Hunting & Fishing
OCTOBER 2017
A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO
The Farmville Herald The Charlotte Gazette
Pete Kapuscinski Jr. does well on Horsepen and on some smaller ponds as well, using his plastics. He likes the Watermelon Lizard.
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Fishing in central Virginia BY SHORTY OSBORN
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aving been born and raised in Farmville, I am familiar with many great fishing spots in the central Virginia area. As a former fishing guide, I also have had the good fortune to take different groups of folks to these beautiful places. Some of my favorite fishing spots include Buggs Island Lake, located in Clarksville, Sandy River Reservoir and Briery Creek Lake. When fishing these lakes and rivers during the early fall into winter, there are certain lures that I employ. There are key lures I use for bass fishing that have been successful for me over the years. These lures include spinner bait, buzz bait, crank bait and soft baits (worms and lizards). I primarily use these lures around structures such as rocks and fallen trees. Two of the key elements to successful fishing during this time of year are water temperature and overcast skies. Water temperature in the
upper 50s to lower 60s tends to make the fishing most productive. The fish tend to be the most active when the temperature is in this range. Overcast skies are helpful because they tend to also make the fish more active. When crappie fishing in the fall, I use four- to six-pound test line, and 1/32 and 1/64 jig heads with different color soft baits on them. The reason for using light line and light jigs is to keep the lure in the strike zone longer. I also target structures, primarily fallen trees and drop-offs. Minnows are also a great bait of choice. Casting and trolling are great techniques for catching these panfish. When casting for this species of fish, your retrieve should be slow and deliberate. Again, water temperature and cloud cover make this type of fishing more productive. SHORTY OSBORN lives in Farmville and has contributed articles to a variety of magazines, including In-Fisherman. His email address is shorty@ shortysbreading.com. Shorty Osborn presents the fruit of his fishing labor on the water.
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Delegate continues the hunt BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH The Farmville Herald
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or District 60 Delegate James Edmunds, the love of hunting has run in his family. Edmunds remembers that when he was growing up, his father would take him rabbit hunting. “He would always take at least 10 short-legged beagles when we went,” Edmunds said in an email. “Although I don’t own any more beagles myself, I still enjoy watching the dogs work a track.” This fostered a continued love of the activity, and Edmunds currently hunts deer and turkey among other game. He said his favorite place to hunt would be on his family property in Halifax. “Every square foot of that land is familiar to me,” Edmunds said. Edmunds, who has served as a delegate since 2010 and has hunted for 42 years, said that the tools he uses for hunting depends on the season. “I do enjoy hunting with a crossbow during bow season (which is in season now), but I hunt deer with ... crossbow, muzzleloader and rifle,” Edmunds said. “I enjoy hunting both deer and turkey.” He noted his favorite type of hunting is for turkey gobblers in the spring.
PETER SUTPHIN
District 60 Delegate James Edmunds, left, stands with his son Paul in front of dozens of deer mounted to the wall of a shed.
Archery season for deer began Oct. 7 across the Commonwealth, according to the website for the Virginia Department of Games and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), and continues until Nov. 17. In the Town of Farmville and in Halifax County, urban archery deer James season for antlerless Edmunds deer will start Jan. 7, 2018 and continue until March 25. Muzzleloader weapons have their own separate timeline for the hunting season. The weapons differ from other rifles in that the projectiles are stored
in the muzzle, or front end of a rifle instead of the rear of the rifle (rifles like this are called breech-loading weapons). Early hunting season for muzzleloaders across the commonwealth takes place from Nov. 4-17, and late hunting season from Dec. 16-Jan. 6, 2018. Preserving the activity has been a goal for Edmunds both at home and at the Virginia House of Delegates. His first legislation in 2010, according to The Washington Post, was to legalize the possession of antlers shed by bucks. Legislation for hunting headed by Edmunds has continued through the years. He introduced legislation allowing hunters to wear pink gear as an alternative to orange gear, creating a
youth bear hunting license for residents under the age of 16, allowing the use of a slingbow for hunting deer and small game and requiring landowners to receive a free license to hunt on their own properties. Edmunds said his favorite part of hunting now is helping create memories with his two kids by video recording each hunt. While it could seem unconventional to record the hunts, Edmunds said it allows him and his kids to look back on them. “While there are numerous memories I have made while hunting, it is the time spent with my children, Paul and Caroline, that I enjoy most,” Edmunds said. “We film every hunt, and it is so cool to look back on the hunts over the years and relive them on film.”
The joy of fishing in Virginia BY PETE KAPUSCINSKI
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pring dogwoods mean fish are beginning to rise to bugs falling off little white petals, and that means it’s fishing time. Sandy River Reservoir can produce some nice largemouth bass in spring and early summer on plastics. Fly fishers find it pretty exciting, too, when a fat, largemouth bass breaks the surface and explodes on hair frog patterns or poppers. Fish in the shade, under the dogwoods and in brushy areas. Pop and strip the fly — or body bait if you spin fish — then pop again. Smaller lakes and ponds, like Horsepen, can offer some great fishing as well. Evening fishing on lakes and ponds is often best for fly fishers during the hot summer. Morning fishing can be good, but for surface action, the fishing ends around 10 a.m. Spin fishing midday with body bait can result in surface activity. But most of the midday fishing is in deeper water. In hot weather, fish early morning or after 4:30 p.m. for the best surface action. Evening fishing is best in lily pads or hydrilla or near other brushy areas. Listen for peepers, and if you’re fly fishing, use a hair popper or frog. If you feel adventurous, try for monster carp with a fly line on Lake
Moomaw in late spring when the cicada hatch. It is a deep lake, and larger boats with outboard motors are welcome. Southwest Virginia offers great trout fishing. Fish the Caddis hatch in spring and the Sulphur mayfly hatch in the fall. Brown trout are predator fish and strike streamers that appear anywhere near their turf. It’s all site fishing and exciting. Property owners on the Jackson near Covington can make it difficult for those who enjoy fishing there. Before we were a country, the king of England granted river ownership to riverfront landowners. Some of that property still carries those rights in the deed. It is a contentious issue and is being tested in our courts. If you float or wade by a property where the owner claims the right, be respectful, lift your line out of the water and move. It’s pure nonsense ruining a day of fishing arguing over a small stretch of water when fish are just as available downstream. The Watauga and South Holston produce hatches of Sulphur mayflies and Caddis flies most of the year. Spring fishing on these southwestern Virginia border waters can produce very nice fish. Flies that hatch are small, and fishing is challenging. Cast right and with luck, hungry fish respond well. Watch dam releases. It affects the fishing. Targeting smallmouth bass on the
James River in hot weather can be exciting using foamy spider fly patterns. Having fished all over, I challenge anyone who likes freshwater fishing to find better fishing anywhere. And if they’re not up to it, better yet, since I won’t have to compete for a great spot on the water. Tight lines, and I hope to see all y’all out there. PETE KAPUSCINSKI is an avid fisherman who lives in Buckingham County. His email address is petekap@centurylink.net.
Pete Kapuscinski holds a couple of Lake Moomaw carp caught in early June on topwater cicada bugs.
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Evidence of a successful day
Rebecca Townsend, 32, of Red House, caught a 6.7-pound largemouth bass in the Madisonville area on June 16.
At left, Landon Craddock, 8, of Rice, reeled in a fish at his great grandfather’s house in Amelia.
Abigail Clowdis, 10, of Red House, took an 11-point buck in Campbell County on Youth Day 2017.
Jeremy Duffey, of Drakes Branch, took a 10-point buck with 21 1/4 spread in Rice.
Jared Halvorsen, of Farmville, caught a largemouth bass at Wilck’s Lake in Farmville this past spring.
Tyler Anderson took a 10-point, 20-inch wide buck on Dec. 1, 2016, in the southern part of Lunenburg.
Preserve promotes hunting BY ITALIA GREGORY
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and coon hunting were among those added later. “It’s been very lucrative to me,” said Hall. “It’s not like work to me.” Throughout the year, FFF Kennels and Hunting Preserve host various events including its annual dove hunt. The event is typically held the first Saturday in September and includes a prime rib dinner, hamburgers, hotdogs and a fun day of dove hunting. In order to encourage children to hunt, Hall said there is no charge for
eathers Fur and Fin (FFF) Kennels and Hunting Preserve is a full service preserve located at 1975 Highway 59 in Keysville just outside of Drakes Branch. “I opened up around 1971,” said Owner and Operator William Hall. He said the idea to open the preserve came from his own personal hunting experience. “I enjoyed hunting, and I had been traveling to hunt a lot . . .,” said Hall. Thus, the idea to open a local lodge and preserve was born. According to information provided by the organization, the preserve boasts 4,100 acres of land available for hunting. Guided and unguided hunts are available at the location. Hal said when the preserve first opened, available game included quail, pheasants, chukars Pictured are, from left, back row, Robin Didlake, Lance and mallard ducks. Didlake; front row, Jono Brooks and Lauren Brooks of BowlDeer, turkey, rabbit, ing Green at FFF Kennels and Preserve. The group proudly squirrel, bear hunting displays the results of a full day of hunting.
children 12 and younger to hunt at the preserve with a paying adult. “We encourage women to hunt too,” he said. While Hall said hunting season is the biggest time of the year for the preserve, a hunting lodge is also available on the premises, that can sleep up to 16 people. The lodge includes two full baths and two half baths, two full kitchens, heating and air conditioning, game dressing facilities, walk-in refrigera-
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tion for game, washer and dryer, large recreation room with fireplace and a charcoal grill, according to information from the organization. The lodge is also available for rent to host celebrations throughout the year. While hunting on the preservation, all Virginia game laws apply and reservations must be made. Dogs are welcome. For more information, call (434) 5683944 or email fffkennels@pure.net.
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Logan makes most of lake BY EMILY HOLLINGSWORTH The Farmville Herald
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n a cloudy, cooler October day with intermittent drizzle, most would keep inside. For Clarence Logan, of Arvonia in Buckingham County, the weather is perfect. He takes his 14-foot Alumacraft boat to the boat ramp at Briery Creek Lake and steps in, pushing it off the edge. Sliding into the lake’s waters, the atmosphere is quiet and peaceful. For Logan, fishing is a hobby. More so, it’s been a way of life for nearly three decades. Logan said he mainly goes to the Briery Creek Lake boating ramp. He’ll also go when the temperature outside is cooler, rain or shine. “As long as it stays in the 50s, I’m here.” Logan said. He started bass and crappie fishing
from first fishing with The VDGIF website longtime friend Darwin cites that a trophy largeSchaffer. mouth bass is caught for Since then, Logan has every 115 hours of fishfished regularly when ing effort in the spring, he has time off from on average, and that this work. He often goes with estimate goes up slightly friends and with Sandra during the rest of the Logan, his wife. year. He said the heaviest While he is no stranger fish he has caught was to fishing in colder a 10-pound eight-ounce weather, Logan said bass. when it snows, he is norLogan is in good mally working on lure. company with his sucClarence Logan, of Arvonia Logan said he purchases cess. Statistics from the in Buckingham, holds the lures from Walmart and Virginia Department of largest fish he has caught, a Bass Pro Shop. Other Game and Inland Fisher- 10-pound eight-ounce bass. than that, he kept mum ies (VDGIF) website cite about his techniques for that about 70 percent of Briery Creek the right type of lure and fishing. Lake anglers fish for largemouth bass “I normally don’t tell fishing secrets,” and 82 percent fish at the lake in hopes Logan said. of catching a trophy fish. His boat of choice, the 14-foot Alu-
macraft, he said is lightweight enough to float above stumps in the shallower areas of the lake. The VDGIF website cites that in 1986 and 1987, Briery Creek Lake was stocked with Florida strain largemouth bass, northern strain largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (also known as shellcrackers), channel catfish and crappie. VDGIF cites that Briery Creek Lake is also one of the most important largemouth bass fisheries in the state, which could explain Logan and other fishers’ success in catching them. The drizzle that has been present since the early afternoon is barely noticeable. Logan, on the boat, adjusts the line until pulling it back on the boat. He noted that day fish were not biting as much as usual. Despite the setback of the fish, Logan said the experience has always been meaningful for him. “It’s just so peaceful,” Logan said.