Freshwater Reports Here is our 25OCT13 update on area freshwater happenings. BEAVERDAM PARK (804-693-2107) The lake manager reports the water temperature is 69 degrees at the surface, The lake is at full pool, and the water is slightly stained. Congratulations to the Big Bash Bass Classic Winners Quillie and Robert Countiss with 12lbs 4 oz of fish. Second place went to David Byrd and Patrick West with 10 lbs 8 oz. Third place was taken by Brian and Chris Eckstein with 9 lbs 12 oz. Big Fish was claimed by Fred Seminario and his dog Misty 4lbs 10 oz. Small Crappie have been biting off the fishing pier, under 1 lb each. Catfish have also come around the fishing pier. Ryan M. from Richmond caught a 6lb Catfish off chicken livers last week. Annual Boat and Kayak Passes are now available for the 2014 season and the cost is $60 for Boat and $30 for Kayak/Canoe. They make great Holiday Gifts. For more information visit our website at gloucesterva.info/pr . WALLER MILL PARK (259-3778) The park manager reports the lake is 9-inches above normal pool, the water is slightly stained and the water temperature is 69 degrees. Fishing has been steady with many Large Mouth Bass being caught. Perch fishing has begun to slow down with some Yellow Perch being caught, but few White Perch reported. Most perch fisherman continue to use nightcrawlers and small jigs. Striped Bass fishing is beginning to heat up. Shad have been found schooling heavily in the back of the large coves. Most Striper fishermen are using live shad and shad substitutes with noted success trolling different umbrella rigs. CHICKAHOMINY RIVER, Eagles Landing (804-966-9094) The marina manager reports the lake is at normal pool, it is tea colored, and has a temperature in the low 60’s. The next Winter Bass Tournament will be held on Saturday, Oct 26th, from 8 am to 3 pm. CHICKAHOMINY LAKE, Ed Allens Boats and Bait (804-746-2475) Capt. Art Conway of Conways River Rat Guide Service (804-746-2475) out of Ed Allen’s Boats and Bait reported that Chickahominy Lake mid-day water temperatures were in the low to mid 60’s in the main lake on Wednesday (10/23/2013). The lake level was about 6 inches over the top of the dam. The water was light brown and relatively clear in the central lower lake. Mixed sizes of crappie were scattered on main lake mid-depth wood cover and on a few main lake channel edges and were hitting live minnows, tubes, Trout Magnets, and Wright Bait Co. and Southern Pro curlytail grubs. Mixed sizes of bluegill and shellcrackers were scattered near mid-depth wood cover in the main lake and were hitting small Gulp baits on dropshot rigs, small tubes and jigs, and live worms. A few bass and pickerel were in the major creeks and on flats and shorelines and on mid-depth wood cover in the main lake, and were hitting flyrod bugs and topwaters, stick worms, soft jerk baits, spinnerbaits, and live minnows. Fishing with Capt. Conway, Jim Jervis and Tom Gober had 14 crappie. Malcolm Turnbull had 6 bluegill, 4 crappie, 1 channel cat, and 1 bass. LITTLE CREEK RESERVOIR (566-1702) The lake manager reports the water temperature is 68 degrees and the visibility is 13 ft. Bass were more numerous this week but still small, but some were at 3 + lbs. mark. Crank baits, spinner baits, and Texas rigged worms, all caught fish. Fish were caught in shallower water then we have seen in months, as shallow as 4 ft. At least 3 Crappie over 13 in. came into the shop, as well as several 12-inch Yellow Perch. These fish are holding along the out side grass line in 15 to 20 ft. of water. Small minnows worked well, but I thank the larger Perch would rather have a larger bait. Cat fish were not as numerous as last week, but some were caught and they seemed to prefer large minnows over Night Crawlers, and the Pickerel liked them also. The weather is cooling down that is a good thing the fish will start to feed more often. So you will catch more if you fish, and as the temp. drops more you dont have to get their as early. As the Sun warms up the wood and dead grass Bass will move in to enjoy the one or two degrees difference in temp. What I am trying to say is the fisher men that fish these condescension seem to catch larger fish. This maybe something you may want to try. Our next open is Saturday. 26 we fish from 7 AM. to 3 PM. Season passes go on sell November 1 and are good till March 1 2015 get yours mow and fish this winter for FREE!!! Kayak Fishing with Forrest Short (218-4800): This past week the wind finally stopped blowing enough so that the kayak anglers could get out on the water and catch some fish. Even though striper season is in full swing, the warm water temperatures have kept the fish from schooling up. There are plenty being caught at night and throughout the day, but most are on the small side. The next cold front this weekend should really kick things off. Speckled trout fishing has been very good if you are able to locate schools of baitfish. The trout are schooled up in good numbers and some big fish have been landed. Dave Moss and myself had a good day last Saturday as we landed seven release citation trout between the two of us. Miro-lures and topwater plugs were the bait of choice. Plenty of puppy drum around and the 20 fish that we were catching in the spring are now hard fighting 25 inchers. They are hitting live bait, topwater and jigs. On the freshwater side, crappie fishing has been the main focus. These panfish are moving into shallow waters and hitting minnows and small jigs. Bass fishing has been very good, as well. Spinnerbaits and crankbaits are doing the most damage on the bucket mouths. Tournament Results Winter Bass Tournament, held on Chickahominy Lake, October 19, 2013 1st Place*Ron Graves, Sr., Hampton*12.63 lbs. 2nd Place*David Thomas, Mechanicsville810.52 lbs. Big Fish*Ron Graves, Sr.*4.55 lbs.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:36:15 +0000