John H. Kerr Dam/Reservoir

[Pikesnogle]

Hey Guys (Gals),

A few of my fraternity brothers and myself are making a long weekend trip to John H. Kerr Dam in mid September. As none of us have been there, we could use some direction. I've read that this place is huge, and there is a lot of water to cover.

We will be renting boats daily so we will have pretty good access to just about everywhere. Any areas that I should focus on?

Thanks for your help,

Snogle

[Sam]

Suggestions for Kerr:

1.  Get the GMCO map of the lake and fish within a two or three mile area from the ramp.

2.  Look back at the ramp so you will know what you are looking for on your way back. It is very easy to get lost on Kerr.

3.  Check out Bobcat's bait and tackle shop on the other side of Clarksville. You will love it and they can tell you what baits are working.

4.  Have a seat cushion out when on the water as this is a new Virginia law.  Have PFDs on when running the boat. Have fire exitnugisher on boat. Make sure you have this on all rented watercraft.

5.  Beat the shoreline; fish the coves; hit the creeks; and get ready to see "floating" docks.

6.  Best fishing is when they are pulling water from the lake. The fish turn on when this happens.

7.  Call 434.738.6371, ext. 275 for report on the water level and weather reports from the dam. 

8.  300 is normal water level.  303-304+ is in the bushes.

9.  Water in bushes means great fishing.  Water lower than 300 means you will have to search for the fish.  The higher the better.

10.  Try a baby brushog in green pumpkin in the bushes.

Good luck and let us know how you do.

But please get that GMCO map as Kerr is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, and very big!!! 

[Wayne P.]

Buggs Island is 50,000 acres at normal pool. You won't have much total lake coverage with any rental boat setup.

Are the rentals on-the-water or on trailers? That will determine your possible fishing areas. What species are you after?

[Pikesnogle]

Buggs Island is 50,000 acres at nornal pool. You won't have much total lake coverage with any rental boat setup.

Are the rentals on-the-water or on trailers? That will determine your possible fishing areas. What species are you after?

Largemouth, and Smallmouth. We won't complain if there is a striper or two thrown in there though.

[VAbacklash]

Double DITTO for everything Sam wrote! Nearly thirty some years ago, that map book was my best friend. It and the fact that the buoys are numbered saved me from a lonely night on the lake. Allow yourself plenty of daylight to get back into the landing.

[basscrusher]

I've always had best luck working plastics and mid-depth cranks around flooded bushes.  I've explored the lakequite a bit (uncle lived on the lake for 2 yrs) but always did best in Bluestone Creek.

[Pikesnogle]

We just got back Monday. It didn't go so well. I caught a few LM, and I think there were two more caught by one other guy. He caught his on a crankbait, and I caught one on a jitterbug, and two on senkos.

I worked the banks, cover, points, dropoffs.. basically everything that I can think of with little success. But the word around the lake was that no one was really doing well. Water level was down 3-4ft below normal pool. Sam, you were correct. I just don't think we were finding them.

Regardless, we had an awesome time. We were away from the girlfriends/fiances/wifes for 3 whole days and did nothing but drink some beers and do a lot of fishing.

Thanks for the advice gentlemen.

Snogle

[5bass]

Kerr has been on a downhill slide the past few years. I fished Kerr several times this spring and anything over 14" was hard to come by. Some tournaments there this spring could be won with 8 or 9 lbs.

I read just last week that the LM bass virus has been found in Kerr and that would explain some of the poor fishing. Usually a tournament on Kerr under normal conditions it takes 15+ lbs to get in the money and most times 18+ to win.

Back in the mid 90's if you didnt have 16 or 17 lbs you might as well put the boat on the trailer early and beat the crowd outta there.

[Five-Alive]

I read the same thing on this site http://kerrlake.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=BassFishing&action=display&thread=5329

Our club had a tournament there on Saturday and it was won with 12.45lbs and then dropped to 9lbs for 2nd place. My partner and I boated 18 bass but only ended up with 4 keepers for a whopping 4.5 lbs. The team that won caught the majority of there fish early as they were schooling.

[Sam]

Two day BFL tournament on Kerr this weekend and I will be very curious to find out the daily weights.

Understand that the fish back in the creeks with the grass are very fat and healthy while the fish at the mouths of creeks on on the main lake have the virus.

12.5 pounds on Kerr is not a very strong showing. Let's hope the pros can do better. 

[Red Bear]

going to Kerr, id target much more than just the largemouth bass. i'd definately be going after the monster catfish in that lake. also id be going after the striped bass, you can actually keep 4 stripers of any size until the end of this month, then it drops down to a limit of 2 with a 26in minimum until june...