By Dr. Peter Brookes
I’m always up for a challenge and decided to try for a Virginia Bass Slam. The Bass Slam requires the angler to net three species of Virginia bass in a year. The eligible fish include the largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, and/or a hybrid striped bass. While a full year is allotted for completing the Virginia Bass Slam Challenge, netting three bass species in one day in one water is considered the ultimate Bassapalooza. But it’s harder than you think. Indeed, I tried it this spring on the fly on the Staunton River. I landed a smallmouth and lost a largemouth, but never hooked a striper. My consolation prize was a good-sized walleye and a channel catfish, which is okay since they were firsts for me on the fly. After falling short on the Bassapalooza on the Staunton, I decided I was going to try to seal a Slam as quickly as possible, considering family and other day-to-day commitments I have. Let me tell you, the life of a part-time reel scholar isn’t easy. As a gimme, I decided I’d give myself credit for the very nice smallies I’d caught on the fly on the Staunton River in late May. One bass species down and two to go. June was taken up with travel baseball tournaments for my son and trout fishing writing assignments. My next decent chance for bass was in early July, where I bagged a big largemouth in Potomac Creek on the fly rod, while chasing northern snakeheads. The snakes weren’t playing that day, but the bucket mouths thankfully were. With two bass species down, I needed a striper or a wiper. Living in Northern Virginia, I planned a trip to nearby Lake Anna. We hit the water at the crack o’ dawn on an overcast day in late July; the lake surface was as smooth as glass. A big weather front had passed the night before and fishing with live bait on conventional gear started slow. We were soon able to find some spots with lots of bait. Suddenly, the rod got arced deeply. “Yes!” I thought, “I’ve done it!” But it wasn’t a striper…. Hard to believe, but I was disappointed in putting a 19-inch lunker in the net. I have to say: It’s so easy to get spoiled fishing for bass in the Old Dominion. Imagine being crushed, catching a nearly 20-inch largemouth bass? I was nervous. We were finding lots of bait balls, but no stripers. They’d clearly spread out. We moved around the lake a bit more in search of fish. In one spot, the rod showed signs of a soft take, not at all characteristic of a striper strike. Something was definitely on the line, but what? But when it breached the surface, it was a 22-inch striper. Jackpot! I’m not sure why the good-sized fish wasn’t as feisty as I expected, but it, thankfully, sealed the Slam. So, get your gear, get your Virginia license if needed, and go for a Bass Slam. Take pictures of your catches and register the Slam with DWR for a really cool Bass Slam sticker. I’ve already ordered mine and have a good spot picked out for it on my beat-up, over-stickered, hunting/fishing Jeep. And when you get your Slam, don’t forget to share photos of your angling acumen with the rest of us on social media.
