One of the top fishing lakes in Virginia is now open for business. Actually, it is always open for business, but Angler’s Landing, the marina and bait shop, is again open at Lake Orange.
Angler’s Landing rents boats and motors and sells bait and tackle. Darryl Kennedy is also an expert and will offer solid advice. The handicapped accessibly pier at the lake is a convenient place for young and old alike to fish.
Lake Orange is unique in that it is owned and operated entirely by the Division of Wildlife Resouces (DWR). As such, it is closely monitored with specific limits and restrictions designed to maximize the catch and the quality of the catch at the lake. The lake is stocked annually with catchable size catfish. The bass fishing is nothing short of excellent with numerous 10-pound fish reported each year. It is also an outstanding crappie fishery with lots of citation fish available.
The 124-acre lake is an up-and-coming walleye fishery and is stocked regularly. Saugeye have also been introduced with a promising outlook. Because of fertilizing and intense management, the bluegills and other sunfish grow quickly. It’s an all-around great fishery.
Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540.672.3997) reports that the water temperatures are now in the mid 60s and the lake clear with bass and crappie heading to the shallows to spawn. Crappie fishing had picked up significantly with the warming trend. Small minnows are the baits of choice for the crappie bite. Bass can be caught on a variety of soft plastics during the spawning period. Walleye fishing has been slow, but fishing harness rigs tipped with nightcrawlers has been productive. Chicken liver and nightcrawlers has produced a few decent cats. This upcoming weekend should be excellent fishing.