RdmaoRVA

Lookin for some December tips for fishing the tidal areas below Richmond or any tidal waters for that matter. Where the fish like to hang out and what lures to throw this time of year. My last outing was unsuccessful, I've had a Jerkbait and Jig tied on but finding em has proven difficult, water temps are hovering in the upper 40's. How is everyone adjusting to the colder weather?

A buddy and I are gonna trek out to the mountains this weekend for some river fishing, and I have little experience with this as I tend to stick to local ponds and lakes for largemouth. He listed the Rose, Hughes, Rapidan or Robinson rivers specifically as possible options. I do have a fly rod though little experience using it, and plan on bringing my lighter spinning rods as well. Does anyone have some advice for good strategies? I am not sure if we plan on wading or kayaking yet, but I'd like to target smallies and trout hopefully. Thanks in advance!

I'm around ponds and lakes for work all day and the last week has been heavy with bass on beds, and even some guarding fry. Fishing was SLOW over the weekend but it was worth it, caught one bass and it's my new PB! (Pic included) 4 pounds 6 ounces on a brush hog. Was on the bank and saw a bass hanging out, dragged the T-rig up the slope and got bit before I made it to him, and she was the result. Definitely the female that paired up with the one I saw, and didn't even realize he was on a bed at first, let alone that she was lurking just beyond. These urban ponds are sure a grind with all the pressure and picky fish right now, but the T-rig is certainly becoming one of my favorite to throw. Also, as for the arboretum if I recall it was a weekend and the dink came in the smallest pond, probably won't be going back but worth the trek to see what it had to offer. No security to be seen so I had free reign.

It's been a tough few weeks, this odd weather seems to be a factor but I am seeing a lot of bedding bass and quite a few pairs doing mating activities. With all this spawning behavior I have not had much luck on the catching aspect of things however. I have been to too many ponds to count, trying new places and different baits. The Arboretum, Luck lane, Wyndham, Byrd Park and many more; a lot of suggestions from previous posts here in the forums. I keep going back to the Chatterbait and Texas rig but I may need to switch things up, you just always have those confidence baits I guess. I did get to see a 7 pound bass someone pulled out of a pond nearby while on the job and WOW was it a big girl, impressive to see up close.

I do have a craw colored crankbait that looks a lot like those, found stuck in a tree recently that would be perfect for my baitcaster. Will have to give that a shot. I actually saw a VERY large female cruising in the shallows today back and forth at one of the ponds I frequent. The male was sitting on his bed he has recently made. He swam off when I noticed him, and with this weather I am certain she is holding eggs still. Would be nice to find out what she weighs but I'm not sure how to even try with her.

Got this three and a half pounder on the spinnerbait, had some results with a chatterbait, squarebill, and drop shot so far. Still trying to figure out what the Bass are doing as the water temp rises.

I did see those Stinky Balls in passing, looked intriguing. Didn't meet anyone specifically as I'm honestly not privy on who's who, but I did watch some of a New River Smallie seminar which was good. I picked up a few little things, a rod cover, new chatterbait, and these Fishlab flutter nymphs they demonstrated at the tank that look interesting. Also stopped at Bass Pro on the way home to grab some new line. I've got a reel I spooled up with 10 pound braid and I'm trying to decide if I should pair it with my real short UL rod or a longer light action extra fast ugly stik. The other rod will get a 4 pound mono spooled reel, both are 3000 size so I'm conflicted. Excited to start catching some fish in 2023!

Wish I saw this before I went today, I would have looked around for ya. Hung around from 10-12 or so, watching some of the angler presentations at the live well and picked up a few things to try out. What did you think, get anything new? Too bad it’s so cold or I’d be more eager to get out and fish more. Have not yet figured out winter fishing especially living in the city with all these pressures ponds and lakes.

Fishing Report: Water Temp was between 56 and 60, air Temp 43 and 70. Water was pretty stained brown, couple feet of visibility. We tried spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, tubes, plopper, tiny torpedo, jigged and ned rigged soft plastics, skirted jigs. The chosen baits that caught fish were jerkbaits (most productive/success with more than 1 color) and a white tube plus a lone fish on the tiny torpedo.

I'll be hitting the Rapidan/Rappahannock in Virginia with a buddy in the next week or two and don't have any real experience targeting smallies. Ideally looking for the best tips on what to throw and where to throw it especially this time of year, as I have no idea what the fish are up too. I'd love to have a whopper plopper tied on but need some insight about if it is the right time. Beyond that my thoughts are having tubes on hand, and plenty of ned rigs. I've also reads that squarebills and spinnerbaits along with paddle tails can work great but will ideally have two setups ready to go for the trip and try not to change it up too much.

Three Lakes park in Henrico is a great spot for children, the largest of the three (right most lake when looking on google maps) has a pavilion next to a large clearing right on the bank.

Decided to try out Echo this morning, it has been on my radar so I went with your advice. Caught a total of four fish but two beat my previous PB! First one was just over two pounds and the second right at the 2 line, the other two were a baby bass and a bluegill. Started with the bone Whopper plopper and got the baby on the far side where the wooden walkway is, and saw 3 big ones swimming around but couldn't get them. The two big ones went after a crankbait, both around the fountain area. Thanks for the advice! Gonna put the Innsbrook lake down to visit here soon, as I just mentioned I landed two nice ones (for me) at Echo this am, crankbaits ftw. Interestingly the lighter one was definitely longer than the heavier one. This was the heavier of the two.

Hit the "ponds" at Stony Point apartments this evening to no avail. Tough little stretch but a resident said he caught a 4 pounder near where the community pool pokes out over the water a few years back.

I plan on wading upriver for smallmouth eventually, but it is so much easier to drive to a pond nearby on any given day.

I'm planning on going Snakehead fishing in the Potomac Creek here soon and would love a few tips for those who are experienced. I've read in some previous posts that receding tide is ideal and a chatterbait or frogs are the best option, so I plan to build on that. If picking an ideal time based on tide is not possible, what do the fish tend to do during low tide and when the tide is coming in? Does size matter for chatterbaits, seems like people say they have smaller mouths. Beyond that, the plan is to fish the small grassy/padded creeks, are they strictly in shallow water near these thick vegetated banks even in 90 degree summer heat? Thanks for the help.