Fishing Report ....Potomac River Tide Information

Fishing Report ....Potomac River Tide Information

Potomac River Tide Information Twilight
High Point, Occoquan River Hours

Day Date Low High Low High A.M. P.M.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday 1/19 0039 0605 1233 1811 0655 1743
Thursday 1/20 0125 0647 1326 1859 0654 1744
Friday 1/21 0209 0731 1419 1948 0654 1745
Saturday 1/22 0252 0816 1511 2038 0653 1747
Sunday 1/23 0337 0904 1604 2130 0653 1748
Monday 1/24 0423 0955 1700 2227 0652 1749
Tuesday 1/25 0511 1050 1759 2329 0652 1750
Wednesday 1/26 0603 1150 1902 - - - 0651 1751
Thursday 1/27 0659 1257 2010 0036 0650 1752
Friday 1/28 0801 1405 2118 0145 0650 1753
Saturday 1/29 0907 1510 2222 0250 0649 1754
Sunday 1/30 1011 1609 2319 0350 0648 1755

OVERVIEW - Anglers are reminded to be very careful while boating on the waters
of the state, as most lakes and rivers are at least partially frozen over.
Running into an ice floe while boating at speed could seriously damage your
boat and throw occupants out onto the ice or into the water. The ice will
also obscure partially floating debris in the water. Remember to wear
lifejackets.


POTOMAC RIVER - D.C. - Currently, the river is high, muddy and cold. With
temperatures in the low to mid 30's by the end of the week, bass should be
available in shallow water, adjacent to dropoffs, only in the late afternoon
after the sun has warmed the water. Small jigs, Silver Buddies and soft
plastic baits should be the better choice of lures.


POTOMAC RIVER - BELOW WOODROW WILSON BRIDGE - "Trash Point" in the mouth of
Mattawoman Creek is producing some good fish on plastic grubs, fished on
Mustad Finacky Power Lock Hooks. The Morgantown Power Plant discharge is still
attracting large schools of stripers. These fish are generally small, with few
approaching 18 inches. The fish are taking 1/2 ounce bucktails and four inch
Sassy Shads on 1/2 ounce jig heads. Toss one of these baits into the outside
edge of the swirling waters, allow it to sink to the bottom, bounce it along
with the tide and hang on. If the commercial netters have left any at all, the
stripers will do the rest.

OCCOQUAN RIVER - The river is high and iced over in the back end, but fish may
be caught along the rock wall just above the Route 1 Bridge. Senkos and Silver
Buddies are the best producing baits. Shallow water on the North side of the
river will hold fish in the late afternoons, after the sun has warmed the
water.

OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR - The main lake points downlake are still producing good
fish for those patient anglers fishing the Fairfax County side of the lake in
the afternoons. Jig 'n pig and Silver Buddies are producing well. Crappie are
suspended over the creek and old river channels. Small Beetle Spins and
jigging spoons are taking the fish.

POTOMAC RIVER - UPPER - The mouth of the Dickerson power plant warm water
discharge canal continues to produce good numbers of smallmouth bass, walleye,
tiger muskie and channel catfish. The smallmouth prefer small plastic grubs
in smoke or black, while the other fish are taking nightcrawlers, cut bait or
live minnows.

RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER - Catfish are being taken from the deeper holes in the
river channel on cut bait, in the lower portions of the river. Bass action is
very slow. Some crappie are being caught in the feeder creeks below
Fredericksburg. Perch are in the lower reaches of the river, along with a few
stripers.

SHENANDOAH RIVER - No anglers or catches reported.

LAKE ANNA - Largemouth bass are hanging on the main lake points and steep
dropping banks. Most of the fish are being taken from 10-14 feet of water and
are suckers for jig 'n pig, plastic grubs and live jumbo minnows. The best
area appears to be the Dyke 3 area of the lake. The bass being taken on the
jumbo minnows average 4-6 pounds, but are only available to patient,
persistent anglers. Striper fishing is fair to good, with fish averaging 8-14
pounds being taken near the dam and around the mouth of Sturgeon Creek. Live
shad and jumbo minnows are the preferred baits, although some success is
reported on bucktails, Hopkins and Kastmaster spoons, and Silver Buddies.
Crappie are biting well, but are difficult to find. Most are being found over
deep brushpiles. Small minnows are the best bait. Small Hopkins spoons, jigged
over brushpiles are also producing good catches of perch and crappie, along
with some smaller bass.


MATTAPONI/PAMUNKEY RIVERS - Some catfish are being caught by bank anglers,
with an occasional yellow perch taking small hooks. The yellow perch run
should start in earnest this week.

JAMES RIVER - The only news from the James this week is the continued catches
of big blue and flathead catfish. These fish are being taken on strips of cut
shad and cut eel, around the outflow from the Dutch Gap Power Plant and at the
Comstock area of Swift Creek. Some crappie are being taken by anglers fishing
the barge pits and around the islands at Dutch Gap. Stripers are also in the
area, but must be released.

LAKE CHESDIN - Crappie and a few bass continue to hit very well around the
Namozine Creek Bridge, while crappie are also hitting around the Whippernock
Creek Bridge. Minnows and small jigs are working best.


CHICKAHOMINY RIVER - Crappie and yellow perch are hitting medium minnows
around Walkers Dam. Some 1-2 pound largemouth bass are being caught on small
plastic grubs and worms at the mouths of feeder creeks. Catfish action is good
on cut bait.

CHICKAHOMINY LAKE - Good catches of bass and yellow perch in the lake,
primarily on live minnows.


BACK BAY - Light pressure in the creeks. Anglers are taking some small bass,
white perch, crappie and catfish. West Neck Creek is giving up good strings of
bluegills on nightcrawlers.


SUFFOLK LAKES - Western Branch anglers are catching "tons" of large roe-laden
yellow perch. Stripers to six pounds and loads of crappie are also reported.
Lake Prince anglers report a few bass and crappie. Lake Whitehurst is
producing channel catfish, crappie to one pound, largemouth bass, 3-5 pounds,
and a few walleye. Lake Smith anglers are having considerable success with
Shad Raps, taking walleye, 2-5 pound bass and crappie. Lake Whitehurst reports
crappie fishing is excellent and some large pickerel are being caught.


LAKE GASTON - Very few anglers are out, but those who brave the cold are
reporting good fishing. Crappie catches are excellent for anglers fishing live
minnows 8-12 feet deep around bridge pilings and submerged brush. A few bass
are being taken by anglers fishing live shad along steep dropping points in
the Poplar Creek area. Dark colored jig 'n pig combinations are responsible
for largemouth bass catches in 3-7 feet of water during the warmer spells.
Striper fishing is good to excellent below the Gaston Dam, while a few large
fish are being taken in front of the dam. Live shad is the bait of choice, but
bucktails, Sassy Shads and Redfins are producing below the dam and trolled Hot
Spots and Redfins are working above the dam.

BUGGS ISLAND LAKE - Striper fishing is good with live bait and 3/8 ounce
bucktails producing the better catches. One of the better areas is around the
Rudds Creek Bridge. Largemouth bass are favoring the main lake gravel points
and may be caught on 10+ crankbaits in shad colors, and large spinnerbaits.
Crappie are holding above brushpiles in 10-15 feet of water.


BRIERY CREEK & SANDY RIVER RESERVOIRS - Anglers are catching slot bass at both
lakes on live minnows, along with some crappie and bream. The bream are being
caught on crappie jigs and red wigglers.

SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE - Quite a few stripers in the 10-15 pound class, along
with an occasional 20+ pounder, are being caught by anglers jigging Hopkins
spoons and bucktails off the main lake points, in 10-25 feet of water. Best
action is in the late afternoon and evening. Largemouth and smallmouth bass
are being caught on jigs, grubs and live bait.


SMITH RIVER - Brown trout are hitting brown Hackle Peacocks, weighted and
fished deep. Mayflies are coming off the water, producing good fishing for
catch and release anglers.

LAKE MOOMAW - Fishing is very disappointing on the lake. Catch and release
anglers are taking some nice trout on the Jackson River below the lake. Best
success is coming on tiny dry flies.


PHILPOTT LAKE - A few anglers are braving the cold to catch largemouth and
smallmouth bass on jig 'n pig, fished 5-25 feet deep, & Hopkins Shorties,
jigged 30-45 feet deep. The bass run to five pounds. Some nice walleye are
also being caught.

SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR - A few crappie and smallmouth bass are reported. No
consistent pattern.

CLAYTOR LAKE - Lots of anglers are on the water, with fair to good catches of
smallmouth bass and stripers to 18 pounds.

SALTWATER - The large stripers have just about left the area. Most of the
fish being caught are south of Virginia Beach, along the shore. Action is
beginning on black sea bass and blueline tilefish on the deep ocean wrecks off
Virginia Beach.Read More ...

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