Walleye is considered a northern gamefish, but our Game Department has successfully introduced them into Lake Orange, which has become one of the top walleye fisheries in the state. Lake Orange is a rich lake, teeming with shad and small food fish and – one of the walleye’s favorite meals – yellow perch. The picture above confirms the success of the Department Fisheries experts as … [Read more...]

There was once a theory at the Game Department that crappie populations and sizes were cyclical. One year, there would be a pond or lake with huge crappie, then gradually, the sizes would lessen and the numbers would increase as the fish became stunted. Then, the stunted fish would die out, and with fewer crappie, the sizes once again increased. If memory serves, it was about a 7-year cycle. I … [Read more...]

At Lake Orange, the bluegills and shellcrackers are biting most anything put in front of them. Popping bugs have been especially effective. Elsewhere, recent rains have cooled Virginia waters, causing the fish to be on the move. Mid-depth docks have been hot spots for bass, crappie, and bluegills. Anna stripers are hitting live bait rigged on down lines. Trolling with deep plugs is also … [Read more...]

Lake Orange, owned and managed by the DWR, is one of the top trophy largemouth destinations in the state. The Game Department intensely manages the lake and has imposed a 16″ to 22″ protective slot limit.  A large shad and sunfish population stimulates growth. The huge bass above was landed this week at Orange, plus lots of nice crappie, channel cats and bluegills. Water temps … [Read more...]

There were several Northern Snakeheads caught this week – in Lake Orange. The creepy looking fish were first found in Virginia in the Potomac River and the Game Department freaked out. They assumed that this invasive species would drastically affect the native bass populations, so they sent out shocking boats and patrols to eradicate the snakeheads, and that didn’t go well, The Snakes spread to … [Read more...]

Flounder have started showing up with greater regularity in the Bay and tributaries. Lynnhaven and Rudee inlets have been particularly good, but the Eastern Shore is still tops. Some black drum weighing over 40 pounds were caught this week, and red drum catches improve daily. Puppy drum and bluefish are being caught from the piers and in the inlets. A huge 10-10 speckled trout was reported this … [Read more...]

This stringer of bluegills and panfish came from Lake Orange, where water temperatures are now in the low 70s and everything is biting. The crappie and bass are mopping up spawning duties and moving out of the shallows. Some walleye are being caught and the catfish is picking up each day. Sound like Lake Orange is the place to be. … [Read more...]

The last few years have been terrific for sheepshead fishing, and this year looks to be more of the same. Some giant sheepshead have already been caught in the lower bay and that action should peak in June. Use fiddler crabs for best results. Inshore wrecks are giving up sheepshead, tautogs and sea bass. Black drum have spread out across the lower bay and some big stripers are  being … [Read more...]

I don’t know why, but I’ve always been fascinated by yellow perch. Maybe it’s because they are beautiful or perhaps it’s because they are among the first fish to bite each spring or maybe it has to do that there is no finer eating fish that swims – I’m just a big fan. Yellow perch, sometimes called ring perch, are cousins of walleye – considered the finest eating of all freshwater fish. They … [Read more...]

The big news on the OBX (other than catching bluefin tuna from a kayak) is bluefish. Nice blues and lots of them. Capt. Reese Stecher of Beach Bum Fishing says his parties have been hammering the bluefish – some up to 5-6 pounds and more. The fish have been schooling under the birds and are hitting top water plugs. Catching these warriors on light tackle is a thrill and Capt. Stecher’s clients’ … [Read more...]