Numerous bass in the 6 and 7 pound class are coming to the scales at Anna Point Marina. Some nice crappie, too. Last month, Tommy Lambert weighed in a slab-size crappie at 2 pounds, 2 ounces. The crappie are deep, 12 to 18 feet, but if you can get a shiner down to them, they’ll bite. Stripers are busting shad from the Rt. 1 Bridge to the Splits.
Tommy Lambert
2 Pounds 2 Ounces
Rappahannock River
Yellow perch have started their trek up the river and should be around the Fredericksburg area within a week. Small minnows, plastic grubs, Silver Buddies and Roadrunners are top bait choices. A few white perch have appeared around Port Royal, moving north. Blue catfish are still feeding heavily in the deeper holes in the river, primarily on cut shad or live white perch.
Shenandoah River
Bank anglers are catching fish in ice-free areas. Catfishing is good with 12-16 pound fish being taken on night crawlers in 2-6 feet of water in the South Fork. Smallmouth bass action is very slow, although a few good fish are being taken on hair jigs, tipped with live minnows or plastic chunks.
Chickahominy River
Yellow perch and crappie are hitting small jigs and medium minnows in 3-5 feet of water throughout the river. Largemouth bass are sluggish. Best areas are the mouths of the main feeder creeks on the outgoing tides. Catfish are taking cut bait aggressively.
Buggs Island
Bass fishing is fair, with small fish being taken on jig ‘n pig and crankbaits in 6-12 feet of water, on points. The larger fish are halfway back in the coves, feeding in late afternoon and evening. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits are taking some good bass from riprap throughout the lake. Rat-L-Traps are also taking some fish. Crappie fishing is good, with the fish being taken from brush piles and bridge pilings in 12-15 feet of water. Some stripers are being caught, mainly on old river channel bends and in Rudd’s Creek.
Smith Mountain Lake
Bass fishing is fair with 2-7 pound bass being caught on jig ‘n pig and live minnows in 7-12 feet of water, off points. Striper fishing is also fair, with some medium sized fish being taken in the Blackwater arm of the lake. Crappie anglers are scoring with some nice fish caught on live minnows and jigs around brush piles and boat docks.
Potomac Tips
By Capt. Steve Chaconas
A break in the ice.
Water temperature is still in the mid 30s, rising just a bit.
Since water is still so cold, open hook lures are needed to take advantage of the few bites. Sharpen hooks and be ready to set the hook. Fish very slowly and deliberately. Using electronics to locate fish helps for confidence to stay in one spot for a while.
For open hook baits, use Mann’s 3” avocado Stingray grubs with 1/4-ounce ball head jigs and Mizmo tubes with a 1/4-ounce insert head on 10-pound test Gamma Torque braid with 6-pound test Edge leaders. Soak baits in garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray. Slow short lifts allow baits to glide horizontally. Fish slowly!