Fishing Report

Potomac River Tide Information

High Point, Occoquan River

Day Date High Low High Low A.M. P.M.

Friday 5/01 1236 1957 0030 0701 0543 2030

Saturday 5/02 1355 2056 0141 0811 0542 2031

Sunday 5/03 1508 2154 0247 0821 0540 2032

Monday 5/04 1611 2249 0347 1029 0539 2033

Tuesday 5/05 1707 2340 0441 1131 0538 2034

Wednesday 5/06 1757 - - - 0530 1228 0537 2035

Thursday 5/07 1845 0027 0615 1320 0536 2036

Friday 5/08 1930 0110 0658 1407 0534 2037

Saturday 5/09 2015 0149 0738 1451 0533 2038

Sunday 5/10 2059 0226 0816 1532 0532 2039

OVERVIEW -- Throughout the state, lakes and rivers are dropping and clearing. In most bodies of water, good fish are being caught. Patience and persistence is sometimes necessary, along with an understanding of what fish are doing during this season of the year. The better baits for bass are normally rattling crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and plastic worms and lizards. Topwater jerk baits are coming into their own as the water temperatures rise.

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. -- Bass are hitting plastic worms, grubs and jig 'n pigs, worked in and around the hydrilla beds from Blue Plains to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Dropoffs are also producing bass on deep-diving crankbaits, Rat-L-Traps, Chatterbaits and plastic baits. Channel catfish are hitting cut herring baits throughout the river, when fished on flats adjacent to deep water. Herring, white perch, catfish and stripers are thick around Fletcher's Boat House. Crappie are being found around submerged brushpiles in quiet waters throughout the region. Washington Channel, The Spoils, and Belle Haven Cove are producing good numbers.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE -- Bass are actively feeding in the milfoil and hydrilla beds along both shorelines, from Broad Creek to Nanjemoy Creek. On low, outgoing tides, fish very shallow water with small, tight wobbling or lipless crankbaits. On incoming tides, shift to the extreme outside edge of the grassbeds and fish with jig 'n pig, Carolina-rigged plastic lizards or plastic worms. Use as slow a retrieve as possible or let the bait sit totally still. The bass will do the rest. Bass anglers are also being shocked by stripers, roaming the edges of the grassbeds, hitting bass lures. Rattling crankbaits are taking fish in swift moving tides, on points and steep-dropping banks. Top-water baits are taking some fish early and late in the day. Bass are beginning to move into the lily pads in the creeks. Spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms are taking their toll here. Sunfish are spawning in the shallows, where Beetlespins, small spinners and flyrod poppers are irresistible. Yellow perch are thick on sand and gravel banks, and points. Small crankbaits and grubs produce well. Catfish are taking cut bait aggressively. Small, live white perch are also taking trophy catfish.

OCCOQUAN RIVER -- Crappie fishing is good with small jigs and live minnows being the more successful baits. Catfish are taking clam snouts and cut herring throughout the river, at all times of day and night. Bass action is fair. Some fish are being taken from the back end of the river, among the rocks. Plenty of stripers are present in the river. Rattling crankbaits and cut herring are the preferred baits.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR -- Best action on bass has been on plastic worms and crankbaits, fished along the rock walls, on main lake points and in the coves. Catfish are taking clam snouts, cut bait and chicken livers. Crappie action is holding up well. Some citation fish are being caught.

BURKE LAKE -- Crappie are thick and biting well. Shellcrackers are taking nightcrawlers and crickets. Bass are hitting plastic worms, buzzbaits and spinnerbaits in shallow water, near vegetation. Catfish are biting well on cut bait.

FARM PONDS -- Bass are roaming the shallows in most ponds. Plastic worms, Rapalas and flyrod poppers are taking some good fish. Sunfish and crappie are also biting well on small jigs, Beetlespins and flyrod poppers.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER -- Smallmouth bass are taking very small baits, fished slowly along the grass beds on the edge of the river. Small crankbaits, spinners, plastic grubs and top water baits are doing the trick. Flyrodders should use small poppers and woolybuggers in black and dark chartreuse. Good bass action can sometimes be found below the weed beds where the carp are rolling. As the carp roll in the beds, they dislodge insects and crustaceans, which are washed downstream by the current. Smallmouth have learned to station themselves downstream and wait for the bounty. Catfish action is good and bluegills are starting to take baits. The larger bluegills are loaded with eggs and will bite aggressively. Crappie are spawning at the mouths of the feeder creeks, with 1-2# fish not uncommon.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER -- Herring and white perch are still in the river. Flyrodders are taking lots of hickory and American shad at the Route 1 bridge. Catfish are taking cut herring, fished on the bottom, in the outside bends of the main river channel. Bass are taking shad-colored crankbaits along the South bank of the river and plastic worms and grubs fished in the blowdowns. Plenty of stripers are hooked while fishing for bass. Above the city, smallmouth bass fishing is excellent on Tiny Torpedos and plastic grubs.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Bass fishing has improved with smallmouth bass taking live minnows, nightcrawlers and small, slowly-fished artificial baits. Largemouth bass are also taking plastic worms, grubs, jig 'n pigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. Catfish are becoming very active with cut bait, minnows and nightcrawlers taking the majority. Sunfish are popping on top and taking Beetlespins and other small lures.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS -- Still plenty of herring and a few shad in the rivers. Along with the herring are lots of stripers. Some bass action is to be had on tide swept points and around wood cover. White perch are being taken on bloodworms.

LAKE ANNA -- Downlake, the bass are on a post spawn pattern where the water is clear, but up lake, the males have moved back in the coves, while the loaded sows are still on points adjacent to the coves. Carolina-rigged plastic lizards are the most effective baits, although some fish are being taken on crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Fish the Carolina rigs in stump fields, dropping into 8-12 feet of water. Cast to the shallows and retrieve down the dropoff very slowly. Striper fishing is best early and late in the day, with Sassy Shads and Bass Assassins, fished on the flats adjacent to main channel points. Crappie fishing remains excellent, with the tasty fish being caught on live minnows and tiny jigs around beaver huts, bridge pilings and suspended over creek channels.

JAMES RIVER -- Lots of nice largemouth are being caught in the tidal sections of the river, particularly in the lower creeks. Blue catfish are cooperating nicely on cut herring or shad in the river channels just below the city. Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking tiny crankbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms and grubs. Catfish are thick and aggressive. Bluegills are spawning and viciously attacking almost anything thrown their way. Walleye are biting well around the Route 95 Bridge area, near the city. Most of the fish, 3-8 pounds, are taking crankbaits.

LAKE CHESDIN -- Water levels here are only slightly above normal and the water is clearing slowly. Bass action is slowing, with the preferred baits being spinnerbaits, plastics and rattling crankbaits. Crappie are taking minnows around submerged brush.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER -- Lots of bass in the 3-4 pound range are being taken on small crankbaits, plastic worms and grubs, and topwater lures. Big gar are being caught by anglers using large minnows, in and on the edges of the lily pads. Lots of big bream are caught on nightcrawlers, while herring and shad are taken on small gold hooks and spoons at Walker's Dam. Catfish are taking cut bait throughout the river.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE -- Buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms, fished over the grass beds, are taking good stringers of bass and bowfin. Shellcrackers are taking flyrod poppers, grass shrimp and crickets. Catfish action is excellent on nightcrawlers, minnows and cut herring. Crappie are hitting flyrod poppers aggressively.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR -- Bass fishing is still consistent. Bass are taking spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, topwater lures and plastic worms. Occasional walleye are taking nightcrawlers or live minnows, while crankbaits account for some pickerel. Crappie fishing is excellent, and large bream are beginning to bite.

BACK BAY -- Channel catfish action is red hot, with catches of 7-13 pound fish normal. Some 4-6 pound bass, but no smaller bass are reported. Fishing in the creeks is excellent, with catfish, crappie, bream, white perch and bass to eight pounds, hitting well.

SUFFOLK LAKES -- Fishing for bream and shellcracker is excellent, with crickets being the most productive bait. Lake Prince has given up many citation size fish during the past week. Bass fishing is good, with plastic worms and topwater baits accounting for some large fish. Stripers, 6-8 pounds, are biting well in Lake Meade. Walleye are the news at Lake Smith and Whitehurst, as the fish, 3-6 pounds, are taking rattling crankbaits. Lake Smith is producing some seven pound bass on plastic lizards.

LAKE GASTON -- Fishing has been slow this past week, but striper fishermen are catching fish on live shad and bucktails cast up on the bank in the upper end of the lake, near the Kerr Dam. Catfish action is good for anglers fishing live shad on or near the bottom. Largemouth action is slow, but topwater lures and plastic worms are accounting for a few good fish in the back ends of main lake coves.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE -- The lake is stained at the upper end and clear at the lower end. Downlake, bass are holding in the buckbrush on points and in brushpiles. Best patterns seem to be topwater baits on points and along rock bluffs early in the morning, moving back into 8-12 feet of water after the sun comes up, with jig 'n pig, Carolina-rigged lizards and small Yamamoto Senkos. Uplake from Clarksville, bass are holding on creek channel dropoffs and cruising the flooded gum trees. Better choices of baits include plastic worms and lizards and Yamamoto Senkos, fished nearly weightless. When fronts make their way through the area, the fish may hold as deep as 30 feet. Jerkbaits are also taking some bass, when fished very slowly, right up next to the brush. Crappie are taking bass baits throughout the lake, as they are very aggressive. Lots of 2-3 pound crappie are being caught. Catfish are taking cut bait and most normal catfish baits.

BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS -- Briery Creek is still giving up big bass, with a large number of 4-5 pounders being caught this past week. Plastic lizards and live minnows are the ticket. Bream anglers are catching lots of large fish on flyrod poppers, crickets and worms. Large crappie are taking minnows.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE -- Excellent striper fishing around Cedar Key. Some of the fish weigh up to 30 pounds. Hopkins spoons, 1/3 ounce, are also taking some stripers. Lots of 12 pound stripers are hitting Cordell Red Fins and Rebel Spoonbill plugs at night at the lower end of the lake. Bass anglers are catching good numbers of bass, to seven pounds. Bass are hitting spinnerbaits and plastic worms on rocky points and boat docks. Fish the dropoffs and ledges adjacent to boat docks, as the bigger fish are about 20 feet deep.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR -- Striper fishing is good, with live shad, bucktails and Cordell Redfins being the best baits. Below the dam, striper action for 16-17 pound fish, is reported as good in the Staunton River. Bass fishing is fair to good, with most of the fish being taken on buzzbaits.

LAKE MOOMAW -- Crappie action is excellent, with some of the fish weighing over two pounds. The larger fish are located in 12-15 feet of water. Plastic worms are taking smallmouth bass to five pounds. A few large trout have been caught on minnows, fished after dark.

PHILPOTT LAKE -- Largemouth and smallmouth bass are taking spring lizard baits in the shoreline trees. Walleye are taking the same bait, in addition to live minnows and crankbaits. Some crappie are being caught, but they are not schooled up yet.

NEW RIVER -- Some bass and catfish are being caught, with an occasional striper in the 4-5 pound class.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR -- Crappie fishing is excellent, with minnows being the best bait. White bass are hitting small spinners. Smallmouth bass action is much improved, with good numbers of fish being taken on plastic grubs, small crankbaits and topwater lures. Walleye are taking nightcrawler-tipped spinner rigs. Occasional muskie are also taken.

CLAYTOR LAKE -- Anglers are catching a few white bass at night, fishing with live alewives. Some stripers are also being caught at night. Flathead catfish are turned on, taking crayfish and chub minnows. Walleye are being caught in the shallows at Daleton. Smallmouth bass and crappie round out the catches. Live bait are the choice of the more successful anglers.

TROUT STREAMS - Big Stoney Creek is producing well since the recent stocking. Paddy Run and Upper Passage Creek also have ideal conditions. The Lower Peddlar River is producing well on small spoons, and sizes 10 and 12 nymphs. Throughout the National Parks, March browns and Hendricksons in sizes #12 or #14 are good flies. Streamers, particularly the Muddler Minnow pattern, have also been working well.

SALTWATER

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Good flounder action around Four Mouths, Queens Sound, buoys 4-7 and the channel behind Wallops Island. Shiners are the better choice of bait, as they are spawning and the flounder are gorging themselves. Taylor bluefish are being caught in the surf. Inshore, the wrecks are giving up sea bass and tautog.

WACHAPREAGUE -- Good catches of flounder, tautog and sea bass this past weekend. Inside the inlet, flounder drifters are finding consistent action at Drawing, Green and Hummocks Channels, as well as Mill Stone Creek and Bradford Channel. Good sized weakfish have moved into the area, with fish to seven pounds being recorded. Inshore wrecks are producing citation sized tautog and sea bass.

ONANCOCK -- Half Moon Island, Parkers Island and Watts Island are producing red drum and speckled trout for anglers soaking chunks of peeler crab. Croaker to two pounds and bluefish to eight pounds are also available inside Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds. Crammy Hack is giving up croaker, along the 30 foot contour, on squid and bloodworms. Some pan trout and taylor blues are mixed in the catches. The first catch of black drum inside Pocomoke Sound were reported this past week.

QUINBY -- Fair fishing for flounder up to three pounds. Taylor blues have arrived inside the inlet with good catches of 2-3 pound blues. No success on black drum yet.

CAPE CHARLES -- Pan trout and croaker anglers are finding good concentrations of fish at Plantation Light, the C-10 mussel beds and the Cape Charles Reef. Plenty of grey trout and croaker are available off Kiptopeake. Flounder action is good at Oyster, when the winds allow fishing. Bottom fishing is excellent for croaker, porgy, sea bass, blowfish, sea mullet, flounder and pan trout off Cape Charles Harbor. Lots of black drum are caught in the commercial nets, with a few of the big fish being taken at the Cabbage Patch. Schools of red drum are cruising the shallows inside Magothy Bay, off Smith and Fisherman's Islands. Anglers, sight casting, are catching good numbers of fish to 47 pounds.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- Good action for tautog along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel complex, along with lots of croaker and flounder. Large grey trout, to nine pounds, have moved into the Fourth Island area, being taken on squid and crab baits. Taylor bluefish are showing around the First Island and the Small Boat Channel. Lots of grey and speckled trout are being caught inside Lynnhaven Inlet, along with hordes of medium croaker. Grey trout, 5-7 pounds, are available around the northern islands of the Tunnel. Good catches of flounder are being made between the mouth of Back River and the channel, just offshore. Bottom fishermen are catching a variety of grey trout, sea mullet and croaker. Tautog are hitting at the Back River Reef and at the mouth of the Salt Ponds, while good catches of flounder are being made off Fort Monroe. Chunks of peeler crab, fished around the grass beds at the mouth of the Ware and North Rivers, are producing good catches of speckled trout. Croaker and small spot are being caught off the Gloucester Point Pier in the York River. Lots of citation sized speckled trout are being caught inside Mobjack Bay, by anglers fishing peeler crab on incoming tides. Better areas are Ware Point and the mouth of the Severn River.

MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- Stripers, to 42 inches, are thick in the area. Best baits are Mann's Stretch 25's and nine inch Sassy Shads on parachute rigs. Bottom fishermen are finding croaker and pan trout at the Asphalt Pile, while some speckled trout are caught at the Target Ships. The first catches of flounder are reported at the Great Wicomico Light and along the Smith Point Jetty. Speckled trout are moving inside Mobjack Bay, at Hole-in-the-Wall and inside the Piankatank River. In the Rappahannock River, anglers are taking flounder and croaker at the Silos and on Sturgeon Bar. Flounder are also available just off Locklies Creek and at Mosquito Point. The Rappahannock has been invaded with hordes of croaker to three pounds, and pan trout. Cut squid and peeler crab are the preferred baits. Lots of grey trout, 4-6 pounds, are taking peeler crab, bloodworm and squid baits between Carter Creek and Parrot's Rocks.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- Choptank River piers are reporting white perch being caught on grass shrimp. A few scattered bluefish around the Bay Bridge, but no trout yet. Most anglers are fishing for trophy striped bass. Charterboats are catching a few trophies, but most are under the minimum size limit.

OCEAN CITY -- Sea bass are available on the wrecks. Surf anglers are taking occasional chopper bluefish, while lots of stripers are being caught.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Surf anglers continue to catch blowtoads and sea mullet. Lots of 2-3 pound sea bass are the headboat fare, along with a few good tautog. Large tautog are still being caught on the ocean wrecks, but the action is beginning to slow. Large bluefish are showing on the ocean wrecks and at the Fish Hook, Bluefish Alley and Boomerang. Inside Rudee Inlet, casters are taking a few large speckled and grey trout and flounder. Offshore, yellowfin tuna and dolphin are available near the Point, off Oregon Inlet and at the 950 line, south of Rudee Inlet.

PIERS -- Generally, croaker, pan trout, flounder, stripers, taylor blues and some small spot are the catch at the piers throughout the Tidewater area. Standard pier baits are working well throughout. Jerk Jiggers, Hopkins spoons, bloodworms, minnows, clams and crab are among the best.

OUTER BANKS, N.C. -- Pier anglers have had steady action on sea mullet, grey trout, speckled trout, croaker, taylor bluefish and small spot. Surf anglers are confronted with hordes of sea mullet, plus brief flurries of speckled trout and taylor blues from Little Bridge to Manteo, along with some nice puppy drum. The first pompano of the season are available in the surf at Avon. A few red drum are being caught nightly at Cape Point, but the fish are thicker at Hatteras Inlet. Offshore, the fleet is finding large yellowfin tuna to 101 pounds, with limit catches of 20-50 pound fish being taken at the Point. Fair to good numbers of gaffer dolphin, blackfin tuna, king mackerel and wahoo are also being caught. Good numbers of billfish are caught and released. Inshore, headboats are catching plenty of taylor blues, sea mullet, sea bass and pigfish.

Charlie Taylor writes about fishing for News and Messenger. He may be reached at cetaylor2@verizon.net.