best soft plastics for river smallmouth

The Cobia too, are throughout the bay, and anglers are doing well by chumming, and sight casting. The smaller baits tend to work better, as the water has been clear. Popular topics are personal lake breakdowns, tournament preparation and strategy, and seasonal fishing strategies. Bucktails work well for both. Many large fish have been caught in the last week, including a 14 lb 5 oz monster. When encountering this, some of the best baits can be walking baits, spinnerbaits, and swimbaits. This past week has seen some strong catches of Tautogs caught from ocean wrecks. Soft plastics like worms, craws and flukes in the grass work well later on. Soft plastics like worms, craws and flukes in the grass work well later on. Eels work well for both applications. Many companies make soft plastic swimbaits, but the best for river stripers is the Bass Assassin Saltwater Sea Shad in the Sand Trout color. They excel in deeper, clear water lakes, like Anna. Striper fishing has been good for those using live bait. The larger lakes are improving for Bass, Stripers, and Crappie. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Reports from Anna have the water temps around 55 degrees. Dale, Lake Michigan smallmouth report Saturday 10/29: I went smallmouth fishing with Sir Dale Rehus. There has been some large Sea Mullet caught from the surf and piers in the last few days. These same offerings are good just about anywhere, whether it be Anna, or the smaller horsepower restricted lakes in the area. Cobia are typically caught along the surface, and along the bottom also. Some are finding Stripers in these areas also. Windmill Bar, at the mouth of the Rapp has been good, and so have the piers at Ocean View, and Buckroe Beach. Punching through with heavy weights, and surface baits have been working. Some, are still doing well with the Stripers in the early morning hours. The biggest challenge in this environment is getting your bait to the bottom and keeping it there not an easy task with 18 lbs was 2nd. The minimum size is 16-1/2 inches, with a 4 fish limit per person. Crickets, worms,minnows, and small, 1-2 " grubs on 1/16 oz jigs, will usually get things done. Many of the structures holding the Sheeps, are holding Tautog. The Rappahannock and Potomac rivers are good tidal water destinations, along with the Pamunkey, and Mattaponi rivers. Lipless crankbaits are usually good in early March, particularly on shallow flats where the water warms quickly. Many are coming to the scales at Kerr Lakes as well. This is a great time for the big Crappie on these lakes too. Chatterbaits are preferred there at this time. Cut bait, such as fresh mullet work well for shore anglers, and many of those fishing from small vessels, are casting paddle tail swim baits, and topwaters. Look for the tidal river Bass fishing to explode soon, as the migratory runs increase. Bass are good throwing topwaters, squarebill or shallow crankbaits and wakebaits around the grass lines in 5-10 feet of water early in the morning. The season officially opens on June 15. Shallow grass is a good place to start for both, where there is grass present. The Rockfish are inhabiting the rivers also, but must be released. But grass patterns should not be overlooked. Some are finding a topwater bite. Some are being caught in 3' of water, while others have been caught from depths past 20'. Some of the offshore boats have been returning with Mahi, Blackfin Tuna, and Wahoo. The area lakes have many of the Bass spawning, and will continue to have them, as the full moon arrives on the 16th. Crappie are being a bit tough also, as they are transitioning to deeper brush piles in some of the larger lakes. As we progress into June, the bridge tunnel catches of Flounder become greater. Some continue to catch them ganged up on structure. Catches of Black Fin Tuna, Yellow Fin Tuna, Wahoo, and King Mackerel, were made. The Stripers continue to bite well in the early hours of the morning, with live bait being the best method for hooking up. 300' is normal pool. Black Drum catches have slowed, but catches are still being made from the Latimer Shoal area. Topwater baits are a good choice also. As a side note, Gaston may be the best of the 3 for the largest Walleye. Inside the inlets and rivers of the bay, anglers can expect to hook up with Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum, Croaker, and Spot. The area from Cape Charles to the bridge tunnel has been good for solid keepers. These piers have been producing nice Drum, along with the Sandbridge area surf. They can get quite crowded however. Rockfish are also being caught in these areas, but seem to be moving out of the river tributaries, into the main river. The Rapp is also becoming known for the Snakehead fishing. Excellent Sea Bass fishing is taking place out in the ocean. while striped bass crush topwater plugs and plastics or live-lined. Soft plastics on various rigs have been working best. One of the most successful anglers in the history of the FLW Tour, Tennessee pro Andy Morgan brings three Angler of the Year titles (2013, 2014, 2016) and the most-ever FLW Top 10s (66). Chris Carter of Chesterfield caught them up to 19 inches. Strike King pro Mark Rose considers December to be one his favorite times to fish in Zone 4. Both the piers and surf, have been red hot. He also turned in seven tagged fish worth an additional $1,600. 209 Stoneridge Drive Using crab, or fresh cut bait, is good, and some are hooking up with the Red's while jigging for other species, such as Flounder. Popular topics are personal lake breakdowns, tournament preparation and strategy, and seasonal fishing strategies. We are seeing more catches of Spadefish now also. One report was that there were plenty to be caught down by the dam at Gaston. Now you can book a 1 hour video lesson with an FTM team member. Large docks can be a good starting place when searching for Crappie right now. Speck anglers are tight lipped about locations, but more big fish have been showing up lately. Anglers are doing well for Bass, all along the tidal James. From the surf of the Eastern Shore, anglers are having great luck with the Black Drum, and the Red Drum. Anglers continue to enjoy a great Puppy Drum bite throughout the lower bay. Popping corks work well also, as there are plenty of shrimp around. The backs of creeks are where many are being found. Membership Includes 1 Year Bassmaster Magazine, Plus $50 in free gear. Bridge areas are good areas to fish, as they are typically no wake zones, and they offer shade on hot days. The Bass have been biting well for many on the area lakes. Kerr Lake Bass are being caught well with surface lures also. Lots of Spanish Mackerel continue to be caught throughout the lower bay. Big Sea Mullet are being caught right now, some have been close to 2 lbs. Inshore boats along the Outer Banks are reporting great fishing for Speckled Trout, Puppy Drum, and Spanish Mackerel. Fishing has been improving inside the rivers since the temps are dropping. Suspending jerkbaits tend to work better, over floating jerkbaits. Fiddler crabs, and Blue crabs are the baits of choice. The brush that tops out around 15' is many times, better. Catches along the oceanfront are increasing once again also. The past few years has been a struggle for many on the Potomac. The Stripers are biting well in the lakes that contain them. Live minnows are always a good option. The Spot and Croaker have been on the small side. Speck anglers are experiencing a good bite in the many inlets, and rivers of the bay. The pier anglers are mostly using gotcha plugs, where as the boaters are trolling with spoons behind in line sinkers, and diving planers. Topwater walking baits are good for covering water and drawing strikes from better fish. Flounder reports have been a bit low lately, possibly due to interest in other species. Small prop baits, buzzbaits, and poppers, can be especially good. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The tidal Rapp offers both Largemouth, and Smallmouth opportunities in the same areas, during the colder months. The tidal rivers are producing good numbers of Cats also. Worms, crickets, grubs, larvae, all make great bait. The thick grass mats are producing fish for those willing to use heavy weights to punch through. The warm spell sparked better participation at the point in Buxton, with some big Drum caught. The Perch make excellent bait for the Catfish, which are in abundance on these rivers also. The Speckled Trout bite has been increasing as well, in the skinny waters of many tributaries. Schooling fish, in open water, are becoming more prevalent, making them tough to pinpoint. There are other options, but I know I can trust Strike King when it matters most. The mid and upper lake sections have been better for all three species. Outer Banks inshore anglers are finding Bluefish, Trout, and Puppy Drum. The Bass are still shallow, and topwater baits are a great way to locate them quickly. Fresh cut bunker is good also. All is well on the lakes at this time. Grass is where most of the bigger Bass have been coming from. May is another outstanding month for Bass on these rivers. Crappie are being caught by spider rigging inside the creeks as deep as 14'. Crankbaits, and spinnerbaits are still working well. Combine this with a south, or southwest wind, and the fish can really turn on. Comments: is one of the best baits i ever used the spring craw is my fav. Soft Baits Jigs & Spoons Strike King pro Mark Menendez finds December to be one of the best times to fish in Zone 3. They are also reporting Spot, and Whiting, or Sea Mullet. The pits along the James will usually draw a lot of action from anglers, as they will attract the Crappie, as well as the Bass. Chumming with fresh Bunker has been good, and is usually the better method, this early in the season. Tautog are a good bet, if good bait is acquired. This can be especially true on the larger lakes, like Kerr Lake. The Spot run is what many look forward to when September rolls around. Some of the lakes have the first wave of Bass spawning. The winner of six events, Morgan has accumulated over $2.1 in winnings in his career. 23 lbs was the winning weight from the first Winter Tournament Series out of Sturgeon Creek Marina, on Lake Anna. The surf and pier anglers are finding plenty of Bluefish, a few Puppy Drum, Spot, and Sea Mullet. Fresh clam works well for the Black Drum, whereas crab usually works better for the Reds. It took a 16-1/2 lb average for 2 days to make the final cut of 10 anglers. The tidal rivers remain a great option, no matter which one is chosen. Many species are available, and will continue to get better. 19 lbs was the winning weight of the BFL tournament on Saturday, the 23rd. The Crappie fishing has been good on Anna, and will also continue to get better. These lakes are all known for large Crappie, and Stripers also. From Rudee Inlet to the Rappahannock River, folks are enjoying action that usually continues into the winter. The Cape Henry area has been good. Topwater baits are excellent here too. The Sea Mullet are averaging bigger right now, and are excellent table fare. Fishing close to the pilings is good, but right now, many are fishing behind the islands, in the reduced current. Some are having luck at the islands of the CBBT, and along the light lines of the bridge. Bucktails also pair well with add-ons. The charters out of Hatteras are doing better with the Wahoo, than the boaters to the north. September is considered by many to be the best overall month for big fish in saltwater. Senkos, and flukes work well also. Sizing down can also be a key to success at this time on the larger lakes. This is another option for excellent fishing in our area. Timing the fishing with rising water can produce memorable results. Offshore charters out of Nags Head, and Hatteras, are still reporting good catches of Yellow Fin Tuna, Mahi, and Wahoo. Live eels work well for both tactics. Size, color, etc. Big Red Drum are being caught at Buxton, and Sea Mullet, and Bluefish are being caught up and down the beach. There are plenty of solid options for shallow tidal water Bass fishing available to us. The Chesapeake Bay is yielding loads of nice Speckled Trout from the Rapp, to the oceanfront. The mid to upper sections of Anna have been better for the Bass, as they typically are. Following a bumpy launch week that saw frequent server trouble and bloated player queues, Blizzard has announced that over 25 million Overwatch 2 players have logged on in its first 10 days. The Blue Catfish action has been excellent on the Rapp. The surf temperature along the Outer Banks has been in the 60-65 degree range. Hopefully, this will change later in the week. Fresh clam is what many are having the best luck with. The bridge tunnel is usually the place to be inside the bay, while targeting the bigger Flounder. But the better Striper fishing usually starts in November. One such species, is the Sheepshead. For the folks casting inside the inlets, paddle tailed swim baits are what most are having success with. Select a zone to learn which Strike King baits you should have tied on this month! The bite has been excellent. Some big Reds are being caught also, mostly from the point in Buxton. Anglers are enjoying catching them now by both chumming, and sight casting. Fish are moving shallow in many bodies of water, and Bass are attacking topwater baits with vigor. The upcoming cooler weather should make things even better, as water temps are still higher than they usually are at this time. Some are still catching them on Mir-o-lures. This bite is less impacted by wind, since many areas are not wide open. Spanish Mackerel catches are still occurring, but the bite is slowing in Va waters. A simple lead head jig, in the 1/16, or 1/8 oz sizes, dressed with a single tail, or double tail grub, can be all that is needed. Silver spoons with pink, were good for many last week. The offshore boaters have been doing better with Mahi this week. Early and late are your best chances for big fish. Crappie continue to be caught from bridge areas, and deeper brush. The James River once again, flexes it's muscle in April. Smallmouth anglers might add a paddle-tail soft-plastic to increase vibration. The Bait Selector is designed to serve as a guide for choosing which baits and techniques to rely on based on the time of year, conditions and spawning stages. This is a good time to target Sea Bass on ocean wrecks, which will also improve as the weather turns colder. The tidal rivers should not be overlooked for Crappie fishing, by any means. A simple ball head jig, with any natural colored plastic bait can be all that can be needed this time of year. The surf and pier anglers are pulling in Blues, Sea Mullet, Pompano, and Trout. A 176 lb Big Eye was just caught. There seems to be a good bite for Spot in some of the other rivers also. But they are coming up the coast. The tidal rivers continue to thrive with spawning Shad, and White Perch. Local ponds are coming alive with Crappie and Bass now, as they will begin to spawn very soon. This is also due to bigger interest in the smaller water habitats. Many of the Trout are coming from within the rivers and inlets, in the skinny water. Blue crabs work well also. Kerr Lake Crappie are also being caught from deeper brush from the main lake. The Rapp continues to be good for the Largemouth also. The tidal James and Chickahominy continue to produce great catches of Largemouth, as 24 lbs was the winning weight from a weekend tournament. 18 lbs won out of Osbourne Landing, 16 lbs won out of Hopewell, and 21 lbs won out of route 5 on the Chick. Comments: Best bait on the market for soft plastics love Texas rigging these just pitch it out and work it back in you'll catch fish love throwing a mad melon senko in clear water and a June bug in stained and darker water From: Unknonwn 8/17/17. In addition, they are away from hard structure, making them easier to land. A few Sheepshead are being caught also. Today, we proudly carry on this tradition of covering mid-Atlantic areasusually every weekfrom the Chesapeake Bay, to Virginia rivers and lakes, to North Carolina's Outer Banks on Green Top's Fishing Report. But this usually happens when the water temps are in the mid 40's. Clam works for the Sheeps also, though. Folks are doing well with numbers of Spot in the Deltaville area. Hampton, Lynnhaven, The Elizabeth River, & Rudee Inlet, are some of the more popular areas. The inshore boaters continue to do well with Spanish Mackerel, Speckled Trout, Drum, and Bluefish. Lures that can be cast long distances can be helpful, but the fish have a greater chance of pulling off. The Chick has been especially good lately. Seabass catches are still high for those venturing out to deeper water wrecks. Grass patterns are strong on the Potomac. Out of Oregon Inlet, lots of the boaters are returning with limits of Tuna. Catfish and Rockfish are especially fond of them. Worms, crickets, and grubs can be harvested in many places, such as your own backyard. Another species drawing attention, is the Sheepshead. Some real bruisers have been landed lately. Puppy drum have been biting well in the skinny waters of the bay inlets, and along the oceanside surf. Using plastics on finesse presentations is what many have success on. The Wachapreague area is usually where the early Flounder show up. Many of the fish have moved into the creeks, following the baitfish. It seems that the sight casters are doing better than the chummers, in the last week. Also showing up along the oceanfront, are the Spanish Mackerel. The Shad spawn has been taking place, but they are constantly moving. Find the bait, and find the fish. Both the vegetation, and wood cover are good. Look for the shallow bite to become stronger, as we approach November. Chick Lake is shallow, so lightweight lures, such as Senkos, can be good follow ups for surface baits. The boaters have been experiencing rough weather, so reports have been limited. Look for the Flounder bite to increase soon, as they begin to inhabit area like the CBBT. Kerr Lake Crappie are mostly coming from brush.The Striper fishing in area lakes hasn't really taken off yet, as the warm weather seems to be holding them back a bit. There's plenty of shallow cover on these rivers, in the form of aquatic grass, lily pads, and an abundance of wood cover. There hasn't been much word of Flounder lately, but there should be more interest for these fish as warm weather settles in. For instance, Emma Rietveld of Richmond, was fishing with her dad, and caught over 50 herself! 1fish, 20-36 inches, may be kept per day, per angler. The Bass on the James really turn on when the Shad run is occurring, which is just around the corner. The CBBT structures is where the catches are coming from. Free shipping on orders over $50 in USA. Some of the Cobia chasers are doing better with live bunker, over eels, but much success is being had with the usual baits. Anglers are picking up fish by trolling and jigging. The story is pretty much the same as last week. Devoted Speck anglers are catching plenty of solid fish, along with Puppy Drum, but they are mum about locations. Keep in mind the Pamunkey, Mattaponi, and Rappahannock rivers also. Fishing along the bottom with crab and clam, is what works best. The early morning topwater bite is often the best bite of the day. Bass Pro Shops is your trusted source for quality fishing, hunting, boating and outdoor sporting goods. The Tuna and Mahi bite is outstanding right now, as many are chartering boats out of Nags Head, and Hatteras. Red Drum are also being caught in the same areas, but are also being caught from those fishing from the surf and piers along Va. Beach. The sounds have been greatly productive over the last few days. Sheepshead and Tautog continue to be caught from hard stucture, such as the CBBT. The 53 degree mark is typically the time when the artificials work well. Cobia lures work well for the Drum. Scopes, Mounts, Sights and Optics Accessories, Copyright 2022 Green Top Sporting Goods. Sunday, anglers were able to get out easier, and the Bass bit well. The upper James has a bit more stain to it than the lower James, so check conditions before chasing the Smallmouth. Rockfish and Puppy Drum are being caught by those seeking Trout inside the inlets. The Potomac River has been fishing good also, particularly for Bass. The Stripers are still hard to pinpoint in the lakes, as they are constantly on the move. Fishing along rip rap banks is key. The Potomac River is producing good bags of Bass also. These tactics are being utilized in many bodies of water. Some of the Crappie are moving to shallow brush piles on the area lakes. The Specks are biting in the shallows also, but the drum catches have been out numbering the Trout. This is an exciting event to behold. The Yellow Fin, Mahi, and Wahoo, are still providing good action. Billfish action is another bite that is increasing quickly. These baits will produce strikes from now, and throughout the winter. The beaches were choked with smaller baaitfish, such as Spot, Croaker, and Sea Mullet. Outstanding catches throughout the bay, are taking place. The bigger wave of Reds should be arriving soon. We're seeing another surge of Spanish Mackerel catches inside the bay. Weights for Bass have been good at Anna this week, as 20 lbs was the winning weight. Now that memorial day weekend has passed, the boat traffic will become heavy, especially on the weekends. Surf and pier action has slowed, with continous catches of small Croaker, Sea Mullet, and Bluefish. Good Spanish Mackerel fishing is upon us inside the bay. Spinnerbaits, topwaters, square billed crankbaits, and chatterbaits, are top producers right now. Small jigs, and small to medium minnows, fished on the bottom will get the Perch. Rig these on 1/16 oz jigheads, with a slow steady retrieve. Ocean wrecks are where most of the Seabass are found. However, many of the Rockfish are being caught out along the main stem of the rivers, and at the intersections of the creeks. Along bluffs it will be best to throw a shakey head and jigs. The upper James came up a bit, which usually improves the bite for the Smallmouth greatly. Presentations of live eels are what many of the bigger fish fall for. The Hampton/ Norfolk area has been producing some Spot, along with the hard bottom areas of the Rappahannock. Spider rigging has been good for finding the Crappie. The Trout bite is much stronger down south, along Nags Head right now. Lipless crankbaits, spoons, and smaller swim baits on 1/2 ounce heads work well. For artificials, small 2 inch grubs can be outstanding. The Elizabeth River and Rudee Inlet are very popular for those seeking the Drum and Trout. Look for the Pamunkey river to turn on soon, as it is typically late to ignite with the Perch. LEARN MORE. The minimum size is 13 inches, with a 15 fish per angler limit per day. This bag was anchored by an 8.86 lb giant. Flounder catches are still a bit slow, perhaps due to many other opportunities of other species. Expect average flows for most Maryland rivers and streams.There will be above average tidal currents all week as a result of the upcoming new moon on November 24. Places like Willoughby Bay, Ocean View, Buckroe, and Va. Beach Pier. The boaters have been doing well with the big Reds in many areas of the bay, but the lower bay has been better. The Speck catches will also increase greatly, as more anglers are out, and targeting the Trout. They both have an abundance of wood cover and vegetation available. Offshore boaters are finding Yellow fin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, Wahoo, and Mahi. Lipless crankbaits in the 1/4 ounce size, are a good bet inside the pits of the James. Topwater baits have been working well for both species. Small, crawfish crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and even topwater baits are good right now. Folks are still taking Specks on topwater baits, but Mir-o-lures, and 4 inch plastics on light jigs are taking the majority of keepers. This can be a good area for the Muskie, as well as the Smallmouth. The Speckled Trout bite remains very good from the Rapp to the oceanfront. Shad are what many are chasing on the tidal rivers at this time. These baits will also work well for the Stripers. Folks have been hooking up with them inside the rivers and inlets. The MLF Tour is coming to the James this week, and will be set up at Osbourne Landing in Varina. The Smallmouth are settling into their summer patterns also. Out of Hatteras, the hot bite is the Mahi. Comments:These are by far the best soft swimbait! From: Shawn: West Virginia 6/23/20. Surface baits, like buzzbaits, work well for bigger fish. The upper James remains low and clear, making fishing tough during the day, under sunny conditions. Crab is good bait for many species, one of which is Red Drum. The Bass generally move shallow for brief periods to feed, the retreat back toward deeper water during this time. These fish are just getting here, and the fishing will increase up until about the 13th of April. The Big Rock Billfish Tournament is going on this week, so expect some impressive catches of Marlin. As we approach September, the topwater bite tends to increase quite a bit. Buy Now and Pay Later on Thousands of Items Online, RVA Santa Expo Blog Podcast Fishing Report Gift Cards Rewards Card Shooting Range. Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish, are being hooked up by the boaters. Shallow, skinny water, is where many find them. Those that are jigging in the river with soft plastics are also catching smallmouth bass once and a while. The Trout and Puppy Drum action is better inside the sounds right now. They can often be found in large numbers, suspending higher in the water column. Some extra large fish are being caught from the waters surrounding the Eastern Shore. A few anglers pulled in some nice Tautogs from the structures of the CBBT, in the last few days. Still, the best bet, is live bait. Topwater baits are still in play, with baits like the whopper plopper being good for covering water, and drawing strikes from larger fish. A good setup with 30 # braid, and a 30# mono, or flourocarbon leader, is what many prefer. May is also a great time to target the giant Blue Cats on the James, and Rapp. At Kerr Lake for example, many reported throwing surface baits all day, both days, with success. Guaranteed lowest prices on fishing lures, baits & tackle. With the quick warming weather, more species will become more active, we could see some early season Flounder from the shallows, if the warm temps hang around for a bit. Some are still catching them shallow, while some are reporting them to be on deeper cover, such as the pilings and debris piles of the CBBT. May is typically when the heavy spawning takes place at Kerr Lake. April usually brings forth the Flounder catches, as they increasingly move towards the shallows. Puppy Drum are being caught in big numbers from the shallows inside the inlets and rivers of the bay, and ocean. Some impressive catches of Tog have been made over the last few days. The better Crappie are being caught from the deeper brush, in around 25' of water. In the Carolina surf, folks are catching Puppy Drum, Sea Mullet, Blow Toads, and Bluefish. There's been plenty of Sea Mullet along the surf and piers. During each lesson, you can discuss any fishing topic you want. Fiddler crabs are the bait of choice for these guys. They are also moving towards the upper end of the lake. The pad fields on the Chick are also worthy of effort. The Chick is another good river to target the Yellow Perch right now. Drum of all sizes are showing up along the Va. Beach, and Sandbridge surf. Crappie are settling into their hot weather haunts now as well. They are hard fighters, and very fun to play with. This will soon change. The Flounder are mostly being caught from the Wachapreague area, but they should make appearances to the south soon. Many large Crappie are coming to the scales at Lake Anna. Expect average water clarity for most Maryland portions of the Bay and rivers. Wading with just a few lures, can be quite successful. The floating docks are good also. Grass frogs are what many prefer to start off throwing. Bass fishing remains good on the tidal rivers. King Mackerel are being caught well from the Carolina piers, so expect to see them showing up more frequently along the Va. coast. Brush and rock structure are holding good Bass in the lower lake regions. The Seabass action is outstanding right now! Most of them provide excellent opportunities for quality Crappie. September 26th, 2022 Chase Nicholson of Ridgway was crowned the champion for a fourth consecutive year, as he caught 3,036 smallmouth bass to win $3,000. While the tidal fishing remains good, the lakes have become tough lately. Fresh cut Shad is excellent at any time. Good catches were made with live bait, crankbaits, and jerkbaits. This is why chumming can be so productive. The water temp has been around 63 degrees. Some of the charter boats out of Oregon Inlet have have been returning with Black fin Tuna, Mahi, and Wahoo. Sometime in the early 1960s, Green Top fishing pros began posting local fishing reports each week on a chalk board. Warm weather fishing is upon us, so get out and enjoy! A few reports of Croaker have been made from inside some of the rivers. But, for the most part, the Stripers are being found on deep flats, close to channel drops. Flounder action is increasing at the bay bridge tunnel. Some of the tidal rivers are stained more than others, but a few catches of Shad are occurring. On the freshwater side, the Crappie bite may be the hottest bite going right now, particularly in the lakes. Spoons , darts, flies, and small curly tailed grubs, are the ticket. Good reports of Bluefish, and Pompano, are coming from that areas as well. Reports of Sheepshead inside the bay, have been confirmed. Low and clear. Much of the better action is early, on topwater baits. Water temps are ranging from the mid 40's, to the mid 50's in some places. Winter season tournaments have started, and good catches are occurring throughout. Also increasing in catches inside the bay, are the Spanish Mackerel. Look to the rivers, such as the Piankatank for good Rockfish action. The boaters fishing the shallow waters of Fisherman's Island are having great luck as well. The softer material allows the swimbait to move like it should. The CBBT seems to be the hottest spot for the big Sheeps. Both the Rapp, and Potomac, are producing big catches of Snakeheads. Most agree that moving at a speed of about 7 mph is productive. This is why many to prefer to sight fish for the Cobia, knowing what is being cast too, and pulled in. Conditions have been less than ideal lately. The James and Rappahannock are the two most popular, but the other rivers should not be ignored, such as the Mattaponi, and Pamunkey. Some Sailfish are also being caught. Black fin Tuna, and a few Wahoo have also been caught. Inspiring people to enjoy & protect the great outdoors. The offshore boats are busy with Yellow fin Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo, and an occasional billfish. They should be worked with sharp, erratic twitches. There are still some spawners in the lakes, but for the most part, post spawn patterns are prevalent. It is located just above the Willey bridge. There have been a few Specks caught as well.Tautogs are available on ocean wrecks, while some are available inside the bay, along the structures of the CBBT. Offshore boats out of Nags Head and Hatteras are finding plenty of good sized Yellow fin Tuna, Mahi, and some big Wahoo. I don't fish any water without a pack of them with me! Many of the lakes have the Crappie setting up for the spawn, and the Bass are not far behind. The upper portions of Lake Anna have been better for Bass, as the water there is cooler, and more fertile. Offshore boat have reported Black fin Tuna, Yellow fin Tuna, Wahoo, and increased catches of Mahi. Lipless crankbaits, swim baits, and topwater baits have been working in the early daylight hours. Surf anglers have been beaching Puppy Drum, Sea Mullet, Pompano, and some Mackerel. Many are using popping corks with shrimp baits attached. The largest Wiper caught to date, was caught this week, weighing in at just over 13 lbs. Pink and green baits have been good on both rivers. Puppy Drum continue to stretch lines in many areas of the lower bay and oceanfront. Drop shots and swim baits have been better for the Bass in the larger lakes. The bridges are producing as well. The evening bite has been better. Water temps were in the mid to upper 50's. There is a 20 inch minimum, and a 28 inch maximum size limit. Another species that has been pretty solid, is the Sheepshead. Minnows, and jigs on slip floats are a good method for catching the Crappie. A huge variety of baits are working for the Bass, as they are in full summer mode. Strike King pro Todd Faircloth lets anglers in on his favorite places to fish in Zone 2 during the month of December. For the deeper areas, drop shots, swim baits, and Texas rigs have been working. This is a small lake, but often yields big Bass. That being said, more anglers are out, and hooking up with Puppy Drum. I started fishing when I was just 2 years old and learned from my dad, who is also a professional angler. Small Croakers and keeper Trout are being reeled in more frequently from the surf and piers now. The Bass at Kerr are being caught from the points also, but the points with buck bushes are better. Many times, just 6 feet below the surface, is all that is needed to obtain bites. Sight casting is also popular, as large schools of Red Drum can be spotted from a good distance. The Bass are biting on the tidal rivers. Saturday was the precipitation day, in which some of the local bodies of water experienced snow, and high winds. There has been some reports of Mackerel catches along the CBBT as well. Many of the catches of both are still coming from soft plastics, but there has been mention of a few topwater catches also. Tough fishing has been the case for Largemouth on the larger lakes, such as Kerr, Gaston, Smith, and Anna. Trolling spoons at a speed of around 7 mph usually does the trick. Surf tepms are in the 58-63 degree range, with some Reds, Sea Mullet, Bluefish, and Sharks being caught. The big schools of Red's should start to appear very soon. Topwater baits are producing the better fish in the early hours. Anglers should always experiment with different kinds of scent in different scenarios to find out which works best for their fishery. The April full moon usually yields some of the biggest Crappie from all bodies of water that contain them. A key of success with the soft plastics was adding Craw-Cane to the bags. Surf temps cooled down to 63 degrees last week, but changing winds will bring temps back up. The upper James has become a bit stained, but this can sometimes help the bite, as the Smallmouth will often move shallower during the higher, stained water. Potomac River anglers are experiencing better weight than those on the James. We take a number of different data points to make our fishing Fish off main lake points or on the edges of the river and creeks near cover (brush tops, stake beds, stumps, rocks, etc.) The Bass at Kerr have moved into the pockets and coves, and are responding to spinnerbaits, flukes, and senkos, very well. The bridge areas are holding fish also. The Stripers continue to move towards the rivers for their spawning runs. Top-water has not been as good as earlier, but fish can still be caught using this method especially on warm evenings. Some of the larger Crappie are being caught on isolated stumps, along with mid to shallow brush. Standard colors like smoke, and green pumpkin, will usually get the job done. When April arrives, it's time to throw a spinnerbait for Bass. The Shad bite is winding down, but some are reporting the biggest Shad of the season right now. Lake Gaston yielded quite a bag of Bass on Saturday, as 22 lbs was the winning weight. Slip floats with minnows are an excellent method for success around the brush. Right now, the ocean wrecks are still producing good sized Tautog. The lake is well known for its smallmouth fishing, but many anglers still overlook the largemouth fishing. Plus, catching the live bait, can be just as fun sometimes. Right now, many are being caught from the Butchers Creek ,to Grassy Creek area. Quality Tautog and Sheepshead are being caught from within the bay still, with the CBBT structures, and the artificial reefs, being the hot spots. Red Drum have been taking center stage in many areas of the bay. Weights were down a bit over the weekend, as Bass anglers faced a tough bite on the James and Chickahominy rivers. This is why they are being caught on many different lures. The lakes have been tough also. Topwater baits, swimbaits, crankbaits, and soft plastics, are usually the top picks. Anna Stripers are still being caught well with live bait, with the early mornings being best. ( 5 fish limit) The tidal rivers are practically unbeatable in April. Catfishing with noodle rigs is popular on Kerr. Gaston has been putting out some big limits also. Other areas are Wolf Trap Light, the Cell, and Ches Light Tower. Most of the salt anglers are chasing Puppy drum, and Speckled Trout. The Cobia action has not slowed down inside the bay, and catches are also being made along the oceanfront. The last day of Cobia season for recreational anglers is September 15. All Rights Reserved. They are being caught from the Rappahannock River to Rudee Inlet. baits. Some good sized Rocks are falling for umbrella rigs inside the Rapp, but again, they have been elusive. The Va Beach Pier has been good, and will continue to deliver for a while. However, on the tidal rivers, anglers are still finding Bass along the main river, and inside the creeks. The Pamunkey, and Mattaponi Rivers should not be overlooked at this time either. They are relating to brush, and docks. Soft plastics are often lightweight and spinning reels allow them to be accurately cast a far distance. Crappie are being caught from deeper brush, 15-25' in most cases. Some of the lower bay shoal areas have been excellent for the Cobia, but have been good for the Red Drum. Many of the better Bass are being caught out deeper on brush, and rock structure. The Rappahannock is also fishing well for Bass. The bridge areas will often produce fish, when all else fails. Large drum catches seemed to have slowed, but this won't last long. This time of year, the pits receive a lot of pressure, but they also put out high quality catches many times during March. Typically, once June arrives, the better fishing occurs at night. These lakes also have healthy populations of Stripers, which are being caught in good numbers. 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