Thursday, July 03, 2008
Weekly fishing report
Mark Taylor
Mark Taylor's Outdoors column and notebook appears regularly in The Roanoke Times.
Recent columns
Overview
Heading into the holiday weekend, fishing conditions are about what can be expected for the first week of July. Action isn't great, but it can be fair for anglers who know what they're doing and who get out early or late in the day.
Recreational boat traffic is a traditional pain for anglers on summer weekends, and traffic is always at its heaviest on holiday weekends. Even though boat traffic has been tempered somewhat this year by higher gas prices, this weekend will still be pretty busy.
For anglers on big lakes, such as Smith Mountain, Claytor and Philpott, the best bet will be to get out at dawn while things are still quiet, then head back in by mid-morning. That actually is fine for fishing, as action is at its best early in the morning and late in the evening.
Before heading out this weekend, boaters should make sure their boats and gear meet safety and legal requirements. Those who don't run the risk of receiving a potentially costly reminder in the form of a citation.
As always, if you've got kids on board, keep them in life jackets when under way even when it's not required by law.
Lakes
Striper fishing remains good at Smith Mountain Lake, reports Blain Chitwood at the Virginia Outdoorsman. Live bait on planer boards and downlines continue to be the best producers. Trolling action should start picking up as stripers start forming bigger schools and going deeper. Senkos worked around deep docks are producing some bass, and big soft plastics continue to be a good bet for night fishermen plying deep brush piles. Catfishing is solid for channel cats.
At Claytor Lake, bass anglers are doing OK using Roboworms on drop-shot rigs, reports Mike Burchett at Rock House Marina. Wacky-rigged Senkos are also producing some fish. Burchett said live shad are producing great catfish action in the Peak Creek area, while stripers are hitting around the creek's mouth early in the morning. Swim baits are still taking stripers and hybrids at night on the lake's lower end.
Streams
John Zienius at Big Z's tackle shop said the heavy aquatic weeds that have been bothering New River anglers are getting better. He reported that Senkos have been productive. The river is so low many jet boaters are keeping their boats at home. Some are now using float tubes.
Saltwater
Windy weather has limited action on North Carolina's Outer Banks. Spanish mackerel action has been fair around Cape Henry at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, reports Bill Kennedy at Princess Anne Distributing in Virginia Beach.
