Darrell Kennedy of Angler’ s Landing (540.672.3997) says the water temperature at Lake Orange is in the mid 80s and the lake is stained.
But the bass are biting. John Feldman recently landed a 6-2 beauty. Darrell says the largest bass brought to scales so far this year went 9-12.
The bass are being caught mostly on soft plastics and live bait; the low light periods have produced some excellent topwater action. The crappie seem to be hanging out around 10 to 15 feet of water feeding up on baitfish. The catfish have been caught on night crawlers and minnows worked along the upper end being best. The walleye bite has slowed down with a few being caught deep with live bait.
The Rivers
Good topwater action on all the major smallmouth rivers – the James, New and Shenandoah, Fly rodders are I their element with popping bugs while the spin guys have been hammering them with Torps, small buzzbaits and weightless Flukes.
Waters are warm, but clear and normal pool for mid-summer.
Potomac River
Capt. Steve Chaconas says that lots of rain and cooler temperatures will force anglers to seek clear water or hard cover. On the Potomac Bigger grass beds will filter water. Look for which tide brings clearer water. Usually outgoing is clearer, but with the rain, who knows?
This week tides are low in late morning into the afternoon, which will help to make it a good week, in spite of the muddy water. Topwater poppers like the Lucky Craft G-Splash cast parallel to edges are very effective. Use 20-pound Gamma Torque braid or 12-pound Copoly. Running Mann’s Baby 1-Minus on 14 pound test Edge in the same areas also works. Try both.
For lower water during sunny time of the day hollow frogs on 60 pound braid will find fish in the thicker grass close to the edges. For the edge, use jigs, swim jigs. Make long casts and work over and down tops of grass. Allow the bait to sit and shake. Do the same thing with Mizmo tubes. Use a 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hook, Texas rigged and a pegged 3/16-ounce bullet weight on 14-pound Edge. Shaky heads on spinning gear with 20 pound braid and 12-pound Edge fluorocarbon leader allow you to keep the baits in one place. Shake the 1/8-ounce heads with 6-inch worms up and over the tall grass and allow to drop. Shake and pause. Repeat to get bites. A soaking in Jack’s Juice Bait Spray will encourage fish to hold on longer.