hookingem Posted July 3, 2011 Posted July 3, 2011 Iv'e been looking at it on Google maps for quite sometime now, I have seen quite a few spots that look promising specifically one right near the Claytor Dam. I will be fishing this lake ALOT! when I get to Radford, and would appreciate any tips on the lake. Thanks in advanced! Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 4, 2011 Super User Posted July 4, 2011 Try some of these sites. The first one is B.A.S.S. Federation Region that fishes Claytor Lake. Contact them and contact trhe director. He may be able to give you some help. Also, go to the GMCO web page and order a Claytor Lake map so you can see what is there and what the guys tell you or what you may find on the web. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=33§ion=fishing http://www.hooked-in.com/waterbodies/show/135 http://www.claytorlakeonline.com/fishing.html You are going to do great!!!!!!! 1 Quote
hookingem Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 Someone caught a 14.6 in Claytor which amazes me! Quote
Super User 5bass Posted July 4, 2011 Super User Posted July 4, 2011 Claytor has it all. Creeks, docks, rocks, flats, stumps, grass etc.....There are some big fish in there but a lot of tournaments on Claytor are won with 10 lbs or less so it's more known for being a 'numbers' lake. In the spring you'll have some big bags weighed in and in some of the summer night tournaments will have some bigger bags but if you can get 10 lbs no matter what season, you've done okay. The last tournament I fished there we caught a pile of fish. Spots, smallmouth, largemouth and caught them all day long.....got back to the weigh in and had 8.5 lbs. Thad (a member here) fishes Claytor on a regular and is very knowledgable about it. I know he can help you with more specific type things you might be looking for. Quote
heyitskirby Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Correct me if I'm wrong...but I've heard they are having grass issues on this lake. Also...its supposed to be about as dangerous for boating as Smith Mountain Lake is... Just things to keep in mind. Quote
hookingem Posted July 4, 2011 Author Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks 5bass! Yeah I noticed last year the most weighted weighed in at Claytor for all of Radford's club team tournaments was 8.1 Quote
WdyCrankbait Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Claytor has it all. Creeks, docks, rocks, flats, stumps, grass etc.....There are some big fish in there but a lot of tournaments on Claytor are won with 10 lbs or less so it's more known for being a 'numbers' lake. In the spring you'll have some big bags weighed in and in some of the summer night tournaments will have some bigger bags but if you can get 10 lbs no matter what season, you've done okay. The last tournament I fished there we caught a pile of fish. Spots, smallmouth, largemouth and caught them all day long.....got back to the weigh in and had 8.5 lbs. Thad (a member here) fishes Claytor on a regular and is very knowledgable about it. I know he can help you with more specific type things you might be looking for. (Facebook like thumbs up) AJ, I stuck a 2# over at Southlake this morning. Also, you should also look to fish the New River! Great river to fish! When are you leaving for Radford? Sam, me, you, and Hayden need to head out fishing before you take off. Quote
Ozarksman Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Claytor can be awesome in the Spring. I remember reading that one tournament this year that took 19 lbs to get top 5 of 30 or so boats, and it took 22 to win. There were also 5-10 7+ lbers weighed in this spring. Like others said though it is tough pretty much every other time of year. There is grass, but they are trying to kill a lot of it. This time of the year people catch most of their fish on drop shots. Quote
hookingem Posted July 6, 2011 Author Posted July 6, 2011 If I want to target smallies below the mouth of peak creek is the most promising correct? Quote
Super User Sam Posted July 7, 2011 Super User Posted July 7, 2011 Suggestions regarding Claytor Lake: 1. Study the GMCO map and you know what to look for. 2. Get other maps of Claytor Lake and study them, too. 3. Use Google Earth and view the lake to compare with the maps. 4. Google Radford, Christiansburg, Blacksburg, etc. local tackle shops to find them and then give them a call, introduce yourself, and ask who they know that knows Claytor and can you speak with them. Don't fortget the guys at Gander Mountain in Roanoke. 5. Contact the person I told you about in BASS. Don't be shy. All he can say is "No" and hang up on you. But you will find that he is a nice guy and he may ask you to go out with him on Claytor. 6. Google Claytor Lake and read, read and read about the body of water. Learn all you can. 7. And remember that school comes first and fishing second. Or will it be school, girls, fishing? Or Girls, fishing, school, back to Tackle Express for a career? Or fishing, girls and school? YOUR SCHOOL WORK COMES FIRST - GIRLS AND FISHING A FAR BEHIND SECOND AND THIRD. 8. Preperation is the secret. Anyone can hop into a boat and start throwing baits. But the guys who are successful do their planning with Plans A, B and C just in case Plan A turns out to be a disaster. And dream. See yourself pulling those 15 pounders out of Claytor on a regular basis!!! Quote
Ozarksman Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 Yep, your best bet for smallmouth is down towards the dam. Unless someone runs way up the river, that's where I hear them coming from. I haven't caught many myself, so I can't be of much help. Quote
newriverfisherman1953 Posted July 8, 2011 Posted July 8, 2011 Your best bet for smallmouth will be in the river, not the lake. Many places to access the water near Radford and McCoy. Quote
AndrewS Posted July 14, 2011 Posted July 14, 2011 i have had alot of luck around the state park on the opposite shore fishing senkos and 4-8ft diving cranks Quote
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