Its that time of year, even though fishing remains good, reports are now few and far between as winter approaches. We will do our best to try and keep up with what is occuring and post the info here.

Maryland Fishing Report: Dec 5

Icy ramps in the morning and evening make launching dangerous. Also bunks will freeze after launch; soak them in the water before driving boat on.

Water is around 40 degrees. All techniques work better with lighter line. Use combinations of 10-15 pound Gamma Torque braid with 6-pound Edge fluorocarbon leader. A dry week, but cold with highs only in the low 40s. Overnight lows in the upper 20s. Warming into the 50s into the weekend with highs of 50 with showers.

Target areas with steep drops. Spoils Cove and Smoot Bay are protected bays with deep water and are out of the current. There are other deep spots in various creeks. Warm water discharges, Possum Point, Blue Plains and Four Mile Run are hot spots, literally. Often 10 degrees or more warmer. This allows for more aggressive presentations.

Open the tacklebox and go fishing! Dress in layers; protect your eyes with Maui Jim Polarized gray lenses. You’ll be able to use spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jerkbaits and even possibly some topwater (primarily during the warmest part and lower tide of the day!). Bridges in DC are good for smallmouth, largemouth and stripers using pilings as current breaks and in the dead zone waiting for prey. Depth and how bass are using cover are more important now as water drops to 45 degrees and below. Slow down and keep baits into these zones. The Spoils, Smoot Bay (National Harbor), Fox Ferry, Hogg Island, Belle Haven, Oxen Cove, Blue Plains are the typical hangouts in the northern end of the Potomac River. Also check out the warm water discharge at Possum Point. Colder water, fish slower and generally deeper.

OVERVIEW: Most gamefish are holding in deeper water during this season of the year. Unless there is a warm water discharge in the vicinity, the fish will be deep and very sluggish. They will not move far or fast to feed, and successful anglers know that small baits, fished very slowly, are the better choices. "Dead-sticking" is one of the better techniques at this time of year. This involves casting a grub or jig 'n pig and allowing it to sink to the bottom. Once it hits bottom, it should be allowed to sit with no motion for as long as the angler can stand it. After the initial wait, move the bait very slightly and let it sit again. Self control and patience are required, and the slower the retrieve, the more successful the angler. One trick that is practiced by veteran anglers is to cast a small, plastic grub, saturated with fish attractant, into 15-20 feet of water and set the rod down. Leave the bail open and use another rod to work a different lure.

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 – December 5, 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 mid 40’s in the lower main lake on Wednesday (12/5/2018), with similar temperatures at the upper end of the lake. The lake level was a few inches above the top of the dam. The water was light brown and clear in the central lake.

Blue cats and bullheads were along drop-offs and in channels in the main
lake and were hitting live minnows and cut bait. Most crappie were on
drop-offs and in channels in the main lake, especially near wood cover.
Activity varied, with active crappie hitting live minnows,

Saltwater- Big Rockfish are being caught almost daily. Weigh in are occurring in the Cape Charles area, but most of the big fish are coming from areas north, such as Tangier, & 59A. Wednesday produced some big fish from the 42 area, so the fish are getting closer to the mouth of the bay. Many of the bigger fish are coming from live Eels, which is typical for this time of year. The Eels are usually rigged either with a float, or tight lined with various egg sinker weights. Trolling swim shads, bucktails, and tandem rigs, are what's mostly working inside the rivers.

Freshwater- Little Creek Reservoir has been producing some quality Crappie lately, along with some Pickerel, and Largemouth. Little Creek typically remains clear despite heavy rain. Weights were up this week for the 3rd Winter Series Bass Tournament out of Sturgeon Creek Marina on Lake Anna. 18.08 lbs was the winning weight, with Josh Hall and Matt Martin being the winners.

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: Dec 5

Chickahominy Lake Fishing Report – December 5, 2018

Kerr/Buggs Lake Information

What's Happening at Fletcher's Boathouse

Ken Penrod's Life Outdoors Unlimited