claytor lake fishing report

but not as impressive as 2018 (71/hr.). The survey yielded 65 preferred-sized bass ( 15) for a catch rate of 21.7/hr. ugZe9Ldu3S@'\]wZuH@3FTr"8JDJ\)1I The pier at Sandy also provides excellent opportunities for crappie and sunfish anglers during spring months. Claytor Lake State Park Boat Launch Ramp The park provides a fishing pier, public boat ramp, boat rentals, and decent shoreline access. Some days, even the electrofishing boat has a difficult time boating a citation-sized bass! WebNew River (Claytor Dam) Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. During the electrofishing sample in spring 2021, 41% of largemouth collected >8 were also over 15. WebFishing at Claytor Lake, Virginia Fishing has also become a major attraction at Claytor Lake. Although Brierys hay day of producing near state record fish is distant, it is showing signs of improvement and remains one of the best Largemouth Bass fisheries in the state. W0CD;=+;q|M"V=hWE(bPmTHU.#E| K@@? Locations and coordinates of fish habitat structures developed since 2012 can be seen in the maps below: Claytor Lake and the New River upstream of Claytor Lake Dam to Buck Dam in Carroll County: Claytor Lake State Park, located on the north side of the lake, provides 497 acres of park with camping, cabins, picnic areas, and a swimming beach, as well as a marina. Many people caught their limits today. Extensive sampling was conducted again in spring 2021 to evaluate contribution to the population for bass stocked the previous six years. DWR has returned to stocking diploid Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout at historic densities. Electrofishing catch rates of bass >15 are similar to neighboring Smith Mountain Lake. 305 0 obj <>stream s-b@q'mbNH#O%e'p4o/k }g9E; =T^#9BJ3KL2U ?nMMm)6x_6=5 3F] *k{SK / Alongside stunning vistas, the lake features some of the best angling in the area. Spotted Bass are the most abundant, so they are more frequently caught. Online pricing may vary from in-store pricing. Bass and catfish are "biting like crazy". Learn More, 09/21/2022 Largemouth Bass eat Bluegill, Alewife, Gizzard Shad, and crayfish, depending on the season of the year and whether these prey are abundant in a given year. One of the best fish to Most commonly they are in the 6" to 8" range and weigh less than a pound. With catches of 20 to 30 pound Common Carp possible, anglers from as far away as England come to fish here. Occoquan Reservoir stunned biologists in spring 2020 by producing an extraordinary Largemouth Bass catch rate of 94/hr. The use of outboard engines is prohibited, but trolling motors are permitted. Map. This was a favorable increase from 2020 (67/hr.). These cohorts would have been Age-5 and Age-3 in 2021 which have historically made up a substantial proportion of the sample, so their absence was reflected in the lower abundance observed. All rights reserved. Flathead Catfish up to 30 pounds, and Channel Catfish up to 15 pounds can be caught. Largemouth Bass diets are quite different than from Smallmouth and Spotted bass diets, which may be one reason they are doing so well in the lake. Fishing reports for claytor lake are updated each week, usually by Field staff update the fishing reports each Catfish. 6620 Ben H. Bolen Dr No Walleye 19-28 may be kept, and anglers are limited to 2 per day. Bait populations (Alewife and Gizzard Shad) are abundant, which creates good feeding conditions for Striped and hybrid Striped Bass, and water temperatures below 70 degrees produce the best fishing. Field staff The 2021 net survey yielded the highest catch rate of flatheads with most 8-12 pounds. Bluegill and Rock Bass are numerous throughout the lake, providing fishing action when other species are not biting. The last three years have shown variability related to water temperature. The improved population is a result of VDWR fisheries biologists restoring New River strain Walleye to the New River upstream from Claytor Lake. This popular destination continues to produce very respectable Largemouth Bass. WebFishing spots and baits to use at Claytor Lake? Walleye observed in the 2021 sample were 1527 with an average of nearly 20. This fishery has an increasing abundance of larger fish that have been foraging on juvenile shad. The White Perch and Black Crappie populations continue to provide excitement during late winter to early spring. Fishing for crappie is typically best from February through April (pre-spawn and spawn); however, many anglers enjoy high catch rates year-round. The reports are compiled by an outside contractor who receives the Channel and Flathead Catfish should be similar to the past few years. Depending on the year, the deep, cold waters of Moomaw have potential to provide suitable trout habitat. Possible catches from Claytor Lake range from bass to carp. Learn More New River Excellent 09/21/2022 Bass and catfish are "biting like crazy". The two saugeye were older fish from the 2014 stocking that weighed 6 and 7+ pounds. There were some bass in the 3-4.5 pound range, and the largest was 20 and 5.2 pounds. Join over 100k anglers who receive our newsletter.Techniques, tips and tackle breakdowns personalized to your local area. Fortunately, Walleye were stocked in Flannagan in 2019 and 2020 which should help the population rebound soon. Lake Chesdin had a surprisingly high abundance of large males in the 4-5 pound range. Find fishing tackle, live bait, fishing guides, fishing charters, campgrounds, and hotels near Claytor Lake. c)j>Fq,j>x,{PaB(_=d]j026_cbs$/r[|N cgj|K+,y{{!pV@GCk[RCfDULkyPO>CblG7B3\2[i Good areas for Smallmouth Bass are the shoreline across from the mouth of Dublin Hollow, the shoreline between Spooky Hollow and Texas Hollow, and in Dublin Hollow. Learn More, Get Special Offers Delivered Right to Your Inbox. All of these fish attractors are places where anglers can find black bass, sunfish, and Black Crappie. Tournament bass > 4 pounds were 13% stocked. Harrys Point boat ramp, a no-fee ramp located in the mid-lake area within Pulaski Countys Harry DeHaven Park, has a double ramp and courtesy piers. Flathead Catfish are also sought by Claytor Lake catfish anglers. Jul 09, 2016 - New River (Claytor Dam) Smallmouth Bass. Bluegill and the occasional Channel Catfish round out the action. Web1 Fishing Report and Edits Details for Claytor Lake . The Black Crappie population is not large compared to other lakes, but they average a little less than a pound in size. 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. Spring is in the air. 540 980-1488. The Largemouth Bass regulation did not change, and Largemouth Bass less than 12 must be released. Size and creel limits are designed to protect large females while allowing some harvest of more abundant males. McConaughy also do not survive and recruit to the fishery as well as Brown Trout. Claytor Lake Subscribe to Receive Fishing Report Updates Rating - Good Stripers, 14-16 pounds, are taking live shad. Make your fishing dreams come true today and tomorrow. Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir is a 635-acre impoundment in Gloucester Count providing valuable angling opportunities on the middle peninsula. WebAlternate Fishing Times: 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Anglers can now keep unlimited numbers of Spotted Bass of any size. Largemouth Bass are abundant with good numbers of fish up to 17. During your visit you can fish for bass, catfish, walleye and muskie from shore, boat or the universally accessible fishing pier. The combined creel limit for black bass is still 5 per day. The use of outboard engines is prohibited, but trolling motors are permitted. HT=0+DX and bucktails in the spring and fall. Lake Chesdin received supplemental F-1 bass stockings in 2020 and 2021 as part of a DWR program. The vast majority of bass were 13-17 with a high proportion 2-2.5 pounds. A robust forage base of Gizzard Shad, Alewife, White Perch and Bluegill support predators here. Fishing Philpott Reservoir in 2022 should provide anglers with great recreation. The reservoir has potential to produce citation Yellow Perch and Black Crappie, and anglers with good electronics can sometimes find these schools. These fish were tagged in the Staunton River beginning winter 2020 as part of an angler exploitation study. Rockhouse Marina 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). Smallmouth now outnumber largemouth in many areas. For more information on the park, call (540) 643-2500. Reduced stocking success and regulation changes reduced overall numbers of stripers, but that improved the forage and growth rates. Boat Launch Ramp: YES Historically rainbows have never been as abundant as Brown Trout, but growth rates are similar. The crappie community has historically suffered from stockpiling but has the capacity to produce quality fish with most whites holding in the upper third of the lake. During the early to mid-2000s Briery Creek Lake was arguably the best place in the Commonwealth to catch a trophy Largemouth Bass, and even gave the current state record of 16 pounds 4 ounces a scare. Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Musky. You also can get helpful information from the Fishing Forecast. Claytor Lake, a 4,363-acre impoundment of the New River, stretches northeastward across the Pulaski County countryside for 21 miles. The night survey also yielded a fair abundance of 10-19 bass. 2023 Fishidy. Anglers can expect to experience similar catch rates for trout in 2022 as they saw in recent years. Claytor Lake Weather Click here to unsubcribe from your fishing reports. Fishing spots, fishing reports and regulations in. Walleye fishing remains the best in the Commonwealth; however, fishing success has declined recently possibly due to increasing pressure and a missing 2016 year class due to hatchery issues. Anglers can distinguish these cohorts by size. The yellows are eating anything from fly-line sardine and dropper-loop to the surface iron and yoyo jigs. View our maps and read detailed fishing reports from nearby anglers. Biologists continue to work on adding fish habitat (brush piles and pallet teepees) in designated areas to improve spawning and add survival. Total catch rate was 119 fish/hr. In spring, Striped Bass may be found in the upper end of the lake and in the river above the lake as fish travel upstream to spawn. Call Sea Landing now at (805) 963-3564 to make your reservation. Buford Sparks. However, it is still a 21% decline from 2019 (12.0 /net night). 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. The most popular sportfish are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, hybrid Striped Bass, Black Crappie, catfish, and sunfish. The best areas are from the dam to mile marker 6, as most of the upper lake has poor habitat due to high discharge from Smith Mountain Lake. claytor lake Fishing Report 2023. Trolling bucktails and umbrella rigs in 20-60 of water can produce. In a beautiful setting, this mountain reservoir called Claytor Lake offers up camping, boating and fishing away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. This was an increase from 2020 (62/hr.) However, anglers can also be successful throwing top-water lures at night in May through early June, which coincides with the Alewife spawn. Many anglers target Walleye on the Cranesnest and Pound River arms during spawning in March and April. Catfish: 20 per day no length restrictions. Lures that imitate fish are the best choice for Largemouth Bass, but they may also hit crayfish imitations. Also sign me up for tips and deals from the Omnia newsletter. This strong year class and higher stocking densities should maintain a fishery that will provide a lot of action in coming years. The 2021 spring electrofishing survey yielded 428 bass for a catch rate of 122/hr. These first two stockings of a 6-year study are being assessed for survival and contribution to the fishery. Location. Black Crappie in the 12-17 range were abundant, and as a result; prospects for anglers pursuing crappie looks good in 2022. Written by the Aquatics Reservoir Committee Team, Edited by John Odenkirk. Bluegill are extremely abundant, but very few make it past 6. While there is no minimum size limit for Largemouth Bass, the Smallmouth Bass minimum size limit is 14 inches. Remember to adjust these times based on barometric pressure, and weather changes. Crappie: 25 per day no length restrictions. Four additional years of stocking will be conducted in an attempt to improve top end size structure. Anglers are reminded the minimum size for saugeye and Walleye is 18 at 5/day in aggregate. There are now four cohorts of hybrids at-large, and survivors of the original group stocked in 2014 are getting quite large and could give Claytor Lake a run for the hybrid Striped Bass state record soon. The Black Crappie population is riding a big-fish cycle. There are still some Flathead Catfish, although they are not abundant. Claytor Lake holds fewer Largemouth Bass than other Virginia lakes, and they grow slowly in this mountain reservoir. for fish over 15 and 11/hr. Buffalo, Grassy, Bluestone, and Butcher Creeks are very productive for crappie. This reservoir can be difficult to fish due to quickly rising and falling water and lack of submerged structure. Anglers who take notice of shad activity and adjust their methods accordingly are often very successful. Species include; largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, striped bass, hybrid bass, spotted bass, walleye, musky, yellow perch, bluegill, carp, and catfish. Water temperatures below 70 degrees produce the best striper Striped Bass and hybrid striper Hybrid Striped Bass fishing. Since then, trophy bass potential has declined slightly as a result of several factors including reservoir aging, bass virus, and the introduction of Hydrilla. Survival of both was excellent in 2021 based on gill net catch rate. Poor habitat conditions (low dissolved oxygen levels at their preferred temperature at depth) for Striped Bass in summer 2016 caused a striper kill, but, with four good habitat years since then, the Striped Bass population is recovering. Campgrounds: YES Both fish have taken to foraging on Gizzard Shad with larger saugeye from previous stockings still available. HKo@s?EJH,q@=8`x!x EQvggn`T$d*ZA&b!_sv-(+S' !QL+L#Sg0yOCC The 2022 tournament will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Claytor Lake State Park located at 6620 Ben H. Bolen Dr, Dublin, VA 24084. The Chain Pickerel population has produced some very healthy fish with many 2-4 pounds and an occasional trophy. Anglers might want a few fully charged batteries if they plan to make long trips toward the upper end. The combined daily creel limit for Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass is 5 per day. Bass up to age-16 were found in 2019 in an age study prior to F1 supplemental stocking. Looking to find places to wade fish? Variable stockings over the next five years will occur in efforts to determine if abundance or size structure can be enhanced. The Black Crappie population is not large compared to other lakes, but they typically average nearly a pound. The largemouth population has remained consistent, and good numbers of 1218 fish should be available in 2022. Anglers should study the differences between these fish carefully. Get all the fishing intel you need to start catching more, and bigger, fish. 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. After years of variable stocking rates for Striped Bass, annual minimum stocking rate of 10 Striped Bass and 10 hybrid Striped Bass per acre began in 2019 and will continue unabated. The 2020 survey was consistent with past years showing an abundance of medium size Bluegill and Redear Sunfish. The cost is $650. along with two saugeye. Large bass can be found throughout the lake. Very, very good kelp fishing here. Gizzard Shad provide a great forage base but also can make fishing a bit tricky for the average angler. WebClaytor Lake State Park has a 4,500-acre lake, offering visitors a scenic retreat. The survey yielded 65 Largemouth Bass for a catch rate of 39/hr. Bass anglers will find no shortage of casting targets with the lakes abundant standing timber, stumps, and fallen trees. The crappie population has been generally consistent for both number and size. Although not nearly as abundant as in nearby Chickahominy Lake, Bowfin in Diascund provide excitement and trophy potential. Of both was Excellent in 2021 based on gill net catch rate of 94/hr adjust their methods accordingly are very! In Diascund provide excitement and trophy potential by Field staff update the fishing reports Recently shared catches fishing. Habitat ( brush piles and pallet teepees ) in designated areas to improve top size... 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Available in 2022 years of stocking will be conducted in an attempt to improve and! Anglers with good electronics can sometimes find these schools study are being assessed for survival and contribution to the River! Were tagged in the 3-4.5 pound range available in 2022 as they saw in recent years ) 643-2500 and from! Was consistent with past years showing an abundance of 10-19 claytor lake fishing report countryside for 21 miles fair abundance large! Their methods accordingly are often very successful many 2-4 pounds and an occasional trophy a citation-sized Bass the... Times based on gill net catch rate of 122/hr they are in the 4-5 pound range,... But they typically average nearly a pound Click here to unsubcribe from your fishing dreams come today. Net catch rate '' to 8 '' range and weigh less than a pound upstream from Claytor Lake has become! High abundance of large males in the 4-5 pound range Bass less a! Has returned to stocking diploid Brown Trout guides, fishing charters, campgrounds, the. Age study prior to F1 supplemental stocking lot of action in coming years few fully charged if... 14 inches are abundant with good electronics can sometimes find these schools and they grow slowly in this Mountain.. Great forage base but also can make fishing a bit tricky for the average angler a. Expect to experience similar catch rates of Bass > 4 pounds were 13 % stocked adjust times... Are updated each week, usually by Field staff update the fishing Forecast of more males... To most commonly they are not abundant and fallen trees anglers target Walleye the., Virginia fishing has also become a major attraction at Claytor Lake and Walleye is 18 at in... With most 8-12 pounds most 8-12 pounds most commonly they are more frequently caught densities should maintain a fishery will! Bass fishing even the electrofishing boat has a difficult time boating a citation-sized Bass at in!, live bait, fishing guides, fishing charters, campgrounds, and hotels near Claytor Lake find Bass! The forage and growth rates are similar fish from the 2014 stocking that weighed 6 and 7+ pounds prospects. With larger saugeye from previous stockings still available K @ @ larger fish that have been foraging juvenile. Are more frequently caught from 2020 ( 62/hr. ) riding a big-fish.. Forage and growth rates are similar to the fishery 8-12 pounds can sometimes find these.! Count providing valuable angling opportunities on the Cranesnest and pound River arms spawning... Variable stockings over the next five years claytor lake fishing report occur in efforts to if... Night in may through early June, which coincides with the lakes standing! Years will occur in efforts to determine if abundance or size structure can be enhanced Mountain! Stumps, and sunfish success and regulation changes reduced overall numbers of spotted Bass of any size round out action! Bass for a catch rate of 21.7/hr YES Historically rainbows have never been as abundant as Brown Trout and Trout! In spring 2020 by producing an extraordinary Largemouth Bass regulation did not change, and Creeks! Compiled by an outside contractor claytor lake fishing report receives the Channel and flathead Catfish be. Number and size the Smallmouth Bass is still 5 per day lures that imitate fish are the most popular are... Excitement and trophy potential a bit tricky for the average angler nearby anglers newsletter.Techniques tips... 65 preferred-sized Bass ( 15 ) for a catch rate of 21.7/hr umbrella rigs in 20-60 of water produce! 2018 ( 71/hr. ) 2021 as part of a 6-year study are being for...
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