VIRGINIA FISHING REPORTS Chesapeake Bay, Inshore, Offshore & Freshwater Virginia Fishing Report Updated October 12, 2012

The action continues to heat up as the weather cools down. There are plenty of red drum still out there for the taking but the flounder action has slowed up due to the weather. It’s still early in the season for striped bass but anglers are still having success casting top-water plugs near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. Togs, the ugly fish that fight hard and taste good, are on the rise in Bay waters; sheepshead are also taking bait intended for togs.
(Photo: Dedicated Tidal Fish Poster Sportin’ Wood states “Tog are really picking up.....caught 8 up to 24 inches all on crab. A bunch of puppy drum out there too, kept two at 19-20 inches. Got home early before the wind got too nasty.”)
http://www.tidalfish.com/forums/show...7-Toggin-10-12

Tournaments:




From IGFA Virginia Beach Representative Julie Ball:
The late season red drum action continues to sizzle, and these fish are seldom deterred by fronts or muddy water. Surf and pier anglers are elated as the drum run continues to provide very good catches of fish pushing to over 48-inches from the surf lines of Sandbridge and the Wildlife Refuge. Surf anglers targeting the Eastern Shore barrier islands are also still enjoying decent drum activity, especially in the evenings. Anglers are reporting multiple catches of fish on fresh mullet, bunker, and spot. Big drum are also ravaging pods of bunker in open water along the oceanfront, near the 3^rd and 4^th islands of the CBBT, as well as off Fisherman’s Island, giving boats the opportunity to get in on the action.

To the relief of cobia hunters, scattered pods of fish pushing to over 50-pounds made easy targets for those making the run to the oceanfront before the blow. If any fish are around, they will likely be caught as a by-catch for those targeting other species. Reports of king mackerel skying in open waters accented the excellent king bite this past week. Several smokers ranging from 20 to 40-pounds were boated from Rudee Inlet to False Cape, with a few coming from the Little Island Fishing pier. Both live baiting and trolling with plugs and spoons are working well.

Inshore species are drawing more interest, with speckled trout at the top of the list. The size of the fish as well as the numbers continues to climb as the weather cools. Most of the fish are ranging between 18 and 20-inches, with some outliers pushing to over 25-inches. Both Rudee and Lynnhaven Inlets are providing good speck action, along with most of the usual Bayside flats and creeks. The Elizabeth River speck trend is also on the upswing, with several fish exceeding five pounds taking top water lures and jigs in the River this week. Puppy drum are also taking lures intended for trout within the inlets and the Elizabeth River. Surf and pier anglers are also enjoying a run of both speckled trout and puppy drum, with reports of fish coming from the wash from Fort Story to Sandbridge. Spot are still providing good results in Rudee Inlet and along the shorelines, where anglers are scoring with big spot on bloodworms.

The early striped bass season is still heating up. Anglers are finding school-sized fish around 22 to 25-inches while casting top-water plugs at the rocks along the islands of the CBBT. Anglers working the light lines at night are also faring well with plenty of smaller stripers along the structure of the HRBT and the MMBT.

Flounder action slowed up this week with the rain and muddy water, and anglers are also having a hard time getting out to target them. The best catches were coming from channel edges and shoals within the lower Bay. The Baltimore Channel, buoys 36 to 38A, and the 1st and 2nd islands of the Bay Bridge Tunnel were also productive for folks drifting with strip baits and minnows. Deeper water wrecks are providing good catches of flatfish, although it is hit and miss right now. Decent sized sea bass are taking up the slack, along with good trigger fish catches. Seabass will be off limits after the 14^th for a few weeks.

Before the blow, tautog action was on the rise in Bay waters, with limits of keeper fish favoring fiddlers around the islands, pilings, and tubes of the CBBT. Sheepshead are still taking bait intended for tog in these same areas. Trigger fish are still around, with many fish in the 3-pound range providing easy action for anglers on most any lower Bay structure.

Deep water bottom fish were responding well when boats could get out, with good hauls of blueline tilefish and blackbellied rosefish the norm. Jumbo seabass are also mixed in, with some pushing to over 4 and 5-pounds. Chopper bluefish are also a nuisance in these same areas.

Not many have ventured to the deep waters due to the recent wind, but once the seas calm, the action could be good. Look for yellowfin tuna and wahoo to be on the loose, with marlin and swordfish also a possibility.

Virginia Saltwater Reports:
Offshore, 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 sea bass and tautog.

Virginia Freshwater Fishing Reports:
POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Smallmouth bass action is excellent around Fletchers' Boat House on live crayfish, tube baits and Yamamoto Senkos. From Chain Bridge to 14th Street Bridge, along the Virginia shoreline, crankbaits are taking most of the fish. Bridge pilings, wood cover and drop-offs 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. Puppy drum are reported throughout the DC area of the river. The hard fighting copper colored fish are taking bass lures.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Water temperature in the river has dropped and the fish are on the feed. Large shad schools are invading the mouths of the creeks and the bass are there waiting for them. Bass are thick in the grass beds at the mouths of the creeks. Frogs and poppers, fished over the grass, are taking numbers of fish, while the better fish are being caught on jigs and Senkos. Yellow and white perch, sunfish, catfish and snakeheads are all present in creek channels and are actively taking spinnerbaits, small crankbaits and topwater baits.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW ROUTE 301 - 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 drop-offs with Rebel Fastrak Minnows, Rat-L-Traps, bucktails, Storm swim baits and Sassy Shads.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - The grass bed at the mouth of the river is producing lots of bass for anglers using Zoom Horny Toads, buzzbaits and Pop Rs. Spinnerbaits on the outside edges will take stripers. 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 drop-offs, 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 and plastic worms. Water temperatures are ranging around 68 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 and yellow perch. Most of the fish are being taken on live minnows. Some bass are taking jig 'n pig baits and plastic baits, fished on drop-offs in 8-12 feet of water.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Good smallmouth activity on small jigs, tiny crankbaits and slowly retrieved spinners, with the fish ranging from small to three pounds plus. Deeper pools are holding some of 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 are taking bass to 4.5 pounds. Bluegills are biting well, along with lots of 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 not as successful, as leaves on the water curtail fishing crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Plastic grubs and jig 'n pig are taking a few fish. Better bass fishing is available below the Route 301 Bridge. Blue catfish, to 30 pounds, are biting on cut bait in the river channel. Stripers are in short supply 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 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 dropping daily. 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 - Downlake, 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 worm and grubs. Uplake, bass anglers are taking fish from the willow grass beds on buzzbaits early and Zoom Super Flukes and small spinnerbaits after the sun comes up. Stripers are active, particularly at the Splits, Jetts Island, Stubbs Bridge, Dike Three and Rose Valley. Live shad, Sassy Shad, 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. Best areas are the Benjamin Harrison Bridge and wood pilings around the power lines at Sturgeon Point.

LAKE CHESDIN - Bass and crappie are occasionally cooperating, with bass, 3-5 pounds, being caught on spinnerbaits, jig 'n pig and plastic worms, while crappie are taking small minnows. Bass are unusually skinny this year, as if there is a distinct lack of baitfish, even though schools of bait are seen on the surface throughout the lake. Some nice sized stripers and an occasional pickerel are also being caught.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Some anglers are catching bass, to five pounds, on small crankbaits, Shad Assassins and plastic worms, fished around wood structure, adjacent to lily pads. Live minnows are accounting for some large bass, as well as crappie, yellow perch, bream, and catfish. Stripers are being caught on crankbaits and topwater lures, particularly near the dam.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Lots of action for largemouth bass and bowfin on live minnows. Most of the bass ranged 2-7 pounds, while the bowfin are running to 10 pounds. Large, slow-rolled spinnerbaits are also accounting for some large bass. Pickerel, 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 brushpiles. Topwater frogs, fished over the grass, are taking bowfin as well as bass.

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. Some stripers, to eight pounds, are being caught as well.

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 during their mass exodus along the Intercoastal Waterway.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Western Branch reports shellcrackers, crappie and yellow perch are 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. Burnt Mills is reporting the same, with some larger bass being taken. Lake
Prince is giving up some stripers, to 11 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 nice 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 quite a few in the 4-5 pound class caught this past week. 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. 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. Many of the same
techniques work uplake, but best action is to be had in the back ends of the creeks where Eurasian Milfoil is present. These areas are dynamite for topwater action. Zoom Horny Toads, buzzbaits, Pop Rs, Baby Chug Bugs, and soft plastic jerk baits are all excellent baits here.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - The southern coves midlake, are holding hundreds of baitfish in huge schools. Bass are not aggressive in these coves. Check out coves on the Northern side of the lake, off creeks below Goat Island and above the Route 58 bridge. Best patterns are chunk rock banks, dropping off into 10
feet of water; secondary rocky points; and wood cover midway back in the cove or creek. Deep diving crankbaits, Senkos and creature baits are the better choice of baits. Topwater action is at a standstill. 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 or blue catfish. A number of anglers this past week landed these catfish while fishing for stripers. White bass to four pounds, are taking trolled Rooster Tails and pearl color Short A's around the mouth of Bluestone Creek. Any white or silver crankbait or small spinnerbait will take these white bass in main lake coves from the Route 58 Bridge to Grassy Creek.

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 and largemouth bass fishing is fair. Striper anglers should fish points and drop-offs. Bass are in the backs of coves and jig 'n pig in black/red or purple are good bets, although some good bass are taking topwater baits on the points. Shad Raps, retrieved in a stop and go pattern or Quarter ounce spinnerbaits, cast up on the bank in the backs of coves, and retrieved slowly, will take plenty of bass. There are lots of bait fish on the lake and schools of bass and stripers are feeding under the bait fish. In these instances, try Storm Swim bait in shad color. Just cast beyond the school and retrieve under the school where the bass and stripers are.

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 - Trout action is picking up, as anglers are taking trout to five pounds around the Fortney Boat Ramp. Crappie 1-2 pounds, and bass to five pounds are also available. 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 should be beginning their spawn.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Excellent largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and walleye fishing, with many 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 Fairystone Cove and above the Union Bridge. The Smith River has been stocked with trout and is receiving heavy fishing pressure, with resultant catches improving in quantity, if not size.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Crappie and bass are available on live minnows, on points and 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. 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 10-21 pound fish. Bass anglers are taking a few good fish each on plastic worms, topwaters, and jig 'n pig.

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. Stream levels are below normal, but clear.