Weekly fishing report

Potomac River Tide Information Twilight
High Point, Occoquan River Hours
Day Date High Low High Low A.M. P.M.
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Wednesday 3/05 0508 1122 1717 - - - 0607 1832
Thursday 3/06 0543 1214 1758 0002 0606 1833
Friday 3/07 0617 1302 1838 0042 0604 1834
Saturday 3/08 0652 1349 1919 0121 0603 1835
Sunday 3/09 0830 1536 2102 0300 0701 1936
Monday 3/10 0912 1625 2147 0340 0700 1937
Tuesday 3/11 0957 1716 2237 0423 0658 1938
Wednesday 3/12 1046 1812 2334 0509 0657 1939
Thursday 3/13 1142 1915 - - - 0601 0655 1940
Friday 3/14 1248 2023 0040 0701 0654 1941
Saturday 3/15 1406 2133 0155 0811 0652 1942
Sunday 3/16 1527 2239 0310 0928 0651 1943

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C.- Bass throughout the D.C. sector are tough to come by, but for those anglers who search them out and feed them what they want, fish can be caught. Some good fish are being caught in the Spoils on Silver Buddies and small grubs, fished almost motionless on the bottom. A few good fish have
been taken on buzzbaits. Other successful areas are the outflow from Blue Plains, Washington Sailing Marina, the riprap along the north shoreline from the mouth of the Anacostia River to the Naval Research Lab, the shoreline from Memorial Bridge to Haines Point and Columbia Island Lagoon. When fishing the
Riprap, try Rat-L-Traps, slow rolled spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and small shad imitating crankbaits. White perch are headed up the river to join the yellow perch which have been coming in over the past two weeks. Fletcher's Boathouse is seeing many nice catfish being caught, along with some crappie and a few bass when the water is not too high for fishing.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Bass action below the city is poor to fair, with the fish orienting to points, dropoffs and wood structure, adjacent to deeper water. Near the wood, bass are taking small crankbaits and
spinnerbaits in the shallows. Grubs are still the best lure for fishing the dropoffs. Stick with water in the 13-18 foot range, with a little cover on the bottom. Shallow sand or gravel banks, with some grass nearby, are giving up large bass to anglers casting Rat-L-Traps. Crappie are taking small minnows and grubs around wood structure such as boat docks and blowdowns. Incoming
tides are best. Swan Creek is giving up some good crappie on tiny tubes, teeny grubs and live minnows.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - The river is stained and with the upcoming warm weather, the water temperature should rise, setting the fish to feeding. Some yellow perch are in the river, with the bucks being predominate. Commercial fishermen and their nets are also in the river. The roe perch are waiting for another 4-5
degrees of water temperature to spawn. Bass are to be found among the perch. Better choice of lures appear to be medium minnows, Silver Buddies, Cicadas, Heddon Sonars, yellow plastic grubs and horsehead jigs. When fishing minnows
or small grubs, allow the baits to sit motionless on the bottom. The perch are picking them up and going away with them. Fish the flat below the Route One bridge. Large catfish are available to anglers fishing cut bait or jumbo minnows on the bottom of the river channel.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Reservoir regulars are taking a few good bass on jerk baits, rattling lipless crankbaits and slow-rolled spinnerbaits. Crappie action is fair to good with some nice fish being taken on structure in the backs of coves. Small minnows and crappie jigs are the better choice for baits.

BURKE LAKE - Fishing action is good, with most of the catches being panfish. Some bass are being caught on jig 'n pig or live minnows in the shallows, adjacent to dropoffs. If the weather continues to warm, try buzzbaits in the coves and crankbaits on the points. Trolling for muskie is producing a few follows, but no catches reported this week.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth bass are on the move and are taking small grubs, jig 'n pig and small spinnerbaits, fished very slowly. Patience is necessary, because these fish are still very, very sluggish and will not chase a bait very far. Live minnows, grubs and topwater baits are producing best.
Best areas seem to be the deeper holes around Seneca Creek, Edwards Ferry, Nolands Ferry and below Point Of Rocks. The area just below the discharge canal at Dickerson Power Plant is giving up smallmouth bass on topwater baits. The mouths of Goose Creek and Broad Run are producing good-sized crappies. A few walleye are being taken at the base of Great Falls on live minnows and nightcrawlers. NOTE - All bass taken between Seneca Breaks and the mouth of the Monocacy must be released. This area is designated Catch & Release and no bass may be creeled.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Smallmouth bass fishing is fair in the area of Fredericksburg. Most of the fish are being taken on crankbaits. White and yellow perch are prevalent in the lower parts of the river. Blue catfish are still biting well, with some monsters being weighed in. Best area is around Hick's Landing. A few largemouth bass to seven pounds are being taken from local ponds.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - The water level is high in the river. A few crappie are being caught on small minnows, but little else. The smallmouth are still located in the deeper holes, but few anglers are out after them. Catfish are biting well on cut bait, chicken livers and nightcrawlers.

LAKE ANNA - Stripers are still being caught at Dike Three on bucktails and Sassy Shads. Catfish are biting well, with some 10-12 pounders being taken this past week, along with at least one good flathead. Lots of bass are being graphed in 10-40 feet of water, making their way into the shallows. The water temperature throughout the lake is in the high 40's but should continue to
warm up over the next two weeks. As it approaches the 55 degree mark, the fishing will get better and better for the larger bass. Shad-imitating crankbaits, jerk baits, jigs and grubs are taking good numbers of bass, but live jumbo shiners are producing best. Walleye action is good throughout the lake. Gitzit grubs and live shiners are the best baits for the walleye. Crappie are schooled up and taking small shiners and jigs. Best action is found under the bridges and suspended over creek channels. Yellow and white
perch are found on dropoffs adjacent to deep points. These fish are taking small minnows, jigs, and Hopkins spoons.

LAKE ORANGE - Lots of smallmouth bass being caught. Crappie are also on the feed. Channel catfish are taking nightcrawlers and cut bait on the bottom.

JAMES RIVER - The tidal stretch of the river is producing good numbers of trophy blue catfish, particularly around the Dutch Gap Power Plant. Bass and crappie are being taken from Powell's & Chippokes Creeks on jigs and grubs. Panfish and walleye are being caught with regularity in the city, while smallmouth bass are turning on above the city.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Anglers at Walkers Dam are taking perch and crappie on small shad darts, gold spoons and bits of nightcrawlers. Live minnows are producing perch, crappie and a few bass. The mouths of the feeder creeks are
still producing good numbers of yellow perch and bass, with an occasional catfish. Minnows are the best choice for bait. Pickerel are also active.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Bass are beginning to move actively. Most of the better catches are coming on live minnows, fished on shallow flats, near deeper water. Pickerel action is good. Crappie catches are good, but the fish are moving into the creeks to spawn. Catfish, 7-8 pounds, are biting well and the bowfin should start feeding heavily any day. Some nice yellow perch are also
being caught.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - The water is slightly stained and 33 inches below normal. Water temps are in the mid 40s. Largemouth bass are holding in the
deeper channels. Jigs and crankbaits are the more successful baits. Yellow perch and crappie are taking small minnows on dropoffs and around submerged cover. Pickerel have been caught on minnows, crankbaits and jigs. These fighters are patrolling the shoreline in 10-15 feet of water. Some stripers are also taking crankbaits, fished off points.

BACK BAY - Action is good, with white and yellow perch, crappie, catfish and a few bass being caught. Most of the catches were made on live bait and the best area reportedly, was West Neck Creek.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Lots of stripers and crappie in both Lakes Cohoon & Meade, while the bass action is concentrated in Lakes Cohoon and Prince. The bass are running 2-7 pounds and taking jig 'n pig, spinnerbaits and live minnows. Pickerel and walleye are also showing up in the creels from Lake Smith.
LAKE CHESDIN - Largemouth bass and crappie are the story here. Good numbers of large bass, to 7 pounds, are being taken by patient anglers fishing jumbo minnows, spinnerbaits and jig 'n pig on shallow banks, near dropoffs. Crappie
are schooled in the grass, near shallow spawning banks. Live minnows and tiny jigs are the ticket. Blue cats, to 20 pounds, are taken by bottom fishermen.

BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - A couple of nine pound bass were reported this past week from Briery Creek Lake. A number of fish in the 5-6pound class were also caught and released. Crappie and pickerel action is rated good.

LAKE GASTON - Water temperatures are in the high 40s to low 50s, and fishing is fair. Bass are being caught in the back ends of the creeks on jigs, grubs and large, slow-rolled spinnerbaits. Topwater baits, fished in the backs of coves, are taking trophy bass. Some large catfish were caught this past week.
Crappie fishing is excellent, while stripers are biting well at the mouth of Pea Hill Creek. Downstream, hickory shad fishing is coming on at Weldon, N.C., with good numbers of fish being taken on Saturday.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Some good bass are being taken on points. Fish 6-10 feet of water near rocks, using crankbaits, spinnerbaits, plastic grubs, and Carolina-rigged lizards. Crappie fishing is excellent over brushpiles and in shallows. Slow trolling with small minnows in the back ends ofcoves is
producing well. Striper action is slowing, but fish are still being caught off major creek points on cut shad, in 8-15 feet of water.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Fishing is good for crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass. A few trout are coming from 10-12 feet of water.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Pea Creek is clear, with muddy water around the lighthouse bridge area. Walleye are taking nightcrawlers with a vengeance. Crappie are biting well on live minnows. Stripers are biting well, with a number of fish over the 15 pound mark taken this week. Smallmouth to 5.5 pounds and
largemouth to seven pounds were also caught over the weekend.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Average to good catches of stripers prevail, with most in the 8-14 pound class. Smallmouth bass action is good with most of the fish being taken on live shad, minnows and jig 'n pigs. Trout actionhas been good
in the Smith River, with large, dark, weighted nymphs, big Adams and blue-winged olives being the more successful lures.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Anglers are returning to the lake and some decent catches have been recorded. Stripers and white bass are being caught trolling deep-diving Cordell Redfins. Largemouth bass are being taken on jigs and crankbaits. Some walleye are being taken from the river.

LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing is fair to good. Crappie to two pounds are taking jigs and minnows, while smallmouth to six pounds are taking slow-rolled spinnerbaits and jigging spoons. Brown trout, 3-4 pounds, are taking live minnows, fished 15-20 feet down.

TROUT STREAMS - The Western streams are in excellent shape and should remain that way, barring any major rainstorms. Wild streams had very good reproduction last year and fly hatches are already starting. Most of the streams have been stocked throughout the state. Some of the better streams this week have been Cedar Creek, Whitetop Laurel and the Jackson River. Wet
flies and gold spinners and spoons have been some of the more successful baits.

S A L T W A T E R - Schools of big striped bass have been reported off Virginia Beach in inshore waters. A few have been recorded in the Chesapeake Bay, around the mouth of the Great Wicomico River, near buoy GW1, in 40 feet of water. One boat reported a catch of 4 fat roe-laden sows. All were returned
to the water. Boston Mackerel should be showing off Virginia Beach, in huge schools. Anglers will be loading coolers when the wind allows. As the tasty fish move up the coast, they should be fair game for the Ocean City boats within 10-14 days and accessible for Lewes, Delaware boats within 20 days. Capt. Jim Brincefield is still loading up on limits of black sea bass and blue
line tilefish on deep ocean wrecks off Virginia Beach. Contact Capt. Jim at 252-335-4296 or 443-336-8756.