Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF)
Outdoor Report

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) Basic Law Enforcement Academy graduated it's fourth class of officers today. The keynote speaker at the swearing-in ceremony was Mr. Jim Yacone, Assistant Special-Agent-in-Charge of the Richmond FBI office. Clerk of the Circuit Court for Chesterfield County, The Honorable Judy L. Worthington officially swore-in the new officers.

In all, 19 new conservation police officers were sworn-in at the ceremony. These officers completed an intensive 28-week training program that included more than 200 courses. They will take up their assignments across the Commonwealth and proceed with field training under the direct supervision of field training officers. This is the fourth class to graduate from the Department's Training Academy. VDGIF undertook establishing its own academy in order to tailor the program to the specific needs of conservation police officers.

VDGIF Executive Director Bob Duncan also spoke at the graduation ceremony noting, "This is a very impressive group of individuals. Their training has been rigorous both physically and mentally. We are so fortunate to have this caliber of people joining us at the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries."

The following is a list of the newest conservation police officers and the areas where they will be assigned:

Conservation police officers must be proficient in a wide array of skills including handling of firearms; crime scene investigations; drug and operating-under-the-influence enforcement; search and rescue; boat operation and boat trailering; etc. Awards were presented at the ceremony to recognize the hard work and proficiency of the recruits and the dedication of instructors and academy staff. These awards are detailed in the People and Partners in the News Section below.

Virginians interested in learning how to hunt and Virginia hunters eager to share their sport with friends and family now have a way to make it easier to pair up! An apprentice license can be purchased by a new hunter before successfully completing the Department's hunter education course. However, apprentice hunters are reminded they still have to comply with this education requirement before legally purchasing a state resident or nonresident basic hunting license.

Completion of the hunter education course can take place at any point during the two-year period. Doing so will provide the apprentice with necessary proof of course passage to purchase the basic hunting license and continue hunting once the "test drive" period is over.

What are you waiting for? Call toll-free 1-866-721-6911 for more information.

Virginia Apprentice Hunting License Facts

• The new apprentice hunting license serves as a first-time Virginia resident or nonresident hunting license and is good for two years.
• An important safety feature of the new license is that the apprentice hunter must be accompanied and directly supervised by a hunter possessing a valid Virginia hunting license who is an adult over age 18 (the mentor hunter). "Directly supervised" is defined in the new legislation as "when a person over 18 maintains a close visual and verbal contact with, provides adequate direction to, and can immediately assume control of the firearm from the apprentice hunter." This direct supervision requirement is in place because the apprentice hunter will not have had to meet the hunter education requirement as a condition of purchasing the apprentice license.
• The apprentice license does not qualify the holder to purchase a regular hunting license, nor exempt the holder from compliance with Department regulations. A hunter education course must be successfully completed to obtain a regular hunting license.
• A bear, deer, turkey license and all applicable stamps or permits are required in addition to the apprentice license.
• Previous Virginia resident and nonresident hunting license holders may not use an apprentice license.

People and Partners in the News

Sportsman's Show Features New Opportunities for the Whole Family August 8-10

The 25th Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman's Show features over 300 fun and exciting new exhibits, demonstrations and seminars- something for everyone in the family. Experienced and novice sportsmen and sportswomen can try the latest in new equipment and learn about new places and techniques to enjoy Virginia's great outdoors. The three day show is held at The Showplace in Richmond August 8-10, 2008. You can purchase your new Hunting and Fishing Licenses and 2009 Virginia Wildlife Calendar from the VDGIF booth and also subscribe to Virginia Wildlife magazine and the Outdoor Report at the Show. Biologists, conservation police officers, Complementary Work Force volunteers and Hunter Education Instructors will be on hand to answer your questions.

This is your chance to see the biggest bucks harvested in Virginia. Deer hunters throughout Virginia will bring their mounts to this prestigious contest organized by the Virginia Deer Hunters Association (VDHA). Certified judges from the VDHA and VDGIF will be awarding ribbons and trophies in four antler classes. The Virginia Open Turkey Calling Championship will be held on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. sanctioned by the National Wild Turkey Federation. There are cash and prize awards with the first place winners in four Divisions eligible to go to the National Calling Contest. Featured this year are seminars for persons with disabilities to learn about specialized equipment and partnership programs with sportsmen's organizations that provide hunting and fishing opportunities. Check the Show's Web site for information on numerous other seminars, exhibits, demonstrations and contests.

Take a Friend, Make a Hunter…This is the perfect event to bring a friend that is interested in the Apprentice Hunting License to talk with experienced sportsmen about the many opportunities for hunting and try out the latest gear to enhance your experience. Purchase an Apprentice Hunting License and sign up a new subscriber for the Outdoor Report at the Show and we will give you a useful VDGIF camo carabiner and a free 2008 Hunting & Fishing Virginia Wildlife Calendar .

Hunting News You Can Use!

The following notes are quick reminders of things you may have overlooked in getting ready for hunting season, or reports of interest compiled from numerous calls we received recently at our information desk.

"What's New" for 2008-09

Get your free copy of the new 2008-2009 Hunting and Trapping in Virginia - Regulations digest an see what's new this season. The booklet has a new look this year with color- coded page tabs for the different sections including: What's New, Licenses, Regulations, Hunting Lands, Bear, Deer Turkey, Small Game, Trapping and an Index. There is an entire page listing new regulations, expanded seasons and other hunter friendly changes this year entitled "What's New". We will be featuring details of these new opportunities in each of the next editions of the Outdoor Report through September. A PDF format is available on the VDGIF Web site along with feature articles on the topics listed in the digest.

Here is the list of "Top Ten" new hunting opportunities from the "What's New" page of the digest:

Licenses

1. Apprentice Hunting License is now available.

Bear

2. Black bear checking procedures have changed and there is a new way to find out the age of your harvested bear.

Deer

3. Earn A Buck regulations have been established in Bedford, Fairfax, Fauquier, Franklin, Loudoun, Patrick, Prince William and Roanoke counties.

4. An Early Antlerless Only Archery Season has been established in Loudoun and Prince William counties (except on Department-owned lands) to coincide with the early segment of the urban archery season (September 6, 2008 - October 3, 2008).

5. The Early Muzzleloading Season west of the Blue Ridge Mountains has been extended to two weeks (November 1-14).

6. City of Suffolk (east of the Dismal Swamp Line) now has a late muzzleloading season with the last six days as either-sex deer hunting days.

7. The Special Late Antlerless Only Firearms Deer Season in Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William counties has been expanded to include Fauquier County, except on Department-owned lands and was also extended to the last Saturday in March.

8. General Firearms Either-Sex Deer Hunting Days have been increased in 16 eastern Virginia city/counties

Turkey

9. Youth Fall Turkey Hunt Day established for youth 15 years of age and younger on October 18 and Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Day hunting hours were extended to sunset during the youth spring hunt.

10. Starting and ending dates for the late segment for fall turkey have changed in most counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Be sure and read the full details of these new regulations, seasons and requirements in the 2008-09 Hunting and Trapping in Virginia Regulations digest.

New Web Site Provides Waterfowl Flyway Information

Waterfowlers now have a new Web site packed with news, updates, harvest management information and scientific data from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS). This new site is a collaborative effort of waterfowl managers from across the continent where the FWS and CWS post the initial assessments of waterfowl breeding habitat conditions in new video segments. These assessments offer a first glimpse of habitat conditions and the status of waterfowl populations entering the breeding period starting in May, 2008.

VDGIF Wildlife Division Director, Bob Ellis an avid waterfowler himself noted, "This will be a great Web site for all waterfowl hunters and other migratory waterfowl enthusiasts to keep up with flyway activities. In addition, users can view aerial photos chronicling the survey as experienced by the field crews in May and June; query an interactive map to find out where birds were banded and recovered." The site also features short videos that contain reports from FWS and CWS biologists who conduct the annual Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey, the primary tool used to track the status of waterfowl populations and their habitats in North America. Users can submit questions about duck, goose and swan hunting management in the United States that will be answered by experts.

New Stationary Waterfowl Blind License Application Simplified

A new, improved version of the Stationary Waterfowl Blind License Application is now available to license agents and on-line at the VDGIF Web site for stationary blind applicants applying for the 2008-2009 waterfowl season. Several changes have been made on the form including allowing up to five blinds to be licensed on one form and to have one certification box that will cover both the riparian and non-riparian applicants. VDGIF Wildlife Division Director, Bob Ellis said of the new form, "We hope these changes will provide a more user friendly form for the applicant as well as for the license agent. We again are requesting the applicant provide GPS coordinates so that we can develop a database of applicants that will be used to streamline future application procedures."

Take a Friend, Make a Hunter… Be sure and visit the VDGIF exhibits at the 25th Annual Virginia Outdoor Sportsman's Show at The Showplace in Richmond August 8-10, 2008. This is the perfect event to bring a friend that is interested in the Apprentice Hunting License to talk with experienced sportsmen about the many opportunities for hunting and try out the latest gear to enhance your experience. Purchase an Apprentice Hunting License and sign up a new subscriber for the Outdoor Report at the Show and we will give you a useful VDGIF camo carabiner and a free 2008 Hunting & Fishing Virginia Wildlife Calendar .

Be Safe... Have Fun!

This edition of Be Safe... Have Fun! was written by the Editor, David Coffman, based on his experiences, including mistakes, the past 30 years camping, fishing and exploring our wonderful wild places.

Planning and Preparation Needed for Safe Summer Adventures

Skeeters, ticks, and snakes, oh my! If you stop to think about all the critters and conditions that can possibly make your summer outdoor activities miserable, you may make a big mistake and stay home. With a little planning, preparation and the proper gear, you can minimize the discomforts that come with any outdoor adventure. The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," relates directly to you and your outdoor plans. There are some basic safety precautions directly related to summer heat and critter activity that warrant your attention.

Clothing: dress for the conditions you plan to encounter, then take additional items in case conditions change. Consider wearing pants that have the zip-off legs to give some protection in case you encounter brush, poison ivy (leaflets three, let it be!), or ticks. Same advice for shirts - take a long sleeve - it may get cooler if out after sunset. Wear light colors, they are cooler and do not attract mosquitoes like dark shades. Carry a small folding poncho for sudden downpours. Wear a hat to provide shade. Use sunscreen, even if you already have your tan.

Water: have plenty of liquids to prevent dehydration. As an Eagle Scout, the motto "Be Prepared" has helped me and my companions out of unforeseen circumstances on many occasions. I offer a personal tip for long drives. Always take a cooler with ice and a variety of liquid refreshments in your vehicle on any trip 5 miles or 500. With heavy traffic just about anywhere you go these days, a traffic stopping incident, or breakdown may strand you for hours, miles away from any refreshment. Keep a couple of bottles of water, or sports drink and some packaged snacks in your vehicle just in case. You may just make someone's day, including your own. Be aware of the symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion - these conditions can kill. Keep hydrated and do not over do it. Know your physical limits. Rest or get in shade to prevent heat stress.

Critters: wear insect repellant. There are many kinds on the market, so read up on benefits and precautions of the various kinds. Note the proper proper method to remove ticks (PDF) to prevent infection. If you happen to encounter a snake, its best to leave it alone. Many species of snakes, including venomous ones, are very beneficial to humans. Snakes are not aggressive and only bite in self defense, or if provoked. If bitten by a venomous snake, stay calm and seek medical attention immediately. Most venomous snake bites in Virginia only result in some swelling and discomfort. Bee, wasp and hornet stings pose a greater risk, especially if you are allergic to them. If you are allergic, keep the proper medications with you and tell your companions in case you need medical assistance. Rabies gets a lot of attention in the summer. If during the daytime, you see a fox, raccoon, or other mammal that is normally nocturnal and elusive acting aggressively or strangely, keep away. Contact local animal control authorities or the police immediately with the location of the animal.

Finally, always let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. These days with cell phones, SUVs and GPS, we have gotten somewhat complacent on this basic safety rule. Murphy's Law is lurking out there - no cellular signal, dead batteries, twisted an ankle - insert your own excuse here. No wildland adventure is without some risk - it's why we call it "wild" and part of the appeal of venturing outdoors! If you take simple steps to be prepared, have the proper gear for the conditions and take basic safety precautions, you optimize your chances for a great wildland experience. Now go out there and have fun, seek adventure, respect and enjoy our great wild places.

"GREEN TIPS" For Outdoor Enthusiasts

This new section in the Outdoor Report provides tips and articles on ways you as an outdoor enthusiasts can join with others to do simple things in your outdoor pursuits that can make a big difference in keeping Virginia "green" and wildlife "wild" to benefit us all.

From the Water to the Road, Play it Safe This Summer and Slow Down

With Virginia's lakes, rivers, bays and oceanfront popular summer outing destinations, drivers are reminded to play it safe both on the water and on the road. Slow down, stay alert and stay sober. Use courtesy and common sense, don't litter and heed safety zones.

Conservation police officers log many hours patrolling rivers and lakes to enforce safety laws to protect all boaters. Nationwide recreational boating is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities, and Virginia is no exception. The number of registered boats in the Commonwealth exceeds 250,000 and Virginia is a prime boating destination for out-of-state visitors. This figure does not include thousands more including kayaks, canoes and non-motorized sailboats. In an attempt to keep Virginia's busy waterways safe for all citizens to enjoy, Virginia conservation police officers launched Operation SWEEP - Safer Waterways through Enforcement and Education Programs - last summer. During the start-up phase of this program 109 patrols were conducted resulting in 1,163 boat inspections; 203 warnings were issued and 294 arrests were made which included 14 arrests for operating boats either under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To learn more about boating laws and boating education in Virginia, visit the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Web site.

Landscaping Contest Recognizes Conservation Excellence

Calling all Conservation Landscapers--show off your spectacular gardens and put our guidelines to the test! The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) is running a contest for novice gardeners, schools, businesses and professionals who have a residential or non-residential site that exemplifies the Eight Essential Elements of Conservation Landscaping (site must be located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed to be eligible). These Essential Elements include: 1) design that benefits the environment; 2) landscaping that uses locally native plants; 3) provides for the removal or management of invasive exotic plants; 4) provides good wildlife habitat; 5) promotes good air quality; 6) conserves water or improves water quality; 7) fosters healthier soils such as through composting; and 8) works in harmony with nature for sustainability. Deadline for submission is August 1. This is not a photo contest but a contest of landscaping principles! Complete contest rules and application form are available at www.chesapeakelandscape.org. Winning sites will be featured on the CCLC Web page this fall and may be chosen as a field trip stop during our fall Field Days.

Fishin' 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) Web site.

Last evening I was headed to one of my favorite fishing spots on the James. Faithful Keeshond Guinness leading the way. Almost immediately it began to sprinkle and in another fifty yards a bolt of lightning hit the trail in front of us. Back to the car we ran, Guinness leading the way.

In half a minute we were driving away from the rain. It turned out this sudden storm ended up knocking over trees and tearing off the roof of at least one building. I wondered what might have happened had I been half a mile down the river rod in hand and a nice bass on the line. What do you do, and what don't you do if you're out in the open with lightning all around you? Here are some good ideas provided by the National Weather Service that will help get you through the storm:

• Read more here »

Region 1 - Tidewater

Chicahominy River: Betsy Caldwell of River's Rest reports that smallmouth bass are hitting on soft plastics, while cats are going for peeler crabs and worms. Not many crappie have been brought to boat. A few perch have been brought in on worms and plastics. The water is warming and stained.

Little Creek Reservoir:

According to Walter Elliot the following anglers were lucky -

Jim Grigonis James City County 1 Largemouth Bass 22" long Plastic worm.

Willie Weber New Kent County 8 Stripers up to 10 lbs. Live Herring. 1 Walleye 4.1 lbs. jig.

Keith Williams Hanover County 4 Stripers to 10 lbs. 1 Largemouth Bass 23" long Bait, Live Herring.

John Robertson Richmond 1 Walleye 3.8 lbs. Bait unk.

Paul Robertson Doswell 1 Largemouth Bass 7 lbs. Bait unk.

Robert (Doc) Eveland James City County 1 Striper 14 lbs. Live Herring.

Greg Rose Prince George County 1 Channel Cat 4.5 lbs. Red Wiggler.

Mike Fowler Williamsburg 26 Stripers up to 10 lbs. Live Herring.

Most of the action over the past week centers around anglers fishing for Stripers. Live Herring fish off points in twenty are more feet of water brought a number of patrons fish weighing from ten to fourteen pounds The Largemouth Bass bite pick up, with fishing measuring up to 23" and 7 pounds. Live bait was used to catch most of the Bass, in from ten to twenty feet of water.

Chain Pickerel are hitting on minnows and plastic worms fish in five to twenty feet of water. A few Yellow Perch and Crappie are being caught on small minnows and jigs fish off structure in fifteen to twenty feet of water. The Reservoir is clear with an estimated water temperature of 89 degrees. The water level is 21 3/4" below full pool.

North River Landing and Back Bay: Dewey Mullins of West Neck Marina told me that bass are hitting early and late on top water plastics, crankbaits and buzzbaits. Stripers are going for large shiners, spinners and buzzbaits. Blluegill like spinners, jigs, red worms and crickets. White perch are easily fooled, especially at night. Water is in the 80s and clear.

Region 2- Southside

James at Lynchburg: Doug Lane at Angler's Lane says that smallmouth are going for several types of flies shch as:CK Baitfish, Clawdads in brown, blue or back size 4 or white zonkers. The water is warming and clear.

James at Scottsville: Brian Bodine of Razorback Guide Service reports that smallmouth bass are biting well in the Howardsville to Bremo area. Water conditions were getting low, slow and fluctuating some this week with daily thunderstorms adding some muddy water from Rivanna and Hardware rivers. Baits of choice right now are Pop-R's for the morning and evening topwater bite. SMbass are hitting plastics. Mostly finesse worms on a modified Carolina rig and tubes. Concentrate on the darker water along the bank with some sort of structure. Lots of dinks with the occasional fish up to 3+ pounds. Cats are biting well on into the evenings with Razorback clients landing many channel cats in the 5 to 10 pound range with the occasional flathead pushing up to 20 plus pounds. Bait of choice is live bait or cut bait. Visit the Razorback web site or call (434) 923-9305.

Kerr Reservoir: Brandon Gray of Bobcat's Country Store reports good bass on cranks , Carolina rigs and football jigs. Anglers going for crappie would do well to fish in brush 20 feet down and make use of curly tail jigs or minnows. Big cats can be had with large shiners, bream or shad. The water is clear and warming.

Smith Mountain Lake

By Mike Snead, Virginia Outdoorsman

Water Temperature: 80 degrees;  Water Clarity: Good

The weather this week will be similar to last weeks with daytime highs in the upper 80's and lows at night in the upper 60's. The skies will be partly cloudy all week with a chance of showers or thunderstorms possible each day. The present water surface temperature is 80 degrees and with the current weather forecast, it should stay around that level all week. We will have a first quarter moon this Thursday, July 10th, so with clear skies we will have increased light and improved visibility on the lake when the moon is overhead in the early evening.

Overall, the fishing continues to be good. Black bass continue to be found in a variety of different water depths and are usually found near some type of structure that provides them ready access to deep water. One of the most common places to find bass on Smith Mountain Lake during the day is around deep-water docks. The bass will be found suspended under floaters, right next to pilings and ladders as well as near old stumps under the dock. The bass like the shade and protection the dock provides. Sometimes they will be found up close to the shoreline and other times in water that is much deeper. They may be found at different locations on a dock at different times of the same day, but when located will often be found in similar locations on different docks establishing a pattern. This means that if you find fish suspended 8 feet below the surface on the shady side of an outside piling of a dock in 20 feet of water, you will often find bass in a similar location and depth on other docks that share the same characteristics. Once you find bass in a certain location, you can often find them near a similar type of cover in other locations on the lake.

Many lures can be used for bass suspended around docks in the summer. One of the best is the YamaSenko worm by Gary Yamamoto. It comes in different lengths and colors and is a lure that has been often imitated but never duplicated or equaled. It is clearly one of the top ten baits for bass at Smith Mountain Lake. This lure can be fished a number of different ways, but one of the best ways to fish it around docks is wacky rigged using Gamakatsu Wide Gap Finesse, Octopus or weedless hooks and a spinning or baitcasting outfit. Rig the bait without any other terminal tackle by inserting the hook through the bait at the egg sack so it just hangs from the hook. Toss the Senko worm right next to vertical structure (pilings, ladders, etc.) around the dock and allow the bait to sink naturally to the appropriate depth. Leave your bail or reel in free-spool so the bait sinks right next to the structure. Watch your line closely and when you see it start to move to the side, take the slack out of your line, set the hook and hold on. Once you locate bass look for additional fish near similar docks at the same location and depth and don't forget to return to the same dock and fish it again after giving it a break.

In the summer, some bass will have moved into deeper water and deep diving crankbaits by Bomber, Bandit, Lucky Craft, Norman and Rapala and plastics by Deep Creek, ZOOM, V&M, Netbait, Roboworm, Yamamoto and Gambler are working. Carolina rigged plastic worms, creature baits and lizards by the above mentioned plastics companies continue to produce bass, especially on deepwater points and humps. There is still a topwater bite early and the Lobina Rico is a top producing topwater lure. There are still seats available in the "Summer Bass Fishing Workshop" this Thursday evening. This workshop will cover summer bass patterns and the lures and presentation techniques used on Smith Mountain Lake during the summer. Additional details about all of our workshops can be found at http://www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com/content/workshop.html All workshops are all held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of our building in Westlake, on Route 122 across the street from Krogers and Wendy's. Seating is limited and classes are filled on a first come first served basis. To reserve a seat, stop by or call the shop on (540) 721-4867.

Tournament bass fishing results were good this past week. The Saturday night bass tournament out of Foxport Marina was won by Paul Perrault and Dennis "Chicken" Holland with a five fish weight of 17.65 pounds. The big fish in that open tournament weighed 6.20 pounds and was caught by the team of Steve Grubbs and Tracey Bowles. The team of Mike Johnson and Glen Sink won the Tuesday night tournament. They produced a five fish weight of 16.50 pounds to win the event. The big fish Tuesday weighed 6.15 pounds and was caught by the Martin/Wheeler Team.

Striper fishing continues to be good, particularly for those using live bait in the mid lake areas near the mouths of the major creeks. Good fish are being caught early in the morning using alewives and small gizzard shad on freelines, planer boards, Redi-rigs (floats) and downlines. Once the sun gets up, stripers are schooling up and are often found near or in deepwater timber. You can catch these fish when they move up to feed using live bait on downlines or flukes on "Virginia Outdoorsman Custom Fluke Jigheads" with Gamakatsu hooks. Stripers are also being caught trolling Sutton spoons, plastic swim shad (Storm, Calcutta), sassy shad and Umbrella rigs (Urigs).

The catfish bite continues to be strong with stinkbaits, nightcrawlers, shad and shiners all producing good results. Carp are also being caught on one of the flavored carp baits and corn. Bluegill and other panfish continue to feed wildly on "red wiggler" worms making it the preferred bait for kids fishing around docks this time of year.

Tight lines. Visit Us Online or call ahead (540) 721-4867 for updates.

Region 3- Southwest

Claytor Lake: Mike Burchett of Rock House Marina says that bass fishing is slow during the day, with better action at night. Every Tuesday, the Marina has a bass tournament from 6 PM to 10 PM. There is a 100% payback. The most recent winners were Jason Adams and Chris "Bubba" Lewis, who brought in 5 fish, totaling over 8lbs. The fish were fooled by Drop Shot Robo Worms and Wacky Rig Senkos. Stripers are striking late, with Yum Money Minnows and Berkley Hollow Belly Swimbaits being the bait of choice. Cats, too, are good at night on the deeper points when fished with shad. Bluegill are responding to worms. No report of big action from crappie or perch. The water is in the mid 80's and clear.

New River and Claytor Lake: Victor Billings of Sportsman's Supply tells us that flatheads are going for shad. Stripers are hitting at night. Perch are going for small jigs. Bass and crappie are slow. The water is dingy and 77degrees.

Lower New River: John Zienius of Big Z's reports that the river is really low and slimy. The only angers with luck are wading or using belly boats. Clear pockets with no grass produce the most fish. Smallmouths are going for Gitzs and super flukes. Cats are going for cut bait in the evening hours. The water is warming and clear.

Region 4- Mountain and Shenandoah Valley

Lake Moomaw: Larry Andrews of The Bait Place tells us that 3 big brown trout have been brought in recently by Covington's Bobby Jr. Hubbard, using minnows. Bass are doing well on worms and soft plastics. Crappie and yellow perch are slow. Fishing on the Jackson has been good. The water in the lake is down 4 feet, 78 degrees and clear.

Shenandoah North and South Forks: Harry Murray says that the mountain trout streams are at a good level, and very fishable. The best flies are Murray's flying beatle size 16 and 18. Another good fly is the Mr. Rapidan dry fly size 16 and 18.Water is clear and 59 degrees. Trout streams in the valley are clear and fishable. Some are very low and require a conscious approach. The best flies are Betsy streamer sizes 10 and 12 and the pear marauder also sizes 10 and 12. Water is clear and 69 degrees. Smallmouth bass streams in the north and south forks of the Shenandoah are clear and fishable. Good flies are the Shenandoah blue popper size 6, Shenandoah Chartreuse Popper size 6, the Shenandoah Chuggar and Murray'Hellgrammite black size 6.. The water is 78 t80 degrees and clear. Every Tuesday and Friday Harry puts out a stream report at www.murraysflyshop.com

Region 5- Northern Piedmont

James at the Fall Line: Mike Ostrander says that flathead cats are hitting in the James River Park System. They are going for live and fresh cut bait. Smallmouths like spinner jigs. The water is hot and clear.

Get your kids hooked on fishing!

Got Tips?
Got Tricks?
Adventure Stories?
The one that got away?
The one that didn't?

email your material to
fishing_report@hotmail.com
and it might get used in the Fishin' Report!

Virginia Conservation Police Notebook

To increase awareness of the activities of our dedicated Conservation Police Officers, previously called game wardens, the "Virginia Conservation Police Notebook" provides an overview of the variety of activities encountered by our officers who protect natural resources and people pursuing outdoor recreation in the fields, woods and waters of Virginia.

If you suspect or witness a violation, report it to the Wildlife Crimeline at 1-800-237-5712.

Don't let the actions of a few outlaws tarnish the reputation of Virginia's sportsmen!

In Case You Missed It...

Editor's note: With numerous new subscribers each issue, we realize that some of the seasonal features are important and timely enough to bear repeating. So readers can easily review these seasonal items, we have retained the headlines and information links in this section "In case you missed it..."

• Northern Virginia Reservoirs Ranked for Largemouth Bass
   

• Bob Ellis Named Wildlife Division Director
  
  

• State Agencies Conducting Investigations on Potential Fish Health Issues
  
  

• Living with Bears in Virginia Video produced by the VDGIF, provides tips for peacefully coexisting with bears.
   

• Invasive Freshwater Algae in Western Virginia Rivers

We hope you enjoy the new, electronic Outdoor Report and invite you to share this information with your friends and colleagues. Simply visit the Department's Web site and click on the Outdoor Report link to subscribe. New editions are sent directly to your email address the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month. Stay informed on issues and opportunities about Virginia's outdoors!

In upcoming editions of the Outdoor Report, look for:

• Approval of Quail Management Plan
• What to Do With Nuisance Wildlife
• New Muzzleloader Seasons