Our little man is gone ... losing man's best friend is difficult

Dunkin left this world today.

He left the pain from his eye and throat behind for the two people who loved him most. Now it's our turn to hurt, much more than he, I think, because we made the decision to send him on his way before pain took control of him.

He was way too special to ever suffer.

So it was the right thing to do. We had to do it twice before with the cairn terriers before him.

He's now playing with them - Pee Wee and Katy, and their friend Pepper – who belonged to two people very dear to us.

Our recovery, as many of you know from your own losses, will take time. It will be different for us this time, since this will be the first time in nearly two decades that our house will not be home to a four-legged fur kid.

We're not ready for another right now and not sure when we will be. There won't, and can't be, another Dunkin. We know that. If I thought for one second that we could have another exactly like him, things might be different.

But that wouldn't be fair to another dog ... to compare it to another so very special.

So we'll wait, heal as best we can and cherish the memories that ‘The Mayor” gave us over the years.

We rescued Dunk from a puppy mill. In many ways he rescued us, as well.

Physically, he's now gone to play with his old friends, in a place with unlimited treats and squeaky toys, and more bushes and tree stumps than a dog could ever hope for.

But in our hearts, he'll be with us forever.

Godspeed, little man. You were a most special friend.

And we love you so much more than you ever knew.

More storms are coming our way

If you are out on the water and check the internet from time to time on your smart phone, hopefully you will see one of the weather alerts coming out of the National Weather Service in Wakefield.

A lone of strong thunderstorms has popped up along the western side of Hampton Roads. Many of these storms on radar are severe and could bring lightning, wind, lots of rain and possibly some hail.

If they're anything like recent storms, they have the potential to be real barn burners.

These storms also could be a real problem for high school playoffs that already have suffered from rain delays.

Dudley fights to take third...leads AOY race

 Lynchburg bass pro David Dudley, who also has a home in Manteo, finished third in the FLW Tour's stop this weekend on the Potomac River.

The Tour's all-time leading money winner finished with 65 pound and 7 ounces - just 15 ounces behind winner Scott Martin. Martin won $125,000. Justin Lucas was second, just 3 ounces behind Martin, and pocketed $33,776.

Dudley banks $28,943 to increase his season total to a tour-leading $169,443.

Dudley also earned enough points to move from seventh to first in the Angler of the Year standings. Dudley is a two-time Angler of the Year. He holds a 4-point lead in the standings over Martin.

Both Dudley and Martin, by virtue of event wins this season, have earned automatic bids to August's FLW Cup championship.

Dudley slides after day 3, but still in the hunt

 Lynchburg bass pro David Dudley, who also has a home in Manteo, dropped from Edmond after day 2 to fourth after day 3, but still very much in the hunt.

Known as "The Manteo Machine," Dudley sits in seventh in the FLW Tour's overall standings and has won a tour-leading $140,500.

Fishing in today's high points and high money final round, the FLW's all-time money winner stands to move up in the overall standings after today's final day on the Potomac River.

Weather conditions aren't great, however, with a low pressure system spinning off the coast and pushing in clouds, northeast winds and possible rain.

None of which will bother guys like Dudley, who can find fish in a dry swimming pool  when money and points are on the line.

More to come tonight after the weigh-in.

Dudley is on the move on the Potomac

 David Dudley, who lives in Lynchburg and has a home in Manteo, entered today's third day in the FLW Tour's stop on the Potomac River in second place.

We hit the water 2 pounds, 9 ounces out of the lead.

But online reports on Twitter have showing him in high gear with four fish in the box by 8 a.m. It also appears he missed a big fish.

The Potomac's milfoil-filled waters are hot right now and the only thing that could slow anglers down is wind out of the northeast. 

It doesn't seem to be slowing the guy known as "The Manteo Machine" - the winningest angler in FLW history.

More to come later after the third day is over.

The marvelous fisherman from the sky

Even the best angler will find themselves humbled by taking to time to watch an osprey do its fishing thing.

These magnificent birds - often referred to as a fish hawk - typically can outfish the best angler.

There were times, while fishing Back Bay during its heyday, that I didn't cast for what seemed like hours as I watched an osprey float above the water, then pull its wings back, spread wide its talons as it approached the surface, then draw them in front of its face as it impacted the water deadly grabbers ahead of all else.

Then to watch as what is a pretty good-sized bird flapped its wings for all its worth in an attempt to get airborne with a 4-pound bass.

The scene often made me with I could fly so that I could see the fish I wasn't catching.

Local angler and videographer Mark Feltner this morning sent me the link to a YouTube video with three amazing osprey fish-catching scenes.

No matter what kind of angler you are, and whether or not you are good or not, I can't imagine not marveling at what this bird does.

Enjoy the show and remember it the next time you see an osprey on one of our local waterways.

Then take a few minutes and watch the show live and in person.

Local bass pro heading in the wrong direction

Virginia Beach professional bass fisherman Rick Morris was coming off a money-placing finish two weeks ago in the Bassmaster Elite Series, where anglers try to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic.

He entered this weekend's event on Tennessee's Douglas Lake in the top 50 and riding the momentum train.

The top 75 advance to the Classic.

But on Douglas, Morris failed to make it to Saturday's money round, finishing 83rd - just 5 pounds, 10 ounces out of advancing.

The placement going into Saturday has Morris in 63rd place in the overall standings - teetering way too close to not making the Classic.

Morris can make up the lost ground, but momentum is everything.

Stay tuned, 'cause there's more to come.

Fishing is on the rise ... up with what's biting

The area's top anglers already know what's going on with the fishign scene. They're almost always out there and staying on top of the action.

The occasional or weekend angler can learn plenty from these experts - many of whom are valued resources for are fishing reports.

The Virginian-Pilot updates it print forecast every Thursday and its interactive online forecast every few days.

Both are available at www.hamptonroads.com/outdoors

check them out before you go.

Dudley does it again ... winning FLW Tour event

When David Dudley bumped into fourth place after the third day of the FLW Tour's stop on Beaver Lake in Arkansas, it was easy for many who know him to see he was poised to capture another win.

And that's just what the Lynchburg-based professional bass fisherman did Sunday when he leaped into the lead and won another FLW Tour event.

Dudley, who also owns a home in Manteo, N.C., knocked down a 5-fish limit in Sunday's round of the top 10 anglers and took 16 pounds, 9 ounces to the scale. That gave him a total of 54-7, which was good enough for a half-pound victory over Andy Morgan.

Dudley, the FLW's all-time leading money winner and two time Angler of the Year - including last year's title - captured the $100,000 winner's prize and banked an additional $25,000 from the Ranger Cup competition.

Dudley now sits in 7th place in his bid to repeat as Angler of the Year and has won a 2012 Tour-leading $140,500.

Dudley said after Saturday's third round that he was throwing a freshwater version of saltwater fishing's umbrella rig, where heavy tackle is used to toss a rig with as many as 12 small shad-like baits that resemble a school of shad swimming through the water. Dudley reportedly was throwing the rig - which in freshwater circles is being called an Alabama rig - around points, especially steep rocky banks, while following schools of shad.

The "Manteo Machine" - as he is called in pro bass fishing circles - is proving once again that he is one of the best largemouth bass tournament fishermen in history.

His bank account can attest to it.

Dudley moves up for final day

 I told 'ya that the field had best be ready to see David Dudley make a move.

The Lynchburg angler with the home in Manteo started the third day of the FLW Tour event on Beaver Lake in Arkansas in ninth place and leaped into fourth when the day was done.

Dudley has a total of 37 pounds, 14 ounces and is just 4-7 out of first place.

By finishing the third day in the top 10, the two-time Angler of the Year and the tour's all-time leading money winner, Dudley gets to fish in Sunday's final round - where points are higher and prize money is bigger.

Don't count out the "Manteo Machine" when he's in this position. Dudley knows how to win and he's got himself in a position to do so.