Virginia - LAKE ANNA FISHING REPORT for MARCH

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LAKE ANNA FISHING REPORT 1 for MARCH

The month of March ushers in Spring and it will be a welcome relief after the long cold winter this year. All species of fish will be thinking of feeding up for the spawn and as the water warms up so will their appetites. March is a month to catch the largest fish of the year and many citations should be recorded this month.

BASS : March brings many tournament anglers to Lake Anna this month due to the lake being warmer than most other bodies of water in the state and its reputation of producing heavy catches of Largemouth Bass , many over 8 pounds. Patterns will change with the weather and many techniques will work this month. Concentrate your efforts in depths of 16' or less, working prespawn areas. Primary and secondary points downlake will hold giant Bass and they can be caught on Suspending Jerkbaits. As the water warms up in the afternoon or later in the month they will move back into the pockets and coves up onto stumps and rocks. Also downlake a good pattern is targeting 30 degree gravel banks that have cover on them with crankbaits or swimbaits. Other areas that will produce this month will be windy rip rap , throwing big bladed spinnerbaits on the banks, and mainlake coves like Hackneys, Boggs and the coves around Dukes Creek. Later in the month check out the backs of Sturgeons and Pigeon midlake and Valentines downlake. Uplake the bait will move up onto the clay banks and the very back of pockets on sunny and warming days and the Bass will attack Rattle Traps and quick moving shallow diving crankbaits. Wherever you fish keep your eyes on your depthfinder looking for brush piles and always fish where bait is present and where the wind is blowing into.

STRIPERS : Large schools of Stripers are downlake in the 3rd Dike area and may start to spawn in the current this month just before the full moon. Pencil Poppers thrown into the current will draw explosive strikes on the surface as well as Redfins waked over the nearby flats. Fisherman using the public fishing bridge and banks nearby will catch plenty of Stripers running live Herring. When the fish pull out of the current they gather on the 20 to 35 foot flats nearby and can be caught with jigs on the bottom or live baiting with downlines. The fish will also be cruising the rocks on the dam and the dikes looking for bait that will be spawning there. Stripers can be found in the backs of Sturgeon as well as Pigeon later this month. Midlake areas that always hold Stripers this month are flats around the splits , mouths of midlake creeks and the Stripers also concentrate around bridges this month. The uplake fish will try to move all the way uplake and into the backs of the creeks later this month to start their spawning runs. For fisherman who like to cast lures, you can't go wrong with Sea Shads and Sassy Shads , Storm swim baits and Super Flukes on light jig heads thrown shallow wherever bait is present. Topwater Redfins and Spook type baits worked in low light conditions on points , flats and humps will draw the Striper up. Live bait will produce some of the largest Stripers caught all year in the month of March. Fisherman should use Herring and or Jumbo minnows early in the month and later as the water warms up switch to Gizzard Shad run on Planner boards and freelines. I can't stress enough to fish shallow and right up on the banks when the water warms up just a few degrees. In cold front conditions back off and work downlines over the schools of fish.

CRAPPIE : Early this month the fish will be in deeper water nearby spawning flats, congregating along bridge pilings and rocky drop offs. Once the water warms up to 50* they will move extremely shallow and get up under docks in 10' of water or less and huge slabs can be caught uplake on the Anna side in and around the dead shoreline grass beds in a couple of feet of water. Nicer fish will also move up on shallow stumps and brush all around the lake. Jigs and small minnows will catch most of the crappie this month. Also a very productive way to catch Crappie when they are in transition from their deeper haunts is to slow troll jigs with your trolling motor over 3 to 10 foot flats.

WALLEYE : Nice catches are coming from the banks around the 3rd Dike area and later this month up-lake in 8' or less along clay banks and shallow points.

SOURCE SITE

Fishing Report furnished by Jim Hemby
Lake Anna Striper Guide Service
540-967-3313
[email protected] http://www.jimhemby.com

Fishing Report
March 2008



LAKE ANNA FISHING REPORT 2 for MARCH


BASS :

Concentrate your efforts in depths of 12' or less, working prespawn areas. Primary and secondary points downlake will hold giant Bass and they can be caught on Suspending Jerkbaits. As the water warms up in the afternoon fish will move back into the pockets and coves up onto stumps and rocks. Also downlake a good pattern is targeting gravel banks that have cover on them with crankbaits or swimbaits. Other areas that will produce this month will be windy rip rap , throwing big bladed spinnerbaits on the banks, and mainlake coves like Hackneys, Boggs and the coves around Dukes Creek. Don’t forget about Sturgeons and Pigeon (midlake) and Valentines (downlake). Uplake the bait is moving up onto the clay banks and the very back of pockets on sunny and warming days and the Bass will attack Rattle Traps and quick moving shallow diving crankbaits. Wherever you fish keep your eyes on your depthfinder looking for brush piles and always fish where bait is present and where the wind is blowing into. The full moon on the 21st will put some fish on the beds at the lower end of the lake. Daven Pilkenton of Orange caught one 7 lbs. Several stringers weighing over 15 lbs have also been brought in.



STRIPERS :

Large schools of Stripers are downlake in the 3rd Dike area and may start to spawn in the current this month just before the full moon. Pencil Poppers thrown into the current will draw explosive strikes on the surface as well as Redfins waked over the nearby flats. When the fish pull out of the current they gather on the 20 to 35 foot flats nearby and can be caught with jigs on the bottom or live baiting with downlines. The fish will also be cruising the rocks on the dam and the dikes looking for bait that will be spawning there. Stripers can be found in the backs of Sturgeon as well as Pigeon later this month, but best area now is the upper end. These fish are moving all the way uplake and into the backs of the creeks to start their spawning runs. For fisherman who like to cast lures, you can't go wrong with Sea Shads and Sassy Shads , Storm swim baits and Super Flukes on light jig heads thrown shallow wherever bait is present. Topwater Redfins and Spook type baits worked in low light conditions on points , flats and humps will draw the Striper up. Fisherman should be using Jumbo minnows or Gizzard Shad run on Planner boards and freelines. I can't stress enough to fish shallow and right up on the banks when the water warms up just a few degrees more. In cold front conditions back off and work downlines over the schools of fish. Guide Jim Hemby and clients have been bringing in many stringers all month.



CRAPPIE :

Now that the water is over 52* fish are moving extremely shallow and will get up under docks in 10' of water or less and huge slabs can be caught uplake on the Anna side in and around the dead shoreline grass beds in a couple of feet of water. Nicer fish will also move up on shallow stumps and brush all around the lake. Jigs and small minnows will catch most of the crappie this month. Tami, Brad and Tory Boles of Fredericksburg had a stringer with 6 of the fish over 1 and ½ lbs. Roger Madison and Jeffrey Falbe of Spots
ylvania caught 2 citation fish.

Water temps in upper 50’s to low 60’s

Fishing report furnished by Jim Hemby of Lake Anna Striper Guide Service
http://www.JimHemby.com
[email protected]
540-967-3313

SOURCE SITE