Lake Orange offers some of the best bluegill fishing in the state. The rich waters at Orange grow big ‘gills and the clean, clear water makes them especially good to eat. Now is the time to catch some.
The big males are guarding the beds. Popping bugs and wet flies are proven bluegill catchers, but a juicy red wiggler or a fat mealworm will also trigger strikes. Lake Orange offers boat rentals and sells bait and tackle at the Angler’s Landing marina.
Darryl Kennedy, atAngler’s Landing, says the water is in the mid 70s and clear. Bass and crappie are post spawn and feeding up on live bait. A few walleye have been caught on night crawlers and minnows. Look for some good top water action in low light conditions and with this week’s warming trend, the fishing should be fantastic this coming weekend.
Call Lake Orange at 434-817-0980
Potomac River
By Capt. Steve Chaconas
Good Fishing Weather
Bulk and vibration for all lures this week. Lipless Lucky Craft LVR D-7 on 14-pound test GAMMA Edge Fluorocarbon line can cover water. Slow retrieves and red craw patterns will be more effective in muddy water. Use faster reels to catch up to fish, especially when fishing with the rod tip high. As water clears, try Shad patterns.
Mann’s Baby 1-Minus in red patterns through grass and bumping wood cover. Also Edge 14 pound test. Keep this bait down, close to fish. Snap from grass and pause. Slow retrieves in muddy water, faster as the water clears.
Shaky head Mizmo 1/4 BarbWire shaky heads with dark colored Mizmo Quiver Stix stickworms. Use 14-pound Edge leader on 20 Torque braid. Pitch to docks, any tide, any time. As long as water is stained, fish will hold tight to docks. More sun, they will hold tighter. Also pitch green pumpkin/blue Mizmo tubes, Texas rigged with a 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hook and 3/16 bullet weight into grass holes. Use 14-pound Edge Chatterbaits with matching Mann’s 4 inch HardNose Mullets and Mann’s Classic spinnerbait are also good in stained water on 14-pound Edge. Use 1/4-ounce spinnerbaits at low tide and 3/8 at high. Chatterbait color depends on water clarity and sunlight. More sunlight, white patterns show up if they aren’t too deep. With diminished light, dark patterns. Clear water, craw patterns. For spinnerbaits, gold blades reflect light to white skirts. Both produce a lot of vibration, helpful in muddy water.
The Rivers
The best action so far this year could take place this weekend on the James and Shenandoah rivers. Water levels and temperatures are ideal. Bass are in various stages of spawning and male smallmouth are very aggressive.
The New River is also hot, with bass coming on both top water and submerged baits, such as jigs, Flukes and Senko worms.
The Chickahominy River has something for everyone with excellent fishing now for crappie, catfish, bluegills, bass, garfish and yellow perch.
Lake Anna
Lots of 4 and 5 pound bass are coming to the scales at Anna. Now that the spawn is complete, the larger females often chill out in deeper water, recovering from their ordeal.
Crappie are hanging beneath boat docks and catfish are active. Striper action has been good.
Shawn Blankenship and Tommy Clough scored with a limit of nice stripers to 6 pounds.
Smith Mountain Lake
Bluegills are everywhere, and bass action is good, especially for schooling fish early in the day. Stripers are active after dark. Carp are biting kernels of corn and catfish will pound a chicken liver right before dark.