By Capt. Steve Chaconas
There is good winter fishing in key areas on the Potomac River, but use lighter line and downsized lures. The water is between 38-45, depending where you’re fishing. Outgoing tides are often warmer.
Fish during the warmest part of the day. Dress in layers, wear a PFD, and fish with a buddy. The best spots are out of the current in areas with steep drops like Occoquon, Spoils Cove, National Harbor, and Belle Haven. Work lures down or parallel to drops.
Silver Buddy lures work well on 10-pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line. Use a medium heavy cranking rod with a fast reel. Gently burp and allow to drop. Bites occur on drops, so watch line and pay attention for fish when you lift again. You’re your hooks sharp!
Follow up with Punisher hair jigs. Using 15 pound test Torque braid with a 10-pound Edge fluorocarbon leader will make it easier to detect light bites and to set the hook on long casts. A slow lift and drop or a slow drag and stop will work best. Work split shot and drop shot rigs slowly with 4-inch leaders on the drop shot, 10 inch on the split shot. Soak plastics in garlic flavor Jack’s Juice. Use the same braid combo used with the hair jigs.
On warmed flats, go with Lucky Craft Bevy Shad, aurora gold, crankbaits. These suspend and can be easily worked to 8 feet deep. Drag and stop. Lift and drop. Tie to 8-pound test GAMMA Copoly. Cast on spinning gear with a medium action rod.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Posted on January 4, 2017 by Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait.
Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures have been fairly stable over the last week and were in the mid 40’s in the lower and upper areas of the main lake on Wednesday. Temperatures should drop late this week and into the weekend in response to the incoming cold front, with the most severe drop in the upper lake.
Most blue cats and bullheads were on flats and channels in the main lake and scattered in creeks and hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were along drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover. Active crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs, small tubes, Kalin crappie scrubs, and small swim baits. Small to medium yellow perch and white perch were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main lake flats and channels and were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Most bluegill and shellcrackers were along channel edges in the main lake and were occasionally hitting small jigs, Nikko nymphs on drop shot rigs, small swim baits, and live worms. Most bass, pickerel, and bowfin were on flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the major creeks and the main lake. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 20 crappie, 1 white perch, and 1 bass.
Farm Ponds
If the fishing bug bites you and you happen upon a decent day, weather-wise, try a farm pond.
Veteran Charlottesville angler, Lee Johnson, hit a pond recently and landed an 11-3 largemouth. In 50 years of fishing, it was Lee’s largest bass.
Being smaller bodies of water, ponds warm quicker than the larger reservoirs and big bass bite year round.
Dress warm and fish slowly. Maybe you’ll catch a big ‘un, too.
Trout Stocking
Bundle up and get out there if you want to catch a few trout. The following waters were stocked recently by the Game Department.
Albemarle County, Scottsville Lake
Bath County, Bullpasture River
Highland County, Bullpasture River
Buchanan County, Dismal River
Washington County, Straight Branch and Valley Creek
Floyd County, Little River
Henry County, Smith River (Lower)
Montgomery County, Pandapas Pond
Augusta County, Elkhorn Lake
Scott County, Big Stony Creek and Little Stony Creek
Bedford County, Liberty Lake
Bath County, Wilson Creek
Rockbridge County, Irish Creek
Madison County, Rose River and Hughes River