04-19-2004, 09:46 PM
WATER CONDITIONS
The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear in the creeks this past week. Lake levels have remained low this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 59 degrees for the last couple of days. The cold front which moved through seem to have slowed the fishing down some.
SUMMARY
Fishing for bass has been fair over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, clay banks, 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 59 degrees. Several boat ramps on the upper portion of Loudoun have remained unused due to low lake levels.
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. Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. I have seen several Bass running shad back in the shallow coves. Also fishing the points of islands, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, and rip-rap seem to work as well. During AM hours fish approximately 5-8 feet deep for the PM hours fish 5-15 feet deep, the depth will vary with the area you are fishing. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs, spinner-baits, rattle traps, crank-baits, and even buzz-baits.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The areas to fish are coves with heavy cover (brush). Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 5-15 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has improved over the past couple of weeks. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. Anglers should also try fishing around shallow flats or points when the temperature warms up. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, and around Concord has been some pretty good spots for crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers, however there is a lot of cold muddy water moving through the three rivers area. The Three Rivers area has been somewhat rewarding to some 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 cold muddy water. I have not seen any sauger in a couple of weeks now.
STRIPED BASS
Poor. I have not had any reports of anglers fishing for Striped Bass on Ft. Loudoun.
CATFISH
Good. Catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Poland Creek is a fairly good area to try. The bait of choice has been minnows and worms
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The lake has some debris and the water has remained fairly clear in the creeks this past week. Lake levels have remained low this past week. Due to the warmer weather the water temperature has remained about 59 degrees for the last couple of days. The cold front which moved through seem to have slowed the fishing down some.
SUMMARY
Fishing for bass has been fair over the past week. Crappie fishing has been slow but seems to be coming back. Fishing is good in shallow coves with heavy cover (brush) and around rock bluffs, clay banks, 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 59 degrees. Several boat ramps on the upper portion of Loudoun have remained unused due to low lake levels.
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. Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. I have seen several Bass running shad back in the shallow coves. Also fishing the points of islands, coves, rock bluffs, wooded areas, and rip-rap seem to work as well. During AM hours fish approximately 5-8 feet deep for the PM hours fish 5-15 feet deep, the depth will vary with the area you are fishing. Fishing around structure has been rewarding to some anglers. Those who have been trying have been rewarded using jigs, spinner-baits, rattle traps, crank-baits, and even buzz-baits.
CRAPPIE
Good. Fishing has remained steady over the last week. The areas to fish are coves with heavy cover (brush). Some of the creeks have been good to anglers at times. The depth to fish is approximately 5-15 feet deep. The AM and PM hours have both been treating anglers well at times. Fishing has improved over the past couple of weeks. The bait of choice seems to primarily be minnows, however, grubs, and float-n-flies will also work. Anglers should also try fishing around shallow flats or points when the temperature warms up. The area around Louisville Point, Ish Creek, Turkey Creek, Poland Creek, and around Concord has been some pretty good spots for crappie when the water is clear.
SAUGER
Fair. Fishing has been fairly slow for anglers, however there is a lot of cold muddy water moving through the three rivers area. The Three Rivers area has been somewhat rewarding to some 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 cold muddy water. I have not seen any sauger in a couple of weeks now.
STRIPED BASS
Poor. I have not had any reports of anglers fishing for Striped Bass on Ft. Loudoun.
CATFISH
Good. Catfish seem to be biting regardless of the weather so if you are interested in catfish, now is the time to go. Poland Creek is a fairly good area to try. The bait of choice has been minnows and worms
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