There were several Northern Snakeheads caught this week – in Lake Orange. The creepy looking fish were first found in Virginia in the Potomac River and the Game Department freaked out. They assumed that this invasive species would drastically affect the native bass populations, so they sent out shocking boats and patrols to eradicate the snakeheads, and that didn’t go well, The Snakes spread to the James, Rappahannock, York and Shenandoah rivers as well as many reservoirs, and they have now found their way into Lake Orange through illegal stocking..
As it turns out, Snakeheads – so far – have had no effect on bass populations. They seem to tolerate each other.
Snakeheads are powerful fighters on the end of a line. They have the ability to back up and put it in reverse when hooked. They fight like rodeo bulls. They are also delicious to eat – a genuine delicacy, which is why they were likely stocked in local waters. Someone probably put some in a pond, they escaped and now are widespread.
If you catch a snakehead, you can let it go, but you may not transport them, even in a live well. They must be killed before moved.
The Northern Snakeheads caught in Lake Orange went for live bait, but most anglers who target them use frog imitations and fish them near vegetation and structure.
If you happen to catch one, don’t throw it back. Kill it, take it home and eat it. They are a real treat.
