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and found that there are two main types little success. I studied the fish and the forage,
of euryhaline fish. Some fish are born in and the characteristics of the lake, to learn
saltwater, live in fresh water, and return how to finally be able to catch these fish. This
to saltwater to spawn....These are called did not happen overnight; it took a lot of
catadromous fish; North American and work, and a lot of trial and error, but I did it.
European eels fall into this category, Friends and relatives would visit, and of
according to the National Marine Fisheries course I would take them fishing. They were
Service. Then there are fish that are born in amazed at how good the fishing is on this
freshwater, live in saltwater, and return to lake. They were typically impressed with our
freshwater only to spawn, these are called bass catches. It took me quite a while to learn
anadromous fish. Salmon, Smelt, Shad, to catch bass here, because this lake is unlike
Striped Bass (Rockfish) and Sturgeon any other that I had fished. Because of the
are in this group, according to the Alaska vast surface area of the lake, the shore line
Department of Game and Fish. configuration, local geography, and the water
There came a time when Tennessee wanted to depth, this lake is called a Highland lake.
build a dam on one of its After a while, when
rivers. This was a river that others saw the catches we were
was used by some saltwater getting, they would call and
fish (anadromous types) to ask me to take them fishing.
spawn. The dam was built, It wasn’t long before people
and they waited until all started offering to pay, but at
the spawning fish went first, I only took gas money.
back to the ocean before Eventually, I started a part-
they closed the gates to time guide service for Bass and
start filling this lake. Later, Stripers. It finally went to full
they found Striped Bass time, and I fished mainly for
in the lake, and concluded Stripers. At one point, a striper
that these fish would die. fishing club was started, of
They did not; in fact, they which I later became President.
survived very well. Needless I served for about 10 years,
to say, Striped Bass became during which time I worked
a very popular fish to stock with VADGIF and aided with
in lakes. However, these fish needed to be able stocking, rules, and regulations until I was too
to swin up a feeder stream or river so that busy and retired from that post.
they could spawn in rapidly moving water. After that, I discovered how much the
The eggs from the spawn must float moon affected the all fish and other wildlife,
and tumble FOR AT LEAST 72 HOURS and began adding this information to my
before entering the lake. If this does not articles. I later helped some people that
happen, the spawn is considered a false spawn, wanted to be fishing guide, helping them to
since the eggs cannot survive without this get their USCG Captain’s Licenses. I helped
action. This is the case with respect to Smith the Coast Guard to design a specific test for
Mountain Lake. Thus, it is a “put and take” Captains working only in SML. Because
lake for Striped Bass. of the popularity of the lake, I and 4 other
After I learned this information, I tried business people tried to change the name of
by Bob King fishing the same as I would in saltwater, with Moneta to “Smith Mountain Lake”, so that
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