Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Group Activities => Trout Unlimited => Topic started by: Al on July 01, 2010, 19:53:51 PM

Title: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: Al on July 01, 2010, 19:53:51 PM
Great opportunity to help or observe the DGIF folks as they do their annual sampling / shocking at 10 different sites along the Smith River. They will be there from about 9:30am Tuesday, August 3rd until finished on Thursday, August 5th, 2010.

VA DGIF Biologist Scott Smith and crew always welcome your help and your questions.

I will post more details, ie projected locations, etc as the time draws closer.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: flyrod on July 01, 2010, 20:02:10 PM
Thanks Al...think I'm on vacation that week would like to help...let me know ...
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: Al on July 27, 2010, 08:53:09 AM
Another reminder they will be sampling the Smith River next week. They always welcome observers. If you want to help, don't forget your waders.

Scenario depends on generation schedule but they generally start up near the dam in the mornings and down below Bassett in the afternoons. They will start behind the Mirror Factory at about 10am on Tuesday the 3rd if generation allows.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: Woolly Bugger on July 27, 2010, 09:47:41 AM
this is a pretty cook thing, go and help or just go to see all the fish you've not caught!  :laugh:

it's pretty amazing  -0-
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: rjs123 on August 01, 2010, 17:01:52 PM
Looks like Ill finally be able to make one of these.  See you at the Mirror Plant at 10AM on Tuesday Al.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: fly4u on August 01, 2010, 20:32:02 PM
I am planning on being there Wed. or Thurs. Most likely Thursday. Does Thursday normally last long eneough to make a day of it. I want to help not watch. I want to fish afterwards as well. PM me if you need info or have details I need to know.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: fly4u on August 01, 2010, 20:33:42 PM
What happened to spell check   ????? is it still available ?
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: 5xTippett on August 01, 2010, 20:55:36 PM
Spell check is apparently deceased.  I am having to be very careful selecting which words to use! ;D
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: dossphoto on August 01, 2010, 21:05:18 PM
Make sure your waders don't have any holes in them....
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: fly4u on August 04, 2010, 08:59:41 AM
Where do I need to report Thursday AM. Time and place ?
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: rjs123 on August 04, 2010, 17:49:08 PM
Good luck on finding out Roger.  I drove around for 45 minutes on Tuesday looking for them.  I started looking about 9:45 since we were supposed to meet at the Mirror Plant at 10. About the time I gave up and headed out they come driving past me a half hour late.  I turned around and lost them again.  I looked for them today for a short time too but again gave up.  b';  I thought it would be a lot more fun to just go fishing rather than driving in circles looking for them.  It would seem to me that if they really wanted help they would let someone know where they are going to be and when.  I called a few people asking if anyone knew where they were, Al included, and all the places I was told they "might" be was not where they were when I went there.

Call me tomorrow when you get in the area.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: troutrus on August 04, 2010, 19:29:58 PM
Robert,
Check your PM's
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: Al on August 06, 2010, 20:09:32 PM
I linked up with the DGIF sampling crew on the last morning they were on the Smith River. (Not sure why some folks could not find them but must report most of the volunteers were from out of town so maybe it has something to do with the direction following ability of the locals :o) The last site was just downstream of the "Lemon Hole" - Lots of State trucks so you could not miss them.

Guests are not allowed to view images in posts, please Register or Login

We set up the fish processing station and then proceeded downstream for about 100 yards - Water was real chilly and gave off so much fog that we lost site of our put in point.

Guests are not allowed to view images in posts, please Register or Login

Things came to a halt before we got started when one of the voltage conversion machines would not put out the right voltage. After about a half hour of tinkering it was back in service.

Guests are not allowed to view images in posts, please Register or Login

The scenario was for two barges containing a generator and voltage conversion machine and large aerator tank to be pulled upstream with four hand held electronic probes on each barge fanning out abreast up the river. Each probe handler also had a net and he or she was backed up by other net handler who helped transfer the fish from the probe handlers, who usually scooped up the fish, from net to net until they were in the holding tank.  Not many fish escaped this onslaught. You could see fish shooting ahead but they would come up against a ledge where the current would momentarily stun them so they could be scooped up.


Guests are not allowed to view images in posts, please Register or Login

Lots of fish in this section. My guess is more then last year and that figure was about 800. The fish are all processed by measurement and weight. This data will be compared to prior years so DGIF can assess the health of the fishery.

I spoke with the DGIF biologist who is responsible for monitoring the Smith and was told he is cautiously optimistic that things are improving. It is impossible to tell until they get back to the office to compare data but it looks like the average size of the fish has grown about an inch in the past year. He also told me that on the 2nd day of sampling they moved approximately 150, nine and ten inch brown trout from the Bassett area of the river to below the Martinsville Dam. This section below the MV Dam will be included as designated trout water under a proposed regulation change which is available for public comment at the DGIF website. The fish which they moved were carefully weighed, measured and their adipose fin was removed so they can be identified and followed in future studies.

DGIF asked me to pass on their thanks to all who helped with the sampling this week. Never think you're in the way or intruding on their work. They welcome your help and are always eager to answer questions.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: Woolly Bugger on August 06, 2010, 21:05:44 PM
good report and great pictures Al
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: rford on August 07, 2010, 08:56:46 AM
Al,

Your report and photos were good. I remain uncertain on what is called the lemon hole. 

I had caught up with them on Wednesday morning on the road to the dam before they went to below the Martinsville dam.  They had plenty of state trucks, and I saw only a few volunteers from Ferum while I was there.
Title: Re: Help / Observe Smith River sampling 3-5 Aug 10
Post by: fly4u on August 07, 2010, 13:04:43 PM
 bd;0