Friday 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 12/02 0616 1236 1817 0056 0639 1716

Thursday 12/03 0701 1330 1905 0145 0640 1716

Friday 12/04 0749 1425 1956 0234 0641 1716

Saturday 12/05 0840 1521 2050 0324 0642 1716

Sunday 12/06 0935 1619 2149 0414 0643 1716

Monday 12/07 1034 1720 2253 0505 0644 1716

Tuesday 12/08 1137 1823 - - - 0557 0645 1716

Wednesday 12/09 1241 1928 0002 0651 0645 1716

Thursday 12/10 1344 2035 0112 0746 0646 1716

Friday 12/11 1442 2139 0216 0842 0647 1716

Saturday 12/12 1537 2240 0315 0938 0648 1716

Sunday 12/13 1627 2336 0410 1031 0648 1717

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Largemouth bass in the city are to be found on shallow

sand, rocky or gravel banks adjacent to dropoffs. These areas are feeding

grounds for the bass, as they come up from their holding areas in deeper

water. Jig 'n pig, small plastic grubs and small crankbaits are the better

choice for artificial baits. Fish deeper water with Silver Buddies. The

outflow from Blue Plains is holding large numbers of bass, along with crappie,

gizzard shad, carp and catfish. Catfish are also biting well at the outflow

from the Alexandria Power Plant. The Spoils are giving up some good catches of

largemouth bass. Smallmouth bass are cooperating nicely on live bait, fished

along the Virginia shoreline, above Key Bridge. Some walleye are reported from

the upstream point of Three Sisters Islands and in the coves above Fletcher's

Boathouse.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Most of the action here is to be

found on main river points and creek mouths. Shallow flats along creek

channels are producing good largemouth bass for anglers fishing patiently with

small baits. These areas are particularly good in the late afternoon when the

sun has warmed the water. Best method is casting plastic grubs and small wide-

wobbling crankbaits in 2-3 feet of water, and slowly working them down the

dropoff. Plastic grubs and jig 'n pig, fished at the base of the dropoff, will

also produce fish. Yellow perch and crappie are active around submerged cover,

particularly on outside bends of the creek channels. Some pickerel are

available in the lower creeks. Main river anglers will do best by fishing

wooden structure in 15-20 feet of water. The Mount Vernon dock is a good

example. Slow presentations of plastic grubs and jig 'n pig are successful.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - Yellow perch are thick on the flat below the Route One

Bridge. Largemouth bass are available along the rock wall in 8-15 feet of

water, and on the rock points along the southern shore. Hopkins Spoons, Silver

Buddies, plastic grubs, jig 'n pig and live bait are the preferred choices.

Plenty of bass are available under the baitfish schools in the mid section of

the river. Crappie are taking live minnows and tiny jigs around the boat docks

below the Route One Bridge. Stripers are reported, taking Sassy Shads, in the

deep water around Hoffmaster's Marina.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Anglers with access to the lake will do well by fishing

main lake points and rock walls with jig 'n pig, plastic grubs and slow-rolled

spinnerbaits. Crappie fishing is excellent for anglers dunking live minnows

over creek and river channels where the tasty fish are suspended.

BURKE LAKE - Few anglers out. Those who are fishing report some bass action on

the dropoffs along the weed beds. Live bait is producing best, but occasional

fish are taking jig 'n pig and plastic baits. Panfishing is excellent.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Anglers are catching some smallmouth bass in the

deeper sections of the river on small plastic grubs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits

and jig 'n pig baits. Smallmouth bass and large catfish are also available at

the outflow from the Dickerson Power Plant. Live minnows and plastic grubs are

taking the smallmouth, while live waterdogs, when available, are taking large

channel catfish. Don't neglect topwater baits, as the water is warmer than the

main river. Lots of crappie are being caught, along with the largemouth bass,

at the mouths of the feeder creeks.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Some activity for largemouth bass and crappie is noted in

the tidal stretches. Blue catfish, to 30 pounds, are taking cut shad baits in

the deeper portions of the channel. Crappie fishing is said to be good around

the blowdowns just below the city.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - Excellent fishing for smallmouth bass and sunfish. Small,

floating crankbaits, fished slowly, are taking good numbers of the scrappy

fish. Live minnows and nightcrawlers are also producing, with an occasional

catfish nipping the hook.

LAKE ANNA - Biggest news here is stripers. Most of the fish are being taken on

four inch Sassy Shads, Hopkins Spoons and bucktails. Better areas are around

the 208 Bridge, the mouth of Pigeon Creek and around the Splits. Trollers are

taking fish on deep diving Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrak minnows over the

river channel off Jett's Island. Some bass activity on secondary points in the

creeks, but most are taken in the backs of coves with small creeks. Jig 'n pig

and plastic grubs are the chief baits. Jigging with Silver Buddies and Hopkins

Shorties is producing some big largemouth bass. Crappie are biting well.

Schools are to be found in the back of creeks, suspended over the main

channel.

JAMES RIVER - Catfish action is excellent in the Dutch Gap area. Best bet is

fishing large pieces of cut shad on the bottom in the outside bends of the

river channel. Use heavy tackle, as these bruisers can run upwards of 50

pounds. Gar action has picked up, with cut bait being the more successful

lure. Crappie action is still good in the barge pits, while bass action has

slowed. Live bait, fished along the river side of the islands in the Dutch Gap

area, should produce a mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth bass, along with

some crappie. Striper action is still excellent around the Benjamin Harrison

Bridge and the power lines just upstream. Best lures are Rat-L-Traps, Sassy

Shads and shad colored crankbaits.

LAKE CHESDIN - Crappie anglers are catching some nice bass, mixed in with the

crappie being taken from the bridges. The fish are being taken on live minnows

and crappie jigs.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Some bass are being taken on live minnows by dedicated

anglers. Most of the fish are being caught in stump fields and at creek mouths

on moving tides. Some crappie, catfish and yellow perch are also available.

Stripers are still taking Rat-L-Traps and trolled Redfins near Walker's Dam.

Crappie anglers are taking some citation fish near Walker's Dam at twilight,

from the bank, on live minnows.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Bass to six pounds and pickerel dominate the action, with

both species being taken on live minnows, fished deep. Crappie anglers are

also taking good stringers of fish on live minnows.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR (TOANO) - Bass are still biting well, along with

crappie to two pounds and pickerel to three pounds. Some of the larger bass

are caught by crappie anglers on crappie jigs. Stripers are caught daily.

BACK BAY - Very few catches of bass, but some nice white perch are reported

from West Neck Creek on minnows. Catfish anglers are scoring well on clam

snouts.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Most of the action in Lakes Smith, Western Branch and Prince

is centered on stripers. Live bait, and trolled deep diving minnow imitations

are the chief baits. Some bass are reported, but few large ones. Most anglers

are concentrating on crappie. Lake Whitehurst reports pickerel, crappie and

some small bass.

LAKE GASTON - Live bait and deep-trolling are producing some good striper

catches, although the fish are running small. White perch continue to be

caught, jigging in the creeks with Hopkins Shorties. Walleye are taken along

with the white perch. Crappie anglers are taking good stringers of fish on

live minnows, as the schools suspend over the creek channels. Bass fishing is

so-so, with fish being caught on long points in 10-14 feet of water, on

crankbaits and Carolina rigs. Lots of patience is required.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Largemouth bass anglers are catching fish on topwaters and

suspending jerkbaits, fished adjacent to the brush, early and late in the day,

and jig 'n pig and Carolina rigged plastic grubs during daylight hours. Most

of the striper activity has moved downlake, below Clarksville, with the mouth

of Eastland Creek being particularly good. Live bait is the key. Crappie are

being caught around the bridge pilings on live minnows and tiny grubs.

Overall, fishing is good.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Scattered catches of stripers on live bait, "in the

woodlot" are reported, with fish to 20 pounds. Largemouth and smallmouth bass

are being caught on slow rolled spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and deep running

crankbaits on main channel points. Crappie are being caught around brushpiles,

in the creeks.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Bass are being taken on lipless crankbaits, with a stop

and go retrieve. Most of the hits are coming while the bait is falling.

LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing activity has picked up. Some good sized smallmouth and

largemouth bass are being taken by die hard anglers. Crappie anglers are

having good success on live minnows and tiny jigs. A few brown trout in the 4-

5 pound class are reported being caught around the Fortney area.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Smallmouth bass fishing is reported to be very good, with

large numbers of fish being taken on live minnows. Fifteen pound limits of

smallmouth are not uncommon. Crappie anglers are catching good numbers of fish

on live minnows. The Smith River is giving up some nice trout for

flyfishermen.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - A few bass and lots of crappie is the word here.

Live minnows and jigs are the choice of bait. Walleye anglers are jigging a

few fish on Hopkins spoons. Trout fishing is good below the dam, when the

turbines are running.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Striper fishing is hot in Peake Creek, with lots of fish being

caught on topwaters, such as the Zara Spook, and on chartreuse Roadrunners.

Bass action is good in Dublin Hollow, where Gitzits and Silver Buddies are

taking their toll on both largemouth and smallmouth bass.

NEW RIVER - Although the river is high and clear, a few fish were taken this

past week. Reported catches include mostly small fish.

TROUT STREAMS - All scheduled stockings are continuing with no weather

delays. Water conditions are good throughout most of the area and most streams

still fishable.

SALTWATER - Striper fishing is excellent for the big sows that come into the

Bay from the Atlantic Ocean this time of year. Best action seems to be

centered just below Reedville. Most of the fish are taken by trolling umbrella

rigs and parachute rigs, with Sassy Shads at 32-35 feet. Watch for working

birds. There are reports of large grey trout under the schools of stripers.

These fish are taking jigging spoons, such as Stingsilvers.

Charlie Taylor writes about fishing for News and Messenger. He may be reached

at: cetaylor2@verizon.net