Finally got to fish Sandy River Reservoir

[Bassun]

So, it's no secret - if you have the internet - that Sandy River Reservoir is a prime location to do some small boat, big fish work in Virginia.  I've been wanting to take the trip for years, and finally had the opportunity to head up there this year.  First trip on my kayak, first trip to Sandy - and sadly, first trip of the year.  (Work pays the bills, but sure hurts fishing time lol).  If you are unfamiliar with Sandy, she holds tons of great sized bass for a Virginia Fishery -- and has structure unlike most of my local waters.  Namely the standing timber over a couple of large portions of the lake.

We arrived Saturday, a little later in the morning than I would normally want, but it's early spring and I knew I would be wet - so, was glad to start a little late and not freeze.  In hind site, it was so warm that it would not have mattered.  We drop off the yaks and immediately notice a pungent dead fish smell.  We assumed someone had left bait on the shore and didn't really pay much attention to it.  Load up our gear and shove off.  This was actually a comedy in and of itself, as neither of us had kayaked before and it was entertaining to say the least to watch my buddy almost roll his yak in about a foot of water.  But, quickly we figure it out and off we go towards the trees.  

On the way, immediately we notice dead shad.  A few here, a few there - then as I looked around, they were everywhere!  Literally, hundreds and hundreds of dead shad across the expanse of the lake.  I know it's not odd to see a few, but never have I seen this many.  It was quite foreboding.  We continued our way to the standing timber where we were expecting to see some spring bass action unlike any before.  I could run through the day, the selections, the techniques -- but let it suffice to say, we threw the box at em.  After hours of fishing, I managed to hook up on one dink.  Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed, and frankly, questioning our ability to find and catch fish on what by every account I've heard, is a superb fishery.

Naturally we watched others as well... and it was the same for them.  Everyone started out searching, finding nothing, slowing down, going deeper, slower, smaller, etc.  Points, channels, structure, flats, etc.  We, and others, were all over the place trying to unlock the key.  As we passed by, each of us always asked how the other was doing --- and the best anyone did was 1 fish - by the end of the day.  We continued working different areas of the lake and finally called it a day and paddled back to the launch.

Naturally, leaving one of the premier fisheries we have with one dink was a major disappointment.  As concerning was the massive number of dead shad.  I had suspicions of what was going on, but not until I got home and did a little research did I find the proof.  

Researching the shad kill, I found an article posted by the Farmville Herald on the Thursday prior - detailing the massive shad kill off... http://www.farmvilleherald.com/2016/04/warmer-water-kills-gizzard-shad/  So, we happened to come to one of our top fisheries for the first time, on the full moon, heat of prespawn/spawn, and managed to do it a few days after the water temp rose so fast it killed off thousands of shad, and obviously distressed the entire fishery.  We managed to see the lake at its worst, when it should have been at its best.  How's that for luck...

On the positive, it was a beautiful lake.  Once we got back in the trees, it felt like we were fishing much further south, and I can certainly say it "looked fishy!"  And while it was much different fishing from the yak vs of the deck of my Skeeter - I have to say - it was completely a ball!  I have a greater respect for those exclusive kayak fisherman, as it is a totally different game and adds a whole new level of challenges.  All in all, it was a good day - got out on the water, in a new place and that's always a win.  Just my luck to manage to find the worst possible time ever to go, lol.

 

 

[Sam]

Thanks for a great report.

Sandy is a nice place to fish with a fantastic ramp.

Did any conversation officers visit you at the ramp? They are there making sure no one uses their big motor.

Is Briery Creek on your radar now?

[quanjig]

The shad kill is a tough time of year to catch good fish no doubt. They spawn, get stressed and die. Add to that the quickly raising water temps and it happens on a much larger scale. If I was a top predator like bass are at Sandy, I would take full advantage of easy picking slow fall death spiral shad all day long!!

happens on my home reservoir every year as well!!

[racedad]

Have not fished it in 10 yrs, but their are some big girls in there. Sorry you caught it at a bad time. We caught several 8+ pounders and many 3-5. Give it another shot in a few weeks.

[Wayne P.]

The catching should be better with less of these to compete with:

[DaveT63]

Fishing is better there now.  Some friends and I went to Sandy and Briery this past weekend.  We fished Briery Friday and Saturday mornings and Sandy both evenings.  Between us we caught well over 100 bass in the two days.  Most were in the 2+ pound range, with probably 10-12 over 3 and half a dozen over 4.  I was also lucky enough to catch a 7 pounder Friday night at Sandy and a 6 pounder first thing Saturday morning at Briery.  So the fishing is picking up.  Give it another try soon.

[Bassun]

On 4/27/2016 at 1:25 AM, Sam said:

Thanks for a great report.

Sandy is a nice place to fish with a fantastic ramp.

Did any conversation officers visit you at the ramp? They are there making sure no one uses their big motor.

Is Briery Creek on your radar now?

Sorry for the delayed reply - works been crazy.  Surprisingly no, no officers at all.  And Briery is definitely on the radar as well!  :-)

On 5/2/2016 at 0:06 PM, DaveT63 said:

Fishing is better there now.  Some friends and I went to Sandy and Briery this past weekend.  We fished Briery Friday and Saturday mornings and Sandy both evenings.  Between us we caught well over 100 bass in the two days.  Most were in the 2+ pound range, with probably 10-12 over 3 and half a dozen over 4.  I was also lucky enough to catch a 7 pounder Friday night at Sandy and a 6 pounder first thing Saturday morning at Briery.  So the fishing is picking up.  Give it another try soon.

Great news!  Thanks for the heads up!  I don't know how soon I will get to head back up there, but it's definitely a trip I will be making at some point.

[JohnCal]

Sandy seems to have a lot of grass, which I still need to learn to fish in.  Every cast ends up with the slime.   How does Briery Creek compare on the grass?