As winter begins its stretch run, the best place for cabin fever-stricken anglers may well be farm ponds.
Smaller bodies of water warm more quickly than do their larger counterparts. Plus, a full day’s sun in the shallow end of a farm pond can increase 5 or 6 degrees in a single day.
Cold blooded as they are, fish gravitate to warm water, now is a great time to fish for big bass in farm ponds.
The larger, female bass begin feeding as soon as the weather breaks in order to prepare for the April spawn. Spinnerbaits work really well this time of year, as do jigs and plastics.
Crappie also begin to stir earlier in farm ponds than they do in larger lakes and rivers. The specks begin their move from the deepest part of the pond to brush and cover off the bank by mid-February. So give them a try as well.
As for bluegill, they will begin to come to the feeding trough a little later, around the first of March.
Boy, we have had some amazing weather recently, with the temps in the 70s. Take advantage. Hit a farm pond and catch some fish.
Trout Stockings
Hatchery trucks have been extra busy of late, taking advantage of favorable weather to stock trout in numerous streams and lakes.
The following waters received recent stockings in the past week:
Tazewell County, Lake Witten
City of Fredericksburg, Old Cossey Pond
Bath County. Jackson River (Rt. 623); Wilson Creek
Wise County, Bear Creek Reservoir (Wise Res.; South Fork Powell River [H)
Wythe County, Cripple Creek (Ravens)
City of Richmond, Shield Lake
Henrico County, Dorey Park Lake
Frederick County, Clearbrook Lake; Winchester Lake (Wilkins Lake)
Smyth County, Middle Fork Holston River (Marion) and Middle Fork Holston River (Chilhowie) [H], Staley Creek
Madison County, Robinson River [H]
Grayson County, Big Wilson Creek
Rockbridge County, Maury River; Mill Creek
Rockingham County, South River (Grottoes)
Augusta County, South River (Ridgeview Park; North River (Gorge); North River (Natural Chimneys)
Prince William County, Locust Shade Park
Shenandoah County, Peters Mill Creek
Page County, Upper Passage Creek
Giles County, Wolf Creek
Lee County, Martins Creek; North Fork Powell River; Middle Fork Powell River (Appalachia)
Page County, Hawksbill Creek [H]
Chickahominy Lake
Capt. Art Conway of Conway reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the high 40’s to low 50’s on Wednesday.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Tom Porter had 13 crappie, 1 yellow perch, 1 white perch, and 2 bass.
James River
Big catfish are on the prowl in the lower James River. Apparently, these whiskered leviathans up to 100 pounds and more don’t wind colder water. Anglers drifting live and cut shad off the river channels are having great luck. Bundle up and give it a shot.
Chickahominy River
Yellow perch are becoming active in advance of the spawn later this month. Crappie are also taking jigs and minnows at 6 to 8-foot depths. Pan size channel cats are hitting throughout the river and nice largemouth to 5 and 6 pounds are patrolling the mouths of the creeks on falling tides.
Potomac River
Another Great Week for Winter Fishing
Winter is not getting a foothold. Water is staying above freezing, opening up the tackle box for more aggressive presentations. Expect water in the mid 40s and warmer in the discharge areas.
With 45-degree water, toss a 3/8-ounce Mann’s Classic spinnerbait. The round head deflects off bottom cover and acts like ballast to keep the bait upright. Gold willow/Colorado blades with white-skirted spinnerbaits can be slowly dragged along shallow areas and down drops. Casting parallel to drops works too. Use the rod to slowly drag the bait with frequent pauses. GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line, 12 pound test, helps keep lures down, making strike detection and hooksets easier.
Mann’s 3″ avocado Stingray Grubs on 6-pound Edge rigged on a 1/4-ounce ball head jig can be worked slowly down drops. Slowly, slightly lift and glide for bites. Adding garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray will get fish to hold on longer. Keep hooks sharp! Using 15 pound test GAMMA Torque braid with a 6-pound Edge leader will help with strike detection and hooksets.
Find shallow fish first! Then work deeper.
Capt. Steve Chaconas nationalbass@aol.com
