Fishing report

High Point, Occoquan River               Hours
Day     Date   High   Low   High   Low     A.M.  P.M.
——————————————————————
Wednesday   3/19   0603   1245   1825   0029   0646   1946
Thursday   3/20   0649   1335   1911   0114   0644   1947
Friday     3/21   0731   1421   1954   0154   0643   1948
Saturday   3/22   0810   1502   2035   0230   0641   1949
Sunday     3/23   0846   1541   2116   0301   0640   1950
Monday     3/24   0921   1618   2156   0330   0638   1951
Tuesday   3/25   0954   1655   2238   0359   0636   1952
Wednesday   3/26   1027   1732   2323   0432   0635   1953
Thursday   3/27   1104   1813   - - -  0510   0633   1954
Friday     3/28   1147   1900   0013   0553   0632   1955
Saturday   3/29   1240   1952   0110   0643   0630   1956
Sunday     3/30   1345   2049   0211   0740   0628   1957
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - The herring are beginning to show in the river, along
with some hickory shad.  As the temperatures go up this weekend, there should
be some shad, herring, white perch, crappie, catfish and bass caught. The
white perch are also arriving this week and fishing should be good in the
evenings. This should improve around weekend as the river continues to rise,
although it will be muddy. Fletcher’s Boat House, Tidal Basin, Haines Point,
Columbia Island and the Alexandria Power Plant are all good spots for perch
anglers. Largemouth bass should respond to the expected low 50’s water
temperatures by prowling the shallows for food. This past weekend saw lots of
nice sized bass being caught at Blue Plains, Fox Ferry, The Spoils and in
Washington Sailing Marine. Better choice of baits were Bandit 200 crankbaits,
Rat-L-Traps, Silver Buddies and small plastic lures. Crappie are hanging in
schools around the boat docks and the restaurant seawall in Washington
Channel. Catfish are beginning to feed and this action should get in full
swing during the next week or so.
POTOMAC RIVER - GREAT FALLS TO CHAIN BRIDGE - Walleye are taking 3-4 inch
smoke or white grubs, fished slowly on bottom in current. Smallmouth are
cooperating nicely in deeper pockets and below riffles. Small grubs are taking
these fish as well.  Catfish are taking cut bait, nightcrawlers, live minnows
and live white perch in deep holes.
POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Most main river coves and feeder
creeks, particularly those on the Maryland side of the river, have warmer
water than the main river. Bass action is better in these areas. Best success
is found on shallow banks adjacent to deep water. Fish rattling crankbaits,
jig ‘n pig or small plastic baits. Most of the active fish are in 1-4 feet of
water. Better colors are brown/orange or firetiger for crankbaits and smoke
metal-flake or chartreuse for plastics. The large grassbed at the mouth of
Aquia Creek gave up a few bass for anglers fishing muted color plastics in
four feet of water this past weekend. Topwaters were not generally effective.
OCCOQUAN RIVER - The warmer weather later this week, should cause water
temperatures to move into the 50’s, where fish start to move. Some white
perch, herring and shad are in the river. Some stripers have moved into the
river, with a couple of fish having been taken on rattling crankbaits and
bucktails. Bass action has been up and down due to the low water temperatures.
Those bass that have been caught, were taken from 8-14 feet of water, adjacent
to rocks or rocky banks. Best baits were crankbaits and small plastic baits.
Crappie are taking live minnows and tiny jigs.
OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Water temperatures in the main channel are in the high
40’s. Bass are in the shallows, awaiting a rise in water temperatures for
spawning. Some big fish are being caught in the back ends of coves and shallow
areas adjacent to creek channels. Better lure choices are spinnerbaits,
spinnerbaits, spinnerbaits and jig ‘n pig. Crappie are located in 8-12 feet of
water, hanging around downed trees, off the main river channel. Smaller fish
may be found in the shallows, but the larger fish are still holding in the
main channel. Tiny jigs and live minnows are preferred.
BURKE LAKE - Fishing is fair. Friday afternoon and Saturday evening saw lots
of fish caught as the sun warmed the water to the low 50s, while Sunday
saw catches down, with the appearance of yet another weather front. With the
rising water temperatures, bass will be taking small spinnerbaits and
crankbaits on the edge of the weedbeds. Some large shellcrackers are being
caught. Occasional walleye are coming from the dam area. A few catfish and
crappie have been caught from the pier, early in the morning.
LAKE BRITTLE - Anglers are taking a few walleye, along with lots of crappie,
catfish and a few good bass. The bass are taking suspending jerkbaits and
spinnerbaits along the shorelines, adjacent to the fish structures. Anglers
fishing the dam are also taking some nice fish.
FARM PONDS - With the temperatures warming up the waters, largemouth bass,
crappie, catfish and bluegills are biting in farm ponds, particularly in the
evenings. Spinnerbaits, small crankbaits, plastic grubs, and live bait will
work well in the ponds. Concentrate on the shallow water, where it drops into
deeper water for the larger bass. They are resting in the deeper water and
coming up into the shallower, warmer areas to feed.
POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth bass have begun to move this week, as the
water temperatures came up. Small crankbaits, fished adjacent to the weedbeds
along the river banks, should produce some fish. Better weedbeds will have
swift water and lots of rocks adjacent to them. Small spinnerbaits should also
take their share of fish. Less active bass may be targeted by fishing small
hair jigs, tube baits or plastic grubs, in the deeper holes in the middle of
the river. White suckers are taking nightcrawlers. Crappie are being taken at
the mouths of Broad Run and Goose Creek by anglers using tiny tubes stuffed
with “Crappie Candy”.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Herring, hickory shad, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass,
crappie, white perch, blue catfish and yellow perch are all present in the
river, although the herring, shad and white perch are in short supply. Jumbo
blue catfish are being taken on cut bait with the fish weighing 25-40 pounds.
The smallmouth bass action has picked up considerably with most of the fish
being taken on live minnows and hair jigs with pork rind attached. Perch and
crappie are taking bloodworms and small minnows. Crappie are biting
particularly well in the creeks around Green Bay. Hickory shad anglers are out
in force at the Route 1 Bridge in Fredericksburg, however, reports of catches
are scarce.
SHENANDOAH RIVER - Smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegills and catfish should
cooperate nicely this week, as the water level falls. Live minnows have been
responsible for nice stringers of crappie from the river.
LAKE ANNA - Crappie fishing was excellent this past weekend, as the fish moved
back into shallower water, over brushpiles and around bridge pilings.  They
were suspended at 4-6 feet on Saturday. Bass are also on the move, with good
fish being taken on spinnerbaits, Carolina-rigged lizards, Shad Raps and jerk
baits. Some action is taking place on topwater baits in the lower part of the
lake. Bass action is centered halfway up the North Anna and Pamunkey arms, on
the main lake points, in 2-5 feet of water, but some secondary points are
holding fish. Downlake, the fish are being caught in 12 feet of water on
Carolina-rigged centipedes and lizards in green and pumpkin colors. Stripers
are beginning to bite regularly at Dyke Three and Pigeon Run Creek. Early and
late in the day, fish Zara Spooks or Cordell Redfins. Switch to four inch
pearl colored Sassy Shads, live shad or bucktails at mid-day.
MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Below the Route 360 bridge, anglers are catching
white perch. At Lester Manor, the catches include largemouth bass, channel
catfish and white perch. Mattaponi anglers are taking perch and stripers at
West Point, smallmouth bass and crappie at Zoar Park and catfish at Walkerton.
JAMES RIVER - Lots of catfish and crappie are being caught, particularly in
the barge pits and the Dutch Gap area. Smallmouth fishing is excellent above
the city, where citation fish are being landed on live minnows, jig ‘n pigs,
plastic grubs and small crankbaits. Tidal sections are producing largemouth
bass to anglers fishing rattling crankbaits and plastic grubs on the shallow
areas, adjacent to deep water, and in the barge pits.
LAKE CHESDIN - Bass and crappie fishing is excellent. Lots of bass in the 3-8
pound class are being taken on Rat-L-Traps, spinnerbaits and jig ‘n pig, while
the crappie are taking small minnows and jigs. Catfish anglers are also doing
well.
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Bass are hitting artificial baits. Best luck this past
week was on small crankbaits and plastic grubs. Live minnows continue to take
good fish, including largemouth bass, yellow perch, crappie and catfish. Creek
mouths on moving tides continue to be the prime locations. Fishing was good
during the early part of the week, but slacked off on Saturday. Mid-week
should see a return to good fishing. Herring are present in good numbers at
Walkers Dam.
CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Lots of action on this lake, with bass and pickerel being
the prime catch. Best bait is jumbo minnows, freelined on points and over
brushpiles. Crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps are also taking some good bass. A few
grindle in the 10-12 pound class are also being caught. Crappie fishing is
excellent on small minnows and tiny jigs.
SUFFOLK LAKES - All the lakes report excellent bass and crappie fishing. Bass
are running 3-8 pounds and are taking jig ‘n pig, spinnerbaits, Rat-L-Traps
and live minnows. Crappie are taking small minnows and jigs. Striper action is
good in Western Branch, while walleye is the chief trophy at Lake Whitehurst.
Lake Cohoon is giving up citation pickerel and crappie.
LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Creels here include bluegill, crappie, lots of yellow
perch and some large bass. The bass are running 4-9 pounds and are taking
rattling crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Crappie are running to 1.5 pounds.
Pickerel are taking spinnerbaits in 5-10 feet of water.
BACK BAY - The feeder creeks are producing pickerel, white perch, crappie,
catfish to 25 pounds, bluegills and some bass, 1-6 pounds.
LAKE GASTON - Fishing is excellent, with bass to eight pounds taking rattling
crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Carolina-rigged, pumpkinseed, plastic worms.
Largemouth bass can be located in back ends of coves, where the water is the
warmest. Stripers are to be found near schools of shad, congregated near
mouths of creeks. Better areas are the mouths of Lizard and Holly Grove
Creeks. Hickory and American shad are biting well in the Roanoke River at
Weldon, N.C.
BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Some good bass are taking shad-colored crankbaits on main
lake points. Stripers are being taken on live and cut shad, off main lake
points and in Nutbush Creek. Trollers are also taking a few stripers, on black
and gold Redfins in 15-18 feet of water. Bucktails cast up on shore and
retrieved slowly are also taking a few fish. Crappie are stacking up at about
eight feet, along the bridge pilings and over deep brushpiles throughout the
lake. Small minnows and jigs are the preferred baits. White bass are available
at the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Below the dam, stripers are staging a huge
spawning run and are taking bucktails down to the Steel Bridge.
BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Jig ‘n pig and live minnows are
producing some good bass. A number of bass in the 5-7 pound class were weighed
this past week. Perhaps this week will see more of the larger bass turning on.
Plenty of crappie and bluegill are available.
SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Most of the bass are being taken on crankbaits, jig ‘n
pigs and spinnerbaits. Better areas are main lake points, secondary points
with creeks, and rocky banks or points. Some nice bass are also being caught
off brushpiles along creek channels and around boat docks. Striper action is
good, with the best fishing being around dawn and dusk, on live shad and
Cordell Redfins. Look for baitfish inside the creeks and fish the shoreline,
tight to the bank, for the stripers.
LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Fishing has been good, with stripers to 20 pounds being
taken. In the Staunton River, walleye and white bass are being caught all the
way up to the Leesville Dam. The white bass are taking small Sassy Shads,
Rooster Tails, small grubs and crankbaits.
LAKE MOOMAW - Trout fishing is rated fair, with only a few fish in the 16 inch
range and one over five pounds, being brought in. Bass fishing is better, with
smallmouth bass to four pounds and largemouth bass to six pounds being
reported. Crappie fishing is excellent.
NEW RIVER - Fluctuating water levels and stained water has hampered fishing,
but the river came up dramatically last week and fishing improved
considerably. Lots of catfish, in the 15 pound class and a few smallmouth, in
the four pound class, were caught during the past week.
PHILPOTT LAKE - Fishing for largemouth bass is good on crankbaits and live
bait. Walleye anglers are taking good numbers of fish on live minnows and
nightcrawlers, fished on the bottom. Crappie anglers are doing well. The Smith
River is producing some good trout.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Crappie are turning on around brushpiles and on
rocky points. Smallmouth bass are also being taken on rocky points. Some white
bass are being caught, but the spring run has not yet started. Some trout are
caught by trollers, using nightcrawlers.
CLAYTOR LAKE - Fishing is fair to good, with weather fronts playing a major
role. Lots of smallmouth bass to five pounds, along with a few reports of
crappie catches on live minnows. The walleye spawning run has started up the
lake.
TROUT STREAMS - Most of the trout streams in the state are full and running
good. The weekend should see the water clear and in excellent shape for
fishing. Small spinners and Rapala Mini-Fat Raps are taking good fish for spin
fishermen, while dark-colored nymphs are the better choice for fly fishermen.
SALTWATER - Anglers fishing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel pilings with
jigs, tipped with Bass Assassins, are taking nice stripers to 40 inches. Boats
fishing the ocean wrecks are finding black sea bass, tautog, cod, blueline
tilefish, monkfish and occasional flounder. Lots of these fish measure enough
for Virginia Saltwater Tournament citations.