Virginia Department of Game and fisheries fishing report 2-11
Anglers throughout Virginia and neighboring states want to know "how are the fish bitin'?" To provide some answers, more than 25 license agents, marinas, fishing guides, and bait shops have volunteered to serve as contacts for information on recent fishing conditions for primary rivers and lakes throughout the state. Sarah White, outdoor writer and regular contributor to Virginia Wildlife magazine, prepares this Fishin' Report from interviews with these contacts the week prior to publication of the Outdoor Report.
The Fishin' Report is only available as part of your free subscription to the Outdoor Report.
The rivers and lakes featured in the Fishin' Report are listed by VDGIF Administrative Regions so you can quickly locate the area in which you are most interested. Consult the regional location map to find the major river or lake you want to know about.
For regulations and conditions on saltwater fishing, visit the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) website. Mandatory Saltwater Angler Registry: Effective January 1, 2010, there is a new requirement that saltwater anglers obtain a federal registry number by calling 1-888-674-7411, or online at www.CountMyFish.noaa.gov.
The new 2011 Freshwater Fishing in Virginia (Fishing Regulations) book has been published and a copy can be obtained at the upcoming fishing and hunting shows, all license agents and Department offices. This publication not only contains the fishing regulations, but an extensive 'Let's Go Fishing' section, with information about major sport fish, public fishing lakes, major fishing rivers, and the trout stocking program. Also, you can find information about fish citations, state records, angling education programs, exotic species, and more." The Freshwater Fishing Regulations section, including the complete Trout Fishing Guide, on our website have also been updated for 2011.
Sportsmen Spending Billions in Virginia
Virginia's Lt. Governor, Bill Bolling, an avid fly fisherman, takes a moment streamside to comment on the importance of hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife related recreation to Virginia's economy!
Teen Angler Club Hosts Sportsman's Show in Orange February 19-20
The 7th Annual Orange County Fishing and Sportsman Show will be held February 19-20 at the Hornet Sports Center in Orange. This unique show is sponsored by the "Nation's Outstanding Junior B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Chapter", the Orange County High School 4-H and B.A.S.S. Angler's Club. There will be exhibits featuring hunting and fishing guides, gear, artwork, taxidermy, boats and more. There is a trout fishing pond for kids and an official ESPN BASS Casting Kids Competition. The Virginia Trappers Association will be promoting Project Healing Waters which provides rehabilitative fishing opportunities for wounded veterans, cancer survivors and others with disabilities. VDGIF and other conservation organizations will be there to provide information on the great fishing and skill building workshop opportunities statewide. There will be seminars on all kinds of fishing and the VDGIF boater education safety class. Admission is $5 with kids under 10 free. Click here for information on seminar schedule and show features. Contact Youth Advisor OCHS Anglers, Becky Gore at (540) 661-4300 ext. 1154.
Walleye Fishing Forecast and Tagging Study Updated for 2011
It's cold and windy, but you walleye anglers know that this is your time of year! Walleye fishing season is just around the corner! To get you started in 2011, the Walleye Fishing Forecast and the Walleye Tagging Study update are both available on-line. The fishing forecast is a must for any angler thinking about accepting the challenge of walleye fishing in 2011. VDGIF has come a long way in developing very good walleye populations in a number of lakes through a stocking program; has learned a lot about walleye habitat, life history, and angling techniques in Virginia; and has lead the way in discovering and enhancing a unique strain of walleye found only in the New River.
The forecast is the biologist's best predictions about where, when, and how to get the most out of your walleye pursuits. VDGIF is also continuing a walleye reward tag study in 2011 and the update will give you details about how you can participate. Anglers should note that an 18-inch minimum size limit is now in effect statewide for walleye. All walleye less than 18 inches must be released unharmed. Exceptions to the statewide regulation include Claytor Lake, the New River above Claytor Lake and Lake Robertson in Rockbridge County. Good luck and enjoy the walleye fishing!
Winter is Good Time to Take Required Boating Education Course
All Personal Water Craft operators (PWC), age 50 or younger, and all persons age 20 or younger operating a 10-hp or greater motorboat, are reminded they are required to complete a certified Boating Education Course by July 1, 2011. VDGIF Volunteer Boating Safety Education Instructor, and Commander of the Smith Mountain Lake (SML) Sail & Power Squadron,Randy Stow, advises that, "February-March are great times to take an approved course before the spring warm-up gets boaters anxious to get back out on the water." Cmdr. Stow adds, "It's easy to locate courses being offered near you by visiting the Boating Safety website for details and a list of courses being offered throughout the state. Our squadron teaches the Boat Virginia course as well as the US Power Squadron's "America's Boating Course" which covers boating safety and basic boating. The squadron currently has 18 active VDGIF qualified instructors and as an additional element to our classes, we have excellent support from the participation of various Conservation Police Officers who provide observations and answer questions for the classes. In 2010 the Squadron volunteers taught 13 classes with 773 graduates. Additionally, we graduated 24 from the America's Boating Course."
Volunteer Boating Safety Education Instructors will be staffing an exhibit and a Boating Safety Course at the 7th Annual Orange County Sportsman Expo at Orange County High School February 19-20. For more information on the Boating Education Courses being held throughout the state, or to find one of Cmdr. Stow's classes, visit the Boating Education Section in the sidebar for more information on Boating Education classes statewide.
Trout Stocking to Resume at Lake Thompson
The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries announced January 12, 2011 that it will return Lake Thompson in Fauquier County to the Agency's list of designated stocked trout waters for 2011. Lake Thompson is a 10-acre pond located on the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area (WMA) which has been in the state's trout stocking program for many years. However, the lake self-drained last summer due to a faulty emergency drain feature. Recently the leak has plugged itself and the water level has been stable for several months. Lake Thompson is a Category A "put-and-take" trout water which means it will be stocked six times between now and May 31, 2011 and a trout license is required in addition to a fishing license for anglers over age 15. Questions concerning this fishery should be directed to John Odenkirk at (540) 899-4169 x117 or john.odenkirk@dgif.virginia.gov.
Safe Boating is No Accident—Wear your Life Jacket and Take a Boating Safety Class
Attention boaters, VDGIF has begun to phase in Virginia's boating safety education requirement and wants to remind boaters that as of July 1, all operators of personal watercraft (PWC), including Jet Skis, Sea Doos, and other PWCs, age 14 to 35 will need to have proof of boating safety course completion onboard while operating the vessel. PWC operators must be at least 14 years old. To find out more about the boating safety requirement, the rest of the phase-in for Virginia boaters, or to find a boating safety course, visit the Department's website.
Virginia's life jacket laws require that there must be one wearable (Type I, II, III, or V) USCG approved life jacket of the appropriate size for each person on the boat. All boats, except for personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable rafts, must carry one USCG approved Type IV throwable ring or seat cushion. In addition, if you are boating on federal waters where the USCG has jurisdiction, children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
For more information on boating water safety and the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water go to BoatUS.com. For details on Virginia's laws or to take a boating safety course, check out the DGIF boating website.
Review the article, "Does Your Lifejacket Really Fit?" in the May 26, 2010 Outdoor Report Be Safe... Have Fun section.
Got Pictures of Your Catch? Share Them With Us on Flickr!
How was your last fishing trip? Did you take pictures of your catch? Send them to us and share it with the world! Here's how:
1. Email your photos to us and we'll post them on our "Virginia Fishing" group on the photo-sharing website, Flickr.
2. Or, if you already have an account on Flickr, join the group and submit your photos. It's easy!
No matter how you send in your pictures, please remember to include the species, date, and location of your catch. If you know the length and weight, please include it.
Rules for submitting photos to the group:
1. Photos must be of fish caught in Virginia.
2. Photos must not depict unsafe practices.
3. Please do not publish personal information (last names, addresses, telephone numbers, email addresses, etc.).
4. Please do include the species, location, and date of catch!
5. Only submit photos for which you have permission to post online. For example, any minor pictured must have documented permission from his or her parent or guardian in order to appear in the group. By submitting a photograph of your child, you are giving VDGIF permission to post the photo on the Flickr "Virginia Fishing" group.
Sarah White's Notebook - Regional River and Lake Reports on Fishing Conditions
Take Your Daughter Fishing
Even in our more enlightened days, fishing with your kids is often seen as a father and son activity. But, despite old stereotypes to the contrary, a girl can enjoy fishing as much as a boy. My Mom remembers going on fishing trips with her Father, a prominent outdoor writer, from the icy trout streams at Yellowstone to the warm lakes of Florida. Together they had many adventures and many victories over wily fish. I too, had some great times fishing and crabbing with my Dad. It never occurred to me that a girl shouldn't like slimy worms and fish, or shouldn't be able to cast properly. I was never conditioned to be incompetent outdoors. I had the gift of a father who wanted to share his passion for angling with me.
If you have a girl, be she tomboy or not, share your passion with her. It will create wonderful memories and give you both a common interest that never fades. Who knows, maybe someday she will make fishing a mother and son activity.
Sarah White
Attention Readers – If your favorite body of water is not covered in the Fishin Report, and you are a guide, tackle shop owner, marina or just a devoted angler; please drop me a line and we will see about adding your bi-weekly or periodic reports in the e-newsletter by telephone or email contacts. I am especially looking for folks who go ice fishing right now! You can reach me, Sarah White at fishing_report@hotmail.com.
Wade Brown from Amherst County landed this "Smallie" while fishin' on Martin Luther King Holiday this year. Wade noted, "I was fishing with my youngest son Ashton when I landed this fish. My sons and I have been visiting this same place on the river for the past several years and have been catching and releasing smallmouth around 18 to 19 inches long every year. A lot of fisherman believe that fish cannot be caught in cold weather, but I beg to differ. It has been my experience that the amount of fish declines, but the quality of the fish increases. As far as the bait I used... well its artificial... cant give away my secret. I grew up around hunting and fishing and it was handed down to me from my father and grandfather. I enjoy it as much today as I did as a kid. I as a father, are ensuring that my 3 children have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors as I did. That's really all I can do is to introduce it to them, show them the proper etiquette and make it as enjoyable as I can for them. Hopefully that will find it as enjoyable as I have and hopefully pass it on to their children."
* Beginning July 1, South Holston Reservoir Fishing License Available to VA, TN Anglers
* Shenandoah and James Rivers Fish Health Update
* Largemouth Bass Virus Detected in Virginia Reservoirs...
Region 1 - Tidewater
Little Creek Reservoir: (757) 566-2277, hhhatlcr@aol.com. Park Concessionaire Diane Priestley reports that stripers are going for black jigs and silver buddies. Crappie are biting too. Both can be found 25 to 30 feet down, around the points and humps. Once the water temperature rises, the bite should turn on. The water is slightly stained and cold.
On March 26th the First Annual Sportsman's Flea Market will be held at Little Creek from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There you will find plenty of used sports equipment, but no guns or ammo allowed and no yard sale junk. Vendors are welcome to rent a space. For more info contact Andy or Diane Priestly at Headhunter's Headquarters at (757) 566-2277 or hhhatlcr@aol.com.
Beaverdam Reservoir: (804) 693-2107. Contributed by C. Blair Evans, Park Supervisor. The lake is clear of ice and is warming up. Anglers are reporting good catches of crappie. An over 8 pound largemouth bass was caught on February 6th by Sean Griffith of Hayes, VA. The water is slightly stained, at full pool and in the 40s.
Beaverdam's Big Bash Tournament season is here and the first tournament will be held Saturday March 19th. For more information, call the park at (804) 693-2107. Park hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in February and 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in March.
Virginia Beach: Captain Jim Brincefield (443) 336-8756. Captain Jim reports that it's just too cold for fishing action. He hopes things will pick up soon. The water is 39 degrees and clear.
Chesapeake Bay: Ruthless Kayak Fishing, (757) 403-0734. This new contributor offers guide and instruction services for fishing from kayaks. Cory Routh, the owner, told me that cold weather has kept the action slow. A few speckled trout were landed on Rudde Inlet on grubs fished "slow and low". Some yellow perch and largemouths were taken in Back Bay on minnows. The water is very cold and clear.
Chickahominy River: River's Rest (804) 829-2753. Charlie Brown says that not much is happening his way. A few cats bit on cut eel. Crappie fishing is "okay" with minnows and jigs. Some bream have responded to crickets. No word on bass. The water is in the upper 30s and slightly stained.
North Landing River and Back Bay: West Neck Marina (757) 426-6735. Dewey Mullins reports that things are starting to pick up a little. Some small bass were landed with soft plastics, shallow running crankbaits and jigs. Slow fishing is the key here. Bluegill are biting worms. Dewey hopes that a few warm days will put him "back in business again". The water is muddy and very cold.
Norfolk Lakes: Dasheill's Show Room (757) 539-7854. Drew Dixon says that not many anglers have braved the cold. No word on bass. A few crappie have gone for minnows and jigs. Some anglers have gotten some good yellow perch with minnows. Bream in the Nottoway are taking worms. Cats are responding to cut bait. The water is clear and in the high 30s.
Blackwater and Nottoway: By Riverkeeper Jeff Turner www.blackwaternottoway.com Fishing on the Blackwater and Nottoway continues to be slow. Sporadic reports of catches of yellow perch keep filtering through the grapevine, but I have not found them in any numbers. Water temps were still in the high 30s as of this writing on Feb. 2nd. Higher temps mid week might spark some action, but you're gonna get wet for that luxury. It should not be too much longer before some shad to start making their way up river. If you really want to see something cool, ride down the Blackwater to Cherry Grove and see the eagles nesting. That is if you're sharp enough to find their nest.
Upper and Lower Tidal James: Local Guide, Captain Mike Hoke, Life's Revenge Guide Service, (804) 357-8518. The tidal creeks and rivers are starting to warm and the yellow perch are in the rivers but mostly male fish are being caught with a few females also in the mix. One angler caught approximately 80 fish recently, but kept only a dozen that were big enough for the table. Most fish are caught using medium minnows on a double drop bottom rig, drifting and jigging a silver buddy and jigging a small twister tail grub or swim shad. Also a few catfish have been caught but trophy fishing has been slow; cut bait like shad or eel has yielded the best results. Crappie are in the mouth of the big creeks with deep holes and structure in the James and on most tidal rivers. Best bait is a small or medium minnow under a float using a bobber stopper to keep your bait at the depth or just above where you locate fish on your sonar. Patience is key when tidal fishing crappie as they can turn on or off suddenly with tidal movement.
Upper and Lower Tidal James: Local Guide, John Garland, Screaming Reels Fishing Charter, (804) 739-8810. No report this edition.
Upper and Lower Tidal James: Capt. Mike Ostrander, James River Fishing School, Discover the James, (804) 938-2350.
Nearly Extinct & Recovery
In the early 1970's, bald eagles were locally extinct or extirpated. There were no eagles on the James and only 30 pair in the entire state of Virginia. Now, because of proactive measures like the Clean Water Act and banning of DDT (a powerful insecticide) coupled with the hard work and cooperation of organizations like the Wildlife Center of Virginia and the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary, and VDGIF, bald eagles have made their comeback. Today, over 120 pair of resident bald eagles live along the James River and nearly 700 pair throughout the state of Virginia.
Thanks to Capt. Mike Ostrander from www.DiscoverTheJames.com, for this reminder of the successful recovery of the bald eagle, and to Lynda Richardson for the amazing eagle photo. Read Lynda's Photo Tips feature each month in Virginia Wildlife magazine.
Region 2 - Southside
Fort Pickett Reservoir: Contributed by our man in the boat Willard A. Mayes. One day it is in the 60s and I am sitting in Richmond with my grandson watching Thomas the Train Saves the Day. Want to take a guess where my mind is? Normally I do not fish on the weekend but Sunday was one of those days you cannot sit in the house, and since I felt everyone would be waiting for Super Bowl, I hooked "Old Blue" to the boat and headed for the reservoir at Pickett. I forgot to take into account that we had some rain and the lake was slightly on the muddy side but you had no problem seeing about a foot down. I had the boat on the water just before noon and fished from the ramp towards the aeration lines and picked up a 10 inch crappie on a black and yellow 2 inch twister. Since the water was not clear, I mostly used the 2 inch chartreuse twister. I fished the deeper part of the lake around the aeration lines and caught one 8 inch, one 9 inch, five 10 inch, one 11 inch and three 12 inch crappie. I may have picked up a few more but the "got to see bug" struck me and I just had to see if any were under the bridge at the upper end so took hour or so going there and back catching only one 8 inch bass. Boat back on the trailer by 4:30 and headed home.
Sandy River and Briery Creek: Contributed by Longwood College Fishing Club's Jack Pollio. No report this edition.
James at Scottsville: Local Guide L.E. Rhodes www.hatchmatcherguideservice.com, (434) 286-3366. The James is clear and cold! Still not hearing any reports of fishing action, although I have been seeing boats out and anchored up in some of the deeper holes. So anglers are out giving it a try. I'd go with jigs and a trailer and I'd also throw a crankbait every now and then. Slow rolling a spinnerbait in the deeper holes may get a bite or two.
Kerr Reservoir: Bob Cat's Lake Country Store, (434) 374-8381. No report this edition.
Tom McMurray sent in this picture of his new lab pup (hopefully his new fall turkey hunting partner!) with his first fish of 2011 - a 4 ft. carp caught on 4 lb test in a private pond in Nelson county in January. He notes, "I was actually trying to see if I could catch a few crappie for the frying pan under a dock with a jig when I snagged this brute. The fish fought for over an hour before I was able to get my hand under the gill plate and hoist it up on the dock. I am not sure what it weighed but it was amazing the line did not break during the battle. (missing a great endorsement here!!) The fact that the pond was pretty much void of snags and I was able to run back and forth on the dock as the fish made long hard runs helped for sure. The fish was released after a few pics. I think Maggie (the lab pup) will be disappointed in the size of the fish I will catch from here on out but you never know!?"
James at Lynchburg: Angler's Lane, (434) 385-0200. Tom Reisdorf says that the cold weather and icy mountain roads have kept anglers away. No word on the Smith River. The water is clear and in the 30s.
Lake Gaston: Holly Grove Marina, (434) 636-3455. The marina is closed for the season and will open in mid February.
Lake Gaston Health Advisory: The Virginia Department of Health has issued an advisory on walleye fish consumption due to mercury contamination in Lake Gaston. Recent fish tissue sample results from the North Carolina Division of Public Health show mercury levels in walleye fish exceed the amount considered safe for long term human consumption. VDH advises the consumption of no more than two meals a month of walleye taken from Lake Gaston. Virginia's advisory stretches from John H. Kerr Dam downstream 18 miles to the Virginia-North Carolina state line. For additional details, visit the VDH fish consumption advisory page.
Smith Mountain Lake: Contributed by Mike Snead. Virginia Outdoorsman, (540) 724-4867, www.virginiaoutdoorsman.com.
Crappie: The colder water temperatures found in the upper sections of the water column continue to keep many of the bait fish and many targeted species in the deeper water where temperatures are more moderate. Crappies continue to be found in the tops of trees and other submerged vertical structure from 18 to 24 feet below the surface. Surprisingly, anglers report limited success with the traditional crappie minnows lately, but nice crappies are being caught on lead headed jigs with plastic trailers small hair jigs and tiny ice spoons.
Stripers: When the stripers are feeding near the surface they can be seen breaking the water as they roll on baitfish. When feeding on the surface stripers can be caught by casting a bucktail, fluke or swimbait rigged on a lead head jig or belly weighted hook to the spot where the fish rolled and then slowly retrieving the lure. When birds are working the surface, but there is no visible surface feeding activity the stripers are usually feeding deeper in the water column. In these instances try casting and counting down your lure before retrieving it in an effort to find the depth of the feeding stripers. Recently, stripers have also been reported in the upper layers of the water column where they are being caught by anglers using their trolling motors to pull light lures, umbrella rigs and live bait behind planer boards and floats.
Black Bass: Black bass can also be caught this time of year using jigging spoons, especially when they are located with electronics while suspending near bluffs or just above the bottom. Suspended bass are also hitting small plastics on drop shot rigs. Bass are also being found further up in the water column than usual for this time of year. Bass continue to be caught on suspending jerkbaits, slow rolled spinner baits, small weighted swimbaits and occasionally on medium and deep diving crankbaits taken quickly to depth and then retrieved very slowly.
The water is clear and 38 to 43 degrees. Tight lines and stay safe while out on the water this winter.
Region 3 - Southwest
Claytor Lake: Rock House Marina, (540) 980-1488. Greg Osborne says that most of the Lake is still frozen over, so still no anglers.
Lower New River: Big Z'S (540) 639-1651. John Zienius reports that the muskies are "on a tear". These fierce fish will go for big shiners, trout or suckers. The will also take a hard jerk. Not much bass action reported. The water is 36 degrees and clear. John also reports that there are still large chunks of ice on Claytor Lake that can do serious damage to your boat, or even get you dropped in, so be cautious.
New River: Tangent Outfitters, (540) 257-0415. Shawn Hash says that it is still a little early for great muskie fishing up his way. They may go for a slider or glider, though. Some bass are taking jigs and jerks. The water is in the mid 30s and slightly stained.
Upper New River: Contributed by Captain Forest Pressnell, (540) 818-5274, New River Charter. Well the ice is off the Upper New River and will remain that way for a while, we hope. Walleye are hitting suspending jerkbaits fished deep and slow as well as plastics on the bottom. Muskie are responding to slow presentations in deepwater holes. Water temp has risen to 34.5 degrees. Be sure and wear warm clothing and wear your PFD's! The new walleye regulations have gone into effect here so make sure to READ them before walleye fishing.
Region 4 - Mountain and Shenandoah Valley
North and South Forks of the Shenandoah: Harry Murray (540) 984-4212 www.murraysflyshop.com. According to Harry, the smallmouth streams are too cold to provide good fishing. In the Valley the stocked streams are still producing. The best areas are the Canyon on the Bullpasture and below the springs on Big Stoney Creek. Harry advises you to use nymphs. The best ones are: Murray's Cranefly Larva, size 12; and the Olive Strymph, size 10. Fish along the bottom of the deep pools and below the riffles. The mountain streams are too icy to fish.
Lake Moomaw: Local Guide, Mike Puffenbarger, (540) 468-2682, www.mapletreeoutdoors.com. "Puff" reports that Lake Moomaw is still about 16 feet low with the upper lake regions now beginning to thaw and the Bolar Flat boat ramp is now accessible. Lower lake is accessible and the Fortney Branch ramp is open. Coles Point ramp is closed due to low water level. Streams throughout the area are running full now with trout stocking in progress.
Weather conditions and temperature can change conditions at any time so check website for current updates. This is a great time to get rods and reels and equipment ready for the spring thaw and some great fishing as Moomaw has been noted for. Also it is only 4 weeks till we celebrate the 53rd Annual Highland Maple Festival the weeks of March 11-20. There are lots of great activities for all outdoor enthusiasts throughout the Highlands. Visit Puffs Southernmost Maple rural retreat for great food, including his maple syrup and famous maple donuts made right there on-site. In addition to hunting and fishing guide info, also see displays and demonstrations of outdoor related arts and crafts, hunting and fishing gear.
Region 5 - Northern Piedmont
Piedmont Rivers: Local author Steve Moore (Wade Fishing Guidebooks covering the: Rappahannock, Rapidan, Upper Potomac, North Branch Potomac) Cold and slow... fishing equipment mostly gathering dust. However, since the trout stocking program continues with ferocious diligence, there are great opportunities to get outdoors on the random warm day (like last Sunday) that may pop up. Piedmont trout hunters should head over to the Rose and Hughes. The mountain streams are far too cold right now for any action with Mossy Creek Fly Fishing reporting temperatures as low as 33 degrees. For those anxious for smallmouth bass, head over to the Dickerson Power Plant and bask, along with good numbers of smallies, in the warm water discharge. Use crayfish patterns or live bait for the best results.
Lake Orange: Contributed by Darrell Kennedy of Angler's Landing (540) 672-3997. Angler's Lane is closed for the season. Although the shop is closed, the Lake remains open for use.
Lake Anna: Contributed by C. C. McCotter, McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service, (540) 894-9144. No report this edition.
Lake Anna: Contributed by Local Guide Jim Hemby (540) 967-3313.
Stripers: Two key elements in locating stripers this month are birds and electronics. Gulls will guide you to the schools of bait and the stripers will be nearby. Your depth finder will also identify the areas you need to fish by showing large clouds of bait with the stripers showing up as arches around the bait. Artificial techniques for catching stripers this month will be to use small swimbaits such as ¾ oz. Hopkins Spoons and Blade Baits vertical jigged Shads, 3 inch Sassy Shads and ¼ oz. Road Runners cast on light line with an extremely slow retrieve. Down lake, Redfins waked over long points and shallow flats in low light conditions will draw huge stripers up to explode on the bait, maybe resulting in the fish of a lifetime. As for live bait fisherman, being versatile will be the key this month. Start off pulling boards and freelines in the low light times of the day and as the sun gets brighter back off to the deeper flats continuing to use boards and adding a couple of downlines to the depth you see the fish at on your locater. Also as the sun warms up the red clay banks and rip rap in the afternoons the fish will move up chasing bait. Down lake use herring or large minnows and mid lake use threadfin shad or medium and large minnows.
Bass: February is a great month for fishing for huge bass on Lake Anna and many citations should recorded this month. One of the most productive patterns for catching big bass is to fish clear water with suspending jerkbaits. A long cast with a steady, slow retrieve with an occasional pause will trigger the bass to react. A great way to catch a citation bass this month is to pull a jumbo minnow behind your boat about 10 feet below a bobber, keeping your boat in the 15 ft. depth range. My clients regularly catch very nice Bass using herring. Great places also to try are short guts or creeks off the main lake like Hackneys Creek. If the weather warms up later in the month the back of Sturgeon will turn on. Many fish structures and brush piles are holding bass.
Crappie: Most crappie are caught up lake near bridges in February but unless we get warmer weather better areas to try would be around deeper docks mid lake, especially with brush piles nearby and docks that have lights on them during the night. There are nice crappie being caught around Elks Creek bridge on the private side of the lake.
Walleye: Some nice fish are being caught off the rocks at Dike 3 and nearby the discharge on the private side of the lake. Jerkbaits, 3 inch white grubs and minnows catch the majority of walleye.
Attention Readers – If your favorite body of water is not covered in the Fishin Report, and you are a guide, tackle shop owner, marina or just a devoted angler; please drop me a line and we will see about adding your bi-weekly or periodic reports in the e-newsletter by telephone or email contacts. I am especially looking for folks who go ice fishing right now! You can reach me, Sarah White at fishing_report@hotmail.com.
NOTICE: All anglers are reminded to acquaint themselves with a good description of the northern snakehead fish. If you should manage to catch one of these exotic imports, please kill it immediately and report the catch to either the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
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