I came to the lake to fish back in the early 1980's with colleagues from GE in Waynesboro VA. After that wild weekend of partying and some fishing, I became quite interested in SML. Came down later and camped and fished with Club member Gary Disbrow as we really started to discover the lake. Back then we used a 12 foot aluminum Starcraft with a 7 1/2 hp (I think) that came from Gary's father in Upstate NY. A far cry from what we use now. After being hooked on the lake, I purchased a self contained trailer and rented seasonal sites at the now closed Bass Cove campground near the State Park and later at Blue Ridge Campground near Gills Creek Marina.
(Click the "Read More" link to the right for the rest of the article)
(Click the "Read More" link to the right for the rest of the article)
In 1990 I married my wife Lynn and we purchased our current property and finally finished our home in 2003. We live back in the cove on the Roanoke side by R25. Lynn was a SML fan way before we met and was an easy convert for moving down here from Stuarts Draft, VA after retirement in 2007.
I was born in Schnectay, NY and graduated high school from Sartatoga Springs, NY. In fact I just came back from my 50th HS reunion meeting up with classmates that I have not seen in 50 years. My trail to the lake really all started back in 1967 (after graduating from Michigan State University) when I joined General Electric's Manufacturing Management Program, a 3 year company divisional rotation program with graduate level courses. This program took me to Philadelphia, PA, Lynn MA (outside of Boston) and Waynesboro, VA (2 hours north of the here). I finally accepted a permanent job in Waynesboro in 1970 and started my introduction into the great variety of hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities in this great area of Virginia. I guess this gives me some right to claim that I am more Southern (after 43 years) then Northern (25 years) and I am proud of it. While working out of Waynesboro with GE and the follow on companies after GE sold our division, I had assignments in Louisville, KY, McAllen TX and Reynosa, Mexico. At age 62, life when working with an out of state corporate HQ became too stressful and with several health issues developing, I said to hell with it and joined the list of retirees at SML and do not regret one second of it. In fact the health issues all but disappeared afterwards.
But not regretting if of course ignores that fact that more years of corporate work would have allowed for more toys now. This is translated to mean more fishing poles and the best fish finders that I could find. Not having these "mandatory pieces of equipment" supports my excuse now for only being a mediocre striper fisherman.
SML became a passion for Lynn and I coming down to our campsite and staying with friends in their homes. We finally joined several groups along with the Striper Club. These joinings have resulted in many networking of friends who we parlayed into being active in the Striper Club of course, the local hiking club, dining and play club and we are getting close to the best one, the local wine tasting club. In addition, Lynn adds to her list being a part of the Thursday morning girls breakfast club at the Shell Station above the Halesford Bridge and the Jersey Girls (yes she is also a Nothern Girl turned into a Southern girl given her coming to VA in 1972).
I joined the Striper Club before coming to the lake full time and have attended a very large majority of the general meetings. This is a great way to pick up pointers on Striper fishing. But I was a member back in the 1990's but somehow my subscription had lapsed and I became lost to the Club for awhile. Many years ago, my arm was sort of twisted by the current club President, Ken Ulrich and he convinced me to run for the Board and I did. It was a tough battle to be elected since there the same number of candidates as there were Board Member openings (tongue in cheek - yes we had challenges back then to fill all the seats too. I am sure that is why I got on the Board).
After serving on the Board under President Roy Sammons, I was elected to be your President after Roy left, and served until handing over the reins to Joel J in 2013. I thank Roy for his guidance both during and after my election. Oh, I cannot forget to mention that with my election to the Board, I took over the Club Bulletin duty after Cindy Turlington's great efforts. I thank her also for the great support she gave me during my efforts trying to get a Bulletin out. Finally last year I was ready to give up the Bulletin tasks. I felt that it really took up too much of my time and kept me away from Striper Fishing. Now that Mike Ward has graciously picked up where I left off, I have more time to fish. But guess what? I am not getting out there. Something is wrong here.
Lynn and I have 3 sons and 8 grandchildren with one more on the way along with a great grandchild. And the good news is that we have made fishermen for sure out of 6 of them and are still working on the others. Hopefully I can develop a future citation Striper fisherman out of at least one of them.
I fish out of a Bennington Tritoon that I made modified to also serve as a Striper Fishing Boat. It was once called a "geriatric cruiser" by one of our neighbor's younger son. But I think it works very well with all things considered. Now that my wife has accepted my adding holes to it here and there and after a few dings in it, she is going along with my continuing modifications.
Now as I kept saying to others in the Bulletin, "just get out there and go fishing". As soon as my sore back heals and hunting season is over, I will do just that.
But not regretting if of course ignores that fact that more years of corporate work would have allowed for more toys now. This is translated to mean more fishing poles and the best fish finders that I could find. Not having these "mandatory pieces of equipment" supports my excuse now for only being a mediocre striper fisherman.
SML became a passion for Lynn and I coming down to our campsite and staying with friends in their homes. We finally joined several groups along with the Striper Club. These joinings have resulted in many networking of friends who we parlayed into being active in the Striper Club of course, the local hiking club, dining and play club and we are getting close to the best one, the local wine tasting club. In addition, Lynn adds to her list being a part of the Thursday morning girls breakfast club at the Shell Station above the Halesford Bridge and the Jersey Girls (yes she is also a Nothern Girl turned into a Southern girl given her coming to VA in 1972).
I joined the Striper Club before coming to the lake full time and have attended a very large majority of the general meetings. This is a great way to pick up pointers on Striper fishing. But I was a member back in the 1990's but somehow my subscription had lapsed and I became lost to the Club for awhile. Many years ago, my arm was sort of twisted by the current club President, Ken Ulrich and he convinced me to run for the Board and I did. It was a tough battle to be elected since there the same number of candidates as there were Board Member openings (tongue in cheek - yes we had challenges back then to fill all the seats too. I am sure that is why I got on the Board).
After serving on the Board under President Roy Sammons, I was elected to be your President after Roy left, and served until handing over the reins to Joel J in 2013. I thank Roy for his guidance both during and after my election. Oh, I cannot forget to mention that with my election to the Board, I took over the Club Bulletin duty after Cindy Turlington's great efforts. I thank her also for the great support she gave me during my efforts trying to get a Bulletin out. Finally last year I was ready to give up the Bulletin tasks. I felt that it really took up too much of my time and kept me away from Striper Fishing. Now that Mike Ward has graciously picked up where I left off, I have more time to fish. But guess what? I am not getting out there. Something is wrong here.
Lynn and I have 3 sons and 8 grandchildren with one more on the way along with a great grandchild. And the good news is that we have made fishermen for sure out of 6 of them and are still working on the others. Hopefully I can develop a future citation Striper fisherman out of at least one of them.
I fish out of a Bennington Tritoon that I made modified to also serve as a Striper Fishing Boat. It was once called a "geriatric cruiser" by one of our neighbor's younger son. But I think it works very well with all things considered. Now that my wife has accepted my adding holes to it here and there and after a few dings in it, she is going along with my continuing modifications.
Now as I kept saying to others in the Bulletin, "just get out there and go fishing". As soon as my sore back heals and hunting season is over, I will do just that.
 |  |
RSS Feed