Some huge fish have been caught at Lake Anna during October. Delbert Feaster was tossing a crankbait with bass on his mind, when the lure was intercepted by a 2-8 crappie. That’s a big crappie in anybody’s book.
Gabe Scott landed an 8-10 citation largemouth earlier this month, one of the better bass caught this year at Anna. The striper bite is picking up as the water cools and the bait balls up. The fish are most active in low light conditions. The 208 Bridge to the Splits has been productive.
The Rivers
The major rivers – James, New and Shenandoah – are all low, clear and cooling, but offer top-notch topwater possibilities for smallmouth. The secondary rivers – the upper Potomac, Rappahannock and the Staunton – are likewise in great shape and fishing well. Now is a time to pick up that 5-pound citation as the big girls put on the feeding bag.
Trout Streams
Most mountain trout streams are very low and clear, but a delicate presentation will get results on streams like the Conway, Rapidan, Hughes and Rose rivers.
The larger streams – the Tye, Bullpasture and upper Jackson – have all been stocked, but they are also low and clear and the fish are spooky.
The Valley spring creeks, the South in Waynesboro, Back Creek in Allegheny County and the lower Jackson are all good choices for late fall action.
Potomac River
It’s great fishing weather, says Capt. Steve Chaconas.
Cool nights have brought water temperatures down and grass is really receding. This is creating many fishing opportunities and setting up a solid crankbait bite. Water is in the low to mid 60s. Dying and dead grass is being blown and washed down river to open up fishing spots.
It’s musical chairs as the grass dies off. Remaining grass patches will hold fish. Cranking Mann’s Baby 1-Minus baits over, around and through grass will produce strikes, especially at lower tides. Use 12-pound test GAMMA Edge on a medium heavy cranking rod and a faster reel to snap baits out of grass. At higher tides, try a Lucky Craft LVR D-7 lipless crankbait. Snap upward and allow the bait to pause as it slowly falls, watching for bites. Around wood cover work Lucky Craft 1.5 crankbaits and deflect off cover. Same line, but use a medium crankbait rod.
Texas rigged Mizmo tubes on a 3/0 Mustad tube hook pitched to clumps and to wood without grass is a good pattern. Docks also come into play when grass is gone. Sunny days are best with the sun shading the dock.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Buggs Island
Water level is at 307 and rising. Lots of bass are being caught on spinnerbaits in the flooded bushes on shallow points. Crappie anglers are loading coolers, using small minnows over brush piles and around bridge pilings. Schools of breaking stripers are being found between Buoy 16 and the Clarksville Bridge, and at the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Trolling Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrak minnows along the river channel is producing some good catches of stripers, but don’t be surprised if you end up with a 30-pound flathead catfish. White bass to four pounds, are taking trolled Rooster Tails and pearl color Short A’s around the mouth of Bluestone Creek.