Thursday, September 10, 2009
Fishing report
Mark Taylor is outdoors editor at The Roanoke Times.
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@roanoke.com
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Mark Taylor
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The Wild Life blog
Overview
Have you been fishing lately? If so, you haven't had too much company.
With hunting seasons getting rolling, schools back in session and lots of stuff on everybody's schedule, angling pressure always takes a big dip in September.
Another reason? Fishing is generally only fair this month anyway. Even plenty of hard core anglers are taking a break before the action picks up a little later this fall, as many species ramp up their pre-winter feeding blitzes. Many anglers are also biding their time until Oct. 1, when trout stocking resumes.
This marks the final fishing report for this season. Fishing updates and photos will continue to appear in my column and Wild Life blog at roanoke.com.
Lakes
With water temperatures dipping into the 70s at Smith Mountain Lake, stripers are starting to ascend from the depths, reports Dewayne Lamb of Captain's Quarters Marina. They're still down in the 30- to 40-foot range, where umbrella rigs are working pretty well.
Night fishing for bass continues to fade. Daytime action is getting better, but is still fair at best. Flathead catfish have been moving shallower, and are even surprising lure-throwing bass anglers from time to time.
Umbrella rigs are working OK for stripers in the lower end of Claytor lake, while bass fishing has been challenging, reported Rockhouse Marina's Mike Burchett, who sheepishly admitted that he won the Tuesday night tournament with a three-bass catch weighing just 6.4 pounds.
John Zienius at Big Z's said he's heard reports of a decent buzzbait bite at the lake.
Streams
Wes Hensley at H&H Outdoors in Buchanan said James River action has been fair for small- to medium-sized smallmouth bass.
Zienius reported that Senkos continue to be a popular option among bass anglers on the New River. He said he's also had reports that spinnerbaits are producing some fish. As the water temperature continues to drop, topwater action should improve.
Saltwater
Action for spot, a tasty panfish, has exploded in the lower Chesapeake Bay, while lots of puppy drum are also available.
