Joel with his personal best striper - 34", 16 lbs 10 oz
Greetings as your new SMSC president and fellow club member. My main occupations as a retiree are fishing and napping, not necessarily in that order. When I am not fishing, then I’m fishing, or napping. When not fishing or napping then I am getting prepared for the next fishing outing. Right now fishing is concentrated on SML, however there is abundant water I haven’t even tried yet – Philpott Res, New River, James River, and numerous creeks, ponds and small lakes. I currently concentrate on the stripers since I am new to them. Up North I’m known as a musky angler, with walleye, crappie and bass thrown in. I have a lot to keep me busy.
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(Click the "Read More" link to the right for the rest of the article)
Joel's new 17' Tracker V-Hull
As a resident of Bedford and trailering my boat, I’m free to fish anywhere. I’ve just graduated from a 14’ jon boat to a 17’ Tracker v-hull. Love it. As anyone who’s heard me at a meeting knows, I do a lot of trolling crankbaits for the stripers. Trolling worked up North for everything and I know it well. Now with the big boat, I have a baitwell and getting the hang of throwing a cast net for live bait. I do it all. Coming from Bedford I generally launch at the HFB public ramp and fish the Roanoke arm, but I can and have put in elsewhere. Nice to have a boat with wheels.
Joel swaps tips with Club member Jared Key
I am retired primarily from the U. S. Marine Corps and a little from the Federal government. I started out in electronics repair and after a few years became a Data Systems Officer after commissioning. I’ve been with computers since 1974 from running a large data center to fixing desktop computers to writing contract solicitations. I have learned what the term “burned out” means. I hate computers. The last few years of my working career were as an assistant manager at two fishing tackle stores in the Chicago area. What dream jobs! Part of my retirement plan was to buy all the goodies I could (at discount). It worked. I have enough tackle to last me a long, long time. While at those stores I became “The Reel Guy” and still keep at it today.
I retired three years ago and moved to Bedford June 1, 2010. I picked this area for two reasons: both my daughters (and all grandchildren) live here in Virginia, one in Richmond and one in Virginia Beach. I visit them frequently as another retirement occupation. They’re close, but not too close, if you catch my meaning. Of course Richmond does have a Bass Pro Shops, so… My younger, Jessica, went to Va Tech for five years so in the course of visiting her I became somewhat familiar with this area. That plus proximity to the lake made my decision. Bedford is my kind of town with a main street almost a block long. Visiting my older, Jennifer, in VB makes me think of trying the Bay for the stripers. Hmmmm, I’m not sure my boat will handle it, but I plan to try.
I retired three years ago and moved to Bedford June 1, 2010. I picked this area for two reasons: both my daughters (and all grandchildren) live here in Virginia, one in Richmond and one in Virginia Beach. I visit them frequently as another retirement occupation. They’re close, but not too close, if you catch my meaning. Of course Richmond does have a Bass Pro Shops, so… My younger, Jessica, went to Va Tech for five years so in the course of visiting her I became somewhat familiar with this area. That plus proximity to the lake made my decision. Bedford is my kind of town with a main street almost a block long. Visiting my older, Jennifer, in VB makes me think of trying the Bay for the stripers. Hmmmm, I’m not sure my boat will handle it, but I plan to try.
I’ve been with our club for two years and fishing for stripers the same two years. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface so far. I’m fishing year round but really like May/June and anytime I can find them on top. Any time you’re on the lake, watch for the big blue Tracker and slide over so we can swap tales and tips.
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