There are numerous different species of fish to find on this body of water. The return of stocking only Walleye (no saugeye) into Leesville was to maintain genetic integrity since most broodstock come from this system. Look for bass beds in proximity to shallow flooded timber. Our moderators are 100% fisherman that fish Claytor Lake. The pier at Sandy also provides excellent opportunities for crappie and sunfish anglers during spring months. Walleye observed in the 2021 sample were 1527 with an average of nearly 20. This is a 4,500-acre lake in the southwest part of the state, at Radford, VA. Anglers can explore over 60 miles of shoreline in search of bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, stripers, hybrid striped bass, perch, bluegill, white bass and sunfish. Both of these bass species eat a lot of Bluegill as well as some Alewife and Gizzard Shad, so they may also hit lures that imitate fish. Field staff update the fishing reports each endstream
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The Bowfin population is one of the best in Virginia. So, what type of fish are in this lake? 660 of Dublin Surveys from 2021 depicted a strong Largemouth Bass population with abundant numbers of 12-18 fish (1-3 pounds). update the fishing reports each week through the fishing season, reporting on fishing success, Drum densities have increased greatly in recent years. Anglers have reported better with catches in the 4-5 pound range. Best Tools, Gear and Gadgets to Have on Your Boat, ISLE Sportsman Review: Fishing From a High-End Paddle Board. Bass up to age-16 were found in 2019 in an age study prior to F1 supplemental stocking. The survey did not reveal an abundance of bass with only 46 collected (23/hr.). Anglers report catching a number of trophy Yellow Perch (> 1 pound, 4 ounces or 12) each year. Gizzard Shad provide a great forage base but also can make fishing a bit tricky for the average angler. The survey yielded 65 Largemouth Bass for a catch rate of 39/hr. Anglers are encouraged to check out fish habitat reefs that have been recently created by DWR. The Virginia state record musky, walleye and smallmouth bass were all caught in the Sign in to your account to find other friends and anglers who are using Fishidy. The yellows are eating anything from fly-line sardine and dropper-loop to the surface iron and yoyo jigs. Striped Bass and hybrid Striped Bass are the third biggest fishery with nearly 6% of anglers fishing for these. The park provides a fishing pier, public boat ramp, boat rentals, and decent shoreline access. Yellowtail sightings are starting to become very consistent. endstream
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Mike Pritchard called from the Tribute with this update. Steelhead appear to have not done as well as McConaughy Rainbow Trout that were previously stocked. Anglers can now keep unlimited numbers of Spotted Bass of any size. Bass and catfish are "biting like crazy".
Surveys in 2021 followed up on fast growing saugeye with females pushing 4-4.5 pounds in just 2.5 years. Depth: Unknown Water Clarity: Stained (6/10) The Striped Bass population is recovering well with high densities of stripers from the 2018 year class. Large and small mouth bass fishing tournaments are a regular seasonal event at Claytor Lake with weights of 15 to 20 lb per fisherman being an average winning catch. Sampling in spring 2021 revealed good numbers and good size structure. DWR is working to determine the future ability of trout to survive in this aging reservoir. An experimental Largemouth Bass stocking program was initiated in 2015 to determine if supplemental stocking of F1 bass in Virginias larger lakes can improve populations. The 2021 stocking of saugeye will hopefully provide action in the future. Since they tolerate higher temperatures, hybrids often chase schools of shad at the surface at night in summer. Anglers who take notice of shad activity and adjust their methods accordingly are often very successful. HTKo0WF$y)*CJ4gffJog{|>6OB Tournament bass > 4 pounds were 13% stocked. Possible catches from Claytor Lake range from bass to carp. Bait & Tackle: YES Learn More, 09/21/2022
JJ is back in Santa Barbara and today he scored limits of nice Rockfish. Species Caught Here: Bass. 5; Details; Claytor Lake (Dublin) A New River impoundment, this lake offers superb fishing. The night survey also yielded a fair abundance of 10-19 bass. WebThe three black bass species in Claytor Lake are regulated by a 12 inch minimum size limit and anglers may harvest five per day (all three species combined). Claytor Lake bait populations (Alewife and Gizzard Shad) are high, aiding in the restoration of the Striped Bass fishery. %PDF-1.6
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Located mid lake, east side, off Beach Drive, this is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks and paved parking. ^J+y336/{CrmW`|-g*i#xhmGjY\u(;2">. tMN{ktl$.W7lk@7_OZ{_7L~Xn$4,oJ]Z/@KTJ4dc"dfv2}EsQWrl.Ydr[97]fv=MV-s;T&d\Of/|c&I' 1
The combined creel limit for black bass is still 5 per day. For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. Hey everyone it's time again to start seriously thinking about when you will be able to get on the boat for a tuna trip. Historically rainbows have never been as abundant as Brown Trout, but growth rates are similar. Spotted Bass with a Leland's Crappie Magnet Jig Heads, 5 lb. A new size and creel limit is now in place from Claytor Lake Dam upstream to Buck Dam on the New River in Carroll County year round (formerly a seasonal size and creel limit). DWR is waiting for someone to claim the open state-record for saugeye, as the minimum qualifying weight is 6 pounds. Read Fishing Reports. RV Hookups: YES The Claytor Lake record for Largemouth Bass was a 14- pound, 6-ounce giant caught in June 1991. This fishery has the capacity to produce some respectable fish, but recent surveys have failed to yield many bass over 6 pounds. Learn More Enter your email address to get 10% off your first order. Claytor Lake is the top destination for hybrids in Virginia, setting a new state record with a hybrid weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces caught by local angler Don Jessie on March 16, 2016. Anglers should find a good distribution of fish 8-13. Recent creel survey data indicate anglers target Smallmouth Bass in cooler months and Largemouth Bass in warmer months, as habitat use and catchability changes. Lake Anna is one of several large reservoirs in Virginia under evaluation for supplemental F1 (original cross between Northern and Florida) Largemouth Bass stocking. Very, very good kelp fishing here. Claytor Lake Weather Click here to unsubcribe from your fishing reports. Some VA fishing guides offer guided bass, striper and crappie trips on Claytor Lake. Prepare for success with accurate data about the type of The most popular sportfish are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, hybrid Striped Bass, Black Crappie, catfish, and sunfish. Diascund Reservoir is another Newport News water supply. The combined daily creel limit for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass is 5 per day. Lake Chesdin received saugeye (Sauger x Walleye cross) fingerlings in 2013 and 2014 as well as Walleye in 2015, so anglers should be able to find sizeable fish. The Walleye fishery continues to be stable, supported by annual stocking, and the fishery continues to produce good numbers of Walleye > 18. For quite some time, Sandy River Reservoir has played second fiddle to its sister lake, Briery Creek, just down the road. R$SxSILmhfzNev3)p&9_V*" oO>eht2cCV|[A~;oG[t^\\y|&0:]]>lUN9v%L^=: (pd1$p2=>9=~R'r9=
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"NoU4ql%d[?;/|_55>3#rR; Public access is somewhat limited but there is a good boat launch area at Claytor Lake State Park on the northern shore of the lake. Additionally, DWR experimented with stocking steelhead Rainbow Trout from 2009 2017. Sandy also boasts impressive catfish, sunfish, and crappie fisheries. A night survey conducted in March 2021 yielded 34 Walleye (22/hr.) No Fishing Supplies (Bait & Tackle) Listed. With the possibility of catching Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass, Claytor Lake is popular with nearly 67% of lake anglers fishing for these three species of black bass. This lake has historically produced an abundance of citation Yellow Perch, but there has been a decline recently. Black Crappie were abundant during 2021, as 295 fish were collected during spring and fall surveys. About 67 percent of the anglers at Claytor Lake fish for black bass. Alabama Bass are found in Claytor Lake. Dublin, VA 24084 The post spawn topwater bite at night in the lower lake during April and May will yield the best Walleye fishing Virginia has to offer. Bass: 5 per day, only 2 can be less than 14 inches. Bass anglers will find no shortage of casting targets with the lakes abundant standing timber, stumps, and fallen trees. +HX/,Gm"|^]30 The drawdown is scheduled to begin at one foot per day on Monday morning, November 4, until the lake reaches its full drawdown depth of five feet (1841 elevation) by Saturday morning, November 9. Bluegill are numerous throughout the lake providing action when other species are not biting. WebClaytor Lake Fishing Reports 103 people follow this lake 23 Fishing Reports Type: Lake/Pond Size: 4073.28 acres Avg. DWR stocks over 3,500 Channel Catfish annually to bolster this population. Water temperatures below 70 degrees produce the best striper Striped Bass and hybrid striper Hybrid Striped Bass fishing. Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) is located in south-central Virginia and north-central North Carolina. Claytor Lake holds fewer Largemouth Bass than other Virginia lakes, and they grow slowly in this mountain reservoir. VDWR biologists use the catch rate of Walleye in annual gill net samples as a measure of relative abundance. Follow Route 605 until you reach Route 663 (Owens Road), go right on 663, then look for signs marking the park when you get near the lake. Anglers are reminded the minimum size for saugeye and Walleye is 18 at 5/day in aggregate. Collected bass were in good condition and showed favorable relative weights.
Click images for fishing tips and details about each species. endstream
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The flats of Johnson and Lacey Creeks will provide the earliest action each spring. South Holston offers the best crappie fishing of all lakes in southwest Virginia. Smallmouth Bass are present but in lower numbers and are typically caught in deeper water. Learn More New River Excellent 09/21/2022 Bass and catfish are "biting like crazy". After all, we all forget gear from time to time. Fishing Claytor Lake, VA on 1/21/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Anglers are encouraged to switch over from bass to perch and crappie. c)j>Fq,j>x,{PaB(_=d]j026_cbs$/r[|N cgj|K+,y{{!pV@GCk[RCfDULkyPO>CblG7B3\2[i Little Creek Reservoir is a 947-acre Newport News water supply located in James City County just south of Toano. Illegally stocked snakeheads can also be found in willow beds, and their abundance seems to be slowly increasing. The 2021 survey was conducted on May 7th with water temperatures near 70 and did not account for the majority of spawning bass which had vacated the shallows. During the spring spawning run, look for Walleye where the New River enters the lake near Allisonia. Largemouth Bass are abundant with good numbers of fish up to 17. The combined catch rate of Walleye and saugeye (measured as the number collected per net set overnight) in 2021 (9.5 /net night) represented a 33% increase compared to 2020 (6.4 /net night). Many anglers target Walleye on the Cranesnest and Pound River arms during spawning in March and April. The reservoirs small watershed can be supplemented by water pumped in from Chickahominy Lake or Diascund Reservoir. During the fall and winter months, anglers are likely to catch Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass swimming near the pier. The expectation was for triploid trout to grow faster and reach larger size, as these fish do not produce eggs and put more energy toward growth.
Many larger fish are also caught, and Buggs Island boasts the state and world record Blue Catfish at 143 pounds caught in 2011. 280 0 obj
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Fishing for Walleye may continue to be somewhat challenging in 2021, but there are good numbers of 18 to 20 fish. This was a favorable increase from 2020 (67/hr.). Buffalo, Grassy, Bluestone, and Butcher Creeks are very productive for crappie. 540 731-8683, Mountain 2 Island at the Rock House Marina Anglers are encouraged to continue practice catch-and-release of trophy-size bass from the lake. Sport fishing is very popular at Claytor Lake. Poor habitat (low oxygen at preferred temperature) in summer 2016 caused a striper kill, but the population has started to rebound. Anglers will also find schools of Walleye and Yellow Perch in Claytor Lake. COMBINED WEIGHT TOTAL OF 5 FISH (Including Large Mouth Bass, All of these fish attractors are places where anglers can find black bass, sunfish, and Black Crappie. From the I-81 exit ramp, take Route 605 (Little River Dam Road). The Chain Pickerel population has produced some very healthy fish with many 2-4 pounds and an occasional trophy. Anglers who are familiar with Claytor Lake are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Southeast on Rt. Click here for a Virginia Fishing License.
Hybrids are routinely caught in the lower lake on top water baits or by drifting live baits.
The striper population was too high from 2010-2015 resulting in a depleted forage base and severely reduced growth. A new size and creel limit is in place from Claytor Lake Dam upstream to Buck Dam on the New River in Carroll County year round (formerly a seasonal size and creel limit). Learn More, 09/21/2022
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