Perhaps fall is just around the corner, or at least the Lake Orange crappie think it may be. It was a good week for the speckled slabs at Orange. Successful anglers dunked minnows in 10 to 12 foot depths for some nice stringers of fish.
Darrell Kennedy at Anglers Landing says the water temperature is in the upper 70s to lower 80s and the lake is stained. Bass are being caught on plastics and live bait A few walleye have been caught this week on live bait in rocky areas. Catfishing seems to be best on the lower end with chicken livers and live bait
Potomac River
It’s high and muddy, says Capt. Steve Chaconas. High Muddy Water
Outgoing tides are clearer. Look for clear water. Grass beds are still holding fish. Early morning low tides are going to set up a good topwater bite. Starting with Lucky Craft G-Splash 80 poppers, work grass edges and cast into holes inside the low water edge. Using Gamma Torque braid, 20 for spinning and 30-40 on casting reels, is a good idea around the thick grass. As long as the water is outgoing, it should be clear and good for the popper. With muddy water, buzzbaits, again on braid, can target fish in thicker grass. Hollow frogs are also a great choice as they can work in the thicker grass.
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid 80’s in the main lake and in the major creeks on Wednesday
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 24 bluegills, one shellcracker, 6 crappies, 2 blue cats and one bass.
Rappahannock River
Smallmouth anglers are catching good numbers of fish on topwater lures, plastic grubs and live crayfish. Tidewater sections of the river are producing largemouth bass from the blow downs. Blue catfish to 35 pounds are hitting jumbo minnows and cut gizzard shad.
Shenandoah River
Lots of smallmouth bass and some good-sized bluegills are being caught. Topwater lures, plastic grubs, small spinners and tiny crankbaits are the best bets. Catfish are taking mad toms. Lots of algae in the river is making fishing difficult.
Lake Anna
Largemouth bass are holding in 12-20 feet of water, but are moving up on points early and late in the day. Topwater baits, plastic worms, deep diving crankbaits and large minnows are effective. Stripers are hitting at Dike 3 on Cordell Redfins, spoons and live bait. Crappie are taking small minnows on boat docks, bridge pilings and submerged brush. Catfish anglers are taking some nice fish on live and cut shad.
James River
Anglers are having some excellent smallmouth bass action above the city on crankbaits and pumpkinseed plastic grubs. Standing cypress trees are holding good bass, particularly at the mouths of creeks. Inside the creeks, bass are hanging on any available piece of cover in the tidal flow. Senkos and other plastics, fished weightless, will take the fish. Catfish action is still good and crappie are beginning to turn on.
Chickahominy River
Many small bass may be taken from the lily pads throughout the upper portion of the river. Better choices of lures are topwater frogs, small spinnerbaits, floating worms and Senkos. Shallow-running crankbaits and topwater lures will take bass and pickerel from creek mouths. Catfish action is still good and bream are taking worms and fly rod poppers.
Buggs Island
Bass fishing is improving with the falling temperatures and stabilizing weather. Striper action is slow, but some fish are feeding on the surface near Clarksville. Crappie anglers are catching lots of fish along the Route 58 Bridge at Clarksville and over brush piles in 12-18 feet of water back in Rudd’s Creek. Live minnows and white/pink jigs are the baits of choice.
Smith Mountain
Anglers are catching stripers on large minnows, drifted in the main river channels, and crappie on small minnows, fished around boat docks and blowdowns. Bass are hitting plastic worms and stick baits, fished on points and in the backs of coves.
Lake Moomaw
Trout fishing is dead, but a few bass and lots of catfish are being caught.