Please note we have combined the fishing report and and news/article pages for the winter. We will update info as it becomes available and return to the 2 page format in the Spring.

Outdoors: Sunday hunting in Virginia may become a reality

By: JIM BREWER | The Daily Progress outdoors columnist
Published: January 25, 2012

Each legislative session for as long as I can remember has included a bill or two that would allow Sunday hunting in Virginia. Usually, these bills never see the light of day and die a death of non-support. But this year may be different. For the first time, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries has taken a stand in support of Sunday hunting, and it may happen.

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 Bill that would allow Sunday hunting advances in Virginia's Senate The Senate amended the bill to prohibit hunting within 250 yards of a place of worship on Sundays. Virginia is one of only 11 states that prohibit or restrict hunting on Sundays.

Friday, January 20, 2012

It could have been the latest Maryland blue catfish record Gene Muellers'

World of Hunting & Fishing

Lawmakers revisit Sunday hunting ban A Senate committee is scheduled to hear four bills today allowing Sunday hunting in Virginia.

By Mike Sluss and Mark Taylor Thursday, January 19, 2012
The Roanoke Times Will Virginia's Capitol remain a killing field for legislation to allow Sunday hunting in Virginia?

Virginia is one of only 11 states that prohibit or restrict hunting on Sundays. Lawmakers have resisted efforts to roll back a ban that has survived even as other Sunday "blue laws" were swept into the dust bin of history.

Outdoors: Birds need our help

By: JIM BREWER | Daily Progress correspondent
Published: January 18, 2012

Now, more then ever, the birds need our help. Many species need to eat their weight each day to survive winter’s chill, and the pickings can be slim this time of year.

Weather can try your soul, but fish still here Jan. 18, 2012 DelMarVaNOW

These can be the times that try local anglers' souls. The cold winds can sweep down from the Canadian plains bringing with them bitter temps and unfishable conditions.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Some rabbit hunts are more about having fun with your friends

Gene Muellers'

World of Hunting & Fishing

Lead poisoning a problem for eagles, hawks

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© January 15, 2012

Hunters usually are good stewards of the environment.

But unknowingly, the practice of their sport has caused problems over the years for raptors such as bald eagles and hawks.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Can tidal river bass fishing in January get any better? Can it?

Gene Muellers' World of Hunting & Fishing

Va. assembly to be busy on outdoors Friday, January 13, 2012 By Mark Taylor | The Roanoke Times Bills to end Virginia's ban on Sunday hunting will likely generate much buzz at this year's General Assembly and will be the topic of an in-depth story in an upcoming edition of this newspaper. Yet sportsmen would be wise to pay attention to some of the other bills that could impact outdoor recreation.

UPCOMING OUTDOOR HUNTING FISHING SHOWS and Flea Markets 2011 - 2012 NRA Great American Hunting & Outdoor Show  Jan 27 - 29, 2012 Feb. 18: Fishing tackle and sporting goods charity flea market. Belmont Ruritans, 16420 Monrovia Road, Lake Anna. 8 a.m.–1 p.m. Vendors, tackle dealers and guide services welcome. Contact Mike Popik at 540/854 6570 or MandJZPopik@aol.com Western Virginia Sport Show 25th anniversary event to be held Feb. 24th, 25th, and 26th at August Expo in Fishersville, VA The 4th Annual Fredericksburg Outdoor Show will be held March 18-19-20, 2011.. . . The Show will again be combined with the Southern Gun & Knife Show TWO shows for the price of ONE Jan. 28: Fishing Flea Market. Eagles Club, Cool Springs Road. 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Vendors, tackle dealers & guide services welcome. Contact David Limerick at 540/287-0731 or DWL629@gmail.com. Fishing Flea Market on Febuary 8th from 9 to 2 at the Stafford Eagles#4488 (old palomino club)1110 Courthouse rd Stafford Va. HuntFest Virginia January 27-29, 2012 Roanoke Civic Center in Roanoke, VA The 5th Annual Greater VA Sports Show Feb 17, 18, 19, 2012 Rockingham County Fairgrounds Harrisonburg, VA OCHS Anglers Sportsman's Expo - February 18 and 19, 2012 17Th ANNUAL INDOOR BASS FISHING FLEA MARKET SATURDAY FEBRUARY 04, 2012 8 AM UNTIL 1 PM LOCATED AT THE HILLENDALE FIRE DEPT 13511 HILLENDALE DRIVE DALE CITY VA. 22193 To reserve table(s) send $ 35.00 each Check or money order payable to Robert Pettey 13427 Greenacre Drive Woodbridge Va. 22919 CALL FIRST IF 10 DAYS PRIOR TO SHOW FOR MORE INFO CONTACT CONTACT BOB PETTEY 703-491-3321 rpettey@comcast.net http://www.bassfishingfleamarket.com/ Outdoor Calender Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

Ken Perrotte’s Outdoors Column: Excess is not always best at SHOT Show 1/25/12

Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star

The annual phenomenon known as the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show wrapped up last weekend in Las Vegas with a record turnout of 61,000 people.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

If you're into waterfowling and decoys, put this on your calendar

Gene Muellers'

World of Hunting & Fishing

Outdoors: Mild winter challenges hunters

By CHRIS D. DOLLAR, For The Capital

Published 01/22/12

HONGA RIVER - Rain spat from the dull gray sky as dawn struggled to break. A low ceiling of clouds whited out any hint of sunup and a slight northwest wind breathed a little life into the spread of canvasback and redhead decoys. It was shaping up to be a good day for waterfowling, except no one gave the ducks a wake-up call.

Senate committee advances Sunday hunting bill By Mark Taylor | The Roanoke Times

That pink thing you just saw flying by your window? Yep, it might have been a pig.

Some cynical critics of Virginia’s last remaining Blue Law, the ban on Sunday hunting, have resigned themselves to seeing flying pigs before the ban was overturned.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

In spite of cold spells, fish are caught --- and a buck is shot

Gene Muellers' World of Hunting & Fishing

B.A.S.S. Bans Alabama Rig, Other Rigs

Bass Resource.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S., upon the recommendation of its Bassmaster Elite Series Rules Committee, has amended its bass fishing tournament rules to limit anglers competing in the Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Elite Series to the use of a single lure during practice and competition.

Rules Committee members believe the rig eliminates some of the skill that should be required in tournament competition at the highest level. “It doesn’t matter how you work it,” said one of the anglers. “The fish can’t help themselves.”

It may sound fishy, but new drumming technique works on Texas lake By John Thompson Special to the Star-Telegram Posted Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012 Drumbeats have been absent from the area north of Canton for more than 100 years, but no more. Though the Tawakoni have been gone for a long time, the drumming has returned.

These days fishing guides, armed with rubber mallets and poles, have taken up the beat.

Outdoors: Team Fish Bomb has blast in tourneys

By CHRIS D. DOLLAR, For The Capital

Published 01/15/12

Team Fish Bomb has been on a roll competing in fishing tournaments during the past two years. Last weekend, Mike Schmidt, a 1988 Annapolis High grad, and his partner Tom Benefield led their crew to a second-place finish in the Mid-Atlantic Rockfish Shootout held out of Virginia Beach. The team was fishing with Capt. Brian Kadjeski on the Mackenzie Rae out of Deale.

Now what? Hunters don't have to hang up their camo just because deer season is over Friday, January 13, 2012 By Mark Taylor | The Roanoke Times

This past Saturday brought the end to Virginia's deer season, by far the most popular attraction for the state's hunters, but hunting season is far from over.

Plenty of opportunities remain for hunters who just can't bear the thought of going cold turkey.

In fact, chasing turkeys in the cold is one of those options.

OUTDOORS: More than boats and bait at fishing expo

By: Andy Thompson | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: January 13, 2012

John Crews' arrival at the 2012 Richmond Fishing Expo will be tentative, pending the arrival of his second child. The show runs Jan. 20-22 at the State Fairgrounds, and, as Crews said with a chuckle, "My wife is due the following Tuesday."