Largemouth
Bass - Fair to good fishing when you can find active schools, otherwise you'll have to get reacquainted with your shaky worm rig because the crankbait bite is tough. Schooling largemouth can be targeted down lake from the dam up to Dike 1 where ever you find threadfin shad. Dog walking topwaters and soft plastic jerkbaits are best when these conditions present themselves, usually over humps,
drop offs and other vertical structure. Mid lake fish will be on shad
and herring and take the same lures with a crankbait and multi-arm rig from time to time. Expect some movement into major mid lake creeks like Sturgeon, Contrary, Mitchell, Marshall and Pigeon where you might even be able to catch a few on a Tiger Shad spinnerbait in the afternoons. Up lake fish will be on the crankbait holes (rocks, ledges and brush) but will prefer plastic worms. Keep an eye on the extreme headwaters for big bass on gizzard shad. When this happens, use lipless crankbaits.
Striper - Very good fishing is here for those that like to use lures
for striper. You can target breaking fish in the morning within a mile either side of the 208 marinas using lures like a Redfin or Super Spook, Jr. Larger fish can be caught below the surface action by vertically jigging Toothache spoons or casting sassy shads or bucktails. There areschools
of fish that are staying at or near the bottom in the mid-lake region. Trolling deep baits is the best for
them. The Bandit Deep will get
down to 27’ or deeper and has been very effective catching these fish.
Hot zone is mid lake and lower up lake.
Crappie - As soon as the water in the upper Pamunkey Branch and North Anna drops below 80, it's time to hit the docks with casted jigs and minnows on slip bobbers. Fish are on all bridge pilings now, about 15' down.
Lake temps low to mid 80’s
Good luck and see you on the water.
Report generated by McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service
www.mccotterslakeanna.com
Bass
The
longer, cooler nights are slowly lowering the water temps enough that the fish
are moving into shallower water. Fish stumps, brush, docks or any other
structure with medium running crankbaits, shakey worms and Senkos.
Even some fish caught in very shallow water using spinnerbaits. Great
topwater action in low light conditions using Pop R, Chug Bugs and buzz baits.
Stipers
Has been fairly slow the past week. Plenty of fish being graphed over the
entire lake, but the schools are small and catches are spotty. Cast sassy shads, sea
shads or Toothache spoons. On deeper
fish troll Redfins and DD-22 or Bandit Walleye Deep. This bait runs about 3-4’ deeper than the
traditional trolling baits. For topwater use Zara spooks or Redfins.
Crappie
Action has been very good as most fish have moved to shallower waters, 6-12’
depending on the time of day. Holding on bridges, structure, docks and
brush. Small minnows and 2" grubs are working best. Many
anglers report great catches.
Lake
temps mid 80’s
STRIPERS: Summer patterns continue with plenty of schools roaming the
main lake regions. Your depth finder will be the key in locating the schools
which are holding primarily over 25 to 35 foot flats. Anglers trolling deep
diving Redfins, DD-22 and Stretch 20’s are catching plenty of fish.
Occasionally in low light times of the day smaller Stripers will chase bait to
the surface where top water baits like Spooks, Pencil Poppers and Pop R’s
attract vicious strikes. Top water Redfins also will take the larger Stripers
waked across the surface. Still some of the
best catches have been on live bait. Stripers are feeding heavily on Herring
when they are schooled. When the fish feed shallower Gizzard Shad pulled behind
Water Bugz planner boards will produce the larger fish.
BASS : The bass are staying shallower than normal due the cold
front that lowered water temps last week, however, some fish are still
relating to deeper structures where bait is present still in a summer pattern.
Mainlake points, humps, roadbeds, brush and rock piles and bridges hold
the bass now with numerous techniques catching fish. Deep diving crankbaits are
working well along with jigs tipped with worms. Bass are being caught on the
top of roadbeds and ledges in Rose
Valley, on top in the mouth of Contrary over schools of small Threadfin
Shad, over the older fish structures that were put into the lake
years ago, and all the uplake bridges. Marina docks are also holding nice
Bass. Small shallow running crankbaits
worked near stumps next to the shallow channels will put nice fish in the boat
too. Topwater baits will also catch nice bass in low light times of the day.
CRAPPIE: Plenty of Crappie holding on all the bridge pilings
uplake and on brush piles in 10 to 20 feet of water. Very nice Crappie are
being caught on docks that have lights on them at night. Uplake the Crappie are
moving back up under shallower docks with structure or brush under the docks.
CATFISH: The Cats love this water temperature and can be caught
basically everywhere there is bait present. Work areas less than 25 feet deep
and use your favorite bait. Live bait has been producing some larger than
normal Catfish fished near the bottom over 25 foot flats.
Lake Anna
Striper Guide Service
For the stripers,
anglers should expect the larger fish to remain
between the first two bridges and the marinas. The mouths of main lake
creeks like Mitchell, Pigeon, Marshall and Ware are common hotspots.
Trolling, spooning and fishing live bait on downlines has been
excellent and should continue. Trollers have been doing the best using
Redfins, DD22s, and umbrella rigs. The Toothache spoon
is the best jigging lure. Big gizzard shad have replaced blueback
herring as the top live bait. Depths to look for striper range from
25-35’. There will be more and more surface action in the morning and
late afternoons but most of these fish will be under the 20” minimum
size requirement.
Largemouth bass anglers have been doing well using topwaters just
about all summer. When the fish won’t hit a popper or
Super Spook over a humps, around points and along shoreline
willowgrass, it’s time to drop back and fish shaky worms in brush and
deep rocks. Retrieving a crankbait over up lake rocky points can also
be productive. Don’t overlook schooled bass on bait in the
down lake region over open water humps and in the backs of select
creeks.
Lake Anna crappie are around shade. They don’t have to be 25’ deep
to find this. Bridge pilings, rocks, docks and brush piles all offer
this thermal refuge. Try a small crankbait on light line that dives
10’ around up lake rocks for the largest crappie of the summer.
Otherwise, it’s small minnows under slip bobbers for the best results.
Lake temps upper 80’s to low 90’s
McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service
lkalife@earthlink.net
540.894.3540
Lake Anna Fishing Forecast
STRIPERS: Stripers are schooling chasing baits to the
surface early in the morning and on cloudy days then sounding to depths of 25
to 35 feet deep making live bait fishing and trolling very effective. Schools
can be found from the Splits down to Dike II in the main regions of the lake.
Here are a few techniques to catch Stripers. Stripers will be
chasing small bait fry to the surface advertising where they are making top
water action the key in low light times of the day. Although the smaller
Stripers are what you catch on the surface sometimes the larger fish are below
the schoolies . Baits like Zara Spooks , topwater Redfins, plastic jerkbaits and spoons skipping across
the surface will catch the breaking fish. Sea Shads and Sassy Shads may catch
some of the suspending Stripers. Trolling can be very productive especially
when the sun gets bright and the schools break up. The key to this method is to
put your lures at the same depth the fish are holding. Use Manns Stretch 20,
Deep Redfins, or DD-22's. Another productive way to catch
Stripers is to use live bait rigged on downlines presenting the
baits at the exact depth that you see them on your Depth Finder.
BASS: The Bass are in their summer patterns and are
predictable in their feeding habits. Early in the morning it is hard to beat
working primary points nearby deep water with topwater baits [Spooks, Chuggars,
Prop Baits , etc.]. Many Bass will school in the mouths of creeks on structures
especially humps and ledges where baitfish are present. Once the sun gets
bright Bass will retreat back to the depths using stumps, rock and brush
piles, bridge pilings and ledges as cover. Use deep diving crankbaits,
Carolina, Texas and Drop Shot rigs to catch these Bass. Throw a huge 9” inch
Texas rigged worm into deep cover to catch fish that are pressured with
conventional baits.
CRAPPIE: Most Crappie have moved to deeper water and are
feeding heavily on 2 inch bait fry. Structures in 15 to 30 feet can hold
schools and should be fished vertically using your depth finder to keep you on
your target. Night fishing can be excellent for Crappie, find deep dock with
lights on them for some summertime action.
Report furnished by Lake Anna
Striper Guide Service www.JimHemby.com
540 967 3313 Jim_Hemby@hotmail.com
Bass - Bass fishing trips should target
schooled fish from
the 208 region down to the power plant
with soft plastic jerkbaits and
topwater plugs as well as bass on
off-shore structure like rocks and
brush in the mid and up lake regions with
crankbaits and worms.The best schooling
spots are next to 40' feet of water. The
best off shore spots tend to
consist of natural cover. You can still
catch bass shallow early in
the morning using buzzbaits and
wacky-rigged worms - mostly in the mid
and lower up lake regions.
Striper - It's time to tune up your depth
finder and interpretation
skills and start looking for fish in the
region from Rose Valley to
Stubbs Bridge on down to the mouth of
Sturgeon Creek. The
fish will roam around a bit, possibly even
feeding on the surface from
dawn to about 7:30 am some mornings then
they will school up deep
where you can target them in 25-35’ of
water using trolled Redfin
DD-22, and Mann’s Stretch 20. If casting use sassy shads, Sea Shads,
umbrella rigs and KT Slab (Toothache) spoons.
Live bait will catch them but
keeping
the bait alive and away from catfish is difficult now.
Crappie - Fish have moved deep, from
15-25' in most areas of the lake.
Bridge pilings, deep brush, channel edges
and cool tributaries are
where the best action will be this month.
Get a couple dozen small
minnows, some slip bobber rigs and head
for a bridge like Stubbs or
Holladay Mill and fish from 7 am until 9
am for your limit. Some up
lake crappie will take small crankbaits on
rocky channel bends if you
are up for a challenge and looking for
bigger fish.
Water Temps in the low 80’s
McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service
www.mccotterslakeanna.com
assortments of fishing tackle, accessories and live bait in the area - specializing in largemouth bass, stripers and crappie. We also offer a wide array of boat supplies, ski gear, clothing and groceries. 
assortments of fishing tackle, accessories and live bait in the area - specializing in largemouth bass, stripers and crappie. We also offer a wide array of boat supplies, ski gear, clothing and groceries. 
Lake Anna is known for excellent largemouth, striper and crappie fishing throughout the year, as well as being a mecca for recreational boaters and water sport enthusiasts.
Lake Anna is known for excellent largemouth, striper and crappie fishing throughout the year, as well as being a mecca for recreational boaters and water sport enthusiasts.
