Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 11, 2012 Super User Posted June 11, 2012 NICE FISH NASTY !!! Well I finally did it, I finally went fishing for the first time in over a year. I had a window of opportunity to fish Anna yesterday, upper lake was stained, mid to lower lake was fairly clear, started my day at 6:30, at 6:45 the boats, skiers and jet skies were already out in force, at 8:00 the place was rockin, I started out with jigs around boat docks and grass lines, all I got were small strikes, little fish, the further north I got the more stained it became, so I switched to darker colors on the jig and got a couple of really good hits but since I had not fished in over a year, I was rusty to say the least and missed, I switched to a spinner and tried to concentrate on the grass lines, but the battering of wakes from big boats made it very difficult to fish these areas with any kind of lures, got my first VGIF check for the day. I switched my focused on some coves that I knew, they had some deeper water access hoping to catch a few on the points or tucked under a dock, spinners were not working and neither were the medium depth cranks, at least not on the points, again the boat traffic kept me from having the proper boat position, so I knew the shakey head was out of the question there, so I tried back in the coves, nothing at all but small fast action strikes from sun fish, I pulled out of my last cove and got checked over again. I packed up around 10 am and headed south on the lake, the lake you would have thought was a holiday weekend by this point, boats were everywhere !!! I finally made it to mid lake hoping to fish some deeper structure, that hope was crushed by the sheer amount of boat traffic, however I was noteing a lot of dead bass floating around from place to place, from the middle of the lake to the bottom of the lake, I counted 22 from the 208 bridge to Dukes creek, most were in the 3 lb range, on the shores I noted a few dead fish as well a couple of crappie and a couple of white bass, This was a first for me to see this many dead fish at this lake, I tried to talk to some of the guides there to see if anything was up with the lake but the stores were just too busy with customers. Anyway the day was a total wash for me as far as the fishing goes, some of the sites were fun to see and some were not, I saw a jet ski get too close to some friends of theirs and spray them with water, yes, I did call the VGIF, but they never showed up. I also saw a couple of young girls on a jet ski run aground in some shallow water at a pretty good rate of speed and threw one girl on the back about 20 feet, yes, I stopped and helped, how many others you ask? NONE, the VGIF was RIGHT THERE and only stopped after the whole thing was over, AND I got checked AGAIN !!! After that I packed up and went home, on the way to Anna point I got stopped and checked not once but two more times, I am glad I got to go fishing if for nothing else to just knock off the rust, hopefully it will be a little better outing the next time. Good luck and be safe all !!! Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted June 11, 2012 Posted June 11, 2012 sounds like youre outting was as rough as my last trip fishing wise. so you got checked 5 times in all? thats crazy. after the first check that day, you should get a tag or something saying youve been checked and passed for the day, sounds ridiculous that you got checked that many times. atleast you finally got to get out though... Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 11, 2012 Super User Posted June 11, 2012 sounds like youre outting was as rough as my last trip fishing wise. so you got checked 5 times in all? thats crazy. after the first check that day, you should get a tag or something saying youve been checked and passed for the day, sounds ridiculous that you got checked that many times. atleast you finally got to get out though... Is that a joke? LOL, do they actually give those out? I have heard of the coast guard doing it, I just was not sure of how much truth there is to that. Yes, 5 times in all, all 3 county's were represented, Orange, Spotts, and Louisa, I even heard the coast guard was there on Saturday, 2 times were by the same officer, the officer had a new recruit on with him the second time around, the newbe was being a kind of a pain in the #### but he was doing his job and I was glad to see them out there. He was going to give me a ticket for not having my throw device readily accessable when he asked to see it, it took me all of 5 seconds to open the compartment lid and pull it out, but that they say was not good enough. The other officer did speak up on my behalf and let me go but the newbe gave me a warning. Quote
heyitskirby Posted June 11, 2012 Posted June 11, 2012 Is that a joke? LOL, do they actually give those out? I have heard of the coast guard doing it, I just was not sure of how much truth there is to that. Put in at Osbourne Landing on the James once last year and had a complimentary Coast Guard check. They hand you a sheet at the end that they say you can hand to an officer if you get stopped. I don't know if it works or not, I failed since I didn't have flares. I'm glad she wasn't handing out tickets since she wasn't listening to me when I reminded her that flares weren't required where I was. I would have been ticked if I had to waste my time to fight that one. I still don't understand the throw cushion thing....is it supposed to be out when you are running too? I keep mine on top of everything in what I call my "safety compartment" where my PFDs, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit are. If it were out and visible I'd still think something would need be set on top of it to keep it from flying out of the boat.... Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 11, 2012 Super User Posted June 11, 2012 Put in at Osbourne Landing on the James once last year and had a complimentary Coast Guard check. They hand you a sheet at the end that they say you can hand to an officer if you get stopped. I don't know if it works or not, I failed since I didn't have flares. I'm glad she wasn't handing out tickets since she wasn't listening to me when I reminded her that flares weren't required where I was. I would have been ticked if I had to waste my time to fight that one. I still don't understand the throw cushion thing....is it supposed to be out when you are running too? I keep mine on top of everything in what I call my "safety compartment" where my PFDs, fire extinguisher, and first aid kit are. If it were out and visible I'd still think something would need be set on top of it to keep it from flying out of the boat.... Is it just a red flag that is required for that area? Yes that is the way it is supposed to be, out and ready, so every time I stop from now on I will have it out. Quote
quanjig Posted June 11, 2012 Posted June 11, 2012 Makes me not want to go to Anna!! I've been checked a bunch on the res, but after a while, the guys recognize you and just wave as they go by!! I realize it's a much large body of water that gets an amazing amount of use by many people that by all rights are barely able to walk and chew gum alone operate a craft!! seems a bit over the top being checked that many times in such a short amount of time. I would have had a hard time asking if they don't coordinat these checks with one another! Quote
heyitskirby Posted June 11, 2012 Posted June 11, 2012 Is it just a red flag that is required for that area? The flares? They're only required for "coastal waters". That part of the James if far far up river from what DGIF defines as coastal. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 11, 2012 Super User Posted June 11, 2012 Makes me not want to go to Anna!! I've been checked a bunch on the res, but after a while, the guys recognize you and just wave as they go by!! I have a marker on my boat that says something like pull me over i need a ticket !!! Just kidding, it seems everytime I am there I get stopped at least once, sometimes two or even three is not unheard of lol, others who fish there have not ever been stopped, and one that I know of does not even have a fishing licence. So don't let that be a discouragement, you will love Anna especially in the am hours and late afternoon/evening hours, I would not suggest going over on a weekend like I just did until after the labor day weekend then it slows down a lot. If you do go over on a weekend I would go out until around 10 am and go back out around 6 pm. The flares? They're only required for "coastal waters". That part of the James if far far up river from what DGIF defines as coastal. Never been there, not sure of the ruls and regs, thanx for the info. Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 11, 2012 Super User Posted June 11, 2012 I have a marker on my boat that says something like pull me over i need a ticket !!! Just kidding, it seems everytime I am there I get stopped at least once, sometimes two or even three is not unheard of lol, others who fish there have not ever been stopped, and one that I know of does not even have a fishing licence. So don't let that be a discouragement, you will love Anna especially in the am hours and late afternoon/evening hours, I would not suggest going over on a weekend like I just did until after the labor day weekend then it slows down a lot. If you do go over on a weekend I would go out until around 10 am and go back out around 6 pm. Never been there, not sure of the ruls and regs, thanx for the info. OOPS sorry I missunderstood your statement, I know flares are only required in that area, I have them on the boat anyway. Quote
jay-b Posted June 11, 2012 Posted June 11, 2012 any updates hamptonroads area? gona check out back bay creeks/tributaries later today or lake pleasure house, let you all know tomrrow. Quote
Zoff Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Soaking wet!!!! Got caught in three downpours at Leesville this evening but I did snag this 5lb 1oz darling. Caught some others but not as nice. Cheers! Quote
Eddie-NoVA Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Launched out of Bull Run sunday morning. Ramp was getting busy at 6am! Caught bass all on NS spinnerbaits in shallows. Couldn't get any hits on crankbaits. Started heading back to the dock and BAM! Thought I had a 10lb+ on my line. Nope, it was a cat Weighed in at 38-39lb,4ft long, released of course. I couldn't believe it didnt snap my 12lb line or bend the spinnerbait. Props to North Star Custom! Quote
quanjig Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 Flatties that size are so abundant on the res! I've probably caught at least 10 that size bass fishing. Always fun on bass gear and yes, for about 15 seconds you think it's the man!! 1 Quote
jay-b Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 went out yesterday, back bay creeks. Me - skunked Girlfriend - 1 small catfish Saw a few big fish splash around towards the end of the day...but couldnt hook anything, used a senko wacky, and gulp minnow grub. hate getting skunked! Quote
JSPOONE Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 went to beaverdam creek reservoir yesterday. was using a white and blue shad.. didnt catch a single bass just a couple nice size perch on my shad.. has any1 had any luck there catching anything but perch there?! Quote
JSPOONE Posted June 12, 2012 Posted June 12, 2012 can anyone give me some new places to fish that are in the nova area around 20-30 miles from centreville?! Quote
Bigbarge50 Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Geting stopped by the VGIF really turns me off. I always carry a extra plastic bag with me to pick up everyone else's trash. I see the "bottle" reel being used all over northern va. I have see people swimming at Buke and climbing on the d**n and parking in the fishing spots our liscence fees pay for as they go for a run...... Yet VGIF seems to love to stop me every chance they get. I understand it is their jobs, and I want them out there, I just wish they were a little nicer and reasonable about it. I was once asked about my throw..... which I was sitting on..... and I was told "How will you be able to throw it, you're sitting on it"........ I said that if my partner fell in the water, I could probably trouble myself to stand up, making the throw avaiable. Just stinks those of us who respect and care about out resources get the attention and those abusing it and doing such reckless behavior seemingly never get busted. Again I support VGIF, just wish I saw those doing the wrong thing being punished. BTW welcome back Aaron Quote
Eddie-NoVA Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 can anyone give me some new places to fish that are in the nova area around 20-30 miles from centreville?! I knew it was you Justin! lol, welcome to BR! Quote
Super User Nitrofreak Posted June 13, 2012 Super User Posted June 13, 2012 Geting stopped by the VGIF really turns me off. I always carry a extra plastic bag with me to pick up everyone else's trash. I see the "bottle" reel being used all over northern va. I have see people swimming at Buke and climbing on the d**n and parking in the fishing spots our liscence fees pay for as they go for a run...... Yet VGIF seems to love to stop me every chance they get. I understand it is their jobs, and I want them out there, I just wish they were a little nicer and reasonable about it. I was once asked about my throw..... which I was sitting on..... and I was told "How will you be able to throw it, you're sitting on it"........ I said that if my partner fell in the water, I could probably trouble myself to stand up, making the throw avaiable. Just stinks those of us who respect and care about out resources get the attention and those abusing it and doing such reckless behavior seemingly never get busted. Again I support VGIF, just wish I saw those doing the wrong thing being punished. BTW welcome back Aaron I feel your pain lol, I get picked on a lot by my friends as to how many times I get checked, one time my best friend was no more than 50 yards from me, I got checked but he didn't, go figure !! We did a friendly get together one time and three of the boats saw me get checked twice, I don't know what the deal is other than it must be my charming personality and really good looks LMAO !!!...either that or I look like a terrorist when I wear my cammo. Quote
quanjig Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 Jspoone, pm shimmy. He fishes there often enough that he may be able to help you! Quote
JSPOONE Posted June 13, 2012 Posted June 13, 2012 yeh that was the first time i went to beaverdam but i dont have a boat so i have to shore fish .. i will b heading to lake anna this friday morning for an all day trip. will have a report afterwards Quote
Hyrule Bass Posted June 14, 2012 Posted June 14, 2012 beaverdam is a tough place to fish, especially from shore. there are some nice bass in there though. watch out for ticks when you go there. what side did you go to? by the church or down the long dirt road? Quote
Bigbarge50 Posted June 15, 2012 Posted June 15, 2012 It is tough in a boat..... little yet from shore. Quote
OneFisher85 Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 topwater bite was on at smith mountain lake this morning. lost another one this size half way to the boat. Quote
Bigbarge50 Posted June 16, 2012 Posted June 16, 2012 Nice fish...... Looks really huge length wise..... If it was "fat" you could be talking possilbe double digits. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.