Rappahannock River
Crappie are available around brush piles in the creeks and on the main river. White perch, yellow perch and stripers are also in the lower river. Rappahannock River
There has been excellent fishing for blue catfish in the lower tidal sections. Many of the big fish are being caught on cut shad and herring bait. Some of these fish are weighing in at over 30 pounds. Fair largemouth bass action has come from the tidal sections on live bait and plastic grubs. Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking live minnows and plastic grubs in the deeper holes. No shad, yet.
Chickahominy River
Although the river is stained, fishing is still pretty good for those anglers using live minnows, at the mouths of creeks and around the dam. The size of the minnows most often determines the species of fish. Small minnows are producing sunfish, yellow perch, bass and crappie. Medium minnows are producing larger perch and crappie, while jumbo minnows are taking the nice sized bass and catfish. Some of the bass are running to seven or more pounds.
Chickahominy Lake
Some bass are taking live minnows off points and over brush piles. Pickerel and bowfin are also showing in the creels. Crappie anglers are taking good numbers of fish on live minnows over brush
Buggs Island
The water level is at full pool. Bass action is fair to good on spinnerbaits and live shad in 6-8 feet of water, off points. Crappie are taking small minnows over creek channels and brush piles, particularly in Rudd’s, Butcher, Panhandle and Grassy Creeks. A fair number of large bass are taking Rat-L-Traps in the back of creeks, particularly on northeast banks.
Smith Mountain Lake
Striper and largemouth bass fishing is good. The bass are taking jigging spoons and plastic grubs on humps, while stripers, 12-14 pounds are taking bucktails. Occasional walleye are jumping on jigging spoons in 25-30 feet of water. Some larger stripers are taking live shad in the coves on the northeast side of the lake.
Lake Anna
Near the dam, the water temperature is in the lower 50’s, midlake finds 40-45 degree water and it cools to 38-40 degrees uplake. Largemouth bass and white perch are being caught on main lake points, near the dam, in 6-8 feet of water. The bass are running 2-7 pounds. Crappie fishing is good, with the schools suspended over the creek channels. Live minnows and tiny jigs are the preferred baits. Some striper action is being found around the Splits, with Sassy Shads the preferred bait.
The Rivers
The upper James was clearing until mid-week rains. The water is still cold and few are fishing on either the James or Shenandoah. A few brave souls are finding muskies in the New River.
The lower James and Appomattox rivers are giving up lots of big blue cats.
