Thursday, September 15, 2005
Weekly fishing report
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
Recent columns
Lakes
Smith Mountain Lake's stripers have started to break out of their big, tight schools, reports Mike Snead at The Virginia Outdoorsman. There's even been some topwater action late in the day. Bass are also hitting topwater plugs like Ricos and Pop-Rs. Crankbaits and plastic worms are also effective around mid-depth cover.
Fishing pressure has been light at Lake Moomaw, reports Lana White at The Bait Place. Bass action remains good at the lake.
Striper action has been good at Claytor Lake, reports Justin Bostic at Pembroke Stop and Save, who said a customer has been doing well using a Yo-Zuri surface plug.
Streams
Muskie action remains hot on the New River, reports Bostic. "It seems like there are more people muskie fishing than bass fishing," said Bostic, who reports that Swimmin' Joe plugs remain the most popular bait. "We can't keep them in stock."
James River smallmouth action is fair. Soft plastic jerk baits such as Fin-S Fish and Gary Yamamoto Senkos are working well in the clear water, as are minnow lures in subtle colors.
Saltwater
Virginia's coastal fishing action has been slow and probably will stay slow after Hurricane Ophelia passes through. Other than good fishing for hand-sized spot, the only other consistent action has been for bluefish and striped bass around the artificial islands of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, reports Claude Bain at the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament. Stripers must be released until the Oct. 4 opener. Flounder fishing should pick back up in the next couple of weeks and Bain said he expects one more good run of big croakers in the lower bay.
