Fishing report

Potomac River Tide Information                 Twilight

         High Point, Occoquan River                     Hours

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

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Wednesday   1/18     0155    0817    1417    2125     0655    1742

Thursday    1/19     0300    0923    1521    2227     0655    1743

Friday      1/20     0401    1028    1622    2324     0654    1744

Saturday    1/21     0459    1128    1720    - - -    0654    1745

Sunday      1/22     0553    1224    1814    0017     0653    1746

Monday      1/23     0644    1316    1905    0107     0653    1747

Tuesday     1/24     0732    1406    1953    0154     0652    1748

Wednesday   1/25     0818    1453    2039    0238     0652    1749

Thursday    1/26     0903    1538    2125    0319     0651    1751

Friday      1/27     0946    1622    2210    0357     0650    1752

Saturday    1/28     1029    1706    2255    0433     0650    1753

Sunday      1/29     1113    1751    2343    0506     0649    1754

OVERVIEW - Anglers are reminded to be very careful while boating on the waters

of the state, as most lakes and rivers are at least partially frozen over.

Running into an ice floe while boating at speed could seriously damage your

boat and throw occupants out onto the ice or into the water. The ice will

also obscure partially floating debris in the water. Remember to wear

lifejackets.

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Currently, the river is high, muddy and cold. With

temperatures in the low to mid 30's by the end of the week, bass should be

available in shallow water, adjacent to dropoffs, only in the late afternoon

after the sun has warmed the water.  Small jigs, Silver Buddies and soft

plastic baits should be the better choice of lures.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - "Trash Point" in the mouth of

Mattawoman Creek is producing some good fish on plastic grubs, fished on

Mustad Finacky Power Lock Hooks. The Morgantown Power Plant discharge is still

attracting large schools of stripers. These fish are generally small, with few

approaching 18 inches. The fish are taking 1/2 ounce bucktails and four inch

Sassy Shads on 1/2 ounce jig heads. Toss one of these baits into the outside

edge of the swirling waters, allow it to sink to the bottom, bounce it along

with the tide and hang on. If the commercial netters have left any at all, the

stripers will do the rest.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - The river is high and showing ice in the back end, but fish

may be caught along the rock wall just above the Route 1 Bridge. Senkos and

Silver Buddies are the best producing baits. Shallow water on the North side

of the river will hold fish in the late afternoons, after the sun has warmed

the water.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - The main lake points downlake are still producing good

fish for those patient anglers fishing the Fairfax County side of the lake in

the afternoons. Jig 'n pig and Silver Buddies are producing well. Crappie are

suspended over the creek and old river channels. Small Beetle Spins and

jigging spoons are taking the fish.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - The mouth of the Dickerson power plant warm water

discharge canal continues to produce good numbers of smallmouth bass, walleye,

tiger muskie and channel catfish. The smallmouth prefer small plastic grubs

in smoke or black, while the other fish are taking nightcrawlers, cut bait or

live minnows.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Catfish are being taken from the deeper holes in the

river channel on cut bait, in the lower portions of the river. Bass action is

very slow. Some crappie are being caught in the feeder creeks below

Fredericksburg. Perch are in the lower reaches of the river, along with a few

stripers.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - No anglers or catches reported.

LAKE ANNA - Largemouth bass are hanging on the main lake points and steep

dropping banks. Most of the fish are being taken from 10-14 feet of water and

are suckers for jig 'n pig, plastic grubs and live jumbo minnows. The best

area appears to be the Dyke 3 area of the lake. The bass being taken on the

jumbo minnows average 4-6 pounds, but are only available to patient,

persistent anglers. Striper fishing is fair to good, with fish averaging 8-14

pounds being taken near the dam and around the mouth of Sturgeon Creek. Live

shad and jumbo minnows are the preferred baits, although some success is

reported on bucktails, Hopkins and Kastmaster spoons, and Silver Buddies.

Crappie are biting well, but are difficult to find. Most are being found over

deep brushpiles. Small minnows are the best bait. Small Hopkins spoons, jigged

over brushpiles are also producing good catches of perch and crappie, along

with some smaller bass.

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

at: cetaylor2@verizon.net