November / December 2016 Newsletter
In This Edition
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Club Board Members
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Committee Chairs
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Lake Clean-up
Cindy Turlington Club Photographer Bob Rowe Joe's Coffee Joe Wolf Christmas Party Rick Boettcher Tournaments Steve Nagel |
Upcoming Meetings & Events
Unless otherwise noted, Club meetings are held at 7 pm, the 1st Friday of each month at the Moneta Community Center - in the back-side, lower-level of the Pharmacy building on Rucker Rd, just off VA-122. Visitors and New Members are always welcome.
November Club Meeting - 11/4 - Capt. Kathy F of "Spike's Prime Time Charters" will be on hand to share some tips & tricks. We'll also have our annual reports and elect Board Officers for 2017. This is also our annual Chili night, so bring a pot of chili or a dessert to share with fellow members.
Club Christmas Dinner - 12/2 - See additional details later in this newsletter
November Club Meeting - 11/4 - Capt. Kathy F of "Spike's Prime Time Charters" will be on hand to share some tips & tricks. We'll also have our annual reports and elect Board Officers for 2017. This is also our annual Chili night, so bring a pot of chili or a dessert to share with fellow members.
Club Christmas Dinner - 12/2 - See additional details later in this newsletter
President's Corner
Where has the year gone! This is the last newsletter for 2016 - it is also the last newsletter with a couple of member's names on the list as Board Members (well, at least for the time being anyway). We will be electing four new board members during our November Annual Meeting. We will also be enjoying some tasty & warm chili & listening to Capt. Kathy F give us some tips & techniques for striper fishing.
I want to encourage all of you to join me and your fellow Club members and their significant others at our annual Christmas Party. This is a very affordable evening of good food and even better fellowship. It is always a good time regardless of the venue and I hope to see you there.
As we close out the year it is always a good time to reflect on what we've accomplished, what we perhaps did not that we had hoped to, and what we want to do next year. We'll be talking about that some during our meeting this Friday evening as well. One thing I always want to ask is that you, as members, make your voices heard. Please do not just be passive - this is YOUR Club and we need your input. We also need YOUR involvement - in activities, on the board, helping with the newsletter, etc. I'd ask you to consider as we go into 2017 what talents and gifts you can help bring to the Club.
Fish On! - Mike Ward
I want to encourage all of you to join me and your fellow Club members and their significant others at our annual Christmas Party. This is a very affordable evening of good food and even better fellowship. It is always a good time regardless of the venue and I hope to see you there.
As we close out the year it is always a good time to reflect on what we've accomplished, what we perhaps did not that we had hoped to, and what we want to do next year. We'll be talking about that some during our meeting this Friday evening as well. One thing I always want to ask is that you, as members, make your voices heard. Please do not just be passive - this is YOUR Club and we need your input. We also need YOUR involvement - in activities, on the board, helping with the newsletter, etc. I'd ask you to consider as we go into 2017 what talents and gifts you can help bring to the Club.
Fish On! - Mike Ward
October Meeting Summaries
During October we had a discussion on Fall Fishing - members discussed their approaches to fall - locations / areas where they look, patterns, etc. We discussed how in early fall that upper lake and main lake channel points are productive and as Fall sets in the future back in the creeks become more active - even in very shallow water. We discussed the use of live-bait but also casting of swim-baits or top-water plugs Tips were shared by a variety of members from lures, keeping bait, fishing depths / patterns, etc. Great discussion at the core of what we are about!
SMSC Board Elections
In November we will hold our 2017 Board Elections. We have four board positions that are up for election.
Current Board members who's terms continue through 2017 include:
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The following individuals have indicated their willingness to be nominated and are tvoted upon for the open four board seats:
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Many of you may not know Khris, so I wanted to provide a bit of background on him. Khris joined the Club at the end of 2015 or early in 2016 after visiting us a few times. He lives in the area, near the lake and if you've ever stopped for a burger at Bayroc you've most likely met his mom and/or his wife. Khris was (and still is) an avid cat fisherman that has gotten more into stripers, purchasing a nice bay boat a while back. His older daughter has taken to fishing with him - including competition fishing both in the Striper Mafia tournaments as well as the Club "Fun in the Sun" tournament.
Other members may be nominated for consideration at the November meeting - if there is a member that wishes to be considered for election, please contact Michael Ward before or at the meeting Friday.
Other members may be nominated for consideration at the November meeting - if there is a member that wishes to be considered for election, please contact Michael Ward before or at the meeting Friday.
Condolences
We're sad to pass along word that Club member Rudy Fry passed away after a battle with cancer on September 26, 2016. Rudy was a staple at Club events including 4H, Freedom Alliance and many other outreach activities.
Our thoughts & prayers go with his family.
Our thoughts & prayers go with his family.
SMSC Christmas Party
Hard to believe we're talking about Christmas already but it will be here before we know it. Our annual Christmas party will be held on the 1st Friday of December. This year we will be holding it at the Moneta Community Center where we have our monthly meetings. Cost will be $15/person again this year for a great dinner and I've good it on good authority that Santa Clause is going to be making a stop by for all the good little girls & boys. This is always a great evening to connect with other members and their spouses and is an enjoyable time for everyone. If you have not already signed up, you must do so and pay at the November meeting - please see Rick B at the reception desk.
Also - we are going to "give back" as a part of our Christmas dinner. We ask that everyone who attend to consider bring a toy that we can pass along for the Lake Christian Ministries toy collection which they do every year. Our friends at Sea Tow are a big part of this and this is a small way that we can help out those less fortunate. We'll be collecting the toys at the Christmas party, but if you wish to bring one to the November meeting we will hold those for then as well.
Also - we are going to "give back" as a part of our Christmas dinner. We ask that everyone who attend to consider bring a toy that we can pass along for the Lake Christian Ministries toy collection which they do every year. Our friends at Sea Tow are a big part of this and this is a small way that we can help out those less fortunate. We'll be collecting the toys at the Christmas party, but if you wish to bring one to the November meeting we will hold those for then as well.
Member Catches
SMSC Members have been getting it done this Spring! It's great to be able to share and enjoy these images of others catching fish - please submit yours - you can post them to the Club Facebook page, or send them to [email protected].
Striper Mafia Tournament Series Continues
The 2016/17 Striper Mafia tournament series had a great kick off to the season with over 61 teams, 150+ anglers, 6 women & 11 youth and around 16 or more Striper Club members participated in the event on a perhaps-too-beautiful October day on 10/29.
The Striper Club joined forces with the Striper Mafia this season, partnering to help spread the importance of protecting our larger fish through Catch-Photo-Release during the cool-water seasons while offering opportunities for competitive striper fishing on SML. This series features individual event competition, along with an optional Big Fish prize - but also an overlying Team of the Year Series award. An overlay Youth Competition will also be held for anglers 15 and under as well as a Ladies prize for the lady who catches the longest fish across the whole series.
Club members Harley Cox & Jeff May placed in the October event, taking 5th & 6th places respectively. Jason Lawrence's son Devan took 2nd place in the youth competition and Khris Bradley's daughter, Harley took home 3rd place. A two-fish total of 67.25" won the overall event and big-fish of the tournament was 37.75"
The Doug Hill Preservation award, along with a $1000 cash prize, will be presented to the team which catches (and release) the longest fish of the overall series thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous Club member. For those of you who do not know Doug, he was one of the original founding members of the Striper Club, and if it had not been for the dedicated effort of he and others, we would not have this striper fishery to enjoy today.
The next event will be held on December 3rd, with the post-tournament check-in & awards to be held at Crazy Horse Marine. Entry fee is $100 per boat with an optional $25 big fish entry. Additional events will be held on March 18 & April 22, 2017. Registration for the December or other events can be done on-line at: http://www.smlstripermafia.com/registration.html
The Striper Club joined forces with the Striper Mafia this season, partnering to help spread the importance of protecting our larger fish through Catch-Photo-Release during the cool-water seasons while offering opportunities for competitive striper fishing on SML. This series features individual event competition, along with an optional Big Fish prize - but also an overlying Team of the Year Series award. An overlay Youth Competition will also be held for anglers 15 and under as well as a Ladies prize for the lady who catches the longest fish across the whole series.
Club members Harley Cox & Jeff May placed in the October event, taking 5th & 6th places respectively. Jason Lawrence's son Devan took 2nd place in the youth competition and Khris Bradley's daughter, Harley took home 3rd place. A two-fish total of 67.25" won the overall event and big-fish of the tournament was 37.75"
The Doug Hill Preservation award, along with a $1000 cash prize, will be presented to the team which catches (and release) the longest fish of the overall series thanks to a generous donation from an anonymous Club member. For those of you who do not know Doug, he was one of the original founding members of the Striper Club, and if it had not been for the dedicated effort of he and others, we would not have this striper fishery to enjoy today.
The next event will be held on December 3rd, with the post-tournament check-in & awards to be held at Crazy Horse Marine. Entry fee is $100 per boat with an optional $25 big fish entry. Additional events will be held on March 18 & April 22, 2017. Registration for the December or other events can be done on-line at: http://www.smlstripermafia.com/registration.html
2016 Fish Ladder
A few new entries onto the ladder since our last newsletter - Ray Witte upgraded his status while Macky May climbed into the ladder. When fishing, take a picture of our catch on a measuring device and submit the pic via Facebook, e-mail or bring it to the Club meeting to secure your spot - remember, you can always "upgrade" throughout the year.
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Fishing Outlook for November & December
As seems to have been much of this years, things just seem to be running behind - so here at the beginning of November I would be thinking early Fall patterns - fish are being caught in the upper ends of the lake, but there are fish being found in mid-lake creeks as well. Main-lake points on the channel are good targets as are areas near, but not necessarily in the thick of large areas of bait
As we move later into November, the creeks will become more and more alive - and don't neglect the very shallow areas in the backs of creeks. December can be great fishing well into the month if we don't get a severe cold snap - don't put away the live-bait gear too early!
As we move later into November, the creeks will become more and more alive - and don't neglect the very shallow areas in the backs of creeks. December can be great fishing well into the month if we don't get a severe cold snap - don't put away the live-bait gear too early!
Tackle Tip for November - Floats
Don't neglect the good old float or balloon as a way to present bait out behind the boat. Redi-Rig release floats, or even the old-school ballon are simple ways to put another bait into your spread and can do so far enough back from the boat after you've passed over it when trolling. Fishing a float with a light-line (1/4 to 1/2 oz weight), or just free-lined (no weight) are typical presentations. You can purchase "planer floats" which have a small planing surface that pull the floats out 10' or so from the center-line and they can allow you to squeeze a few extra lines into your overall presentation. While we think of Fall as planer-board season, don't neglect to cover your rear with some baits under a float.
SML Slam - 10/19/16
Weather: too dang hot - low 80's I guess, mostly sunny, no wind
Water: 72-73, visiblity of a couple of feet
Techniques: pulling "silver dollar" - 5" or so gizzards on freeline boards - 3 bank-side and 1 on the deep side - and one freeline out the back of the boat.
I had to run up to the lake yesterday to run a bunch of errands related to our tournament next weekend, but things aligned to get out on the water at the end of the day - even if only for an hour and a half. Tyler drove over after he got off work and we jumped on the water a bit after 5:30 - very little time so I tossed the net a few times in the creek and put 18 or so silver dollar gizzards in the tank as that's all the creek was delivering in short-order - so around 6 or a bit after we put those baits out on boards and got to fishing...
It was a bit of a slow go to start, a couple of boards got too close to a dock and wrapped around a piling, and while we were working one out a fish nailed the other and broke the line.. probably a bass hanging around the dock. We recovered the board and got to pulling again and as we neared the end of the 1st pull along one bank the deep-side board buried and started peeling drag.
We circled the other side of the creek and pulled along without any action - one of my favorite points has been ruined with a brand new dock & and floating trampoline thing on it that appeared over the summer - but as well pulled on down past a floater the inside bank board tugged back - set the hook and found a nice smallie on the other end of the line.
Still working that same rotation on down the bank when I picked up another (smaller) smallie on the inside board while Tyler was landing a striper off the freeline out back. We started working a 2nd loop and got Tyler another small striper. We were losing light fast - pulled one of the promising banks one last time when the middle-bank board shot off - this felt like a better fish than the others..... guess it was, though the wrong species...... other than it rounding off a "SML Slam" for us....
Put the boat back in the slip as darkness fully set in - no more than an hour and a half on the water but the striper itch was scratched for the time being......
Water: 72-73, visiblity of a couple of feet
Techniques: pulling "silver dollar" - 5" or so gizzards on freeline boards - 3 bank-side and 1 on the deep side - and one freeline out the back of the boat.
I had to run up to the lake yesterday to run a bunch of errands related to our tournament next weekend, but things aligned to get out on the water at the end of the day - even if only for an hour and a half. Tyler drove over after he got off work and we jumped on the water a bit after 5:30 - very little time so I tossed the net a few times in the creek and put 18 or so silver dollar gizzards in the tank as that's all the creek was delivering in short-order - so around 6 or a bit after we put those baits out on boards and got to fishing...
It was a bit of a slow go to start, a couple of boards got too close to a dock and wrapped around a piling, and while we were working one out a fish nailed the other and broke the line.. probably a bass hanging around the dock. We recovered the board and got to pulling again and as we neared the end of the 1st pull along one bank the deep-side board buried and started peeling drag.
We circled the other side of the creek and pulled along without any action - one of my favorite points has been ruined with a brand new dock & and floating trampoline thing on it that appeared over the summer - but as well pulled on down past a floater the inside bank board tugged back - set the hook and found a nice smallie on the other end of the line.
Still working that same rotation on down the bank when I picked up another (smaller) smallie on the inside board while Tyler was landing a striper off the freeline out back. We started working a 2nd loop and got Tyler another small striper. We were losing light fast - pulled one of the promising banks one last time when the middle-bank board shot off - this felt like a better fish than the others..... guess it was, though the wrong species...... other than it rounding off a "SML Slam" for us....
Put the boat back in the slip as darkness fully set in - no more than an hour and a half on the water but the striper itch was scratched for the time being......
Tackle Tip for December - Life Jackets
The water is getting cold - if you fall overboard it can be dangerous if not deadly. Even if you're out with others on the boat - wear your life-jacket - we want to see you in 2017.
Please Support our Club Sponsors & Advertisers
Our Club Sponsors and Advertisers provide a valuable support to the Smith Mountain Striper Club and our membership. When in need of goods or services, please give our sponsors consideration and also let them know that you appreciate their support of the Club.
Smith Mountain Striper Club members receive a 10% Discount
Call or e-mail for details. [email protected] / (304) 928-7653 www.rockcreekplaners.com/planer-boards/ |
Check us out on the net at www.castnets.com or call us at (800) 332-6387 ext. 100 and tell them you a member of the Smith Mountain Striper Club to order your nets and receive a 50% discount of list prices.
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