Virginia November Fishing

[atdc94]

Hey guys, new guy to the forum! I am fishing at Briery Creek Lake mid-November and I was curious what you guys would recommend using for bait. Thanks!

Tyler

[Wayne P.]

Not every mid-November is the same.

You base your presentation on the current weather and water conditions.

The turn-over hasn't happened yet, water temps are still in the mid 60's.

I have seen snow and I have seen 80+ degrees in mid-November.

I fish there often and would not assume what would be productive and where it would be productive in a couple of weeks.

I can suggest what and where just prior to your trip based on more current data.

[Sam]

Not every mid-November is the same.

You base your presentation on the current weather and water conditions.

The turn-over hasn't happened yet, water temps are still in the mid 60's.

I have seen snow and I have seen 80+ degrees in mid-November.

I fish there often and would not assume what would be productive and where it would be productive in a couple of weeks.

I can suggest what and where just prior to your trip based on more current data.

 

What Wayne said.

[Darren.]

Welcome to the forums!

 

I'm fishing November like I did previous months, 

with soft plastics wacky rigged, both weighted 

and weightless.

 

Also fishing a football head jig with a crawdad 

trailer, and some small (4") swimbaits. Shad are 

running where I fish, and everything I've mentioned 

is working for me.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

Welcome to the forums!

 

I'm fishing November like I did previous months, 

with soft plastics wacky rigged, both weighted 

and weightless.

 

Also fishing a football head jig with a crawdad 

trailer, and some small (4") swimbaits. Shad are 

running where I fish, and everything I've mentioned 

is working for me.

 

What Darren said.

[Wayne P.]

I went to Sandy River and Briery Creek yesterday to do some sonar experiementing and to check out what the fish are doing.

 

The water temp was 63-64 degrees and the fall turn-over has not happened yet at either lake. Thermocline at about 27 feet.

I caught bass with blade baits, shakey head finesse worms and weedless wacky rigged Trick and finesse worms in the 10'-25' depth range.

24 bass total.

 

 

 

 

[PersicoTrotaVA]

I went to Sandy River and Briery Creek yesterday to do some sonar experiementing and to check out what the fish are doing.

 

The water temp was 63-64 degrees.

I caught bass with blade baits, shakey head finesse worms and weedless wacky rigged Trick and finesse worms in the 10'-25' depth range.

24 bass total.

 

I keep forgetting to spool up my spinnerbait rod and bring spinnerbaits with me.  I bet they are killing bladed baits right now.

[Wayne P.]

I keep forgetting to spool up my spinnerbait rod and bring spinnerbaits with me.  I bet they are killing bladed baits right now.

A blade bait is not a spinnerbait. I was using a Silver Buddy and a Krazy Blade, never threw a spinnerbait.

[PersicoTrotaVA]

A blade bait is not a spinnerbait. I was using a Silver Buddy and a Krazy Blade, never threw a spinnerbait.

Oh wow!  That Silver Buddy looks cool!  I have never fished with one of those.  Do you crank it back like a crankbait or jig it like a spoon?  I have been throwing a crankbait and it has been working ok.  It has been mostly weighted wacky rigged finesse worms that gets them.

[Choporoz]

Thanks for that detailed report, Wayne!     No squarebill action?  I'm not familiar with those lakes - bank/horizontal cover avail?

[Sam]

Oh wow!  That Silver Buddy looks cool!  I have never fished with one of those.  Do you crank it back like a crankbait or jig it like a spoon?  I have been throwing a crankbait and it has been working ok.  It has been mostly weighted wacky rigged finesse worms that gets them.

 

Just watch your line for line twist when throwing the Silver Buddy.

 

Great overlooked bait.

[Wayne P.]

Just watch your line for line twist when throwing the Silver Buddy.

 

Great overlooked bait.

You are right about that or any other blade bait. I let my line unwind after every cast by stopping the lure about 2'-3' from the rod tip.

[Wayne P.]

Thanks for that detailed report, Wayne!     No squarebill action?  I'm not familiar with those lakes - bank/horizontal cover avail?

I don't use a square bill for those depths and I don't fish the bank. My presentations were vertical.

I fish were I see fish with my electronics.

 

Cover?? The second picture is 845 acres of flooded timber like this:

 

 

I do a sonar profile of the lakes when I first get there to see what level the fish are. I don't waste time fishing where they are not.

The first picture was at Sandy River and there is some cover like this. 

 

[everythingthatswims]

So do you just take two dozen silver buddys with you? Standing timber and blade baits sounds like a nightmare! 

[Wayne P.]

So do you just take two dozen silver buddys with you? Standing timber and blade baits sounds like a nightmare! 

Yes, I have several dozen Silver Buddys and similar blade baits, but I rarely fish them at Briery Creek though.

There are a few places you can use them vertically.

I used them at Sandy River Res. 

 

Weedless plastics at Briery Creek and Sandy River also.

 

I caught a couple of these bass a couple of years ago at Briery Creek with a Silver Buddy.

Just have to know where that can be done effectively. There are no trees in this image and a mostly smooth bottom.

 

[atdc94]

Thanks for the update man. I am fishing Saturday morning and maybe Sunday. Have any of you guys ever used PowerTeam lures?