The mountain trout streams are in decent shape but avoid the native brook trout streams. The beautiful brookies are on the beds now and how successful they are will show up in three years when the colorful trout reach 8-inches. Instead, fish the stocked trout streams such as the Jackson, Bullpasture and Tye rivers.
Bass fishermen are having the best luck on the tidal rivers where there is still an abundance of grass. Bass, crappie and striper fishing in the major lakes has improved as the weather cools. Buggs Island water levels are way down. Many ramps are unusable. The upper James remains low but the smallmouth are biting when you can get to them. Catfish are heading for deeper water. Ponds are now hotspots for bluegills and shellcrackers, which are staging in 4 to 6 feet of water. Live crickets are deadly baits this time of year.
