Pacemaker Fishing Forum

Welcome Aboard!

You are not logged in.

#1 Jun-19-09 1:23PM

Charlie NHBA
Northern Snakehead
From: Herndon, Va.
Registered: Apr-06-08
Posts: 193
Website

Fishing Report - June 17, 2009

FISHING REPORT                                 By Charlie Taylor

       Potomac River Tide Information                 Twilight
         High Point, Occoquan River                     Hours
  Day       Date     High    Low     High    Low      A.M.    P.M.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday   6/17     0206    0855    1437    2046     0512    2108
Thursday    6/18     0258    0959    1537    2138     0512    2108
Friday      6/19     0351    1106    1635    2235     0512    2109
Saturday    6/20     0444    1209    1731    2337     0513    2109
Sunday      6/21     0538    1308    1825    - - -    0513    2109
Monday      6/22     0632    1402    1918    0056     0513    2109
Tuesday     6/23     0726    1454    2012    0155     0513    2109
Wednesday   6/24     0820    1545    2106    0252     0514    2109
Thursday    6/25     0915    1634    2201    0347     0514    2110
Friday      6/26     1013    1723    2258    0439     0514    2110
Saturday    6/27     1112    1812    2356    0528     0515    2110
Sunday      6/28     1214    1901    - - -   0041     0515    2110

OVERVIEW - Waters throughout the state are high, swift and muddy. These
conditions make it especially for all boaters and waders to be very careful.
Do not go wading or boating alone. Wear your life jackets and maintain a
healthy respect for the high and swift waters.

POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Fletcher's Boathouse reports that bass and carp are
being caught in the C&O Canal, under the mulberry trees. Nightcrawlers and
minnows are taking their toll. Washington Channel's War College Wall grass bed
is producing some good fish on buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and plastic worms. 
Rattling crankbaits are taking fish when worked along the outside edge of the
grass beds. Blue Plains outfall is giving up some bass and catfish, along with
a few stripers, to anglers fishing crankbaits and plastic baits around the
grass beds and pilings. Most of the bass are being caught along the grass bed
that extends from Blue Plains to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. Primary baits are
buzz baits, plastic jerk baits, small spinnerbaits and plastic worms. Try
Mann's Baby One Minus crankbaits on high tides. A few bass are being caught in
Oxon Cove and the Spoils. Catfish are thick around main river bridge pilings.
Clam snouts, cut shad or perch, nightcrawlers and crab baits will entice these
fish.

POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - Most of the largemouth bass are
orienting to the grass beds, either in the creeks or on the main river, from
Broad Creek to Nanjemoy Creek. Topwater lures, early and late in the day,
will draw exciting strikes from bass feeding in the beds. Plastic frogs,
floating worms, Senkos and Zoom Super Flukes, worked through the grass when
the sun is up, will draw strikes on falling tides. As the tide rises, slow
down the retrieve and work the lures deeper into the grass. Plastic creature
baits, with up to one oz. weights, and heavy jigs will get down to the fish.
This technique produces the larger fish. Rattling crankbaits, worked parallel
to the outside edge of the grass and across deep points, will also take good
fish. Catfish are available on almost any shallow flat adjacent to a channel
dropoff. Cut bait and clam snouts are the top choices for bait. White and
yellow perch are still being caught throughout the river. Most of the yellow
perch are being taken from the grass beds on 1/8 oz. beetlespins. Catalpa
appears to be the most productive color. The white perch are to be found
around boat docks and pilings on the main river.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - Lots of catfish action on clam snouts and cut bait. Bass
action is good on topwaters early and late, and on plastic worms and rattling
crankbaits during the day. Bass anglers should concentrate on the area below
the Route 1 Bridge, and the back end of the river, just downstream from the
footbridge. Crappie action has slowed considerably.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - Largemouth bass action is fair to good for anglers
fishing topwater baits early and late in the day, and plastic worms and
crankbaits when the sun is up. Best areas are main lake points in 10-12 feet
of water. Crappie action ranges from good to excellent for 8-10 inch fish on
live minnows. Catfish have moved into deeper water, but will still take clam
snouts, cut bait and cut crab.

BURKE LAKE - Bass action is fair for anglers fishing topwater baits early and
late in the day. Fish the areas near the weedbeds. After the sun comes up,
switch to crankbaits and plastic worms. Crappie anglers are catching a few
fish, but no extraordinary creels. Catfish are biting well on bait shrimp and
clam snouts. Muskie follows are reported but no catches.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - Topwater baits, worked early and late in the day along
the banks, should take some good fish if it ever stops raining. Later in the
day, small plastic grubs and spinners, worked in the main channel should be
the ticket. In areas where grass is found, switch to Zoom Flukes or Senkos.
Action is great for catfish and carp on bottom fished baits.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Smallmouth bass are taking live minnows, crayfish,
topwater lures and plastic baits above the city. In the tidal sections,
largemouth bass are taking crankbaits, spinnerbaits and plastics, primarily on
wood cover, in 12-18 feet of water. Catfish, 10-30 pounds, are taking cut shad
and perch, fished in the outside bends of the river channel.

MOTTS RESERVOIR - Excellent bass fishing, with fish to five pounds. Most of
the fish are being taken on plastic worms and deep-diving crankbaits. Catfish
action is good, and flyrodders are taking loads of bluegill, crappie and white
perch.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - Sunfish and smallmouth bass are biting well. Mad toms, Tiny
Torpedos and spinners should produce the larger smallmouths, while Beetlespins
and nightcrawlers will take the sunfish. Catfish should be caught on chicken
livers and prepared catfish baits.

MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Catfishermen are catching croaker as far up as the
Indian Reservation on the Pamunkey and to Melrose on the Mattaponi. Flounder
are also available in the Mattaponi just below Walkerton. Bass, bream, catfish
and some stripers are being caught around Zoar State Park. The Pamunkey, above
the 360 bridge, is loaded with longnosed gar.

LAKE ANNA - Good to excellent largemouth bass action. Topwaters, deep diving
crankbaits and plastic baits are producing good bass in 12-18 feet of water.
Lots of bass are available on boat docks. Fish plastic worms, Senkos or Zoom
Flukes in the shadiest parts of the boats docks. Striper fishing is
consistent, with fish to 12 pounds being caught from the Power Plant to about
a mile above the splits. Live shad continue to be the best bait, when free
lined in 20-25 feet of water, although some fish are being taken on Sassy
Shads and Redfins early and late in the day. Live minnows and small jigs are
taking crappie from the bridge pilings in 14-20 feet of water.

JAMES RIVER - Above the city, smallmouth bass fishing is great. Catches of 50
or more fish are not unusual. Most of the fish are being taken on Rapalas,
Tiny Torpedos, spinners and plastic baits. Sunfish are hungry and aggressive.
Nightcrawlers and Beetlespins are the ticket for them. Tidal waters are
producing good stringers of largemouth bass on topwater baits, fished early
and late in the day around lily pad fields and boat docks, and plastic worms,
fished on downed wood and lily pad edges throughout moving tides. Catfish are
active and aggressive. Live perch, cut bait and clam snouts are the more
productive catfish baits. Gar and bowfin are active, taking minnow imitating
lures.

LAKE CHESDIN - Good bass fishing on buzzbaits, crankbaits and plastic worms,
early and late in the day. Typical summertime patterns. Otherwise, the lake is
overrun with boaters. Walleye are being caught on crankbaits by bass anglers.
Crappie fishing is fair, with the tasty fish biting live minnows and tiny
jigs. Catfish are cooperating on clam snouts and nightcrawlers.

CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Lots of catfish, bream and largemouth bass are being
taken. Bass are orienting to wood structure and lily pads. Topwater lures,
fished in the early morning and late evening, are taking good stringers of
bass, while plastic worms and spinnerbaits are the choice during the day. Fish
the plastics on the outside edge of the pad fields during outgoing tides and
move back as far as possible and flip the holes in the pads on incoming tides.
Catfish are taking cut bait, clam snouts and nightcrawlers. Bream are suckers
for crickets, Beetlespins and grass shrimp.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Good action early and late in the day on topwaters. When
the sun is high, plastic worms, worked in the pads on points and over the
grass beds are the better choice. Zoom Horny Toads will take good bass when
worked over the thickest grass available. Steady retrieves with white,
bubblegum or green pumpkin baits work very well. Crappie may be found in the
submerged brush throughout the lake. Catfish and bowfin are suckers for cut
bait. Bream and crappie are taking crickets, live minnows and grass shrimp.

LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR - Some pickerel are reported here, in addition to large
numbers of bass. Yellow perch fishing is excellent. Large bream and crappie
are also being caught. Stripers are hitting almost any topwater bait at dusk.

BACK BAY - Bass, to five pounds, are being caught in the creeks and the upper
part of the Bay, where the grass is once again thick. Bluegills are
aggressively taking flyrod popping bugs and crickets. Catfish, 10-12 pounds,
are also being caught in the creeks.

SUFFOLK LAKES - Most of the lakes are reporting good bass fishing, with some
large bass being taken. Most of the fish are being caught on topwaters, live
minnows and plastic worms. Striper fishing is good in Lake Prince.
Shellcracker action is excellent in most of the lakes, although Western Branch
is producing the citations. Crickets and red wigglers are the preferred bait.
White and yellow perch are also being caught in citation sizes. Catfish to 10
pounds are being taken from Lakes Smith and Whitehurst.

LAKE GASTON - Topwaters are taking good fish in the early morning hours. After
sunup, plastic worms and lizards, fished on the main lake points are the
ticket. Striper action has picked up, with most of the fish being caught
around the Eaton Ferry Bridge on live shad. Lots of stripers are also being
taken just below the dam in Roanoke Rapids Lake. Bluegills are off the beds
and are taking live crickets.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Water levels are currently at 303 and falling. Bass are
located in the bushes and are feeding heavily. Best methods are top waters on
rocky points, early and late in the day, and flipping plastic worms and
lizards in the thickest buckbrush when the sun is up. Stripers are taking live
shad around Nutbush Creek between Buoys 1-3. Trolling white bucktails is also
accounting for some good fish. Crappie action is excellent with live minnows
around bridge pilings. White bass are schooled from Bluestone Creek to Buffalo
Creeks and on The Hump, taking Little Georges and small bucktails.

BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Bass fishing is fair for 2-3 pound
fish, but bream fishing is excellent, particularly fliers. Crickets are the
primary bait. At Sandy River, anglers are catching small bass and pickerel.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Good sized stripers are being caught on live shad,
near the dam. Some 15 pounders and a 20 pounder were reported this past
weekend. Bass anglers are also successful, fishing live shad, plastic worms
and jig 'n pig baits for 3-7 pound largemouth, in 15 feet of water. Carolina
rigged plastic worms are also very effective for bass. Crappie anglers are
taking good stringers after 8 p.m. or in 25-30 feet of water during the day.

LEESVILLE RESERVOIR - Largemouth bass action is good, with lots of fish taking
topwaters in the early morning and plastic worms during the day. White bass
are schooled and hitting small jigs and topwater lures. Striper action is
slow. Some stripers, 6-10 pounds, are biting in the Staunton River.

LAKE MOOMAW - The big trout are turned on again. Lots of browns up to the five
pound mark being caught this past week. Most of the fish are being taken deep
trolling. Others are being taken at night, under the lights, on live minnows.
Large shellcrackers and yellow perch are also being caught. Bass anglers are
taking some fish in 12-15 feet of water on spring lizards.

PHILPOTT LAKE - Bass fishing is good in the lake. Live bait is the better
choice. Some rainbow trout, to five pounds, are being caught in the Smith
River.

NEW RIVER - Fishing conditions are good, although the water levels are still
up. Action is off and on. One day, smallmouth bass are jumping in the boat and
the next day, you cannot buy a strike. Quite a few flathead catfish, to 10
pounds, are being caught.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - Smallmouth bass action is good in the back ends of
coves on small spoons, trimmed with a yellow feather. Crappie fishing is fair
and a few trout are being caught near the dam. Walleye are taking slow-
trolled, nightcrawler tipped, spinner rigs. Best action is at night.

CLAYTOR LAKE - A few citation white bass are being caught on live alewives at
night. Otherwise, a smattering of good fish of almost every variety is being
caught. Boaters own the lake during the day and most angling is done at night.

TROUT STREAMS - Mayflies are hatching throughout the region. Flies that
imitate them best are the Light Cahill, Pale Evening Dun, Sulphur and Blue
Wing Olive. Ants and grasshoppers are also working well.

S A L T W A T E R

CHINCOTEAGUE - Decent catches of flounder are being taken in the Main Channel,
Black Narrows and Queens Sound, but the largest fish are coming from Four
Mouths. Small sea bass are plentiful around bridge pilings and on oyster bars.
A few grey trout and bluefish are found in Queens Sound, while Assateague
Island surf anglers are taking spot, mullet and snapper blues. Large mako
sharks are being caught at the Parking Lot, along with bluefin tuna, chopper
bluefish and dolphin. Impressive catches of sea bass, along with spadefish,
triggerfish and amberjack, are made on the inshore ocean wrecks.

WACHAPREAGUE - The best action for flounder and grey trout is found around the
old Coast Guard Station on Cedar Island. Flounder action is also good at Green
and Drawing Channels. Large bluefish are available in the vicinity of buoy
#10, along with an occasional king mackerel. The 21 and 26 Mile Hills are
producing good numbers of bluefin tuna in the 20-30 pound class and an
occasional 100 pounder. Chopper bluefish, false albacore, bonito mackerel and a
few yellowfin tuna are mixed in with the bluefin tuna at the 26 Mile Hill.
Billfish are beginning to come on. Ocean wrecks continue to produce large
tautog and sea bass.

ONANCOCK - Croaker and sea trout are plentiful off Onancock and in Pocomoke
and Tangier Sounds. Bottom fishermen are also catching blowfish, pigfish, sea
mullet and bluefish. Flounder catches are above average, running to four
pounds. Best action is on channel edge dropoffs in 18-20 feet of water. Spot
are being caught in shallow water on bloodworms. Speckled trout are taken
around the grassy shorelines on peeler crab. Cobia have been scarce, but
arrived this weekend.

QUINBY - Good numbers of croaker and trout, with a fair supply of flounder to
five pounds. The area between the Coast Guard Station and the North Channel,
on the end of the falling tide, has been a steady producer.

CAPE CHARLES - Good catches of pan trout and flounder are being made here,
with the trout coming from the High Level Bridge, while the flounder are being
caught around the Cement Ships. Cobia are plentiful, with most of the large
fish being taken at the Middlegrounds and Latimer Shoals. Red drum are still
thick in the shallows behind Fisherman's Island. Citation red drum releases
numbered over 25 this past week. Bluefin tuna are showing consistently on the
26 Mile Hill. Tarpon have moved into the seaside inlets. Big spadefish are
still available at the Cell. Croaker are thick anywhere you drop a baited
hook and pan trout are being found along the channel edges off Cape Charles.
One of the best areas is around buoy 36A. Cobia are showing well on Latimer
Shoals.

LOWER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Flounder are plentiful in the area, with the hot
spot being the Small Boat Channel. Schools of spadefish have moved into the
complex, with the better catches coming from the Third Island. Croaker are
scattered from Little Creek Jetty to the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. Black
Drum are coming from the Third Island, while red drum are being caught from
the Nine-Foot Shoal area. Big spadefish are also available around the Tower
Reef, where many citation fish have been caught. Clam baits are the ticket.
Area marinas weighed in a lot of cobia this past week with the largest being
87 pounds. Croaker are inundating the Hump, Hampton Bar and around Fort Wool.
Trollers are taking Spanish mackerel off Grandview, while bottom fishermen are
seeing plenty of croaker and pan trout, plus fair numbers of flounder and
spot. Plenty of cobia were caught around the York Spit Light, but most of the
fish came from the area around Bluefish Rock. Bottom fishing remains steady in
the York River and inside Mobjack Bay for pan trout and croaker.

MIDDLE CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - Bottom fishing is excellent for croaker and pan
trout in areas such as the Mud Leads, Blackberry Hang, the Asphalt Pile and
the mouths of most local creeks. The largest croaker appear to be coming from
the waters around buoy 62, Great Wicomico River and Smith Point Light. Taylor
blues are putting in an appearance, as a huge school was surface feeding
outside the mouth of Dividing Creek during the past week. Schools are also
located around Smith Point and chummers on the Southwest Middlegrounds are
finding a few in the chum lines, along with the striped bass. Some cobia are
also found in the chum lines. Charter boats are drifting for flounder and
bottom fishing for whiting, spot, croaker and trout. The Southwest
Middlegrounds are loaded with stripers and 1-3 pound bluefish, along with some
Spanish mackerel. Trout, 3-8 pounds, are available on the Tangier Target
Ships, on peeler crab baits. Spadefish are at the Cell in force. Good catches
of spot, croaker and flounder are being made off White Stone, near the bridge.
These fish are also available at Bowlers Rock, Buoy 16 and on Morattico Bar.
Spanish mackerel and bluefish are available throughout the area.

UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY AREA - The entire upper bay is awash with stripers, with
the best area being from Love Point to Swan Point at the mouth of the Chester
River. White perch fishing is improving off the mouth of the Magothy and in
the Patapsco, while remaining very good in the Chester at the mouth of Grays
Inn Creek, Copper Hill and the mouth of the Corsica River. Excellent catches
of stripers are being made at the Diamonds, the Summer Gooses, off Buoy #1 at
West River and the Wild Grounds. The croaker bite remains very good in the
mouth of the Choptank and off the James Island stone piles, with the bite
being better in the evenings. White perch fishing has been improving over the
hard bottom in 25-35 feet of water from Thomas Point to Hacketts, with most in
the 7-10 inch range. Black drum fishing remains spotty at best at Stone Rock,
James Island Flats and Poplar Island.

OCEAN CITY - Flounder to two pounds are being caught around high tide on
shiners. The Route 50 Bridge and the Thoroughfare are good areas. Grey trout
are being taken in the evenings in the Inlet. Surf anglers are taking a few
bluefish, kingfish and flounder on cut squid and mullet. Offshore, white
marlin are being caught and blue marlin are being sighted daily. Shark fishing
is excellent. Yellowfin tuna and dolphin are available at Poor Man's Canyon.
Sea bass and tautog fishing is good on the wrecks.

VIRGINIA BEACH - Headboats are returning loaded with sea bass. Offshore, 12-17
pound bluefish, dolphin and yellowfin tuna are being caught on the 21 and 26
Mile Hills. Yellowfin tuna and dolphin are available from Norfolk Canyon down
to the 850 line. White marlin are biting at the Cigar. Amberjack are available
at the Southern Tower. Shark fishing is excellent at the mouth of the
Chesapeake Bay, with dusky, sand tiger and bulls, to 150+ pounds being taken.
Inshore boats are trolling and catching Spanish mackerel and taylor blues.

PIERS -

LYNNHAVEN - Sea mullet are the most consistent catch, with spot, croaker,
flounder, pan trout and taylor blues mixed in the catches. Spanish mackerel,
to five pounds, are consistent catches. Crabs are beginning to show.

VIRGINIA BEACH - Spot and sea mullet are the most consistent catch, but
croaker, bluefish, flounder and pan trout are also being caught. Spanish
mackerel and bluefish are taken by casters and cobia are hooked regularly.

SANDBRIDGE - Sea mullet, spot, trout and skates are providing most of the
action, but flounder and croaker are also being caught. Spanish mackerel and
bluefish are being taken by casters when the water is clear.

OUTER BANKS, N.C. - Spot are the mainstay for beach and pier fishermen. Fair
numbers of snapper bluefish and Spanish mackerel are also available. Warm
water and an abundance of baitfish brought in lots of cobia and king mackerel.
Speckled trout and puppy drum continue to be caught inside the sound and at
the mouth of the inlet. Offshore, the mainstay is yellowfin tuna, and plenty
of them.  Dolphin have been thick and over the past week and billfish have
put in an appearance. Best action has been just below the Point. Amberjack,
king mackerel and cobia are stacked on the inshore towers. Inshore boats,
working just outside the inlet, found Spanish mackerel, king mackerel and
cobia, with jack crevalle mixed in the catches. Headboats are fishing in the
Sound, where the catch consists of flounder, pigfish and sea bass.


Charlie NHBA.........

Offline

 

#2 Jun-20-09 6:22PM

Ernie
Administrator
From: Ashburn VA
Registered: Feb-03-06
Posts: 15564

Re: Fishing Report - June 17, 2009

So many places to fish....thanks for the report!


Time to go fishin' again!

Offline

 

Board footer

Powered by PunBB
© Copyright 2002–2005 Rickard Andersson