A local angler, Tim Walts of Crozet, could care less if the smallmouth are taking Zoom Flukes on the James. That’s because Tim is looking for something a little bigger, like 6 or 8 times bigger than a citation smallmouth. Tim is after catfish, big flathead catfish, and this past week he caught such a specimen.
Says Tim: “I was lucky enough to land this 43” monster last weekend on the James River near Scottsville. The fish hit right after dark, and after meekly coming into the boat, it really surprised my buddy and me when we saw the size. The fish was surprised, too, and doused us with water as the real fight began. We were able to land it, get a few pictures and released it unharmed back into the James.”
Tim has been targeting big flatheads in the James in the Scottsville area for the past several years and notes that the fish continue to get larger. He thinks a state record may be lurking in these southern Albemarle county waters.
Flatheads were introduced to the James River water system by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries about 10 years ago. While some smallmouth anglers complained, the introduction of the flatheads has not had a noticeable effect on smallmouth populations but has rather added a trophy element to the James.
Lake Orange
Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540-672-3997) says the water temperature at Lake Orange is a toasty warm 87 degrees, but the fish don’t seem to mind at all. The water is clear with excellent summer time fishing, Darryl noted. Bass are schooling on baitfish on the flats up-lake. The crappie are on brush in 9-12 feet of water. Some monster walleyes have been caught this weekend with two citations coming to the scales – one walleye weighing in at 6-0 and the other 7.25. The walleye are feeding in deep water. Close by, the catfish are biting on chicken livers throughout the lake.
Potomac River
Early Starts are Best!
Get out early with hollow frogs, buzz frogs and other weedless topwaters before the sun comes out and the tide rises. Low water to start the day will provide a good start in the cool morning, but things will get tough.
Using 60 pound test GAMMA Torque braid, make long casts to thick grass. Find areas with some current. Try Mann’s Super Frogs – black early and white when the sun comes out. Vary retrieves, and pause when reaching openings. The same goes for the buzz toads, like Mann’s HardNose Frankentoads. Use a 5/0 Mustad 1/8 ounce weighted hook for longer casts and to control the speed.
Walking a Lucky Craft Gunfish on 14-pound test Copoly as the water starts to cover the grass. Also try swim jigs, chatter jigs and
Baby 1-minus. Be quick to abandon all moving lures, except hollow frogs at high tide. With higher water, these techniques will work, but the odds will drop. Best bet is to find areas without grass. Docks, bridge pickings and deeper spots are best with drop shot and shaky head. Hydrilla edges into deeper water along channels are good targets too. Keep in mind most of the fish will be in the thick grass and are probably out of reach.
For drop shot and shaky heads, try 20-pound braid with 12-pound test Edge fluorocarbon. Small, 4-5 inch green pumpkin worms work on both rigs, soaked in garlic Jack’s Juice.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Lake Anna
Good numbers of three to five pound bass are finding their way into live wells for various weigh-ins. The stripers are deep throughout the day, but are coming up to feed at dawn and dusk. Big carp are schooling in shallow coves and make for a fun fishing experience for anglers with light tackle.
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reports that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid to high 80’s in the main lake on Wednesday (8/5/2015). The lake level was about even with the top of the dam. The water was moderately brown and moderately cloudy in the lower lake.
Blue cats and a few bullheads were scattered throughout the lake and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Moderate numbers of crappie were in loose schools in the main lake on deeper flats and channel edges, usually at depths of 6 to 12 feet. A few crappie were scattered singly or in small schools on shallow to mid-depth cypress knees, wood cover, and shoreline weed beds in the main lake and in the mouths of major creeks. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Some small to medium yellow perch were scattered on main lake shoreline flats and were hitting live minnows and small jigs. Some nice bluegills and shellcrackers along with numerous smaller bluegills were in small, loose aggregates along shorelines in the main lake and were hitting live crickets and worms, flies, and small tubes and jigs. Some bass and pickerel were on lily pad flats and along shorelines in lower reaches of major creeks and in shallow bays and some shorelines in the main lake, while other bass and a few pickerel were on channel edges in the main lake. Bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, John Settle had 5 crappie and 2 fliers. Terry Rivers had 51 bluegills and 1 bass. Capt. Bill Buck and Tom Porter had 53 bluegill, 3 yellow perch, and 1 bass.
Trout News
Pencil in Sept. 12 on your calendar for a South River Rendevous in Waynesboro. To be held at Constitution Park from 10 AM till 5 PM, this brand new celebration will include presentations of fly fishing in the South River, a program on conservation and ecology concerning the South, plus fly casting lessons and demonstrations. Locally prepared barbecue is provided with each ticket – $15 for adults. Kids 12 and under are free. There will also be local and lodging vendors to showcase their businesses. Great hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking opportunities will also be highlighted.
The event is presented by Shenandoah Valley TU, Shenandoah Valley Project, Healing Waters Fly Fishing and Destination Downtown Waynesboro. Call the South River Fly Shop at 540.942.5566 (srflyshop@yahoo.com) for more information.