Smith Mountain is a striper lake, pure and simple. There are lots of other fish to be caught, but the lake’s main attraction is the striped bass. Each spring, the stripers in the lake try to spawn, but are unable. The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) helps out with generous stockings each year from their Brookneal Hatchery. VDGIF says that stripers are … [Read more...]

Big bluefin tuna are stealing the spotlight on the saltwater scene. With the weather improving (slightly) more boats have made offshore jaunts, and many are connecting with the big boys – 500 pounds and more. Some good news from the Outer Banks:The 2.8-mile new Oregon Inlet Bridge is now open to traffic. It replaces the old Herbert C. Bonner which was built in 1963. Now the old bridge has to be … [Read more...]

The South River Fly Shop in Waynesboro reports that the Shenandoah Valley Trout Unlimited has now stocked the South River twice since October and will be funding a third stocking later this spring on the South River Catch and Release section. Keven Little says the river was running at 350cfs, well within the range of good fishing. Midges and caddis have started hatching on both the Catch and … [Read more...]

  By Peter Brookes When February rolls around, most anglers have had about as much of being stuck indoors and away from their favorite fishing hole as they can stand. “Cabin fever” among anglers ranks right up there with the flu as an unwelcome winter illness. This year’s bone-chilling polar vortex only made it worse. But letting cabin fever get to you isn’t the answer. Instead, put … [Read more...]

We are about one week of warm weather away from some good crappie fishing. For example, crappie at the Chickahominy Lake were on drop-offs and inchannels in the main lake, especially near wood cover. Some shouldbe up in creeks by this weekend if they are not run out by the cold front. Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 1 white perch, 2 pickerel, and 2 bass. The Pros at Greentop report … [Read more...]

There is not a lot going on in saltwater, fishing-wise, but the black sea bass regs have been set for 2019. Opinions vary on the status of bass numbers, largely due to a lack of data. The new regs will bring in more data to help determine future seasons and creel limits. Dr. Ken Neill, III, reports on these changes: At this month’s VMRC meeting a February recreational sea bass season was … [Read more...]

In an effort to give everyone an equal shot, the Game Department announced it will publish several particular bodies of water in advance that will be stocked this spring, and the dates of that stocking. The exact times are not known but will likely be between 10 AM and 2 PM. Check out the streams and lakes below. Lake Thompson (Fauquier Co.) April 17 South River – Ridgeview Park & Grottoes … [Read more...]

Well … we have officially entered our off-season. Saltwater fishing opportunities are very limited in January and February. Only the most hardcore anglers can deal with the frigid weather. The best news off the water this week was that the tautog action is picking up on inshore structures. Dr. Ken Neill put the Healthy Grin over some nice fish Saturday. Some stripers have been marked 15 … [Read more...]

Big rockfish continued to hit the scales all the way through the season ending on Dec. 31. One big female topped 65 pounds. Most of the action was coming from the eastside of the Bay, between Cape Charles and the ocean. The majority of the big fish were caught with live eels. The Virginia coastal season opened January 1st and runs through March 31st. The ocean season minimum size limit is 28 … [Read more...]