Shorter days and cold nights have lowered water temperature. Grass is quickly disappearing. As long as we have sun and the water doesn’t get muddy, milfoil can last all winter

Pretty dry this week with highs around 50 until Thanksgiving and into the weekend. But very cold, below freezing to start the day. Water temps around 45.

If there’s grass, especially close to deep water and sun, slow roll 3/8-ounce Mann’s Classic spinnerbaits with white skirts on 12-pound test Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon line. Low and slow! If water is clear, try suspending jerkbaits. Tight wiggle Mann’s Loudmouth III crankbaits, chartreuse with a brown back, can be paused in water less than 5 feet.

Hydrilla and milfoil grass on the Potomac are going, going, gone! Target hard cover and drop-offs. Look for rock, wood and docks! Fish are moving and eating! Reaction baits get the job done…take note of speed. Search baits like squarebill cranks, lipless crankbaits, chatterbaits and spinnerbaits with cloud cover or chop on the water can locate grass and fish. Early November fishes entirely differently than the end. Transition from late fall into early winter takes place.

Fishing Report - November 16, 2018

OVERVIEW - Anglers should be aware that it is much colder on the water than the temperature would indicate. Please dress for the weather. Many layers of warm clothing with a windbreaking outer shell is best. Also remember to leave a float plan....where you are going, when you expect to get back and take along a working cell phone.

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Fish may be caught throughout the city. Bass will take small grubs, plastic worms, jigs, jigging spoons and small crankbaits. Most are holding on banks where the bottom drops from very shallow to 10-15 feet. Work small crankbaits across the shallow areas, then probe the deeper water with grubs, drop-shots or worms.

OCTOBER OUTLOOK

As we head into October, we are being greeted with a lake that is just above full pool and water temps in the low to mid 70's. The fall fishing is going to be one for the record books.

The popular Sunday Morning Bass Series will wrap up on Sept 30 and will finish the year with a 21 boat average per event. The SMBS Fall Classic (100% payback) is Scheduled for Sunday October 21 from 7am-3pm. All you need to do is fish one regular season event to be eligible.

Talk around the lake is about the upcoming 2018 Angler Appreciation Tournament on Saturday October 27 (Make up date for weather will be on Sunday October 28, 2018). The entry fee is $120 and includes two big fish pots. Boat numbers will be assigned in the order that entries are received.

As in the past, there will be three flights of boats that are separated by 15 minutes each.

1st Flight- Boats 1-50 7:30am-3:30pm
2nd Flight- Boats 51-100 7:45am-3:45pm
3rd Flight- Boats 101-150 8:00am-4:00pm

BASS- With lake levels at full pool, there is plenty of cover to fish around the lake. Water willow, lay down trees, boat docks, stumps and any other type of cover you can imagine has water on it and will more than likely have fish around it as well.

Look for fish to actively chase bait and feed heavily, especially in the morning and late in the day (sometimes all day long) in preparation for winter. Moving baits such as a Dave's Tournament Tackle Tigershad Spinnerbait, Lipless Crankbaits (Rat L Trap or Red Eye Shad), 1.5 & 2.5 Squarebill Crankbaits are all great choices for covering water and locating fish.

Fall is also one of my favorite times to fish with top water baits. Walking baits, poppers and buzz baits are always tied on my rods this time of year. Another favorite bait of mine is a soft jerkbait, this is probably the most versatile bait that I use. You can fish them weightless, weighted or on a jig head. Rigged on a Scrounger Head is one of my favorite ways to fish this bait.

CRAPPIE- The crappie are starting to make their move towards their fall ambush points. Look for them to start showing around boat docks and shallow bridge pilings.

Fish a small minnow rigged under a slip bobber with minimal weight (just enough to keep minnow in place) or an abundance of artificial baits. Mt favorite is a 2" Big Bite Lures Curly Tail Grub rigged on a Mizmo 1/16oz jig head in Tractor Green, Green Weenie, Back/Blue Chart Tail and Wally World.

STRIPER- The Striper are actively chasing bait to the surface and birds have already started to show up at the lake, they will continue to do this through at least Thanksgiving week, but could go longer depending on weather.

There are many baits you can use to catch these fish. A Bass Assassin Sea Shad rigged on a 1/4oz jighead and casted into the swirling fish is a great way. One of my favorites is with a Cotton Cordell Broken Back Redfin, these sub surface wake baits draw violent top water strikes and the hook up percentage is way better than a true top water bait.

Trolling will still play a roll early in the month, but as water temps drop casting will be your better choice. Spoons vertically jigged while watching your electronics will always catch fish when you can locate them feeding in deep water.

Early in the month, look for them to be around the splits. As the water cools. the bait will start to push up in the river arms and major creeks throughout the lake. Towards the end of the month, the S-Turns in Pamunky and above the 522 bridge in the North Anna arm will hold large schools of fish.

Please have respect for other anglers chasing Striper as well, if you see someone casting into schooling fish, DO NOT run the big engine up into the fish and start fishing right beside them. You can ease into them with the trolling and everyone can catch fish and everyone will be happy!!!!

September 25, 2018
LAKE LEVEL- FULL POOL (2" high)
WATER TEMPS & CLARITY
DIKE 3- 80 Degrees CLEAR
DOWN LAKE- 78-80 Degrees CLEAR
MID LAKE- 75-78 Degrees CLEAR/SLIGHT STAIN
UP LAKE- 74-78 HEAVY STAIN

Chris Craft
Anna Point Marina/Fish Tales Tackle Manager
540-895-5900 ext5

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER: Chris Hicks reports clear water and good bass fishing, with anglers bringing in one bass over 6 pounds and another over 5 last weekend.

POTOMAC RIVER: Reel Bass Adventures reports water temperatures are in the 50s and there is a strong crank bait bite around hard cover. Use a small, deep-diving crank bait over rocks and wrecks

Chickahominy Lake Fishing Report – November 14, 2018

Capt. Art Conway of Conway’s River Rat Guide Service (804-514-1486) out of
Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water
temperatures were in the upper 40’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday
(11/14/2018), with slightly lower temperatures at the upper end of the lake.
The lake level was about 8 inches above the top of the dam. The water was
medium brown and clear in the central lake, and quite murky on some downwind
shorelines.

Blue cats and bullheads were scattered on deeper flats, along drop-offs, and
in channels in the main lake and in some creeks and were hitting live
minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were on deeper flats, on drop-offs and
in channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover.

Saltwater- The hottest action right now is the Speckled Trout bite. Most all of the action is taking place inside inlets and rivers. Lynnhaven seems to be leading the way, but receives much of the pressure too. However, there's a lot of space inside Lynnhaven. Little Creek has put out some Trout, so has Mobjack, and Fleets Bay. Soft plastics have been best, but jerkbaits are coming into play as water temps drop. Rockfishing is on the rise in the bay, but most action is occurring inside the rivers. Many reports are coming from the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers.

Freshwater- The upper James is back up, 10.36 ft at the Westham gauge. We are expecting more rain, so the levels are expected to increase. This will impact the lower James also. The pits along the James should remain cleaner than the main river The Chickahominy will probably be the best bet for tidal fishing this weekend. Both the Crappie and Bass are biting well. Bass are responding to lipless crankbaits, shallow crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and jigs. Some may even be throwing silver buddies already.

LOCAL WEATHER AND TIDES FOR POTOMAC

Lake Anna State Park

6800 Lawyers Rd., Spotsylvania, VA 22551;

Phone: 540-854-5503;

Email: LakeAnna@dcr.virginia.gov

Leesylvania State Park

2001 Daniel K. Ludwig Dr.,

Woodbridge, VA

22191; Phone: 703-730-8205;

Email: Leesylvania@dcr.virginia.gov

Maryland Fishing Report: Nov. 14

Fishing Report - November 16, 2018

Chickahominy Lake Fishing Report – November 14, 2018

Kerr/Buggs Lake Information

What's Happening at Fletcher's Boathouse