It’s been a great year for smallmouth on the Shenandoah River. Guides with Mossy Creek Fly Shop noted the season began with high, discolored, and cold water and ended with low, clear, hot and perfect conditions. September, they said,  was their best float fishing year in history. “Our guides were slammed up every day into October and the fishing conditions couldn’t have been much … [Read more...]

North and South Carolina are known for their shrimp industry, but many are unaware that Virginia waters also hold the tasty decapod crustaceans. Folks at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center say there has been an increased interest in fishing parties for shrimp. Personnel at the Center say that Virginia has  always had some shrimp. For the last few years, however, there have been eating-size shrimp … [Read more...]

It’s here. The best time of all to go fishing. This Wednesday, the nighttime temperature dipped into to the 50’s and it might get in the 40’s on Thursday evening. When that happens, fish instinctively understand that it’s time to feed, to put on as much weight as possible before winter arrives. So it’s time. One of the best places in all of Virginia to fish in the fall is at Lake Orange. This … [Read more...]

  Back in the late 1970’s, one of the most targeted of all the saltwater gamefish in Virginia was the grey trout, or weakfish as they are sometimes called. Anglers dropping rigs around the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel regularly pulled in ten to twelve-pound fish. In 1982, the state record, a 19-pounder, was boated. Then, the big greys largely disappeared. The head boats were lucky to put a … [Read more...]

There has been some of the most spectacular speckled trout fishing in recent memory on the Outer Banks at Oregon Inlet. Acres and acres of vast grass beds draw bait like shrimp, crabs and mullet and the trout have moved in to take advantage. Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Fishing continues to put his clients on trout, with near daily limits and some nice fish, as well. “It’s still great, as … [Read more...]

  Some nice flounder limits were brought in this week. Jigged buck tails are producing, but drifting with live bait has enticed the larger fish. The hot spots are along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and near the Cell. There are some keeper fish being caught inside local inlets as well. Captain Craig Paige, Paige II Charters landed some nice ones(see above pic) on his last … [Read more...]

Last week, Mark Finley had a day to remember as he fished on the Chickahominy River.  His wife was going to join him, but cancelled at the last minute, so he hooked up his bass boat, drove down to the Chick and fished by himself. Mark, who owns Finley’s Service Center in Charlottesville and has been fishing bass tournaments for 30 years, put in at Walker’s Dam, fished for couple hours and … [Read more...]

Angler’s Lane in Forest (Lynchburg) says that the smallmouth fishing is finally starting to take shape on the Staunton and the James. The topwater bite in early morning and late afternoon is getting good, and the streamer bite is fantastic! The guides at Angler’s Lane are specialists when it comes to putting their clients on big smallies. Here’s what they say about the waters they … [Read more...]