Friday fishing report

FISHING REPORT By Charlie Taylor

POTOMAC RIVER TIDES TWILIGHT

DAY DATE HIGH LOW HIGH LOW A.M. P.M.

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Wednesday 11/11 0130 0818 1408 2052 0619 1727

Thursday 11/12 0237 0915 1506 2157 0620 1726

Friday 11/13 0336 1009 1559 2257 0621 1726

Saturday 11/14 0429 1100 1648 2352 0622 1725

Sunday 11/15 0519 1147 1734 - - - 0623 1724

Monday 11/16 0606 1231 1817 0042 0624 1723

Tuesday 11/17 0651 1312 1858 0129 0625 1723

Wednesday 11/18 0736 1351 1939 0213 0626 1722

Thursday 11/19 0820 1429 2019 0254 0627 1722

Friday 11/20 0905 1508 2101 0332 0628 1721

Saturday 11/21 0952 1550 2145 0409 0629 1721

Sunday 11/22 1040 1635 2233 0445 0630 1720

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Larger bass are located in deeper water adjacent to

structure. Dropoffs are the better choices, particularly when submerged wood

cover exists. Smaller bass are roaming shallow gravel banks adjacent to the

dropoffs. Small plastic grubs, jig 'n pig and spinnerbaits tipped with pork

frogs are the better choices for lures. Yamamoto Senkos, rigged wacky style are

working very well as are split shot rigged, four inch worms. Live bait is

working well for those who are using it. Choose a bank that drops into 10-20

feet of water and fish the baits on the lip of the drop, or near the bottom

for best results. When using live bait, put one bait up on the shallow portion

of the bank while fishing the deeper water with a second bait. This will

enable you to catch the fish that come up into the shallows to feed. Blue

Plains sewage outfall is a prime spot for bass during cold weather. The water

here is warmer than the surrounding water, causing the fish to feed more

often. Crappie are schooled and biting well on live minnows in Washington

Channel and Washington Sailing Marina, around the boat docks and submerged

pilings. The Spoils, Fletchers Cove and Belle Haven Cove are other good

locations for crappie. Catfish are available on cut and live bait throughout

the river channel and at the outflow from the Alexandria Power Plant. Yellow

perch are active around Roosevelt Island, taking small minnows, plastic grubs

and horsehead jigs. Stripers are active in Washington Channel, Blue Plains,

Fox Ferry and the Virginia Shoreline off the downriver point of National

Airport. Almost any white or silver, minnow imitating crankbait will take

these strong fighting fish.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Larger bass are holding in

deeper water throughout the river. Main river and creek channel dropoffs with

adjacent cover are the better choices. Jig 'n pig, plastic grubs and

spinnerbaits tipped with pork frog work best in the deeper water, while small

crankbaits, retrieved very slowly, will take the fish in the shallows. Live

bait is working better than artificials throughout the river system. Crappie

are biting well in some of the creeks, notably Aquia and Mattawoman. Small

minnows are the ticket. Stripers are active around almost any cover or

structure with current breaking around it, although most of them are small.

Crankbaits in white or silver are working well, as are Sassy Shads on 1/2 oz.

jigheads.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - Crankbaits, worked along the rock wall, are taking a few bass

in this river. Most of the bass, however, are being caught in deeper water, on

dropoffs. Better baits include live minnows, plastic worms and grubs, jig 'n

pig and Silver Buddies. Crankbaits that root the bottom in 15 feet or more of

water will occasionally turn a good fish or two. The rock wall along the North

shore, rocky points and submerged pilings are some of the better areas to

fish. Crappie and bluegill are taking small minnows around the boat docks,

where the occasional good bass will also hit. Catfish are being caught by

crappie fishermen on minnows, but there are few anglers fishing for them. When

fishing this river, always take the time to investigate the rocks in the back

of the river. This area is constantly being flushed by the overflow from the

Occoquan Reservoir and will hold some good schools of fish at various times.

One never knows what species of fish are feeding here at any given time. Lots

of stripers are normally feeding there at this time of year.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Bass are still being taken downlake on the main lake

points by anglers fishing plastics and jig 'n pig baits on the dropping

slopes. Deep diving crankbaits are also taking a few bass. Uplake, bass are

more often found on wood cover in 8-10 feet of water. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits

and jig 'n pig baits are the more successful baits. Crappie are schooled up

tight and suspended in 10-12 feet of water, near wood cover and brushpiles.

Catfish are not showing much.

BURKE LAKE - Action is slow, but skilled anglers are taking a few bass and

lots of panfish. Nightcrawlers and minnows are taking the panfish, while bass

anglers are using live bait, plastic worms and grubs, and jig 'n pig baits.

Dropoffs near grass beds, and main lake points, are producing the bass and an

occasional walleye.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Smallmouth action is slow and primarily limited to the

deeper holes in the river. Fish jumbo minnows in the holes for the larger

fish. Hair jigs with pork frogs attached will also tempt the bass, when fished

very slowly in the deeper water. The warmwater discharge canal at Dickerson

Power Plant is providing some action for anglers using small minnows,

nightcrawlers and plastic grubs. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish are being

taken with regularity. Crappie are being taken at the mouth of Goose Creek and

Broad Run on live minnows and small jigs.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Live minnows and Beetlespins are taking good numbers of

smallmouth bass above the city. The tidal stretch is showing some jumbo blue

catfish for anglers fishing large shad baits in the outside bends of the river

channel. Some bass action is to be had by anglers fishing the blowdowns along

the southern shoreline. Better baits are live minnows, plastic grubs and jig

'n pig. Crappie anglers are loading up on live minnows and tiny jigs, fished

around the blowdowns along the shoreline below the city.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - Most anglers are hunting, but some anglers are out. Those

fishing live bait and small plastic grubs are doing well on smallmouth bass,

sunfish and channel catfish.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Schooled crappie are taking small minnows and

Beetlespins. Stripers are taking bloodworms and peeler crab baits, from Aylett

to the York, with the best action being around the West Point bridges. White

perch are being taken on bloodworms and small minnows. Bass action is limited,

but some fish are being caught on flats adjacent to the river channel. Best

baits are small crankbaits, plastic grubs and jig 'n pig. Catfish action has

slowed.

LAKE ANNA - Striper fishing is good at this time. The stripers are working the

shad schools on top in the early morning and late evening, and marauding the

schools in the depths during the day. Topwater plugs are taking good numbers

of 8-10 pounders off the rocks at Dike #3 at daybreak. The roaming schools are

also present from Sturgeon Creek to the Splits. After the fish quit working

the surface, Cordell Redfins and four inch, chartreuse Sassy Shads are the

better baits. Largemouth bass are being found at all depths and the better

baits are jig 'n pig, Hopkins Spoons and live minnows. Best action seems to be

in 14-16 feet of water, where the fish are taking plastic grubs and jig 'n

pig. Crappie fishing is excellent under the bridges and suspended over creek

channels. Tiny Hopkins spoons, tiny jigs and live minnows are the choice for

baits.

JAMES RIVER - Smallmouth bass are the talk on this body of water. Lots of big

smallmouth are being taken in the city of Richmond. Mad toms, live minnows and

crayfish are taking the fish. Below the city, lots of smallmouth, largemouth

and crappie are being caught on minnows, fished along the dropoffs and

brushpiles throughout the river. Catfishing is fair to good with the better

action being on cut bait in the outside bends of the tidal river. Striper

fishing is excellent in the tidal portion of the river, with lots of fish

being taken around the power lines below Jordan Point.

LAKE CHESDIN - Crappie fishing is excellent, with lots of good fish available.

Bass fishing is running hot and cold. Some big fish being caught on slow-

rolled spinnerbaits and crankbaits, fished along the outside edges of the

vegetation, along the channel dropoffs. Stripers are being caught in the grass

on live minnows, spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Lots of anglers fishing the river are taking largemouth

bass, striped bass, and crappie. Most of the fish are being caught on live

minnows, although a good many fish are taking Rat-L-Traps. Best luck seems to

be at the mouths of the feeder creeks on the outgoing tides. Bottom fishing

jumbo minnows in the main river channel is also producing good sized channel

and blue catfish.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Chain pickerel are very active and taking jumbo minnows.

Crappie are schooled up tight and may be caught on small minnows. Bass and

catfish anglers are also taking some fish, with most of the action coming on

live minnows.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Fishing is good for yellow perch, pickerel, bass and

crappie. Bass, 2-9 pounds, are taking plastic worms, crankbaits and minnows in

pretty good numbers. Most of the fish are being caught on points throughout

the lake.

BACK BAY - Action here is limited to white perch and small bass, although a

few crappie and small catfish are also being caught. Most of the action is

centered in the creeks, with West Neck Creek producing very well.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Western Branch anglers are taking good numbers of stripers,

to 11 pounds. Lake Prince is showing a few small bass and pickerel, along with

good numbers of stripers. Anglers fishing Cohoon and Meade are bringing in

a mixed bag of small bass, crappie, yellow perch and pickerel. A few small

stripers are also being caught. Lake Smith anglers are taking a few small

catfish and crappie, while at Whitehurst, anglers are taking bass to four

pounds, along with some walleye, catfish and bullheads. The larger bass are

being caught on crankbaits.

LAKE GASTON - Crappie are stacked around the boat docks and submerged

brushpiles. Largemouth bass are hitting jig 'n pig baits, slow retrieved

crankbaits and large spinnerbaits. Stripers are holding around the bridges,

with the better action in Pea Hill Creek and at the mouth of Songbird and

Lizard Creeks. Successful anglers are using live shad baits.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Bass fishing is good throughout the lake, with the bass

holding in pockets and coves and bluff banks. Rattletraps, ripped through the

pockets and coves, are producing 2-5 pound largemouths. Stripers are being

caught while trolling with bucktails and live shad around the Clarksville

area. Casting into roaming schools of shad is producing both large bass and

stripers. Better choice of casting baits are Rat-L-Traps and four inch Sassy

Shads. Crappie anglers are loading coolers with good fish caught around the

pilings of the Clarksville Bridges and brushpiles in the creeks.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Stripers are taking live shad, trolled slowly behind the

boats. Most of the stripers are in the 10-12 pound range, but plenty of them

are to be had. A few large fish, up to 20+ pounds, are also being caught but

these are being caught by the locals who are fishing almost non-stop this time

of year. Walleye and largemouth bass are taking live shad, fished on the

bottom along the main lake points. Lots of smallmouth bass are also reported,

by anglers fishing bucktails. Crappie anglers are loading up on fish to three

pounds, caught around the submerged brushpiles throughout the lake.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Citation size Rock Bass are hitting minnows and jigs

consistently. Largemouth bass action is also good, but most anglers are

concentrating on the rock bass. Striper action is fair to good with the best

catches coming on live shad.

LAKE MOOMAW - Only a few small trout are being caught by anglers fishing live

bait. Smallmouth bass are being taken by anglers fishing jig 'n pig and

spinnerbaits on points, dropping into 20+ feet of water. Trout fishing is good

in the Jackson River, below the dam.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Casting into the shools of shad should produce fish.

Crappie catches are improving daily, with lots of limits being caught on live

minnows and tiny jigs.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Fishing overall is slow. Striper action is still good on

topwater lures, early and late in the day. Crappie are biting regularly on

tiny jigs and minnows, fished over brushpiles.

NEW RIVER - Top water lures continue to take many smallmouth bass. Best

method has topwaters fished with no action, and Rapalas twitched quickly under

the surface. Jig 'n pig anglers, fishing the ledges, are also taking some good

smallmouth.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Smallmouth bass to five pounds are being caught on live

minnows and brown plastic grubs in 25-30 feet of water. Largemouth bass are

taking spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms on points adjacent to creek

channels. Crappie and catfish are still taking live bait. Trout action has

been good on the Smith River.

TROUT STREAMS - Good catches of trout for anglers using nymphs, streamers, and

small spinners in the Tye River. The South Fork of the Holston River in Smyth

County is also providing anglers with nice catches. Rainbow trout are hitting

nymphs fished just under the surface at Silver Lake in Rockingham County.

Another good spot for trout fishermen is the Tomahawk Pond in Shenandoah

County.

S A L T W A T E R - Stripers are still roaming in large schools on the

Southwest Middlegrounds. Boats from Smith Point and Point Lookout are taking

50+ fish per day, trolling, jigging and chumming. Trollers, dragging

parachute rigs, tipped with Sassy Shads, are taking some fish in the 40+ inch

sizes. Although numbers are smaller, the fish are much larger. Sea trout are

being jigged up from beneath the striper schools in 30+ feet of water.

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

at: cetaylor2@verizon.net