Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.

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Overview

For serious anglers there is no off-season. But most recreational fishermen take it pretty easy during the colder months and start getting back into it with the warming weather of spring.

That time is now, which is why the weekly fishing report returns today. It will run every Thursday until fall.

The hardest thing about fishing in the April is choosing from among the many appealing options.

Bass fishing is solid on lakes and rivers. You might not catch big numbers, but the next month will produce some of the year's best trophy fishing.

Striper fishing, also, is strong at Smith Mountain and Claytor lakes.

Crappie action is peaking as the fish move into shallow structure to spawn. Smith Mountain Lake-area bait shops couldn't keep minnows in stock last week.

Trout season is in full swing, and this weekend brings the annual Trout Heritage Day, when stocking trucks will visit 16 pre-designated waters.

Lakes

At Smith Mountain Lake, crankbaits and jerkbaits are taking some bass, said Mike Snead at the Virginia Outdoorsman in Moneta. Striper fishing has been good in the evening, with plugs taking some nice fish on main and secondary points.

Crappie fishing has been on fire just about everywhere with fish around stump beds and shoreline brush.

Larry Andrews reports that smallmouth action has been excellent in the upper end of Lake Moomaw, but that he's heard little about crappie, yellow perch or trout fishing.

Streams

Smallmouth action has been fair on the region's larger rivers, with jerkbaits, crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits producing some quality fish.

Trout stocking is in full swing, with most popular waters getting fish every couple of weeks.

Action on streams with wild trout is beginning to pick up. Small dry flies can prompt some rises, especially in the afternoon, but small nymphs are providing the most consistent action throughout the day.

Saltwater

Cape Point at Buxton has produced some good action for puppy drum and bluefish, reports Red Drum Tackle, although many surf anglers are having a hard time thinking about much else but Friday's courtroom hearing over beach driving rules.

On days when winds lay down, boats fishing over wrecks and structure in Virginia's inshore waters are doing well on tautog and black sea bass.