Jeff Kelble, a former top smallmouth guide extraordinare, and currently the Shenandoah Riverkeeper, is hosting a party on July 17 at the Low Water Bridge Campground in Bentonville, VA. That place rocks as far as riverside accomodations go. Plenty of room for tents, and campers too. There are a few cabins available for rent too, but they tend to go fast. Jeff's group will have one entire end of the campground reserved for our use, and we'll be a stones throw away from the Bentonville VDGIF boating access.
He'd love to have some KBF folks show up to fish on Saturday, so I thought a River Raid would be perfect to hold in conjunction with his event.
The Riverkeeper Rodeo features camping Friday & Saturday night, an optional outrageous fishing contest Saturday that includes negative points for catching largemouth
and an amazing catered dinner Saturday with all the beer you can drink. All that is included in a $35 fee, which also makes you a member of the Shenandoah Riverkeeper organization.Jeff's group was largely responsible for new regulations on poultry manure storage and application rules that will help reduce the nitrogen and phosphorous load in our rivers all over the state. It's a terrific conservation organization for anyone who loves fishing flowing water.
I'll be setting up camp Friday evening, and fishing on Saturday and Sunday. The SF is the perfect kayak river to chase smallies. Things have recovered nicely since the fish kills back in 2005-06. This year saw a few small events, but the river remains loaded with smallmouth, largemouth, and some muskies.
Several float options will be available for anyone wanting to show up and float for smallies. Guys are welcome to come camp, fish, and party, or just come for the day and fish and head home if that's what ya need to do.
Oh, and did I mention that about a dozen of the best smallmouth fishing guides in the mid-Atlantic will be there on Saturday fishing and camping. There is no better place to share a beer with a few of them and pick their brains.
I hope some of the KBF folks will come join us for a phenomenally fun event.
