Try this

If you're a smallmouth bass fisherman, here's an opportunity to get together with a group of like-minded anglers and have a little fun. On July 19 at the Bentonville Low Water Bridge Campground, Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelbe is hosting a "river rodeo" to celebrate the Shenandoah River and the recovery of the fishery. The campground is located on Indian Hollow Road (Route 613 off Route 340) on the banks of the South Fork and in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Fourteen nationally known smallmouth bass fishing guides are sponsoring the event and participating that morning in a catch-and-release fishing contest. After that, rodeo goers are free to fish, canoe, swim or just hang around until the pig roast and blue grass party at 5 p.m.

For ticket and paddling information, and to sign up: jeff@shenandoahriverkeepe r.org, (540) 837-1479 or www.shenandoahriver keeper.org.

Calendar

July 5-6: The Buggs Island Archers will host its annual "Big Apple Archery Shoot" at the Buggs Island Fish and Wildlife Club near Clarksville. In addition to Virginia Bowhunters Association-sanctioned contests, the event will feature games, contests, skills training, camping and the infamous "flyin' coon shoot under the lights." Information: Jerry or Debbie Jordan at Buggsislandarchr@aol.com or go to http://journals.aol.com/dsanjj2u/archers.

July 6: Yellow Jersey Century bike ride. Start in Ashland at the Randolph-Macon College parking lot across from the Ashland train station at 6 a.m. and head east. The ride benefits the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Each rider should wear a yellow jersey and make a minimum donation to the LAF of $25 the morning of the event. There will be two rest stops with refreshments around mile 40 and mile 70 with a store-stop option later in the ride. Rest-stop donations needed. Information: Dan Schmidt: dtschmitt@hhhunt.com.

July 12: Volunteers will take part in the inaugural James River Runoff Rundown as a benefit for the James River Association, a Richmond-based nonprofit whose mission is to safeguard the James River from the headwaters to the Bay. The idea of the Rundown is simple - river enthusiasts will paddle, boat, tube, sail or otherwise cover small sections of the James River. Your contribution could be a lazy 2-mile float at Scottsville, an intense whitewater kayak through downtown Richmond, a fishing trip with your friends in a skiff below the Varina-Enon Bridge or a sunset cruise to the Chesapeake Bay. The goal is to have the entire length of the James River - 340-miles - traversed in one day. As part of the rundown, river runners will observe water quality, view wildlife or simply enjoy the river. Information: www.runoffrundown.org.

Seasons

Continuous: Open season on coyote, groundhog, striped skunk and nutria (trapping only). - Andy Thompson