FISHING REPORT: Virginia Freshwater (VA) 3/9/22

A different story is happening on the freshwater side. Many species are available, and will continue to get better. The tidal rivers are producing good numbers of migratory fish, such as the Yellow Perch, and in some areas, White Perch. There is much anticipation for the Shad bite to begin, in which, a few were caught during the warm days we had. There’s been a few reports of Shad from the James, Rapp, and Potomac rivers. The tidal rivers are producing good numbers of Cats also. Crappie fishing has been good on the Rapp, and look for the James to produce nice Crappie any day now. The Bass are becoming increasingly aggressive, as the water temps continue to climb. However, this weekend is forecast to be cooler, so the bite may slow down. Lipless crankbaits are usually good in early March, particularly on shallow flats where the water warms quickly. The Chickahominy River seems to get better each year for large Bass. Chick Lake is another excellent destination for giant Bass. The pits along the tidal James are also known for attracting giant Bass at this time. The Bass on the James really turn on when the Shad run is occurring, which is just around the corner. The upper James has risen slightly, and become stained. The level is good right now, at 5.27′. It is forecast to peak on Saturday, at 6.4′. Now is an excellent time to target the Smallmouth, with the water rising slightly. Anna, Gaston, and Kerr, all produced solid weights during the weekend. Anna produced at 23 lb bag, Gaston produced a 19 lb bag, and Kerr produced a 20 lb bag. Some of the widely mentioned baits used, were spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, jigs, and shallow crankbaits. Water temps are in the low to mid 50’s. These lakes are all known for large Crappie, and Stripers also. As a side note, Gaston may be the best of the 3 for the largest Walleye. Smith Mountain Lake should not be overlooked for any of these species, even though it is slightly farther to travel to. With fuel prices soaring, staying local may be a better option. The local ponds and smaller lakes can offer excellent opportunities for Bass and Crappie.

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