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Syndicate Monthly Archives World-record bass update
Andy Thompson
October 12, 2009 10:11 AM
The IGFA finally received documentation on the possible new world record largemouth bass—caught in Lake Biwa in Japan—and could rule on the catch at any time. Click here for the column I wrote about Manabu Kurita and his catch back in early July. Click here for the announcement on the IGFA’s Website. Does England have a second favorite carp?
Andy Thompson
August 14, 2009 10:02 AM
The British are in mourning over the news that Benson, once voted Britain’s favorite carp (no, seriously), has died. Click here to read the story in the Times of London. B.A.S.S. back at Smith Mountain Lake in 2010
Andy Thompson
August 12, 2009 9:39 AM
BASS recently announced its revised 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series regular-season schedule. Following the adjustments made in 2009, BASS altered the 2010season schedule to reflect the new format, which will consist of eight regular-season Elite Series events, followed by the Bassmaster Elite Series postseason. With the announcement, BASS eliminated the Battle on the Border (April 15-18; Lake Amistad; Del Rio, Texas), Empire Chase (July 21-24; Lake Champlain; Plattsburgh, N.Y.) and Champion’s Choice (July 29-August 1; Lake Erie; Buffalo, N.Y.) from the previously announced schedule. Additionally, BASS moved the date of the Blue Ridge Brawl from Aug. 12-15 to April 15-18. The regular season will now culminate with the Sooner Run, set for June 17-20 on the Arkansas River out of Muskogee, Okla. The revised schedule can be found below. The location of the postseason events will be announced at a later date. “The creation of the postseason has been instrumental in creating drama and excitement surrounding the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year program,” said Tom Ricks, vice president & general manager, BASS & ESPN Outdoors. For the 2009 season, BASS introduced the eight-event regular season and postseason format. The format was backed by some impressive metrics, including a 29 percent increase in average event attendance from 2008, the successful implementation of emerging technologies in BASSCast and BASSTrak and a 39 percent increase in page views on http://www.Bassmaster.com during Elite Series competition weeks. As with past years, each Elite-level event in 2010 will receive one hour of television coverage on ESPN2’s The Bassmasters, which airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. ET. ESPN2 will kick off the Bassmaster Elite Series season with more than 10 hours of programming devoted to the 2010 Bassmaster Classic through three days. The Classic is set for Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala. The entire pro roster for the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series will be released in early 2010, when all qualifications are realized. The Elite Series regular-season, four-day tournament format will follow the 2009 model, with the top 50 anglers qualifying for the third day of competition and the top 12 competing on the final day. On the heels of a successful inaugural season of the Bassmaster Elite Series Marshal program, BASS will open registration for 2010 Marshals in August. BASS Federation Nation, Life and Insider members will all be eligible for priority registration for the eight regular-season events beginning Aug. 4 at 9 a.m. ET. On Aug. 25, all BASS members can register at 9 a.m. ET. Additional information can be found on Bassmaster.com. 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule Date Event Fishery Host City March 11-14 Duel in the Delta California Delta Stockton, Calif. March 18-21 Golden State Shootout Clear Lake Lakeport, Calif. April 15-18 Blue Ridge Brawl Smith Mountain Lake Moneta, Va. April 29-May 2 Alabama Charge Pickwick Lake Florence, Ala. May 20-23 Pride of Georgia Clarks Hill Lake Evans, Ga. *June 9-12 Tennessee Triumph Kentucky Lake Paris, Tenn. June 17-20 Sooner Run Arkansas River Muskogee, Okla. * Wednesday-Saturday event Snowflex
Andy Thompson
July 07, 2009 5:19 PM
You may have missed this as you paged through Sunday’s Metro section. It was an “Around The State” brief, but it bears a little further discussion. On August 29th Liberty University will unveil the first ski slope in North America featuring “Snowflex,“ a synthetic fiber meant to mimic real snow. It sounds, crazy, I know, but click here to watch a video about it. I promise you’ll be intrigued. And of course, you’re intrepid Outdoors columnist isn’t about to let the opportunity pass to go skiing in August. Look for a column on my trip to the Liberty Mountain Snowflex Center after it opens on August 29th. Virginia Quota/Lottery Hunts
Andy Thompson
July 04, 2009 7:12 AM
There are a ton of lottery/quota hunts offered in the state of Virginia, many of which take place on state parks and national wildlife refuges that are only open to hunting for a few days a year. They’re a great opportunity to hunt somewhere you’d otherwise never get the chance. Last year, for instance, I hunted False Cape State Park for feral hogs during a lottery hunt. Anyway, the game department just released the list of quota/lottery hunts for 2009-2010. It’s worth taking a look at. Below is a recent press release from the DGIF.
Richmond – Hunters, the application period for 2009-2010 Quota Hunts opens July 1, 2009. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has posted applications and information on the agency website http://www.HuntFishVA.com. Hunting opportunities are available for waterfowl, White-tailed deer, dove, rabbits, quail, Black bear and spring turkeys. Several hunts offer multiple species during the hunt segments. Hunters may apply by mail (Virginia Quota Hunts, c/o CyberData, Inc. P.O. Box 9009, Hicksville, New York 11802), by telephone (1-877- 824-8687) or through the Department’s website by clicking on Hunting and then selecting Quota Hunts. This year there are several new hunts and some changes in application deadlines. New Quota Hunts: North Landing River Deer Hunts in the City of Virginia Beach (See Series # 203) Late Season Feral Hog Hunts at False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach (See Series # 604) Lone Star Lakes Deer Hunts in the City of Suffolk (See Series 212 and 213) New Application Deadlines: New Kent Forestry Center Dove Hunts, Series # 601 – Applications due July 28, 2009, only by telephone or online (see information above). Radford Army Ammunition Plant Deer Hunts, Series # 211 – Applications due August 14, 2009.
New for the 2009 – 2010 Quota hunt Season: Hunters applying for some hunts may receive additional hunt dates as a bonus if the series applied for does not fill to capacity. The Hog Island Wildlife Management Area muzzleloader and firearms hunts have been consolidated into one hunt. Hunters may choose to hunt with either shotgun or muzzleloaders during this hunt. The Hog Island Wildlife Management Area Waterfowl Hunt has changed. The hunt days have increased to Wednesdays and Saturdays. Five parties will be drawn for each day. Stand-by drawings will no longer be conducted. The Department would like to thank the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Virginia State Parks, Virginia Department of Forestry, City of Suffolk, Chesterfield County, U. S. Army Radford Ammunition Plant and The Nature Conservancy for providing the many quota hunting opportunities this coming year. World record spadefish
Andy Thompson
June 16, 2009 9:40 AM
Pending IGFA All tackle World Record Atlantic Spadefish 13 June I had the privilege of speaking with a gentleman last night who experienced the catch of a lifetime. Roland E. Murphy was fishing at the Cell aboard the “Kingfish” captained by Allen King and his first mate, Sherie King, all of Fredericksburg, Virginia. They were in search of big spadefish, and caught a handful, and lost around 15 or so. Roland was up next when the rod in the holder doubled over. But this was no ordinary spadefish. Roland claims that “the fish put up a gallant fight for over 20 minutes, taking me around the boat, back and forth, under the boat, around the motor, almost wearing me out before wearing it out.” But Roland did wear it out, and in the live well it went until tipping the scales at a whopping 14lbs, 14oz. The existing record spade is 14-pounds. Jon Lucy of VIMS traveled to meet Roland, helping him with his application. Not only is this awesome catch a pending World Record, but paperwork was also submitted for a pending Virginia State Record. Bike to Work Day, Week, Month
Andy Thompson
May 12, 2009 9:12 AM
May is National Bike Month, this week is National Bike to Work Week, and Friday is National Bike to Work Day. So in honor of these occasions, I present to you the League of American Bicyclists‘ list of the most and least bike friendly states. Click here to learn more about bike month and bike week events in Richmond and throughout Virginia. I will be celebrating bike to work day on Friday by joining two friends in Cumberland, Md. to start our three-day journey down the C&O canal towpath by bike. Actually, that the trip and bike to work day coincide is entirely accidental, though since I’ll be writing about the trip when I get back, you could argue I’ll be biking to work on Friday. I’m just saying… White-nose syndrome in bats
Andy Thompson
April 12, 2009 5:40 AM
There are a number of Websites out there with good information on white-nose syndrome. Let’s start with some sites focusing on bats and WNS in Virginia: Click here for the DGIF press release from a couple of weeks ago confirming WNS in Virginia…and here for some info on WNS in Va. from the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The National Speleological Society maintains a number of related links. Click here for their WNS page. A good primer on the history and spread of WNS, as well as some relevant links and videos, can be found at batmanagement.com by clicking here. Save the planet: Get rid of your cat
Andy Thompson
April 06, 2009 9:40 AM
Seriously, wanna be “green?“ Lose Mr. Bigglesworth. Click here to find out why. More on Shed Hunting
Andy Thompson
March 27, 2009 6:00 AM
On when to go shed hunting: You can start finding sheds as early as late December. I don’t get serious until February 1st and that’s still a little early. Mid-February to mid-March is by far the best time. On why all deer hunters should shed hunt: It provides a tremendous opportunity to scout. If you want to learn where the deer are and where they’re moving on your property, you think you can do it pre-season, you’ll learn 10 times as much post-season. That’s because in the fall the leaves have fallen down and you can’t see where the deer are walking and right now the deer trails are like pig paths. On picking a shed dog: I’m convinced now that the drive for the hunt is much more important [than the retrieval instinct]. That drive to search and look. I predict in a decade is bunches of people will have [shed] dogs. When you find one antler, Knox says, keep your eyes peeled for the other: The most amazing thing to me is how often both antlers fall off at the very same place at the very same time. You’d be amazed. Here are a few outside resources that can help you learn a little more about the hobby. http://www.shedantlers.org is a good place to start. It’s the Website of the North American Shed Hunters Club. For an article from Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine…click here. Field and Stream’s Bill Heavey on shed hunting…click here. Tips from Outdoor Life…click here.
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