[Friday]

I wanted to test Gulp Saltwater Pogy (white, 3”). I could not Gulp Alive Shad or Mullet at the local store. So I bought Gulp Saltwater Pogy instead. For the test, I needed to be in a place that usually offers live baits and a good number of stripers. So I went to the cold side at Dike 3 in Lake Anna, Virginia. There were always many small stripers (at 15”-17”) at the cold side of water at Dike 3. The water temperature was usually over 50F throughout the winter.

I did not have trouble in catching live baits (blue back herring) by using a Sabiki rig. I caught 6 blue back herring in 30 minutes and paddled out for Stripers. Unfortunately there were no birds active today. I saw many active birds on the warm side at Dike 3. But the warm side at Dike 3 was not quite accessible yet.
I had one line with a live herring and I jigged with the Gulp Saltwater Pogy while drifting. There were 5 boats fishing for stripers near by me. I talked with anglers on 3 boats. None had bites. I did not see any signs of stripers on the fish finder for 3 ½ hours. I think the water temperature of 46-47F did it. I read on a local fishing magazine that the water at Lake Anna was colder because something at the Power Plant was deactivated.

Well I may have to postpone testing Gulp Saltwater Pogy until summer. Lake Anna (with fresh water) may not be a proper place for the testing Gulp Saltwater Pogy anyway.

Tight lines.
Joe

 

[ictalurus]

At least you caught some herring, so you weren't totally skunked. ;-) How big were the herring? It might be a good place to stock up on some bait for some early spring blue cat fishing on the Potomac, Rappahannock, James, etc.

I'm dying to get out, but all the freshwater around me is frozen, I think. I'd even settle for some white perch if I could get a good weather day.

I've used the saltwater shrimp and the freshwater goby, both in new penny, in the Patuxent and had equal success. The only difference that I could see between the freshwater and saltwater lures was that the saltwater shrimp held up better to the croaker I was catching. I didn't do any side-by-side tests, though.

 

[fshbreath]

What do you mean by the warmside is not accesible yet. I've wondered whats to stop anyone from carrying a yak across from the parking area to the warmside. Would this be trespassing? I see bank fishermen fish the warm side of the dike.

 

[golfinjoe24]

I will be getting my Kayak Instructor Certification for Advanced Open Water in the end of April there. I cant wait. I hope there are some good reports from there before I go cause I plan to take all my gear to use in the early morning before and after class. Sounds like a nice place. Were camping at the State park for the week.

Joey

 

[BBCroaker]

Let us know how it goes camping and all. Hope you post up joey!

 

[Friday]

What do you mean by the warmside is not accesible yet. I've wondered whats to stop anyone from carrying a yak across from the parking area to the warmside. Would this be trespassing? I see bank fishermen fish the warm side of the dike.

The traffic is very light usually so the traffic is not a problem. Once I almost tried to cross the road then gave up. I had some reasons. The bank was stiff and made of pile of big rocks. Carrying a kayak on the rocky bank is somehow risky. I did not see a safe place (near by) I could squat and put the kayak down on the water. Also water was not shallow at the bottom of the bank. The reversing could be harder. There are sandy areas but I think they are private properties. I checked dike 2 also and gave it up.

I can launch from a private community boat ramp at a creek that leads to Dike 2. It seemed that people did not mind a kayaker who fished on cold days. If the gate (of the private community ramp) is open I will try the warm water at Dike 2 for LM and White Perch

Joe

 

[Friday]

In case someone is interested in fishing Lake Anna,
I did not post any Fishing Reports at Lake Anna Last year because I thought the site was for only Chesapeake Bay fishing. Here are some pictures in December 2007/January 2008:

Blue Back Herring (usually 4.5"- 6.5")

Sabiki Rig I use for Blue Back Herring:

I am still learning soft lures. I am good at using hard baits some how

I caught onlyl a few keeper Stripers over 20 inches last year.

 

[ictalurus]

That's a nice channel on that crankbait. I'm the opposite--I've hardly caught anything on hardbaits except spinners and spoons.

 

[golfinjoe24]

Haha, I only caught largemouth on my Crank Baits last year (2008). Im actually really good at using Zoom lizards though. Thats how my dad tought me. They were not so hot in the summer but in the spring I can really pull in a lot of largemouths with them. The Chartruse 4" is the best for all around sizes. I grew up Freshwater so my dad showed me everything.

I did go to Rocky Gap this summer but didnt post cause I was thinking the same as Joe. I used everything in my tackle bag for that trip. BEST FISHING EVER! I really recomend it. Its not that Far away from here. Just up in the pan handle of the state. I caught everything from SMALLIES!!! to cats, largemouth, perch and even bluegills on my fly rod. The best part of it is beside the fact that there are no motor boats allowed is that the size of the average fish are huge up there. The average Blue Gill is over 1lb. Thats what they are known for. The Dam side is where all the smallies are! I love catching them. Hooked a huge cat but snapped my line. Most of the Largemouth I caught were over 17". Im going to Deep Creek for a week or two this summer to catch some bike Pikerel on my Fly rod!!! Cant wait!!!

Joey

 

[Friday]

Joey,
I tried large Lizard everytime I fished in the warmside in Lake Anna. I was on bass boats few times with my friends. They were catching 2-4 pounders by going through the docks while I caught none. We were using the same lizzards. This Saturday I will try lizzards again at the same place (honey hole) where my friends caught many big large mouth bass.

Regarding Fly-fishing... I gave up after spending about 1,500 dollars on 4 rods and 4 reels . I think I did try enough. I caught only one rainbow trout on a fly rod. I caught only one bonefish and some grunts in the saltwater. No stripers, No bluefish, no permit, and no tarpon. I was so frustrated one day I gave my fly rods and reels to a guide in Belize. Thanks God I married with such a wonderful woman, my wife. She asked me only once a long time ago about why I need so many rods and reels. I saw the guide every two years since. After that I even tried to cheat. I bought a Ugly Stick (9 wt fly rod. But it is more like spinning rod. Probably 11 wt - used mainly for shark fly-fishing in FL). I practiced casting a Bass Assassin (swim bait) on a 1/4 oz jig head on this fly-rod. I could cast a bass assassin on this rod. Later I found that my method was similar to casting with a shooting head. There were only one or two days of light wind when I tried fly-fishing. The wind was blowing usually 10-15 MPH whenever I tried. I gave up fly-fishing for now.

Joe



I

 

[cnaff]

Unggh!! They never tell you how many of us pastel shirters end up blowing our brains out...but as you can see-it's a constant danger.

 

[FlyFishntheRide]

Funny to see this here now. I have thought a bit recently about taking my kayak to Lake Anna. I fish there 2 or 3 times years ago out of my old bass boat. I never did very well there, I'm more of a river fisherman. (we panic when we see 20 or more feet water depths) Beautiful lake with some big fish in it if you learn it's secrets.

 

[golfinjoe24]

Haha a little slow to respond

Joe, when the water temp starts to warm up mabe we could do a trip to St Marys Lake and see what we can do. I think lizards work the best in the early spring as soon as it starts to warm up. You just have to fish them right. There are some certain ways and I have tried most all of them and found the few that work. When the water is cooler the Bass are going to be slow so its going to be a really slow retrieve. Its a little different at first but you will get used to it. Then when the water temp gets warmer it becomes faster. My Dads biggest Largemouth were all cought on Zoom Lizards. 8" or even 10" when he can find them. I use alot of the 4" just to have fun and catch alot. He always uses the ones that are bigger than the Bass I catch hoping to nail the big one. Usually it works and he will hook a decent sized one. Last year he pulled in some good ones at lake Lariat off the beach (we have not gone back because of alot of problems there). Same Beach when I was around 10 on Fathers day morning we went out around 5am and he pulled in an 8lb large mouth on a 6" chartruse Zoom. At that time it was the biggest Bass I had ever seen. We could stick all 4 of our hands in its mouth. Haha

Joey