The Game Department has found a few lakes and streams with enough water to hold trout and the fall stocking program is underway. Some nice rain predicted this weekend should help fill the water tables
The streams below were stocked this week.
Clifton Forge Reservoir, the Tye River, Crooked Creek, Little Reed Island Creek, Dan River (below the powerhouse), Big Moccasin Creek, Middle Fork of Powell River, Douthat Lake, Wilson Creek, Chestnut Creek, Glade Creek, Tinker Creek, Martins Creek, Indian Creek, Wolf Creek, Pound River, N. Pound River, Cranesnest River, Staley Creek, Middle Fork Holston (upper), and the Cowpasture River in Bath County.
Better Duck!
If you are out fishing this week, be careful. It’s duck season and you don’t want to be mistaken for a big mallard in a jon boat. Pay particular attention to standing blinds. There’s a good chance hunters are there, so avoid them when possible.
Rappahannock River
Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking live bait and small crankbaits in the deeper pools. Water is clear, but leaves are abundant. Largemouth anglers are not as successful, as leaves on the water curtail fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Blue catfish to 30 pounds are biting on cut bait in the river channel. Stripers are scarce.
Shenandoah River
Water temperatures are dropping daily, but there is excellent smallmouth bass fishing for those who can put up with the annoyance of floating leaves. Small crankbaits and plastic grubs are the top baits and Bixler Ferry Bridge is the hot area.
Lake Anna
Down lake, bass are holding on main lake and secondary points in 4-12 feet of water, around boat docks and bridges. Up lake, bass anglers are taking fish from the willow grass beds on buzzbaits early and Zoom Super Flukes, Senkos and small spinnerbaits after the sun comes up. Stripers are active, particularly at the Splits, Jetts Island, Stubbs Bridge, Dike Three and Rose Valley. Live shad, Sassy Shads, Cordell Redfins and jigging spoons are the better choices of baits. Fishing is very good for crappie.
James River
Low water upriver makes floating tougher, but smallmouth are active. Above Richmond, smallmouth bass are hitting with some trophy fish in the mix. Tidal sections of the river are producing good-sized blue and flathead catfish on cut bait and live minnows in the main river channel. Stripers are on the move throughout the river, taking almost any bait thrown their way.
Chickahominy River
Some bass to five pounds are hitting small crankbaits, Shad Assassins and plastic baits, fished around wood cover, adjacent to lily pads. Live minnows are also accounting for some bass, as well as crappie, yellow perch, bream, and catfish. Stripers are being caught on crankbaits and top water lures, particularly near Walker’s Dam.
Chickahominy Lake
Fishing with Capt. Conway, Mike Suarez and Gary Lupton had 8 bass and 1 bowfin. Ross Alfonso, Ryan Ladd, and Fernando Pena had 1 bluegill, 3 crappie, 3 white perch and 4 bass. Tom Porter had 20 bluegills, 9 crappie, 1 white perch and 1 yellow perch.
Buggs Island
The water level is 296 feet and stable. Bait is bunched up back in the coves. Crappie anglers are loading coolers, using small minnows over brush piles and around bridge pilings. Schools of breaking stripers are being found between Buoy 16 and the Clarksville Bridge, and at the mouth of Bluestone Creek.
Smith Mountain
Live shad, bucktails and Cordell Redfins are the best striper baits. Impressive stringers of crappie are also being caught. Largemouth bass fishing is fair. There are lots of baitfish in the lake and schools of bass and stripers are feeding under the baitfish.
Lake Moomaw
Brown trout are beginning to congregate and try to spawn, offering some excellent opportunities for large trout. Browns to five pounds are being caught around the Fortney Boat Ramp. Crappie and largemouth fishing has been good. 1
New River
Few anglers are out, but those who do venture forth are catching smallmouth bass on Senkos and catfish on live minnows. Some small muskies are also being caught.
Potomac River
The river is cooling off, says Capt. Chaconas
The sudden drop in temperature has lowered the Potomac by 10 degrees.
Now is a great time to start with top water poppers like Lucky Craft G-Splash 80 on 14 pound test Gamma Copoly line worked around grass edges. Pop and pause to begin. Then increase speed to match the mood of the fish. Look for clear water and low light for this to be most effective. Buzzbaits are also good to work here.
Falling water is best around grass edges for soft plastics. With higher water, start poking around docks now too.
