Fishing Report
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From staff reports
Published: May 24, 2008
Day Date High Low High Low A.M. P.M.
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Wednesday 5/21 0819 1535 2111 0220 0520 2050
Thursday 5/22 0851 1611 2150 0258 0519 2051
Friday 5/23 0923 1647 2227 0339 0518 2052
Saturday 5/24 1000 1723 2302 0422 0518 2053
Sunday 5/25 1041 1800 2340 0508 0517 2054
Monday 5/26 1128 1838 - - - 0557 0516 2055
Tuesday 5/27 1222 1920 0023 0649 0516 2055
Wednesday 5/28 1322 2005 0112 0745 0515 2056
Thursday 5/29 1427 2053 0204 0846 0515 2057
Friday 5/30 1530 2145 0259 0952 0514 2058
Saturday 5/31 1631 2241 0353 1059 0514 2059
Sunday 6/01 1728 2340 0447 1203 0513 2059
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - The herring run is about over. Small white perch and
large catfish are the order of the day at Fletcher's Boathouse. Stripers are
plentiful and the fishing action is fair to good. Washington Channel has begun
to produce bass along the War College Wall. Fish buzzbaits across the grass,
early and late in the day. Spinnerbaits and plastic worms are the ticket if
the sun is shining. Rattling crankbaits, fished along the outside edge, are
taking good fish from the dropoff. Stripers are patrolling the dropoffs, so be
prepared for a hard strike. Bridge pilings on the main river are producing
good numbers of bass and stripers on crankbaits and plastic baits. Grassbeds
around Blue Plains and outside the Spoils, are producing good numbers of 2-5
pound bass. Plastic jerkbaits and spinnerbaits are the ticket here.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Largemouth bass are feeding in
the milfoil beds along the main river, below Mattawoman Creek. Fish rattling
crankbaits and plastic worms on the outside edges of the vegetation, and
topwater baits over the beds early and late in the day. The creeks are loaded
with fish for those anglers fishing small plastics, small spinnerbaits and
small crankbaits. The grass beds in the creeks are loaded with bass that are
suckers for topwater frogs, floating worms and Zoom Super Flukes. These baits
are best fished on braid with no weight. In the creek channels, keep the
sinkers light and let the tide sweep the baits along the bottom. Watch the
line where it enters the water for the strike. Small beetlespins will take
good sized yellow perch and sunfish, along with bass. Catfish are taking cut
bait, clam snouts and chicken livers throughout the river. Fish the bottom, in
the outside bends of the channel, for the largest fish. Bridge pilings and
flats adjacent to the channel will hold eating size fish.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - Lots of stripers are still available on jumbo minnows and
deep-trolled Cordell Redfins. Early morning and late evenings are best. Bass
are available on wood cover throughout the river. Crankbaits and plastic worms
are the preferred baits. Crappie and bluegill are found around the boat docks,
and catfish are everywhere in the river channel. Live minnows and fresh cut
bait are the ticket for the whiskered giants.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Bass action is good, even though the water is high and
stained. Crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic baits are taking some bass in
coves, on points, and along the rock walls. Catfish are very active, taking
clam snouts on the bottom. Larger crappie are schooled and suspended over the
main river channel, particularly where submerged standing timber is found.
Small minnows, tiny Hopkins spoons and crappie jigs are taking the fish.
BURKE LAKE - Bass action has improved, with plastic worms on dropoffs, being
the most consistent pattern. Crappie are taking small minnows and tiny jigs
around submerged brush. Bluegill are biting well, with some fish over a pound
being caught. Catfish are taking clam snouts and nightcrawlers on the bottom.
Muskie are not active.
FARM PONDS - Bass are about finished spawning for this month and are holding
in deeper water. Very slow presentations of Berkley Power Baits, are taking
fish from the deeper holes. Topwater baits are excellent early and late in the
day, but plastic baits are the choice when the sun shines.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth bass are scouring the mid-river rocks for
food. Small crankbaits, spinners and plastic grubs are taking good numbers of
fish. Topwater baits, such as Tiny Torpedos and buzzbaits, are taking good
fish early and late in the day, around the grass beds. Flyrodders are doing
well on poppers. Big sunfish are available for anglers using tiny flyrod
poppers and Beetlespins. Catfish are hitting well on live minnows, clam snouts
and nightcrawlers.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Bass action in the tidal section of the river is slow.
Some fish are being taken from blowdowns on the southern shoreline, on plastic
worms and shad colored crankbaits. Blue catfish are still being caught in the
tidal section. Cut herring, fished on the bottom, in the outside river channel
bends, is responsible for some giants. Above the city, smallmouth bass fishing
is excellent in the high and swirling waters. Yellow perch, catfish and
sunfish are taking small spinnerbaits, crankbaits and plastic grubs. Below the
Route 301 Bridge, lots of bass are being taken from the tidal feeder creeks.
Fish the outside bends of the creek channels, points and dropoffs. Small
crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastics are the ticket.
SHENANDOAH RIVER - Smallmouth bass numbers are good, although sizes are small.
Small topwater lures and skirted plastic grubs are the choice of more
successful anglers. Catfish are hungry, attacking minnows, nightcrawlers and
chicken livers with gusto. Sunfish are still cooperative, hitting tiny
poppers, Beetlespins, spinners and plastic grubs.
MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Most of the herring and white perch have left the
river. However, fishing is excellent for sunfish, stripers, catfish and bass.
Croakers, to 17 inches, are being caught as far up the Mattaponi as Melrose
and Waterfence.
LAKE ANNA - Topwater action is excellent early and late in the day. Bass are
breaking the surface, chasing schools of shad. Main lake points are producing
well on crankbaits, spinnerbaits, plastic worms and grubs and live minnows.
Some good catches of 4-8 pound bass around the 208 bridge on grubs, deep
diving crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms, in 10-17 feet of water.
Walleye and pickerel are still hitting on live minnows. Crappie are thick
around bridge pilings and beaver huts, on live minnows, tiny Hopkins spoons
and Beetlespins. Stripers are hitting well in the Rose Valley area on large,
trolled crankbaits and live shad. Dyke three is also producing good numbers of
stripers on live shad.
JAMES RIVER - Smallmouth bass are being caught in the upper reaches of the
river on tiny crankbaits, spinners, plastic baits and live minnows. The tidal
stretches are producing good numbers of largemouth bass, crappie and some
catfish. The bass are orienting to wood cover, undercut banks on creek bends,
and lily pads, while crappie are found around brushpiles. Catfish are located
on the bottom, in the outside bends of the river channel. The Dutch Gap area's
huge blue cats are spawning, with no catches of large fish reported. Stripers
are busting shad around the power lines just below Hopewell, early and late in
the day.
LAKE CHESDIN - Fishing is excellent, early in the day. After 11:00 a.m.,
boaters take over the lake and fishing success falls off. Most of the larger
bass are being taken from weedbeds on topwater baits, or from creek channels
on rattling crankbaits or plastic worms. Catfish action is excellent.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Largemouth bass action is good for anglers fishing the
lily pads with plastic worms, spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. The key to fishing
the pads is to use a translucent red worm and a 1/16th oz. sinker. Anything
heavier will turn off the fish. Topwater baits are taking lots of fish from
the hydrilla beds throughout the river. Most of the fish are averaging 1-2
pounds, but a few over five pounds are also being creeled. Crappie and sunfish
are suckers for flyrod poppers throughout the river system, while catfish
prefer cut bait or turtle livers, fished on the bottom of the channel.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Flyrodders heaven is the best way to describe this lake.
Poppers fished in the outside edges of the lily pad fields, are taking
sunfish, crappie, bass and pickerel. The species is determined by the size and
color of the popper. Casters are taking bass to eight pounds on Zoom Super
Flukes or Horny Toads, cast to the back of the lily pad fields or grass beds,
and Storm Chug Bugs, worked along the grass bed edges. Grass shrimp baits are
taking many large bream. Catfishermen are taking some nice bowfin as well.
Pickerel are taking any bait put in the water. Some of these fish are trophy
size.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Largemouth bass, to five pounds, are taking plastic
worms and crankbaits. Excellent bluegill action, along with some large crappie
and white perch. Pickerel are biting well.
BACK BAY - Bream, crappie and perch are being caught in Hellespoint Creek.
West Neck Creek is producing more of the same, along with some good sized
catfish and bass. The grass beds at the upper end of the lake are giving up
nice catches of bass, catfish and crappie.
SUFFOLK LAKES - Shellcrackers and bluegills are biting well, with lots of
citation-sized fish. Bass have turned on, with good fish being taken in most
of the lakes. The bass action is excellent on top water baits. Lake
Whitehurst is still giving up lots of walleye, to three pounds, along with
channel catfish and bass.
LAKE GASTON - Main lake points are the ambush spots for the bass in the lake.
Rat-l-traps, Speed Shads and plastic worms are the primary baits taking fish.
Boat docks are also holding lots of good fish. Best baits are Carolina-rigged,
plastic worms and lizards, in pumpkinseed colors. Stripers are active around
the mouth of Pea Hill Creek and around the island. Crappie fishing is
excellent, once the schools are found. Most of the crappie are schooled near
some submerged structure. The underwater forest in the back end of Lizard
Creek is a good starting point.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Bass are taking plastic baits in the edges of the willows.
Bass are also found in 3-7 feet of water in stumps and rocks. Live shad,
bucktails and Redfins are taking stripers between Buoys 6-14. Striper fishing
is red hot around the bridges at Clarksville. Some stripers to 22 pounds are
being taken below Kerr Dam, along with white bass to four pounds, and some
white perch. Crappie anglers are doing well with live minnows over submerged
brush and around bridge pilings, 12-15 feet deep.
BRIERY CREEK LAKE - Bream are hitting very well. Most of the larger fish are
being taken on live crickets, but flyrodders are having a field day. Bass are
just coming off the beds, so most of the fish being caught are slot-sized
males.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Striper action is good on Cordell Redfins, Rapalas and
live shad and alewives. Sizes range from 9-28 pounds. Bass are biting well on
plastic worms and live shad, during the day and topwater baits in the late
evening. Best action is around boat docks on points. Smoke, metalflake grubs
and Zoom Flukes are taking some good fish. White bass are taking buzzbaits and
small jigs.
LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - White bass and largemouth bass are the main creel in
this lake. Most of the fish are being taken on crankbaits. Stripers, 7-15
pounds, are still biting well below the dam on Cordell Redfins and large Rebel
lures.
LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing is picking up with brown trout 4-8 pounds, rainbow trout
and channel catfish taking live minnows and deep-trolled minnow imitating
lures and spoons. Best fishing is at night, under crappie lights.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Bass are coming off the beds. Crappie and bream fishing is
excellent. Some walleye are being taken, but the chief quarry are catfish.
Live minnows, worms and clam snouts are the prime baits. The Smith River is
giving up some nice rainbow trout in the 3-5 pound class.
NEW RIVER - Bass and catfish action is excellent, with crankbaits and small
plastic grubs producing best.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Crappie are taking live minnows, and white bass are
taking yellow jigs. Smallmouth bass are taking topwater baits, crankbaits and
plastic worms.
CLAYTOR LAKE - Catfish are beginning to show up well. White bass may be caught
in the late afternoon on live alewives, while crappie are taking live minnows.
Bluegills are on the beds.
TROUT STREAMS - Lick and Wolf Creeks in Bland County are producing excellent
trout fishing. Whitetop Laurel in Washington Country is also producing
excellent catches. The lower stretch is best with streamers such as Black Nose
Dace and nymphs, such as Mr. Rapidan and Emerger. The upper section is
producing well on dry flies such as light Cahills. Big Stoney Creek,
downstream of Wolf Gap Road, to Lantz Mill is producing good rainbow trout for
anglers using spinners, spoons and nymphs.
S A L T W A T E R
CHINCOTEAGUE - Fair numbers of flounder are being caught in the Main Channel
on drifted squid strips, peeler crab and live minnows. The shallows around the
old lighthouse, Black Narrows and Queens Sound are also producing flounder to
seven pounds. Bluefish, to 10 pounds, are scattered throughout the inlet. Lots
of grey trout are showing on the back side of Fisherman's Island and just
north of the Queens Sound bridge. Striped bass are hanging around the many
bridge pilings and piers. Surf anglers are taking taylor blues, skates, small
sharks, sea mullet and blowtoads.
WACHAPREAGUE - Flounder action is good in Green and Drawing Channels, as well
as Millstone Creek and the Hummock. Pan trout are showing in the catches.
Trollers are taking chopper bluefish just outside the inlet. Bayside surf
anglers are taking red drum to 45 pounds. Local offshore ocean wrecks are
loaded with sea bass and black drum are still holding on Dawson Shoals, with
best action coming on the evening tide, using sea clam and peeler crab for
bait.
ONANCOCK - Excellent fishing for speckled trout, from Nandua Creek, north
along the bayside to the Maryland Line. The fish are running large, with many
over the five pound mark. Best success is to be had in shallow grassy areas,
on incoming tides, in the evening. Best baits are soft shelled and peeler crab
or fresh cut mullet, fished on the bottom. A few red drum are being caught.
Grey trout, 2-5 pounds, are being taken over structure such are the Target
Ships or the Rockpile, on rubber tailed jigs, tipped with peeler crab. Bottom
fishing is excellent, with Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds, being loaded with
croaker to two pounds. The area straight out from Onancock is also holding
large schools of 1-2 pound croaker. Larger fish are biting on slacking,
outgoing tides, on squid or peeler crab. Mixed in the catches are flounder,
sea mullet, medium spot and snapper blues.
QUINBY - Excellent flounder fishing, drifting at Quinby Channel in front of
Sandy Island and near Rebel Island Creek, with some fish over five pounds.
More trout are showing in the catches and some breaking taylor blues inside
the inlet. Channel bass continue to be caught in the surf along the Barrier
Island. Some boaters are taking black drum in the 35-40 pound class in the
inlet, and surf anglers are taking some drum from the barrier island surf.
Offshore, plenty of 8-12 pound bluefish are available on the lumps.
CAPE CHARLES - Good action for black drum, to 55 inches. Best action is coming
from Buoys 13, 16 and 36A, on the evening tide. Pan trout are on the upswing
around the Cement Ships. Bottom fishing is good, just outside the harbor, for
croaker, spot, sea mullet and a few trout. Tautog, 2-6 pounds, continue to
bite well along the mussel beds.
LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Catches along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel
include croaker and flounder in the Small Boat Channel, pan trout from the
High Level Bridge and taylor blues from all four islands. Grey trout, to eight
pounds, are being caught in the evenings and after dark on jigs, cast around
the rock islands. Beach anglers are taking a few flounder on live minnows. The
Tower Reef and ocean wrecks are alive with large spadefish, with many citation
being checked in. Offshore, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are plentiful, along
with an occasional billfish. The ocean is full of chopper bluefish from the
beach to the 102 Tower. Bottom fishing at the Twin Stakes is producing
flounder, blowtoads, pan trout and taylor blues. Taylor blues are also
available in the shallows at the mouth of the Poquoson River, just off Back
River and around Factory Point. Trollers caught a few Spanish mackerel this
past week, but the catches were sporadic. The York River is producing medium
spot and croaker, along with a few pan trout and puppy drum. Speckled trout
fishing inside Mobjack Bay has slowed.
MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Striped bass and bluefish are the fare here, with
charterboats chumming up large catches of school stripers and taylor blues.
Most boats are averaging 20 stripers per day, with an occasional chopper
bluefish in the chum line. Grey trout, to five pounds, are taken around the
Smith Point Light and Tangier Target Ships. Fair numbers of tautog are still
caught from the wrecks. Flounder are showing along the Smith Point Jetty, and
at Blackberry Hang. Best fishing success is had on Croaker, to three pounds,
throughout the entire area. Some of the better areas are the Spike Buoy, R-
8 and Butlers Hole, and the area from the Northern Neck Reef and Cut Channel.
Speckled trout action is good at Hole-In-The-Wall. Fair numbers of flounder
are available at the White Stone Bridge.
UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Bluefishing is slow, with scattered catches of
occasional fish being taken in the bay near the 54 buoy, on trolled spoons.
Stripers are taking deep-trolled spoons and parachute rigs throughout the
area. Chummers are taking a few fish, but the fish are smaller. Trout, 3-6
pounds, are being caught on small bucktails trolled over bars and edges of
channels on the flats. White perch are taking grass shrimp, bloodworms and
peelers off the piers and bridges. Catfish are biting on cut bait and soft
clam snouts. Around the Bay Bridge, trout are showing up around the submerged
rip-rap at the outfall on the East side of the bridge. A few blues are also
being caught. Black drum, to 92 pounds, are showing in Upper Tangier Sound and
Hooper Straits.
OCEAN CITY - In the back bays, snapper blues are biting on the rising tide.
Sea trout are taking peeler crab, clams and squid. Some flounder are hitting
on live minnows and squid strips. In the surf, 2-3 pound blues are taking cut
mullet. A few trout and tautog are being caught at the jetties on peelers and
squid. Offshore, sea bass, tautog, ling cod and bluefish are taking squid on
wrecks and artificial reefs. Mako sharks made an appearance last weekend, and
are being taken along with blue and dusky sharks in the chum slicks. Most of
the action centers around the Fingers. Chopper bluefish are available at the
Bass Grounds, Jack Spot, 20 Fathom Fingers and Fenwick Shoals.
VIRGINIA BEACH - Headboats are returning from the ocean wrecks, with good
catches of sea bass, 1-3 pounds, large spadefish and a few tautog. When they
cannot fish the wrecks due to wind, they are bringing in loads of croaker and
trout from the mouth of the Bay. A few large bluefish are still prowling
inside Rudee Inlet. Bank fishermen are taking a few croaker and some flounder.
Along the resort strip beach, anglers are catching sea mullet and blowtoads.
Trollers are finding taylor blues and a few Spanish mackerel. Offshore,
yellowfin tuna and large dolphin are available at the 900 line, 65 miles SE of
the inlet. Deep drop wreck anglers are taking limits of blueline tilefish
along with the usual sea bass, conger eels, spiny dogfish and a few cod.
Charterboats are loading up on chopper bluefish, with the best action centered
along Bluefish Alley, the SE Lumps and Fish Hook.
PIERS -
JAMES RIVER - Croaker, catfish, bluefish and spot provide the action here,
with the possibility of keeper striper still in the mix.
OCEAN VIEW - Croaker are biting well in the evenings. Occasional schools of
bluefish and stripers come to the lights after sundown.
LYNNHAVEN - Fair numbers of spot, croaker and sea mullet, along with a few
flounder and lots of taylor blues.
VIRGINIA BEACH - Sea mullet, spot and croaker are taking bloodworms and cut
squid. Occasional chopper bluefish. Lots of skates.
SANDBRIDGE - Mediocre catches of taylor blues, sea mullet, surf perch and
flounder. Lots of skates.
OUTER BANKS, N.C. - Surf anglers are limited to medium spot and taylor blues.
Puppy drum and a few speckled trout are being caught at the Little Bridge. The
mouth of Oregon Inlet is loaded with small bluefish. A few speckled trout are
being caught from the pond on the southside of Oregon Inlet. Flounder have
moved into Davis Channel. Offshore, dolphin to 30 pounds, and yellowfin tuna
to 80 pounds, were caught as action is rated very good. Occasional
billfish and lots of wahoo are also showing. Inshore, snapper blues are
providing the bulk of the action, with cobia and Spanish mackerel schools
becoming more abundant.
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