Many are unaware that Virginia has a superior walleye fishery on the New River. Want proof?
Above, Captain Forest Pressnell, guide for New River Charters, shows proof holding this 10 lb. 4 oz. walleye that he caught in Virginia’s famed western river. The Upper New River walleye are in full swing feeding mode for the upcoming spawn, which should occur around the March 12th on the full moon. Muskies have also been active and are expected to pick up for the next few weeks before they spawn as well.
Little Creek Reservoir
Park Attendant Carson Grainer reports the bass bite is good. Nice fish are going for jerkbaits, stickbaits and cranks. No word on crappie and bream. Cat action is slow.
Beaverdam Reservoir
Nice size buck bass have been caught in 4 to 6 feet of water on swimbaits. The larger female bass are deep, but will take diving lures. Crappie are hit and miss and difficult to find.
Kerr Reservoir
Bobcat’s Store reports that with water temperatures inching into the low 50s, bass fishing has been good, Most anglers are scoring with shallow running crankbaits, Rat-l-Traps, jerkbaits and jigs. Fish have been holding on red clay banks and rocky points in one to eight feet of water. Good numbers of 5-fish bags are ranging from 14 to 19 pounds.
Crappie and catfish action are excellent.
James at Lynchburg
Angler’s Lane reports slow smallmouth action due to low water temps. The water is clear, at a seasonable level and around 40 to 41 degrees.
Trout Fishing
The state is stocking full steam ahead. Some streams are already receiving their 3rd stocking for this year. The water is still in the low 40 in the mountain streams, but warming.
Rainbow and brown fishing in the Jackson is good, says Anglers Lane. Try Stonefly Nymphs. The water is clear, at a fine level and 43 to 44 degrees.
Shenandoah River
Harry Murray says both the North and the South forks of the Shenandoah are fishing well for smallmouth. The best action is in the deeper pools.
Lake Anna
Bass action is on fire at Anna. On March 5, Keith Lupo weighed in a 9-1 hawg. Scores of 4 to 6 pound bass are showing at the weigh scales. Ron Hummer landed a citation 2-6 crappie.
Chickahominy Lake
Mid-day water temperatures at the Chick are in the mid 50’s in the main lake and low 60’s in the major creeks. The crappie are biting everything in sight.
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Mark Brown had 27 crappie, 2 yellow perch, 1 pickerel, and 1 bass. Liza Brings had 1 bluegill, 1 flier, 37 crappie, 1 pickerel, and 3 bass. Pierre LaFrance had 5 crappie.
Potomac River
Reports Capt. Steve Chaconas: Moving baits are working. The key is cover and speed.
Fish have moved from the deeper areas, though some are still on the drops. Cover like grass, wood, rock and docks are primary targets. But the key is to slow down.
In the clearest water, Lucky Craft suspending Pointer 78 jerkbaits on 10 pound test GAMMA Edge fluorocarbon line cast on spinning gear. This enables long casts and, with a medium action rod, good hook sets. Make slight taps and longer pauses. Find the cadence that gets fish to come up. Cloud cover, use Aurora gold. Sunny skies, clown pattern works.
Casting Mizmo tubes, green pumpkin with blue tails, on 1/4 ounce Mud Puppy lures weedless insert heads. Soft lifts and pauses. Shake in place. Keep rod tip a bit lower to set the hook. A spray of garlic Jack’s Juice Bait Spray soaks into baits and will help encourage fish to hold on longer. Work these around dock pilings and wood cover.
Virginia Saltwater News
With a lot of effort, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, commonly known as the citation program, was restored. Slated as a budgetary casualty, though funded entirely by angler’s license fees, the General Assembly reconsidered. One delegate stated that he had received more comments about this than any other issue facing the General Assembly.
In other news, the minimum size for flounder has been increased to 17-inches. The bag limit remains at 4, for now. There is a possibility of a reduced bag limit later. We will have new tilefish regulations soon when the federal government finally enacts blue-line tilefish regulations for offshore water north of North Carolina. Emergency regulations previously enacted have expired. For now, we are still fishing under Virginia regulations of 6 tilefish (combined species) per person with a mandatory permit and mandatory reporting. Sea bass regulations will get tighter in spite of a new tremendously high stock assessment. This is due to the federal government’s tremendously high estimate of what the recreational catch has been. For now, sea bass regulations remain unchanged but probably will prior to the season opening in May.
Outer Banks
Oregon Inlet Fishing Center reported some nice catches of Bluefin early this week, one tuna measuring 72 inches.
Cape Point anglers landed big Sharks and Ramp 43 caught slot-size Puppy Drum. The Frisco beaches caught a good number of Blow Toads and a few Bluefish. Hatteras had Bluefish as well.
Hatteras Offshore
Hatteras Harbor noted that one boat fished near shore on Thursday with good success. For sea bass, bluefish and Albacore. Two boats fished the blue water and reported Blackfin Tuna and good catches of bottom fish, including Trigger Fish, Albacore and Sea Bass.
