04-19-2004, 09:45 PM
WATER CONDITIONS
Lake levels have come up during this past week. The water has been somewhat clear on a daily basis. There is some debris present all over the reservoir, especially near the lower end of the reservoir. Water temperatures have remained approximately 59 degrees over the past week. If you wander outside the buoys, be cautious a lot of mud flats are present.
SUMMARY
Fishing has remained fair over the past week, probably due to the weather changes that has occurred. Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. With the cold fronts moving out the fishing should continue to get better along with warm temperatures. The water temperature has been approximately been 59 degrees over the past week. Some bass anglers are making several good catches. For all the crappie anglers keep the creeks and brush piles in mind. Overall the fishing has been somewhat fair for anglers who are out trying. Bull Run Steam Plant has been producing good catches when they are generating, however, if the generators are not running the fishing is slow.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Fair. Fishing has been fairly good, however, persistence is the key. Fishing back in shallow coves should not be overlooked. Also fishing rock bluffs, wooded banks, and drop offs have been also been treating anglers well. Fishing for smallmouth has somewhat improved around Carbide Park and the reactor closest to the dam. The depth to fish will depend on the area that you are fishing. Anglers prefer using flukes, shad resembling lures, crank baits, spinner-baits, rattle traps, float-n-flies, and jigs with trailers. These fish have been picky over the last few weeks but constantly improving.
CRAPPIE
Fair. Fishing shallow coves with heavy brush are the preferred areas, approximately 5-25 feet deep. The fishing has proved to be somewhat slow over the past week. Keep the creeks in mind when fishing for crappie. There are several good brush piles that have seemed to be overlooked. Bull Run Creek has started to attract several anglers on the clear and sunny days. The AM & PM hours are both good times to be fishing, however, the AM hours may be somewhat better. Anglers prefer minnows as their # 1 bait however, small grubs on lead-heads (brown/white mix), and float-n-flies are also preferred. The colors to use may vary. Reactor Cove has had several good catches reported.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. Some good catches have been reported above the Hwy 61 Bridge on the upper Clinch. Fishing around Bull Run Steam Plant has remained slow. I have seen several anglers fishing for the striped bass, however, I don't think they have started running just yet. Gizzard shad and cut-bait are the #1 choice, nevertheless, Rapala top-water plugs and jigging spoons should not be frowned upon. Anglers trolling with minnows are also giving fair reports. The majority of the good catches have either been early morning or late evening (daylight or dark). I have not had many reports of these fish being caught.
CATFISH
Fair. Bank anglers around Bull Run Steam Plant are having on and off days. There have been several reports of catfish being caught. The preferred baits are minnows, night-crawlers, cut-bait, and liver
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Lake levels have come up during this past week. The water has been somewhat clear on a daily basis. There is some debris present all over the reservoir, especially near the lower end of the reservoir. Water temperatures have remained approximately 59 degrees over the past week. If you wander outside the buoys, be cautious a lot of mud flats are present.
SUMMARY
Fishing has remained fair over the past week, probably due to the weather changes that has occurred. Shad have seemed to move back into the shallow coves. With the cold fronts moving out the fishing should continue to get better along with warm temperatures. The water temperature has been approximately been 59 degrees over the past week. Some bass anglers are making several good catches. For all the crappie anglers keep the creeks and brush piles in mind. Overall the fishing has been somewhat fair for anglers who are out trying. Bull Run Steam Plant has been producing good catches when they are generating, however, if the generators are not running the fishing is slow.
BASS (Largemouth & Smallmouth)
Fair. Fishing has been fairly good, however, persistence is the key. Fishing back in shallow coves should not be overlooked. Also fishing rock bluffs, wooded banks, and drop offs have been also been treating anglers well. Fishing for smallmouth has somewhat improved around Carbide Park and the reactor closest to the dam. The depth to fish will depend on the area that you are fishing. Anglers prefer using flukes, shad resembling lures, crank baits, spinner-baits, rattle traps, float-n-flies, and jigs with trailers. These fish have been picky over the last few weeks but constantly improving.
CRAPPIE
Fair. Fishing shallow coves with heavy brush are the preferred areas, approximately 5-25 feet deep. The fishing has proved to be somewhat slow over the past week. Keep the creeks in mind when fishing for crappie. There are several good brush piles that have seemed to be overlooked. Bull Run Creek has started to attract several anglers on the clear and sunny days. The AM & PM hours are both good times to be fishing, however, the AM hours may be somewhat better. Anglers prefer minnows as their # 1 bait however, small grubs on lead-heads (brown/white mix), and float-n-flies are also preferred. The colors to use may vary. Reactor Cove has had several good catches reported.
STRIPED BASS
Fair. Some good catches have been reported above the Hwy 61 Bridge on the upper Clinch. Fishing around Bull Run Steam Plant has remained slow. I have seen several anglers fishing for the striped bass, however, I don't think they have started running just yet. Gizzard shad and cut-bait are the #1 choice, nevertheless, Rapala top-water plugs and jigging spoons should not be frowned upon. Anglers trolling with minnows are also giving fair reports. The majority of the good catches have either been early morning or late evening (daylight or dark). I have not had many reports of these fish being caught.
CATFISH
Fair. Bank anglers around Bull Run Steam Plant are having on and off days. There have been several reports of catfish being caught. The preferred baits are minnows, night-crawlers, cut-bait, and liver
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