Virginia Department of Game and Inland fisheries fishing report 3-10

[Fishing Report]

Anglers throughout Virginia and neighboring states want to know "how are the fish bitin'?" To provide some answers, more than 25 license agents, marinas, fishing guides, and bait shops have volunteered to serve as contacts for information on recent fishing conditions for primary rivers and lakes throughout the state. Sarah White, outdoor writer and regular contributor to Virginia Wildlife magazine, prepares this Fishin' Report from interviews with these contacts the week prior to publication of the Outdoor Report.

The Fishin' Report is only available as part of your free subscription to the Outdoor Report.

The rivers and lakes featured in the Fishin' Report are listed by VDGIF Administrative Regions so you can quickly locate the area in which you are most interested. Consult the regional location map to find the major river or lake you want to know about.

For regulations and conditions on saltwater fishing, visit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) website. Mandatory Saltwater Angler Registry: Effective January 1, 2010, there is a new requirement that saltwater anglers obtain a federal registry number by calling 1-888-674-7411, or online at www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.

The new 2011 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia (Fishing Regulations) book has been published and a copy can be obtained at the upcoming fishing and hunting shows, all license agents and Department offices. This publication not only contains the fishing regulations, but an extensive 'Let's Go Fishing' section, with information about major sport fish, public fishing lakes, major fishing rivers, and the trout stocking program. Also, you can find information about fish citations, state records, angling education programs, exotic species, and more." The Freshwater Fishing Regulations section, including the complete Trout Fishing Guide, on our website have also been updated for 2011.
Virginia Reservoirs Ranked For Largemouth Bass Fishing

VDGIF aquatic biologists spend considerable effort and resources to manage, enhance, and protect largemouth bass populations in Virginia 's public fishing reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. Most of these waters are sampled each year, or every few years, to assess current largemouth bass population parameters such as age and growth, spawning success, and size distribution. These population samples are generally collected using daytime, boat electrofishing gear targeting largemouth bass and are conducted in a manner that allows several comparisons to be made concerning fish populations. Since many Virginia anglers target largemouth bass, and fish larger than 15 inches are considered "preferred" nationwide; the following summary contains information about bass over 15 inches (preferred size).

Relative stock density of preferred fish (RSD-P below) is the proportion of bass in a population over eight inches (stock size or recruits) that are also at least 15 inches. Thus, this index describes the size structure of the population and the bigger the number, the higher the percentage of big bass (>15 inches) in the population. Catch-per-unit-effort of preferred fish (CPUE-P below) is a measure of how many bass over 15 inches are collected by biologists during a set unit of effort (in this case, 1-hour of electrofishing). Thus, the higher the number, the more abundant big bass were during the sample. View the summary of the data with lakes ranked by CPUE-P and divided into the four management regions of the state. Those lakes ranked at the top of the table will provide excellent opportunities for anglers to catch quality largemouth bass. This is a guide for anglers to use and not necessarily the entire picture of Virginia bass fisheries but it will provide a good place to start.
Walleye Fishing Forecast and Tagging Study Updated for 2011

It's cold and windy, but you walleye anglers know that this is your time of year! Walleye fishing season is just around the corner! To get you started in 2011, the Walleye Fishing Forecast and the Walleye Tagging Study update are both available on-line. The fishing forecast is a must for any angler thinking about accepting the challenge of walleye fishing in 2011. VDGIF has come a long way in developing very good walleye populations in a number of lakes through a stocking program; has learned a lot about walleye habitat, life history, and angling techniques in Virginia; and has lead the way in discovering and enhancing a unique strain of walleye found only in the New River.

The forecast is the biologist's best predictions about where, when, and how to get the most out of your walleye pursuits. VDGIF is also continuing a walleye reward tag study in 2011 and the update will give you details about how you can participate. Anglers should note that an 18-inch minimum size limit is now in effect statewide for walleye. All walleye less than 18 inches must be released unharmed. Exceptions to the statewide regulation include Claytor Lake, the New River above Claytor Lake and Lake Robertson in Rockbridge County. Good luck and enjoy the walleye fishing!
Now is a Good Time to Take Required Boating Education Course

All Personal Water Craft operators (PWC), age 50 or younger, and all persons age 20 or younger operating a 10-hp or greater motorboat, are reminded they are required to complete a certified Boating Education Course by July 1, 2011. VDGIF Volunteer Boating Safety Education Instructor, and Commander of the Smith Mountain Lake (SML) Sail & Power Squadron,Randy Stow, advises that, "February-March are great times to take an approved course before the spring warm-up gets boaters anxious to get back out on the water." Cmdr. Stow adds, "It's easy to locate courses being offered near you by visiting the Boating Safety website for details and a list of courses being offered throughout the state. Our squadron teaches the Boat Virginia course as well as the US Power Squadron's "America's Boating Course" which covers boating safety and basic boating. The squadron currently has 18 active VDGIF qualified instructors and as an additional element to our classes, we have excellent support from the participation of various Conservation Police Officers who provide observations and answer questions for the classes. In 2010 the Squadron volunteers taught 13 classes with 773 graduates. Additionally, we graduated 24 from the America's Boating Course." For more information on the Boating Education Courses being held throughout the state, or to find one of Cmdr. Stow's classes, visit the Boating Education Section in the sidebar for more information on Boating Education classes statewide.
Safe Boating is No Accident—Wear your Life Jacket and Take a Boating Safety Class

Attention boaters, VDGIF has begun to phase in Virginia's boating safety education requirement and wants to remind boaters that as of July 1, all operators of personal watercraft (PWC), including Jet Skis, Sea Doos, and other PWCs, age 14 to 35 will need to have proof of boating safety course completion onboard while operating the vessel. PWC operators must be at least 14 years old. To find out more about the boating safety requirement, the rest of the phase-in for Virginia boaters, or to find a boating safety course, visit the Department's website.

Virginia's life jacket laws require that there must be one wearable (Type I, II, III, or V) USCG approved life jacket of the appropriate size for each person on the boat. All boats, except for personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable rafts, must carry one USCG approved Type IV throwable ring or seat cushion. In addition, if you are boating on federal waters where the USCG has jurisdiction, children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

For more information on boating water safety and the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water go to BoatUS.com. For details on Virginia's laws or to take a boating safety course, check out the DGIF boating website.

Review the article, "Does Your Lifejacket Really Fit?" in the May 26, 2010 Outdoor Report Be Safe... Have Fun section.
Got Pictures of Your Catch? Share Them With Us on Flickr!

How was your last fishing trip? Did you take pictures of your catch? Send them to us and share it with the world! Here's how:

1. Email your photos to us and we'll post them on our "Virginia Fishing" group on the photo-sharing website, Flickr.
2. Or, if you already have an account on Flickr, join the group and submit your photos. It's easy!

No matter how you send in your pictures, please remember to include the species, date, and location of your catch. If you know the length and weight, please include it.

Rules for submitting photos to the group:

1. Photos must be of fish caught in Virginia.
2. Photos must not depict unsafe practices.
3. Please do not publish personal information (last names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc.).
4. Please do include the species, location, and date of catch!
5. Only submit photos for which you have permission to post online. For example, any minor pictured must have documented permission from his or her parent or guardian in order to appear in the group. By submitting a photograph of your child, you are giving VDGIF permission to post the photo on the Flickr "Virginia Fishing" group.

Sarah White's Notebook - Regional River and Lake Reports on Fishing Conditions

Attention Readers – If your favorite body of water is not covered in the Fishin Report, and you are a guide, tackle shop owner, marina or just a devoted angler; please drop me a line and we will see about adding your bi-weekly or periodic reports in the e-newsletter by telephone or email contacts. You can reach me, Sarah White at fishing_report@hotmail.com.
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Region 1 - Tidewater

Little Creek Reservoir: (757) 566-2277, hhhatlcr@aol.com. Contributed by Park Concessionaire Diane Priestley. Spring Peepers are singing and turtles sunning. The fish are still deep on points and humps. Jigs, deep running crank baits, Rode Runners and large minnows are catching fish. One almost 5 pound bass fell to large minnows. With all those frogs in the shallows, hungry bass will be there too. Just fish hard and often and one day they will turn on then it will be wild. The lake is at full pool, water temperature 49 degrees, with visibility about 6 feet.

Beaverdam Reservoir: (804) 693-2107. Contributed by C. Blair Evans, Park Supervisor. The fishing has continued to improve here at Beaverdam. Anglers are still reporting good days of crappie fishing. The bass fishing is also improving and it is looking like they are moving to shallower water. Jermiah and Jeremy Carr of Gloucester County weighed in a nice 6 pound 2 ounce bass that measured 22 inches long. This citation bass was caught with a crank bait in approximately five feet of water. The water is 46 degrees, slightly stained and at full pool.

Beaverdam 's first Big Bash Bass Tournament of the year will be held on March the 19th. Remember to sign up early because this Tournament always fills up. For more information about the Tournament, visit our website or call the park at (804) 693-2107. Tournament dates for the 2011 season are as follows; March 19, April 16, May 21, June 18, September 17 and the Big Bash Classic on October 15.

Park Hours are as follows:
March 1 to 12 - 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
March 13 to 31 - 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Virginia Beach: Captain Jim Brincefield (443) 336-8756. Captain Jim reports that speckled trout can be had in the Elizabeth River. They are going for Mirrolures and grubs. Tautogs are around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, and will take a green crab or a hermit crab. Rockfish are also around the Tunnel, but remember that they must be released, as they are not in season there. The water is 43 degrees and clear.

Chickahominy River: River's Rest (804) 829-2753. Charlie Brown reports that things are just starting to pick up, and that he should have lots to tell us next time. The water is slightly stained and warming.

North Landing River and Back Bay: West Neck Marina (757) 426-6735. Dewey Mullins told me that bass are really hot just now. They will attack "anything you throw at them". Spinners, cranks and plastics are all good bets. Crappie fishing has been slow, but should get better in a few weeks. No word on cats. White perch are feeling frisky and will go for minnows, small spinners and night crawlers. Yellow perch are not as obliging these days and few have been landed. The water is slightly stained and in the mid to high 50s.

Norfolk Lakes: Dasheill's Show Room (757) 539-7854. Drew Dixon reports that bass are hitting well on jigs and plastics. Crappie are also cooperating and will take a minnow or jig. Cat fishing is good, with fresh shad being good bait. Not much white perch action, but wait a few weeks and that should change. It 's still too cold for good bluegill fishing. The water is clear and in the low 40s.

Blackwater and Nottoway: By Riverkeeper Jeff Turner www.blackwaternottoway.com I was on the Blackwater the 1st through the 3rd. A few people are catching shad there and on the Nottoway. Stripers are also being caught on both rivers. I caught a few speckle on the blade bait but that was about it. Thank goodness water temps have warmed up to 53 degrees. It 's time to go fishing!

Clean River Day For Blackwater-Nottoway Scheduled April 2

Clean River Day is scheduled April 2 as a community effort to clean up the Blackwater & Nottoway watershed. This clean up is accomplished by teams and individuals going out on our rivers, streams and ditches, paring lots and picking up litter, trash and other junk. Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Jeff Turner notes, "It is a great opportunity for folks to contribute to the health of the watershed community they live in. We will provide litter getters and bags for those who need them. Teams or individuals can pick their own locations or I can find you one. My advice is to now start looking around at river and swamp bridge crossings or ditches in your area and be scoping out a place for you or your team to go after. Teams can pick what time of day they want to work and how long. Teams need to keep count of bag and participant totals and totals of tires etc. Make note of your "most unusual item found" and be sure to take pictures to send to me." More details will follow when you sign up. Email at blknotkpr@earthlink.net or call me at (757) 562-5173 to get signed up. This is a community event, get your group involved this year, it is a big event with big rewards and recognition for all that participate.

Use common courtesy on the river and at landings... If you're boating or fishing on the river this spring please remember that a lot of people fish anchored in the middle of the river this time of year. So, please slow down around those blind curves and don't wake people hard when they are fishing. At the boat ramps please don't prepare your boat to put in on the ramp or prepare your rig for going home on the ramp. There is usually lots of room in the parking lot. If you're in your boat waiting for the boat ahead of you to get out of the way, remember, don't make it harder on them by cruising back and forth in front of the landing at ¼ throttle and throwing a 3 ft. wake. You're only going to make him mad and take longer to get their boat on the trailer, plus it's against the law! Be courteous and respectful of others, after all we all want a safe and enjoyable trip to and from the river.

Upper and Lower Tidal James: Local Guide, Captain Mike Hoke, Life's Revenge Guide Service, (804) 357-8518. Captain Mike ventured out on to the Pamunkey for what proved to be a veritable minnow love fest. Bass, yellow perch, crappie and cats were all landed on minnows. The water was stained and 48 to 50 degrees.

In the James some big stripers have been landed near Hopewell on bloodworms. Soon we should be seeing shad and stripers in the James near Richmond, where the water is stained and warming.

Upper and Lower Tidal James: Capt. Mike Ostrander, James River Fishing School, Discover the James, (804) 938-2350. Plenty of big blue catfish are being caught on cut shad all around the river. But the highlight on the river now is the anticipation of the return of the American shad and hickory shad 's annual spawning run from the sea to the fall line of the James in Richmond. Once mature, these native species return each year to the river in which they were born in order to spawn. They begin this annual migration up the James once the water temperatures reach the mid 50s. These fish are fun to catch on hook and line. Fly fishing brightly colored shad flies, or casting a spinning rod rigged with a silver or gold spoon are excellent ways to catch these hardy fighters. Shad like to jump and fight all the way to the net. It 's a great way to take a kid fishing in late March and April. Please practice catch and release on these two species, and be sure you know the difference between the two, because American shad are illegal to keep.

Region 2 - Southside

Nottoway Falls: Contributed by our man in the boat Willard A. Mayes. The TV promised 50 degrees at noon and 57 by 4 p.m. with a chance of light rain starting at 4:00 and I needed a part for the tractor in Crewe, so I thought I would drag the boat behind me and be on Nottoway Falls by noon. On the lake at 12:06 and fishing, but it did not feel like 50 degrees so I kept my insulated coveralls on and fished from the old Virginian Railroad Bridge toward the dam. I started catching some 9 and 10 inch crappie in the middle of the lake not far from the dam. At about 1:30 my plans went haywire, it started raining. I fished for another hour and half in the rain and did not catch another crappie or bluegill, I did catch 5 bass a 9, 10, 11 and two 12 inch. This cold almost wet man loaded the boat and headed home to find that it was only 47 degrees. The water was stained with only about 2 foot visibility. I caught everything on a 2 inch chartreuse and 1/32 lead head.

Fort Pickett Reservoir: Contributed by our man in the boat Willard A. Mayes. Much nicer day so there was no way I could continue working, so old blue and I took off for the reservoir at Ft. Pickett. I had the boat in the water at 6 minutes after noon and fishing. The water had a slight stain with visibility a little over two feet. I fished up and down the aeration lines in the middle of the lake all afternoon using my 1/32 and chartreuse and purple twister tails catching crappie here and there, never got more than two in one place at a time. I caught everything in 5 to 8 feet of water. I had the boat back on the trailer by 4:40 with 30 crappie between 9 and 13 inches and 6 for my cats of about 7 inches. Much better day than Nottoway Falls with the temp in the 60s.

Sandy River and Briery Creek: Contributed by Longwood College Fishing Club's Jack Pollio. The waters are warming up and so is the fishing. The most productive fishing has been with Shaky Head or Drop shot rigs tipped with a Zoom finesse worm in green pumpkin colors. Jig with a Zoom Bait Company Super Chunk or Super Chunk JR has produced some nice fish as has the Rapala Jerkbait in natural shad patterns. I also recommend using the Strike King Red Eye shad in either a craw-fish, sexy shad, or Blue and Chrome bleeding shad as well. I would throw these around any ditches, rock, or yo-yoing them over the different contour changes on the points near creek lines.

The fishing in the next two weeks should be getting better and better so get out there and wet a line!!! The water temperatures for both Briery and Sandy this past weekend are around 46 to 48 degrees varying in the different creeks.

This report was supplied by Jack's Bait Company - ZOOM BAIT COMPANY product retailer, specializing in special runs and limited editions.

James at Scottsville: Local Guide L.E. Rhodes www.hatchmatcherguideservice.com, (434) 286-3366. We are getting some much needed rain at this time and another system is predicted towards the end of the week. Look for both a rise in levels and the river becoming off color. There have been reports of some anglers enjoying great flathead action. I hear that both chub minnows and shrimp have been the bait of choice. Smallmouth anglers are having success with jigs and trailer and tube flies. The smallmouth are still found for the most part in their winter holes. Once the water temperatures get into the 50s look for the action to be more consistent.

Kerr Reservoir: Bob Cat's Lake Country Store, (434) 374-8381. Brandon Gray says that bass are there to be had, especially on rocks or red clay banks. Cranks and rattletraps are good bets. Crappie action is good in the backs of creeks and on flats. The traditional minnows and jigs should serve you well. Cats can be found in the mouths of rivers and are going for cut small shad. Stripers are off the points and like bucktails and cranks. No word on bluegill. The water is in the mid 40s to low 50s and clear.

James at Lynchburg: Angler's Lane, (434) 385-0200. Larry Sledge advises that trout anglers in the Smith River try small soft hackle nymphs. In the James, try nymphs and streamers. Overall the action is picking up, especially with rainbows. The delayed harvest streams like Back Creek will give good fishing, especially with nymphs and streamers. The water is 41 degrees and slightly stained.

Lake Gaston: Holly Grove Marina, (434) 636-3455. No report this edition.

Lake Gaston Health Advisory: The Virginia Department of Health has issued an advisory on walleye fish consumption due to mercury contamination in Lake Gaston. Recent fish tissue sample results from the North Carolina Division of Public Health show mercury levels in walleye fish exceed the amount considered safe for long term human consumption. VDH advises the consumption of no more than two meals a month of walleye taken from Lake Gaston. Virginia's advisory stretches from John H. Kerr Dam downstream 18 miles to the Virginia-North Carolina state line. For additional details, visit the VDH fish consumption advisory page.

Smith Mountain Lake: Contributed by Mike Snead. Virginia Outdoorsman, (540) 724-4867, www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com.

Stripers: Fishing continues to be mixed. While some anglers report that stripers have proven difficult to find and catch, others are having notable success. Try trolling with Umbrella rigs (Urigs) slowly near the mouths of the major creeks around the lake. Bucktails, flukes rigged on jigheads, spoons and swimbaits are producing when cast up close to shore and retrieved with a yo-yo style presentation. Anglers fishing with live bait are successful. Several have already broken out their planer boards to catch stripers up near the shoreline and off primary and secondary points.

Alewives: Live bait is coming into lights on deep-water docks. Nice alewives are being caught in cast nets thrown on dock "spot lights", even when there is no evidence of activity under the light. If you are currently using floodlights to attract baitfish and are having difficulty bringing them in, consider changing to a more powerful spotlight. Using a larger cast net and one that is heavier and will sink faster will also increase the amount of bait caught as will turning off your light a second before you cast your net.

Crappie: Fishing has really picked up recently. Anglers continue to use small "crappie" minnows to locate and catch good numbers of quality fish. Some are being caught suspended in the tops of submerged brush and trees. Others are being caught on the outside edges of guts and creeks as they start to move into pre-spawning locations. It is best to keep the lures and bait just above them as they tend to feed looking up. Watch for a slack line as often they will move up and pick up a lure or minnow without putting tension on your line.

Bass: Fishing is improving. Some bass continue to suspend off bluffs as well as primary and secondary points where they can be located on electronics and caught using jigging spoons, drop shot rigs and small bucktails and hair jigs. Bass are also being caught by anglers using deep diving, suspending jerkbaits. The jerkbait bite has been good and is improving for those who use the appropriate lures.. Finesse baits are also working. Drop shotting continues to produce good numbers of bass, especially when rigged with floating worms like those by Roboworm and Big Bite. Slow rolled spinner baits and medium diving crank baits are also producing an occasional bass, especially when retrieved near structure including submerged dock pilings and sun warmed natural rock.

This coming weekend the first Anglers Choice Marine Tournament of the year will be held out of Parkway Marina. It promises to be a huge event and could easily have a field of well over a hundred boats. For more information about the tournament or to register, contact Tournament Director Chris Lucas at clucas54@verizon.net or see their website

The water is 43 degrees and clear. Good luck and good fishing.

Region 3 - Southwest

Claytor Lake: Contributed by Mike Burchett of Rock House Marina, (540) 980-1488.

Bass: The water temp is low to mid 40s. With all the rain, the water clarity is muddy to fairly clear. Good color choices are American Shad, Chartreuse Shad, and Ghost Minnow. Jigging spoons also work great this time of year. With the muddy water a crawdad colored crankbait like the Rebel Deep Wee-R or the Storm Wiggle wart are excellent crank baits. A chartreuse and white chatterbait is also a great vibration bait for muddy water. The muddy water can make for some great fishing!! For more info call Mike at (540) 980-1488.

Crappie: They were starting to catch a few before the rain muddied up the lake, but I haven 't heard anything in the last week.

Yellow Perch: Yellow perch are starting to pick up using live minnow on a small lead head hook.

Bluegill/Panfish: Still a little early for the Bluegill.

Stripers: Unlike the bass, the stripers are harder to catch with the stained water. Last week the striper action was good in Peak Creek using jig head rigged Zoom Super Flukes and Yum Money Minnows.

Catfish: Have not heard anything on the cats.

Water temp is low to mid 40 's, clarity is stained to muddy.

Lower New River: Big Z'S (540) 639-1651. John Zienius told me that the smallmouths are not active yet. In Claytor Lake the yellow perch are going for small minnows and jigs and small jigging spoons. The muskie bite is good with big jerks, trout or suckers. The water is stained and in the mid 40s.

New River: Tangent Outfitters, (540) 257-0415. Shawn Hash reports that windy conditions have made fishing difficult. Bass will hit spinners, deep running cranks and jigs. Muskies are going for sliders and grannies. The water is 46 degrees and stained.

Upper New River: Contributed by Captain Forest Pressnell, (540) 818-5274, New River Charter. Nice to see old man winter taking a break on the river. Water temp is 48 which means it is walleye time and the bucks are showing up in numbers. Remember to look for your $20 reward tag which will be located at the back of the dorsal fin. 300 fish are being tagged this year with some fish having double tags! The information you provide when returning the tag is very beneficial to the biologists working on this fantastic walleye fishery. Remember you can't keep walleye in the 19 to 28 inch slot limit now, and only 2 fish per day on the Upper New. The river is muddy right now from the much needed recent rains but as it clears fishing should be great. Jerkbaits and spinnerbaits should provide action on the walleye and some shots at smallies. Muskie are heavy with eggs so handle them carefully and get them back in the water quickly.
Virginia Now Stocking Trout In South Holston Lake

Trout stocking trucks from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) were at two Virginia and Tennessee boat ramps in mid- February carrying the first trout to be stocked in the South Holston Lake as part of a reciprocal agreement between the VDGIF and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that went into effect July 1, 2010. The agreement between the two states contains a joint fisheries management plan including consistent size restrictions and creel limits for the entire lake. The South Holston Reservoir License which became available July 1, 2010, costs $20 plus an agent fee of $1. The special permit is valid for one year from the date of purchase and allows the holder to fish both Virginia and Tennessee.

Region 4 - Mountain and Shenandoah Valley - Piedmont

North and South Forks of the Shenandoah: Harry Murray (540) 984-4212 www.murraysflyshop.com. The smallmouth streams in the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah are "worth trying". Try a deep running streamer or nymph on a fast sinking tip line. Good flies are Murray 's Black Hellgrammite, size 4; and Murray 's Olive Marauder, size 6. The water is clear and 44 degrees.

The recently stocked streams in the valley, such as the Bull Pasture and the Big Stoney Creek West of Edinburg are giving good fishing. Good flies are the Casual Dress, size 10; Murray 's Olive Caddis Pupa, size 12; and Murray 's Dark Stonefly Nymph, size 12. The water is 45 degrees and clear The mountain streams are fishable but low, use nymphs in the deep pools. Good flies are: Mr. Rapidan Beadhead Nymph, sizes 12 and 14. Other mayfly nymphs will work well also. Water is in the mid 30s and clear.

Trout Stocking to Resume at Lake Thompson

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced January 12, 2011 that it will return Lake Thompson in Fauquier County to the Agency's list of designated stocked trout waters for 2011. Lake Thompson is a 10-acre pond located on the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which has been in the state's trout stocking program for many years. However, the lake self-drained last summer due to a faulty emergency drain feature. Recently the leak has plugged itself and the water level has been stable for several months. Lake Thompson is a Category A "put-and-take" trout water which means it will be stocked six times between now and May 31, 2011 and a trout license is required in addition to a fishing license for anglers over age 15. Questions concerning this fishery should be directed to John Odenkirk at (540) 899-4169 x117 or john.odenkirk@dgif.virginia.gov.

Lake Moomaw: Local Guide, Mike Puffenbarger, (540) 468-2682, www.mapletreeoutdoors.com. "Puff" reports that Lake Moomaw is still about 16 feet low with Bolar Flat boat ramp now accessible. Lower lake is accessible and the Fortney Branch ramp is open. Coles Point ramp is closed due to low water level. Streams throughout the area are running full now with trout stocking in progress.

Weather conditions and temperature can change conditions at any time so check website for current updates. This is a great time to get rods and reels and equipment ready for the spring warm-up and some great fishing as Moomaw has been noted for. Also this weekend begins the 53rd Annual Highland Maple Festival the 2 weeks of March 11-20. There are lots of great activities for all outdoor enthusiasts throughout the Highlands. Visit Puff's Southernmost Maple rural retreat for great food, including his maple syrup and famous maple donuts made right there on-site. In addition to hunting and fishing guide info, also see displays and demonstrations of outdoor related arts and crafts, hunting and fishing gear.

Piedmont Rivers: Local author Steve Moore www.switchfisher.com (Wade Fishing Guidebooks covering the: Rappahannock, Rapidan, Upper Potomac, North Branch Potomac) The recent burst of rain revitalized the mountain streams. Although the fish remain skittish after the summer drought followed by the winter lows, they should begin moving more and more in direct proportion to the warming weather and water. As long as you use caution as you approach the small mountain pools, you should be able to lock in good results using the normal assortment of nymphs (Hares Ear and Prince) or small spinners. Beyond the mountain trout, there was a massive amount of stocking activity all over the State last week with the Robinson River in Madison County getting another healthy dose of robust fish. A quick drive over the mountain puts you on other good water like Hawksbill Creek or the North River. Spin anglers can take advantage of the stocking immediately while fly enthusiasts should wait a week to allow the trout to adapt to their natural setting. If they go out earlier than that, they should use brightly colored streamers that mimic flashy spinners. According to Charley Taylor, the smallmouth bass fishing is starting to slowly come to life on the Upper Potomac. His "spies" indicate that the best areas include Seneca Creek, Edwards Ferry, Nolands Ferry and below Point of Rocks. Of course, the warm water output from the Dickerson Power Plant continues to be productive.

Lake Orange: Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler's Landing (540) 672-3997. We will be opening up the week of March 19th. The fish are very lethargic, hitting slow moving baits. Crappie can be found around standing trees and brush piles in 8 to10 ft. of water depending upon the day. On a sunny warm day, they will be in 8 ft. of water. On a colder, blustery day, they can be found in the 20 ft. depths. Crappie are attracted to live minnows and small jigs. Largemouth bass are hitting crank baits and jig & pigs around cover in depths of 10 to 30 ft. of water. The water is clear with temperatures in the 40s.

Lake Anna: Contributed by C. C. McCotter, McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service, (540) 894-9144.

The Lake Anna guides are packing up from the OCHS Fishing Expo last month and restocking for the Fredericksburg Outdoor Sports & Gun-Knife Show at the Fredericksburg Convention Center in Central Park March 18-20.

The 4th Fredericksburg Outdoor Adventures Show this year will also include the Fredericksburg Gun-Knife Show with a variety of vendors and attractions that appeal to hunters, boaters and fisherman of all ages. That's two shows for the price of one, March 18-20, 2011. Your ticket is good for admission all weekend and kids 12 and under are FREE. The Gun –Knife Show portion of the show will have hundreds of tables of guns and knives and accessories from quality dealers. The traveling "Hawg" Tank filled with a variety of quality fish will provide the background for many fishing seminars by the area's foremost experts on the Woods & Waters Magazine Pro Team. Meet Bill "Bear Crazy" Wiesner, an expert bow hunter, teacher, author and designer for the archery industry. Other top attractions include the FREE hunting and fishing seminars, Dog Training Seminars Doug Deats, the Virtual Fishing Simulator, Trout Pond, Kids Kasting Contest, various hunting and fishing adventure trips and suppliers, plus a variety of hunting and fishing information from the VDGIF. Take in one of Hilarious Comedian Bassmeister "Curt Strutz" shows, a comedian and ventriloquist with his talking bass. Staff from the Outdoor Report will be there to meet subscribers and sign up new subscribers. Stop by the VDGIF booth and complete a short Reader Survey, or sign up a new subscriber to receive a free safety whistle or carabineer. Visit their website for more details.

Lake Anna: Contributed by Local Guide Jim Hemby (540) 967-3313. No report this edition.

Attention Readers – If your favorite body of water is not covered in the Fishin Report, and you are a guide, tackle shop owner, marina or just a devoted angler; please drop me a line and we will see about adding your bi-weekly or periodic reports in the e-newsletter by telephone or email contacts. You can reach me, Sarah White at fishing_report@hotmail.com.

NOTICE: All anglers are reminded to acquaint themselves with a good description of the northern snakehead fish. If you should manage to catch one of these exotic imports, please kill it immediately and report the catch to either the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

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Winning Outdoor Adventure Stories from Young Writers

With the warming weather trend and promise of Spring, many of us are anxious to get over our "cabin fever" and get outdoors again to explore wild places. For a Southwest Virginia teen, March brought the adventure of tapping the sugar maple trees for making maple syrup. The trial and error involved in developing a new outdoor related hobby to hopefully grow into a business provided a great story with lots of lessons learned the hard way. This story by then 14 year old Owen Morgan , a Sophomore at George Wythe High School in Wytheville, was one of the Top 3 Entries in 2009-10 Virginia Outdoor Writers Association High School Youth Writing Competition. The vivid descriptions of his families attempts to learn the art of making maple syrup will give you a much greater appreciation of what all is involved in producing the sweet syrup overrunning those hot buttery pancakes and savory sausage... ymmmmmmmmmmmm!

Maple Syrup: Not Just for Vermont Anymore!

By Owen Morgan

It 's that time again, the time when the sap shall once again flow freely from the lofty sugar maple and the process of collection will begin. Tubes will run out of the maples and into a sugar house at the bottom of the hill. Here it will be painstakingly processed by an assortment of employees while the old men supervise and drink gin. That 's how the pros do it. Needless to say, that 's not how we do it here in Southwest Virginia.

My family has a longstanding dream. In Burkes Garden, located in Tazewell County, we have some 500 sugar maples. Someday we want to tap these, collect their sap, and sell it for profit. We, sadly, aren 't at that point yet. I truly believe it will happen, eventually, but now is not the time. Now we will have to tap our trees at home, in Wytheville, Virginia. At the moment we are tapping a whopping three trees, and last time we cooked down our syrup we had enough for about eight pancakes, but man, was it good!

Three trees still produce a significant amount of work, especially for the clueless and unprepared. We found buckets without any trouble, but we had more trouble finding suitable taps. Not willing to spend money on the classic manufactured tap, we opted for the old timey method. Find a stick from a sumac bush, hollow out the pithy center, drill a hole in the tree, and hope for the best.

I was, I 'll admit, a skeptic at first, but I came around. The taps were reasonably effective, after all, how hard is it really to make a tube to get water from one place to another? With one problem solved, we were, of course, confronted with another. How can we keep rainwater out of our buckets? With cardboard, that is if you 're considerably more concerned with being economical then effective. And believe me, we are.

We only encountered a slight problem with this. Cardboard, being the paper-based substance that it is can only hinder a small rainfall. Sadly, in a deluge, the cardboard becomes saturated and entirely unsuccessful at preventing the dilution of the sugar water. Fortunately, at this time, we have not encountered any major problems with rain in our sap. I have a feeling though, after the recent rains, this next batch is going to take a little longer to cook off.

For three trees, this maple syrup venture is taking a considerable amount of labor. It takes 40 parts sugar water just to make one part maple syrup. I really can 't imagine what it must be like to do this sort of work all day long. Really, though, it 's not too bad. It 's just a little effort, and there are great rewards in the form of homemade pancakes.

I wouldn 't be doing this except for the pancakes. Store bought syrup pales in comparison when pitted against the homemade stuff. With all our work out in the cold, we just had enough syrup for eight delicious made from scratch pancakes. They were the best pancakes I 've ever had. With my own maple syrup, the rewards were all that much sweeter. One day, after we 've completed our syrup venture here, and in Burkes Garden, I 'll look back fondly on those first pancakes with the homemade maple syrup.

The Virginia Outdoor Writers Association (VOWA) annually sponsors a High School and Collegiate Writing Competition. with the theme of "a memorable outdoor experience." The contests deadlines for entries this year were closed February 25, 2011. Details for the Annual Awards presentations April 14 at Bear Creek Lake State Park are posted in the People & Partners section of this edition. We encourage you to write your most memorable hunting, fishing or other outdoor adventure story and enter the 2011-12 contest. For information on the VOWA Collegiate or High School Youth Writing Competitions visit the VOWA website: www.vowa.org, or contact VOWA Writing Competition Chairman:

David Coffman, Editor, Outdoor Report
VA Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
POB 11104 Richmond, VA 23230
Telephone: (434) 589-9535, Email: david.coffman@dgif.virginia.gov