Fishing Report - Feb. 5

Potomac River Tide Information High Point, Occoquan River

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

Fri. 2/05 1139 1842 -- 0544 0643 1802

Sat. 2/06 1241 1944 0021 0635 0642 1803

Sun. 2/07 1344 2048 0125 0730 0641 1804

Mon. 2/08 1446 2150 0227 0829 0640 1805

Tue. 2/09 1543 2246 0325 0931 0639 1806

Wed. 2/10 1635 2335 0419 1030 0638 1807

Thu. 2/11 1723 -- 0508 1123 0637 1809

Fri. 2/12 1806 0017 0553 1210 0636 1810

Sat. 2/13 1846 0054 0635 1253 0634 1811

Sun. 2/14 1923 0127 0712 1333 0633 1812

OVERVIEW - There is still some ice on area waters. Check out the areas you

would like to fish before going there, as you may find it impossible to break

through the ice, regardless of how thin it may be. With areas around some

ramps being frozen and the air temperatures below freezing, care must be taken

to prevent tow vehicles from sliding down the ramp into the water. Once a

trailer is pulled from the water, the water dripping from the trailer will

freeze almost immediately. Make sure that you are backing your trailer on a

dry or treated ramp.

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Bass are available along most dropoffs, on plastic

grubs, Silver Buddies and jig 'n pig. Work the baits very slowly from shallow

to deep water, paying particular attention to the lip of the dropoff. This is

where the hits should come. Some better areas are Blue Plains, The Spoils, the

riprap above Columbia Island Lagoon entrance, 14th Street Bridge pilings,

Washington Sailing Marina and the War College Wall in Washington Channel. Some

walleye activity is reported on the upstream point of Three Sisters Islands,

as well as at the base of Great Falls and the mouth of difficult Run, in

Mather Gorge. Shore anglers may want to try Alexandria Power Plant for some

big catfish. Cut shad or live minnows work very well in the warm water

discharge. Anglers working the discharge from Roaches Run Waterfowl Sanctuary,

at Gravelly Point, are catching occasional walleye on outgoing tides. Better

baits are live minnows, silver buddies and plastic grubs. The bridges at the

mouth of Four Mile Run are holding bass. Shore anglers are taking them on

Ratl-L-Traps, Silver Buddies and small crankbaits. Take plenty, as you will

lose a bunch to the hardware cloth protecting the banks.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Dropoffs, adjacent to shallow

sand or gravel banks, are holding bass. These are available along the creek

channels, as well as on the main river. Best baits are live minnows, plastic

Power Grubs and Silver Buddies. Fish these baits from shallow to deep water,

paying close attention to the lip of the dropoff.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - Yellow perch are in the river in force. Fish small minnows,

tiny plastic grubs or Roadrunners on the bottom, adjacent to dropoffs, in 15-

20 feet of water. Larger fish are taking Silver Buddies, jigged off the

bottom, on the flat below the Route One Bridge. The fish are getting larger,

with the bucks running in the 1/2-3/4 pound range and the roe perch running to

over a pound. Bass may be taken in the same area, on the same baits. Small

plastic grubs, jig 'n pig and live minnows are best fished on dropoffs,

adjacent to bank structure. This method should produce good numbers of bass as

they cruise the dropoff, searching for food. The boat docks and rock wall on

the North shore of the river are also holding largemouth bass for boat

anglers. Use an exposed hook where possible, as the strikes will be very

light and hooking the fish will be difficult. Crappie fishing is fair on

minnows, around brush piles.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Some bass activity on the points, particularly on the

upper end of the lake. Slow-roll large spinnerbaits or suspending crankbaits

down the points, toward the channel. Plastic grubs and jig 'n pig will also

take the fish. Crappie are generally suspended over creek channels, at the 12-

15 foot level. Small minnows or jigs will take coolers of these tasty fish.

BURKE LAKE - Fishing has been slow, but fish are moving. Pay particular

attention to dropoffs adjacent to brush, vegetation or points. Live minnows,

small Hopkins spoons, plastic grubs and Silver Buddies are the better choice

of baits. Yellow perch, catfish, crappie, bluegill and largemouth bass are the

normal catch, although an occasional walleye or muskie is taken.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - The Dickerson Power Plant warm water discharge canal

continues to provide good action for smallmouth bass, walleye, tiger muskie

and channel catfish anglers. Live bait is the best choice for the catfish,

while smoke grubs and live minnows or crayfish are the better choice for the

other species. The deeper holes from Dickerson to Edwards Ferry are holding

some good smallmouth. Live minnows, hair jigs and plastic grubs are enticing

strikes at times. Some crappie are reported at the mouths of Goose Creek and

Broad Run, by bank fishermen. Walleye and smallmouth bass are available at the

base of Great Falls on live minnows and plastic grubs.

FARM PONDS - Most farm ponds are still frozen. Those that are subjected to

high winds may have open areas, generally near the dam. Bank anglers, fishing

from the dams are occasionally taking a catfish or bass on live bait. If the

cold weather continues, most ponds will not be fishable for another two weeks.

Scouting out ponds for fishing next month is a good activity during the cold

weather. Once found, (Google Earth is a good source) and permission obtained,

the waiting and planning begins. The matter of bait becomes almost automatic.

Start with small plastic grubs, Beetlespins or four inch plastic worms. Work

them very slowly across the bottom near the dam or the deepest water of the

pond. Watch the line closely for the telltale strike. When grubs don't work,

fish medium to large minnows on the dropoff into deep water. In shallow ponds,

fish these minnows near the dam, around the trees or other structure. As the

sun warms the water, switch to top-water lures, such as Rebel Pop-R, Rapala

floating minnows and Heddon Tiny Torpedos. Crappie will be feeding heavily as

well, so those ponds that contain crappie will be dynamite. Small minnows or

jigs will clean out the schools.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Yellow perch have started their trek up the river and

should be around the Fredericksburg area within a week. Small minnows, plastic

grubs, Silver Buddies and Roadrunners will take coolers-full of these early

Spring taste treats. A few white perch have appeared around Port Royal, moving

North. Blue catfish are still feeding heavily in the deeper holes in the

river, primarily on cut shad or live white perch.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - Catfishing is good with 12-16 pound fish being taken on

nightcrawlers in 2-6 feet of water in the South Fork. Smallmouth bass action

is very slow, although a few good fish are being taken on hair jigs, tipped

with live minnows and pork frogs.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Some yellow perch are in the rivers, but sizes and

catches are small. Most of the fish are being taken on live minnows. Channel

catfish are taking cut bait with gusto. Anglers are also catching some

crappie, largemouth bass and white perch.

LAKE ANNA - Bass fishing is poor to fair, with fish in the 3-7 pound range

taking jig 'n pig and live minnows in 5-10 feet of water, near cover. The

larger fish are being taken near the dam and in the upper end of the lake.

Striper action has slowed considerably, but some are still being caught

downstream of Sturgeon Creek, on Hopkins spoons and bucktails, and around Dike

3 on Cordell Redfins. Crappie and yellow perch may be found around the fish

structures and in the creek channels. Small minnows, Hopkins spoons and

plastic grubs are taking these fish.

JAMES RIVER - Large minnows, fished on the bottom of the river channel in the

bends, are producing good numbers of large channel and blue catfish. Walleye

are also hitting large minnows and brightly colored jigs. Largemouth bass and

crappie action is excellent in the barge pits. Brown/orange jig 'n pigs and

smoke grubs are the better baits for bass, while crappie are hitting small

minnows and jigs. Trophy smallmouth bass are holding in the deeper holes above

Bosher's Dam and around Columbia. Live bait and jig 'n pig are the best

choice.

LAKE CHESDIN - Fishing the bridges over Whippernock and Namozine Creeks, is

procucing some good catches of crappie and largemouth bass. Bass anglers are

reporting some bass in the 4-7 pound class, hitting large minnows, fished on

the willow grass edges, near deeper water.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Yellow perch and crappie are hitting small jigs and

medium minnows in 3-5 feet of water throughout the river. Largemouth bass are

sluggish in the cold water. They are best taken on jig 'n pig, slow-rolled

spinnerbaits and small plastic grubs. Best areas are the mouths of the main

feeder creeks on the outgoing tides. Catfish are taking cut bait aggressively.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Those anglers fishing just below Walker's Dam are taking

good stringers of jumbo yellow perch and largemouth bass in the 2-3 pound

class. Medium minnows are the bait choice for the yellow perch, bass, crappie

and channel catfish. In the main lake, lots of bass, pickerel and bowfin are

taking large minnows, fished on the bottom in shallow water.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - No report this week.

BACK BAY - Crappie, bass, catfish and white perch are the bounty for area

anglers. Some bass are running to six pounds, taking live minnows. The catfish

and crappie are also taking live minnows, particularly in the West Neck Creek

area. White perch fishing is just picking up, with the majority taking small

minnows in 2-3 feet of water.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Bass anglers are catching some nice bass in all the lakes,

with the most successful bait being jumbo minnows. Stripers are the rage at

Western Branch and Lake Prince, with the fish running 6-8 pounds. Lakes Cohoon

and Meade are reporting good catches of pickerel and crappie, along with some

nice bass. Lake Cohoon gave up a number of nice pickerel this past week. Large

yellow perch are being taken from Western Branch, with the majority of the

fish being caught in the coves. Crappie fishing is excellent at both Lake

Smith and Lake Whitehurst, with some fish weighing over a pound.

LAKE GASTON - Largemouth bass are hitting crankbaits and Rat-L-Traps in 4-6

feet of water just inside the feeder creeks and shallow coves. Slow-rolled

spinnerbaits are also taking some large bass, particularly in clearer water,

like that in Pea Hill Creek. Crappie fishing is excellent. Striper activity is

centered on the creek mouths, and below the dam, in Roanoke Rapids Reservoir.

The big fish are feeding on the schools of shad. Follow the gulls for the best

action.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Bass fishing is fair, with small fish being taken on jig

'n pig and crankbaits in 6-12 feet of water, on points. The larger fish are

halfway back in the coves, feeding in late afternoon and evening. Slow-

rolled spinnerbaits are taking some good bass from riprap throughout the lake.

Rat-L-Traps are also taking some fish. Crappie fishing is good, with the fish

being taken from brushpiles and bridge pilings in 12-15 feet of water. Some

stripers are being caught, mainly on old river channel bends and in Rudds

Creek.

BRIERY CREEK AND SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - A mixed bag of bluegills, pickerel

and small bass, with an occasional five pounder, is available here.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Bass and striper fishing is fair with 2-7 pound bass

being caught on jig 'n pig and live minnows in 7-12 feet of water, off points.

Striper fishing is also fair, with some medium sized fish being taken in the

Blackwater arm of the lake. Most of the fish are being caught on bucktails and

live shad, although Rebel and Bomber Long-A's are producing some stripers on

top, as dawn breaks. Crappie anglers are pleased with the catches of these

tasty fish. Live minnows and tiny jigs are taking the fish around brushpiles

and boat docks.

LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing is very slow. Some die-hard anglers are taking a few

trout in the four pound range, on spoons and live minnows. Best fishing is

below the dam on dry flies in sizes 24-28 for catch and release trout or

fishing live minnows on the bottom of the lake for jumbo yellow perch.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Bass fishing is good, with fish in the three pound class

taking Hopkins spoons, deep jigged on main lake points, in 20-25 feet of

water. Crappie fishing is picking up, with the water temperatures in the low

40's. Trout anglers are taking some nice fish on the Smith River.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Crappie fishing is good on minnows, fished 6-12 feet

deep, in open water. Occasional catches of smallmouth bass, on deep-jigged

Hopkins spoons, off rocky points, but other species have lockjaw.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Some anglers have reported stripers and smallmouth bass, but

details are sketchy.

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

at cetaylor2@verizon.net.