* Social gathering tentatively planned

Anglers take note of rules:
1) Time limit to report catches - 24 hours following end of event

2) Only 2 fish of a species may be entered per person. Fish can be entered in either weight or
points category or one fish in each category. A single fish can not be entered both ways.

3) There is no minimum weight or minimum points required for a tournament entry.

Virginia Yellow Perch: March 3-4 (blow date following weekend) (full moon Mar. 8)

Back by popular demand – Don’t let cabin fever spoil your winter - its perch time!  Tournament is open to all Virginia waters.  Popular spots include the Chickahominy and Mattaponi Rivers. You are likely to see some of your fellow club members grouped in a few popular spots on the Chick. This was traditionally was one of our largest participation tournaments. It’s always a fun event and fishing is usually fairly dependable if weather conditions co-operate. Contact Chairman to confirm event if weather is questionable.
We will recognize three places for heaviest weight fish and three places for highest point fish. First = 3 pts.     Second = 2 pts.    Third = 1 pt. These points will apply towards the annual Tournament Angler of the Year competition.
A fish can be entered by weight or points (angler must declare which category) but not both ways for 1 fish.
One angler can win both weight and points divisions by entering 2 different fish.
Call in entries within 1 day from end of tournament to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001. You cannot change the entry category once you have registered it with the Chairman.
Tournament First Place Awards for weight and points = Anglers Choice: Traditional cup, $40 Greentop gift certificate or a VAC Banquet ticket.

RESULTS -

Ring perch fishing was the best we have seen in many years – at least it was until a few days before our tourney. Weather was cloudy and windy, but not really a problem. The team of Rob Robinson and Mike Cline dominated, winning both weight and points divisions.

Yellow Perch Points:
Mike Cline 1-6 on 2# plug = 361 pts (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Parks Rountrey 0-15 on 2#spin = 246 pts
Rob Robinson 0-13 on 2# plug = 213 pts

Yellow Perch Weight:
Rob Robinson 1-9 (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Mike Cline 1-0
Parks Rountrey 0-13

Participants est. 8 members

Kelly Stafford  Memorial Hickory Shad and White Perch*: March 31 - April 1 (James River) (blow date April 14-15)  (Easter April 8)

Mark your calendar! Last year’s tourney was awesome with hundreds of fish caught and a nice social gathering Saturday afternoon. Our tourney date is earlier this year, but as spring is upon us – this early date should be near the peak of this year’s shad and perch runs. Prime fishing is from Rocketts to up above the 14th Street bridge. The only potential problem is potential high muddy floodwaters that can sometimes make the James un-fishable for a few days in the spring.  Small spoons, shad darts and crappie jigs can be effective on ultra-light spinning and plug gear. Fly fishing is often more productive than the spinning outfits. Various flies work well, mostly with sinking lines, and just enough rod to throw the sinking line. Perch are often caught while targeting shad on the same lures. In deeper water silver buddies or any blade baits are very effective on white perch. Contact Chairman to confirm event dates if weather or River conditions are questionable.
Social gathering at Parks’ truck at the Ancarrow ramp parking lot from 4:30 to 5:30 PM Saturday will include snacks, and a hot tailgate dish. You can register your catches at the social or wait until later by calling or e-mail entries to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001 (prountrey@comcast.net).

This is essentially 2 tournaments on the same weekend. A fish can be entered by weight or points (angler must declare which category) but not both ways for 1 fish.
One angler can win both weight and points divisions by entering 2 different fish.
One angler can only enter two fish of each species (4 total).
Call in entries within 24 hours from the end of tournament to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001. You can not change the entry category once you have registered it with the Chairman.
You do not need to fill out cards to turn in for the tournament, but do need a card if you want it to be registered as a club entry.
Tournament First Place Awards for both species by weight and points = Anglers Choice: Traditional pewter cup, $40 Greentop gift certificate or a VAC Banquet ticket.

RESULTS -

Weather Saturday started and ended with rain, but not enough to deter the shad or shad fisherman. The river was bristling with shad.  The pros – Murray, Carter and Lee put on a show with their flyrods and dominated the weight entries. The social was cut short by rain, but fun while it lasted. All in all, a real good tournament with 13 members fishing.

WHITE PERCH RECORD FALLS IN KELLLY STAFFORD MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

Hickory shad Points:
Fred Cousins 1-10 on 2# fly = 232 pts  (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Fred Cousins 1-8 on 2# fly = 214 pts
Parks Rountrey 1-11 on 2#spin = 194 pts

Hickory shad Weight:
Fred Murray 2-2 (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Fred Murray 2-0 (tiebreaker)
Glenn Carter 2-0

White Perch Points:
Parks Rountrey 0-10 on 2#spin = 164 pts (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Bob Schepker 0-11 on 4# spin  =149 pts
Parks Rountrey 0-9 on 2#spin = 148 pts

White Perch Weight:
Glenn Carter1-6 (wins a Greentop giftcard)
Stuart Lee 0-14
Glen Carter 0-12

Virginia Croaker:  May 5-6 (blow date following weekend)

This will be our first croaker tournament in many years. Spring croaker fishing is best up in the small branches of rivers, creek mouths and around piers. These fish are great fighters on light tackle and will readily take grubs and flys. Feel free to call Parks for tips.

One angler can win both weight and points divisions by entering 2 different fish. You can enter both fish in weight, both for points or one of each.
Call in entries within 24 hours from the end of tournament to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001. You cannot change the entry category once you have registered it with the Chairman.
You do not need to fill out cards to turn in for the tournament, but do need a card if you want it to be registered as a club entry.
Tournament First Place Awards for both species by weight and points = Anglers Choice: Traditional pewter cup, $40 Green Top gift certificate or a VAC Banquet ticket.

RESULTS -

Weather Saturday afternoon ended with rain, but a few anglers gave it a try.  Croaker were unusually scarce and some anglers could find none. Bob Brown & Parks had fun catching about 30 sea mullet and a few gray trout on artificials. The master croaker-chokers – Mike Cline & Rob Robinson dominated – winning both weight and points. This was just a by-product while they were having a successful speck fishing day. All in all, a weak tournament with only 7 members fishing.

Croaker Points:
Mike Cline 1-7 on 2# spin = 191 pts  (wins a Green Top giftcard)
Bob Schepker 1-1 on 4# spin  =106 pts
Fred Cousins 0-10 on 2# spin = 83 pts

Croaker Weight
Rob Robinson 1-4 (wins a Green Top giftcard)
Bob Brown 1-3
Bob Schepker 0-9

Bernie Skydanek Memorial Eastern Shore VA Surf - Red Drum* May 19-20 (tides high @ 7:49 am) (blow date June 2-3) (2 wks)

*** CANCELLED ***

Back by popular demand. This was a huge hit last year. Don’t miss this one! Our tourney date is near peak of the spring drum migration. You should have waders, a fairly shallow draft boat (or ride with a fellow member) and be prepared for a long hike after anchoring your boat in shallow water behind a barrier island.  Contact event leader Bob Shepherd or Parks Rountrey to confirm your participation and also to check event dates if weather or surf conditions are questionable.

Times: Sun-up Saturday to Sundown Sunday
Location: Barrier Islands of Virginia Eastern Shore
For those who may be unfamiliar with the Eastern Shore, but still would like to fish, please contact Bob Shepherd. Bob will be glad to lead people to the fishing grounds (keeping in mind that different sized boats may have to take different paths to access the islands).

Tips: Peeler crabs and fresh cut bait (such as spot, croakers, whiting, bluefish, menhaden, etc.) are all good red drum baits.  Black drum are frequently caught from the surf this time of year as well, so fishing with peeler crabs opens the opportunity to catch those as well.  A half dozen peeler crabs can get an angler through the day when things are slow, but on a good bite, or when bait stealers are prevalent, it's not uncommon to burn through 1.5 dozen peelers per angler per day.

Bob's contact info:
email: bshepherd@medivisuals.com
cell: 804-241-0870 (sometimes unaccessable at Bob's Eastern Shore cottage) Bob's Eastern Shore land line: 757-678-7847

Social gathering at Mike Ostrander’s parent’s house from 5:00 to 6:30 PM Saturday will include grilling burgers – and or fish, sides, and bring your favorite beverage. There may also be room to pitch a tent at Mike’s parent’s property – call Mike for details (cell 938-2350)

You can register your catches by calling or e-mail entries to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001 (prountrey@comcast.net).

Special Rules for this event: Since there are no line classes in surf division - all red drum will be entered in the weight division (largest fish wins).  Any other species of fish caught in the surf will be entered based on points calculated by surf base weights.
One angler can win both weight and points divisions by entering 2 different fish.
One angler can only enter two fish.
Call in entries within 24 hours from the end of tournament to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001. You cannot change an entry once you have registered it with the Chairman.
You do not need to fill out cards to turn in for the tournament, but do need a card if you want it to be registered as a club entry.
Tournament First Place Awards for both weight and points = Anglers Choice: Traditional pewter cup, $40 Green Top gift certificate or a VAC Banquet ticket.

Virginia/Carolina Flounder: July 21-22 (blow date following weekend)

RESULTS - Storms made it dicey, but 6 anglers fished and did well. Cline and Robinson dominated again.

Points
Rob Robinson 4-3 on 6# plug = 209 pts (wins a Green Top giftcard)
Mike Cline 2-13 on 4# plug = 175 pts
Vic Skakandy- 2-7 on 12 gen  = 60 pts

Weight
Mike Cline -5-0 (wins a Green Top giftcard)
Johnny Wetlaufer - 3-5
Rob Robinson – 3-3

Virginia Speckled Trout: November 3-4 (blow date following weekend)
Note: Fishing area includes all Virginia waters, but no tournament fishing allowed inside private “hot ditch” on the Elizabeth River.

Since our spring Red Drum tournament was blown out, we are adding red drum as a second species for this tournament. Recent speck and red drum fishing has been the best in many years!  Our tourney will be at a peak time for actively feeding fall spotted sea trout. This is a two species event including red drum – so it’s like two tournaments at the same time. Both these fish can be caught on all the same artificial or live baits. For light tackle points - various soft plastic baits and mirro-lures are effective on light spinning and plug gear. Fish are available in skinny water and very easy to get to so any trailerable boat, jon boat or even kayaks and wading can be very effective. If you have not tried it before, now is a great time - be sure to plan on fishing and learning with us. Contact Chairman to confirm event if weather is questionable.
Times: All Saturday and Sunday

Two ways to win! We will recognize three places for heaviest weight fish and three places for highest point fish for each species. First = 3 pts.     Second = 2 pts.    Third = 1 pt. These points will apply towards the annual Salt Water Tournament Angler of the Year competition. A fish can be entered by weight or points (angler must declare which category) but not both ways for 1 fish. Only 2 fish of each species can be entered per person. Entries must be turned in within 24 hours from the end of tournament. You can register your catches by calling or e-mail entries to Angling Activities Chairman Parks Rountrey.

RESULTS - A windy weekend a week after hurricane Sandy - but 8 people fished. Jeff Doughty won points and weight on specks with a 4-12 on 6 spin for 190 points and a 4-10 weight. Second – with 71 points goes to Bob Schepker’s 1-7 speck on 4 spin

Second weight goes to Larry Allen’s 3-0 speck. For Drum, Mike Cline’s 35 point 1-7 puppy is the drum winner…. The only one turned in.

James River (Chippokes Creek) Gar: November 17-18 (blow date following weekend) (Thanksgiving Nov 22)

This will be a repeat of our club’s successful gar tournament last year – but hopefully with bigger fish! Some nice gar can be found many places in the James River system - including the Chickahominy, but this time of year Chippokes Creek (just off the James) is the top venue for club members seeking large gar. There are many access points on the Chick and the James. Those who want to fish Chippokes can reach the area by leaving from the free Morris Creek Ramp in the Chickahominy Wildlife Management Area or for a fee use the more convenient James City County Riverfront Park Ramp on the East end of the Route 5 Bridge over the Chick.   

Tips: The fish will eat large minnows, suspended live - or dead on the bottom. They range from 2 to 17 lbs. and can easily be caught on 2# or 4# test with 8# mono leader. They also will take artificial baits if you have the patience to miss many hookups and stick with casting. Parks will be happy to provide some pointers in advance – feel free to call or e-mail Parks Rountrey: cell 804-349-6001 (prountrey@comcast.net).

• Times: All Saturday and Sunday
• Call in entries within 24 hours from the end of tournament to Angling Activities
• Chairman Parks Rountrey 804-349-6001. You cannot change an entry once you have registered it with the Chairman.
• You do not need to fill out cards to turn in for the tournament, but do need a card if you want it to be registered as a club entry.
• Tournament First Place Awards for both weight and points = Anglers Choice: Traditional pewter cup, $40 Green Top gift card or a VAC Banquet ticket.

RESULTS - A sunny, cool nice fall weekend, but conditions were a bit windy. Plenty of fish were rolling at Chippokes Creek but only 3 members fished. Everybody on the two boats fishing Chippokes landed gar. Eddy Johnston took the only gar on artificial bait. Bob Brown’s boat took honors with a first place points fish for new member Lee Rothgeb’s 12-0 citation gar earning 209 points. Bob Brown took first place for weight with a 4-8 gar. Eddy took second in points with a 3-10 on 2 spin for 131 points and Lee took third in points with a 4-8 on 4 general.