Green Top Hunt Fish Blog

Local Fishing Report by the Green Top Professionals

Gabe — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 20:15:09 +0000

Date: 2/3/12

Chesapeake Bay: Rockfish are still available to catch and release anglers in the bay, even though most are focusing on them in the ocean. Traditional trolling presentations, such as umbrellas, tandem rigs, and stretch baits are still working. The more popular species inside the bay right now is the Speckled Trout in the Elizabeth River. Many impressive catches are happening weekly especially on Mirro lures. These twitch baits are very effective during winter months, even though this winter has been mild. Jigged plastics are also good right now.

Ocean: Impressive catches of Rockfish continue to keep anglers coming to VA’s oceanfront. Cape Henry has really been quite the hot spot lately, with the news of the 74lb Rockfish caught in late January. Folks are still taking advantage of the Bluefin Tuna bite out of Rudee Inlet. Many are wondering how long this will last. With the fantastic Tuna and Rockfish fishing, not many are targeting the deep drop species such as Tilefish, Rosefish, and Grouper, but a good bite still exist right now.

Freshwater Rivers: The upper James is in good shape currently and February is what many consider the best month for big Smallmouth. Drifting large minnows is usually a good bet for sure results. Yamamoto grubs and jigs with pork of plastic trailers are also effective. The lower James has been producing some notable catches of Largemouth lately, especially in the barge pit and other pits located in the Dutch Gap area. The lower James catfish bite is outstanding right now. The recent warm weather has also brought more anglers out, which don’t normally venture out during Jan and Feb. the work is out on some fast catches being made on Chickahominy Lake and the river.

Freshwater Lakes: The warm weather has also sparked an increased bite at Lake Chesdin. Jerk baits and jigs have been good for Bass here. At Lake Anna, the Bass seem to be scattered, as big schools of bait can be found everywhere. The mid – lake section is holding the most bait right now. A spoon or other blade baits are a good option even though warm weather has prevailed lately. The Stripers are hard to pattern right now; it seems as though this crazy weather has them confused.

Freshwater Ponds: Smaller bodies of water seemed to have turned on however. Some warm, enjoyable days this week has brought many people the idea of heading to these local waters dunking minnows for both Bass and Crappie with good results.

Green Top Fishing Report 01/20/2012

Gabe — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:34:02 +0000

BAY – Rockfish are still available inside the bay for catch and release anglers. Most are focusing on the Cape Charles/ CBBT area with good results. Mojos, stretch baits, and tandem rigs are quite popular. For those seeking to stay well within bay waters, the Speckled Trout are quite active inside the Elizabeth River. Mirro lures are probably your best bet right now. Trolled jerkbaits are also working to locate fish quickly.

OCEAN – The ocean is the focus of most that are after Rockfish, as impressive catches are still being made from Wachapreque to RudeeInlet. Tandem rigs have been very effective lately, as have mojos with umbrella rigs. Two to three miles out has been the most productive, but know where the 3mile line is, as enforcement officials are out in force. Many are tangling with Bluefin Tuna just outside the 3 mile line. Know the law when targeting thesebrutes, for stiff fines and severe consequences await those who gamble with regulations. Some of the Tuna caught lately have been close to 250lbs. proper equiptment isneeded to avoid hurt feelings by these fish.

FRESH – The upper James is returning to normal conditions, but as of right now, it’s still a bit stained. Barring any heavy rain, this weekend should be productive. Crankbaits are good lure choices, and large minnows are usually best as far as live bait goes. The lower James and Chick continue to be top choices for big Blue Catfish. We stock live eels through the winter. Bass usually bite good all winter on the Chickahominy River. Silver buddies are hard to beat here. Some may be after Yellow Perch already on the many tidal rivers that surround us. The Chick, Rappahannock, Mattaponi, and Pamunkey are all good, especially in February and March.

LAKES – 15lbs won the most recent winter Tx on Lake Anna. Guy Davis and Mark Mcghee were the winners out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. Blade baits,shaky heads and swim baits have been the fish producers. Stripers are beingcaught at Dike 3, the 208 area and the splits. Jigging spoons and live baithave been the most productive lately. Kerr Lake is at 297’ currently. The lower end has been better for Bass fishermen. Spoons and jerkbaits are the mainchoices for lures.

PONDS – Small jigs have been catching just about everything in ponds right now. It’s best to jig or reel these slowly across the bottom right now, especially for Bass. Crappie are biting well also, but they areusually a little higher in the water column.

Green Top Fishing Report 01/13/2012

Gabe — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 13:19:05 +0000

BAY – The Bay Rockfish season is closed, but many fish are available to catch and release anglers. The lower bay structures seem to be holding more big fish. The concrete ships, the CBBT, and Plantation Light are all good. Speckled Trout anglers are still having fun with big fish inside the Elizabeth River. As usual, Mirrorlures are taking the bigger fish on average, along with live bait.

OCEAN – Cape Henry to Rudee has been very good this week. Numerous fish over 40 inches have been caught this week. Anthony Van Ness of Richmond caught a 45 and a half inch, on Tuesday the 10^thusing Mojos. The area around Oyster has been good also. Many folks are still encountering Bluefin Tuna as they troll for Rocks, east of Rudee Inlet. Some are actually targeting the Tuna, as the bait is very thick just inside the 3 mile line. Charter boats out of Nags Head and Hatteras are catching mostly Yellowfin Tuna.

FRESH – This week’s rain will probably ruin favorable conditions on the upper James, halting what has been a good bite for Smallmouth. Anglers are still targeting Blue Catfish on the lower James. Many say this is the best time to target the giants. Die-hard Chick River anglers are catching quality Bass on jigging spoons, live bait and swim baits. 18lbs won the most recent Winter Bass Tx out of Sturgen Creek marina, Jigging spoons were key. Shakey heads are also producing Bass, Dike 3 and the Splits are still good for Stripers. Pond Bass are responding to crankbaits reeled very slowly. Use a slower gear ratio for best results.

Early spring New

Gabe — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:27:55 +0000

We had not seen anyone but each other for quite a few hours. The mild shock of quickly sliding down the rapids in our boat was augmented by two men suddenly standing on the rocky near bank, tossing bucktails into some deep water. We agreed that they were trying for stripers given the time of year, choice of lure, and the rockfishiness of the hole they were scouring. My mind turned quickly from smallmouth bass in the bright sunlight and green water to striped bass at night under the lights. Brit snapped me out of my reverie, pointing at a foam trough. “Jerk bait.” he said. I nodded and put out a team of casts, spanking the worth-every-penny fifteen dollar lure throughout the water. Mickey, my fishing partner, worked a tube on the bottom with his eyes glued to the line.
Most of the day went like that; reaction bites from the jerkbait, and more accurate fishing with a tube. The morning was extremely productive. When the sun came up on us at New River Outfitters near VA Tech, the sky was cloudy and the day felt like fishing weather. When I said just that, Mickey replied that any weather is good fishing weather. I had to concur. Fishing with Mickey is like fishing with a Green Top Hemingway. Declarative sentences and no mincing of words. If you get the chance to fish with Mickey, I recommend it.
The water had only just started to come down from all of the recent rain. It was a lovely green with a two foot visibility. The runoff from creeks entering the river was clear as a bell and we rang it all day long. Our first stop was just such a creek. There was bait flying from the water that suggested the predators lurking below. We didnt hook up at that spot, but Mickey and I both got our citations shortly thereafter. The smallmouth were almost all large with a spring yellow tint to their bronzed sides. Between the two of us, we racked up twelve fish over seventeen inches with two citations and several that were very close. The numbers never really tell the story; the strength of the fish, the jumps, the takes, and the silences are what fishing is about. Numbers are absolute, but transient in my memory compared to the smallie that came off of my tube at the high point of a long arc in the air. Others shook the jerkbait furiously just above the surface of the water. March is a season of stored energy waiting release. The heat inside these fish was palpable, their eyes were tiny furnaces. We tried to photograph a nice double, I couldn’t hold mine; she was too wild for my thumb.
Fishing the New River is like being transported to another time. I would say back to another time, but there is nothing in my past to compare it to. The fish are strong and their movements throughout the year are enigmatic and changing. If you live in VA and consider yourself a serious angler, you need to experience the New. In a world full of spin and hype, it is what it is cracked up to be.

Gabe

Local Fishing Report by the Green Top Professionals

Gabe — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:39:28 +0000

Date: 1/6/12

Chesapeake Bay: The Chesapeake Bay Rockfish season is now closed. It is unlawful to possess Rockfish inside bay waters. However, big fish are still available for catch and release anglers. Bay temps are hovering around 45 degrees. Bay anglers can also target Tautog at the CBBT structures, although crabs, the preferred bait, may be hard to get. Many are still targeting Speckled Trout, especially inside the Elizabeth River. Trolling minnow plugs is a good method for locating active fish. Once found, Mirror lures, soft plastics, and live bait are all effective.

Ocean: Many nice catches of Rockfish are taking place within the 3 mile limit of the ocean. Mojos and tandem rigs are taking a lot of fish right now. Reports of massive schools of baitfish are numerous. There’s an incredible amount of fish being caught right now, so expect heavy traffic. There’s also been quite a few Bluefin Tuna being caught by those targeting Rockfish. Offshore charters are reporting Yellowfin and Blackfin Tuna. Deep dropping continues to be option for Tilefish, Rosefish, and Grouper.

Freshwater Rivers: The upper James is returning to normal levels, and there’s already been a 5lb smallmouth reported this week. Crank baits are working well right now. Water temps are averaging 43 degrees. The lower James continues to provide excellent action for Blue Catfish. The Chickahominy River is another good spot for catfish, but the Largemouth bite is the main attracting, and is doing quite well. Crappie are also biting well on the Chick. All the tidal rivers of VA offer many species to target through the winter.

Freshwater Lakes: Water temps at Lake Anna vary from 42 degrees uplake to 54 degrees at Dike 3. Many presentations are working for both Stripers ad Bass. A jigging spoon or silver buddy is catching everything that swims right now. The better bite for Stripers seems to be mid to down lake. The Bass bite seems to be the same. 13+lbs win the first winter tournament of 2012. Jeff Jones and Eric Hovey were the winners. Other lakes that are fishing good right now are Swift Creek Reservoir, Sandy River Reservoir, and Germantown Lake, which recently gave up a 10lber.

Speaking French in the South.

Gabe — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 21:35:00 +0000

I like to do a majority of the cooking at my house, and things can fall into a rut sometimes, especially with a lot of the same proteins coming across the table day to day. Everyone who hunts or fishes has had smoked trout, venison BBQ, jerky, or any number of breaded fillets. One way to make wild game come across in a good way without stewing, BBQing, or smoking it, is to incorporate sauces that complement natural flavor.

The Beurre Blanc is a sauce made by reducing an acid (white wine, vinegar, or lemon juice) and forcing cold butter into it with a whisk. It is an excellent addition to venison, striped bass, trout, and like wild game species that I either get a lot of from friends and coworkers or provide for myself from my own sporting endeavor. It seems intimidating and it very well could be if it weren’t so easy. A reduction of white wine and white wine vinegar in equal portion is accomplished over a medium to medium high heat. The liquid should decrease by 1/3 to 1/2. Next you remove it from the heat and whisk in cubes of unsoftened butter directly from the fridge. After the butter has melted in and the sauce has been seasoned to taste, back on the heat lightly for a few minutes continuing to whisk until thickened. Serve almost immediately. I am not a cooking instructor, so if those directions were too hasty, do what I do for culinary inspiration, consult Alton Brown.

I will say that going heavy on the lemon juice, light on the wine goes well with trout, and substituting strained and set up bacon grease for some of the butter does justice to venison loin. I like parsley in the butter for rockfish, and try dill for other white fish. I have used apple cider and apple cider vinegar together for pork and a heavy soy and balsamic vinegar for deer and broccoli over rice. The bottom line is that this sauce is versatile and if you like to cook game, it will add some sophistication to yours.

Gabe

Local Fishing Report by the Green Top Professionals

Gabe — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:24:40 +0000

Date: 12/23/11

Chesapeake Bay: Anglers are enjoying a great season for Rockfish, scoring great fish are still coming from the bridge tunnel area and the Cape Charles area. Eeling is very productive in the Buoy 59 area and inside the rivers like the James and Rapp. Windmill point has been providing good action lately on a variety of trolled baits, such as umbrella rigs, tandem rigs and stretch baits. Shore anglers are still catching quality fish at the Lesner Bridge in Lynnhaven. The Elizabeth River is the place to be for trophy Speckled Trout. Trolling with jerkbaits is a good way to locate schools of Trout. Once found, soft plastics and Mirrorlures are good producers, Tautog are still available for those targeting them, and able to get crabs for bait.

Ocean: Rudee Inlet is still giving up catches of Speckled Trout and Puppy Drum. Deep dropping for Tilefish, Seabass, and Rosefish is still popular and productive. Garry Oliver of Fishing Unlimited in Nags Head reports some nice Stripers from Oregon Inlet. A 50lber was caught, along with a 35 and a 20lber. Offshore boats are catching Blackfin, Yellowfin, Tuna, and some Wahoo.

Freshwater Rivers: The upper James gave up some impressive catches of smallmouth this week. Live minnows have been working best. For artificials, crankbaits are working well. Substantial rain on Thursday will probably mess the river up again. The lower James has been giving up quality Blue Cats, like an 83lber caught by Courtney Hardy this week. Bass fishing has been better and more popular on the Chickahominy River.

Freshwater Lakes: Silver buddies are working on Lake Anna for Bass and Striper seem to be more concentrated around the 208 bridge. Live bait, as usual, is working best. Sandy River and Chesterfield Reservoirs are also fishing good for Bass. Jerkbaits, rattle traps, and silver buddies are working here. Trolling small grubs is an excellent way to located schools of Crappie.

Local Fishing Report by the Green Top Professionals

Gabe — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:59:18 +0000

Date: 12/16/11

Chesapeake Bay: Impressive catches of Rockfish are happening daily all over the bay. a 61lber was recently caught from the Cape Charles area, Kevin Smith weighed in a 40lber on Thursday the 15^th here at the store. He was eeling at the CBBT. Other notable catches have come from the buoy 42 and 59 areas. Stretch baits and 9” storm swim shads and currently red hot. Folks are also catching fish inside the Rappahannock and James Rivers. Anglers are also catching fish by locating birds and casting or trolling through them. These conditions can be encountered anywhere, but most reports of birds are coming from east and north of the Rappahannock. Speckled Trout anglers are enjoying a great bite inside the Elizabeth River. Mirror lures seem to be catching bigger fish right now, but live Tautog catches are still being made for those who are able to get crabs.

Ocean: Offshore boats are scoring Yellowfin Tuna, Blackfin Tuna, and King Mackerel. Speckled Trout catches are prevalent at Nags Head and Hatteras. Rudee Inlet is also harboring specks, along with Puppy Drum. Deep droppers are enjoying steady catches of Tilefish, Rosefish, and Seabass.

Freshwater Rivers: The upper James is still a little high, but returning to normal levels and conditions. If the rain stays away, this weekend should be productive. The lower James and Chick have been producing steady catches of Blue Catfish. Steve Colgin of New Kent recently caught a 61lb Bass from the Chick River. Chick River Bass stay active throughout the winter. A silver buddy is always a good bait in winter.

Freshwater Lakes: Lake Anna Stripers will also remain active throughout the winter. Dike 3 is already providing good action for both Stripers and Bass. The Splits area of the lake is also good right now. 16lbs won a recent winter Bass Tx out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. Thomas Harris of Beaverdam everywhere are responding to the Alabama rig. We have them in stock and will be receiving more.

Freshwater Ponds: Pond Bass are still responding to Spinner Baits and rattletraps. A S and W jig is also a local favorite.

G Top Fly Fishing Report 12/13/11

Gabe — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:59:52 +0000

Coldwater: With the cold temperatures, the best trout fishing is on the
stocked waters. South River, Beaver Creek, and the Jackson River are all
good options. Get deep with nymphs is essential for these fish. Our best
fish have come on the Jigged PT and Prince nymphs. Buggers, Hare’s Ear
nymphs, and Green Weenies have also been good.

Warmwater: Chain pickerel fishing just gets better with the cold
temperatures. Flash flies, Krystal Buggers and Todd’s Wiggle Minnows have
all been taking fish. Good local fisheries for these feisty pike include
the Chickahominy and Swift Creek Lake.

Saltwater: The abundance of small bait has made fly fishing for striped
bass very effective lately. Fish working under birds are usually keyed in
on anchovies or silversides, making Clousers and Half & Halfs very good
bets. At night, fish are going for the same flies but bigger fish are
around so we have been throwing Seakers, Dabloons, and Reverses on full
sinking lines looking for big fish. If the open water isn’t your thing,
speckled trout fishing is still hot in the Elizabeth and Rudee. These fish
are taking Clousers and Murdich Minnows.

Local Fishing Report by the Green Top Professionals

Gabe — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 20:12:51 +0000

Date: 12/2/11

Chesapeake Bay: Anglers are enjoying great Rockfish catches all over the bay and inside its tributaries. Just about any presentation is working right now. Some folks prefer to cast with light tackle at the CBBT. Others are scoring with eels at the CBBT. Many are catching fish by trolling tandem rigs, Stretch baits, umbrella rigs and various baits behind planers. Good areas also include the mouth of the Rappahannock, Gwynn’s Island, Tangier Sound, and the HRBT. The number of 35-45inch fish is increasing daily. The colder temps that are due this weekend should improve the big bite even more. Speckled Trout action is still very good inside the Elizabeth River. Lynnhaven Inlet and Little Creek are still producing good fish. Mirrorlures continue to be the preferred bait. Tautog action also remains good on lower bay structures.

Ocean: Flounder and Seabass are still available on offshore wrecks. Sizable catches are being made of both species. Catches of Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna are being made from charter boats out of Hatteras. Catches of Specked Trout are still happening inside Rudee Inlet. Tilefish, Rosefish, Seabass, and Grouper are available to deep droppers.

Freshwater Rivers: The upper James Smallmouth bite has been very good lately, however, river levels may not be conducive for fishing this weekend, as the Westham gauge is currently at 10.33’. The lower James has been a great place for Catfish, Stripers and Crappie, but again, the high water may reduce catches of Stripers and Crappie this weekend. Keep an eye on river levels. The Chickahominy River is fishing excellent and should be a good choice this weekend. Rattletraps and jigs are working good for Bass.

Freshwater Lakes: Lake Anna Stripers are increasingly active as water temps range from 50-56 degrees from mid-lake to up-lake. Live bait presentations are very effective, but if you prefer to cast, swim baits and silver buddys are taking quality fish also. 13.31lbs(5-fish) won the Winter Series Tx out of Sturgeon Creek this past weekend, and 12.89lbs was second.

Smaller lakes like Sandy River and Swift Creek Reservoirs have been a good option for both Bass and Crappie. Some remarkable catches of bass have come from Sandy lately.

Freshwater Ponds: Local ponds have been fishing better for Crappie than Bass lately, for whatever reason. Chartreuse pepper grubs have been outstanding.