Four nor’easters in three weeks? That’s just about killed any action on the saltwater front. There are some ‘togs off the Virginia coast, but it’s been hard to get to them in 10 foot swells. Action on the Outer Banks has been limited to a few keeper pups near The Point and good catches of blackfin tuna out of Oregon Inlet, when the fleet can sail. Give it a week and things should pick up.
Freshwater
In Freshwater, fishing conditions have hardly been desirable with ice and snow on boat ramps, and high winds on most days, but that hasn’t slowed down a few hardy anglers. Throughout the state, the crappie bite has been on fire.
Chickahominy Lake
Some crappie were on drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover, while a few other crappie were in the major creeks. Crappie were hitting live minnows, Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail jigs. Yellow and white perch were scattered on deeper flats, drop-offs, and and channels in the main lake and were hitting live minnows, small swim baits, and small jigs. Bass and pickerel were on deeper flats, along drop-offs, or in channels in the main lake, while pickerel and a few bass were in deeper channels and on flats in creeks.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Hugh Kent had 68 crappie, 4 white perch, 1 yellow perch and 1 bluegill. Grant Odell and Greg Metcalf had 39 crappie and 4 white perch. Pam and Ed Ledzinski had 29 crappie and 1 bass. Tom Porter had 9 crappie, 1 white perch and 1 largemouth bass.
Lake Orange
Lake Orange, one of the top crappie lakes in Virginia, is now open so far as Angler’s Landing, the lake’s marina and tackle shop, is concerned. March is an ideal time to visit the 120-acre lake as crappie make their move to points, then to shallow water to spawn. Some of the biggest bass of the year – the egg-laden females – are caught on spinnerbaits in shallow water and the catfish bite picks up steam. Walleye are also available. Lake Orange sells snacks, tackle, bait and rents kayaks and jon boats.
Lake Anna
Bass fishing is excellent. Stripers are hitting Sassy Shads in the Dyke Three area and around the mouth of Christopher Run. Crappie are now around boat docks and beaver lodges.
Some nice catches so far in March include Ken Jenkins with a 7-5 largemouth. Other nice bass include Robert Deaver’s 7-3 catch and a 6-8 caught by Duane Taylor. Veteran crappie angler, Mike Harper, scored with a 2-0 citation. Scott Conners and Troy Perr had a 5-fish limit of largemouth weighing 21.08.
Potomac River
Fletcher’s Boat House reports that a few herring are in, and striped bass to 48 inches are also around. A few American shad and lots of hickory shad are also in the river, but the fluctuating water temperatures are not helping the white perch run.
Capt. Steve Chaconas says that bass are still up shallow, but are more difficult to catch. He suggests finesse fishing techniques like drop shot, shakey head, and split shot rigs. For baits, try 5-inch finesse worms. Use dark colors for the split shot rigs and green pumpkin for the drop shot.
The best areas to target are drops into 5-10 feet. These fish are more grouped up and are easier to reach.
Occoquan River
Herring are running, bringing with them the white perch, hickory and American shad, and stripers. Blue catfish, crappie and largemouth bass are also providing fair to good action. White perch anglers are catching a few small fish.
Rappahannock River
Still too cold for great fishing but the shad, perch and herring runs are underway. Lots of stripers, white perch, crappie and largemouth bass are in tidal sections of the river.
Shenandoah
The Shenandoah is an underrated crappie fishery and the silvers here are starting to bite in earnest. Not much action yet for smallmouth. A few largemouth are biting.
Mattaponi/Pamunkey Rivers
Fishing is still good for white and yellow perch. Shad angling is excellent, while catfish are taking cut baits aggressively. Bass and stripers are very aggressive in the rivers, taking small crankbaits.
James River
In the lower James, twenty pound plus blue cats are a dime a dozen – all you want. Largemouth bass action is picking up and should get red hot as warm weather moves in. Good action now for white perch and crappie.
Chickahominy River
The river is clear and crappie fishing is excellent. Cypress trees are holding a fair number of bass. Catfishermen are doing well on cut bait. White and yellow perch are biting well throughout the river, with best results coming on bloodworms. Some herring and shad are taking small shad darts and small spoons.
Buggs Island
The lake level is at 301 and rising. Stripers are biting well on live shad. Fishing is good from Nutbush Creek to Palmers Point, and from the mouth of Eastland Creek to Butchers Creek. The stripers appear to be moving up the lake, starting their spawning runs into the Dan and Staunton Rivers. Anglers fishing spinnerbaits adjacent to buckbrush are taking good-sized bass. Crappie are in the process of spawning, with brush piles full of hand-sized crappies. Stripers are being caught below Kerr dam, when the Corps is generating.
Smith Mountain
Largemouth bass have turned on. The bass are staging off main channel points. Crappie are in brush piles back up the creeks, in 4-6 feet of water. Walleyes are also hitting in the creeks on small crankbaits. Stripers are being caught in fairly shallow water, with the fish running 12-22 pounds.
Lake Moomaw
Anglers fishing live minnows in deeper water near the dam are catching some brown trout. Lots of smallmouth bass are on the beds but are not biting. The largemouth are taking up the slack, with a number of bass over the five-pound mark weighed in recently. Crappie anglers are scoring with good stringers of fish. Yellow perch are also biting well.
Trout Streams
Excellent fishing in all the stocked waters with plenty of water and plenty of fish. Try the Bullpasture, Jackson Rivers and Stoney Creek. The headwaters of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River is productive. Back Creek and Paddy Run are also good spots. The Robinson River around Criglersville, Big Cedar and Dry River in Harrisonburg are also good choices.