We are now in the heart of bluegill season. Most of the fish are on the shore or close by, and they are hungry. If you have a fly rod and small popping bug, you can catch all you want. Maybe more than you want.
One of the top bluegill lakes in Virginia is the Chickahominy Lake near Lanexa. It’s a relatively shallow lake, but it has ideal habitat for some of the prettiest bluegills and shellcrackers you’ve ever seen. This time of year, the male bluegills are in full breeding colors – dark purples, brilliant oranges and the Chick is loaded with nice fish. You may not catch any giants – but those hand-sized fish, nearly a pound, are abundant.
There are several boat ramps at the lake and Capt. Art Conway (804-514-1486) guides for bluegills and other species out of Ed Allen’s Camp.
Art said that many small and medium bluegill and shellcrackers were on flats and shorelines in the main lake and in some creeks, while the larger bluegills and shellcrackers were slightly offshore, in 3 to 5 feet of water. When active, both species were hitting live worms and crickets, Nikko nymphs, flies, and
small swimbaits.
Fishing with Capt. Conway this week, Caffrey, Paxton, and Trenton Miller had 34 bluegills, 1 shellcracker and 1 bass. The dragonflies were quite active –
Paxton caught 11 in a few hours using a 3-inch net.
Greentop Report
Stan Cobb at Greeentop says the upper James has returned to high and muddy conditions, making things difficult for fishing and navigating. Prior to that, the topwater bite had been good for smallmouth. The lower James remains consistent for largemouth, as they enter early summer patterns.
It seems as though the snakehead fish has gained quite a bit of popularity along the Potomac River. They have also invaded the Rappahannock River. They can grow quite large, and are strong fighters. Many enjoy eating them.
At Kerr Lake, shoal areas have been good for bass. Brush piles are also productive. Rock cover and docks have been good at Anna, but brush is also holding fish. Stripers are biting early, and live bait has been the ticket. Some topwater action is taking place, but it is short lived. Crappie are suspended around the bridge abutments. The right depth is key. Slip floats are the most efficient way to zero in on a specific depth. They not only work for minnows, but with jigs also.
Potomac River
Capt. Steve Chaconas says it’s location, location, location.
This isn’t real estate advice. The Potomac is offering different terrain for most presentations. In what used to be considered a grass fishery, this year the River is more hard cover, pads, and docks. With limited grass beds, and those getting pounded, it’s time to consider the options mentioned.
Fish are coming off post spawn. Targeting them is your choice. Fishing grass beds with swim jigs on 14-16-pound test GMMA Edge fluorocarbon is a good technique at any tide. At lower tides, covering water with Mann’s Baby 1-Minus, chatterbaits, and some spinnerbaits will put fish in the boat.
For the rest of the river, docks are a good target. Pitch plastics like tubes and creature baits to dock pilings. Green pumpkin, black/blue, and June bug are good color choices.
Pads are also holding fish. Target these during the two-hour period, last hour of incoming and first hour of outgoing. Black/blue jigs are reliable but mix in some plastics too. Look for irregularities in the pad edges.
Lake Orange
Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540 672.3997). The water temperatures are in the low 80s. The lake is stained on the upper end and clear on the lower end. Bass are feeding on baitfish and small bluegill. Crappie are being caught on live minnows in 8 to 10 ft. of water. Walleye are being caught on nightcrawlers working rocky areas in 10 ft. Catfishing remains strong with the upper end being best chicken livers and clam snouts working best.