If even a single smallmouth bass spawns this spring, it will be a miracle. Rivers have been high and out of their banks on a regular basis. Bass need a small window of opportunity to lay their eggs, have them fertilized and then guard the nest, but there hasn’t been that window. It is likely we will lose an entire class of fish, but I’ve read that if the smallmouth get just 2 or 3 good spawns in a 7 years stretch, they can do well.
What this year means is that in 4 years, there will be a shortage of 10-12 inch fish, but there may be a large number of 14-16 inchers, since last year was a decent one as far as reproduction was concerned.
I just feel sorry for the bass this spring.
Lake Orange
(Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Anglers Landing at 540.623.6011). The water temperature is now in the mid 80s and the lake is stained. Bass are being caught on topwater baits and soft plastics. Crappie are hitting small minnows at 8- to 12-foot depths. Catfish have been caught on chicken livers and live bait. A few walleye have been caught on nightcrawlers and minnows worked along rocky areas down lake.
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-514-1486) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the middle to high 70’s in the main lake and in the creeks on Wednesday. The lake level was about 8 inches above the top of the dam.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Mike and Matt Coyle had 40 bluegills, 2 shellcrackers, 6 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 2 blue cats and 1 bass.
Potomac River
Last week’s challenge was muddy water and high water. This week, tides will return to acceptable and the water should warm a bit after slipping down to 70 last week.
As the water clears, pitching Mizmo tubes on 3/0 MUSTAD Mega Bite hooks and 3/16-ounce weights to grass clumps is productive. The Mega Bite hook fits the 4-inch tube perfectly. Go with black with red flake with stained water, or River Craw (green pumpkin/orange tentacles) when water clears a bit. I prefer to fish this un-pegged. The little separation produces a bit more action.
Rappahannock River
Catfish are biting, but high water has slowed bass action.
Shenandoah River
Still high and muddy, but dropping nicely. Maybe this weekend?
Lake Anna
Bass fishing is good, with fish to 5 and 6 pounds hitting Norman DD22 crankbaits and large plastic worms. Best areas are main lake points near the 208 Bridge. Crappie are taking live minnows and small jigs in 14-18 feet of water around the bridge pilings. Stripers are schooled deep. Live shad, free-lined, are catching fish, particularly around Dike Three. Walleye are being caught in the Dyke 3 area.
James River
The upper James may be fishable by this weekend, but it’s muddy now. The tidal sections are producing some bass, but most are small. Big blue cats to 35 pounds continue to be caught on cut shad near Dutch Gap and in the Pony Pasture. Bowfin, carp, and gar are thick throughout the river.
Chickahominy River
Topwater baits early and late in the day are catching bass. Catfish are taking nightcrawlers and live minnows. Gar are all over the river.
Buggs Island
The lake is at 302 and stable. Bass action is fair, with most of the fish being taken from the flooded buckbrush on plastic baits dropped into the middle of the brush. Striper action is good in the back of Nutbush Creek and from Buoy 16 to 18. Crappie fishing is excellent on live minnows fished over brushpiles in 8-15 feet of water and around bridge pilings. White bass are schooled and biting well. Below the dam, stripers to 15-pounds are taking pencil poppers. White perch and plenty of catfish are also available below the dam.
Smith Mountain
Night fishing is best for stripers. The best areas are around the mouths of creeks and the top lure is the Cordell Redfin. Live bait, fished at 20-25 feet, near the dam, will produce the larger stripers. Largemouth bass are hitting topwater lures early and late in the day.
Lake Moomaw
Some trout are being caught on spoons, at 25-foot depths. Although most of the fish are small, some browns and rainbows up to 5 pounds have been caught. Catfishing is good.