Catfish bite when it’s cold and when it’s hot. They are a very cooperative species, they’re good to eat and they ate hitting everything in sight right now at Lake Orange.
Each year, the Game Department stocks this Department-owned lake with catchable size catfish – not fingerlings. The cats grow fat and sassy with all the shad and sunfish available and often reach sizes of 10 pounds or more. Lake Orange is one of the top channel cat fisheries in the state. Darrel Kennedy out of Angler’s Landing, the lake’s marina, says the lake temp is in the mid-80’s and the water is a little stained, but the catfish don’t mind. They are nailing baits like crawlers, minnows, shrimp and clam snouts. The upper end of the lake has been especially productive.
The bream have completed their spawn at Orange, but they are still hungry and close to shore. Crappie have drifted out to 6 and 8-foot depths, looking for minnows. Walleye are being found off points and are hitting crankbaits. Bass action is terrific at first light and again near dusk.
Give Lake Orange a try. It’s good fishing, right now.
The Rivers
Virginia’s rivers are in near perfect shape and the smallmouth action has been red hot, especially with top water baits. The New River is giving up some nice bass, especially in the afternoons. The James, likewise. The Shenandoah is also in good shape, though levels are dropping with the hot weather, making canoe portaging a little difficult. The Rappahannock is giving up lots of 20- to 30-pound cats and crappie to one pound. The bass fishing is fair. Some smallies are hitting above Fredericksburg.
The Chickahominy River continues to give up lots of 2 to 5 pound largemouth, plus good crappie action near the mouths of the creeks.
The Lakes
Some big catfish are being caught at Buggs Island, especially after dark. Crappie fishing is also good under boat lights at night. Anna bass are schooling at dawn, then going deep. Some nice stripers are hitting near the Splits. At Gaston, lots of fish are being caught below the dam when the generators are turning.
Saltwater
Saltwater fishing in Virginia continues to be excellent, especially for Spanish macs off the coast and up into the bay. Cobia, flounder, medium croakers, a few spot, sheepshead and spadefish are all biting.
Offshore, it’s marlin, tuna, dolphin and Wahoo.
Nags Head
Capt. Reece Stecher and parties have been hammering the speckled trout back in the sound. Reese fishes light tackle and is finding lots of keeper specks up to five pounds. Bottom fishing has also been good and lots of blues and Spanish are being caught in the surf.
Corolla
It’s been a great week at Corolla. The weather has been hot but anglers are into fish all day long. The sea mullet, croakers, trout, spot, blues and Spanish are all biting. Pier fishing has been excellent. There have even been several king mackerel caught off the piers.
Offshore, sharks have moved into the tuna grounds, making conditions difficult