Fishing Archives - Page 6 of 6 - Riverside Outfitters

VDGIF launches Android version of HuntFishVA app

Last year the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries rolled out a smartphone application called “HuntFishVa,” for iPhone users. The app was designed with hunters and fishermen in mind, but as I’ve used it over the past few months, I’ve found it quite handy for many different outdoors-related pursuits. The sunrise-sunset timer would be useful for any birdwatcher, and the “Trophy Case” allows you to upload pictures and information on any animal you see. Sure, it’s designed for hunters and anglers with their catches and kills. But if your trophy case includes prothonotary warblers or wood ducks or a coyote seen by the side of the road, that’ll work too. My favorite feature is the “Near Me” button. Click it and you can find boat slips, lakes and wildlife management areas near you.

Now the free app is available for Android users, as well. Here’s a portion of the release from the DGIF:

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New Virginia record striped bass

I wrote about this beast of a fish and the story behind the catch for my column in today’s Times-Dispatch. There was only room for one picture in the paper, so I figured I’d share a couple more here. The catch, by Manassas native Cary Wolfe, went 74 pounds even and was 57.75 inches long. The captain, Tim Cannon, said he and Virginia Marine Resources Commission representative Lewis Gillingham were surprised, based on the length of the fish, that it didn’t weigh more. The female only had a couple of eels in its stomach, Cannon said, despite being caught in and area loaded with menhaden, the rockfish’s preferred meal. He guessed that if she had been well fed, she might have broken the world record of 81.88 pounds set in August.

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Conservation helps wildlife, preserves good life

Did you see the Sunday commentary in the Richmond Times-Dispatch from Jim McVey, chairman of the board of directors of The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia? He had a lot to say about protecting the outdoors and open spaces in Virginia.Read More

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Go see a WMA, but bring your wallet

I’ve always thought that Virginia’s Wildlife Management Areas flew under the radar for those outdoor-loving, but non-hunting and angling, Virginians. WMAs are packed during hunting season, and fishermen know the opportunities they provide. But I’m not sure other outdoor enthusiasts — trail runners, hikers, bikers and bird watchers — realize how much the WMA’s have to offer — the amount of trail, the natural beauty. Well, in a few days, those non-hunters and anglers are going to have to pay — though not much — for the pleasure.

Beginning January 1, visitors to Wildlife Management Areas and public fishing lakes owned by the DGIF who are age 17 and older will need to have an Access Permit unless they possess a valid Virginia hunting, freshwater fishing, or trapping license, or a current Virginia boat registration. Daily and Annual Access Permits for WMAs and department-owned public fishing lakes will be available January 1 for purchase at www.dgif.virginia.gov, by calling 1-866-721-6911 during business hours. Cost for the Daily Access Permit is $4 and the cost for the Annual Access Permit is $23. The Access Permit, whether Daily or Annual, can be used to access any WMA and DGIF-owned public fishing lake statewide.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries owns more than 201,000 acres of land on 39 Wildlife Management Areas located across the Commonwealth. The DGIF also owns 35 public fishing lakes statewide. Most of the land and the lakes were purchased using primarily revenue from the sale of hunting licenses, freshwater fishing licenses, and trapping licenses. Revenue from these sales has also paid for upkeep of the DGIF-maintained roads, parking areas, kiosks, and wildlife and fish habitat and management work done on these properties. Over the years, hunters and anglers who shouldered the cost to acquire and to maintain these sites, have shared the property with bird watchers, wildflower enthusiasts, horseback riders, and others who have had the benefit of accessing these locations at no cost. But that is going to change on January 1.

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Sunrise on the James River

Mike Ostrander is the James River’s jack of all trades. He’s a catfishing guide — for blue cats on the tidal James and flatheads in the falls; he’s a history guide; he’s an eagle guide; and he’s a youth fishing instructor. I’ve written about him a number of times in columns for the Times-Dispatch. And because Ostrander’s on the water so much — at all hours of the day — he consistently comes up with some amazing pics of the river.

The above is one of those. It was taken at sunrise yesterday on the tidal James. Of course, I’m partial to the one below, taken in the same area right around four years ago. That’s me with a 66-pound blue cat. My biggest catch ever!

If you have a moment, check out the pics on Mike’s site: www.discoverthejames.com. It’ll make you realize what we have here and Richmond and want to go experience it more often.

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