Lake Anna Fishing Report March 2017 by Chris Craft

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MARCH
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As we wrap up the warmest February I can remember and head into March, I look for fish catches to be possible record setting! The fishing last month was he best I have seen in many years for late winter, that is if you can call it winter.

The Anna Point Marina/Fish Tales Big Fish Contest will start back up and we will pay $100 or a yearly ramp pass ($50 value) to the angler that catches the largest Bass, Crappie or Striper for the month of March. The rules are very simple……..

1- MUST LAUNCH FROM ANNA POINT MARINA and pay 
the $10 ramp fee of be a yearly ramp pass holder.
2- Anglers fishing with a guide or employee must pay ramp fee before outing.
3- ALL fish must be weighed on porch scale at Fish Tales.
4- Tournament caught fish are eligible, however they must be weighed on porch scales as well.
5- Live and artificial bait is allowed.
6- All anglers in the boat are eligible with the paid ramp fee.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

FISHING TOURNAMENTS
SAT 3-4 FREDERICKSBURG FISHING CLUB OPEN 7:30A-3:30P
SAT 3-11 FREDERICKSBURG FISHING CLUB 
SUN 3-12 VA BASS FEDERATION REGION 3  HARVEY REECE
SAT 3-18 VA ELITE 70  STEVE CAMP  804-516-0669
SUN 3-19 EXTREME BASS ANGLERS  
SAT 3-25 SHENANDOAH VALLEY BASS ASSOCIATION  TIM SHANK
SUN 3-26 MIKE EAVEY MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT 7A-3P DOUG FITZGERALD 540-910-0078 …..


BASS- The largemouth will be moving into the shallows all month long and will be willing to take a variety of reaction baits as they feed up in preparation for the spawn. If venturing uplake in the stained water, shallow crankbaits like the SPRO LITTLE JOHN 50 will draw strikes from hungry bass. Dave’s Tournament Tackle Tiger Shad Spinnerbaits fished in the dormant/emering willow grass has been a proven tactic for many years. Search baits like a Rat-L-Trap or Red Eye Shad has always been a favorite lure choice of mine. Fish these baits around the many rocky points that are adjacent to the channel.

Mid lake will have better water clarity, suspending jerkbaits fished on main lake points, rip rap banks, deep boat docks and bridge pilings are a great choice to have a chance at a BIG FAT BUCKET MOUTH!  As the water warms, you can get more aggressive with the cadence that you are fishing.

If fishing around bait fish, A-Rigs rigged with four inch swimbaits will do the trick. A 1/2oz Blade Bait made by SG HEAVY METAL BAITS will catch them as well.

By mid month, the down lake region will even have a few early spawners, but most will be cruising the shallows. My favorite way to fish for the cruisers is with a 5″ Damiki Armor Shad (soft jerkbait) rigged on a 4/0 EWG Gamakatsu Hook. Fish the baits around boat docks, parallel with the shore line in 5-10′ of water and around the many stumps in the lake.

CRAPPIE- The SPECKS have already started to make their move to the spawning areas with the warm weather and rising water temps. Look for the around bridge pilings, brush piles, rock piles and willow grass very soon if the current weather patterns stay in place.

Small minnows rigged under a slip bobber is a great way to fill your cooler up with the tasty panfish. As they become more aggressive, 2″ Curly Tail Grubs on a 1/16oz jig head is a proven method of catching not only numbers of fish, but big ones as well. If the water starts to cool back down small tubes with very little action will produce for you.

STRIPER- The LINESIDES are on the move uplake and will continue to move uplake all  month. Jerkbaits, four inch swimbaits, blade baits and spoons will all catch fish. There are still a number of birds on the lake diving on baitfish, these feathered fish locaters will help you put a few in the cooler. As the water warms and gets closer to the 60 degree mark, broken back red fins and top water walking baits are fun to fish. There is no other strike like a big striper crushing a top water bait.

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE AND PLEASE REMEMBER C.P.R.  Catch-Photo-Release if you do not plan on getting an official weight of your catch or inviting your catch to dinner.

LAKE LEVEL- Full Pool
WATER TEMPS
DOWN LAKE- 54-57 Degrees
MID LAKE- 52-56 Degrees
UP LAKE- 51-58

Chris Craft
Anna Point Marina/Fish Tales Tackle Manager