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OVERVIEW: We had some summer-like weather lately but most of the fall fisheries are setting in nicely. Most everything is related to water temperatures and they are falling in spite of the warm weather. The next few weeks will be great for almost everything, whether you like fresh or salt water.
RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER: Chris Hicks reports several bass tournaments have been held and big stringers are being caught. A five-fish limit of 20 pounds took a recent tournament. Many bass anglers report are also catching lots of 18- to 28-inch rockfish. Some smallmouth bass have also been taken recently. Catfish can be caught on almost anything. Crappie were biting well and should continue to do so with the warmer temperatures.
POTOMAC RIVER: Patterns are changing with the changing weather. Bass can still be found in grasses, but the best pattern by far has been the drop-offs in creeks and along the main river. Start by throwing a deep diving crank bait to catch the aggressive bass and then follow up with a grub rigged Texas style and use a -ounce ball head jig with hook exposed. In the grasses, a spinner bait slow rolled through the grass will draw strikes as well as a slowly retrieved floating diving crank bait. Stripers can be caught in 17-25 feet of water by using a grub. Bites have been subtle and so do not set the hook initially but wait until you feel some weight and then set the hook. In the lower part of the river, rockfish are the best bet. Lots of bait is in the river and the fish are starting to school. Some 40-plus inch fish have been reported from the oil tanks to Ragged Point light. Trolling with umbrella rigs and a variety of other baits will be effective.
LAKE ANNA: High Point Marina reports that the lake is still warm enough for the bass to chase crankbaits. Most anglers are fishing the upper end, but the fish are active all over the lake. Fish any type of structure including docks and rocks, 6-12 feet. Use medium running baits. Larry Wollersheim and Preston Cox caught a 15-pound stringer. Bill Deed of Orange had 13 pounds of fish. Stripers are scattered all over the lake, but the best area is in between Stubbs and Dillards bridges. There are also nice schools of fish around Holiday bridge. The fish may be in the main lake or may be pushing bait along the shoreline. Keep an eye out for flips on the water and seagulls. Fish the upper water column, topwater to 12 feet, depending on weather conditions. Crappie have not been as prouctive as last fall, but still very good fishing. Any type of structure 6-12 feet, especially the upper end is good. Use small minnows, 2-inch tube and grubs.
MOTTS RESERVOIR: Closed for the year.
CHESAPEAKE BAY: From the middle bay, Queens Creek Outfitters reports that water temps are dropping into the mid to upper 50s and despite pretty weather, should continue dropping. School stripers were caught trolling and casting to fish on top from the Gwynn's Island campgrounds south towards Wolftrap on Sunday. These school fish measured up to 24 inches on Saturday--perfect eating size. Up the Rappahannock near Urbanna and around the Whitestone Bridge, stripers are also being caught by light tackle fishermen. Trollers have caught some large fish to 38 inches on umbrella rigs in the Towles Point area. Some fish bearing sea lice have been caught, indicating a few fish have come in from the ocean in search of baitfish. The inshore cold water fishing trend is going strong. Speckled trout are taking over most of the lower Bay inlets, shallows, and rivers. The Fishing Center reports that anglers are having no trouble enticing dozens of keeper fish inside Rudee Inlet, with the best action happening near the Marine Science Museum. Many are topping 5 pounds. The larger fish are falling for live bait and trolled lures. Lynnhaven River, Little Creek, the Poquoson Flats, and the Elizabeth River are also giving up exceptional numbers of trout. Susan Graves of Fredericksburg landed a 5-pounder on a Mirrolure fishing inside Rudee Inlet recently. There seems to be no shortage of puppy drum in these same areas. Plenty of pups to 30-inches are hitting both cut bait and lures. Although they are on their way south, a few straggling spot are still biting inside Rudee Inlet and off Sandbridge Beach. Expect this trend to end very soon. Anglers are reporting an upswing in the striped bass activity on all fronts, with the best developments occurring with the school-sized fish around all the lower Bay bridge tunnels. Folks are finding good luck on a moving tide, while casting most any type of swimming or top water lure. The folks at Bayside Bait and Tackle report that the 1st island of the CBBT is one of the hot spots lately. The bigger fish are mostly falling to live bait and wire lining along the bridges and tubes. Plenty of snapper bluefish to around 5-pounds are also around in the same areas. The tautog bite is still red hot in the lower bay. Boats are having no trouble finding willing takers along the entire span of the CBBT, with blue crabs, fiddler crabs, and clams working well. Some tog are pushing to over 10 pounds from near the third island of the CBBT this week. Flounder action is still sketchy due to the dirty water inside the bay.
--Compiled by Michael O'Malley
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