Mid-November
Overview
- As Lake Anna cools to more seasonal temperatures, anglers can expect to
encounter roaming schools of feeding fish throughout the lake. Water
temperatures are dropping into the 50s from the mid to low 60s and that means
striper, wiper, bass, white perch, crappie, even catfish are schooled up and
feeding heavily at times. The key to finding these schools of fish is two-fold:
1) locating the hot zone of baitfish and gamefish and 2) watching birds. Here’s
what you can expect for a November visit:
Largemouth
Bass
Up lake bass are leaving willow grass lines
and beginning to follow schools of threadfin and gizzard shad on their annual
down lake migration. Most of the better action is still coming off main lake
points early in the morning where bass ambush shad and will take a spinnerbait.
Later in the day, the fish move deeper to rock ledges and brush and can be
pursued with crankbaits, suspending jerkbaits, even blade baits and fluttered
spoons. The fish will return shallow again in the evening for a brief feed on
the points. Mid lake bass tend to school in creeks due to clearer water. Using
swimbaits, hard and soft plastic swimbaits can be effective when fish and bait
are in the area. Keep in mind the schools of bass are moving throughout the
day, so if your depth finder shows fish in 28-32 of water at the mouth of a
creek where you caught them shallow in the morning, don’t doubt it. If you
cannot find any fish, just pitch a shaky head worm to docks in the first third
of creeks. Down lake bass fishing is bait dependent. Creeks like Sturgeon,
Beaver Pond, Dukes and Rockland often have bass feeding on bait that can be
targeted with everything from small crankbaits to swimsuits, jerkbaits to
spoons. Docks will hold fish once the water hits 55 down lake later in the
year. The Dike 3 region has yet to turn on consistently as the herring are not
there.
Striper
and Wiper
Good
fish is available now for Lake Anna’s striped fish, mostly in the up lake
region. The fish have been holding at The Splits, Rose Valley and the State
Park Beach area for the past two months, but many are now beginning to migrate
up lake toward baitfish coming down lake. Look for the best concentrations from
Rose Valley up to around the Harris Bridge (fish should be at the mouth of Duck
In Hole but are not yet) in the North Anna side and from the mouth of Plentiful
Creek up to the mouth of Terry’s Run in the Pamunkey Branch. Some fish might
remain in The Splits region, too. Don’t overlook Contrary Creek either as we
approach Thanksgiving and early December. You can also often catch white perch
in the same areas when the striper won’t bite. The Capt. Mack’s Super Spoon is
deadly on all three and a Crazy Blade is a lot of fun to fish for perch.
Crappie
Fish
are schooled around docks and bridge pilings near the main river channel. Brush
piles are good, too, if you can find one that hasn’t been fished too often. Up
lake rock piles can hold fish until the water drops below 50. Two-inch jigs on
1/32-oz. jig heads and small minnows on slip bobbers are best.
Good
luck and Happy Thanksgiving.
LATE OCTOBER
Get ready
for a stunning blaze of color around Lake Anna in the coming weeks and a
blazing transition of fishing patterns. Bass, striper, wiper and crappie have
begun to switch from summer to fall patterns with water temperatures now in the
low to mid 70’s. Water temperatures should drop into the 60’s later this month,
triggering the start of the baitfish migration. Here’s what you can expect on
your visit.
Fish the lake sections differently to better understand the keys to success.
Down lake bass are schooled over humps and around points. Use small topwaters,
three-inch swimbaits (Berkley Rippleshad) and small, soft plastic jerkbaits
when you detect schooling action.
At
some point these bass will head to the backs of the bigger down lake creeks,
following the bait.
Many mid lake bass are still in summer schools and frequenting vertical
structure like channel drops and points. Some movement into creeks like Beaver
Pond, Sturgeon, Pigeon, Mitchell and Marshall. Afternoon action will soon be best.
Fish fast with small crankbaits, a small Tiger Shad spinnerbait and a small
swimbait. Some bass are locating on docks and can be targeted using a shaky
head worm.
Up
lake bass are can be found feeding in the shallows along willow grass lines in
the upper North Anna and around rocky channel bends in the upper Pamunkey
Branch. Push into the headwaters of each and Terry’s Run and fish shallower and
you might find some big schoolies on big shad.
Otherwise, toss a spinnerbait and small crankbait when they are biting along
the grass and a creature bait or jig to entice them when they are not.
Striped bass are ravenous now when you can find them active. Schools are in all
three sections of the lake with the down lake and mid lake sections the most
reliable but often with smaller fish.
Up lake striper fishing can be outstanding in the evenings but the feed is
unreliable.
Better fishing awaits for crappie anglers as the water dips below 70 degrees. There are
some 10-15”+ slabs beginning to feed now in the upper section of the lake.
Docks, rocks and brush are where you’ll find the schools. Bridge pilings are
beginning to draw them as well. Two-inch jigs and slip bobbers with small
minnows are best.
C. C.
McCotter
Publisher,
Woods & Waters Magazine | Lake Anna Life Magazine | Lake Anna Life & Times
EARLY OCTOBER
Largemouth Bass – Up lake region continues to produce the best
catches. This area has plenty of willow grass, rocks, docks and stumps,
especially above the first two bridges in both the North Anna arm and Pamunkey
Branch. Pitch small plastic worms to
docks (4” Berkley Power worms) and jig as it falls. A ¼ oz. Tiger Shad
spinnerbait in the Lake Anna Special format is excellent for these areas as
well, retrieved around docks and grass. This is also a great time of year for
lip-less crank baits such as Rat-L-Traps.
Mid lake bass are moving to the backs of creeks like Marshall, Pigeon,
Mitchell, Sturgeon and Contrary. Each will have fish in them somewhere. Use the same patterns as up lake fish
including suspending jerkbaits, soft plastic jerkbaits, and swimbaits. Some topwater action on Pop Rs and buzzbaits.
Striped Bass - There are fish breaking just about every morning in
all three sections of the lake. Have a small topwater you can walk tied on and
keep your eyes peeled. (Zara Spooks or Chugbugs). Birds are beginning to
show up, but they are not much help yet. Fishing has been slow,
however, fish have been caught in the splits area most evenings. Most anglers are using live bait, Sassy
shads, sea shads, and spoons.
Crappie – Lots of fish around bridges and docks, as long as you
stay in at least 10-15’ of water. Small
and medium minnows and 2” grubs are working the best.
Water temps mid to upper 70’s
LATE SEPTEMBER
Gordon and Florence have added much water to the lake but
conditions are pretty good. Stained at
the upper end with very little mud.
Naturally we are at full pool with heavy water flow over the dam. Water temps in the mid to upper 70’s.
Largemouth Bass - Target the up lake region for the best catches.
This region offers you plenty of shoreline structure in the form of willow
grass lines, rocks, docks and stumps, especially above the first two bridges in
both the North Anna arm and Pamunkey Branch. Pitching small plastic worms to
docks has been the go-to pattern right now. You might be able to visit the
flats in the extreme upper end of both tributaries and some of the smaller
tributaries and find bass feeding on threadfin shad as long as the water is not
muddy. The 1/8-oz. Tiger Shad
spinnerbait in the Lake Anna Special format is excellent for these skinny water
areas as well as retrieved around docks and grass. If you cannot get them to
take the spinnerbait, go to the worm and work docks and rocks in grass more
thoroughly. Mid lake bass are moving to the backs of creeks like Marshall,
Pigeon, Mitchell, Sturgeon and Contrary. Each will have fish in them somewhere,
it's up to you be there early and leave late to bump into them. A big topwater
you can "walk" is also good.
Striped Bass - There are fish breaking just about every morning in
all three sections of the lake. Have a small topwater you can walk tied on and
keep your eyes peeled. (Zara Spooks or Chug Bugs). Birds are beginning to
show, but they are on tiny threadfin, mostly, and not much help yet. Hotspots
have been the Stubbs Bridge region, around Sunning Island, the mouth of
Sturgeon Creek, the mouth of Duke's Creek and near Dike III. September striper
are mostly skinny, however, there are bigger fish to be caught this month, even
among the little ones breaking. Be on the water at dawn and dusk and in the
striper hunting mode for the best part of the day. You can also venture way up
into the upper portions of the lake and use swimbaits for bigger fish feeding
on gizzard shad in shallow water. Bigger fish will begin to bite better by the
end of the month when water temperatures stabilize.
Crappie - We went from poor to good very quickly here as the
specks responded to cooler water. Just about all of the docks in the upper
Pamunkey are worth trying as long as they have 10' of water on them. Slip
bobbers and minnows set at 5-8' are deadly. You can also use six-pound test and
a one-inch jig under and around docks. The up lake bridges are good now,
too.
This report furnished by
McCotter's Lake Anna Guide Service
540.894.9144
Early Hot September
STRIPERS: The hot weather has broken up the schools, sent the fish deep
and holding in cooler waters. They are
not very active and will not chase baits.
Anglers have to get their baits right in front of them. Troll
Redfins, Manns, and XPS or jigging spoons
are producing some fish. Also downline
live bait. 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. Stripers are moving
into the current at the third dike and will also feed on the top water baits
well. As the fish move into the backs of creeks swim baits work well especially
the Sea Shad and Sassy Shad worked on 3/8 to ½ oz heads.
BASS : The bass 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. 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.
Water temps upper 80’s
Thanks
Carlos
AUGUST
STRIPERS: Summer patterns will continue through this month with plenty of
schools roaming the main lake regions of the lake. As soon as the nights begin
to cool there will be a bait migration to the backs of the creeks and the
Stripers will turn on in very shallow water. Your depth finder will be
the key in locating the schools which are holding primarily over 25 to 35 foot
flats. Anglers are trolling deep diving Redfins, DD-22’s and Manns Stretch
20. 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. Stripers are
moving into the current at the third dike and will also feed on the top water
baits well. As the fish move into the backs of creeks swim baits work well
especially the Sea Shad and Sassy Shad worked on 3/8 to ½ oz heads. Top water
Redfins also will take the larger Stripers waked across the surface.
Still the best catches have been and will continue to come on live bait.
Stripers are feeding heavily on Herring when they are schooled and it is not
uncommon to take a couple hundred hit’s a morning fishing Herring on downlines.
When the fish feed shallower Gizzard Shad pulled behind Water Bugz planner
boards will produce the larger fish this month. When the dog days of August
prove challenging to artificial bait fisherman switching over to live bait usually
puts fish in the boat.
BASS : The bass 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
in 22' of water [208 bridge], on 20' 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. Towards the
later part of the month the Bass can be caught in the back of the creeks on
humps, roadbeds, rocks and ledges and the fish will move extremely shallow up
the rivers and uplake creeks. Small shallow running crankbaits worked near
stumps next to the shallow channels will put nice fish in the boat. 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
JULY
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, umbrella rigs, or other trolling baits 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 .
BASS :
The bass are still relating to deeper structures where bait is present
still in a summer pattern, however, with
cooler temps this week the fish have been roaming and coming up in the
shallows. 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, ledges, and other
structures. 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. 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 temps in the mid
to upper 80’s
Lake Anna
Striper Guide Service
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.
