on to those big fish waters! down to the confluence with the James 60-degree mark when fish move shal- River. Anglers fish much of the same low and spawning occurs and that desk Largemouth Bass type of cover as in the lake, just with chair is definitely less comfortable that A total of 421 citation largemouth tides changing the water level about the leanin’ post on the front deck of bass were recorded by the VDGIF An- two to three feet, four times per day. your rig or padded seat on the kayak. gler Recognition Program in 2019, The river was the recipient of over With limited time between tasks significantly up from 384 in 2018. 200,000 F1/N1 hybrid largemouth bass from the boss (you know who I’m talk- If you want the best chance to land a fingerlings in 2005-2007 as well as sup- ing about) you need to fish in the very state citation largemouth bass over eight plemental stockings in 2015-17. These best places for big fish. With the 2019 pounds or 22 inches, it will be no surprise bass were a vigorous cross between numbers just in from Virginia Depart- to learn that the Chickahominy system Florida and northern strains known ment of Game and Inland Fisheries’ (both the lake and river) was the top cita- for attaining great size and flourish- (VDGIF) Director of the Virginia Angler tion producer for 2019 with 43 (up from 24 ing in waters that rarely dropped be- Recognition Program, Meghann Roth- total last year). Chickahominy Lake pro- low 40 degrees and offered good aquatic geb, we have some suggestions for you. duced 35 citation largemouth bass while habitat. Most of the big bass now being Remember, if you do land a trophy, just anglers certified eight from the river. caught are the results of these stockings. have it certified by a licensing agent (or Chickahominy Lake relinquished an in- The second best place in the state to provide photographic evidence of weight credible 35 bass over 22 inches or eight catch a citation largemouth according to or length with a witness) and then con- pounds (up from 18 in 2018) topped by an 2019 citation totals is an old favorite that sider releasing it. Rothgeb and the staff at 11-6 pounder caught May 27. has once again returned to prominence af- VDGIF will do the rest and a fine certifi- Chickahominy River anglers re- ter many years of mediocrity. cate will arrive about a month after you corded eight citation largemouth’s with Briery Creek Lake produced 27 citation “ ...”

12 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 lure anglers to southwest Virginia.

Striped Bass The state’s best striper continues to produce steady citation numbers. Smith Mountain Lake produced 39 citation strip- er last year (up from 34 in 2018) submit- ted to VDGIF. Most off these ranged from 20-25 pounds. The period from October through December was the most produc- tive for anglers fishing for big striper on Smith Mountain Lake. The biggest striper pulled from the lake was 31 pounds (March). continued on page

Where To Go For The Biggest Largmouth, Smallmouth, Muskie, W2’s Big Fish Best Bets For 2020 Crappie, Catfish and Striper bass last year, way up from under 10 in 2017. ter late, so that might have again affected The increase is attributed to intensive man- the numbers. agement efforts to bring back the 845-acre We are fortunate to have several big small- lake that once produced a 16-2 ounce near mouth waters as anglers are discovering state record back in 2002. There is a slot Smith Mountain Lake and the Shenandoah limit in effect; no bass can be harvested in River are growing some nice brown bass a 16-24” protected slot. The daily bag limit these days, too, and the James River made is still five bass per day, but only one may a huge comeback as far as big fish last year. be longer than 24 inches. The biggest bass Remember, a citation smallmouth bass is last year went 8-9 and was caught April 10. five pounds or 20 inches. Smith Mountain Lake continues to impress Anglers recorded 45 citation New Riv- maintaining its third place standing in a er smallmouth last year with the larg- year of movement. The 22,000-acre highland est weighing 7-1 and caught July 3. This reservoir produced a respectable 18 large- total was down from 58 citations in 2018. mouth bass citations in 2019 topped The New was followed by a resurgent by a 9-0 caught in October. This James River with 39 citation smallmouth was up from 11 citations in 2018. N recorded last year. Other lakes worth visiting this Smith Mountain Lake, produced year if you are largemouth lunk- 20 citation smallies, the largest er hunter include Sandy River hitting 5-12. Most are were Reservoir (17 citations) and E caught in May but the heavi- Lake Anna (14 citations). est was caught in October. Other waters that recorded Smallmouth Bass decent trophy smallmouth num- The James and New W bers last year included the Rappa- Rivers are historically the hannock River with nine Laurel top smallmouth bass producers Bed Lake with eight. Avid followers in the state, and they still lead last of Woods & Waters might recall W2 years’ tally by a wide margin however, S Prostaffer Aaron Ball’s visit to Laurel 2018 will mark the second year in a row the Bed Lake that appeared in our Febru- citation rates have dropped on the New. Last ary 2018 edition. This 330-acre lake at 3,600’ year there was high water early and low wa- was good fishing back then and continues to

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 13 Big Fish Best Bets continued from page 13 We’re still looking for a anglers is one for a muskel- The Harvester Jig 35-pound Smith Mountain Lake lunge. A citation muskie is a Just Pitch, Twitch and Whack... striper and hoping 2020 is the fish over 40 inches or 15 pounds. year. The wolf of the water is alive Remember, a citation striper and well in the Old Dominion It’s Spring’s Hottest Lure! is 37 inches long or 20 pounds - thanks to careful management a notable catch in a freshwater and stocking by the VDGIF lake. The next closest striper ci- with several waters producing tation producer was Little Creek double- digit citation tallies, Reservoir near Williamsburg but citation numbers were way and Claytor Lake. Each fish- down in 2019 for some reason. 5-2 largemouth ery produced two fish over 20 The New River was again bass caught sight pounds in 2019 with the largest ahead with 18 citations (down fishing with a going 34-15 by angler fishing from 41 citations in 2018, 58 in Harvester Little Creek in May. 2017, 39 in 2016, 66 recorded in Jig on 2015 and 84 in 2014). Lake Anna. Crappie The James River was second Just about every year we’ve been with 15 citation muskie (up keeping up with the numbers from 12 in 2017), followed by the Buggs Island (a.k.a. Kerr Reser- Shenandoah River (mostly the voir) tops all others in the freck- South Fork) with three citations. le category. This nearly 50,000 The biggest muskie of the acre lake on the border of Vir- year weighed 28 pounds and ginia and North Carolina pumps was pulled from the New River out plenty of big black and white on February 16. For special orders email crappie, so many it laps the field usually. It is still THE place to [email protected] Blue Catfish go for the best chance at landing Love ‘em or hate ‘em blue cat- or call 540-335-0877 a two-pound or 15-inch crappie. fish are plentiful in area waters The Town of Clarksville located and a lot of anglers love ‘em! Order Online at www.double-d-jigs.com right on the lake with its angler- Buggs Island, the current friendly hotels and merchants is state record and world record Check our our new tungsten jig heads! known in the early spring as holder for blue catfish pro- Crappie Town USA to freckle duced the year’s heaviest fish at fishermen. You’ll find folks that 106-8 pounds but was third in welcome your visit and crappie the overall “medal” count with anglers everywhere you look. 18 citations. Remember, a cita- For 2018 Buggs produced 48 tion blue catfish is 30 pounds. crappie over two pounds or 15 The Potomac River vaulted up Quality-Built Spinnerbaits inches (up from 45 in 2017), but the charts with a busy year pro- for 2019 that number ballooned ducing 36 citation blue catfish, to 78 citations! (up from 15 in 2018) and topped That is a great trend that by a 57-3. made a lot of folks happy in The James River was once Clarksville from tackle shops to again blue catfish king with 100 motels to all the visiting and lo- citations in 2019 (down from 137 cal anglers that like to crappie in 2018) with an 86-9-pounder at fish. the top caught in October. Buzzbaits The largest speck pulled from W2’s Best Bet overall pick if Underspins the lake weighed an impressive you were planning to take a va- & Jigs, too! 3-11 and was caught March 31. cation and wanted to fish on a Buggs easily outpacing it’s large body of water with a vari- nearest competitor, Smith Moun- ety of trophy fish remains Smith tain Lake with 12 citations. Di- Mountain Lake. With consistent ascund Reservoir produced 10 ci- showings for striped bass (#1 tations. Lake Chesdin produced rank), largemouth bass (#3 rank), nine. Other lakes with similar crappie (#2 rank), smallmouth citation numbers included Burnt bass (#2 rank) and the occasion- Mill Lake and Little Creek Res- al muskie, this lake is worth a ervoir. vacation visit if you like variety. February and March were the All right, now you have no ex- best months for the biggest crap- cuse not to enter the Woods & Sponsors of pie at Buggs but anglers caught Waters annual Big Fish Con- 2020 Lake Anna C.A.T.T. many citations in April and May test. Please submit your entries as well. at woodsandwatersmagazine@ [email protected] gmail.com or by sending a photo Muskellunge of your fish to Woods & Waters greygoatlures.com One of Virginia’s most desirable Magazine, 114 Old Quarry Lane, citations among trophy hunting Bumpass, VA 23024. 14 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 15 hunting

One Shot Spring Gobbler Hunt

BY MOLLY KIRK/DGIF Foundation of Virginia (WFV), the license and B i r d s a r e hunt pairs hunters with experi- an original scored at the 6th Annual Old Domin- enced guides on some of the most painting of Ashland Bass ion One Shot Turkey exclusive and turkey-rich private a gobbler Pro Shops Hunt and public lands in Virginia. Gen- by noted a c c o r d i n g T erous sponsors enable the event w i l d l i f e to National The annual Old Dominion One hosts to invite Wounded Warriors, artist Guy Wild Tur- Shot Turkey Hunt fundraiser first responders, and young hunt- Crittenden. key Federation has become a don’t-miss event for ers to participate as hunters in “I’ve learned guidelines, using many turkey hunting enthusiasts. the event. Landowners around the so much from an aggregate calcula- This year marks the sixth year state generously donate a day of hunting. I learned tion of the bird’s weight, of the One Shot as hunters will hunting on their properties to the how to appreciate what we beard length, and spur gather on April 17-18. One Shot Turkey Hunt. have in nature, and that we have length. There are also individual Begun in 2015, the One Shot Youth participants are chosen to do all we can to protect it,” said awards for heaviest bird, longest Turkey Hunt seeks to honor and from a pool of applicants who McInteer. beard, and longest spurs. continue the hunting heritage in write essays on a hunting theme; Hunters from all over the state In addition to supporting the Vir- Virginia through land purchases, five youth hunters are picked to can participate in the One Shot ginia Wildlife Grant Program to connecting youth with the out- participate in the hunt based on Turkey Hunt. Hunters and guides connect youth like Samantha doors via the Virginia Wildlife the strength of their essay. are paired together and then enjoy McInteer to the outdoors, the One Grant Program, and more. The The 2019 winner of the One a pre-hunt dinner for planning. Shot event generates revenue to event raises funds for the Virginia Shot Turkey Hunt was one of The guides get to know their support access to land in Virginia Wildlife Grant Program, which the youth entrants, 14-year-old assigned hunter’s abilities, and by the WFV. awards grants to fund equipment, Samantha McInteer. McInteer, of also scout the property they’re Recent purchases by the Founda- transportation, and instructional King William County. The young assigned. They hunt together on tion include Clay Hill, a 1,600-acre support to organizations looking lady was guided by former DGIF the morning of April 18, then tract in Amelia County and to provide outdoor experiences Executive Director Bob Duncan on attend the post-hunt celebration Guinea Marsh, an 800-acre piece to youth and those with special her hunt, and harvested a large dinner at the Ashland location of of property in Gloucester in 2019. needs. tom on Retreat Farm in Hanover Bass Pro Shops, where families, This partnership between DGIF A project led by the Virginia County, which was donated for landowners, and sponsors join and WFV supports the hunting Department of Game and Inland the day by the Wallace family. them for the festivities and awards heritage in the Commonwealth Fisheries (DGIF) and the Wildlife McInteer won a lifetime hunting ceremony. through One Shot and other “...the hunt pairs hunters with experienced guides on some of the most exclusive and turkey-rich private and public lands in Virginia.”

16 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 programming to support similar meet to discuss rules and receive All submissions are due 11:59 missions. The 2019 event raised information on their hunter and pm on Friday, March 15, Scholar- nearly $70,000 to continue the location of their hunt. Dinner is notifications will be Friday, support of our hunting heritage. provided, some One Shot swag, March 22. The 2019 the One Shot Turkey and door prizes. If you’d like to register to hunt Hunt provided 42 new experi- To kick off the 2020 event there or sponsor the event, please ences including those by wounded will be a Hunter/Guide Dinner contact Jenny West, Executive worriers, 1st responders and oth- and Kick-Off held April 17, 2020 Director, The Wildlife Foundation ers. These efforts created new at Bass Pro Shops from 5-7 pm. of Virginia, at jwest@vawildlife. friendships and memories for a Hunters and guides will come org, 757-880-2362. The minimum lifetime. together to plan and strategize donation to hunt is $1,000. The 2019 One Shot event featured their hunt along with DGIF and Interested in guiding for the 43 volunteer guides, 42 hunters, WFV folks for dinner and fellow- event? Guides are paired with a 41 sponsors, 30 landowners, 12 ship, and hunters will collect their hunter committed to the sport, Youth hunters, 11 people on the One Shot gift bags. and enjoy a morning of cama- One Shot Planning Team, eight Event weigh-in and scoring will raderie while you showcasing turkeys harvested, sevenn wound- be held at Bass Pro Shop Satur- skills. Guides are expected to be ed warrior hunters, seven female day, April 18 from 7a-3p. From 6-9 an experienced turkey hunter and hunters, six First Responders pm there will be a Celebration of caller, with good woodsmanship, Memories at One Shot are pro- the Hunting Heritage Event also and an expectation of maximiz- vided from the early planning to at the Bass Pro Shops. Organiz- ing opportunity for success. The the hunt and beyond. The Guide ers will announce the One Shot Guides’ Dinner on April 2 at Bass Dinner and the Hunter/Guide winners, and of course share a Pro Shops, prior to the hunt, is Dinner provide opportunities to few stories. where guides obtain information connect and meet new folks, and Over the last two years, a Youth needed to plan a hunt. Guides celebrate the hunting heritage. Essay Contest has introduced 2019 One Shot winner Samantha and a guest are invited to attend And of course the hunt day brings youth to turkey hunting and McInteer with her winning gobbler. the events on Friday evening a few more memories followed by youth essay winners won the One April 18th. and Saturday before and after the evening celebration. Shot in 2018 and 2019. Outdoor The 2020 Youth Essay Question the hunt. The hunter registration deadline writers from Virginia will review will be: What are the important For more information on the is March 31 and there is a man- and select five scholarships. Ages skills to guide a successful tur- 2020 Virginia One Shot Hunt datory Guide Dinner Thursday, 8-15 are eligible and a guard- key hunt? And, if you could pick visit vaoneshot.com. April 2 at the Hanover Bass Pro ian must accompany the youth anyone to guide you, who would Shops from 5-7 pm. Guides will during the hunt on Saturday, it be and why?

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18 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 what’s new? Richmond Boat Dealer Earns Highest Customer Service Award Richmond Marine Center in Chester has re- “As the ratings are determined by customer benchmark to the industry, delivering world- ceived the coveted Mercury Marine Customer feedback, it is considered one of the industry’s class service support and providing our cus- Satisfaction Index award for 2019. Owner Ben most prestigious awards,” Helmick said. tomers with the service that they expect.” Gibson told W2, “RMC is all about service To be eligible for the award, dealerships and quality. We want to be able to service must be a Mercury Premier Level or Certified what we sell and represent brands we can Service Level dealer and have maintained a be proud of.” score of greater than 94 out of a possible 100 Mercury Marine measures consumers’ sat- for 12 consecutive months. isfaction with the service performed on their The CSI score for each dealership is mea- Mercury outboard or MerCruiser Sterndrive sured and monitored by Mercury Marine. and inboard products on numerous aspects After warranty work has been completed, of the experience. Mercury sends out a Service CSI survey to Customers who have recently sought the consumer, asking them to rate the service service from a Mercury dealer are asked to received. rate their overall service satisfaction with the “The dealers who achieve the Service CSI dealership.. Award status have shown themselves as the New Virgina Spotted Bass Record Caught From Gaston Cliffton Hamilton was fishing Claytor Lake Hamilton was fishing a three-inch Googan January 1 on a cloudy, slightly windy day with 10-lb. test Spiderwire fluoro- when he felt a bite on the end of his line. That carbon line on a Shimano Clarus 6’8” medium bite turned out to be a 4-12 spotted bass that heavy rod with a Lew’s Mach 7:1-1 reel. The surpassed the current Virginia State record water was 46-48 degrees and the bass bit in held by Gary Lusk (4-10). 20’ of water on a drop from a 12’ flat down Hamilton’s 4-12 spot on left. Hamilton had the fish weighed on certified to 30’. scales at J & J Grocery and the Virginia Dept- An even larger spotted bass was caught Robert Gunn’s fish weighed 5-7 pounds, not ment of Game & Inland Fisheries has certified recently (see page --) by a Virginia angler enough to best the NC state record but easily it as the new state record. fishing in North Carolina waters of Gaston. the Virginia record.

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 19 conservation

Virginia Wildlife Grants Connect Youth To Outdoors

program’s projects focus on at-risk BY MOLLY KIRK/DGIF youth, supporting their intellectual, physical, and financial needs. ogether, we work better Ron Kody of Richmond Ford and do better, and the supports the program in an effort outdoors is always bet- to help connect youth in the Rich- terT enoyed together. mond area with fishing and wildlife That has been the approach to con- viewing as a way of honoring his nect youth to the outdoors over the father’s outdoor legacy. last six years through the Virginia Financial support of the Grant Wildlife Grant Program. Program is generated through sales The Virginia Department of Game of merchandise on the ShopDGIF. and Inland Fisheries (DGIF) and com and GoOutdoorsVA website, the Wildlife Foundation of Vir- the Old Dominion One Shot Tur- ginia (WFV) began the Virginia key Hunt fundraiser, and through Wildlife Grant Program in 2014 private donations. in a quest to provide funding for In 2019, program participants projects that connect youth with were able to enjoy activities such as outdoor activities. DGIF and WFV boating, archery, fishing, hunting, work as partners in managing the recreational shooting, and wildlife program. viewing. Groups such as 4-H clubs, In 2019, the program awarded schools, non-profits, and more ben- more than $60,000 in support of efitted from the program. 25 projects, which impacted 5,800 They included the Blue Ridge youth. Almost 20 percent of the Autism and Achievement Center; The DGIF and the Wildlife Foundation of Virginia began the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program in 2014 in a quest to provide funding for projects that The Virginia Wildlife Grant Program is connecting youth to the connect youth with outdoor activities. outdoors using a variety of enagements. 20 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Youth from all areas of Virginia benefit from programs funded by the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program.

Jacob’s Chance, an organization retention of youth into outdoor lated to the activities, such as rods ernment agencies, and non-profits, supporting youth and young adults activities. and reels, binoculars, field guides, having a DGIF pop-up store at with special needs; King George Through recruitment, the program etc. It also includes transportation your club’s event, or by donating Outdoor Club; Triangle Gun Club; aims to increase awareness of and assistance and instructor support directly. It’s a fulfilling way to Goochland High School; and Blue interest in outdoor activities. The to provide expertise related to the support the outdoor traditions for Ridge Discovery Center. program provides a first-time ex- outdoor activity. the next generation. Since its inception, the Vir- perience of an outdoor experience The vision of the Virginia Wild- Please reach out to Tom Wilcox, ginia Wildlife Grant Program such as fishing or archery. life Grant Program is supported by Director of Engagement, DGIF, has awarded more than $310,000 In retention, the program looks many to build lasting memories, [email protected] to to organizations, impacting more to support and encourage youth create new relationships, and to engage. than 50,000 participants through to continue participating in an foster conservation. To find out more about the Vir- 187 projects. outdoor activity. W2 readers can become part of ginia Wildlife Grant Program, visit: One focus of the Virginia Wildlife Grant funding includes purchases the “many” by sharing information dgif.virginia.gov/shopdgif/virginia- Grant Program is recruitment and of outdoor gear and equipment re- about the grant with schools, gov- wildlife-grant-program.

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 21 VALU-PAK Quality Doesn’t Have To Break The Bank wi nged wisdom

Pull, Bang Crush! BY KATE AHNSTROM Available at his winter was certainly and expanded base and insure Hellems & Son T lack luster at best. I the continuation of our beloved am definitely not complaining traditions. If you or someone you Sporting Goods, Feed & Seed Authorized though as I am no fan of the know has been looking for a way cold, bitter winds and weather. to get into bird hunting but just 540.894.3562 Dealer The softer winter allowed us to didn’t know how to get started, 4948 Ellisville Dr., Louisa keep going strong with lessons definitely sign up for this event! all the way through the season, For all of you searching for which is wonderful! Now, with that perfect shotgun, mark your the spring flowers in full bloom calendars for Saturday, April and warmer weather firmly in 18th. We will be hosting Caesar sight, it is time to start carv- Guerini and Syren at Central Va ing out time on your calendar Sporting Clays with a day full of for a whole host of tremendous demos and vendors. events. There will be a phenomenal Virginia Shooting Sports selection of shotguns to try has been rocking and rolling out on the course along with through the hunt season and scrumptious food and giveaways. we still have one final Beginner Ruffed Grouse Society, Orapax Upland Hunt at Orapax sched- and other vendors will be on uled for Saturday, March 21st. If hand to answer questions about you find that this hunt is sold how and where you can put your out by the time you read this, fabulous new shotgun to use. never fear, I am always happy Demo days are a great way to to throw another hunt onto the try before you buy or just see schedule. Just call or message what is available in particular me and we can make it happen. manufacturer’s line. This hunt is a fantastic way Beretta will also be returning Custom painted hardbaits at for someone to get a full intro- for a full demo day in Septem- a fraction of the cost duction into hunting birds. Your ber. We are still working on the reservation includes a two-hour date and details but, stay tuned shooting lesson the week before to our Facebook page and web- Visit our Facebook Site and Order Now! the hunt, field coach, gun hire, site for updates. how to hunt over dogs and stay Looking for more opportunities • Evergreen Show Blow NEW FOR 2020... safe in the field with additional to practice? Our super popular • Lucky Craft 1- Ned Rig Air Craw w/hollow guns, attire assistance, two men’s and women’s only clay claws dozen chukkar, dozen quail, practice dates return begin- • Megabass 110 & 110+1 guide with bird dogs, all gratu- ning Sunday, March 22nd with 2- Pivoting Frog on a Buzzbait ities and cocktail hour post hunt Ladies Only. The next practice • Little Johns 3- Pivoting Swim Jig while birds are being cleaned. will be just for you gentlemen • Lipless Baits With seven beginner hunts so, be sure to mark your cal- in the books already, we have endars for practice on Sunday, Check out our baits at produced over two dozen brand April 5th. The practices are held new or re-invigorated hunt- at Central Va Sporting Clays in facebook.com/rbtcustombaits ers. This is tremendous for the Palmyra from 12p to 2p and are sport and helps to create a new just $20. This includes 50 clays, 22 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 gun hire (if needed), eye and ear protection and two full hours of instruction on the 5 stand and out on the course. Kate Ahnstrom, Every practice we will work on one par- ticular skill set. These sessions are great Shooting Instructor for the most basic beginner through a more Building your swing, advanced shooter/hunter. So be sure to grab Taking you to the target!” /KateAnhstrom a friend or family member and come out. We are very excited to announce a sport- /VaShootingSports ing clay clinic May 15th and 16th, at Central PRIVATE INSTRUCTION Va Sporting Clays. We are teaming up with LADIES CLINICS 804.512.2771 renowned instructor, Tom Fiumarello of St. Hubert’s Lodge, Marlboro, NY to bring you GROUP LESSONS [email protected] a truly high impact training session. Tom CORPORATE EVENTS VaShootingSports.com boasts an impressive resume in the sports and shooting industry. He is a certified Paragon Senior Instructor and Coach, mem- ber of the esteemed UK Guild of Shoot- ing Instructors, NSCA Level II Instructor, owner of XCEL Sporting Clays and holds a MEd. Sports Psychology and Human NOW BOOKING BIRD HUNTS! Performance. Space is limited and so are private lesson options so, do not hesitate to log onto our website VaShootingSports.com and make your reservation. Craving a dynamic and engaging week- end getaway? Perfect! Join us June 12th through June 15th in the bucolic Catskill mountains of NY. We will enjoy a full weekend of fly fishing, sporting clays, fine foods and sight-seeing. This amazing op- portunity delivers fly fishing on the famed Upper West Branch of the Delaware River with professional NY guides and your choice of full or half day floats, lodging with 150’ private access on riverfront “tro- phy section” of Delaware, fly rods and flies, Classic American Brittanys dinner at West Branch Angler, sporting Puppies And Started Dogs Available! clays, gun hire, and more! Check out our website for all of the details and to make Champion Bloodlines your reservation. This trip is limited to just six lucky anglers/shooters. Natural Retrievers Finally, we are trying to bring together a Kid’s Clay Camp. This would be hosted Great Companions at Orapax in Goochland and feature clay shooting, gun knowledge and safety, decoy Bred To Hunt painting, VDGIF education and more. With the current climate regarding 2A in our state, it is imperative that we do Offer good through 12/31/18 everything possible to keep our youth en- [email protected] 804.694.5118 gaged in the shooting sports. Stay tuned for more details and in the meantime, spend www.seminole-brittanys.com time with friends and family enjoying the fabulous outdoors and the shooting sports!

Quail, chukar and Culpeper, Virginia pheasants in natural Corporate Trips habitat over well- trained pointing and Photo by Cheryl Schindler Welcomed! retrieving dogs. Kate Ahnstrom, owner of Virginia Shooting Sports is a certified, professional instructor of the Paragon School of Sporting, NRA life member and certified UPLAND BIRD HUNTING WITHIN 2 HRS OF DC! instructor, pro staff member of the Sisterhood of the Outdoors and member of the NSCA. Her tireless 540.827.7484 • [email protected] dedication to her students’ success is obvious in each and every lesson. www.RoseHillGamePreserve.com March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 23 book review Chesapeake Bay Reefs Virginia Angler Pens Second Book On Chesapeake Bay Fishing Structures

Former artificial reef manager and recreational anglers find unpressured bottom features that , Wayne Young has written a companion attract bait, striped bass and other sport fish. He book to his 2018 release, Bridges Under Troubled even has a section on fishing around unexploded Waters. Young’s new book, entitled Chesapeake Bay ordinance areas. Fishing Reefs; Voyages of Rediscovery covers even The author is a boat owner, recreational an- more underwater habitat in the Chesapeake Bay gler, Coast Guard veteran and retired marine and its estuaries re-located and detailed during environmental manager. He directed policy as- the author’s continued research. sessments for the National Research Council’s Young has chapters on over two dozen hard-to- Marine Board. His many published studies ex- find artificial reefs as well as maps of where they amined safety, marine navigation are located and some incredibly detailed sonar and piloting, beach nourishment and protection, images in his highly detailed 265-page book. marine simulation for channel design and mariner Young notes the new book “begins where Bridges training and marine habitat restoration. left off, continuing the Chesapeake and Potomac He managed environmental and engineering River artificial and natural reef story.” services and site operations for island restoration Not only will you have these spots to try, projects, managed the Maryland artificial reef you’ll be taught how to find others on your program for the Chesapeake Bay and built oyster own using the author’s method of referencing reefs in Bay waters. publically available on-line resources. To order the either book or both, email us at Young again strives to help recreational [email protected]

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HUGE Ship Store with trailer parts, PFDs, fuel stabilizers, paint, anchors, fuel tanks, water toys, 44-Pound Limit Of Bass Sets ski ropes, inflatables, covers, hardware and more! Historic High Mark For Virginia It appears this “winter that lake in central Virginia, but a wasn’t” featuring some warm 40+ pound limit is a truly ex- and calm days more akin to late traordinary. March weather, has created ideal We caught up with the 67-year conditions to catch some lunker old Colgin in early February to We service most bass. find out more about his incred- outboards & sterndrives. Recently, two central Virginia ible feat. We also stock Parts, anglers took advantage of the On a calm, warm pre fron- Accessories, Bulk Outboard Oil mild weather and hit their fa- tal winter day Colgin and his And Marine Supplies. vorite fishing hole and the story partner noticed something inter- will become part of Virginia bass esting while scanning the Low- fishing lore. rance HDS Live on Colgin’s 18’ David Colgin did something jon boat. that might not ever be topped in The water temperature was late January fishing a 100-acre rising as they motored up into private lake in central Virginia. a creek arm of the lake, specifi- He and a buddy had an incred- cally it rose to 47 degrees. ible day of where At this point Colgin had a the best five fish weighed a bit hunch, stopped the boat and over 44 pounds. the duo began fishing six-inch A 30-pound limit is usually a Keitech Swing Impact pearl lifetime achievement as W2 Pro on 3/8-oz. jighead. Staffer Aaron Ball noted when Colgin told W2 they were barely he did it last spring on a private turning the reel handles in 5-8’ Tomahund Marine 804 829.9888 or 804 370.3795 [email protected] Located near the Rt. 5 Bridge/ Chickahominy River, in Charles City Co. 16061 Old Tomahund Dr., Williamsburg, VA 2318537.2665913, -76.8974987, N37° 15.9955’, W076° 53.8499 Colgin’s partner with two of the hefty bass they caught that day.e 26 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Ou

LIVE BAIT 757 566-9050 PROFESSIONAL GRADE TACKLE 7828 Richmond Rd., Toano, VA hookerbaitandtackle.com

NEW FOR 2020! Totally redesigned with wider, Vantage CT-W seat and MD180 ® reversible drive Mirage w/turbo fins Keitech Swing Impact Outback 12’9” long • 34” wide • 425-lb. cap. • 82 lbs. of water, tipping the top of grass growing 2 Molded-in drink holders, about a foot off the bottom on the retrieve. 2 H-rail mounts with tracks Colgin was using Lew’s Pro G baitcasting and rubber side mesh pockets reels spooled with 30-lb. Power Pro and 7’1” Kick up rudder system and 7’11” Temple Fork Outfitters rods. 3 hatches & Lowrance transducer ready The first fish they landed was 9-8. “I had caught several over eight in one day from the lake but never that many big ® ® fish in one day. It was one of those magi- ® cal days, and epic day. They were just on,” Mirage Colgin remembers, noting they lost one at the boat that was bigger than anything they Compass had. The other fish in the best five went 9-6, a Camo Mirage Drive 180® couple of eights, and a 7-11. 12’ long • 34” wide • 400-lb. cap. • 68 lbs. Now Standard on All “I’ve caught an 11-8 and an 11-4 in there Hobie Mirage Kayaks! before and lost one bigger when it pulled the hook straight,” the lifelong Virginia angler told W2. WOODBRIDGE Annapolis Colgin and his partner combined for this 2380 Research Court 222 Severn Avenue incredible catch that is unlikely to be topped, TWO AREA Woodbridge, VA 22192 Annapolis, MD 21403 but at least there’s a mark now to aim for as LOCATIONS! 703.491.3188 or 800.227.6132 410.263.2900 or 888.292.6287 the heaviest five-fish limit in Virginia. March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 27 w2 profile You’re Going To Be Rippin’ Some Lips!

• Made with 100% real chicken liver. • Stays on the hook! • No mess fishing! • Fast-acting & long lasting. • Puts MORE scent into the water than any other bait guaranteed! www.rippinlipsbait.com email: [email protected] Dave Farrington

Our W2 profiles feature the movers and shakers in the fishing and hunting world. Their stories are intended to entertain and inspire others to be great, too, in their own NEW! ways. If you have someone you think would be a good candidate, please contact us at 108 [email protected]. $ Our subject this month is Dave Farrington, $ 899 owner of Dave’s Tournament Tackle and J&N $ 1849 Tackle Shop in Jamestown, North Carolina, 799 just outside of Greensboro. Farrington, 59, is known as the East Coast’s Dean of Spinnerbaits having made them for the past 35 years. We caught up with up on a late February afternoon between customer visits to his shop.

How did you start fishing? cathedral tri-hull

cathedral tri-hull My Daddy took me fishing down to the Oakdale cotton mill dam when I was five years old Pro Pedal Drive System l 12’ long • 35” wide, 400 lb. cap. and we sat out on a rock with worms and a 11’ long • 35” wide, 450 lb. cap. bobber and caught fish. This is literally five 10’5” long • 33.5” wide, 380 lb. cap. Sonar pod, Big Water sit, stand or lean seat Sonar pod, Big Water minutes from where my shop is today. Sonar pod, Big Water sit, stand or lean seat Sonar pod, Big Water Sonar pod, Big Water sit, stand or lean seat Sonar pod, Big Water When I turned seven or eight my Daddy bought me a Zebco 33 and I started fishing with lures and started catching bass. Back then that was a really big deal to have that kind of gear at eight.

How you began in the tackle business? I was a painter by trade and in the winter I wasn’t too busy so I thought I’d try and make some lures. First lure I made was a spinnerbait with the basic bullet style head in green shad Pedal Drive For pattern. People liked them. Who the most influential person in your Under $2K! early days? I used to sell for Lionel Holingsworth who made the True Trex spinnerbaits. He just wasn’t able to keep up demand, and I asked him if Great I could start making stuff and he said, “Yes” Fishing Now taking and actually gave me a few of the contacts 540.894.3540 for materials. Kayaks! High Point Marina On Lake Anna, VA orders.

28 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Tiger Shad spinnerbaits. What is it about the tackle business that you were drawn to and continues to motivate you today? I think it’s the contact with the Trophy Bass Management - Pond & Lake Depth Profiles & Analysis anglers, the relationships you built. Fish Stocking - Aeration Sales & Installation Can you offer insight from your years of experience, as in on how tackle business has Call Cody Sheffler @919.500.6418 changed over the years? The older anglers www.trianglepondmanagement.com were more about relationships and the young- er anglers are not. The easy of obtaining gear online is why this has changed. The internet has made us less of a people society. COME SEE OUR FISHING PONTOONS What hasn’t changed for you, i.e. - service, a fair deal, selling cutting edge, desirable AT OUR LAKE CHESDIN LOCATION! products, etc? Paying attention to detail hasn’t changed. Trying to make sure the angler has a good experience with the baits hasn’t changed.

What do you think about shows these days? Shows are a tremendous amount of work but they keep us in front of anglers and let them know we are still there. We had 1,600 sq. ft. at the Richmond Fishing Expo. Moving over 400,000 items is like moving your house each weekend.

How important is your pro staff to DTT? They’re extremely important. We couldn’t do Great for catfishing, what we do without them. The goal is that they help us with our designs and colors. striper fishing, The best ones do. even bay duty! What’s the best-selling lure you make? The Tiger Shad by far but we also make a Bullseye, a deep crankin’ spinnerbait, the TiTiger with a titanium arm, the Raptor with a titanium midsection, the River Special, the Assassin Shad and the Bladeroller.

What events do you fish now? This year I’ll fish the BFL North Carolina Division. Might fish the Virginia Division of CATT.

Where is your favorite place to fish and why? Buggs Island. I like it because it has a wide variety of fishing situations and most of the time you can get away from the people. Pontoon boats for the serious fisherman What do you enjoy doing when not making lures? Sleeping and eating. who also wants a boat to entertain, ski, relax and enjoy aquatic life with family. Do you have any new projects coming out? We have a new Ned head with an Owner hook, a ½-oz Bladeroller and a Tiger Shad with a Chesdin Boat Sales keeper on the hook to hold a swimbait. If you weren’t in the tackle business what 804-590-0990 would you be doing now? Probably be fishing a lot more and painting. 8631 River Rd., Petersburg, VA 23803

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 29 hook, line & thinker DC, MD & VA To Cooperate On Tidal Potomac Study he tidal Potomac largemouth bass fishery runs 63 miles tions. However, for the same period, VA and DC showed stable from Washington, DC to the Chesapeake Bay, through three populations. Maryland considered fishing restrictions which DC T jurisdictions. MD, VA, DC manage their sections. Recent- and VA felt unnecessary. ly, they’ve come to the conclusion that fish swim, without notice, Data collection procedures of MD, VA and DC varied as well through each. Independent studies, analysis, and management have as analysis methodology. Each jurisdiction was content with their been done with little or no cooperation. This changed with the inva- procedures, but management and regulation dependent on data sion of the northern snakehead in 2004. results created friction not only among jurisdictions, but also with Scrambling to figure out snakeheads, the federal government got into anglers. This dilemma sent into motion a two-year debate that the the act and for a while all worked together three jurisdictions should coordinate their on a plan of action. Virginia took a closer efforts and collective analysis of the state look at the largemouth bass population as of the river. They met a few times toward an overlap study. Until then, Maryland ran the end of 2019 to establish data needs and regular bass studies. DC concurrently ob- Hook, guidelines. tained their own data. Many factors influ- Line & To monitor the fishery, the jurisdictions ence fish populations, but weather, amounts have agreed to generate an assessment ev- of submerged vegetation and time of year Thinker ery three years. The strategy is to better es- and frequency of data collection influence timate stock, quality, and preferred sizes of data outcomes. The Maryland Black Bass largemouth bass. Anglers will participate in Advisory Subcommittee suggested a collab- surveys and report recapture of tagged oration to bring all jurisdictions together to fish. Agencies will cooperatively monitor share information. bass population and size. The Potomac River National, regional and local tournament Fisheries Commission and general public organizations crowded local anglers who will receive the unified assessment every blamed tougher fishing conditions on the three years. incessant tournaments. Substantiating the Each jurisdiction will report surveys iden- perceived decline, Maryland DNR fish sur- tifying the numbers of bass over 200mm veys showed a sharp drop in fish popula- with Steve Chaconas (about 8 inches), quality bass over 305mm

We have baits for all kinds of fishing! Call us and we’ll custom make baits Nickel PlatedTiger Shad for all your 2020 needs including all kinds of jig heads (shaky heads, too), davestournamenttackle.com jigs, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, soft plastics, jerkbaits, crankbaits 336 883-6076 and much more! 5208 Vickrey Chapel Road Greensboro, NC 27407 Maker Of The Region’s #1 Spinnerbait

Outfitting Anglers For The Shenandoah River And Beyond!

234 Ezra Lane facebook.com/ 540.723.4621 JakesBaitAndTackle

30 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Shenandoah Valley’s Best Values (12 inches) and preferred length of 381mm (15 inches). Surveys include electro-shocking March to mid-April, creel and tourna- Unbelievable Prices! Superb Selection! ment surveys and tagged fish recapture reports. Fish greater than 200mm will receive orange tags placed near dorsal fins. They will be measured, weighed, tagged and released in the area they were • New and used tackle for EVERY collected. Anglers can report the tag number, date of capture, size type of Virginia Angler of fish, and other details of interest throughout the year to tourna- • Live minnows - large and small available ment organizers and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 1-804-367-2925. 24 hours a day This cooperative will create methodology and share data over the • Trade-ins accepted on rods and reels next 20 years to provide answers to ques- tions. Rather than basing tidal Potomac management decisions on separate pieces of the puzzle, it will be managed by a complete image to see the big picture.

Author Capt. Steve Chaconas is Potomac bass fishing guide & freelance writer. Potomac River reports: nationalbass. com. Book trips/purchase gift certificates: info@National- Bass.com. Rt. 612, Crimora (Near Waynesboro) 540.908.7089 Open Wed-Sun

Make this the year you discover Virginia’s only lakeside town and the renowned fishing at Buggs Island Lake.

434.374.5023 [email protected]

Overlooking The Lake / Outdoor Pool / Nearby Restaurants / Tournament Anglers Welcome

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 31

Do you have a cabin, lake home or land you’d like to rent/lease? Call Destinations 540.894.5960 or email [email protected]. $20/mo. Cabins For Rent Rent Reel Easy River Cabin Lake Anna Rental On the South Fork Shenandoah. Exllnt. 3 bedroom/3.5 bath on Lake Front Dr, Min- Potomac Bass Inn fishing/private river access/floating dock/ eral. Furnished with slip. $175/night and up. 2835 Sweden Pt. Rd., Marbury, MD free canoes & kayaks. Shenandoah, Virginia. Info at Bit.ly/lakeannarental. Questions to Next to Smallwood State Park 703.483.5331. www.reeleasyrivercabin.com [email protected] Boat parking with power. Tournament Anglers Welcome Rent Rockcliffe On The James Smith Mountain Lake Rentals 202.423.1303 Take your fishing vacation with us at our Kathy’s Place, sleeps 6-12, 3 bdrm, 2 bath Available for up to 4 anglers comfy lodge. Excellent access along the James waterfront home. $218/night Spike’s Apart- Email [email protected] for more info. River between Joshua Falls & Bent Creek. ment, sleeps 4, 2 bdrm, 1 bath waterfront. 434.933.4371. www.rockcliffefarm.com $98/night. 540.400.3465 VRBO#218590 & #282712 Fishing/Hunting Cabin On Chowan Cabin Bath County Come hunt and fish with us and stay in our Farmhouse dated back to 1794 with 6 bed- Rent Rose River Farm Cabins cabin on the banks of the Chowan River near rooms 3 full bathrooms, and can sleep up Exceptional accommodations with views of Harrellsville, NC. Central heat & air, 3 bdrm, to 15 guests or a cabin by the stocked trout Rose River Valley and Old Rag Mountain ktchn, washer & dryer, gas grill, pier, boat pond with 6 bedrooms. Finally Laura’s camp near Syria, Virginia. Each over 1,100 sq. ft dock and ramp on site. Come enjoy fantasic is a quaint house with 2 bedrooms and 1 full with 2 bdrms and bthrm, full kitchen, fly bass and striper fishing, hunting and wildlife. bathroom. Large bedrooms can accommodate tying vise, flat screen, sat. TV. All rooms 252.356.4585. up to 6 guests. Located near Milboro, Virginia are non smoking. No pets. Coffee, linens & at Hunter’s Paradise. 540-996-4134 paper products included. $250/night up to 4 guests. Book at www.roseriverfarm.com Do you have a boat, ouboard, trolling motor or ATV you’d like to sell? We can help. Just call us at 540.894.9144 and we can run a $20 Classifieds listing that will reach over 100,000 potential customers a month. THE CABINS AT Boats For Sale ROSE RIVER FARM ‘19 TRACKER Grizzly 2072 Center Console ‘15 Bass Tracker Pro Team 175 w/60 Mercury w/115 Merc Command Thrust, Minn Kota w/ 5yr. extd warr. New batts. Built-in batt iPilot Ulterra, Humminbird Helix 10 SI and chrgr. 100-hour service done Oct. ‘19. All Humminbird 700 DI on bow, battery charger, Service Records. MinnKota Edge 45 Trolling tndm axl trlr. $26,599 540/894-3540 Motor. Very clean, kept in boat lift. Lake Anna. $14,000 obo. 240/687-6049. ‘19 SKEETER FX20 LE w/Yamaha VF250LA Yamaha, Humminbird Solix 12 on the dash ‘05 Skeeter TZX19 w/175 Yamaha HPDI, 300 and a Humminbird Solix 10 on bow, (2) 8’ hrs; one 8’ Talon; 7” Garmin DS/SS on console; Blade Power-Poles, Minn Kota Ultrex iPilot Humminbird Helix 9 w/360 imaging on bow; LINK 112 tm, back lit deck light & LED Motorguide 24v trolling motor; new batteries; storage lighting. spare prop; new tires on trailer. Call for price 540/894-9222 $18,500 804/730-2238

‘19 NITRO Z19 w/Mercury 200L, Minn Kota ‘94 ASTRO F&S w/’96 Mercury 200, 10 hrs. Ultrex 80 tm, hot foot, 3-bank batt., tndm on rebuild, MG tm, 3 new batts., 3-bank chrgr., trlr w/spare. 2 DF, near LKA. $37,395 540/894-9222 $8,500 OBO 540/908-8085 ‘07 Polar Craft Jon Boat w/15 (9.9 cover) Johnson, Venture galvanized trailer, been in Outboards For Sale water 3 times. Never fished out of. ‘19 New Tohatsu 6 hp Sail Pro w/5-yr. warr. $4,500 804/730-2238 $1,450 804/966-5368 ‘19 New Tohatsu 8 hp w/5-yr. warr. $1,675 804/966-5368 Sell Your Boat Here! ‘18 Used Tohatsu 9.8 hp. Email us at [email protected] $1,150 804/966-5368

3232 woodsandwatersmagazine.comMarch 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Do you have a cabin, lake home or land you’d like to rent/lease? Call Destinations 540.894.5960 or email [email protected]. $20/mo.

Cabins For Rent Timber Wanted Hunting Membership Lake Gaston Dodson Logging Mid Oak Farm Hunting Preserve AmeriCamps Cabins & Campting Sites Money really does grow on trees. Silver and gold memberships available, $650 540.837.2650. Timber wanted. or hardwood. and $1,500. Enjoy quail, pheasant and chukar 540.547.2582. hunting, use of llodge (gold membership Back Bay only), fishing pond and more. 757.870.6806. North River Beach Resort Cabins & Campt- ing Sites on the North River at Back Bay 540.837.2650. FOR SALE Lake Front Lots Chickahominy River RICE, VIRGINIA Rockahock Campground Villas, Cab- SANDY RIVER RESERVOIR 740ac ins & Yurts with free use of boat ramp. 2.39ac to 5.69ac from $74,900 to $95,000 804.966.8362. Fishing at its Best!! Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish! Lake Anna Call Rebecca @ RE/MAX 434-547-7263 3 bedroom/3.5 bath on Lake Front Dr, Mineral. Furnished with slip. $175/night and up. Info at Bit.ly/lakeannarental. Questions to lakeannatownhouse@gmail. com For Sale Hunting Retreat Great Cacapon, WV, Morgan County. 70-acres with 3 bedroom ranch-style home & basement. Private & secluded. Great deer, turkey & bear hunting. $250,000. 540.837.2650. Quantico Waterfront Duck Hunting Custom, waterfront home on Quantico Creek, Are you ready to have 600 acres with pheasants, 172’ waterfront w/dock. Full riparian waterfowl quail, huns, chukars, deer, turkey, five ATVs, lodge rights. 5 minutes to Marine Base/FBI, close to with cable TV and kitchen all to yourself? Ft. Belvoir, Pentagon. 571.299.9262 Pick up the phone or email us, and it’s your Hunting Land personal hunting and shooting sports playground. 2 acres in Appomattox Co. adjoins 22,000-acre state forest. 3.5 miles from Holiday Lake on hard surface road. 100-year- old pine & hardwood. Excellent for hunting cabin. 434.352.7003.

Goose Hunting On Rapp It’s that simple. One client each incredible day... 14.5 acres on Northern Neck, Farnham, VA near Sharps. A goose hunting paradise, also Located off Hwy. deer, turkey & small game. Short portage (100 58, Skipwith, VA White yds.) to water. 99,500 Call Jim 540.657.0503 (near Buggs Island) Hunting Preserve Send your outdoor property listings for sale 434.374.2025 or www.whiteoaks.ws and for rent and we’ll help you sell it for andrewjones@whiteoaksws $20/mo. with a three/month minimum run. MarchMarch 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.comwoodsandwatersmagazine.com 33 33 Order The Greatest boating Swimbait Made! “The Shad” 804.466.0014

2020 Skeeter FXR21L Resets Bar Now Avail. at Fishing Of Excellence Again ProTech! Skeeter has been pushing the more dead rise and more beam to limits again as far as top of the smooth out the ride. line bass boats and the result is the The “constant curvature” design @JasonStMary 2020 FXR21 L. The designers down is a distinguishing feature of the @phoneyfrogsUSA in Kilgore Texas wanted to come hull. The hull curves from boat to up with a boat that met national stern with the widest point just touring pros’ standards as well as forward of the console so you get those of discerning recreational and a larger front casting deck and regional tournament anglers. oversized storage. The deck gun- Closed Cell, They came up with a new hull nels intersect the hull at a slight that measures 21’4” long and 97” angle, too, and that increases Carpet Waterproof EVA Foam wide, weighs 2,275 pounds and strength and rigidity to prevent Avail. in Camo, accommodates outboards up to 250 damage cause by impacts. hp, holds 48 gallons of fuel and Room at the bow panel is 70% Stinks... colors, your logo offers a list of standard features wider. Width at the RodStayz hold- or just about that reads like an F16 fighter jet ers is 10% wider. The front deck manual. square footage has increase 15%. Let us give anything! Starting with the appearance, Walk-through space at between longtime Skeeter fans will notice the consoles is 20% wider. The you an the Skeeter logo on the side has rear deck has 10% more square been changed. This makes the footage and the rigging opening estimate look of the boat totally different, is 104% larger. though the SKEETER capital let- Sponsors help to get the boat to install tering logo is still on the rear of quickly on plane as water flowing the gunnels. up from the setback pushes the SeaDek on The running surface of the hull sponsons up. At rest, they action is said to be totally redesigned as pontoons that allow you to wok your boat! and offer significantly less “slap” from side to side without annoying surface for a smoother ride in boat rock. choppy waves – it’s supposedly 37% Skeeter also uses an aluminum smoother than the FX hull. There’s torque transfer transom and stringer system that adheres high- Skeeter FXR21L test aircraft structural aluminum Come to the Ex-cel transom to totally see our dislay at the Richmond Fishing Expo Jan. 17-19! booth #100 Bimini Tops Canvas Innovations, Inc. Boat Covers (757)897-9002 Cell (804)642-6496 shop Gloucester, Virginia canvasinnovationsinc.com

34 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 “Mud Puppy has an incredible line-up of new and classic baits that have made a massive difference in my fishing.” Whitney Stephens, 2020 BASSMaster Classic Qualifier

Skeeter FXR21L cockpit with step-up middle seat. WE HAVE NEW BAITS FOR 2020: eliminate stress points. ventilation system, locker bar • Kermit Worm a 5.5” fatter, speed • 4” Flat-tail Ringworm The trend-responsive cockpit receptacle on the front dock, a worm with a bigger, colored tail features a huge Humminbird G3N battery on/off/jumper switch, bat- 31 Products with • Magnum Finesse 6” Little Chick CHIRP MEGA SI, GPS unit with tery charge indicator gauge, two More Being Added! temperature and networking to an- Black 8’ PowerPole Blades and • Magnum Trick 8” Big Chick other dash and/or the bow unit. At a Minn Kota Ultrex 112/MDI/IP • 6” Trickster trick worm the bow there another networked Link (Helix)trolling motor. Humminbird G3N CHIRP MEGA Other noteworthy design features SI, GPS unit. Anglers noted they include an in-floor cooler, a side preferred the Helix units over the step up to the front deck, four cup Solix units so Skeeter responded. holders, a center compartment that Offering the COMPETITIVE Edge! Avail. at: Dance’s The cockpit command center has stores tackle boxes (with a remov- Sporting Goods, digital gauges AND an analog push able tray system) and rods (mega Hand-Injected/Hand-Poured Custom Lures Colonial Heights button switch panel. The passen- tubes) and a very well thought Low Minimums & Special Pricing On Bulk Orders and Hooker ger and drivers seats are the new out bow panel. There’s also no Avail. in Grape, Anise, Coffee & Crawfish scents Bait & Tackle, Toano full flex sport seating system and carpet in rod lockers – just clean the center seat also functions as fiberglass. 804.895.1489 mudpuppycustomlures.com a step up to the rear deck and ice In the performance realm, the chest door. FTR21L is matched to a Yamaha The front deck has padded car- HPDI VMax Four Stroke Yamaha peting, LED storage box lighting 250 hp outboard hung on a 12” and LED deck lighting. Even hydraulic jackplate with a SHO NIKKO NEWS the Skeeter emblem on the deck VMax propeller. NIKKO BAIT #1 Selling lights up! Performance testing on the 2020 TOP SELLING Other standard niceties include a Skeeter FXR21L shows it to be a Hellgramite livewell system with independent fairly fast big boat with a remark- HELLGRAMITE ON On Amazon! fill, recirculate and drain modes ably soft landing in rough condi- AMAZON with timer and pump out and two tions. Top speed is around 72 mph Nikko spokesman Scott Bar- Top Smallmouth Bass Oxygenator aerations systems. An with two 240-pound passengers. rett told W2 on a recent field 800-gpm manual bilge backs up The 2020 Skeeter FXR21L sells testing trip that the Nikko Lure Now an 1,110-gpm auto bilge pump. for around $75K, freight, dealer Hellgramite is the #1 selling You get a Hamby keep protector, prep and taxes not included. hellgramite on Amazon.com. Available.. a Minn Kita 15 amp, four-bank For a look at the 2020 Skeeter This 3.5” bait is ultra-realistic, battery charger, Fusion Audio FXR21 call Anna’s Marine Center made from a nearly indestruc- Device with two Fusion speakers, at 540.894.9222. table plastic and comes pre- the famous Skeeter Dry Dock scented. It even bio-degrades and is safe if a fish swallows it. Fish them on a jighead in area rivers or on a drop shot in lakes this spring and find Try it this season out how many fish you can catch on a single bait. for BIG bass! Skeeter FXR21L

Stop by our area dealers: Rankin’s/Warrenton, Hooker Bait & Tackle/Toano, Jake’s Bait & Tackle/Winchester, Runions/Harrisonburg Driver’s view of console, gauges and Humminbird Helix 12. NIKKO HELLGRAMITE nikko-fishing.com

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 35 Be a Cold Crankin’, Ned bass fishing Riggin’, A-Rig Fool

GREAT 3 Tatics For Prespawn Bass

By C.C. MCCOTTER use a crankbait. Flat sided wooden crankbaits with coffin lips are what he used for years coming up in the ranks and now he teamed up with Berkley to make a bait more durable, more castable and Before the warm days of late spring arrive and fish are easy with better colors than wooden versions. The Frittside 5, 7 and 9 to catch in the region’s ponds, lakes and rivers you have to have series in Shad and Tennessee Blue are so popular Berkley Ba few tricks up your sleeve if fishing is tough. Cold fronts, wind, is having trouble keeping up with demand. fishing pressure, you name it, they can all add up to a frustrat- Casting light finesse crankbaits like the Bad Shad, Claud Hopper, ing day on the water. If want to have a three-pronged approach Jr. and Tanabe Shots is best accomplished using 7’ spinning rods to catching bass this spring proven to work, consider becoming with light monofilament of fluorocarbon line. The Frittsides and a cold crankin’, Ned riggin’, A-riggin’ fool. These are three very other larger cold water crankbaits are fine to cast on 7’ baitcasting adaptable tactics that will help you catch more bass from Anna rods. Don’t use any of them on super high rate of retrieve reels. to Moomaw, Back Bay to Buggs. Cold crankin’ is different from deer cranking structure in the summer. Often you’ll be targeting bass suspending in the middle Cold Crankin’ of a spawning cove near wood or rocks. The hot zone will depend Cold crankin’ is a term coined to describe using a crankbait in on the water clarity, and the clearer the water the deeper it is, the chilly waters of prespawn. Many anglers have incorporated but most cold crankin’ fish are hooked in 7-10’ with five foot of the use of suspending jerkbaits, themselves a type of crankbait, visibility and shallower with less. but did you know many anglers are quietly using more traditional You are targeting fish eating before they move to docks and other crankbaits to catch big bags of bass before the spawn? shallow structure to choose a spawning site. Many bass begin to Plugs like the new Berkley Frittside crankbait, the Berkley Bad eat bluegills that are also beginning to move shallow in March Shad, the Profound Outdoors Claud Hopper, Jr., 6th Sense Crush and April and that is why a crankbait is effective. 75 Flat, Evergreen Flat Force and Tifa Lure Co. Norio Tanabe Shot crankbaits are all on the spectrum of pre-spawn winners. Ned Riggin’ Crankbait guru and Bassmaster Elite Series angler David If you haven’t heard about this technique yet you really need Fritts says in cold water, 10’ or shallower is where you want to to start paying more attention to national bass fishing trends. If “If you want to have a three-pronged approach to catching bass this spring proven to work, consider becoming a cold crankin’ Ned riggin’, A-riggin’ fool.” 36 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Rage Bug, Roboworm offerings Tip you a-rigs with swimbaits the Missile Baits Bomb Shot close to the size of the baitfish bass and new Quiver and the ZOOM are eating. Don’t use a five-inch Beatdown Worm. swimbait if you see bass swirling on three-inch threadfin shad. The A-Rig Foolin’ Missile Baits 3.5 Shockwave is a A-rigs have evolved and been fine good, all-around a-rig option as tuned in recent years. Yes, anglers are the Berkley Ripple Shad baits. are still fishing the five-ounce TV 3 Super tough plastic baits might antenna type multi-arm rigs, but seem like a good idea, but they there has been a trend to downsize can be difficult to thread onto and refine a-rig offerings for more a-rig jig heads. finesse presentations. Speaking of jigheads, you’ll want Many of these new a-rigs include to use banana-shaped heads with a small, three-arm offering with a wire keeper on them. World an intricately detailed head (with Wide Sportsman make a good 1 inset line tie). These are especially version that will keep you baits productive when you want mimic in place after repeated casting Author with bass caught Two pre-spawn bass caught a pod of baitfish. and bites. on a Capt. Mack’s Mini Mac. Berkley Frittside crankbait. The Picasso BFL Legal version you haven’t started fishing it is popular. The Hog Farmer is yet, we’re not sure what you are another a-rig that has added Check Out Our waiting for. tiny willow-leave blades. The Ned riggin’ is a modification of Captain Mack’s Mini Mack is a guide-tested and US made smaller Affordable Ouboards techniques pioneered by angling 2020 6hp Tohatsu Sail Pro $1,450 icons like Chuck Woods, Guido a-rig originating on Georgia’s Lake Lanier. Clear water guide 2020 6 hp Tohatsu $1,405 Hibdon and Charlie Brewer. It 2020 8hp Tohatsu $1,775 was conceived and brought to Mack Farr is offering these on his website. YUM Flash Mob is 2020 9.8hp Tohatsu $1,980 mainstream attention by Ned 2017 9.8 hp Tohatsu $1,149 Kehde, an avid angler and vet- a national brand you’ll find in eran writer from the big box stores. Ed Allen’s Boats & Bait Kansas. Anglers looking to up the odds Kehde’s small jighead and plastic on late winter, pre-spawn bass 804.966.5368 still hanging around schools of combo may look unassuming on 1965 Allen Rd., Lanexa, VA the surface, but its slow fall and baitfish would do well to cover darting action are astonishing, a lot of water with a-rigs. Most almost always eliciting strikes in area fishermen will throw them even the toughest conditions. on a 7’6” baitcasting rod spooled Using four to eight-pound braided with 10-12-pound monofilament line with a fluorocarbon leader is like Berkley Trilene or Big Game. preferred by many anglers for Ned You don’t need super heavy line riggin’. A light action 7’ spinning as you aren’t usually fishing these rod and reel combo is the optimal things around heavy cover. A gear pairing. long distance cast is key as you You can fish at Ned rig by swim- want to avoid spooking fish and ming it slowly along the bottom, give them plenty of reaction and dragging and dead sticking it as chase time. well as using a hopping retrieve You’ll want to fish the a-rigs so the fish can eat it when the on points near spawning coves or bait is falling. Skipping a Ned anywhere else you see baitfish or rig under docks is also popular birds on baitfish because schooled and effective during the prespawn bass aren’t far away. period. Z-Man kinda started it all and their Finesse ShroomZ Ned rig heads are a standard. They have a welded wire keeper that keeps soft plastic Ned baits in place and aspirin type head . Their line of TRD (The Real Deal) stick baits are very popular among Ned riggin’ fools. The Hula 999 Stik is another popular Ned rig- Mojo rig. 899 gin’ option. The Elastech material these baits are made from permits an angler to use one bait to catch dozens of fish and the material is buoyant so the rate of fall is slow and the baits stand up on 2 the bottom. Other good Ned rig bait options Ned rigs catch a lot of bass include the Strike King Baby right before the spawn. March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 37 REGIONAL FOCUS

ChickahominyLake & River It appears that Spring has come early to the Tomahund is the place. If you got out the boat Chickahominy region with anglers happily Danny Whitaker had for the first time and it didn’t run, bring it in enjoying warm weather fishing on the lake this 8-0 largemouth and they can get you running again. They are and river last month. fishing last month also a stocking War Eagle boat and Mercury Big bass haven’t really stopped biting all Chickahominy Lake Marine dealer. winter here and March has the reputation out of Ed Allen’s Bass fishing headquarters for the region is for a month producing giants. Everything Boats & Baits. theTown ofToano. Here you’ll find Hooker Bait is set for new lake or river record! VDGIF & Tackle and Fishing Pro Tech - two amazing citation numbers cited in our Big Fish Best check our Calen- tackle shops. Bets article on page 12 indicate there’s not dar of Events each Hooker Bait & Tackle is the state’s largest finer place to target bass over 22 inches or month for dates. Profound Outdoors lure dealer and Bandit eight pounds than Chickahominy Lake. Guide Art Conway Lures dealer and has nearly 3,000 sq. ft. of This shallow, cypress knee and lilypad launches from Ed bass tackle of nearly every imaginable brand filled lake warms quickly and teems with Allen’s and he will plus Daiwa and 13 Fishing reels, Dobyns crappie, pickerel and, big bass in its weedy be putting clients rods and much, much more. They area also a shallows. on crappie and bass Torqueedo dealer. Top March patterns will be pitching jig-n- this month. Conway Lin Bell at Fishing ProTech has the new Matte pigs to cypress knees in the lower portion specializes in light tackle trips with spinning Magic Megabass Vision Minnows, the Norie of the lake, twitching jerkbaits over deeper and fly gear. Tanabe Shot crankbaits and the state’s largest wooden cover and fishing around the dam. On the upper Chickahominy River, Riverside selection of swimbaits and swimbait gear. You definitely want to fish deeper early in the Camp & Marina is one place where you’ll want David Adams at Adams Sports Mart wanted day around wood and then switch to shal- to access the Chick. The Bruce family operates to invite you to visit his and entre the Big Crap- lower flats. A Texas-rigged lizard is another a fine marina, boat ramp, tackle shop and boat pie Contest that will run through May. It costs good lure to fish in the lake this month. A rental service. nothing to enter and three places are paid back wacky-rigged stickbait can be good, too, if Rockahock Campground also offers excellent – $100 first, $50 second and $25 third. we get a rapid warmup. access to the upper Chickahominy River, plus a Rick Baker at Absolutely Outdoors notes Ed Allen’s Boats & Bait is a lower lake resort type campground and rental cottages. his shop just off Rt. 155 on the north side marina with ramp, tackle shop, restaurant, As March progresses there will be a good of I-64 welcomes area anglers, hunters and fishing pier and boat/motor rentals. Three crappie and bass feed in the lily pads fields just shooting enthusiasts. Turkey hunters will pontoons are also available for rent. Ed below Walker’s Dam around Rockahock. find plenty of decoys, ammo, guns and other Allen’s bass tournaments are held weekly On the lower end of the river is Tomahund gear to choose from this month at the shop. with each month’s events posted in our Marine. If you need any kind of marine repair The fishing selection is excellent, so you can Calendar of Events. work, marine part, outboard oil or inflatable, expect to find what you need on the shelves. Eagles Landing is another good access C.C. McCotter point to the lake, offering visiting anglers a fine concrete ramp, tackle shop, live bait, pontoon and jon boat rental and wet slips. Barber Shop AREA BOATING HEADQUARTERS! Eagles Landing has a number of tourna- ments scheduled for this season including In Store! Tomahund Marine

For a map of the Chickahominy River or Lake visit woodsandwaterssmagazine.com eight-hour day/night team events and the Outboard Repair & Service three-hour mid-week team events. For more Servicing most outboards info email [email protected] or & sterndrives. We also stock Parts, Accessories, Outboard Oil 804. And Marine Supplies 966.8462 Located near the Rt. 5 Bridge/ Chickahominy River, Tactical, Hand & Hunting Guns• Ammo Come See in Charles City Co. Live Bait • • Archery Our New 804.829.9888 or Near Providence Forge 7,500 sq. ft. 804.370.3795 10500 New Kent Hwy. (Rt. 155) Store! [email protected] Great Fishing On The Chickahominy River! Make 2020 the year you explore the lake with us! Jon Boat & Motor Rentals Concrete Ramp • Fishing License Camping • Rental Cabins Eagles Landing HUGE Senko & Yamamoto selection! The ONLY place on the on Chickahominy Lake! Chickahominy River you • Concrete boat ramp always open • Jon boat rentals can rent jon boats. Directions: I-64 to exit 214 S (Rt. 155) - 155 • Day & night fishing/rentals S to Rt. 60 E, 3.5 mi. east of Providence riversidecampandmarina.com • Boat Slips available Forge, to Rt. 650 S & follow signs 804 • Tackle, Live Bait & Ice 966-5536 • Restaurant/ A.B.C. On/Off Where memories are [email protected] • Mechanic On Site for Boat, made & shared! 804 966-9094 715 Riverside Dr. • Lanexa, VA. 23089 Motor & Trailer Repairs! email us @[email protected]

38 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Where Anglers & Their Families Are Welcome! CHICK/JAMES TIDE/MOON CHART

HIGH LOW F HIGH LOW HIGH LOW HIGH LOW U 1 1:26am 7:54am L 10 11:00am 4:45am 19 7:14am 12:39am 28 12:34am 6:59am 1:48pm 7:56pm L 11:22pm 5:11pm 7:31pm 1:28pm 12:57pm 6:59pm 2 2:15am 8:49am 11 11:48am 5:37am 20 8:08am 1:37am 29 1:11am 7:39am 2:40pm 8:48pm ---- 5:58pm 8:21pm 2:17pm 1:35pm 7:37pm 3 3:14am 9:52am 12 12:12am 6:30am 21 8:53am 2:28am 30 1:53am 8:25am 3:41pm 9:49pm 12:37pm 6:45pm 9:05pm 2:59pm 2:18pm 8:22pm 4 4:20am 10:59am 13 1:03am 7:23am 22 9:33am 3:14am 31 2:42am 9:18am 4:48pm 10:55pm 1:27pm 7:34pm 9:43pm 3:37pm 3:10pm 9:16pm 5 5:27am 12:01pm 14 1:57am 8:19am 23 10:10am 3:55am 5:54pm 11:59pm 2:20pm 8:27pm 10:19pm 4:12pm April Tides N 6 6:30am ---- 15 2:54am 9:18am E 24 10:45am 4:33am 1 3:41am 10:20am Free use of boat W ramp for our guests. 6:54pm 12:58pm 3:17pm 9:24pm 10:54pm 4:46pm 4:12pm 10:20pm 7 7:28am 1:00am 16 3:57am 10:22am 25 11:18am 5:10am 2 4:48am 11:25am 7:50pm 1:50pm 4:20pm 10:27ppm 11:27pm 5:19pm 5:20pm 11:29pm Cottages - Villas - Yurts 8 9:21am 1:58am 17 5:05am 11:28am 26 11:50am 5:46am 9:42pm 3:39pm 5:27pm 11:34pm ---- 5:51pm Boat Ramp - Pool - Restaurant 9 10:11am 3:52am 18 6:13am ---- 27 12:00am 6:22am (804) 966-8362 10:33pm 4:25pm 6:33pm 12:31pm 12:23pm 6:24pm James River All corrections taken from Newport News Chickahominy rockahockcampground.com -0:12 Jordan Point +1:22 Richmond Deepwater Terminal +3:45 Ferry Point +4:55 Mt. Airy +1:23 Petersburg +1:57 Richmond City Locks +4:25 Wright Island +5:20 Lanexa A short ride from Williamsburg attractions 1428 Outpost Road, Lanexa, VA 23089 Conway's River Rat Fly Fishing & Light Tackle Specialist Guide Service on Chickahominy Lake & River 804.746.2475 [email protected] New Capt. Art Conway Toano headquarters for

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 39 REGIONAL FOCUS

Richmond Tidal James River Region March in the Richmond area means it’s time River. With the mild weather of February to start fishing the tidal James for big blue minimal rains, this run could develop earlier catfish. It’s been several years since the James than usual, possibly by mid-March, certainly held the state record for blue cat and now, by the end of the month. it would have to be a world record since the Anglers will want to get out the fly rods and 143-pound giant was caught from Buggs shad flies as well as the light spinning rods Island a few years back. and four to six-pound test line so they can cast Guides and recreational anglers know that traditional shad offers like Nungesser spoons in March the big blues are feeding heavily and shad darts. Brugiere stocks plenty of the in preparation for the spawn. When the wa- 1.5 inch spoons and darts in plenty of bright ter hits 50 degrees algae really takes off on colors with some dressed with feathers and river rocks which in turn brings in the gizzard the shad love ‘em. shad, and that leads to the big cats coming The fish will pool at the fall line in Richmond in to eat them. and anglers by the hundreds will target them. A spokesman for James River Tackle Co. The Ancarrows ramp is the best place to launch in Hopewell says cut shad on bottom rigs your boat, but take care there are rocks and with up to eight ounces of weight to counter This is one happy nine-year-old that caught this swift currents. tide and current is where it’s at now. Most 5-8 using a Surfside Bait & Tackle minnow on Brugiere invites you to stop by the shop and anglers can catch fish over 30 pounds on a #4 crappie hook in a private pond. check out his large selection of shad fishing nearly every outing now. gear this month. Switching over to crappie fishing, it’s also Pitching a small jig or a spinnerbait are com- Lake Chesdin anglers are catching bass and time to get out on the river and start fishing for mon March patterns on the river. crappie already. The bass are on bait in creeks freckles.The first good fishing will commence Let’s not forget the annual shad run up the like Whippernock, Stoney, Cattle and Nama- in the Dutch Gap barge pit and perhaps just James will get started this month, too. zene. Try a small crankbait or swimbait until below the fall line in Richmond around the Once the river reaches 50 degrees the hickory the fish to shallow wood. Canal Walk and old wood structures. and American shad will start up the James. Robbie Patterson and his team at Propeller Fish slip bobbers and minnows for fish in Anglers will ambush them, usually around Dynamics welcome you and your rig to the 4-10’ of water. You can also cast small jigs to the fall line using everything from fly rods shop, just don’t wait until the last minute and locate fish quickly. and shad flies, to Nungesser spoons, shad expect a quick turnaround. Bass anglers are working the James and darts and Rigs. Patterson is now selling Xpress aluminum Appomattox Rivers now in preparation for Check with local shops like Surfside Bait boats as well as offer marine repairs, marine the kick off event of their seasons. Many will & Tackle, Castaway Sporting Goods and electronics installation and operating as a fish barge pits where the clearest water is, James River Tackle Co. for up-to-date fishing factory-authorized Minn Kota and MotorGuide others will seek out thermal discharges - the information. repair job.The will also service, sell and install places that one can fish are almost endless Robert Brugiere of Surfside Bait & Tackle is the new Lowrance and Garmin trolling motors. on the river in March if current warm, low counting the days until the first reports of Donnie Bell

For a map of the James River visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com rain conditions persist. shad in the upper reaches of the tidal James

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40 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 what’s new?

Wild Elk Watching Adventures Now Happening In Buchanan County Buchanan County in Southwest Virginia nearby Breaks . with mountaintop cabins, full hook-up has been established as the Elk Capital of “Wild Buchanan,” Buchanan County Tour- pull-through RV sites and other camp- Virginia and offers numerous outdoor ad- ism, in cooperation with Southern Gap ground facilities offered at Southern Gap, ventures including watching wild elk up Outdoor Adventure, DGIF Wildlife Manage- as well as local hotels and Breaks Inter- close from public viewing shelters at South- ment Areas, Breaks Interstate Park and area state Park. ern Gap Outdoor Adventure, or seasonal outfitters offer a variety of family friendly For more information on Wild Buchanan guided elk watching tours in conjunction activities for all ages and skill levels in addi- adventures contact: with the Southern Gap Elk Visitor Center. tion to wildlife watching for elk, deer, bear, The wild elk herd, now exceeding 270, was turkey, hawks, eagles, songbirds and many Wild Buchanan restored to the Southern Gap and War Fork more. www.WILDBUCHANAN.COM 276-244-1542 areas of Buchanan County from 2012-14 Thousands of mountainous acres offer Southern Gap Outdoor Adventure with 71 elk transported from nearby Ken- public access for world class trout fishing, www.sgadventures.com 276-244-1111 tucky through a cooperative program with ATV, UTV and mountain bike trail rides, hik- Elk Restoration Project ing, canoeing/kayaking wild rivers, stargaz- www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/elk/restoration/ the Virginia Department of Game & Inland DGIF Marion Regional Office Fisheries, Rocky Mountain Elk Founda- ing pitch- black night skies, zip-lines and 276-783-4860 tion - Virginia Chapters, Southwest Virginia motorcycling on winding Virginia Scenic Breaks Interstate Park Sportsmen Inc., Buchanan County and local Byways. www.vastateparks.virginia.gov landowners. Although the elk are protected from hunt- 276-865-4413 The elk are scattered throughout 8,000 ing in Buchanan, Dickenson and Wise coun- VA RMEF Vol. Rendezvous Weekend acres of private and public lands that en- ties so the herd can grow to a sustainable March 28-30, 2020 compass Spearhead Trails’ Coal Canyon level, in-season hunting opportunities are www.rmef/virginia/events ATV Trail, which boasts more than 200 miles available for deer, turkey, bear, , Leon Boyd 276.210.2292 of ATV, mountain biking and hiking trails rabbit and more (see DGIF Regulations). [email protected] between the trailhead at Southern Gap and Lodging is plentiful throughout the region

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The big news at Lake Anna is the near Branch and Terry’s Run will hold shallow crap- miss by Bill Deeds of a lake record, five- pie first this month. Johnson Beetle Spins in fish limit. Fishing in mid-February, Deeds muddy water are good when you are trying to sacked a 27.30-pound limit that came close locate big fish scattered on flats. Try two-inch to besting the historic mark of 27.80. Need- jigs on a 1/16-ounce head for fish on structure less to say, bass fishing has been good on or a slip bobber/minnow combination. the lake with the mild winter. Crappie fishing McCotter notes a good suspending jerkbait has been decent, while striper fishing has bite developed last month for anglers fishing been tough. Here’s what you can expect on for bass in the mid and lower up lake regions a March visit along with some news from since the lake has remained relatively clear. around the lake. Further on up, anglers were using the Dave’s Guide C.C. McCotter notes an early spring Tournament Tackle spinnerbait to catch large- is on the way and the fish have responded mouth in more stained, shallower water. Down well to the warm weather of last month. Water lake bass were eating three-four inch swimbaits temperatures ranged from 46-54 around the and crankbaits like the new Berkley Frittsides main lake and 58-72 on the “hot” side. #5 in Tennessee Blue and Honey Shad. Bill Deeds had a nearly record-breaking day last Crappie could push shallow and attempt to These patterns will continue to produce in month when he amassed this 27.30-pound limit fish- spawn around the full moon on March 10 if early March but wane a bit once the fish move ing out of Anna Point Marina. the water temperatures approaches 60 in the to shallow wood like docks and stumps. Once upper end of the lake. More than likely they McCotter urges you to release all fish under this happens, it’ time to break out the Ned rigs will just push shallow and feed on threadfin 10”. He also notes the owner of The Boardwalk and shaky head worms. If the water approaches shad returning to the warming up-lake shal- at Lake Anna will enforce the No Fishing From 60, you can also use wacky-rigged stickbaits lows. The biggest spawn will probably occur Docks policy, so beware. and soft plastic jerkbaits. in early April. The up lake region will be best The upper North Anna tributaries as well as March striper fishing can be quite good if for crappie fishing this month. those in the upper portion of the Pamunkey you find the fish. Some years they are down For a map of Lake Anna visit woodsandwatersmaagazine.com a map of Lake For

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42 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020

NEW LOCATION! New and used 5819 boat sales, full Courthouse Rd, service, repair and Spotsylvania customization of all Courthouse, VA Dr. Paul with some bass he caught with major brands. FULL MARINE SERVICE 22551 McCotter’s Lake Anna Guide Service last (on Rt. 208) month using the Berkley Frittside crankbait. & BOAT SALES at Dike III. Other years the mid-lake region TheDryDock.net (540) 302-3142 is best. When we have mild winters and early springs, the up lake region is best, McCotter says. He prefers to target March striper and wiper up lake using shallow water tactics. He sug- gests you cast swimbaits or jerkbaits right to the bank in the upper section of all three major tributaries and work them all the way to the boat. Strikes will often occur as you are about to pull the lure out of the water or about five feet off the bank. Turning to the news from around the lake’s fishing marinas Fish Tales at Anna Point has announced they will hold a full schedule of weekend open team bass tournaments as well as crappie tournaments with Dave at Anna Point Marina Fauntleroy at the helm as Tournament Di- rector. Top local and regional anglers will Lake Anna's Fishing Headquarters test their competitive skills on one of the east coast’s premier bass fisheries during the height of the spring season starting NEW FOR 2020... this month. Over at High Point Marina, the Wood fam- ily and staff invite you to join them for the Our 2020 Crappie Full Open Team 2020 fishing season. This is the only place on the lake that offers a waterfront motel (The Tournament Bass Tournament Lighthouse Inn), in addition to boat ramps, Schedule Starts storage and a great tackle shop. Series Begins Inside the shop you’ll find the only place to In March!!! In March!!! purchase the guide-selected gear like Capt. Mack’s spoons, the Toothache spoon (it’s back), special colors of MEGABass jerkbaits, the Patrick Sebile-designed Hyperplastics Please Call Dave @540.840.6772 for more info. Dartspin, Tiger Shad Lake Anna Special spinnerbaits and much more. Rules & Details at www.annapoint.com The Sturgeon Creek Marina Lake Anna Win- ter Series concluded at the end of January with the team of Matt Martin and Josh Hall crowned Winter Kings with 160.65 pounds of bass caught in 10 events - 49 fish total, just one short of a limit each day. Martin and Hall won despite a strong charge continued on page 44 Join Us this year for some great days on the water with family & friends! 540.895.5900 www.annapoint.com e-mail: [email protected] 13721 Anna Point Lane, Mineral, VA 23117

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 43 Lake Anna Report

by Nate Sullivan and Eric Johnson who won look awesome. This is a totally new Skeeter three out of the last five events. right down to new graphics and colors. See Week 6 saw Sullivan and Johnson begin to our Boat Review piece on the Skeeter FXR21L surge. They brought in 18.07 pounds to win. on page 34. The following week saw the duo weigh a B&L Country Store is nearby and where most 21.10-pound limit for another victory. Hall and Dike 3 anglers go for food and fuel. This shop Martin took back Week 8 with 17.62 pounds. serves hot breakfast, lunch and dinner items Sullivan and Johnson kept fighting by winning as well as live baits. Week 9 with 18.90. Travis Lugar and James The Anglers Catwalk at Dike 3 has been re- Graves won Week 10 with 19.26. moved. Anglers are still able to fish from the This was one of the most-fished Winter shore and launch kayaks but there is no fishing Series in history with 30 teams participating from the bridge permitted any longer. March throughout. Big fish for the series was 8.11, could bring saugeye within reach of Dike III caught by Alex Pirowksi in Week 2. anglers. Use white grubs for the saugeye at Dee Kidd at Anna’s Marine Center invites you night. to stop by the dealership and check out his Uncle Mike’s Bait &Tackle at Elk Creek Country selection of Skeeter, TRACKER, Nitro, Tahoe, Travis Lugar and James Graves with the Store is hot side fishing headquarters. Inside Sun Tracker and Bennington boats. 19.26-pound limit that won them the January 26 you’ll find food, fuel, live bait and tackle for all The new SKEETER FXR boats are in and Sturgeon Creek Marina Winter Series. species. Chrissie McCotter

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44 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 Fishing Guides • Rental Pontoons • Boat Slips • Boat Storage • Fuel • Tackle Shop • Boat Repairs

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 45 REGIONAL FOCUS Smith Mountain Lake Smith Mountain Lake was around 46 degrees deep. Wilson says to pay attention to sea on the surface from mid to down lake by the gulls still when looking for fish. mid-February W2 deadline. Spike and Kathy Francescini operate The lake level was 794.51’ by mid-February Spike’s Prime Time Fishin’, one of the and holding steady. This was slightly higher longest continuously operated guide than it was at the end of January. Keep in services in Virginia. mind normal pond is 795’. Expect the lake to They will begin fishing again this month hold steady this month and continue to warm and note the lake’s striper population slightly. Anglers will have their run of the place continues to grow and that March and and fishing will be good. April are two of the best months to land Woods & Waters Regional Editor and lake a citation (20+ pound) SML striper. guide, Dale Wilson says March will be a good Smith Mountain received Woods & month to fish the lake for largemouth bass, Waters Overall Big Fish Best Bet this smallmouth bass, striper and crappie. year because of it’s top three rankings The lake’s smallmouth bass population will for striped bass citations (#1), largemouth be active this month, feeding in preparations bass citations, smallmouth bass citations Wayne, Brandon and Luke Harris, Brady and Jason for their annal spawn. Generally speaking and crappie citations. Underwood, and Charles Hughett with Spike’s Prime the best smallmouth fishing is within sight Not only do the Franceschinis offer Time Fishin’ had this nice rack of winter striper. of the dam here. guided fishing trips but they also rent Target SML brown bass on rock ledges, imitators on Moon Eye heads or use suspending lodging they own at the lake. Kathy’s humps and rocky points near deep waters jerkbaits and swimbaits depending if they are Place, 3 br/2b, sleeps eight with game using tubes, dop shotted minnow baits and eating alewives, shad or crawfish. room. The other rental is is a 2 br/1 bath, suspending jerkbaits. Wilson tries to targets striper in the upper section sleeps four with kitchen in the great room. Most February largemouth bass will be of the lake this month, especially in larger creeks, Both have flat screen tvs and wifi and caught around main channel points, brush but says they can be anywhere and constantly fully equipped kitchens. Guests enjoy piles, on rock piles, ledges and under docks. moving now. use of the docks and also water, electric, Best depths will be from six to 30 feet deep. . His best lures are swimbaits, jigging spoons and cleaning stand and room to park boats. You can pursue the differently, using spoons, ZOOM flukes fished on 1/4 to 3/4 oz. jigheads. The YOu also get use of a golf car with each spy baits, multi-arm rigs and plastic minnow best depths will be from near the surface to 40 feet rental to use to and from the docks.

REGIONAL EDITOR POSITION OPEN For maps of Smith Mountain Lake visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com Smith Mountain Regional Editor. If you would like to have fun while making extra money in the outdoor field email us at [email protected]. Generous compensation for part time work.

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46 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 REGIONAL FOCUS

Buggs/Gaston Kerr Lake/Lake Gaston

Buggs Island/Kerr Reservoir When I realized it was a spotted bass, I thought The water level on Kerr Lake by the W2 late we might have the state record.” February deadline was 305.35’ and falling Gunn had landed a 5-7 spotted bass for after rainfall raised the lake to a peak of Pridemore, a weight easily surpassing the 308.81’ on February 13. On February 5 the current Virginia state record mark for spotted lake was at 298.59’. Full pool is 300’. bass at 4-12 (Claytor Lake). Daytime water temperatures varied from They called the Virginia Department of Game 46-48 degrees depending on the region of & Inland Fisheries to arrange for a certified the lake.This month anglers should expect a scale to verify the catch. During conversation significant rise in water temperatures - back with the local Conservation Officer, Gunn down to around 55-60 degrees eventually. noted where they were fishing. Turns out the Before you head out onto the lake, be sure fish would have been a Virginia state record to stop by ’s Bait and Tackle to get a had they caught it in Virginia waters. current fishing report and all the gear you Most of Gaston lies within North Carolina, and could possibly need.You can also ask about where they caught the fish was no exception. Bobby Whitlow, Jr. who, after a serious health The North Carolina record for spotted bass is issue in January, is doing better. over six pounds from Lake Norman that has The nearby Town of Clarksville welcomes had spots in it for nearly 20 years. anglers and two motels in particular really “I think the spots in Gaston will eventually roll out the red carpet - the Magnuson and Frank Pridemore with the 5-7 pound spotted bass get that big,” Gunn told W2. The Lake Motel. Both are right on the water he caught last month fishing Lake Gaston with Gunn and Pridemore fish the Virginia BASS and a five-minute drive from Occoneechee fishing partner Mike Gunn. Federation, Region 3 out of Richmond. They State Park. chose to fish Gaston that day after heavy partner Frank Pridemore were fun fishing Lake rains raised nearby Kerr Reservoir nearly 10’ Lake Gaston Gaston out of Peal Hill Creek when Pridemore in three days. The water temperature was 48 Near the end of February the water level hooked what appeared to be a nice, but not degrees. Gunn is an employee of the BPS in on Gaston was around 199.40’ (200’ is full giant largemouth bass. Hanover so if you want to know more you can pool) and Dominion was holding the level “We were throwing Strike King crankbaits stop by and seek him out. steady. Water temperatures ranged from on points and were catching some two- to W2 reported on Gaston’s spotted bass two 48-50 degrees with the up lake section just three-pound bass, spots and largemouth,” years back. North Carolina Wildlife Resources below Kerr Dam the coolest. Anglers can Gunn told W2 recently. Commission District 3 Fisheries Biologist Kirk expect 55- degree water temperatures for We had already caught six or seven when Rundle told us he was concerned about the

For maps of Buggs Island or Lake Gaston visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com March. Frank hooked a good one. When I saw it and introduction of spots in the lake. On February 9 Mike Gunn and his fishing then lipped it, I figured it was nice largemouth.

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Largest selection of fishing Home of the VA/Carolina “It’s a great place tackle in the Lake Country Crappie Trail on Buggs to start your Lake area! Island. Gaston fishing adventure,” Winter Hours: - Guide, Boat Ramp Rick Morris Open Mon.-Sat. Rental Cabins 7a-7p Campsites BASS TACKLE We Sell Live Bait/ Camp Store Shimano - Lews Minnows By The Pound! St. Croix - G. Loomis CRAPPIE TACKLE ABU Garcia - Yamamoto Buggs Island/Kerr Reservoir 12690 Hwy. 15, Wally Marshall Lake Gaston Hawg Caller Spinnerbaits south of Clarkville, VA 23927 Eagle Claw - B’n’M Poles Americacamps Dave’s Tournament Tackle Driftmaster - Bait Tanks Bandit – Lucky Craft - YUM Anglers welcome! Reaction Innovation – ZOOM FUEL & MARINE SUPPLIES 9 Lakeside Lane, Bracey, VA 23919 434.374.8381 (434) 636-2668 [email protected] www.bobcatslakecountry.com lakegastonamericacamps.com

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 47 REGIONAL FOCUS Potomac River This month brings the widest swing on the Fish this area with split shots, or worked down drops. Use tidal Potomac River… early it fishes like late Carolina rigs and drop shots. 1/2 or 1/4 ounce baits…10- winter, by month’s end, it’s early spring! Use suspending baits where pound test Gamma Edge March is transition time. Fish are moving. you find clear water. In the same fluorocarbon when water After last year’s absence of grass, hopefully areas, use 1/4-ounce double is this cold, allowing baits look for new grass beginning to green up. willow nickel blade spinnerbaits to vibrate with very little Don’t ignore hard cover, drops, points and with white/chartreuse skirts to movement. inside creek bends in creek mouths and pick off aggressive fish. Once water gets to 45 river points. In deeper water, jigs produce. degrees and stabilizes, toss Fish stage in creek mouths like Swan, Pis- Slower presentations with Pun- jerkbaits to six-foot depths. cataway, Broad, Dogue and Little Hunting isher hair jigs in brown/orange, Keep them deep and slow before going to spawning areas. Bryan’s green/ orange, and black/blue and in clearest water pos- Cove across from Mount Vernon is a good with matching plastic chunks sible. early spring spot. Areas warmed by sun will and rattles on eight-pound test Outside the Spoils use the be best. Better areas are close to deep water. Gamma Copoly land nice fish. Blue Plains outflow and sun Spoils, Smoot Bay, Blue Plains and other Let Blue Plains current move soaked cover and banks DC areas are heating up as fish move to the baits. Try warm water discharge to warm your spot. A few upper edges of drops. Water temperature in Four Mile Run too. degrees change the mood is critical. With colder temperatures, of fish, adjust your in depth Into low 40’s, find fish on steep drops near 38-42, fish will be depth-orient- and speed. Slowly retrieve banks and deep water. Into mid 40’s fish ed on steep drops 8-15 feet deep. tight wiggle crankbaits flats near drops. Temperatures around 50, There’s a hole in front of Spoils Captain Mike of Apex Predators/ and lipless crankbaits and fish are still near drops, but venture further nearly 20 feet deep. Locate Potomac Creek, LLC Mike got on pause to entice strikes. Try onto flats becoming candidates for aggres- the ditch running outside the the tidal Rappahannock River with reds, fireshad, and char- sive baits. Spoils to the Bridge, perfect for the Catman himself, Bryan Tilson, treuse with a brown back. Blue Plains water is near 60 degrees already. Silver Buddys vertically jigged and had this 60-pounder. Fish aren’t hitting any bait

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48 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 very hard, so very sharp crankbait hooks become more critical. Upgrade with new KVD Elite short shank Mustad Ultra Point trebles.These are a great replacement hook with an angled point. 1 12:36am 6:42am 10 9:46am 4:16am 19 5:49am 12:08am 28 11:47am 5:58am

For spinnerbaits, wait for water to stabilize FULL at 45 degrees. Fish are on flats near drops. 12:40pm 7:34pm 10:14pm 4:41pm 6:12pm 12:15pm ---- 6:48pm 1:23am 29 12:25am 6:32am Keeping your rod tip low, slowly retrieve 2 7:26am 11 10:35am 5:02am 20 6:44am 1:03am 1:27pm 8:28pm 11:05pm 5:34pm 7:08pm 1:13pm 12:22pm 7:26pm 3/8-ounce willow/Colorado gold blades, 3 2:17am 8:18am 12 11:24am 5:48am 21 7:35am 1:53am 30 1:05am 7:12am maintaining bottom contact. For light 2:21pm 9:32pm 11:56pm 6:26pm 7:58pm 2:06pm 1:04pm 8:09pm bites, try a medium/heavy fast graphite 4 3:17am 9:18am 13 ---- 6:35am 22 8:21am 2:39am 31 1:50am 7:59am rod; otherwise use a medium heavy. Look 3:23pm 10:41pm 12:14pm 7:20pm 8:44pm 2:54pm 1:53pm 9:00pm for strikes as baits near drops. 5 4:19am 10:28am 14 12:50am 7:23am 23 9:04am 3:20am April Tides Plastics bites are light. Fish light line very 4:29pm 11:46pm 1:06pm 8:15pm 9:26pm 3:39pm slowly, stopping frequently. Attractants 6 5:19am 11:42am 15 1:47am 8:15am 24 9:42am 3:58am 1 2:44am 8:53am NEW encourage fish to hold on. Stick with Mud 5:34pm ---- 2:02pm 9:12pm 10:05pm 4:21pm 1 2:49pm 10:02pm 6:15am 12:44am 9:11am 2 3:44am 9:57am Puppy Custom three-inch avocado SR 7 16 2:47am 25 10:17am 4:32am 6:34pm 12:50pm 3:02pm 10:11pm 10:42pm 5:01pm 3:54pm 11:08pm grubs (stingray style), Mizmo four-inch 8 8:07am 1:38am 17 3:49am 10:12am 26 10:48am 5:02am tubes in green pumpkin colors for these 8:29pm 2:51pm 4:06pm 11:10pm 11:17pm 5:38pm techniques. Lifting the rod you might feel 9 8:57am 3:28am 18 4:50am 11:14am 27 11:17am 5:29am Tides for Aquia Creek. See corrections below weight, so keep the rod tip a bit lower to set 9:22pm 3:47pm 5:10pm ---- 11:50pm 6:13pm the hook, just reel and lift. ¼ ounce round Corrections: Dahlgren: ball head jigs and ¼ ounce Mud Puppy tube Alexandria: Occoquan Bay: Port Tobacco: Low: -3:01 heads have open Mustad Ultra Point hooks Washington Channel: Low: +2:21 Low: +1:04 Low: -2:35 High: -3:14 making it easier to get hooks into sluggish Low: +2:32 High: +1:45 High: + :26 High: -2:40 fish. On 6 or 8-pound test line and spin- High: +1:28 Lewisetta: Low: -4:52 High: -2:40 Cornfield: Low: +7:50 High: +7:27 ning gear, work very slowly on the bottom stopping often. Rather than hopping, lift, 2020 VA Top 100 Schedule let glide and stop with a shake every once in a while. Sitting tubes tantalize fish into Northern Division striking when barely moved. 4/24 - Potomac River Drop shot all depths using 6-8 pound test fluorocarbon with leaders about eight 5/22 - Potomac River inches or less and 3/16-ounce Bullshot 6/26 - Potomac River bullet shaped split shot weights. Rig SR grubs on 2/0 Mustad Mega Bite hooks, Leesylania State Park 3/0 with 5-inch Mud Puppy Custom Lures DS (drop shot) worms. Settle on bottom, vatop100.com gently shake. In warmer water split shot and Carolina rigs cover water, producing good catches. Braid and tungsten weights increase feel with fluorocarbon 10-12 pound test lead- 5” ers. Five-inch Mud Puppy Custom Lures 5’ Hardware & Senkos Brush Monkeys on 3/0 Mustad Ultra Point Just ankin's Sporting Goods $750 R /pack! hooks work well. Compact, Punisher hair jigs breathe, Warrenton's Fishing & Hunting Headquarters! generating strikes while sitting in cold water! Two colors...black/blue, and olive/ PRO BASS TACKLE SELECTION INCLUDING ZMan, Jackall Bros., Yamamoto, ZOOM, orange. Light line and Punisher Chunks Bandit crankbaits, Damiki Hydra Evolution, Logic Lures, Culprit, Sunline/Samurai Braid with rattles work very well moving very slowly, sitting for a while. 251 W LEE HWY STE 719, WARRENTON, VIRGINIA • 540-347-2499 Later in March, as water stays above 45 degrees, slowly retrieve lipless crankbaits in red patterns covering flats near deep water, looking for grass. Half ounce baits run deeper and have a lot of vibration. Mustad Ultra Point Triple Grip trebles SPORTSMAN make it easier to keep fish on. Crawfish are coming alive and fish are eating and moving at month’s end! MARINE 703.583.0300 Bowes & Arrows is now ordering, selling and transfering guns in addition to being Northern Virginia's Trolling Motor Repair Center archery and bowfishing headquarters for the area. Want to get outfitted for snake- Minn Kota Sales & Repairs/Factory Authorized Repair Center head this season? Stop by and have Robert Depth finder installation & Sales • Pontoon Refurbishing set you up a Mud Dawg. Rankins in Warreton is where you’ll want WE ARE NOW SELLING AND SERVICING to shop for Ned heads, VMC Moon Eye heads and all the terminal tackle and soft plastics you read about in national and regional magazines! They have a great TROLLING MOTORS!!! Shallow Water Anchor System Dealer selection. 2615 Hanco Center Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22191 Capt. Steve Chaconas & C.C. McCotter

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 49 REGIONAL FOCUS Northwest River, North BACK BAY River, Currituck Sound Winter has begun to fade away and an- glers around Back Bay are looking forward to bass fishing. Anglers will want to explore getting back out on the water and fishing for and fish Pocaty Creek, Milldam, Blackwater some spring time swamp donkeys. and West Neck Creeks. You can launch into James Watersnotes early spring bass the North Landing River out of the Munden anglers here will fish the Northwest River Point ramp if you want to give this fishery a using creature baits, spinnerbaits, swimbaits Brian Skeens try this season. Visiting anglers should use and suspending jerkbaits, mostly around had the creature baits and spinnerbaits along the main river points and wood. It won’be until biggest bass banks in the river this month. next month that fish begin to venture into in February North Bay Shore Campground is head- the creeks. fishing out of quarters for North Bay or the upper portion For a March visit Waters says to stop in Bob’s of Back Back behind Sandbridge. North Bay an he’ll give you some tips on where to try Fishing Hole Shore Campground welcomes anglers and fishing. Deep shoreline wood on the main with this has cabins and a bath house for overnight river using creature baits and the drop shot nearly seven stays. A canal runs right behind the cabins, can be productive when the fish aren’t chas- pounder. so you can keep your boat in the water! Best ing. You can fish from spot to spot using the of all, the campground is 10 minutes from Sandbridge restaurants. suspending jerkbait like a Megabass Vision North Landing Beach Resort Campground The crappie fishing is outstanding in the 110 Minnow. River bends with a channel is fishing basecamp for the North River. Archie protected canals and creeks around North near a creek mouth are always good places invites you to fish and stay with them this Bay. You can even catch them in the canals to probe. month. North Landing Beach Resort is close around the cabins and boat ramp. That Stop by Bob’s and shop an incredible selec- to free boat ramps on Back Bay, the North should commence at some point this month tion of baits or bring your own. The tackle Landing River (on site) and within a 20-minute when the water warms to 52-54 degrees. shop here is amazing. You’ll find bladed jig drive to Bob’s Fishing Hole. There will be a St. We welcome Capt. Jeff Onley to Woods lures, shallow diving crankbaits, creature baits Patrick’s Day & Waters this month. Onley will cover this like a ZOOM Ultra Vibe Speed Craw, frogs of There are tennis courts, basketball courts, region for us as only a guide can and we look all kinds, Senko and YUM Dingers, Johnson cabins, a clubhouse and a pool to enjoy. For maps of Back Bay visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com forward to his forecasts. Silver spoons and much more. The North Landing River also offers good C.C. McCotter

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50 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 REGIONAL FOCUS Chesapeake Bay If you are looking for Chesapeake Bay move further. Small minnows or grass shrimp fishing conditions be sure and visit http:// on a bottom rig is a good choice. Lip hooking eyesonthebay.dnr.maryland.gov/eyesonthe- a minnow with a split shot about two feet in bay and hit the Click BeforeYou Cast Link. On front is a great way to search for yellow perch this helpful site you’ll find plenty of water as it is slowly retrieved along the bottom. The temperature information, oxygen levels and Nanticoke, Wicomico, Pocomoke, Occoquan even some fishing tips. and various other tributaries to the Potomac The lower bay had an amazing catch-and- are excellent places to look for yellow perch. release fishery for large striped bass during The best show in the Ocean City region this the second week of January that will be talked winter has been the good tautog fishing at the about for months to come. Those that enjoy offshore wreck and reef sites. Charter and party giving that extra effort to be out on the water boats have to pick their weather this time of during these cold months, on days that are the year but when the wind lays down some a little more forgiving to small boat anglers, great catches of tautog are occurring. cashed in big time. Maryland biologists have been studying the Around mid-January, a large school of tautog populations off Ocean City for many striped bass in the neighborhood or 40 years now, and one of the things they’ve inches or larger showed up and those that Tautog fishing has been very good in near shore focused on is how old the fish are at various were there kicked off 2020 with some exciting ocean waters this winter. Photo courtesy of lengths. fishing. Large soft plastic jigs on half-ounce Surfside Bait & Tackle. Based on data from 2015 thru 2018 it takes to 1-ounce jig heads depending on current approximately 5 to 8 years for a tautog to and drift conditions worked best. Yellow perch are moving up the Patuxent, Po- reach 16 inches. Striped bass are finding some fish still at comoke and Wicomico rivers and can generally Chincoteague waterfowling guide and char- the Bay Bridge.The striped bass are deep and can be found in the upper sections of the rivers. ter boat Capt. Pete Wallace will be returning holding close to the rock piles and concrete Other good places to fish for them will be the from Florida soon so you’ll want to call and abutments. They can often be seen stacked Wicomico and Mattawoman tributaries off the arrange your spring flounder fishing trip or like cordwood close to the bottom. Jigging is tidal Potomac River later on this month. summershark fishing trip. While you are on the best way to get to them and one will have Fishing for yellow perch offer many a chance to the island you can also try and eat as many to get up close and personal since they are get out in a small boat or a sheltered shoreline of Chincoteague’s famous oysters! not moving. It is not uncommon to foul-hook around the Chesapeake this time of the year. Wallace says to check with Capt. Bob’s Marina them even with a single-hook plastic jig. The yellow perch are steadily moving up the tidal near the end of the month to see if the flounder Some industrious souls have been ventur- rivers and can be found in deep water anywhere have begun to bite. ing out into the lower Chesapeake trolling from the middle regions of the tidal rivers to the For anglers looking to add more underwater for the vanguard of the spring striped bass upper sections.Those fishing the middle regions spots to their list, Wayne Young’s newest book

For maps of the Chesapeake Bay visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com run and have been connecting with a few of the rivers are fishing deep with bait where Chesapeake Bay Fishing Reefs; Voyages of brutes. It is a bit early but there are always fish the perch are holding. Small minnows or grass Rediscovery is a great purchase.The 265-page and fishermen that do not follow the norm. shrimp on a dropper rig is often a good bet. book is reviewed on page 24. It has dozens of Striped bass will begin to filter into the bay In the upper sections of the tidal rivers, the yel- high resolution sonar images of underwater next month in earnest but there are always low perch will be holding in some of the deeper structure and the locations of many artificial some early arrivals. holes and channels waiting for warmer water to and natural reefs around the bay.

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March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 51 REGIONAL FOCUS Mountain & Valley Country Harrisonburg • Winchester

The Shenandoah Valley experienced two Sticking with the reaction hung up. favorable conditions heading into the spring bite, spinnerbaits can come Other new possibilities to check fishing season. The first was that tempera- into play as the water tempera- out at Jake’s Bait &Tackle is in the tures stayed above the freezing mark, and tures climb. Dave’sTournament Strike King Rage Tail line. The the second involved several rain events that tackle and War Eagle are good Rage Ned Bug at 2.5 inches has will make water levels favorable for covering river brand spinnerbaits. Ex- two small legs and two append- the entire river system. periment with size and different ages with the great coffee scent Anglers found good fish biting in the river style of blades. Let these baits smell. The Strike King Rage Ned during the month of February despite un- flutter down before retrieving it. Cut-R Worm is another substitute stable conditions. Stained to muddy water Once you get it to the desired for the Ned rig. The three-inch between rain events made it tricky to fish depth, slow roll it back. Adjust length features the small Cut-R at times. Most anglers reported anywhere the speed you run it to see how tail for just enough subtle tail between six to 12 fish days of average size. the fish want it. If you get bit action. Roboworm offers the 3” Forty-degree water temperatures will begin be sure to note the depth and Ned Worm that is fully ribbed a warming trend soon. your rate of retrieval and stay Jeff Poston caught this with a salt release system. Although March will still have its fair share of at that cadence. 22.5” largemouth fishing the If conditions are calm, try the windy and cold days the water temperature If you ever see the bass fol- Shenandoah last month. Pho- Berkley Spy Slow Sink. Make will begin to climb. Both river largemouth lowing your spinnerbait and it to from Jake’s Bait & Tackle. long casts and let the bait and smallmouth bass will be moving out of doesn’t strike as you’re nearing shimmy as it falls in the water. the wintering holes in time. the boat STOP the retrieve, the bait will be- Strikes often come on the fall. Turn your reel You might start off the month throwing a gin to flutter down. At times, the bass will just enough to keep the props spinning. square bill crankbait in the 5-7 foot range immediately strike. Otherwise bass being We at Jake’s Bait & Tackle hear from a lot of to cover water and locate feeding bass. The curious will follow it down to the bottom. customers that are either new to fishing or get- Bomber Model A in a dark brown crawdad Pick it up and get the blades turning again. ting back into it looking for information to help color is a good river choice. Fan cast this If there are more than one bass zeroed in on them catch more fish. In an effort to meet this presentation from the middle of the river it you will often times trigger a strike. need, Jake’s is offering Free Informational Ses- to several boat lengths off the bank. Make If the reaction bite isn’t producing, work sions to learn more about the great resources extra casts around ledges and deep structure the bottom with a small profile jig and trailer in our area. All sessions will be held at Jake’s before moving in closer to the bank. combo.The Missile Baits Ike’s Micro Football from 5-6 pm on the following dates: Lake The lipless crank is also a good option. Try Jig comes two in a pack with optional weed Holiday March 25th; Lake Frederick April 22nd; the Berkley WarPig in ¼ ounce size. Count guard. I’m anxious to try this in the river. Shenandoah River May 20th; VA Trout Waters this hard bait down a bit to run it lower in The football style head is a small enough June 17th . Anyone who might be interested the water column. Throw in a couple brief profile, it should work along the river bot- should RSVP at Jake’s or email jared.mounts@ pauses or twitches with your retrieval. tom to imitate small crayfish without getting jakesbaitandtackle.com. Jared Mounts

Let me guide you to the best THE TACKLE SHOP AT LAKE FREDERICK! smallmouth & musky fishing on With A Great selection of tackle, plus live the James and New rivers! minnows and worms and Boat Rentals - Ken Trail BASS - CRAPPIE - PIKE We’re Open 7 Days a Week, SHELLCRACKERS 7 am until Dark 1 Lake Frederick Dr 540.869.2950 Facebook.com/gregoryslakesidebait&tackle White Post, Virginia, VA

Appalachian Bronzeback Adventures Guiding on the James, Maury Game Checking Station NOW BOOKING and New Rivers One of the Largest Most Major Brands OUR SPRING Displays of River Rock of Firearms SEASON! Custom Baits in The and Ammo. Region With Great New Bass Baits and Colors! @rockonchartersllc @teamrockon Great selection of Great selection of Rods, Reels and Many AR Build Parts and To book your trip 704.455.8753 Other Baits! Accessories. call 540.588.6628 Open Tues.-Sat. 10a-5p or email [email protected] [email protected] 540.574.3474 www.rockoncharters.net www.appbronzebackadv.com 100 Waterman Dr., Harrisonburg, VA 2 2 8 0 2 52 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 REGIONAL FOCUS Charlottesville Upper Central Virginia James • New River “Spring time is hawg time!” exclaims to this age-old tradition. when areas were stocked James River fishing and hunting guide Licensed hunters may in 2019 so you can take a Brian “Razor” Bodine. assist with the calling, guess at future stockings What a super time to be on the water however only the youth/ and be one of the first in pursuit of smallies. To make your day apprentice may carry a ones out there. worthwhile keep an eye on the water tem- firearm. On this weekend Area reservoirs are pan perature. Somewhere between the 50- you can hunt ½ hour be- fish hotspots this month and 60-degree mark is when the stars line fore sunrise to sunset. and High Tech has every- up and rods start bending. April 11 is when tur- thing you need to catch Tie on a Ned rig or a small suspending key season starts for the them all day long. Break jerkbait, wait for the mid-day sun to warm rest of us – legal hunting out your ultralight rods, up a few pockets and make your casts. The hours are ½ hour before tie on a crappie jig and fish are hungry and very willing to bite so sunrise ‘till noon through target deep brush, lay- be sure to snap a photo and send it in to us May 3. From May 4 downs and beaver huts here at Woods & Waters! through 16th the hours and you’ll have success Not sure exactly how to approach the are extended to ½ hour for sure. spring time river frenzy? Then do yourself before sunrise to sunset. Is this going to be the a favor and call Razorback Guide Service. Visit the V.D.G.I.F web- Call now if you want a morning in the year you finally buy One trip with them and you’ll certainly site to find information woods turkey hunting this spring with a James River Jet? If gleen enough information to keep you on public hunting land in Razorback Guide Service. you’re a regular angler successful on the James for many years your area. on our area waters then to come. Another option is to go to www.outdoorac- you know these rigs – they are custom made Razor is also a top-notch turkey guide cess.com to see what land would be avail- Rhino Boats that zip down and up river with so it’s not a bad idea to reserve two days able for you to privately lease for a day, a ease. You also know that these rigs are built on your spring-time schedule to learn the weekend or a season. It’s sort of like VRBO to last with ten year hull warranties, stainless ways of Central Virginia’s outdoor master! or AirBnB for outdoorsmen which is really a steel hardware and absolutely no wood. Do Youth & Apprentice Spring Turkey Hunt- great idea! yourself a favor and visit JamesRiverJets. ing Weekend kicks off gobbler hunting in The VDGIF will be stocking trout in area com or give owner Jim Starkey a call. He will the Old Dominion on April 4 and 5. Make waters throughout the month and their web- have you on the water in your new JRJ rig in your plans now to take a kid or two out site provides details of all recent stockings. no time. Chrissie McCotter in the spring woods and introduce them While there you can also note where and For a map of the upper James River a map of the upper James visit woodsandwatersmagazine.com For

Central Virginia Regional Editor. If you would like to have fun while making extra money in the outdoor field REGIONAL EDITOR WANTED email us at [email protected]. Generous compensation, part time work. Razorback J a m e s R i v e r J e t s • .125 marine grade Selling Custom-Made Jet Rigs! Guide Service 5052 aluminum • double-welded hull S c o t t s v i l l e , V i r g i n i a w/10-year warranty • tunnel drive with trim tabs & stick steer • no wood, stainless steel hardware, no rivets 434/286-4004 or www.jamesriverjets.com

25-yard Outdoor Shooting Range! Charlottesville's Only High Tech BowTech Dealer! Outdoors & Archery 434 979-4100 It’s Time To Book Your James LIVE BAIT AMMO, GUNS Gunsmith (off premises) FULL SERVICE ARCHERY DEALER Large selection of River Smallmouth Bass or NEW & USED GUNS • GAME CHECKING STATION FORT KNOX Spring Gobbler Trip! FEDERAL & WINCHESTER AMMO SAFES We offer personalized adventures on the Featuring the Largest Selection Now, a Grayline Bait James River and private hunting leases. of ZOOM plastics in the area! Tank Dealer! CALL TODAY AND BOOK YOURS!! Dealer for Ray Electric Outboards HTO 434 960-5549 or visit Custom Baits www.RazorbackGuideService.com 3688 Richmond Rd., Charlottesville, VA, next to Easton Furniture

March 2020 woodsandwatersmagazine.com 53 OUTDOOR SERVICES DIRECTORY

HUNTING LODGES/ UPHOLSTERY REPAIR REEL REPAIR OUTFITTERS FOR ALL YOUR UPHOLSTERY NEEDS! You Can Mail-In Or Drop Off Your Reels! BOAT, TRUCK OR CAR.... EEL REPAIR & CLEANING Hunt Moose, Bear & Parrish's Auto Upholstery R 2 miles from Green Top near Ashland! Grouse in Maine! 804.516.0197 Serving Central Virginia Since 1987 Shimano

Call Dave at 804.366.2683 SPECIALTY TACKLE

Loon Lodge White Marsh Bait Company Island Rod & Reel 207.745.8168 (Maine) Be a chummer this summer Look for our line of liquid Cleaning and Repair on and try our new Dry Pellet- attractants including; Fresh & Saltwater Reels www.LoonLodgeMaine.com ized Chum. Made with Men- shrimp, squid, bunker, haden fish & Menhaden oil. shad, crawfish, cheese, Line Respooling • Custom No more mess or stink will anise & garlic. They make Rods & Rod Repairs TAXIDERMISTS be on your boat! lures smell & taste real! [email protected] • 804.725.2602 Now Accepting Deer! For the nearest retailer call 410/256-3157

NTA Member VA State Licensed Located in Catlett, VA GUN WORK

540.788.1323 • 540.272.6610 Servicing Shimano, ABU Garcia, Quantum, Penn Custom Gunsmithing, Inc. & virtually all makes including baitcasting, spinning and saltwater reels CUSTOM RIFLES • HANDGUN ACTION JOBS DominionTackle.com BLUEING • BELGIUM BLUEING 8117 Ainsworth Ave 703.644.53653 Committed to Quality and Professional Excellence SIGHT & SCOPE MOUNTING • GENERAL REPAIR Springfield, VA 22152 CUSTOM FIBERGLASS STOCKS • ENGRAVING "Craftsmanship with Pride" RAPALEE TAXIDERMY drop off or mail in Since 1970 John Myer, Certified Gunsmith 11876 Lord Fairfax Hwy. (540) 837-2598 Boyce, VA 22620 Ph/Fax 804-457-4138 4975 River Road West Larry's Rod & Reel Repair Visit our Showroom Goochland, VA 23063 FREDERICKSBURG, VA www.rapaleetaxidermy.com clean/service/repair all brands rod repairs/restoration 540.419.3896 540.819.5874 Licensed with 30 yrs. experience Adams [email protected] c u s t o m r i f l e LABAN'S TAXIDERMY Custom built Big Game, Long We do fish replicas!!! Range Varmint, and Tactical Rifles. "POP'S CUSTOM RODWORKS" 6-10 wk turnaround time Repairs / Custom Work / Micros Game Please call or email me to discuss Kistler Daiwa St. Croix 5051 Lakeland Ct. animals & your next rifle project. saltwater 540.967-0980 or 703.314-7228 Woodbridge, VA 22193 fish, too! 175 Scott Lane, Louisa, VA 23093 [email protected] 703.786.2776 [email protected]

ADVENTURE RV/CAMPER REPAIRS TAXIDERMY CASTING LESSONS Where Taxidermy Is Our Passion... Not Just A Job! • Service and repairs to all Get ready for your Alaska trip or just get better with 3688 Richmond Rd., Keswick, VA types of recreational vehicles www.adventuretaxidermy.net 434-244-5622 • On-site repairs • Parts & Accessories FLYFrom AndrewCASTING Stiles; A Certified LESSONS Flycasting T A X I D E R M Y 12297 Washington Hwy., Instructor that will travel to you! Ashland, VA 23005 Call for an appointment in DC, MD, VA, WV & NC 804/798-1433 [email protected] 804.389.0812 [email protected] www.rvserviceofva.com www.mobileflycastinginstruction.com Scott White 12123 Hope Rd. Taxidermist Culpeper, VA TANNERY TROLLING MOTORS 571.242.6069 22701 Tarheel We have a space for Cape & Hide your business. Kevin Webb - Master Tanner Call 540/894-9144 for affordable Skinning & Fleshing, Wet Or Dry Tan Chester, VA and effective OSD advertising! www.tarheel/capeandhide.com 7409 Lake Myra Rd., Wendell, NC 27591 MOTORGUIDE 54 woodsandwatersmagazine.com March 2020 OUTDOOR SERVICES DIRECTORY GUIDE SERVICES

Maryland Bass Adventures

Guiding on Conowingo lake, Susque- hanna Flats,the Chesapeake Bay & all Tributaries Equipment and license included • Half day or full day trips Over 40 years of experience bass fishing To reserve your day Capt. Tom Turner Call 410-456-4320 or email [email protected] Outdoor Calendar Event listings are free for advertisers and non-profit organizations GUIDED BASS FISHING ON or clubs. Deadline is 14th of the month before the month to appear. THE OUTER BANKS IS BACK! Please send or email information you want to appear to: Woods & Waters Notebook, 114 Old Quarry Lane, Bumpass, VA 23024. with Captain David Ward "Fish with me when you're at the beach." Send emails to: [email protected] 252-202-3112 www.backwateradventures.com Fishing Tournaments March 1 – Bass Bandits Suffolk Lake Draw. SL. Email [email protected] James River March 7 – Rippin’ Lips Open Series – Beaverdam Reservoir, 7am-3:30pm. Visit www. Trophy Eberwein's electricbassfishing.com. Blue Catfishin' March 7 – VA Top 100 Tournament – Southern Division, Buggs Island, Occoneechee State Catfish Citations Park. Email [email protected] or visit www.vatop100.com. Guaranteed! March 14 – Bass Pro Shops Fishing Tour – Cickahominy River, Riverfront Park. Call 256/232/0406. 804 449-6134 March 14 – Fish Tales Crappie Tournament – Lake Anna, Anna Point Marina. 10am-4pm. Call Dave 540/840-6772. March 21 – VA Elite 70 Tournament – Lake Anna, Anna Point Marina. Visit www.VAEL- www.jrcgs.com Guaranteed Blue Cats! ITE60.com. James River March 22 – James River Tackle Co. Sunday Series – Hopewell Marina, SL to 8 hours later. Call Donnie 804/668-5866. Catfishing March 22 – Lake Anna Elite Series – Sturgeon Creek Marina, 7am-3:30pm. Call Coast Guard Capt. Kevin Salmon Licensed 540/895-5095 Chester, VA Full Time March 28 – Bobcat’s Lake Country Grocery VA/NC Crappie Tournament – Buggs/Gaston. Guide 804 991-2319 Specializing in 50lb+ blue cats! Visit BobcatsLakeCountry.com March 28 – Fish Tales Crappie Tournament – Lake Anna, Anna Point Marina. 10am-4pm. Call Dave 540/840-6772. Hatchmatcher 434 286-3366 March 28 – Hooker Bait & Tackle Team Tournament Trail - Chickahominy Riverfront Park, Rt 5 ramp. Call 757/566-9050 Guide Service March 28 – Rippin’ Lips Open Series – Chickahominy Lake, 7am-3:30pm. Visit www. Featuring Float Trips on the James River electricbassfishing.com. & tributaries for Fly & Spin Anglers April 4 – Potomac Teams Open Bass Tournament – , SL-3pm. Call [email protected] Bob Pettey 703/577-1304 www.hatchmatcherguideservice.com Every Sunday Starting March 1 - Fish Tales Open – Lake Anna, Anna Point Marina. 8am- 4pm. Call Dave 540/840-6772. FISHING LESSONS Hunting/Community Events Orange Troller LLC March 14 Southwest Virginia Sportsmen Banquet Noah Horn Well Drilling - Community Lake Anna, VA Hall, Deel VA. For tickets and info contact Leon Boyd, 276.210.2292 leonboyd@noahhorn. Striper/Rockfish Trolling Lessons com On the water with Capt. Johnny Ellis, USCG Lic Master March 14 Bull Run Chapter Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet, Fauquier (540) 947-4007 County Fairgrounds Warrenton VA. For tickets and info contact Danny Smedley www.OrangeTroller.com 540.222.4994 [email protected] March 21 – Virginia Shooting Sports Beginner Upland Hunt – Orapax Plantation. Visit- VaShootingSports.com or call 804/512-2771. We have a space for March 27-29 VA Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Volunteer Rendezvous Weekend, South- your business. ern Gap VISITOR CENTER, GRUNDY VA. contact Leon Boyd, 276.210.2292 leonboyd@ Call 540/894-9144 for affordable noahhorn.com , VA RMEF Kathy Funk- State Vol. Chair 540.255.4021 [email protected] and effective OSD advertising! April 18 – Old Dominion One Shot Turkey Hunt – See article p. 16 or email vaoneshot.com.

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