When someone joins the ranks of an elite club that has only three other members it makes news. The rarified air for Virginia Master Angler Level 5 was shared recently with John Gary Harmon, age 74, when he caught a citation saugeye fishing Lake Anna in early February.
For those unfamiliar with the Master Angler Program, it is a recognition system for anglers to record and be recognized for the trophy fish they catch from Virginia waters.
The admirable ranking of “Master Angler” is bestowed upon individuals with talent enough to land trophy-size fish of different species. When an angler catches five trophy-size fish of different species, then he/she is automatically recognized as a Master Angler I. There are five successive levels of Master Angler recognition. To ascend in rank the angler must catch five different trophy-size fish for each level of recognition. At each level the angler will receive a different Master Angler certificate and patch. There is no separate application to fill out. DWR computers count the number and type of trophy fish each angler registers and sends automatic notification when someone qualifies.
As noted, a Master Angler I = five trophy fish of different species. A Master Angler II = 10 trophy fish of different species. Master Angler III = 15 trophy fish of different species. Master Angler IV = 20 trophy fish of different species. Master Angler V = 25 trophy fish of different species. The Master Angler VI = all 30 trophy fish of each species in the program and no one has completed this stage yet, though Stephen Miklandric is close – also needing a citation saugeye to complete the feat.
Harmon, a resident of Claytor Lake, had been working on his Master Angler Level 5 for many years.
“I caught my first citation in 1979: a flathead catfish. I got Master Angler I in 1994. At that time there were only 23 species in the program and that’s when I decided to catch as many different species as possible,” Harmon told W2 recently.
He explained that for him, the goal is not a competition against anyone expect the fish.
“I have always been a goal-oriented person and like the thrill of the hunt.”
We asked Harmon who got him started with his love of fishing.
“My father introduced me to fishing, and he was my greatest partner and mentor. I never got over the thrill of seeing a fish take a bobber down.”
The question that begs to be asked of all Master Angler Vs is what was the trickiest trophy fish to catch and the easiest?
“Northern pike, just because they are stocked in so few places. Rural Retreat Lake was the closest to me, but they have discontinued stocking them there. The easiest to catch by far is the rainbow trout, simply because they stock so many in so many locations.”
As a member of the elite club we thought we’d ask Harmon what he thought of the Virginia Trophy Fish Program.
“I like the program as it stands today except for the weight requirement. If you catch a musky in July and take the time to weigh it, photograph it on the scale, measure it, photograph it by a measuring device and get a picture holding it, you probably have a dead musky. There may have been a few cheaters but not many. That’s why I generally forgo weighing them.”
With only three other anglers at Master Level 5 (Miklandric, who was the first, Micheal Minnick and Josh Dolin), we asked Harmon why he thinks there are so few.
“I think there as so few Master Angler V awards simply because of travel, time and money. It takes a lot of each, plus endurance to catch any 25 different species. But in my opinion that is part of the fun!”
With so many fisheries in Virginia to pursue trophy fish we wondered how Harmon figured out where to go.
“Over the years I have fished all the major rivers in Virginia and most of the major lakes and quite a few of the smaller ones. Determining the hot spots for certain fish is easy. I go to the DWR Website, Trophy Fish Section, and look up citations by species and waterbody. They also give the date, so you know when and where your best odds are. That and word of mouth from other anglers is invaluable. We all have secrets that we don’t mind sharing with other anglers we know will not abuse the fishery.”
With such a long achievement time we wondered if Harmon ever considered given up.
“You briefly consider quitting after each unsuccessful adventure, but not for long. You get back in the mood very quickly. I promise you everyone that has achieved Master Angler V is constantly researching or thinking about the next target – Master Angler VI.”
We asked Harmon to describe his final species experience and how he felt afterward.
“I had been stuck at 24 species for quite some time. I called up McCotter’s Lake Anna Guide Service to schedule a trip for black crappie and C.C. McCotter said he might be able to get me a saugeye, too. I didn’t even know they were in Lake Anna, so I jumped at the chance. Boy, did we work for that fish! The wind blowing like heck, it was raining like heck and cold as heck. I actually felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I wanted to sit down and enjoy the moment and I still am.”
Harmon did note he wants to try for Master Angler 6.
“I will definitely go for MA VI. The odds don’t look too good though. The sauger is one I need, and she will be my biggest challenge. I can get the other four, but this one will be tough. They are only found in the Clinch and Powell Rivers. The only real shot will be to find a guide or a property owner that will let me fish on their property. A 74 years old I don’t think I should try to float that river!”
So what does Harmon do when he’s not fishing?
“My other passion is oil painting and drawing with colored pencils. It’s a very relaxing hobby.”
