07-06-2004, 12:52 AM
WATER CONDITIONS
The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear this past week. Lake levels have remained up this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 80 degrees for the last week. There was a lot of debris on the upper end of Loudon that is probably making it's way down the lake. The rain will probably give the water a stained color again this week.
SUMMARY
Fishing for bass has been good over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. The crappie are deep right now. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, humps, and rip-rap, as well as, points with drop offs. Fishing over brush piles in the creeks has been very rewarding at times. The water temperature has stayed at approximately 80 degrees for the last week.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Good. Fishing has picked up some over the last week. The fish are moving up into the shallows to feed during the warmer weather. These fish are seeing the same lures, anglers may try using something different, it just might work! Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves and the main channel. I have seen several bass running shad all over the lake. Also fishing the points of islands, humps, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, main channels, and rip-rap seem to work as well. The depth to fish will depend on the area you are fishing. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Several anglers have reported that flippin under docks has also been rewarding. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs with trailers, spinner-baits, Carolina-rigs, Texas-rigs, top-water plugs, rattle-traps, crank-baits, shad raps, and plastics.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained good over the last week. The areas to fish are along the outer edges of the main channel. Several anglers are waiting until night then fishing and doing really good. Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 12-28 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has remained fair over the last week. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, around Concord, and the outer edges of the main channel has been some pretty good areas for crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers. Jigging with spoons and minnows seem to be the bait of choice for those who are trying. The weather may or may not have some effect on the fishing due to the muddy water. I have not seen any sauger in several months now.
STRIPED BASS
Good. I have had a few run ins with anglers on the French Broad above the John Sevier Bridge who have had some pretty good luck. They have appeared to be hitting about any kind of Bass plugs. I have also seen these fish breaking around Salt and Peter Bluff and Prater Flats.
CATFISH
Good. The catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Anglers are scattered throughout Ft. Loudoun. The bait of choice has been minnows, cut-bait, cicadas, and worms. Several anglers have reported catching catfish on bass plugs.
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The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear this past week. Lake levels have remained up this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 80 degrees for the last week. There was a lot of debris on the upper end of Loudon that is probably making it's way down the lake. The rain will probably give the water a stained color again this week.
SUMMARY
Fishing for bass has been good over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. The crappie are deep right now. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, humps, and rip-rap, as well as, points with drop offs. Fishing over brush piles in the creeks has been very rewarding at times. The water temperature has stayed at approximately 80 degrees for the last week.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Good. Fishing has picked up some over the last week. The fish are moving up into the shallows to feed during the warmer weather. These fish are seeing the same lures, anglers may try using something different, it just might work! Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves and the main channel. I have seen several bass running shad all over the lake. Also fishing the points of islands, humps, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, main channels, and rip-rap seem to work as well. The depth to fish will depend on the area you are fishing. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Several anglers have reported that flippin under docks has also been rewarding. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs with trailers, spinner-baits, Carolina-rigs, Texas-rigs, top-water plugs, rattle-traps, crank-baits, shad raps, and plastics.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained good over the last week. The areas to fish are along the outer edges of the main channel. Several anglers are waiting until night then fishing and doing really good. Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 12-28 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has remained fair over the last week. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, around Concord, and the outer edges of the main channel has been some pretty good areas for crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers. Jigging with spoons and minnows seem to be the bait of choice for those who are trying. The weather may or may not have some effect on the fishing due to the muddy water. I have not seen any sauger in several months now.
STRIPED BASS
Good. I have had a few run ins with anglers on the French Broad above the John Sevier Bridge who have had some pretty good luck. They have appeared to be hitting about any kind of Bass plugs. I have also seen these fish breaking around Salt and Peter Bluff and Prater Flats.
CATFISH
Good. The catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Anglers are scattered throughout Ft. Loudoun. The bait of choice has been minnows, cut-bait, cicadas, and worms. Several anglers have reported catching catfish on bass plugs.
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