Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540.672.3997) The water is clear and in the upper 80’s. Largemouth are hitting soft plastics and live bait. This week, with cooling temps, the big bite has been on for bass, crappie and catfish. Even a few walleyes have been caught this week. Most of the action is still on the upper end of the lake in 8 to 15 foot depths.
Potomac River
Moving with the Tide
Early high tides mean using search baits to cover water. As the tide falls, there will be topwater opportunities over submerged grass. The water is in the upper 80s.
Crank Mann’s Baby 1-Minus over grass, targeting moving fish. Go to fire tiger when it’s sunny and black/chrome or shad patterns when cloudy.
When the water falls, try topwaters like Lucky Craft G-Splash poppers or walking Gunfish. Vary retrieves with pauses and speed. Use 14-pound test GAMMA Copoly or 20 pound braid. Shake hollow frogs on 50 pound braid over thicker mats and slowly expose lures to open water.
At the lowest tides, pitch Texas rigged Mizmo tubes with pegged 3/16-ounce bullet weights on 14-pound test Edge to grass edges. Most bites will occur on the drop or the first few hops. Vary the height of the hops to find the trigger.
With isolated mats, full sun, and calm water, try punching with pegged 1-ounce tungsten weights. Heavy Mustad flipping hooks on 60-pound Torque braid with soft plastic craws gets to the big fish. Allow baits to plunge through. Watch for bites.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Lake Anna
Bass are biting well in the early morning hours and from dusk till an hour after dark. A few can be taken on main lake points during the day at depths of 12 to 20 feet. Crappie have largely abandoned the docks and are clinging to bridge pilings in 12 to 20 feet depths. Catfish are biting throughout the lake, especially near dark when they come shallow to feed. Some big carp are being caught back in the coves.
Rappahannock River
Above Fredericksburg, smallmouth are being taken on topwater lures early and late in the day. After the sun rises, it’s plastic grubs, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits. Bream are active. The tidal water is giving up largemouth to anglers fishing crankbaits and plastic worms. Best action is found in the Green Bay area. Blue catfish are taking live white perch and cut bait in the outside bends of the channel.
Shenandoah River
Smallmouth bass, especially smaller ones, are biting well on small crankbaits, spinners and plastic grubs. Bluegills are active as well. Channel cats are biting chicken livers and live bait.
James River
The James has been up and down with heavy rainfalls in certain areas, but is beginning to stabilize. Senko worms are top producers for smallmouth. Some good muskie catches are coming from the Lynchburg area. Big flatheads are on the prowl below Scottsville.
Buggs Island
Stripers are taking vertical jigs and spoons in the Nutbush and County Line creeks. Largemouth are on deep points. Crappie are concentrated on brush from 12 to 16 feet. White bass are biting from Clarksville down to Bluestone Creek.