Mark Scott of Charlottesville reports:
I fished the Chickahominy River at Walker’s Dam on April 18. Bob Kramer, also from Charlottesville, went with me. He had never been shad fishing, so that is now off of his bucket list.
We fished with our guide, host and good friend, Jon Lamb, who did an incredible job of putting us on and keeping us on the fish. We had a consistent run of Hickory Shad, and I ended the day with a 3 ½-pound American Shad.
With a diet of smoked chicken sandwiches, cold barley pops, and great weather, it was a hard day to beat. You know what they say….”When the Dogwood blooms, the shad are running.”
Trout Report
The Jackson below Gathright has been flowing in the mid 200 cfs range and the fishing has been good for browns and rainbows. There were lots of caddis on the water this past week, but few rising fish. Soft hackles and nymphs were the most effective flies.
On Back Creek in the special reg area, there were lots of nice fish available but also lots of fishing pressure as the popular catch and release area below the power station is seeing numerous visitors.
Virginia mountain streams are low and clear, but cautious anglers are catching lots of native brook trout on dry flies.
In West Virginia, the catch and release section of Second Creek in Monroe County has seemingly solved its “otter problem” and some big trout are being caught – big as in 22-inches and better.
The Cascades in Hot Springs has some very nice trout, though the water is low and clear. Beautiful native rainbows are being caught above the cascades. This is a fee fishing area owned by The Homestead.
Recent Trout Stockings
Albemarle Co.: Scottsville Lake (4/20)
Augusta Co.: Elkhorn Lake (4/19); North River (Gorge) (4/20); North River (Natural Chimneys) (4/20); North River (Upper) (4/20)
Bedford Co.: Liberty Lake (4/19)
Bath Co.: Cowpasture River (4/18); Douthat Lake and Wilson Creek (Fee Area) (4/18); Jackson River (Hidden Valley) (4/20)
Bland Co.: Lick Creek (4/18)
Botetourt Co.: Middle Creek (4/18); North Creek (4/18); Roaring Run (4/20)
Dickenson Co.: Pound River (Flannagan Dam) (4/19); Russell Fork River (Bartlick) (4/19)
Floyd Co.: Mira Fork (4/19); Rush Fork (4/19); West Fork Little River (4/19)
Giles Co.: Big Stoney Creek (4/19)
Grayson Co.: Elk Creek (4/19); Hales Lake (4/19)
Highland Co.: S. Br. Potomac River (4/18)
Madison Co.: Robinson River (4/19)
Nelson Co.: Tye River (4/18); Norton (City of)
Upper Norton Reservoir (4/20)
Patrick Co.: Poorhouse Creek (4/20); South Mayo River (North Fork) (4/20); South Mayo River (South Fork) (4/20)
Rockbridge Co.: Maury River (4/19); Mill Creek (4/19)
Russell Co.: Big Cedar Creek (4/19); Scott Co.; Bark Camp Lake (4/18); Stock Creek (4/18)
Staunton (City of): Lake Tams (4/16)
Tazewell Co.: Laurel Creek (4/18); Lincolnshire Lake (4/18)
Washington Co.: Straight Branch (4/20); Valley Creek (4/20)
Lake Orange
Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler’s Landing (540.672.3997) The water is clear and warming, now at 62 degrees. Largemouth bass and crappie are in the shallows, spawning. Crappie are hitting live minnows and small jigs. Bass are taking live minnows and soft plastics. Some nice size walleyes have been brought in on live bait. Catfishing has picked up in the upper end of the lake with live bait, night crawlers, but chicken liver is the bait of choice.
Shenandoah River
Ed T. reports on his April 14 float from the State Park to Karo Landing.
This was my first trip in a couple of weeks. High winds and cold water last week did not look like a lot of fun. Yesterday was a different story. Nice weather and low wind. The river was in good shape with good water levels, yet still high enough to get through this stretch of the South Fork easily. The water was clear with almost zero floating debris.
Fishing is still slow, but it had improved somewhat from my last trip. My first bass was a ten-inch smallmouth caught in a shallow pool near the bank at the State Park. I was tossing a #3 Mepps spinner (gold blade). I was trying various crankbaits at the same time, and occasionally 4″ Senkos, trying to get a feel for what might work. Next bass I caught was a sixteen-inch largemouth in the first creek past the park. Got that one bottom fishing on a 4″ Senko (green pumpkin). The rest of the morning produced three more smallmouth, all caught with the spinner. Two of them, a thirteen and a fourteen-incher, were caught in the same hole – one just past a rock ledge, and the other one near the bank. Not much of a pattern going and not easy fishing. So many times I would see a bass, or even several bass, chasing the lure like crazy, closing in as I reeled, only to suddenly stop and veer off. It happened time after time. So when I would catch one I felt, like “jeez”, he sure screwed up – forgot to leave it alone. After noon, the bite remained about the same. A fish here and there, but more than a little bit of waiting between bites. I caught most of my fish that afternoon with Bandit crankbaits (silver minnow sparkle). I was mostly fishing around the rocks, but I caught a couple in flat-water areas as well. The total count at day’s end was fourteen bass. The best smallmouth was a seventeen-incher, caught on the crankbait.
I know you get tired of the one that got away stories, BUT, I hooked up with a very large fish yesterday on the crankbait. It tugged like crazy and I immediately loosened the drag. It ran the line something fierce for several minutes, swam all over the place. When I tightened the drag back up, nothing! It was gone. It shook the lure while I was letting it run. Could have been, should have been. Oh well, fish gotta’ win sometimes. I missed my big one, but the size overall was good. Out of fourteen bass, only two were under twelve inches. Not a great day for quantity, but not bad at all as far as size. For this early in the season, and considering the up and down nature of the weather the last few weeks, I figure it was a fairly good day of fishing. I also feel the fishing will only improve as the weather improves and the water gets warmer.
It’s hard to beat a day on the river for putting your mind in the right place. Good luck with your fishing.
Ed T.
Potomac River
Waiting for the Azaleas to Bloom
For 20 years, my red Azaleas have shown their blossoms when Potomac largemouth are spawning. Fish are shallow and the water is warming. The spawn is just a few days to a week or so away! Target fish in grass or close to wood cover.
Water temperature starts the week around 60 and will get into the upper 60s by the weekend. A nice week with 70s to upper 70s and a chance of thunderstorms on Friday. Otherwise a dry week. Overnight lows in the mid 40s to 50.
If grass is thick, cover water with Lucky Craft LVR D-7 lipless cranks on 12-14 pound test Gamma Edge fluorocarbon line. A medium graphite Rod with some stiffness will snap baits out of grass. Focus on red patterns now, eventually switching to shad patterns when the water is very clear.
Pitch Texas-rigged Mizmo tubes with 3/0 Mustad Mega Bite hooks on 12-14 pound Edge to Milfoil clumps of two to three plants. Also drop shot with braid and 12 pound Edge leader. I am also using the new Mustad Fastach X-Rig. It’s a pre rigged with hook and weight, but customizable, Jika rig. Allows baits to sit in one spot for a while, like a drop shot or shaky head but with more action.
Also try a Mann’s Classic spinnerbait. Use 1/4 ounce with white skirts, gold bladed on 12-pound Edge. Retrieve and snap free from grass or bump and deflect off wood.
Once fish are found, stay on them as the tide moves. If rising, move in. As it moves out, fish tend to scatter. Fish are remaining in spawning areas and not moving very far.
Capt. Steve Chaconas is a guide on the Potomac River. info@nationalbass.com
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the mid to high 60’s in the lower main lake and low to mid 70’s in the major creeks on Wednesday (4/20/2016).
Most blue cats and bullheads were on flats in the main lake and scattered in creeks, and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Crappie action was fluctuating, with scattered fish and loose aggregates in creek channels and in main lake feeding areas. 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 were scattered or in loose aggregates on some main lake flats and in channels and on flats in major creeks and were hitting live minnows, small swim-baits, and small jigs. Small to medium bluegill and shellcracker were starting to accumulate along some shorelines in major creeks and in the main lake and were hitting small swim-baits, jigs, and flies. Some bass, pickerel, and bowfin were also along shorelines, on lily pad flats, and along drop-offs in the main lake and major creeks. When active, bass and pickerel were hitting live minnows, spinnerbaits, swim baits, stick worms, crank baits, jerk baits, and jigs.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Jim Fuller and Phil McLean had 1 bluegill, 13 crappie, and 11 yellow perch. Charry Heard, Dennis LeBlanc, and Kenny Chenshaw had 1 bluegill, 24 crappie, 3 yellow perch, 1 blue cat, 3 pickerel, and 1 bass.
Little Creek Reservoir
Contributed by Robbie Belch, Park Supervisor. The water is visible up to 6 feet. Crappie fishing has slowed but they are still biting. Bass fishing is picking up now that the water is in the mid to high 60s. Largemouth bass will be coming off their beds and into shallow waters. Strippers will be big in the next month or so.
Beaverdam Reservoir
Contributed by Park Supervisor Michelle Maynora-Hostinsky. The water temp dropped from 68 degrees to 63 degrees in a week. A cold front has pushed in and left the fish confused. The grass is a non-issue for now, the pool is full and the water clarity is stained. The wind this week has been a bear for anglers but it has not kept them away from the lake. Big Mama bass have been hooked in 3 to 6 feet of water by some of the more experienced bass anglers while others ended up stuck in the timbers. The crappie fishing has slowed down a bit this week but it will pick back up as soon as the spawn is complete. There are crappie on beds and in some areas of the lake there are bass on beds. Some of the more robust bass are sticking out the cold front and holding their ground while others retreated back to the deeper water. Yellow perch are still hitting occasionally and taking advantage of the fact that the big fish are preoccupied looking for mates. Bluegill are silent, but will make their appearance in a couple of weeks. Most of the action at the lake has taken place at the shoreline, young bucks are hitting anything from minnows to beetle spins.
Middle James
Contributed by local angler Doug Reynolds. The middle James has been up and muddy over the past few weeks, it’s finally starting to settle down. Fishing has been good with numbers of nice size smallmouth being caught. Spinnerbaits, jigs and plastics have all been working well. The bite on the upper James has been good as well. A number of people have been fishing the upper river and are choosing the lighter current flow. Looks like some great smallmouth fishing ahead.
James at Lynchburg
Angler’s Lane reports that the smallmouth bite in the James is good, but the water is too high for optimal fishing. Try CK Baitfish or crawfish patterns. The water is very clear and in the low to mid 50s.
Lake Gaston
Holly Grove Marina says that the largemouth bite is “excellent”, especially with jerk baits. Crappie are in the backs of the creeks and are taking minnows and jigs. Cats are going for shad, alewives and chicken livers. Bream haven’t really shown up yet, but a few have been brought up at the docks. The water is slightly stained and clearing, 62 degrees and at a normal level.
Smith Mountain Lake
Contributed by Captain Travis Patsell of Cats N ‘ Stripers Fishing Charters. A slight cold windy squall slowed things this past week. Water temps dropped, but look for them to rise back toward 60. A much better spring week is in store and here’s what to look for.
Stripers: This can be the time of the year for some fat trophy size stripers. The old saying is true, Big Bait=Big Fish. With that said, pulling them behind planers and floats is the best way to target these studs. Alewives and gizzard shad of assorted sizes will all be effective fished in this manner. Focus your searches in both riversides of the lake, large coves and in the creek arms. I myself prefer to target the shoreline more so than the channel. Keep in mind the slot limit is no fish 30 to 40 inches. Take a quick picture and release for the fish’s survival.
Catfish: Now is just getting good and only going to get better! Personally though, I have yet to target flatheads but I am getting the urge, bad. When I do go, I’ll be focusing on the shallows. Looking for a concentration of baitfish and anchoring my boat down. Fresh baits on the bottom with circle hooks for the release of these flathead over 12lb is a must for our fishery! Channel cats will also be in these areas.
Crappie: A good friend of mine reported an excellent morning crappie fishing in the coves around brush with several good size fish. He used minnows below slip corks. Creek minnows I do believe!
Bass: The bass are really feeding up before the first wave of spawners begin their annual routine. Spinnerbaits and shallow diving crankbaits continue to produce quality fish anywhere that stained water is present. Look for natural rock and wood up either river and try these baits and a jig with a craw trailer to hopefully get a few bites.
Upper New River
Contributed by Captain Forest Pressnell. The Upper New River is in great shape and the walleye and smallmouth are cooperating. The muskie should be back on the bite in a week or two after their spawning.
Top New River
Contributed by local guide Richie Hughes. Fishing on the Top New, Mouth of Wilson to Fries, has been good during warm spells for the past several weeks. A cold snap will produce a tough bite, but things will get better as warmer temperatures prevail. Water levels are actually average or somewhat below average for the first time in half a year. Water clarity is excellent.
Occoquan River
Contributed by local angler Scott Torgerson. Whew – we finally cobbled together two straight decent weekends on the water! I fished the Occoquan River one day each of the past two weekends, targeting the shad run that appears to be in full swing. My fishing partners and I found the water level down somewhat in the back end of the river, even at high tides, but there is a good flow coming from the reservoir, with water temps over 50 degrees and decent clarity. We also found the hickory shad bite improving nicely, fishing our light to medium spinning rod set ups using shad darts (chartreuse & green, white & pink, or white & orange) paired up above small silver spoons (we use Neuningers or Hildebrant), and even on a single 3/8 oz. Super Duper.
Despite the frigid temps to start the morning, it turned out to be a very pleasant and fun morning of fishing! I sure hope the shad spawn lasts for one or two more weeks, and hopefully some American shad will show up as well.