Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) Fisheries staff will be busy this fall stocking catchable channel catfish in more than 120 waters throughout the state. These stockings will begin during the last week of October and will continue through November.
According to Brendan Delbos, the State Hatchery Superintendent, “The fall catfish stocking program is one of our most popular events with anglers. This year we will be stocking 80,000 catfish, a 25% increase over last year. These stockings require a significant amount of coordination and wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of our Fisheries and Hatchery staff.”
“Fall is a great time to get on the water whether your targeting largemouth bass, trout or channel catfish. You won’t have to travel far to find great fishing so grab a friend and Fish Local VA!”
The following waters were stocked in Central Virginia:
Lake Albemarle; Beaver Creek; Chris Greene Lake; Mint Springs Lake; Totier Creek Lake; Walnut Creek Lake; Scottsville Lake; Fluvanna Ruritan Lake; Gordonsville Lake; Northeast Reservoir; Lake Nelson; and Lake Orange.
Virginia Freshwater Report
Bass fishing has been tough in many of the larger lakes, but crappie are taking up the slack. The silvers are in tight schools near bridges and on shallow brush. Anna stripers are active near the Splits. Smallmouth on the James and Shenandoah are aggressively biting, but the water is cooling quickly and may slow the action.
Spot On
Spot are still hanging out and biting in Virginia waters, most notably at Virginia Beach, Hampton, and Rudee Inlet. Speckled trout fishing just gets better and better, puppy drum too.
The lower Rapp is the best choice now for the early rockfish season. Lots of fish, but no whoppers. Boats are killing the sea bass on offshore wrecks, where flounder and tilefish are also biting. Winds have kept the blue water fleet in port.
OBX
Some big red drum are showing up along the coast and several were caught from the piers. The piers also reported blow toads, black drum, sea mullet and trout. Surf fishermen landed specks, red drum (large and small), black drum and sea mullet. The Little Bridge to Manteo produced catfish, stripers, and speckled trout. All the boats stayed of the water during midweek because of gale force winds. Earlier, on Monday, the offshore fleet did well with Mahi, Wahoo, triggerfish, and sea bass.
