Fresh Water- 20.94 lbs took 1st place at the 4th Winter Bass Series Opens at Sturgeon Creek Marina on Lake Anna.  2nd place was a close 20.28 lbs. Big Bass have been preferring jigs lately. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and swimbaits are all producing strikes also. Slower, calm days call for shakey heads, and drop shots. All of these presentations are working for Bass in other places around the area. Kerr, Gaston,  and the smaller lakes, like Sandy River,  and Swift Creek Reservoir offer great fishing. Local private lakes are a great places to target large Bass now, as there is usually a lot less pressure, with the colder weather and hunting season upon us. The baits mentioned earlier are also working on the tidal rivers.  Blade baits, such as the silver buddy, and jigging spoons work well on the rivers in cold water conditions also. The Chickahominy and James rivers offer outstanding opportunities for giant Bass, and large limits. The many pits off the main river are good places to start. The upper James remains low and clear, which is tough, but on Saturday,  during the snow, the bite was on. Smallmouth anglers know that these are the conditions that present rare opportunities for memorable days. Enduring the conditions, launching and loading the boat, can be the trick. However, the rewards can be large.

Fresh Water-  21+ lbs won the 2nd Winter Series Tournament out of Sturgeon Creek Marina on Lake Anna. Preston Cox and Phil Wilcox were the winners. They also had the big fish of the tournament,  with an 8 lb+ Bass. Rob Grike and Mike Fisher were 2nd, with 18+ lbs. Crankbaits, jigs, and swim baits were the reported baits. The Stripers are biting better also. More anglers are catching them more frequently,  as surface action is increasing.  Topwater baits, spoons, blade baits, and swim baits are all doing the job. Have different sized baits tied on though, as the Stripers often become size oriented. 3 inch baits are a good bet. Bass fishing has also improved at Kerr Lake over the last week, as the water temps drop. The upper James is very low, 3.7′ at the Westham gauge. This makes for tough fishing, and many areas may be inaccessible due to the low levels. For areas accessible, overcast conditions are best, due to the clear water. Make long casts with light line. The lower James is your better bet. The Chickahominy River is as good, or better. Tidal fish will remain active, despite dropping water temps. The jig bite has been good just about everywhere. Other baits producing fish, have been crankbaits, jerkbaits, blade baits, and Alabama rigs. Single swim baits have been good also. Chartreuse seems to be the better color for any of these baits. Rockfish are being encountered inside these rivers now, so be aware of the regulations. Catfish anglers look forward to this time of year due to the bigger average fish size, and less people on the water. The trophy catfish opportunities offer a great alternative for big fish when bay conditions are less than desirable. Fresh Shad is best, and is not usually a problem to obtain. The warm water discharges of the Dutch Gap Power Plant can be like a magnet for the baitfish and the gamefish. The tidal river Crappie bite is excellent on the Chickahominy, James, and Potomac right now. The upper potions of the tidal Rappahannock River should not be overlooked for the Smallmouth fishing during this time, it can be quite good.

Fresh Water- The Smallmouth bite is increasing in the Tidal Rappahannock and the upper James. However the upper James is not tidal, and is low and clear. Overcast days are typically better, but the water temps are becoming ideal for consistent results. Spinnerbaits,  crawfish crankbaits,  and jigs are what many prefer to throw this time of year. The tidal James doesn’t receive much notoriety for the Smallmouth, but the fish are available. Many prefer to target trophy Largemouth. The many pits along the lower James provide excellent opportunities for quality Largemouth. The Chickahominy is especially known as a trophy Largemouth fishery in the colder months. Truth is, they are both excellent. Spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, and even topwater baits are good now. Some are even starting to throw blade baits now, as they appeal to everything that swims. Crappie catches have gotten better, as they become more predictable. Grass edges with wood cover can be double trouble, as they can represent drop offs in depth. Striper catches has increased in these rivers also. Be aware of the regulations however. Striper activity is increasing at Lake Anna now, as the water temps drop.  4 inch swim baits are great locators,  along with topwater baits. Flats with depths of 4-10′ can be especially productive now. Rattle traps along grass lines can produce Stripers and Bass now. These grass lines will also attract the Crappie. Finding the stumps along the grass lines can be the key to bigger fish, both Bass and Crappie. The bridges hold large numbers of Crappie now, and through the winter. Always have a jigging spoon, and/or a topwater bait tied on now , as schooling fish can be encountered at any time and place. The size of the bait can often be the key to success, so starting out with a 3-4 inch bait is good.

Fresh Water- The upper James is in fine shape at the time of this report, however, keep an eye on the levels for the next few days, as rain has been steady. The current level at the Westham gauge is 4.3′ This is a bit lower than where we’d like to see it, but this will probably change for the better. Faster moving baits can often be used with better results over slow, verticle baits at this time. This can also hold true for the lower James and Chickahominy. Topwater baits should not be overlooked, even though cold weather is on the way. Be prepared to tangle with Rockfish on these rivers while Bass fishing. Crappie fishing on the tidal rivers is another option right now, as it continues to improve. The tidal Catfish bite can be unmatched now and through the cold weather months. With the abundance of bait present in the James, and the warm water discharge from Dutch Gap power plant, the river provides outstanding opportunities for trophy Cats. Bridges are a great place to start a search for Crappie at Anna. Fish are still being caught shallow, but bigger numbers are starting to come from the bridges. This is another consistent bite through the colder months. Slip floats with minnows or jigs fished very close to the pilings can be the ticket. Once the depth of the bigger fish is discovered, they can often be caught on every drop. The cold weather will improve the Striper activity on the lakes also. Shallow flats should be searched with swim baits or live bait with side planers, as to not spook the fish. Surface walkers, such as Zara spooks can produce better sized Stripers, as well as Bass right now. This is the case almost everywhere. The cold fronts may reduce the Bass’ strike zone, but the water temps are not too cold for surface baits. Even on ponds and small lakes, topwater baits can be productive now.