News and Notes
Rhodes and Barchek win Yough walleye tournament Randy Rhodes and Mark Barchek were the champions of the Yough Walleye Association’s 12th annual tournament May 13 at the Youghiogheny Reservoir.
Their six-walleye limit was nearly two pounds heavier than that of the nearest competitor, weighing 16.5 pounds with the heaviest walleye weighing 3.3 pounds.
Second place went to Ken Harding and Dave Sines with a limit weighing 14.52 pounds, including a 3.74-pound lunker.
Third place went to Jamie and Garland Maust who also limited out for a 13.41-pound total and a 2.87-pound lunker.
Alex and Mike Merkosky finished fourth with six walleye weighing 12.94 pounds, including 3.73-pound lunker.
The overall lunker prize went to the team of Bob Brantner and Vernon Sines with a 4.57-pound walleye.
For the tournament, 142 walleye were checked in.
The total weight of the catch was 286.68 pounds for an average of 2.01 pounds per fish.
All told the fishermen fished 1,242 hours, so it took 8.7 hours to catch each legal walleye.
Nine of the 67 trams entered caught limits of 6 walleye, four teams checked in five, three teams four and nine teams three.
Twenty-seven teams failed to catch a single legal walleye.
Ken and Pat Rockwell were the defending champions.
Sporting clays shoot
The Tri-County Chapter of Pheasants Forever will host a sporting clays shoot June 4 at California Hill Gun Club.
The day will include 100 birds on the walk-through, one round on the five-stand (25) birds and a steak dinner.
Entry fee is $55. A Lewis class will also be available, but it will not include the five-stand.
Various raffles will be held throughout the day.
Registration begins at 10 a.m., and competition begins at 11 with a shotgun start.
Chapter President Rich Kovacic urges participants to pre-register by calling him at 724-785-3540 or by e-mail to richkovacik@yahoo.com.
Proceeds from Pheasants Forever are used to develop pheasant habitat and increase populations in the Tri-County Chapter’s area of Washington, Fayette and Greene counties.
Youth Day
Roscoe Sportsmen’s Association will host its 15th annual youth day June 24 at the club grounds in Long Branch.
All boys and girls 8-to-16-years old are welcome.
Tentative seminars include Turkey Hunting Safety, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Bird Dog Demonstration, Archery Shooting, Trap Shooting, Muzzleloader Shooting, Rifle Shooting, Fly Tying, Taxidermy, Birds of Prey, Bassmasters and Pistol Shooting.
A $5 non-refundable entry fee is required. Pre-registration is recommended for only 100 youngsters will be accepted.
Parental attendance if optional, but parents must check in with their youngsters in the morning at the registration table.
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The seminars begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 3 p.m.
Registration closes June 17. To register or obtain more information, call Laurel Singosky at 724-938-3429 or the clubhouse at 724-938-9080.
West Virginia fishing
The following are fishing reports from popular fishing sites in the Mountain State as reported by the West Virginia Department of Naturals Resources.
STONEWALL JACKSON -The lake is at summer pool and clear. The temperature of the lake is 65 degrees. Fishing is good and water temperatures are on the rise. Big bass are moving to or are in shallow water. Crappie have been caught around the bridges and rip rap but fish have been hard to locate. The tailwaters were stocked with trout on May 11. For more information contact Corps of Engineers at 304-269-7463.
SUTTON – The lake is at summer pool and clear. Outflow temperature is 65 degrees. Fishing is picking up and water temperatures are on the rise. Bass are moving or are in shallow water. Try any cover along shoreline and you will find bass. Bluegill fishing is great. Try live bait and micro-jigs for bluegill. Crappie fishing is hot. The tailwaters were stocked with trout on May 11. For daily information call Corps of Engineers at 304-765-2705.
TYGART LAKE – The lake is approximately one foot above the summer level. The heads of coves will warm faster than the main lake so bass and sunfish will be more active in these areas. Smallmouth bass can be caught while using crankbaits or tube jigs along the shoreline. Look for white bass at the head of coves or the upper part of the lake. Fish for crappie in the fish shelters between the boat ramps at the marina. Start fishing for walleye at dark when they move into shallow water to feed.
The tailwater temperature is 56 degrees. Walleye numbers are as high as they will be for the year in the tailwater, and this is the best place in northern West Virginia to fish for them. Walleye move through the dam into the tailwater during every high flow (above 5,000 cfs) from mid- December through March. Walleye fishing is best during higher flows (1,500 to 5,000 cubic feet per second) and trout fishing is best at low flows (less than 1,000 cubic feet per second). Walleye can be caught using 1/8 to 1/4 ounce jigs with 3-inch plastic grubs. Chartreuse is a good color. Call the Corps of Engineers telephone hotline at 304-265-5953 for daily lake and tailwater conditions.