The Rapidan Chapter

January 27, 2012–Two Vendor Tables Available for the Fishing Show

Hi All-Due to a vendor cancellation, there are two tables left for show. Please contact Fred (fredkall@aol.com) or 703-753-7625 for info. Thanks.

January 2012 Rapidan Chapter Meeting Minutes

The January 2012 Chapter meeting on the 4^th, was called to order at 7:30pm by President Rob Paul, where we had 20 members present for our annual chapter meeting.

Rob presented a power point slide show regarding the Rapidan Chapter’s 2011 Year-in-Review of events and activities, which meets the requirements of our Chapter’s By-Laws.  During the presentation, Rob shared that our Chapter’s Volunteers at Special Love Camp won an award – “Special People Award,” for their efforts from the Special Love Camp Group.  Rob mentioned that the slide presentation would be posted on the Chapter’s webpage for everyone to view.

Rob then opened a discussion on the proposed Amended Chapter By-Laws.  Having met the requirements of the By-Laws for a 30 day review period before voting, a motion was offered from the members present, to adopt the amended By-Laws.  Mike Mcaffrey offered a 1^st on the motion and Beau Beasley offered a 2^nd  – the voting was unanimous in favor of adopting, and the motion passed.  A photo was taken commemorating the voting event.  Rob stated the new By-Laws and the photo would be posted on our webpage as soon as he and Fred Kalmeyer – the Chapter Secretary signed the document.

Beau Beasley asked for information concerning how to become a Fishing Show Sponsor and gain advertisement privileges on the printed hand out. Read more »

May 2, 2012–Rapidan TU Chapter Meeting

Join us at our chapter meeting May 2, 2012, at the Sun Trust Bank in Warrenton.  Many of us are meeting early at Fang’s Thai restaurant at 6:00 for diner and a pre-meeting discussion regarding some of the Chapter’s proposed candidate streams for a conservation effort – we’re meeting with our meeting’s speakers, Steve Owens and Paul Bugas of DGIF – feel free to share this time with us if you care to.  Our regular meeting will begin at 7:30 PM, and Steve and Paul will be discussing the eastern brook trout joint venture and it’s status.  Look forward to seeing you there.

April 4, 2012–Rapidan TU Chapter Meeting

Join us at our chapter meeting April 4, 2012, at the Sun Trust Bank in Warrenton.  Our meeting will begin at 7:30 PM and our guest speaker is Vince Staley speaking on Shad fishing.  Look forward to seeing you there…

March 7, 2012–Rapidan TU Chapter Meeting

Join us at our chapter meeting March 7, 2012, at the Sun Trust Bank in Warrenton.  Our meeting will begin at 7:30 PM and our speaker is Tom Sadler on Tenkara Rod fishing .  Look forward to seeing you there.

February 1, 2012–Rapidan TU Chapter Meeting – Fly Tying Demo

Join us at our chapter meeting February 1, 2012, at the Sun Trust Bank in Warrenton.  Our meeting will begin at 7:30 PM.  Look forward to seeing you there.

CLICK HERE to see the flies that will be demonstrated and tied at the meeting.

“Public Use” in Jeopardy on Some Virginia Public Waters

By Beau Beasley, Rapidan TU Chapter Member, for Orvis News

In June 2010, Dargan Coggeshall and Charlie Crawford decided to fish on the Jackson River near the home of Dr. John Feldenzer, a surgeon from Roanoke, Virginia. However, Matt Sponaugle — owner of the housing development called River’s Edge, who had sold the riverfront property to the Feldenzers — insisted that the anglers leave that section of the river immediately. He pointed to the No Trespassing signs posted on the banks of both sides of the river indicating that neither fishing nor wading was allowed there. Coggeshall, who had fished that part of the Jackson for years prior to the home being built, countered that his map, issued by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, listed this section of the Jackson River as public property.

Eventually, Sponaugle called for an Alleghany County deputy sheriff to check the anglers’ fishing licenses. The deputy found that their licenses were in order and, because the state said that they had a right to be there, refused to arrest them. Undeterred, Sponaugle tried to sue the anglers in criminal court; the case was dropped, however, because the court found the ownership of the river in dispute. Now Feldenzer and Sponaugle are suing the anglers in civil court — to the tune of $10,000 apiece — for trespassing. ………READ MORE

This article was originally printed by Chesapeake Bay Journal and was been reprinted by Orvis News with permission of the author.