The Bass fishing has been slow here. The Piankatank River Imagery courtesy of Google Earth If you fish the Piankatank and saw the article 10 Billion Oysters in our July edition, we're guessing you already know about one of the things that makes the Piankatank a great area to fish: Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) oyster reefs. Then hold on for the ride! Artificial lures like soft plastics, floating jerkbaits, and bluegill imitation baits are accounting for a large majority of Roper bass. Southern Arizonas fishing hotspot Roper Lake has started to slow down a bit as the water temps continue to drop. The flats at the southern end of Mobjack are quite exposed, and the weedbeds here are subject to being torn up by rough waters. Dont add any weight; gently flick the offering away from the boat a ways, and then just let it ride in the tide. Try 5-15ft diving jerkbaits, deadsticking dropshotted True Image worms, or Rat-L-Trap lipless cranks. Outdoor News | Havasus largemouth bass have been hitting pretty well on breezy days on white or chartreuse colored spinnerbaits, or shad colored Rat-L-Traps. If you fish the Piankatank and saw the article 10 Billion Oysters in our July edition, were guessing you already know about one of the things that makes the Piankatank a great area to fish: Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) oyster reefs. Trip Overview. No reports of catfish at either location but the action for these bottom-dwellers will heat up soon! I knwo the crappie should be runnin well, but anyboyd got any tips? Try various depths until you find where the fish are hanging out and concentrate your effort there. If you look on the map for a small bridge north of rt17 that crosses the Dragon. Look for seagulls diving on the schools of shad coming to the surface. Some bass are being caught on jerk baits, but mostlywith soft plastics out deep. Try using a swivel and barrel sinker so the fish don't feel resistance when they pick up the bait. oops did not catch the bank fishing part.pun intended. White perch can be caught using plastic grubs, beetle spins, or grass shrimp. Be sure to email us your fish photos while on the water with details to fishpics@jandwseafood.com. Use live sunfish or bluegills from 2.5" to 4" long rigged on a Carolina rig with 3/4 to 1oz. The serpentine Piankatank River, although not as large as some Virginia rivers, offers extensive cruising possibilities, beautiful anchorages, foul weather protection and an abundance of boating amenities. Comments must describe commenter's personal experience - "hearsay" reports will be rejected. Beaver dams and logjams are numerous and vegetation typically chokes the channel by late spring. Water was very clear but didn't see a lot of life. Hard-fighting carp are being caught on the standard offerings like corn and dough balls. Some anglers have also reported success using nightcrawlers. This is in no small part thanks to relatively healthy SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation), which for some reason consistently seems to do better here than in other near-by bodies of water. Smallmouth bass have been cooperative for anglers and biting well on green pumpkin colored hula grubs rigged on a 3/8 oz or 1/2 oz football jig fished around rocky banks in 6 to 18ft of water. Try flipping or pitching jigs with craw trailers like the chigger craw, Senkos and tubes in tulles and weed line edges in 1 to 4 ft of water. Try dropshot rigged plastic worms or chatterbaits in green or watermelon. Bass fishing has been slow but this is the time of year outsized fish are typically caught on trout imitation baits. Reports of both quality and quantity have been coming in from anglers focusing on topwater presentations while using lures like hollow belly frogs and walking baits. Bronzeye and popper topwater frogs are working well just before sunset. 410.216.9309 !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) Troll or cast near shad schools during early morning hours. With water stained from runoff, most anglers are reporting white/green frogs as the most productive choice. . The bait must have a very slow rate of fall to give bass time to take it. Anglers who are familiar with Piankatank River are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC). Anglers are having success fishing Neko rigs with a 4 Senko. The lower reaches of the Dragon (below Route 17) support spawning runs of a number of migratory fish species. Cobia bite a Windmill Bar still on but seems to be slowing up. The specific fishing information found here will change seasonally so check back often to enjoy fishing success regardless of when you've planned your visit. In the Dragon Run can be found such varieties of fish as bass, pickerel, perch, sunfish, redbreast, bluegill and catfish. Anglers have reported catching crappie on crank baits down around 15-30 feet of water above brush line. One angler reported high catch rates while using a Texas-rigged watermelon crawfish fished in and around the underwater vegetation. MY ACCOUNT. Shad imitation lures have also been producing a few fish. All river herring inadvertently caught by anglers must be immediately released back into the water. You will have most of the upper reaches of the river to yourself as most cruising boats do not go beyond the Jackson . The two best times to fish are when it's raining and when it's not. The Tackle Shop at J&W Seafood is stocked with all your needs for salt water fishing in this area. Average daytime water temp has been running about 54-56 degrees. 10462 S River Heights Dr. South Jordan, UT CHANGE STORE. What is the best access for the area with a 14' Jon? When one of those gets a bite, slow way down and focus on the cover that produced fish and finesse them with jigs to catch even more. For instance, if a certain lure gets snagged too much, you probably should throw something else. Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad. We have heard of some Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum getting caught in the area. Around 10 am they pick back up and are actively biting a variety of baits. Bass fishing has been slow but keep in mind this relatively small lake warms up quickly in the spring and they should spawn sooner than larger lakes in Arizona. Deep diving shad colored crankbaits (8-15ft) are working well around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines for smallmouth in areas they are chasing baitfish. Plenty of sunfish and bluegill are being caught from both shore and floating pier with nightcrawlers and mealworms. Post front conditions (risingbarometer) usually mean it will be a tough bite for a few days. The best times to fish from shore have been 6am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Crappie fishing is HOT right now! Good locations to find shad/stripers last week were the Chalk Cliffs, Mesquite Bay 2 & the mouth of the river. No have been reported on Piankatank River yet. Spanish Mackerel are still being brought in by anglers while using Clark Spoons behind #1 or #2 planers. 'https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js'); Name last changed on May 3, 2022. These tactics have been productive recently in and around the south side of the island, south to Havasu Palms. Spade Fish are being harvested at the Cell, anglers reporting success with Clams. Alamo Lake catfish are finally picking up a bit in the early morning and at sundown. When water temps reach 60-62 degrees, look for bass in shallow water guarding their nests. There is no limit on possession of blue catfish less than 32 inches in Virginias tidal rivers. . This gives thema chance to position the hook correctly for a good hook set! Sun & Moon Data. Search for boils from Black Rock & Calif. Bay north to the river entrance. His love of the sport grew quickly, as did his desire to compete in the bass tournament circuit. The sunfish and bluegill at Dankworth are readily biting nightcrawlers as well and are often caught incidentally when targeting trout. they used to congregate in the deep hole in the channel here. The water off Ware Neck Point. Mill Creek (Grey Point), Rappahannock River, Most visited spots in United States of America. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'fishingworks_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_2',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-fishingworks_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Jigs or minnows are currently your best bet to catch Alamo Lake crappie. with all of the rain that we had, look out for stuff floating around. Crawdad colored crankbaits and jerkbaits are working well around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines where smallmouth are hunting crawdads. Midday boils producing 3 to 5lb stripers near the Chalk Cliffs were reported during the last week as well. Advertising | The best fishing has been at the east end of the lake at sunup, however bass can be caught throughout the day. Chumming & Live Eels has been the most successful method with a fish finder rig. My intent is to have you start thinking about current conditions and situations and assess them before throwing random lures. Carp fishing is really good for anglers using dough balls or corn fished on the bottom. Try small to med size bluegills or redear sunfish from 6pm to 2amThen hold on for the ride! The smallmouth bass here dont get a ton of pressure and there are some really nice sized fish currently being caught. For smallmouth bass, try deep diving brown or red crawdad colored crankbaits (8-15ft) around rocks or gravel/rock shorelines where smallmouth are actively hunting crawdads. The catfish have also moved up and are very accessible from shore. Latitude: 37.5359669N The upper reaches supporting a freshwater assemblage represented by blue, channel, and white catfish, largemouth bass, chain pickerel, and sunfish. The topwater bite has been very good in the morning hours. Not much to show for it. Lipless cranks like Rat-L-Traps have accounted for a fair share of Alamo bass recently as well. The white perch are running and love bloodworms. Visible Anyone can find this group. game and inland fisheries site says it holds chain pickerel, cats, sunfish, and crappie. Cobia fish catch is small. Striper fishing remains good near schools of shad if you can find them. Bass have been actively feeding early and late in the day in and around the cattails that line the lake. i have pulled more than one novice to the run from that flat. Nevertheless, when its good, its really good! If they evade you, it can be a real crash and burn kind of day, and every angler has had at least one of those! Bait of choice is blood worms. Anglers with concerns or questions should contact the Virginia Marine Fisheries Commission (VMRC) in Newport News at 1-800-541-4646. Spring striped bass fishing can be excellent in the lower Dragon and upper sections of the Piankatank. The crappie have been active as well and anglers are picking up some fish on white or chartreuse jigs. Successful anglers have been using a variety of baits and methods to catch Fool Hollow walleye, although trolling crankbaits (at a reported 2mph) or fan casting them from shore has been the most popular option lately to catch fish. Some catfish are finally showing up on a regular basis. Look for boils and cast shad style baits such as a Pointer 128/158, White Rat-L-Traps, Poppers, or spook style topwater lures no longer than 6" long. Striper fishing is currently good if you can locate the schools of shad. Year in and year out as fishing hotspots come and go, Mobjack Bay usually holds its own for light-tackle casting to stripers, speckled sea trout, and redfish. Target main channel areas either in the main lake, or north in the area from Gorilla hole to Devils Elbow. Piankatank River has the following amenities based off of 1 review left by our users. Some fish still being caught with a lot of shorts. Flounder bite picking up a bit at Buoy 42. With blue catfish having the potential to reach extremely large sizes, it is possible anglers will be catching blue catfish over 40 pounds in coming years. White perch are common throughout the tidal river, but fishing is best in the lower river during spring and summer. Live shad are producing stripers over 3lbs. Have a look at the top kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing, surfing or fishing spots in United States of America. The bass fishing at Roper Lake is super-hot right now! While thats bad, its not all badthe hap-hazard edges and potholes formed in the beds are great places to catch fish. Typically, the tactics and trends discussed here can be used by anglers throughout the state to enjoy an elevated fishing experience in a variety of Arizona waters. A good number of quality 5-pound plus channel catfish are being caught with cut baits like anchovies or mackerel fished on the bottom. There have been multiple reports of 4-6-pound largemouth bass caught while dropshotting deeper water. In the main lake area, bass can be found from shallow to deep water as they transition into a fall pattern. The Cobia bite has continued to improve with several legal fish over 40in being caught. Trout fishing isnt quite as hot here as it is at Roper, but anglers are picking up some trout with garlic scented Power Bait or nightcrawlers. The Piankatank is one of the smaller rivers within the region making it tidal along its entire stretch. The redear sunfish bite is good! There are no known boat launches on this river. Sun & Moon Data. Some trout are also being picked up with these baits as well. Lake Level 448.95 and Average Daytime Water Temp 78 Degrees. Its best to use finesse when targeting bass in the shadows. Anglers that like using artificial baits have been successful with in-line spinners like Rooster tails and Panther Martins and Kastmasters. Anglers are reporting success when using minnows on roadrunnerswith dark bodies and green or white heads. Also look for bait fish being busted up on the surface. The Spanish mackerel are still hitting the Clark spoons and some fish are 24 inches and larger. Fishing from the piers after dark is your best bet with nightcrawlers, anchovies, shrimp, or other common catfish offerings. Some anglers are reporting great days on weightless Senkos in a variety of colors like Natural Shad, Baby Bass, and Green Pumpkin. According to the anglers we surveyed at the lake, the morning largemouth bite has been decent by the dam from gray light until 630 am. undeveloped woodlands along the shoreline. It makes for a fairly reliable gathering point for stripers, and anglers casting jigs or trolling plugs along the pilings commonly enjoy some action. Plenty of sunfish and bluegill are being caught on nightcrawlers or small jigs. IM heading up there this weekend for a camping trip and lookin to fish. Even though the bass and crappie get most the glory at this Sonoran Desert lake, Alamo has a great catfish population as well! Spot, Croaker and .re being caught in the Rappahannock on Bloodworms & Squid. Sunfish are being caught regularly with bobber-rigged worms near the floating pier. Bass arent as easy to catch in the winter, but anglers can usually coax a few Alamo Lake largemouths into biting any time of year. White Chatterbaits, shad colored squarebill crankbaits, jerk baits, and soft plastics are all currently working on the Alamo Lake bass. Currently the fish can be found in good numbers from the North end of the Main Basin, south to Black Rock/California Bay. Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum are scarce but there are a lot of small Rockfish in the shallow water not legal but fun to catch. undeveloped woodlands along the shoreline. Piankatank River is a river in Atlantic Coastal Plain, VA. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. The night carp bite is still pretty good for anglers using dough ball, corn, or bread. Anyone interested in fishing Piankatank River or nearby fishing Streams should consult with guides and other local resources before heading out to fish. Spot, croaker, bluefish, stripers, trout, and other salt water game fish abound in the Piankatank. During the spring spawn they are tending eggs and guarding them from attacks by predators. Successful anglers have been using live minnows, shad, or night crawlers to entice Alamos channel and yellow bullhead catfish. So, naturally the stripers will be there too! Plan a trip to Patagonia, and start building new outdoor memories! When you do locate a school, it will make for an absolutely amazing day on the water! Bass fishing at both Roper Lake and Dankworth Pond has been phenomenal recently. The predicted tide times today on Saturday 14 January 2023 for Dixie, Piankatank River are: first high tide at 3:10am, first low tide at 10:07am, second high tide at 3:23pm, second low tide at 10:19pm. Permits can be obtained online hereor at an MRC Licensing Agent. Have fun and good luck out there! They are also being caught on spinner baits, jerk baits, crank baits and always on plastics in the brush. The Spade fish are still at The Cell and Wolftrap but a lot are small. Garlic scented Power Bait and small spinners have accounted for a majority of the fish. An angler fishing from his kayak reported catching several largemouth in the 1-5-pound range using a rubber frog. Upon arriving at the lake, assess the conditions to determine what you should throw in a particular situation. Bass fishing has been slow, but a few anglers are picking up fish with small crankbaits fished near structure. Those fishing the Baltimore-area creeks reported a very good pickerel bite last weekend with between a half-dozen and 10 fish on average, between a trio of anglers. MY . Nightcrawlers fished under a split shot and slip bobber work best because you can adjust the depth from 1ft to 30ft. Anglers are also catching walleye with 4 beaver tails fished very slowly. For the best experience, please sign in. Dropshot presentations are still very productive for anglers who prefer using lures. Bluegills and sunfish are still being caught on nightcrawlers fished under a bobber. Trout fishing is excellent here! Redear sunfish are schooling in deeper water in 25 to 40ft of water off main lake points. If bass are released gently they will find their way back to their nests and continue to raise your future memories! [emailprotected] USGS Topo Map: Deltaville Rainbow trout will be stocked in November and will give Roper/Dankworth Lake anglers another option during their visit. If you like fishing with live bait, nightcrawlers are working well near shore. Night crawlers and live shad suspended under bobbers has been working well. It is reported that you can walk on the cownosed rays behind Gwynn Island. The hotspot marked number one on the chart has oyster reef which comes surprisingly close to the drop-off into deep water of just over 20 feet. Lake Havasu is home to some very large sunfish and these hard fighters are also excellent table fare! Change up your presentation and lure choice until youre catching themthen repeat! Alamo Lake is a great place to escape the crowds that can be experienced at other lakes. In the last week we weighed in one Cobia that was 67lb 9oz. Garlic flavored dough baits fished on the bottom and small inline spinners are both currently working well for the hungry rainbows. Largemouth bass anglers should still be focusing on cover. Rockfish Season opens on October 4th. Try small swimbaits like the Keitech Fat Impact rigged on a ball head jig, a weightless 4-inch Senko, or dropshot worms near shore. Successful anglers are using inline spinners, spoons or worms and marshmallows. Please be aware that most of the earth is covered by water, and most of your time should be spent fishing. They won't be legal to keep until October the 4th. Species of anadromous fish occurring in the Dragons excellent spawning and nursery habitat include American shad, hickory shad, river herring (actually two species, alewife and blueback herring), and striped bass. Shad imitation cranks like RatlTraps are also working well to get a reaction from feeding bass. TIP: Try another favorite local old-timer tactic for specks, reds and stripers, called letting it ride in the tide. Take a medium-weight spinning or casting set-up, and rig it with a swivel leading to a four-foot leader of 20 to 30 pound test, terminating in a 6/0 to 8/0 hook. Cobia fishing is still wide open. Note that at night, the croaker will often shift to shallower water. While pointing out that the specific locations of weedbeds do shift quite a bit from year to year, here are five important spots youll want to check out, the next time you head for Mobjack Bay. Or use our wind forecast to find the wind speed today in Hartfield/Piankatank River or to have a look at the wind direction tomorrow at Hartfield/Piankatank River. Concentrate on boils of 1-3-pound stripers chasing shad in the morning and late afternoon hours. Recreational Classifieds | The fish are out there. Good action has been reported off of Gwynns Island @ Deep Rock and at the Rappahannock River Bridge & Carters Creek (White Stone Side). The larger fish are still coming from Dankworth. Try life-size rainbow trout swimbaits fished along the reeds for monster bass ready to ambush their next meal. From the docks at the campground night fishing for cats is very productive too. Things have been slow inside many of the rivers, but the Elizabeth River has been giving up some keepers. Redear fishing with nightcrawlers around submerged grass beds is producing some quality fish over 2lbs. Stained water conditions from monsoon runoff has slowed the striper bite considerably, but fish are still available for anglers that put in the work, and get a little lucky! Work primary and secondary points where schooling smallies move up to chase shad or feed on crawdads. Dropping tandem rigs (a two-ounce pink or chartreuse Stingsilver on the bottom, with a streamer or a weightless plastic up top) is the ticket to success for this species, though until their return has been confirmed wed suggest fishing soft or peeler crab and/or bloodworms here - that will get bites from everything from those weakfish to flounder to croaker. The charter boat fleet has a good week of bottom fishing. Piankatank Bridge One of the large tributary creeks of the Chesapeake Bay, the Piankatank empties into the bay just south of the Rappahannock River. Mornings have been best. About: - The Piankatank flows in a southeasterly direction through Virginia's Middle Peninsula emptying into the Chesapeake Bay at Gwynn's Island. Sunfish and bluegill are being caught off the floating piers with nightcrawlers. Latest shad reports are coming in from around the Bill Williams buoy line, Chalk Cliffs, and the mouth of the river. Topwater Poppers, Sammys and Buzzbaits also working well for both smallmouth and largemouth over gravel flats and submerged weed beds in the morning and late afternoon hours. The fish are still on their beds and displaying spawning behavior. The Patagonia Elite Anglers tournament this month was met with hot weather and killer bass fishing. One angler reported that the Roper Lake largemouth bass are currently schooling at 15-feet. Remember this can be a very rewarding time to fishif you find them. Most fish are being caught on plastic worms dropshotted near the cattails or chatterbaits fished near shore. The Alamo Lake bass have been hanging out in deep water where most success has come from drop shot or Texas-rigged presentations. Bluegill fishing is hot right now and anglers are catching quite a few of these delicious panfish at both Roper and Dankworth. There are few reports from the river side of the lake. Have fun learning how to catch them using new techniques and dont be afraid to try new things. Fishing Report. As a result, the best time to fish or float this section of the Dragon is during early spring when water levels are relatively high and aquatic vegetation growth has not completely blocked passage. Cobia bite has slowed some at Windmill Bar. White small rooster tails and small white grubs will supply some great fun. Ive got plenty of beetlespins, mepps inlines, little rapalas, a few grub jigs, and catbait. Bottom Fishing is starting to improve. Bass are biting on top water baits early morning and evening. Bass anglers are still doing well at Roper by catching a number of fish in the 1-4 pound range. Flukes, Texas-rigged creature baits are working the best for Alamo bass right now. One of our experienced fishing guides will show you everything discussed above while sharing an unforgettable day on the water. Anglers are catching bass in the 3-5-pound range from boats and from the shore. This is a reliably weedy spot that should be checked out each and every time you fish Mobjack. Bass fishing is still a little slow but will pick up drastically in the next several weeks as the water temp rises and the fish begin to spawn. Do not park on RT 17 they will tow you so quick your head will spin. Anglers unfamiliar with the Dragon may want to limit themselves to fishing in the vicinity of bridge crossings where relatively deep channels provide good pool habitat for chain pickerel and other species. Smallmouth are hanging out off of main lake points in areas of sand or gravel substrate. A number of fish were also caught with different types of topwater baits! This is a great reminder to pay attention to barometric pressure when a planning fishing trip. He strives to share his passion for fishing with everyone and wishes to make the biggest impact possible within the fishing community. Numerous cats are being caught on cut mackerel and shrimp off deeper points and coves in 15 to 35 ft of water. The topwater bass fishing is awesome right now at Alamo Lake! The Piankatank River and Dragon Swamp The Dragon support a surprising number of fish species, from freshwater gamefish such as largemouth bass, redbreast sunfish, and warmouth to important migratory fish species such as shad, river herring and striped bass. Anglers have reported some success catching largemouth bass on weedless plastic swimbaits. Trolling & Casting have been effective. Spot, croaker, bluefish, stripers, trout, and other salt water game fish abound in the Piankatank. Anglers fishing for catfish can expect to catch increasing numbers of blue cats in this river over time. Bass in the 1-3-pound range have been biting crankbaits, dropshotted worms, and one angler reported decent success on Dankworth bass with nightcrawlers. Yeah odds are ill just have some light tackle spin gear. Catfish come up to shallower areas at night to feed and can be caught from shore with regularity. Middlesex County Harbors (8) Bluegill and sunfish angling is HOT right now! The west bank is to be cut in the coming weeks. Please be aware that Fly Fishing may, turn strangers, into friends in just a few short hours. Dylan Mosher (see photo) recently caught a very nice Fool Hollow Lake walleye on a Texas rigged green crawdad. Were getting some reports of morning boils of large stripers from 6am to 9am. 1-2oz spoons, Pointer 100s & 128/158s in Chartreuse Shad, and 1oz white Ratl Traps have been producing quality fish. Reports from shallow waters in the Piankatank River & Mobjack Bay. Top Animal . Managing and conserving Arizona's natural, cultural and recreational resources for the benefit of the people, both in our parks and through our partners. The most productive striper lures have been Bass Assassin or Keitech swimbaits rigged on a lead jighead, or Alabama Rigs with TWO hooks (AZGFD Regulation). Use a 4' throw net (the largest legal size) or a snag hook to catch shad to use as live bait. Bass have recently been seen feeding on dragonflies in the backs of coves. Schools of shad and the striped bass hunting them have recently been reported around Bill Williams/Havasu Springs, North Winsor and Chalk Cliffs. Should be everything you mentioned in there.Good luck. One angler pulled a 6-pound largemouth from the reeds while using a brown 3/8 oz weedless jig. Today he is Captain Chris Newsome, owner and operator of Bay Fly Fishing, a fishing charter business based in Mathews County. Check the wind forecast for Hartfield/Piankatank River when you search for the best travel destinations for your kiteboarding, windsurfing or sailing vacations in United States of America. Anglers using shad or red colored swimbaits and crankbaits have been successful with Havasus smallmouth bass. Red or green jigs have accounted for some decent bass lately as well. If you find an area with shad, try throwing shad imitating lures. Fishing with live shad as bait is still producing quality sized stripers from 2.5 to 12-pounds. Those visiting the Dragon will find it much the same as in generations past, both in terms of its scenic beauty and in the diversity of fish it provides for anglers. Caught a few small striper off some docks but got skunked on redfish and speckled trout. Bass anglers have had some luck recently on 1-3-pound fish with brighter colored worms and grubs fished along the reeds. River Levels. Site Casters continue to have success with Cobia. The 2018 recreational cobia regulations are as follows: 40-inch, total length, minimum size limit; 1-fish daily possession limit or 3-fish-daily vessel limit, whichever is more restrictive; only one fish per vessel per day may be greater than 50 inches in total length; an open season of June 1 through September 30; and gaffing is now allowed to land a cobia while fishing recreationally.