"There has been a recent increase in chicken litter use in all four of these watersheds. I have also personally seen bio-solid spreading on farm fields almost right next to the Rapidan just east of Culpepper."

John Odenkirk is the VDGIF biologist for the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers. He notes that smallmouth bass were stocked in the Rappahannock in July of 2007, when 14,725 fingerlings were released at seven sites as part of an experimental exercise. Tote barge electrofishing samples were conducted at four of the seven stocking sites during October, and all smallmouth bass less than 170 mm were reserved for collection. However, out of the 105 fish captured of that size, only one was a stocked fish.

"Based on sampling data from previous years, the smallmouth bass population size and size structure (should have improved) due to record and near-record production in 2004 and 2005 combined with an average spawn in 2006," Odenkirk said. "It appears that production in 2007 was at least average.

"The VDGIF did some supplemental sampling the spring of 2008 with Virginia Tech as part of the Fish Kill Task Force background survey and managed to collect eight yearling fish at Kelly's Ford. Two of these were stocked. Thus, I think it is too early to say if the stocking was a success or failure.

"The Rappahannock is fishing extremely well due to the presence of strong year-classes as noted. I do not think that shad and herring abundance have yet had an impact, as numbers spawning above the old Embrey dam site are still relatively low. I feel this should change with each passing year; and at some point, we should see elevated growth rates due to the presence of additional forage."

MORE GOOD NEWS
Fortunately, good news does exist. VDGIF biologist Tom Hampton reports on the North Fork of the Holston and Clinch.

"We sampled the Clinch and North Fork Holston the spring of 2008," he said. "Catch rates were over 100 smallmouths per hour of electrofishing, which is outstanding for the North Fork Holston. An amazing number of 14- to 18-inch fish are available for anglers, especially in the lower reaches of the river. Catch rates in the Clinch River were about 70 smallmouths per hour of sampling. This catch rate is very good for the Clinch River. There are not as many 14- to 18-inch fish available in the Clinch, but there are some trophy smallmouths waiting for the persistent and fortunate angler."

Claytor Lake is one of the major smallmouth impoundments in the Commonwealth and VDGIF biologist John Copeland gives this update.

"Claytor Lake's smallmouth bass fishery is in good shape, according to electrofishing samples there in the spring of 2007," Copeland said. "I heard reports that smallmouth bass fishing on the lake was good in 2008. Claytor Lake accounts for an average of about 19 smallmouth bass citations each year over the past 10 years, so it is not the place to look for trophy smallmouth bass, when compared to the New River.