Just as fishing was turning on, the heavens opened this week, turning rivers into chocolate. Before the rains, here’s what was happening.
Rappahannock River
Like all rivers in Northern Virginia, high and muddy water is on the menu for the weekend. Big blue catfish have been taking cut shad fished on the bottom and the outside bends of the river. Creek channels are also holding lots of biting catfish. Downriver, creeks are very muddy and fishing is slow for bass and perch. Catfish, white perch and stripers are being caught around the Route One Bridge.
Shenandoah River
High and muddy water now dominates. In the South Fork, there had been good action for catfish, sunfish and smallmouth bass.
Potomac River
Capt. Chaconas says bass fishermen are rolling into summer patterns. “It’s time to give topwaters a try. Low water, clear water and cloudy skies. Buzzbaits, walkers and poppers should be tied on.”
Water is in the low 70s and fish are active in pre spawn, spawn and post spawn.
Lake Orange
Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Anglers Landing. Water is clear with temperatures in the mid 70s. Bass and crappie are moving away from the spawning areas and positioning themselves in the flats. They are feeding up on baitfish. Bass can be caught on topwater in lowlight and on plastics and live bait during the day. Crappie are hitting small minnows and jigs in 8- to 12-feet of water. Catfish have been caught on chicken livers, live bait and clam snouts. The bluegills are in all phases of the spawn. Some nice walleye have been caught on nightcrawlers and minnows worked along rocky areas down lake.
Lake Anna
Bass fishing is excellent on secondary points. Plastic lizards and topwater baits are the most effective baits, although some fish are being taken on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Striper fishing is best early and late in the day, with Zara Spooks, Cordell Redfins and chartreuse colored Sassy Shads, fished on the shallow flats adjacent to main channel points. Crappie fishing remains excellent.
James River
High and muddy water for a few days. After the water drops and clears, smallmouth bass will be taking live minnows, plastic grubs/worms and small topwater lures above Richmond. Fish are spawning from Lynchburg down through Scottsville. Big blue catfish and stripers are being caught at the “Z” dam in Richmond.
Chickahominy River
The river is in good shape. Lots of bass in the 1-3 pound range are being taken on plastic worms and topwater lures in the upriver pad fields. Big gar are being caught by anglers using large minnows on the edges of the lily pads. Lots of big bream are being caught on crickets and nightcrawlers. Catfish action is excellent.
Chickahominy Lake
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Jim Fuller and Phil McLean had 4 bluegill and 6 crappie. Jack and David Pong had 76 bluegill, 3 shellcrackers, 1 roach minnow, 1 crappie and 2 warmouth. Brian and Jeffrey Boberick had 5 crappie, 1 bullhead and 1 pickerel. Tom Porter had 17 bluegill, 5 crappie, 2 yellow perch, 1 white perch, 1 blue cat and 4 bass.
Buggs Island
The lake is at full pool and stable. Bass are hitting well. Crappie are on brush piles in eight feet of water and are taking live minnows. Stripers are being caught on live bait, from Buoy 7 to Clarksville. Night anglers are taking stripers on Redfins in mackerel and fluorescent red finishes, from Buoy 4 to the mouth of Nutbush Creek. White bass are being caught at the mouth of Bluestone Creek.
Smith Mountain
The better bass fishing is in the Blackwater River arm of the lake. Striper and white bass fishing is excellent, with fish all over the lake. Best results are coming on bucktails, Cordell Redfins and live shad, fished on main lake points.
Lake Moomaw
Bass action has picked up. Some smallmouth are being caught at night. Trout action is excellent, with browns to seven pounds being caught on live shad or spoons, and rainbows to four pounds at night under the crappie lights. Some catfish are taking chicken livers and cut bait. Lots of big yellow perch and bluegills are being caught.
New River
Water is slowly returning to normal. Smallmouth bass are taking plastic baits, crankbaits and topwaters.
