Micro

Just thought you might like to know that. ;D Seriously though, we went out today. My son and I caught 6 in 3 hours, the largest was about 3 lbs, all but one on purple 4" weightless senkos T-rigged on Gammy 2/0 EWG. I missed the hookset on at least that many more. I also lost 3 of my beloved senkos to a rabid bowfin. This is the first year I've fished weightless senkos in earnest. Now I'm kicking myself for not trying them sooner.

My son and I went out a few hours today. And we saw something we've never seen before. We were fishing in a stand of large cypress trees. One of the trees near shore was particularly large. A large fish had herded a handful of baitfish into one of the bows in between the roots of the cypress tree. It was a bowfin and it repeatedly and vigorously breached the surface going after these fish which had literally resorted to leaping out of the water and UP the base of the tree. Man, it was wild. These little fishes were jumping up and tumbling back into the water as this bowfin kept them coralled in this bow. Coolest thing I've seen all year. BTW, I saw another bowfin 50 or so yards further up. I cast a weightless 4" purple senko and it prompltly tore the tail off. I tried two more time and the same thing happened. At that point, I decided it was not economical to feed this fish senkos and moved on. Anyway, Bowfins rock!

But good news for river herring. I went to Walker's Dam today on the Chickahominy River. I heard scuttlebutt from several fisherman that the VMRC will be putting a moratorium on recreational anadromous river herring fishing in 2009, apparently like North Carolina has for 2008. I could hardly believe it. So I stopped by the baitshop at Ed Allen's on Chick Lake and sure enough, the Atlantic States Marine Fishery Commission as instructed the VMRC to cut off recreational anadromous river herring fishing in 2009 since it has failed to show that it can sustain a fishery. There will be a public meeting on this soon. Bad news since river herring fishing is a spring ritual. Good news since too many fisherman take far more than they can possibly use. I saw one boat today with what had to be the equivalent of a 55 gallon drum of blueback herring.

I just got a call from "Gloria" at Pure Fishing indicating that she received my fax and that the offer is on "hold" but as soon as she is able she will "key" my information. My problem isn't that they haven't sent that rebate (which did prompt my call), it's the fact that they can't find it after I carefully prepared and addressed it.

I'm concerned about illegal Canadians. They're takin' all our jobs! This is what Canadians look like...

I called Pure Fishing - the number on the redemption coupon. Obviously some sort of call center. I was told to fax a duplicate. I've done that. Let's see what happens.

Don't hold your breath. It's been about 2 months since I sent mine in (coupon and two original receipts) and now they state they have no record - never received. Nice handling - Pure Fishing!

I have yet to get my rebate. And I sent in for it months ago.

I heard that years ago and that it happened in Great Britain. Cool story, though.

I'm a C&R guy too, but I guess it's just nice to know regulations to help out your fellow fisherman. In the event someone next to you is mis-informed about keeping a certain species. Micro - you're right about the commercial fishing, I just figured it would apply to recreation but I guess it doesn't! Thanks for pointing me straight. What about the other website I posted? http://www.mrc.state.va.us/regulations/swrecfishingrules.shtm If you scroll down to American shad it says: Illegal to possess American shad caught from the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries The james spills into the Chesapeake doesn't it? Which would then make it a Chesapeake tributary meaning it'll be illegal to keep any American shad! That's correct. All rivers in Virginia, except a few in southeast Virginia and a few in south Virginia, empty into, and thus are tributaries of, the Chesapeake. Keeping American Shad by recreational fisherman is illegal in Virginia, except in those south Virginia Rivers that empty into North Carolina waters.

Your interpretation of that chapter will get you in trouble. You are a recreational fisherman, not a registered commercial fisherman. That chapter deals with commerical fishing. Bycatch means, for the purpsoes of the law, shad caught accidentally and incidentally to fishing for other species. A shad taken in these waters while shad fishing isn't "bychatch."

Just walk up to her tomorrow like you had it planned all along and say, "Honey I'm going to give you something that is far more valuable than any gift, and far more heartfelt. I'm going to rub your putrid feet." Then fall to your knees as if it's the biggest sacrafice of your life.

I'm not interested in taking shad or herring, I'm only interesting the regulations at this point. After hours of reading through the relevant sections of the code of Virginia (online in its entirety), and searching through the Virginia Register of Regulations, I found the answer with respect to herring (Effective January 1, 2008)... 4VAC15-360-10. Taking aquatic invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and nongame fish for private use. A. Possession limits. ... 1. The following species may be taken in unlimited numbers from inland waters statewide: carp, bowfin, longnose gar, mullet, yellow bullhead, brown bullhead, black bullhead, flat bullhead, snail bullhead, white sucker, northern hogsucker, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, blueback herring (see 4VAC15-320-25 for anadromous blueback herring limits), white perch, yellow perch, alewife (see 4VAC15-320-25 for anadromous alewife limits), stoneroller (hornyhead), fathead minnow, golden shiner, and goldfish. So, lets see what 4 VAC 15-320-25 says about anadromous River herring... Now, see the confusion? The Regulations on the take of anadromous river herring and Hickory Shad have changed. All the chart does is tell us the VMRC shall set the regulations, which it apparently hasn't done yet, or hasn't published them - otherwise it would be in the registry of regulations, or at the very least available on the VMRC's website. We've gone into 2008 shad/herring season without firm regulations on the take of Hickory Shad below the fall line, and anadromous river herring anywhere. Whatever rules people are using in these areas are speculative at this point, or based on old regulations.

That's scarey.

I replied to this thread with these pictures earlier, but didn't want to hijack the thread. But now I'll post links to them. That guy that got bit on the tongue got lucky - very lucky. It must have been a very minimal envenomation. If it were a significant bite, he would have lost his tongue, and maybe more. Here is a fellow that took a hard bite from either a Western Diamondback or Timber Rattlensnake (some confusion over the species). Both of these snakes are relatively common rattlers (as common as rattlers get). This time of year, they are starting to get a lot more active. You bank fisherman need to keep your eyes and ears open. Take a bite from either one of these, and you'll be crippled for life. Graphic Medical Treatment Photos - not for the squeamish http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image002.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image003.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image004.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image005.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image006.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image007.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image008.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image009.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image011.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image012.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image013.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image014.jpg http://members.cox.net/micropterus/image015.jpg

It seesm some DGIF officers are not enforcing the regulations as written in the DGIF's fishing guide.

Darwin Award candidate.

I've heard that argument before, and it doesn't make any sense. AFAIK, Abu was an old hand in the business when Shimano got into making reels. As far as the Revo being new and the "time will tell thing," same goes with the current Curado, which ISN'T the Curado of a few years ago. And apparently, some companies do think you can put a reasonable price on "reliability."

But why should less cost so much more??? I mean, where is the justification for the 100D to cost $199 when the Revo S, for instance, is very comparable in performance, has more bearings, had an aluminum sideplate, and a more powerful drag is half the price? IMO, the name brings a premium price. Shimano charges it because people will pay it. That's it.

That's what's confusing. Because that isn't always the case. If the fish is anadromous, then its regulations fall under the jurisdiction of the VMRC. Nevertheless, the DGIF does regulate the take of some anadromous fish above the fall line, but so does the VMRC. For instance, the the DFIG states no-take on Hickory/American shad above the fall line, and defers to VMRC regulations below the fall line. EXCEPT in the Meherrin River below Emporia Dam, Nottoway River, Blackwater River and Northlanding and Northwest Rivers. In these, the DGIF says the take is 10 per day with no size limits. Of course, Hickory/American Shad in these rivers originate from North Carolina waters, not Virginia waters. For alewife and blueback, creel limits above and below the fall line are set solely by the VMRC. But where does it state any of this? I can't find it on VMRC's website, and the DGIF's regulations don't say that. The only rivers where keeping Hickory Shad in Virginia is legal are rivers that empty into North Carolina waters. In any other river, there is a strict prohibition on creeling Hickory Shad above the fall line. The VMRC's website speaks only to the American Shad, stating there is a moretorium on taking them. It says nothing about Hickory Shad or blueback or alewife herring. Where is the 50 (per day?) creel limits listed? Again, I can't find it on VMRC's website. Given the popularity of herring fishing, you'd think the rules would be better published. Like I've said, I've seen guys take what seem like hundreds of blueback off Walker's Dam in the spring.

Welcome aboard.

I googled the heck out of this topic when I saw it and couldn't find ANYTHING on it except that blurb by that lure maker. I think it's much ado about nothing.

I like Toyotas. I have a Corolla with 60,000 miles on it now and I have never had a problem. Not one. My friend with Toyotas nevr have problems, either. They have great reputations. But I will say (I'm an insurance adjuster) Tundra frame rails seem mighty fragile for a full size. Even a minor hit in the front or rear seems to damage them. From what I've seen, they are about as big around as my wrist. Toyota says in one of their ads that their hitches reach farther up the frame rails compared to Chevy and Ford. That's because their rails are significantly smaller and extra support is needed. Look at NHSTA ratings for crash safety. Tundra does not do that well compared other full sized trucks.

I thought it might be California environmentalists who have never fished, much less been on a lake, who think they know best for everyone else. Or guys that want to market a tougher plastic bait. Helluva way to get into the market. "Our baits don't tear apart and pollute the water with dangerous chemicals like PVCs like Zooms, Yums and GYCBs do." http://www.news.wisc.edu/14799

Who are "they?"