They were first discovered in Virginia back in 2004, and it was thought at that time that Northern Snakeheads might seriously harm the native fish populations. As it turned out, the strange looking fish with serious dentures have not affected our native species and they have proven to be a blast to catch at the end of a rod and reel.
Fact is, they are now established in Lake Orange despite all efforts by the Game Department to keep them out. In addition to Lake Orange, anglers are now catching the “Snakes” in the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, James and Shenandoah rivers as well as in many reservoirs – including Lake Anna.
If you catch a snakehead, you must immediately release it or kill it if you intend to transport it in a livewell, for example. The Game Department does not want more snakeheads to pop us in additional impoundments.
Snakeheads now join yellow perch as another species not intended to be stocked in Lake Orange. The perch are also now firmly entrenched but have not appreciably hurt the crappie population in the Game Department-owned lake.
Darrell Kennedy at Angler’s Landing at Lake Orange, says that several snakeheads were caught last week. They seem to go for plastic frog imitations fished in the surface, and when hooked, they fight like Samurai Warriors.
Snakeheads are also delicious to eat, considered a delicacy in many countries, which is probably why they have spread throughout Virginia. Someone likely stocked a few in a pond as a food source and they escaped. And they obviously are quite prolific.
If you’d like to catch one, try Lake Orange. Fish a frog imitation near structure and hold on if one grabs your lure.
