Fishing Report

Potomac River Tide Information

High Point, Occoquan River

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

Friday 5/08 0658 1407 1930 0110 0534 2037

Saturday 5/09 0738 1451 2015 0149 0533 2038

Sunday 5/10 0816 1532 2059 0226 0532 2039

Monday 5/11 0854 1610 2143 0302 0531 2040

Tuesday 5/12 0931 1647 2228 0338 0530 2041

Wednesday 5/13 1010 1723 2314 0417 0529 2042

Thursday 5/14 1052 1800 - - - 0501 0528 2043

Friday 5/15 1139 1838 0003 0548 0527 2044

Saturday 5/16 1233 1920 0054 0639 0526 2045

Sunday 5/17 1334 2004 0144 0734 0525 2046

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. -- Fletcher's reports that shad, catfish, bass and stripers are eagerly taking baits above Key Bridge. In the city, largemouth bass are taking jig 'n pig, plastic worms and grubs, rattling crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Lower tides are producing best, near some type of structure. Try submerged wood, points, and dropoffs. Catfish are providing good action for shore anglers at Columbia Island and Haines Point. White perch anglers are load-ing up, using nightcrawlers and bloodworms. Crappie and sunfish round out the catches, taking small plastic grubs and small crankbaits.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE -- Bass are spawning in the milfoil beds on the main river, south of Chickamuxen Creek. Arkindale Flat, Blue Banks, Wade's Bay and Aquia Creek are some of the better places for these beds. White and yellow perch are also seeking food in the grass. Small plastic baits and rattling crankbaits are the preferred baits, although small topwater baits are attracting strikes in the early morning. Catfish are taking cut herring and clam snouts. Fish flats adjacent to main river channels. Use stout tackle when fishing the channel itself, as trophy size fish are resident here. Creeks are showing bass in the lily pad fields, and tightly holding to wood cover. With all the fronts that have moved through in the past week or so,the fish are a little skittish. Fish bottom baits very slowly or fish reaction baits. The water is heavily stained, so pick colors that stand out....Chartreuse, orange or black. Small baits are the ticket, cast or flipped on light line.

OCCOQUAN RIVER -- Catfish are taking cut herring and clam snouts throughout the river. Crap-pie are consistent in the early evening along the shoreline and around boat docks. Best bait is live shiners. Bass are turning on, with most of the fish being taken on small plastic worms in shallow water or around wood cover, holding tight. Bass are spawning in 4-6 feet of water on any available cover. Four inch Yamamoto Senkos in green pumpkin, fished weightless, will take most of the fish. Remember to fish them slow.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR -- Largemouth bass are taking plastic worms in very shallow water. Fish the main lake points, casting onto the shore and retrieving back toward the deeper water. Crappie are schooled up and biting well. Catfish are taking clam snouts and cut bait throughout the lake. Fish the main creek channels on outside bends.

BURKE LAKE -- Bass are biting well. Lots of nice fish being taken on plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Most of the fish are in the shallows, with the best depth being less than three feet. Crappie fishermen are being rewarded with nice stringers. Some large bluegill are being taken from the spawning beds. Muskie are becoming active.

FARM PONDS -- Most of the bass are either spawning or in the pre-spawn stage. Baits should be live, or small plastics, fished in the deeper water near the dam. Fish the baits with as little weight as possible and be very patient. Sunfish should be spawning. They will take nightcrawlers, red wigglers, crickets and flyrod poppers. Use polaroid sunglasses to locate the beds in shallow wa-ter. Don't neglect small topwater poppers.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER -- Smallmouth bass are taking small crankbaits, plastic grubs, spin-ners and live bait. Buzzbaits and Tiny Torpedos will also produce well early and late in the day. Flyrodders should try poppers and Wooly buggers. Spawning bluegill are suckers for Beetlespins, small spinners and flyrod poppers. Occasional walleye are being taken by anglers trolling Rapalas upstream, alongside weedbeds. Catfish are cooperating nicely on live and prepared baits. Carp are suckers for Niblets corn and Wheaties/strawberry Jello baits.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER -- The tidal section of the river is producing good stringers of large-mouth bass, striped bass and giant blue catfish. The bass and stripers are taking shad-imitating baits along shoreline structure, while the catfish are taking cut gizzard shad or herring, fished on the bottom in the outside bends of the main river channel. Crappie action is spotty, while sunfish are available on nightcrawlers and Beetlespins. Hickory shad, herring and white perch are being taken in numbers. Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking plastic grubs, spider jigs and topwa-ter lures, fished in the holes in the river channel.

SHENANDOAH RIVER -- Both forks of the river are producing good numbers of smallmouth bass on small plastic worms and grubs. Larger fish are suckers for small, fat crankbaits in green or chartreuse colors. Flyrodders have success with olive, brown and black, weighted, wooly buggers. Bluegill are taking tiny spinners and Beetlespins, while catfish may be taken on live minnows, nightcrawlers and chicken livers.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS -- The big news is catfish; big and plentiful. Some bass are being taken on plastic worms and rattling crankbaits. White perch are still available on blood-worms and big bluegill are taking crickets and Beetle spins.

LAKE ANNA -- Largemouth bass action is good for anglers fishing shallow points on the main lake or in the creeks. Topwater baits, early and late in the day, are producing good stringers. After the sun comes up, switch to plastic worms and grubs, jig 'n pig or crankbaits. Concentrate in the shallow water uplake, but work the baits deeper as the sun goes higher. Bigger fish are com-ing from the willow grass beds uplake in both arms of the lake. A few walleye are being taken from shallow points, on overcast days. Striper action is good, with most of the fish being taken on Sassy Shads, Hopkins Spoons and live shad. Crappie are biting well. Best areas are around the bridge pilings and beaver lodges.

JAMES RIVER -- Above the city, some smallmouth bass are taking plastics, topwater lures and live baits. In the lower tidal sections, largemouth bass are orienting to creek mouths, coves and standing cypress. Shallow water and moving tides are the key to taking these fish. Blue catfish are biting well in the deeper channels well below the city. White perch are still available below the Dutch Gap Power Plant.

LAKE CHESDIN -- Lots of bass in the 4-7 pound class are being taken from the lake. Buzzbaits are the best producing lure, but must be fished in the early morning or late evening to be effective. During the day, plastic worms are the better choice. Bream and crappie are providing good action for panfishermen, with red wigglers, crickets and live minnows being the preferred choice for bait.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER -- Fishing is picking up, but there is lots of boat traffic on the river. Lots of gar are being taken on live minnows around the dam. Largemouth bass, orienting to the lily pads, may be taken on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Catfish and bream round out the action.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE -- Lots of bass are being taken. Bream are hitting crickets and flyrod poppers, while crappie are taking live minnows, fished over the submerged brushpiles. Flyrodders are taking crappie on poppers in the lily pads and around cypress trees. A few catfish are coming in to the marina.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR -- Fishing for shellcrackers and bass is good, with good fish of both species biting well. Crappie are biting especially well, with "tons of good fish" being caught. Some channel cats and an occasional walleye round out the catches.

BACK BAY -- White perch are hitting in the bay. Some bass are being caught around the grass beds on spinnerbaits and flyrod poppers, particularly Red Head Bay. The creeks are producing bass on nightcrawlers and live minnows. Catfish, bluegills and a few crappie complete the action.

SUFFOLK LAKES -- Shellcrackers finally started to show some life this past week, as a few cita-tions were written. The fish were taken on live crickets and red wigglers. Most shellcrackers are beginning to bed and the action should continue to be good through next week. Some bass, 5-9 pounds, are biting at Western Branch and Cohoon. Stripers are providing some action, along with bass and crappie at Lake Meade. Walleye are hitting at Lakes Smith and Whitehurst.

LAKE GASTON -- Topwater baits are coming into their own on this lake, where largemouth bass may be taken almost at will early and late in the day. The bass are active in shallow water on main lake points. Fish plastic grubs on most points in 4-8 feet of water and spinnerbaits on WINDY points. Those bass that have left the beds are orienting to boat docks, where plastic worms are taking their toll. Good fishing may also be had in the creeks off the main river channel above the Eaton's Ferry Bridge. Striper action is good around the I-85 and Route 1 Bridges. Crappie are biting well. Bream are schooling, with crickets doing the job.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE -- Lake level is at 301 and slowly falling. The most consistent pattern for bass is Zoom Centipedes in pumpkinseed or watermelon seed, light sinkers, light line, fished on rocky bluffs. Some bass are located in the backs of coves. Most are suspended a couple of feet down, in ten feet of water. They are orienting to the willow bushes and downed wood. Buzzbaits and Zara Spooks are taking good fish in the early morning, while plastic worms and jig 'n pig flipped into the willows, or spinnerbaits in the buckbrush, are taking good fish during the day. Crappie may be found on bridge pilings and catfish are biting everything in sight. Cut shad or chicken livers in shallow water are the ticket for the cats. Striper fishing at the base of Kerr Dam is excellent. Fish to 18 pounds are not unusual. The key is determining when the gates are open. When only one gate is open, fishing is excellent. When more than one is open, fishing shuts down.

BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS -- Excellent bream fishing on crickets and red wigglers. Bass action is heating up again, with a number of trophy fish being caught this past week, along with lots of bluegill, catfish and pickerel.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE -- Bait fish are moving onto the banks at night. This makes 9:30-11 p.m. the best time for striper fishing. Live shad are the best bait for the big fish, but Cordell Red-fins and 1/3 ounce Hopkins Shorty with bucktail are also working well. Largemouth bass are being taken on plastic worms and lizards in the Roanoke River arm of the lake, as they continue their spawn. Concentrate on boat docks, as far back under them as possible. Plenty of large crappie are also available.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR -- Stripers, walleye, crappie and white bass are the fare here. Shad Raps appear to be the best bait throughout the lake, as most of the larger fish weighed in during the past week were taken on this bait. Below the dam, lots of anglers are catching stripers from the fishing pier.

LAKE MOOMAW -- Bass action is excellent, as catches of 20+ keepers are reported. Best suc-cess is to be had by fishing in 3-4 feet of water on live bait and crankbaits. Brown trout are being caught, trolling or fishing live alewives in deep water at night. Crappie fishing is excellent, with good numbers of big fish being caught. Rainbow trout have moved in the area around Fourtney Boat Landing. The fish are in the 12-16 inch range.

PHILPOTT LAKE -- Smallmouth and walleye are the main targets here. Plastic worms, soft plastic jerk baits and topwater baits are luring the smallmouth, while crankbaits and nightcrawlers are taking the walleye. An occasional brown trout is also taken. Crappie are being caught regularly in the Fairystone Cove area.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR -- Crappie are located at the mouth of creeks, with good num-bers being caught. Look for smallmouth bass on the rocky points, while largemouth bass are found near Jacobs Creek. White bass are being caught at the water intake.

CLAYTOR LAKE -- Stripers and hybrid stripers are taking Mann's Stretch 20 plugs live bait and topwater baits. Smallmouth bass are taking plastic grubs, while flathead catfish are taking cut bait, live minnows and crankbaits. Crappie action is fair to good. Lots of carp in the 20+ pound range are being caught.

NEW RIVER -- Good catfish action, along with a few small walleye. Striper action is fair to good below the dam.

FLANNAGAN RESERVOIR -- Trout action is good under the spillway, while the news on the lake is big crappie. Smallmouth bass are taking small plastics and shallow rattling crankbaits. Bream and bluegills are spawning, where flyrod poppers and Beetle spins are taking their toll.

CLINCH RIVER -- The river is high, but fishable. Smallmouth bass are taking small rattling crank-baits, pumpkinseed grubs and small topwater baits.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR -- Crappie and smallmouth bass are the fare here, with some white bass and trout also showing in the creels.

TROUT STREAMS -- Ideal conditions are holding on the larger streams in the Western portion of the state, as well as all of the headwater streams in the National Parks and Forests. The water levels are full and good fishing can be found in all the mountain streams. Small gold or brass spinners will work well, as will weighted nymphs and streamers in sizes 8-10.

SALTWATER

CHINCOTEAGUE -- Good flounder action near the mouth of the inlet, in the clearer water. Queens Sound and Four Mouths are the favored locations. Some excellent catches of grey trout are coming from the Bay side. Chopper bluefish are available off Chincoteague, within sight of the shore. Surf anglers are taking snapper blues, pan trout and sea mullet. On the inshore wrecks, sea bass are running up to two pounds and bluefish to 15 pounds. Bayside, a few croaker over the two pound mark are being caught. Assateague Island surf anglers are taking a few black drum in the 10-20 pound class on peeler crab.

WACHAPREAGUE -- Sea bass fishing is still excellent on the wrecks, with pods of large bluefish also showing. Inside the inlet, flounder catches were good in Green and Drawing Channels, The Hummocks, Millstone Creek and Seals Creek. The deep water in front of the old Coast Guard Station is yielding some grey trout in the 4-5 pound range, and sea mullet, in addition to flounder. Tautog are still biting well on the offshore wrecks.

ONANCOCK -- Good speckled trout action around Half Moon Island and Parkers Island. Bottom fished peeler crab and Mirrolures are the better baits. A few red drum are being taken in the same area. Large black drum are showing in the commercial nets, but no reports of hook and line catches. Croaker and grey trout are biting in Pocomoke and Tangier Sound, with fair numbers of sea mullet mixed in. Grey trout action is excellent for anglers working the deepwater ledges on the tide change, using fresh peeler crab or cut spot. The trout bite best when the tide is running strong. Cownosed rays are moving into the area. The shallow grass beds from Nandua Creek to Saxis Island are giving up speckled trout, red drum and croaker on peeler crab.

QUINBY -- Trout, to six pounds, are showing in the deeper holes along the Gap. Some black drum are also showing at the inlet mouth in 9-12 feet of water. The fish are averaging 35-50 pounds, with the best action in the late afternoon and evening. Flounder action is improving, with best action being around the QC buoy.

CAPE CHARLES -- Some red and black drum catches are being made, but limits are not seen. Most of the fish are being caught at Buoy 16, off the Cement Ships. Mixed in the catches are pigfish, porgy and croaker. Fair to good catches of pan trout were made, with the best fishing in the vicinity of the Cement Ships. The Cabbage Patch is giving up some black drum along with lots of red drum on sea clams. The Concrete Ships area is also giving up lots of tautog.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- Excellent tautog action on all the islands, bridge pilings and along the CBBT complex. Plenty of flounder at the First Island and the Small Boat Channel of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. The rocks around all four of the islands continue to yield decent catches of tautog and taylor blues. A few chopper bluefish are caught by trollers near the Fourth Island. Speckled trout are being taken from the Lynnhaven complex, where large bluefish are also being taken inside the inlet. Flounder action is holding steady on Back River, where grey trout, spot and croaker are mixed in the catches. The Twin Stakes area is giving up some flounder, grey trout and croaker. Good catches of grey trout are being made on peeler crab, fished on incoming tides at Factory Point. Good catches of flounder are reported off Buckroe Beach, at the Bell Buoy. Several good catches of tautog were taken from the rocks located at the entrance to the Salt Ponds. Excellent action on speckled trout inside Mobjack Bay. The mouth of the North and Ware Rivers have been producing well and most fish are caught on fresh chunks of peeler crab. Trolling the CBBT is producing lots of striped bass and a few red drum. The Lumps on the York River is giving up large croaker and pan trout on peeler crab.

MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- A few keeper stripers, over the 32 inch mark, are available on the Southwest Middlegrounds. Bigger fish, however, are located in the mouth of the Potomac, along the 40 foot mark. Trolling umbrella rigs and Mann's Stretch 30's are producing lots of 15-25 pound fish. Trolling has been so good that chumming and bottom fishing has not started yet. Grey trout are reported around the Target Ship wrecks and the Smith Point Light. A few flounder are showing at the Smith Point jetty and at Blackberry Hang. Flounder have moved onto the flats at the mouth of the Little Wicomico River. Speckled trout are being caught at Wind-mill Point and Hole-in-the-Wall. Excellent flounder action in the Buoy 42 area and at Mosquito Point. Croaker to three pounds and grey trout to 18 inches are plentiful throughout the lower Rap-pahannock River, with the larger fish coming from 3-5 feet of water.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA -- Taylor bluefish are strung out in good schools from Love Point South to the Mouth of the Potomac River. A few grey trout have been caught at Cow Island in the Nanticoke River, where herring are also being caught. White perch fishing is good at the Blackwater, DeCoursey, Drawbridge and New Bridge Bridges in Dorchester County, and in Marshyhope Creek. Trophy stripers are being taken by trollers, using white parachute rigs. Better areas are around Buoy 83 and Bloody Point Light.

OCEAN CITY -- Sea bass and tautog action is still excellent on the offshore wrecks. A few blue-fish are available at the inlet.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- The wind has been a constant problem during the past week, but a few boats have ventured out. Excellent catches of chopper bluefish are being made in the Horseshoe area, about 30 miles ESE of Rudee Inlet. Headboats are taking good numbers of sea bass and tautog. Lots of taylor bluefish and stripers remained inside Rudee Inlet throughout the week, but action has slowed. Flounder, speckled trout and a few puppy drum are also available inside the Inlet. Sporadic catches of large blues are reported from the beach, from Cape Henry to Sandbridge.

PIERS

JAMES RIVER -- Croaker were the top catch this week, with fair numbers of spot, speckled trout and flounder. Taylor blues made a strong showing along with 20-26 inch stripers.

OCEAN VIEW -- Good runs of croaker every evening, with a smattering of trout, snapper bluefish, sea mullet and striped bass also being caught.

LYNNHAVEN -- Anglers were surprised to find a mixture of snapper bluefish, sea mullet, croaker and skate this weekend, although the wind did shut down most of the action.

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Sea mullet and taylor blues provide the bulk of the action, with a few small spot, weakfish and speckled trout also being caught.

SANDBRIDGE -- Strong runs of taylor blues are providing lots of action, with choppers coming through occasionally, and skates all the time. Bottom fishermen are taking a few spot and croaker, while sea mullet are present all the time.

OUTER BANKS, N.C. -- Surf action has been good, with plenty of sea mullet being caught. Some taylor blues and a few puppy drum are mixed in the catches. Speckled trout, spot and blowfish are also showing in the surf. Decent catches of blues were made from the Oregon Inlet Catwalk, where speckled trout are being taken in the early morning hours. Plenty of small spot were taken from the piers, where sea mullet and speckled trout are in good supply. Outside the inlet, plenty of bluefish are available, while huge schools of chopper blues are found from the Sea Buoy to 50 miles offshore. Offshore, the catch has been dominated by yellowfin tuna, with several limits re-ported. Dolphin, wahoo, king mackerel, false albacore and large bluefish are included in the catches.

Some billfish are reported, along with mako shark. Inshore boats are catching mainly taylor blues, with occasional Spanish mackerel. Those boats running the Sound to Mann's Harbor are finding consistent catch and release striper action. The headboats are returning with mainly sea bass, small blues and pigfish.

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