NoVA weather, flooding & what to do when the sun comes out this weekend?

[DaveSurfs]

So City Dock in Fredericksburg will likely still be underwater on Saturday morning... I could probably go cast from the bank on a couple small ponds in Southern Stafford, but does any body have any (productive) suggestions?

I fully realize I am offering up a softball to those who might offer smart answers , (to what may be perceived as a dumb question ) but please refrain as this is my 1st spring flood season here in NoVA, and I'm just trying to consider alternatives to dodging trees moving at 5Kts down the Rapp.

Thanks,

Dave

[A.Do?]

Are you beating the bank or getting on the water some how?

It's going to be hard finding good water to fish. Most, if not all, bodies of water will have a lot of run off and will be very murky! At least that's what i think....

I'm still trying to figure out where to go this weekend too...

[intheweeds]

Pond fishing for me. I know it is going to be muddy but I am still going to try. The ponds that I have been fishing have been very muddy and I still have caught fish. I have been swimming a Rage Tail Space Monkey very slowly on a keel weighted hook in key parts of the pond that I know hold fish. Good luck out there.

I like your avatar. My name is Dave also and I surf too. Fishing and surfing....two best sports in the world, IMO! Though I do fish more than surf nowadays (due to location)LOL.

[dhami013]

I live in Fredericksburg, and it's been flooded since the heavy rain on Sunday, so I reckon it'll be flooded this Saturday as well considering the rain from last night.

I myself have been looking to go out on Lake Curtis for the first time this weekend. A close friend of mine is leaving for Airforce Boot in 2 weeks and I'm just tryna get him in the water as much as possible.

[PowerFinesse]

Throw a colorado bladed spinner bait in flooded areas that are close to deeper waters...

[rondef]

Fish the newly flooded areas with baits that put out a lot of vibration, Rage Tail Space Monkeys and Smokin Roosters work great on a keel weighted hook in these conditions.

[DaveSurfs]

Thanks for the gouge guys. I'll give it a try and let you know how it turned out.

Tight Lines,

Dave

[basscrusher]

flooded ponds with muddy water are prime for dark colored chatterbaits.  One of my best days came in nasty weather with 6 bass all between 3 and 5 lbs in 15 minutes under aforementioned conditions with said lure.

[Bigbarge50]

I was thinking on Saturday of hitting huntsman or beaverdam. 

Went last Saturday to huntsman .... thought the sun was going to come out, but it did not.  The good news for all was the water temp was consistently 50 degrees all over.  The bad news is I have been there twice in two weeks with no fish. 

I know huntsman will be a muddy mess, but figure the double colorado blade spinner bait i cleaned up with there last year and the two new chatterbaits I got could be good options. 

Anyone been out to beaverdam? 

 

[AnglerNFuego]

Anyone been out to beaverdam?

The wind was brutal the last two times I was out there. 

[Bigs]

considering how high the salt content has been on the potomac, the rain was a welcome change. Once the water clears up in about a week the potomac will start to produce

[A.Do?]

Anyone been out to beaverdam?

The wind was brutal the last two times I was out there.

The wind is brutal EVERY time I'm there! lol

I think I'm going to hit up some local lakes with the kayak. See if these chatterbaits and big water moving baits work out for me.

tight lines everyone!

[bartoopuck]

In response to beaverdam question:

I was out there this weekend. nothing. i did find some structure straight out from the mt hope road entrance, where the old bridge used to be. was holding a dozen fish in about 15 feet of water. none of em cared about what i had....

[BassShephard]

Its worth a try!  I went today, it was around 52 degrees, high water (though technically the water has been low so its at average depth now) caught 3 bass, a BG and had a bunch of bass that got away.  It was slow at first, but around 5 they started feeding, I was using cranks and spinners.  Plan to try my luck again tomorrow.

[Bigbarge50]

Wind at Beaverdam was brutal today too..... BRUTAL.  I came in at 4 (rowing I might add because my battery ran out fighting the wind all day).  Caught nothing.  Water temps were 46.  Water was pretty cloudy.

[DaveSurfs]

So I tried a couple options on ponds in South Stafford. Not much luck though. I went w/ the double bladed spinner 1st, and also threw a Mepps Agila spinner as well. I tried a little jig and pig bouncing the bottom, and even hung a nightcrawler under a cork w/ no joy.

It was still beautiful standing by the water, so I'll try again today (Sunday). Thanks again for the advice.

Tight Lines,

Dave

[BassShephard]

Caught nothing Sat. Caught 4 bass, 1 BG and a Crappie Sun. Wishing it would stay warm now, lost my job so nothing to do...I want to spend it fishing before I join the Army

[A.Do?]

I got out on Mercer with the kayak on Saturday. Water was murky and 48-49 degrees. Marked fish on the graph but couldn't get anything to bite. I was there from noon till about 4:30. Still had a great time on the water though.

[Bigbarge50]

How was the walk from the lot to the lake at Mercer? 

[Bigbarge50]

Went to Burke for St Patties to try to hang out with our favorite little green guys

While I was skunked there again, the water temps were consistent between 52 to 54 degrees..... Have to think the rest of the NOVA lakes are around the same temp right?

So as this is going to be my first spring fishing here., what temp can we expect these fish to get active?  Any spawn predictions?

Anyone else get out today?  It was gorgeous. 

[Alex 703]

I been going to my local ponds the past 2 weeks and have been producing everyday expect the days after a rain storm. yesterday I caught 10 bass with a jerk bait and red eye shad. they haven't hit any plastics for me though, could be because of the wind. they seem to attack a wounded fish rather than a fast moving target. All the fish I caught seem to hit on the fall or the sudden stop after jerking the lure or the fall of the red eye shad.

today its going to be high 75-77 so im predicting a good day today

[A.Do?]

How was the walk from the lot to the lake at Mercer?

It's a walk...haha. especially with a kayak that weighs over 100lbs loaded..

[Bigbarge50]

Well I must be going too deep or something I suppose, or maybe it is just the fact I went to Burke. 

I can say this, after 4 trips this season and 4 skunks.... confidence not riding very high. 

With the wind today I am leaving work and going to check out the Fredericksburg Outdoor show I think.  Anyone else going?  Anyone went in the past and enjoyed it? 

[Bigbarge50]

Some people messaged and asked me about it so I figured I would post, but the Fredericksburg Outdoor show was a disappointment. 

I went on saturday, got down there a little later, and missed the speaker I wanted to see because I was 7 minutes late.... so his demonstration on the bass tank took 7 minutes or less I guess, unless he started early.  The turn out was very small and there were almost no fishing vendors.  Only two vendors had any sort of lures (one kayak guy had like 20 total lures to pick from, the other had two small bins and was selling custom rods), and even those were very very limited selections.  Two kayak vendors, and a Virginia wildlife guy rounded it out fishing wise.  The vast majority of the space was the gun show.  Everything else was t shirts, hunting stuff, lanscaping and gutters, ...ect.  Not anything like the richmond fishing expo. 

The highlights were getting a bunch of back issues of woods and waters for free (do guys on here subscribe to that magazine?) and getting some of these cheap http://www.***.com/Basstrix_Bait_Fry_Bluegills/descpage-BTB.html

The other main highlight was going out to downtown Fredericksburg, which as history buff is great, but it is one lovely town that I knew was there, but did not know how nice and enjoyable it really was.