The Albemarle Angler

Fishing for smallmouth bass has really been picking up even with fairly low water conditions as the temps have dropped a bit the past week. The water levels on the James River and Shenandoah are not as low as you would think with quality floats available on both rivers. This next 6 weeks or so should see some of the most quality fishing of the year as the big boys start bulking up for winter and go on a feeding rampage. Last week netted an 18 1/2″ smallie on the James on the newly re-opened Bremo float with several other nice size fish to 16″ and a 24″ monster was spotted on a recent float in the Shenandoah. Fish are feeding top to bottom with favorite patterns being poppers (bigger is better) on top. We recommend Walt’s Poppers. Fish CK Baitfish, Clousers, Thin Mints etc in the mid level of the water column. On the bottom, especially in the morning, we are fishing clawdads or hellgrammit patterns low and slow.

We are getting sporadic reports that brookie fishing is picking up in the park especially in the rivers like the Rapidan with better water levels. Cooler days will be the best fishing. I would try any terrestrail patterns especially small foam ants. Size will most likely trump pattern selection or color.

General Conditions
Overall conditions are great right now with water levels coming up a bit with the recent rain.  The rain and lower temps this week are helping to cool things off and heat up the fishing.  The fish are willing and concentrated more due to slightly lower water levels. Streamer and poppers are taking most fish so fish what you are comfortable with.  We are using Walt’s Poppers on top in blue, orange, yellow, and white.  For streamers a tutti frutti clouser or Kreelex is hard to beat especially when stripped fast with the tip of the rod.  Try to really make your streamers “jump” as the action is what is triggering the bite.

We’ve also been getting good reports of lots of fish on the Jackson Tailwater on small mayflies, especially soft hackles fished on the swing.  Mossy Creek has also been producing good numbers of fish on hoppers and small PT’s.

Overall conditions are actually much better than you would expect.  Of course we need rain in the worst way but since most of our fishing is on the James at this point we are making it work and the fish are willing and concentrated more due to slightly lower water levels.  This past week before the rain we got 45 fish or so for one angler including a 17″ fish in 6″ of water.  Everything is  taking fish so fish what you are comfortable with.  We are using Walt’s Poppers on top in blue, orange, yellow, and white.  For streamers a tutti frutti clouser or Kreelex is hard to beat especially when stripped fast with the tip of the rod.  Try to really make your streamers “jump” as the action is what is triggering the bite. We’ve also been getting good reports of lots of fish on the Jackson Tailwater on small mayflies, especially soft hackles fished on the swing.  Mossy Creek has also been producing good numbers of fish on hoppers and small PT’s.