Fishing in Virginia is a rewarding experience all year round, but the most productive times to visit are during the spawning seasons in spring and fall. During this time, the water warms between 62° and 78° F, and the males fan out a saucer-shaped nest along a coastal area protected by gravel, sand or mud. After spawning, the females leave the nests and the males stay to protect the eggs and fry. To get the best results, it's best to avoid extremes of heat and cold and times when the water temperature drops rapidly.
The best days usually occur when temperatures are mild and weather conditions are stable. Later in the spring, when the rain stops raining and the temperatures drop to something relatively normal, the bass will come out to prepare for the spawning season. Go fishing on a day when the water temperature reaches 55 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Go at dawn early in the morning or at dusk and use large decoys to attract the bass.
Biologists report that their samples yielded a solid population of fish around 15 inches and some fish up to 21 inches as well. Years ago they fished upstream, but he says the move down the lake has paid off with great fishing for them. To catch bass during the spawning season, place bait in the center of the nest to annoy the female bass. In autumn, when the water temperature drops between 70 and 60 degrees, fishing usually picks up when the bass begin to feed to help them get through the winter.
Most basses measure less than 12 inches, but there are plenty of basses over 12 inches to include some 8 to 9 pounds. If your fish finder detects any other structure in deep water, especially after spawning, fish slowly and thoroughly. Whether it's black largemouth bass, striped bass, or bass, each fish has its own unique traits and hiding places. The average fish caught in the Potomac measures approximately 15 inches, but that figure reflects the presence of many smaller fish in the fishery because a couple of kinds of strong years lie ahead.
When it begins to spawn in April, it goes on to open pit fishing in Sturgeon Creek, Harlows Creek and Rose Valley with a double-tailed hula of 5 Yamamoto specimens in smoke flake color along the hard bottom, where fish spawn right on the banks. However, the size structure of bass is consistent and healthy, with fish averaging between 13 and 17 inches. Remember to look for shady areas where bass can take refuge on a hot summer day and try fishing on a cloudy day as well. Jim Taylor, a former professional with Fishing League Worldwide, who now guides on Lake Okeechobee, says it's difficult to find and fish when there's cold rain, snow, or when the water temperature drops sharply.
