Fishing Report

FISHING REPORT By Charlie Taylor

Potomac River Tide Information Twilight

High Point, Occoquan River Hours

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

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Wednesday 10/21 0941 1557 2145 0415 0658 1849

Thursday 10/22 1029 1635 2229 0458 0659 1848

Friday 10/23 1120 1717 2317 0540 0700 1847

Saturday 10/24 1215 1803 - - - 0624 0701 1846

Sunday 10/25 1314 1855 0013 0709 0702 1844

Monday 10/26 1413 1953 0118 0756 0703 1843

Tuesday 10/27 1508 2054 0224 0845 0704 1842

Wednesday 10/28 1557 2156 0324 0934 0705 1841

Thursday 10/29 1641 2254 0416 1022 0706 1840

Friday 10/30 1719 2349 0504 1107 0707 1838

Saturday 10/31 1753 - - - 0546 1151 0708 1837

Sunday 11/01 1725 - - - 0525 1133 0609 1736

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Smallmouth bass action is excellent around Fletchers'

Boat House on live crayfish. From Chain Bridge to 14th Street Bridge, along

the Virginia shoreline, crankbaits are taking most of the fish. The Kennedy

Center seawall is holding a good number of quality fish for anglers fishing

crankbaits and plastics. Bridge pilings, wood cover and dropoffs are holding

most of the largemouth throughout the city. Crankbaits, slow-rolled

spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms are the better choice of baits.

Crappie are available throughout the river, orienting to submerged brush in

10-15 feet of water. Small minnows and tiny jigs are the preferred bait.

Catfish action has slowed considerably, with little success reported. Stripers

are available around Fletcher's Boathouse, National Airport, 14th Street

Bridge pilings and the National War College Wall. Bucktails, Kastmaster Spoons

and Rat-L-Traps are the more productive baits.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Bass are holding on dropoffs

and around submerged wood structure on the main river. Crankbaits, plastic

worms, and jigs are taking these fish. In the creeks, most of the fish are

found from the mouth to the secondary points and along the creek channels.

Grass beds which still have green grass, are holding largemouth bass and

pickerel. These fish are taking topwater frogs, Senkos and floating worms.

Shallow gravel banks are also holding fish. Tiny Tubes in 1/16 ounce size,

small crankbaits and small spinnerbaits will take these fish. Small

crankbaits, retrieved parallel to the lily pad edges, will take some bass. The

most consistent pattern for bass is to fish 3" black or smoke/metalflake

plastic grubs or Carolina-rigged plastic worms in 8-15 feet of water on points

or dropoffs.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW ROUTE 301 - School Stripers are marauding baitfish on

the shoals below Monroe Bay and around the grassy islands and points

throughout the lower Potomac River. Sassy Shads, Rat-L-Traps and topwater

baits are producing well. Flyrodders are doing well with Lefty's Deceivers and

Clouser Minnows in red and white. Lower tributary creeks are off and on, with

best action coming on swift running tides at sunrise and sunset. Fish bridge

pilings, points and dropoffs with Rebel Fastrak Minnows, Rat-L-Traps,

bucktails and Sassy Shads.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - The grass bed at the mouth of the river is still holding

lots of fish. Topwater baits, Senkos and spinnerbaits are the better choice.

Some bass are available around the wood pilings below the Route One Bridge.

Crankbaiting or flippin' small plastic worms will take these fish. Bass are

also being taken on main river points, adjacent to dropoffs, along the rock

wall and around wood blowdowns. Better choices of baits include small

crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic lures. Crappie are schooled around

submerged brush and boat docks. Small minnows are the ticket. Small yellow

perch are schooling on the flat below the Route One Bridge. Jigging small

Silver Buddies in gold colors will take these fish.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Fishing is good. Largemouth bass to five pounds

are being caught by anglers using jig 'n pig and slow-rolled spinnerbaits in

the upper reaches of the lake, particularly in the Bull Run arm. The fish are

concentrated around blowdowns in 2-10 feet of water. Downlake, the fish are

located on secondary points in 15-20 feet of water. Most successful anglers

are using jig 'n pig. Water temperatures are ranging around 60-65 degrees.

Crappie fishing is fair with lots of small fish being taken from the fishing

pier.

BURKE LAKE - Few reports of anglers on the lake. Those who are out report

catching bass, crappie, walleye and yellow perch. Most of the fish are being

taken on live minnows. Some bass are taking jig 'n pig baits, fished on

dropoffs in 8-12 feet of water.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Lots of smallmouth activity on small jigs, tiny

crankbaits and slowly retrieved spinners, with the deeper pools holding the

larger fish. Some better areas are just below Point of Rocks, just above

White's Ferry and around Edward's Ferry. Crappie are schooled, off and on, at

the mouths of Goose Creek and Broad Run. Catfish action is very slow.

LAKE BRITTLE - Bass fishing has been good. Slow-rolled spinnerbaits and live

minnows are taking bass to 4.5 pounds. Bluegills are biting well, along with

a few catfish.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Above the city, smallmouth bass are taking live bait

and tiny crankbaits in the deeper pools. Water levels are stable and leaves

are abundant. In the tidal sections, crappie are schooled and biting well.

Bass anglers are catching good fish below the Route 301 Bridge. Plastic worms

and jig 'n pig are the better baits. Blue catfish, to 26 pounds, are biting

on cut bait in the river channel. Stripers are biting, but most are small, at

both the Port Royal and the Tappahannock Bridges.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Catfish and crappie are the main fare on the

Mattaponi, although some smallmouth bass are taking Rat-L-Traps in the extreme

upper end of the river. Pamunkey anglers report catfish and white perch on

peeler crab baits at Lester Manor, bass to three pounds on Teeny Craws,

plastic worms and spinnerbaits near Williams Landing, and catfish, white perch

and some pickerel around the Route 360 Bridge. Stripers are spread throughout

the river, from Aylett to below West Point, but no concentrations or good

catches are reported.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - Water temperature is in the mid to high 50's. Excellent

smallmouth bass fishing for those who can put up with the annoyance of

floating leaves. Small crankbaits and plastic grubs are the hot baits and

Bixler Ferry Bridge is the hot area.

LAKE ANNA - Bass are holding on main lake and secondary points in 4-12 feet

of water, around boat docks and some bridges. Better baits are large

crankbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic grubs. Stripers are active, particularly at

the Splits, Jetts Island, Stubbs Bridge, Dike Three and Rose Valley. Live

shad, Sassy Shads, Storm Swim-Baits, Cordell Redfins and Hopkins jigging

spoons are the better choices of baits. Fishing is good for crappie, and

walleye are cooperative, but they are holding in deeper water. Best bet for

the novice is to fish live jumbo minnows on main lake points. Lots of big fish

are being caught in this manner.

JAMES RIVER - Smallmouth bass are hitting well above the city, with a good

many trophy fish being taken. Anglers should expect stained water and lots of

leaves. Despite this, lots of fish are being caught. Plastic grubs and live

bait are the preferred baits. Tidal sections of the river are producing good

sized blue and flathead catfish on cut bait and live minnows in the main river

channel, and bass on plastic worms, spinnerbaits and small crankbaits in the

creeks and around main river wood structure. Crappie are biting well in the

barge pits around Dutch Gap. Live minnows and tiny jigs are taking the fish.

Stripers are on the move throughout the river, taking almost any large bait

thrown into the water. Check almost any large wood structure, with current

swirling around it. Better areas are the Benjamin Harrison Bridge and wood

pilings around the power lines at Sturgeon Point.

LAKE CHESDIN - Bass and crappie are cooperating nicely, with bass, 5-7

pounds, being caught on spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms, while

crappie are taking small minnows. Some nice sized stripers and an occasional

pickerel are also being caught.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Lots of bass, to five pounds, are being taken on small

crankbaits and plastic worms, fished around wood structure, adjacent to dying

lily pads. Live minnows are accounting for some large bass, as well as

crappie, yellow perch, bream and catfish. Stripers are being caught on

Rat-L-Traps and topwater lures, particularly near the dam.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Lots of action for largemouth bass, pickerel and bowfin on

live minnows. Most of the bass range 2-6 pounds, while the pickerel run to

over four pounds and bowfin tip the scales at over ten pounds. Large, slow-

rolled spinnerbaits are also accounting for some large bass. Yellow perch and

crappie are also being seen in the catches. Most of the fish are being caught

on live minnows, fished on points and over grassbeds.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Bass, 1-5 pounds, and pickerel to four pounds, are

the main fare. Deep running crankbaits and live minnows are the preferred

baits. Crappie are also biting well, on live minnows and tiny jigs. One report

says nice bluegills were caught on fly rod poppers.

BACK BAY - Very few fishermen out on the Bay. Those who are fishing are

catching small bass, crappie, bluegill and catfish. Crappie fishing has

improved in West Neck Creek. Fishing the North Landing River and Currituck

Sound is producing some good bass for those anglers who dare to brave the

wakes from cruisers on the Intercoastal Waterway.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Western Branch reports shellcrackers, crappie and yellow perch

providing most of the action on worms and small minnows. Stripers are coming

on, with Sassy Shads, bucktails and live bait taking fish to 11 pounds, with

the majority in the 5-7 pound class. Burnt Mills is reporting the same, with

some larger bass being taken. Lake Prince is giving up some stripers, to 16

pounds, along with the shellcrackers and bass. Crappie and pickerel action is

good at Meade and Cohoon, while anglers at Lake Meade are also catching some

large bass. Lakes Smith and Whitehurst are reporting good fishing. Walleye,

white and yellow perch, bass, pickerel and crappie are all taking baits

aggressively. Most of the walleye and crappie are taking live minnows, while

small to medium bass are taking spinnerbaits and plastic worms.

BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Most of the bass are in the slot, with

an occasional five pounder being taken. Crappie, topping one pound, are seen

daily, but bluegill catches are down. Live minnows are the better choice of

bait.

LAKE GASTON - Best action is down lake. Poe's, Pretty and Lee's Creeks are

good areas to fish. Bass can be caught by crankbaiting main channel points and

fishing jig 'n pig around rocks and stumps in 4-10 feet of water. Best

crankbait colors are shad and silver. Uplake, Pop-R's and twitch worms are

taking bass in the dying hydrilla beds, while crankbaits and Carolina-rigged

worms are taking them on the outside edges of the grass. Early and late in the

day, some large bass are being taken on topwater baits, fished in the back

ends of coves, where there are leaves on the water. Stripers are being taken,

trolling bucktails and Cordell Hot Spots in the main river channel. The fish

are suspended in 16-20 feet of water. Crappie anglers are having good success

fishing small minnows over brushpiles and solid structures.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Bass may be caught shallow in 2-3 feet of water, medium

in 5-6 feet of water or by fishing deep in 11-12 feet of water. Shallow fish

are holding in backs of pockets on rockpiles. Use shallow running or rattling

crankbaits with a high speed retrieve. Medium depth fish are taking spider

jigs and grubs on points or wood structure. The deep fish are relating to

normal cover such as humps, road beds and ledges near dropoffs. Crappie

anglers are loading coolers, using small minnows over brushpiles and around

bridge pilings. Schools of breaking stripers are being found between Buoy 16

and the Clarksville Bridge, and at the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Trolling

Cordell Redfins and Rebel FasTrak minnows along the river channel is producing

some good catches of stripers, but don't be surprised if you end up with a 30

pound flathead catfish. White bass to four pounds, are taking trolled Rooster

Tails and pearl color Short A's around the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Most main

lake coves also have a few white bass in them. These fish are suckers for tiny

white crankbaits and in-line spinners.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Anglers are catching a few fish. Live shad, bucktails and

Cordell Redfins are the best striper baits. Impressive stringers of crappie

are also being caught, along with a few largemouth bass. Striper anglers

should fish points and dropoffs. Bass are in shallow water, cruising the

banks and points. Live shad and deep diving crankbaits are good bets, although

some good bass are taking topwater baits on the points. Smallmouth bass are

still located in 30-50 feet of water, taking tube baits and plastic worms.

There are lots of bait fish on the lake and schools of bass and stripers are

feeding under the bait fish.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Weather fronts have affected the fish. Fishing is

improving, with largemouth and white bass being taken on live minnows and

jigs. Crappie are still biting, along with lots of redeyed bass. Stripers have

quit feeding.

LAKE MOOMAW - Action is limited to crappie, 1-2 pounds, bass and a few brown

trout. Bass anglers are catching fish on points and around the standing

timber. Live bait and jig 'n pig are the most productive baits, although

topwater lures are taking fish at night. The brown trout are beginning their

spawn, evidently near the Fortney Ramp, as a few keepers have been caught

there.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Fair largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye

fishing, with a few limits of fish. Most of the fish are holding at 15-20 feet

and are taking live minnows and crayfish. Crappie anglers are bringing in good

numbers of fish, caught on live minnows. Best areas are Fairstone Cove and

above the Union Bridge. The Smith River is receiving heavy fishing pressure,

with resultant catches improving in quantity, if not size.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Good fishing. Crappie and bass are available on

live minnows, on points and at creek mouths.

FLANNAGAN RESERVOIR - Shad schools are located in the middle of the lake,

where schools of smallmouth and largemouth bass, catfish and trout are chasing

them. Lots of large bass are being caught. Early mornings and late evenings

see the better catches.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Striper action in the Peak Creek area is good on live minnows

and alewives. Patient anglers are taking limits. White bass are schooled and

taking small jigs and Rat-L-Traps. Crappie action is good on live minnows.

Catfish action is steady for 10-14 pound fish. Bass anglers are taking a few

good fish each.

NEW RIVER - Few anglers are out, but those who do venture forth are catching

bass and catfish on live minnows. Some small muskie are being caught.

CLINCH RIVER - Smallmouth bass fishing continues to be good, with minnows

producing the better catches. Catfish are mixed in the catches.

TROUT STREAMS - The best trout areas are Big Stoney in Shenandoah County;

Cedar Creek, West of Strasburg; and the Bull Pasture River, close to

Williamsville. Small streams in the George Washington National Forest are

producing good trout fishing. Hares ear nymphs and Mr. Rapidan flies are some

of the better flies to use. Dardevle spoons and #0 Mepps spinners are good for

spin fishermen. In the Hot Springs area, there are some late hatches of blue

wing olives, midges and black caddis flies. Bluewing olive in size #16 and

#18, cream and olive midges and black caddis flies will be the best to use.

S A L T W A T E R

Striped bass are ranging throughout the Bay and its' tributaries, with the

best concentrations being found up the rivers. The middle bay is giving up

large numbers of legal sized stripers to chummers on the Southwest

Middlegrounds. The mouth of the Potomac and St. Mary's Rivers are experiencing

a blitz, with huge schools of stripers, bluefish and some gray trout feeding on

surface schools of baitfish. Some good catches of flounder are being made

along the seaside inlets, as these fish prepare to move offshore to spawn. The

Cape Charles area has good fishing for tautog, as well as the black drum,

moving through the lower bay. The Western side of the middle bay region has

grey trout in the 4-8 pound range for trollers along the Mud Leads and some

fine speckled trout on the Tangier Target Ships for jiggers. Fair numbers of

tautog are reported from the Cell, while taylor blues remain plentiful

throughout the region. In the lower bay, anglers are catching grey trout,

speckled trout, bluefish, flounder, sea bass and tautog all along the

Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Big bull red drum are actively feeding in the

surf off Sandbridge. Cut bait, soaked in the wash, is taking the big fish.

Offshore, when the wind allows, Virginia Beach boats are catching large

yellowfin tuna, wahoo and dolphin, along with good numbers of false albacore

and chopper bluefish to 20 pounds around the Chesapeake Light/Artificial Reef

area. Inshore wrecks are giving up good numbers of tautog. North Carolina

anglers are experiencing a decent run of channel bass and chopper bluefish.

Offshore boats are loading up on king mackerel, yellowfin tuna, dolphin, and a

few billfish. Inshore activity is good for smaller king mackerel and false

albacore. Inlet anglers may expect taylor blues, speckled trout, flounder and

puppy drum.

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

reached at cetaylor2@verizon.net.