Fredericksburg Anglers (The Rap)

[JCrzy4Bass]

Any of you guys know the water levels of the Rappahannock right now?  Clarity?  Temps?

I'm talking above the route one bridge (non-tidal portion).  Just curious if smallmouth season may start a bit early (for us waders) this year with all the record heat lately. 

I would love to actually get out sometime before May this year if the water permits.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Actually just found it:

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?site_no=01668000

3.31 feet. I've waded in water this high before and it's not too bad, some places would be tough to get into though. Ideal is 3.25 or 3.20.

Anyone actually fished from shore along the parks or paths along the river as of late and had any success? I know this early in the year the smallies here can be a bit tougher to find. Especially with limited acces on shore.

The temperature readings at Fredericksburg have been discontinued due to problems with their readers at that location per an email I recieved from one of the guys at USGS but he said you may be able to figure it out based on water temps at other locations along the rap (mean/avg). Have to try and figure it out.

Latest Report (just found):

Rappahannock River

   

Date      25-Mar-10                  

Conditions : Rappahannock River: above Fredericksburg: Contributed by local guide Peter Pfotenhauer, who works with Tee Clarkson and Virginia Fishing Adventures, (540) 498-0966. The fish are starting to wake up! The river is a beautiful green color and water temps over the last week rose to near 50 degrees. Levels are too high for safe wading, and temperatures too low to avoid serious risk of hypothermia, but well equipped expert canoeist and kayakers can access fishing locations. Smallmouth are increasing their activity levels as the waters warm, but as temperatures see saw up and down from weather events, expect the fishing quality to mirror the rise and fall in water temps. A few nice fish have been landed on deep diving crankbaits and tubes, including the 21 incher by Matt Gookin of Richmond. The fish weighed 5 lbs even before Matt released her so she'd be in the river for the upcoming spawn. Fishing slowly in areas with slack current can produce the biggest bass of the year for the careful angler. It's too early for any shad to have shown at City Dock or in the Falmouth rapids, but it won't be long now before these feisty fighters start bending rods.

We should try to set up a group wade once temps rise above 65 degrees or so and it becomes comfortable.  I know of some pretty good spots around the area and wouldn't mind showing people who are up for some good smallie action.  Not the biggest inthe world but some 2 - 3 lbers mixed in depending on how far up we wade and how long we have in the day.

[NewAngler]

I drove over it yesterday. I saw some fly fisherman right there, I don't know what they were fishing for, but one of them had a fish, or his fly stuck on a rock. I'd safe its safe enough.  Isn't it supposed to rain this week, though?  I've also had mild success just up stream from the Rt. 1 bridge towards the 95 bridge and just beyond.

[JCrzy4Bass]

New, do you know of any access points (from shore without treking through a forest) north of the route on bridge that you can get to by foot? Not looking for specific honey holes just relative areas that have open shoreline. I know a lot of the shoreline is pretty wooded once you pass that campground on Falls Hill Ave.

I usually fish this time of year down at the intersection of Falls Hill and River Rd along the paths there or a little further down on River Rd where it almost meets the tidal portion. Not much luck but I have caught some in the past. I just can't wait to wade, I was doing real well at a few different spots last year and have some specific cover pegged that almost always holds fish.

Plus I'm sure those winter storms and flooded water this spring probably uprooted new trees and got more cover into the water. Should be good this year.

You can shoot me a pm instead of throwing up info here if you want, or not.  It's cool either way.  But I can put you on some great wading spots this spring if you wanna help each other out.

[intheweeds]

JC, I am down for the group smallie fishing trip! Sounds fun. I need some more set ups, what would you recommend for a river fishing smallie set up. i.e. rod length, rod power, tip speed and line? Thanks bro!

[JCrzy4Bass]

Dave,

Any medium or medium heavy rod with a fast action is good. I'm short so I don't like longer rods but I use a 6' 6" and it does fine. 7' for wading may make for a harder time rigging up during the wade (without dunking your reel). You can get away with a medium in the river here because once the bass takes the bait a lot of the time the current and the way the smallie fights will help that hook drive further into the fish without a heck of a lot of effort. You still wanna set the hook obviously and be very careful to play the fish so it stays in the water. These guys are known for their aerial shows they put on!

For line avoid braid as there are too many snags and you will be cutting off baits all day. I don't like flourocarbon a lot because the line sinks and with all the hangups and rocks and stuff the line gets caught up and beat up easily (imho flouro deteriorates quicker than mono). I like a line with some stretch and decent diameter. I use Suffix Elite 10 or 12lb mono (awesome for this type of fishing), but I have also used Trilene xtra tough and smooth casting as well and had plenty of success.

Pick yourself up some gitzit tubes from walmart (they come in packs with tube weighted hooks already provided), if you want bigger fish buy some larger tube head hooks and some Strike King Coffee Tubes or Venom tubes. These things will get you bigger fish.

Other baits: Mepps or Joe's flies inline spinners, 3 - 4" pearl colored grubs and small jig heads (1/16 or 1/8), plastic lizards, 4" senkos, or some finesse jigs. In my opinion you don't need much more in a smallie tackle box.  Maybe some small hard jerkbaits and small spinnerbaits...

[A.Do?]

I prefer smaller tackle. I use a small reel on a ML rod with fast tip. That's just me though.

Braid is fine if you have a leader, you'll just break off at the leader.

Flukes are great too  8-)

[JCrzy4Bass]

New,

Trying to pm you but it says I'm now on your ignore list.  Lol.  So if you wanna look into it and let me know I can try sending again?

[NewAngler]

Imo, smallies need nothiing more than large mouth. Lighter line is the only thing I would suggest. Shorter rods for smaller creeks with over hangs. Not the case at the Rap.

[Dan:]

Jay, I'm curious about what fluoro you have been using that "deteriorates quicker than mono"? Fluoro is generally much more abrasion resistant than mono, that's why most people use it for fishing rocks.

I have only caught one smallmouth on a tube, and that was pitching it texas rigged... I know they are good smallmouth baits I just don't like using them. I think the sandier parts of the river tend to have more minnows than crawfish. I use flukes and shaky heads.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Dan,

BPS and the Vanish stuff in that black/blue container.

Those two I had a lot of frays, snaps and easy breakoffs with.

Don't get me wrong, I know flouro can be used with a lot of applications in bass fishing. Just my experience with it.

I do use P-line which has been pretty awesome for largemouth and haven't had any issues with it yet, just haven't tried it on smallies. I may this spring/summer. Just suffix elite has never steered me wrong on the rap. I fish it a lot during may - september.

Maybe just the two lines i tested out?

[A.Do?]

BPS 100% hasn't been too bad to me. STAY AWAY FROM VANISH.

P-line copoly snaps a lot on me...

I actually like fluoro cuz I like fishing stuff weightless and it helps get my lighter lures down a bit.

[intheweeds]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I have a m/f st.croix already, so I am glad that it will work and I can keep the bait monkey at bay for awhile. ;D  As far as line goes I just need to try some stuff out to find what I like. I am pretty old school and need to expand my options. I am a little afraid to try braid, but I am sure I will give it a try. Right now I am using 8# yo-zuri hybrid on my spinning rod.

Again, thanks for the input and I look forward to meeting some of you in the future.

[Dan:]

Yeah, Vanish is garbage. I have heard good things about the BPS Fluoro but I've never used it. I've been using Seaguar Invizx and it is awesome. Trilene 100% is pretty good too. Other than topwater and frogs, I fish all fluoro.

[JCrzy4Bass]

I've heard seaguar is pretty solid.  I always see their stuff in both Bassin' and bassmaster.  Some guys who used to work at Boater's World before they closed down swore by that stuff.

So anyway, I saw we all keep an eye on the guage (height) and the temps in reports and get something together when the time rolls around.  I'd assume probably early - mid may.  But I guess play it by ear.

[Dan:]

Yeah, the only bad thing about Seaguar Invizx is that it is expensive (so is Trilene 100%). I haven't tried their cheaper stuff but I've heard it isn't as good.

[endless]

Right now I'm using XPS flouro on my carbonlite, so I guess I'll find out soon about the frays.. I've tried seaguar carbonpro and didn't like it. Tough line but never cast right, always unspooling on me everycast. I tried using reel magic but didn't help any. It probaly just doesn't act right on spinning reels or at least mine, the pflueger president xt(6735xt). But anyways down near falmouth bridge, hell any line probaly will take a beating with those rocks. I use to swim there and at near Embry d**n(when was around then) all the time. For some reason I never fish the Rapahannock for bass and I grew up in fred. Go figure.

I still eventually will try the suffix next or the other seaquar brands. Anyways good luck and report how everything goes!!

[AnglerNFuego]

I'll be in for this trip.

[JCrzy4Bass]

I knew I wouldn't be counting you out for smallie action Andy 

We will get a date set probably early next month.

[ICATCHFISHIN703]

i fished below the bridge last weekend and got skunked