Fishing this summer has been really odd, hence the shortage of updated reports. With a series of heavy rains off and on we have either had high water and mud and trees with debris or earlier this summer, a very dry spell for about 3 weeks.
Rappahannock River fishing has been a bit slow. Catfish are biting but not like they normally do. Fish early and late with cutbait for eating size fish and move around to find them. Some anglers are finding some snakehead fishing below Port Royal with regularity with most action in the creeks on plastic worms or weedless frogs. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) is spreading on the river into the creeks. However, with all the sediment coming down the river this summer, much of that may die off. We will see. Bass are reportedly hitting some but not on fire. Fish creek mouths and just inside the creeks with spinnerbaits and plastics. Don't be surprised to get a bowfin or snakehead.
Potomac River fishing is a bit better but mostly for bass and catfish. The bass are hitting cranks on the outer edges of the weedlines or on woody structure. Plastic worms are working OK too. Some snakeheads are being caught on topwater. Catfish are hitting everywhere it seems.
The disappointing news is that unlike previous years, the croaker have made rare appearances in the King George area. The rains have decreased salinity and our sources on the water report very few in the area now although a few weeks ago there were some near Popes and Mattox Creek. We used to see small blues chopping baitfish in the area too but not this year. The striper bite was here for a week or two but recently reports are showing few being caught. Perhaps things will change in the next few weeks. Late August and early September have been good to us in the past.
Reservoirs and Lakes: Anna is seeing striper in deeper water but catchable on umbrellas, jigs and spoons midlake and slightly up. Some decent bass are also in those same areas. For the striper, find the bait and find the fish there too. Pond fishing has been decent for those that go early and late. Middle of the day things are tough. Crappie are biting still in spurts. Slow troll jigs or minnows on the lowest setting and vary depths to find the fish.
Saltwater--I sure wish I had time or the ability to take a day off work. The fish are finally biting well all over the bay. Cobia are in the lower Potomac and the bay hitting in the chumlines or on sight casted eels or bucktail jigs. Croaker are hitting but a tad small. Try the mouths of our rivers. Along the CBBT the spade bite is hot on clam. Bluefish and Spanish are in dense schools but somewhat scattered from Point Lookout down the bay. The best place remains the oceanfront at VA Beach though or along the CBBT. Big reds are hitting huge Drone spoons in the bay or live spot. Spot are hitting Fishbites or bloodworms in shallows in the bay now too. Lynnhaven and Rudee are the hotspots but they are available further up our way at the mouth of the Rapp and near Reedville. A few specks and flatties are hitting along the CBBT and in Lynnhaven and Rudee too. Look for fishing to improve for another month before some of the species begin heading south.
If you have a report for us or a picture you want to share, send it to [email protected] and just put the body of water, your name and what you caught it on. No need to give up your secret exact spot on the water!
Rappahannock River fishing has been a bit slow. Catfish are biting but not like they normally do. Fish early and late with cutbait for eating size fish and move around to find them. Some anglers are finding some snakehead fishing below Port Royal with regularity with most action in the creeks on plastic worms or weedless frogs. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) is spreading on the river into the creeks. However, with all the sediment coming down the river this summer, much of that may die off. We will see. Bass are reportedly hitting some but not on fire. Fish creek mouths and just inside the creeks with spinnerbaits and plastics. Don't be surprised to get a bowfin or snakehead.
Potomac River fishing is a bit better but mostly for bass and catfish. The bass are hitting cranks on the outer edges of the weedlines or on woody structure. Plastic worms are working OK too. Some snakeheads are being caught on topwater. Catfish are hitting everywhere it seems.
The disappointing news is that unlike previous years, the croaker have made rare appearances in the King George area. The rains have decreased salinity and our sources on the water report very few in the area now although a few weeks ago there were some near Popes and Mattox Creek. We used to see small blues chopping baitfish in the area too but not this year. The striper bite was here for a week or two but recently reports are showing few being caught. Perhaps things will change in the next few weeks. Late August and early September have been good to us in the past.
Reservoirs and Lakes: Anna is seeing striper in deeper water but catchable on umbrellas, jigs and spoons midlake and slightly up. Some decent bass are also in those same areas. For the striper, find the bait and find the fish there too. Pond fishing has been decent for those that go early and late. Middle of the day things are tough. Crappie are biting still in spurts. Slow troll jigs or minnows on the lowest setting and vary depths to find the fish.
Saltwater--I sure wish I had time or the ability to take a day off work. The fish are finally biting well all over the bay. Cobia are in the lower Potomac and the bay hitting in the chumlines or on sight casted eels or bucktail jigs. Croaker are hitting but a tad small. Try the mouths of our rivers. Along the CBBT the spade bite is hot on clam. Bluefish and Spanish are in dense schools but somewhat scattered from Point Lookout down the bay. The best place remains the oceanfront at VA Beach though or along the CBBT. Big reds are hitting huge Drone spoons in the bay or live spot. Spot are hitting Fishbites or bloodworms in shallows in the bay now too. Lynnhaven and Rudee are the hotspots but they are available further up our way at the mouth of the Rapp and near Reedville. A few specks and flatties are hitting along the CBBT and in Lynnhaven and Rudee too. Look for fishing to improve for another month before some of the species begin heading south.
If you have a report for us or a picture you want to share, send it to [email protected] and just put the body of water, your name and what you caught it on. No need to give up your secret exact spot on the water!
RSS Feed