Struggling Suffolk Lakes Virginia

[Gavin M Hausey]

Got stationed here from Louisiana and ive been fishing the all the lakes out in Suffolk, Va for almost a year with very little success. Hear reports of guys catching fish almost every time I go out but I just can’t get a grasp on how to put any bass in the boat. Any help is greatly appreciated 

[Bird]

VA is a great fishing state.

 

Start simple by throwing top water early " I like buzzbaits " and throw spinnerbaits around stumps and blow downs.

 

Plastic worms always puts fish in the boat anytime.....natural colors in clear water , dark colors in stained water.

 

If your local lake is clear than consider a fluorocarbon leader.

[PhishLI]

I moved to a new location a few years ago. The lake closest to me holds bass including some whoppers, for the northeast anyway. It's a notoriously tough lake though. Most of the old timers that fish there complain about the pressure and reminisce about the glory days of 20 years ago. I'm chatty and talk to most people who fish it. Some guys go weeks or months without a catch there. Truth. I was one of them for the first 7 months I fished it. Granted, I really started there late and it got cold fast. As a matter of fact I didn't witness one bass caught by anyone there from late September of'17 through March of '18, and I fished there alot. I could only manage to catch Pickerel. Around that time I put in lots of work figuring out the bottom contours and weedlines there. No boats are allowed, so long casts with jigs were my only means to examine the place. My catch rate went up, but was sporadic. I had one full week of catches in June, July, and August. The weeks starting on June 22nd, July 12th, and August 10th all yielded 7 days in a row of catching bass. But in between? Rough. Dinks or skunks. The remainder '18 went the same way, random, but was broken up by one day where I caught a giant and two really good fish.

 

As soon as the ice melted this past February I was back out there. A Shadow Rap in perch put me on the fish. I picked up a 3" Megabass Dark Sleeper at the Suffern fishing expo in March and began hammering them immediately. This bait led me to the Megabass Hazedong Shad 4.2" and I started hammering them with that. I'd picked up the Norries Spoon Tail Shad 5" at the previous year's expo, but couldn't find a rigging I liked. Once I did I began hammering them with it. I've caught some really good fish, not the numbers compared to the other baits mentioned, on the Beast Coast Miyagi 5". But it's a much bulkier bait than the others. Yellow perch are in this lake. A few weeks ago I picked up a pack of Berkely "The Champ Swimmer" 4.5" in perch pattern. I've caught fish 8 out of the past 10 trips there on this bait, including a really nice donk. The Storm 360GT 1/8oz has been another killer bait, especially on days when they're not fully committed. All of the other baits I mentioned I rig weedless. The Storm is open hook and tiny. It's hard to miss a hookset with this bait if they bite it. Just a note; I caught exactly 3 fish on anything Keitech at this lake and zero fish on either of the Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper or Little Dipper. I really tried. The Keitech catches came on a jig head with eyes. All of the baits I mentioned previously have eyes. Keitechs and Dippers don't.

 

My suggestion is this: Try some realistic looking small profile paddle tail baits. Bass feed mostly on small baitfish. Yes, a bigger bass will choke down big bait fish and very small bass will hit a giant swimbait, but they're eating small bait fish for the most part. Once I dedicated myself to this strategy of smaller torpedo shaped swimmers my catch rates at this very tough lake went from sporadic and skunky to logging hundreds of catches this season including several legit northeast mondos. I've caught fish there on most other bait types I have, but none are remotely close to the small paddle tail/boot tail for numbers.

 

[WdyCrankbait]

Gavin,

   Welcome to VA.

   I used to live in Louisiana (Alexandria) so, I might be able to help you out.  First, fishing up here is totally different!  Second, downsize like crazy!!  The light side of fishing line down there say, 15# (At least) is way too heavy.  Third, I know this goes against the Cajun mind set of fishing, but buy a spinning rod an learn to finesse fish.  (Go at least 7'2" with a high speed spinning reel.) Drop shot, shakey head (murders up here), 4" weightless senko etc.  It is a finesse game up here, not power game.  There are some hogs up here, but the water is pressured more and the bass don't get to eat as much.

   The bright side, you're heading back to LA with a whole other style of fishing in your bag!  Now, I have fishing Toledo Bend out of Many, LA and Black Lake up near Nacatrash and I received a couple of funny looks bringing a spinning rod on the boats, but once I showed I could take a 4" senko and skip it way under a cypress tree and catch them, game changer!!!

   Last green pumpkin for soft plastics and Rapala Helsinki shad colors for hard baits.  @Sam is from Louisiana and has made the change well.  

 

Message me if you want or need to.  I'll be happy to get a bag of Community coffee, or your best gumbo recipe!  Lol!!

 

Good luck!!

Wdy

 

PS: as you might know there are no Academy Sporting Goods stores up here, but Dick's is pretty close.  There is a BPS in Hampton, and if you're up for a trip to Ashland (just north of Richmond) I would go to Greentop Sporting Goods.

[WdyCrankbait]

As well, I am in Newport News, VA now.  So, if you want to meet at BPS for me to point out some lures let me know.

 

There are some good fish in those Suffolk lakes!!

[Darren.]

Welcome aboard, Gavin!

 

Some great advice from @WdyCrankbait. Can't really add more,

but totally agree with him that it's more a finesse game in these

parts. Keep at it, mate!

[Sam]

Woody said it all.

 

The only "power" that is needed in Louisiana is in Tiger Stadium!

 

Gavin, print all that is penned above and start doing as they guys suggest. Don't worry about alligators or nutria in Virginia. We have only copperheads and water moccasins in your area with a dash of rattlesnakes in the mountains west of Charlottesville to be concerned with. And they will usually leave you alone.

 

Take trip to Green Top and see what they have in the line of baits and speak with "Freddy" about bass fishing.

 

Get a weekend pass from your CO for the Richmond Fishing Expo and spend a day with the Virginia movers and shakers in the bass fishing world. You will meet a lot of wonderful people, like Woody, and learn a lot. You need to check on the seminar times and make them, too.

 

Here is the link so keep checking it for the 2020 show details: http://www.richmondfishingexpo.com/

 

Welcome to Virginia and tidewater traffic, "where the hole in the water traffic stops to watch those d**n Navy ships and submarines head into port or out to sea." Hey, I must admit seeing the guys and gals wearing their dress whites and manning the rails is a sight to behold. But those people from Kansas and Nebraska have to learn not to stop and look at the naval vessels while on the bridge. Traffic through the tunnel is too slow as it is.

 

I want you to think Shaky Head and Drop Shot plus wacky rigged Senko and the Ned rig and the Neko rig all on spinning gear. A 2000 or 2500 size spinning reel is fine while a 6'6" to a 7'2" medium heavy fast action tip is the way to go using 8 pound braid or fluorocarbon. 

 

And check out Chickahominy Lake's Ed. Allen to rent a skiff and beat the bank and the cyprus trees.

 

Have fun; be safe; and thank you for your service.

 

P.S. Head to Toano on the western side of Williamsburg on Route 60 and visit ProTech and Hookers. Fishing ProTech has some great Japanese baits and they guys are great. Hooker's has some good tackle, too. Both specialize in bass fishing. Exit I-64 east at Lightfoot and then hang a right onto Route 60. Or do a map recon for both. Nice places to visit on a day off but call first to make sure they are open.

 

https://www.hookerbaitandtackle.com/

https://hayabusafishing.com/stores/fishing-pro-tech/ 

[WdyCrankbait]

Gavin,

   
One other item, since you're from LA my guess is you have not been smallmouth fishing.  If not, you need to go.  Head up to Scottsville, or Lynchburg area of the (in @Sam  voice, "Historic James River") and hook into a 4lb. smallie.  Life changing if you are a bass fisherman!

 

Good luck and keep us up to date about your fishing adventures,

Wdy

 

PS:  Freddy at Greentop is the man!