Thursday, June 19, 2008
Fishing report
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
Recent columns
Overview
It's the season when many beach vacationers try their fishing luck in the North Carolina surf. This year has been tough because of widespread closures of Outer Banks beaches to vehicles and, in some cases, even walkers.
Three North Carolina politicians hope to restore some access through legislation that would trump a recent consent decree reached between sides in the beach driving battle.
The legislation would reinstate the interim management plan that the National Park Service had in place prior to two environmental groups legally moving to end all beach driving until the NPS has a permanent plan in place, which could take a couple of more years.
With increased buffer zones and a night driving ban to protect nesting sea birds and turtles, the consent decree has cut down significantly on beach access this season.
Beach driving advocates have launched campaigns to get their representatives behind the legislation.
Congressional contact information and plenty of discussions on the topic are available on the forums at reddrumtackle.com and other Outer Banks fishing Web sites.
Lakes
Catfishing action is really taking off at Claytor Lake, reports Mike Burchett at Rockhouse Marina. The flats above the lighthouse bridge have been productive, with the most popular baits live shad and slow-trolled nightcrawler spinner rigs. Bass fishing is a finesse game during the day, with some topwater action early. Dark chatterbaits and spinnerbaits are working well after dark.
Striper fishing has been on fire at Smith Mountain Lake, reports Dewayne Lamb at Captain's Quarters Marina. Stripers are in small pods above Halesford Bridge on the Roanoke River and above Gills Creek on the Blackwater arm. Alewives on planer boards are the top bait. Catfish action is also good for both channel cats and flatheads. Soft plastics at depths of 10-12 feet are producing some bass.
Wednesday's full moon should produce what will probably be the final big push of sunfish spawning action in the shallows of the region's lakes and ponds.
Streams
Low flows in the lower New River have led to an explosion of slimy aquatic grass, which is hampering smallmouth action, according to Tony Boggess at Pembroke Stop and Save. Flukes are producing some fish, reports John Zienius at Big Z's in Radford, and topwater baits will work if anglers can find grass-free pockets.
Saltwater
Big whiting are in the surf on the Outer Banks, while cobia fishing is picking up in the Chesapeake Bay.
