Thursday, October 3, 2024
Home Blog Page 1243

April 2014 Lake Anna Lake Rerport by Chris Craft

 

RECENT CATCHES 354SONNY GLEASON, 6 POUNDS 2 OUNCES 

 

The coldest March that I can remember is finally gone, hopefully OLD MAN WINTER has lost his grip on us…….I HOPE!! With April comes warmer air temperatures, warmer water temperatures, longer days and spawning fish.

Fish Tales at Anna Point Marina is having their Big Fish Contest again this month. The angler that catches the largest bass, crappie and striper this month and weighs it in at Fish Tales will win $100 or a yearly ramp pass. ($125 value)

The rules are simple……………..

1- Must launch from Anna Point Marina/Fish Tales. Must be a yearly ramp pass
holder or pay the $8 ramp fee before your outing.

2- If fishing with a GUIDE or an EMPLOYEE, the $8 ramp fee must be paid before
your outing.

3- Artificial and Live Bait is allowed.

4- All fish must be weighed on the porch scales at Fish Tales.
Tournament caught fish are eligible, but they MUST be weighed on Fish Tales
porch scales!!!!!!

Last Months Winners Were……..
BASS- Terry Kestner  7 pounds 8 ounces
CRAPPIE- Justin Shafer  1 pound 10 ounces
STRIPER- Hunter Gatewood  12 pounds 3 ounces

BASS- The largemouth will be making their move to the shallows in full force this month. The full moon is on the 15th, look for water temps to be on the rise and the bass looking for an area to spawn.

Great places to look are areas with emerging willow grass (North Anna Arm) along the shoreline. Single bladed 1/4oz Dave’s Tournament Tackle Tiger Shad Spinnerbaits in the Purple Tiger pattern will produce several fish. North Anna Bait Co. CC MINNOW’s will also catch them in and around the emerging grass.
When fishing the grass, try and resemble a crappie the best you can with your bait selection, the bass are gorging on small crappie that have pulled up into the grassy areas!

Bost docks and rock piles over in the Pamunkey arm of the lake will start holding several fish as well. Squarebill crankbaits, Rat L Traps, Spinnerbaits and CC MINNOW’s will all produce fish for you.

The uplake areas are stained right now, so seeing a bass on the bed is going to be a difficult task. From the 208 bridge to the dam, they will be much easier to see. Look for them around boats docks, stumps, lay down trees and grassy areas. Try pitching a North Anna Bait Company 7″ Ring Shaker worm rigged on a Shakey Head to entice them into biting. The tail on the Ring Shaker will stand straight up and has lots of action with very little movement on your end.

PLEASE REMEMBER C-P-R………………….CATCH-PHOTO-RELEASE
The females are full of eggs right now and it is very important to release them back, for the future of out fishery!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

CRAPPIE- The Specks are making their move to shallow areas at the current time. They can still be found around the bridge pilings early in the month. As the water gets above 50 degrees, they will pull into 2-5 feet of water around the emerging willow grass, beaver huts, boat docks, brush piles, rock piles and beaver huts. My favorite way to catch them is by casting a 1/16oz NABC Sickle Hook jighead with a 2″ Kalin Curly Tail Grub. My three favorite color choices are John Dheere Green, Green Weenie and Wally World. Small minnows on slip bobbers will also work for those of that just want to kick back and relax!!!!

STRIPER- The Striper have made their move uplake and are shallow. Look for them on red clay banks on both arms of the lake early and late in the day. Sassy Shads, Sea Shads, NABC SWIM N MINNOWS and Hard Jerkbaits will all produce fish. In North Anna check out the mouth of Duck N Hole and Goldmine Creeks. The S Turns in Pamunkey has been the hot zone the past few weeks. There are still some diving birds on these fish, be sure not to run the outboard into them, you will shut the feed down!!!!

Water Temps
Dike 3- 56
Mid Lake- 48-52
Up Lake- 46-52

Downlake- Clear
Mid Lake- Slight Stain
Up Lake- Heavy Stain

 

Chris Craft
CCBASSN Lake Anna Guide Service
www.ccbassnlakeanna.blogspot.com
ccbassn@aol.com
540-894-6195
540-895-5770
540-895-5900 ext5
 

NORTH ANNA BAIT CO. PRO STAFF
www.northannabaitco.com

TEAM LEW’S PRO STAFF
www.lews.com
ARSON JIG’S PRO STAFF
www.arsonjigs.com

RHINO TUFF CUSTOM CRANKBAITS PRO STAFF
 www.rhinotuffcc.vpweb.com

 

IZORLINE INTERNATIONAL PRO STAFF
www.izorline.com
BULLDOG CUSTOM RODS PRO STAFF
www.bulldogrods.com

MORRISTOWN MARINE TEAM TRAIL INVITATIONAL – MARCH 29, 2014 – Results & Photos

 

 

miltonsharpwinnerMike Milton and Paul Sharp from Lafollette, TN took home 1st place with a weight 19.07.

Click Here To See Full Results

 

The Morristown Marine Team Trail Invitational set a record on Saturday March 29, 2014 with 199 boats on Norris Lake.  What started out as a warm spring morning, quickly turned into a rainy, cold and windy day with 199 teams competing for the $10,000.00 1st place money. The tournament had a total payout of $39,080.00. Of the 199 teams, 116 teams were competiting for points and a berth in the Bassmaster Team Championship. Mike Milton and Paul Sharp from Lafollette, TN took home 1st place with a weight 19.07.  In addition to 1st Place winnings ($10,000),  the team also received the Berkley Big Bass Smallmouth award of the day with 5.43lbs. ($985.00)  and received the Morristown Boat Bucks ($500.00) for purchasing their boat at Morristown Marine for a total payout of $11,485.00 and (2) Berkley rods.  2nd Place was Todd Bayless and John Napier with 18.80lbs and a check for $3050.00.  3rd Place went to James Nuckols and Trisden Case with 18.18 ($2,250.00).  The team of Nuckols and Case also were the Morristown Marine/Skeeter Highest Finishing Skeeter ($3,000).  They received a total payout of $5,250.00.  Fourth place was Kevin McKamey and Hagan Cunningham with 17.89 and a check for $1100.00. Completing the top 5 was Clifford Bunch and Paul Napier with a weight of 17.35 lbs ($1,000.00) and 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter ($2,000.00) for a total payout of $3,000.00.  Gary Pilkenton and Tim Smiley were the 3rd Highest Finishing Skeeter and netted a check for $1000.00.  Jack Wade and Larry Garner took home the Berkley Big Bass Largemouth Award with a Largemouth weighing 4.90 lbs and a check for $985.00 plus (2) Berkley rods.

 

The next tournament will be on South Holston Lake in Bristol, Tennessee on April 26, 2014. The Blast-off will take place at Observation Knob Ramp at safe light. You may come by the dealership or call in to sign up. Entries will be taken at Fairway Ford Quick Lane at 2761 East Stone Drive in Kingsport, TN on Friday, April 25 from 12 Noon – 6PM.  You may also sign up at the ramp the morning of the tournament before blast off.

The entire staff of Morristown Marine Team Trail Invitational would like to THANK the anglers and sponsors for their continued support.

MORRISTOWN MARINE TEAM TRAIL INVITATIONAL – MARCH 29, 2014 – Results & Photos

 

 

miltonsharpwinnerMike Milton and Paul Sharp from Lafollette, TN took home 1st place with a weight 19.07.

Click Here To See Full Results

 

The Morristown Marine Team Trail Invitational set a record on Saturday March 29, 2014 with 199 boats on Norris Lake.  What started out as a warm spring morning, quickly turned into a rainy, cold and windy day with 199 teams competing for the $10,000.00 1st place money. The tournament had a total payout of $39,080.00. Of the 199 teams, 116 teams were competiting for points and a berth in the Bassmaster Team Championship. Mike Milton and Paul Sharp from Lafollette, TN took home 1st place with a weight 19.07.  In addition to 1st Place winnings ($10,000),  the team also received the Berkley Big Bass Smallmouth award of the day with 5.43lbs. ($985.00)  and received the Morristown Boat Bucks ($500.00) for purchasing their boat at Morristown Marine for a total payout of $11,485.00 and (2) Berkley rods.  2nd Place was Todd Bayless and John Napier with 18.80lbs and a check for $3050.00.  3rd Place went to James Nuckols and Trisden Case with 18.18 ($2,250.00).  The team of Nuckols and Case also were the Morristown Marine/Skeeter Highest Finishing Skeeter ($3,000).  They received a total payout of $5,250.00.  Fourth place was Kevin McKamey and Hagan Cunningham with 17.89 and a check for $1100.00. Completing the top 5 was Clifford Bunch and Paul Napier with a weight of 17.35 lbs ($1,000.00) and 2nd Highest Finishing Skeeter ($2,000.00) for a total payout of $3,000.00.  Gary Pilkenton and Tim Smiley were the 3rd Highest Finishing Skeeter and netted a check for $1000.00.  Jack Wade and Larry Garner took home the Berkley Big Bass Largemouth Award with a Largemouth weighing 4.90 lbs and a check for $985.00 plus (2) Berkley rods.

 

The next tournament will be on South Holston Lake in Bristol, Tennessee on April 26, 2014. The Blast-off will take place at Observation Knob Ramp at safe light. You may come by the dealership or call in to sign up. Entries will be taken at Fairway Ford Quick Lane at 2761 East Stone Drive in Kingsport, TN on Friday, April 25 from 12 Noon – 6PM.  You may also sign up at the ramp the morning of the tournament before blast off.

The entire staff of Morristown Marine Team Trail Invitational would like to THANK the anglers and sponsors for their continued support.

Bass Federation Nation of VA – Region 2 SML 3/3/14 Results

IMG_0900

1st Place . Mills & P. Morgan with 19.85lbs

IMG_08982nd Place J.Cole & J. Nicely with 17.05lbs

IMG_08973rd Place B. Copley & R. Roberts with 15.92lbs

Click Here to See Final Results

Carolinas Bass Challenge SC Division Lake Wateree, SC (Mar 29, 2014) Results

2014032915.52.27
Lake Wateree, SC (Mar 29, 2014)

Click Here for Results

Carolinas Bass Challenge SC Division Qualifier #1 – Lake Wateree Gary Michaud and Doc McDaniel bested the field of 148 boats w/ a RECORD 34.32lbs and a 9.93lbs Big Fish to take home $11,000!!

Beau Dixon and Andy Seas earned the $5,000 Top Finishing Skeeter Bonus with 23.26lbs giving them 3rd Place and a Total of $8,000 in Winnings.

Carolinas Bass Challenge Lake Norman, NC (Mar 22, 2014) Results

2014_nc_1_norman_winners

Lake Norman, NC (Mar 22, 2014)

Click Here for Results

Carolinas Bass Challenge NC Division Qualifier #1 – Lake Norman

Scott Threadgill and Dwayne Saunders bested the record field of 203 boats w/ 18.74lbs and a 5.80lbs Big Fish to take home $13,000!!

William and David Blanton earned the $5,000 Top Finishing Skeeter Bonus with 14.43lbs giving them 8th Place and a Total of $6,300 in Winnings.

 

 

 

U.S. Angler’s Choice Tournament Trail VA Division – March 29th 2014 Results & Photos

AC-RESULTS-logo

Lake Anna – Sturgeon Creek Marina
3/29/2014
Final Results

1st-Place-anna-3-29-141st Place Mike Hicks & Keith Lupo

2nd-place-3-29-142nd Place Chad Hicks and C.G. Hicks

Click Here To See More Photos

Click Here To See Final Results

Hicks and Lupo take Season opener on Lake Anna

Richmond Marine Center’s AC Tournament Trail Virginia Division started the season on Lake Anna Saturday March 29th. We had 25 teams in the event today launching out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. Conditions were tough to say the least. We had heavy rains in the forecast with air temperatures expected to be in the mid 50’s all day. We started the day off with a fog delay that lasted over an hour and had teams really anxious to get out and capitalize on the low light conditions.

After the fog delay and rain most of the day, the team of Mike Hicks and Keith Lupo topped the field of anglers with 5 bass weighing 17.52 lbs. The winning team also captured the Big Bass award for the tournament with a beautiful bass weighing 6.52 lbs. Hicks and Lupo found there winning fish shallow in the 3-5 foot of water with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The spinnerbait, fished by a shallow stump was the bait responsible for the big bass of the day. They stated the key to victory was covering water in the mid lake area to catch their fish. With the first place prize and big fish the team took home $1,474 in winnings.

Second Place honors when to the team of Chad Hicks and C.G. Hicks with 4 bass weighing 12.27 lbs. The Rockville VA team stated they were fishing main lake pockets and coves with shallow and medium diving crankbaits. For their efforts the team took home $700.

Finishing third was Don Warren and Robert Whitus with 4 bass tipping the scales at 11.00 lbs even. Team Warren and Whitus were targeting bluff walls and rock on the main lake looking for pre-spawn largemouth with crankbaits and a Yum Flash Mob Jr. They were fishless until about 12:30 when they ran to an area that had been unproductive earlier in the day and started catching their fish. The team took home $403 for their 3rd place finish. They were also the winners of the AC Tournaments Decal Contingency Award and will receive another $100 from AC tournaments.

Rounding out the top 4 was the team of Clay Lewis and Mike Nelms. They weighed only 2 fish for a whopping 9.02 lbs. If you only catch 2, those are the right kind to catch. The team collected $213 for their winnings.

The Virginia Division also offers the Missile Baits “Boost Award” to the team that finishes the first spot out of the money in each event. The Missile Bait “Boost Award” winning team for Lake Anna was the team of Ray Emery and John Hutchins. The team will receive $50.00 in Missile Baits products of their choice. Congratulations!

For the event, we had a total of 39 fish brought to the scales for a total weight of 111.71 lbs for an average of 2.86 lbs per fish. Only 16 teams of the 25 participating were able to bring fish to the scales. With some of the best sticks in the area, these figures show how tough the fishing was for most of the field.

Richmond Marine Center’s AC Tournament Trail Virginia Division could not exist without great sponsors. We would like to thank Richmond Marine Center for logistics and organizing the set up and take down for the event. If you are looking for a new bass boat or need service on your current rig, give Ben Gibson a call, they will take great care of you and your equipment.

A big thank you goes out to Hopkins Gun and Tackle located in Mechanicsville, VA for the awesome weigh-in trailer that provided us protection during the terrible weather conditions. If you have not visited their store, make plans to do so soon. They carry everything a bass fisherman could want and need for their tournament success.

We would like to thank these other great sponsors, Missile Baits, ALX Rods, Optima Batteries, Jethro Baits, Lowrance Electronics, All Terrain Tackle, Propeller Dynamics and Sqwincher.

AC Tournament Trail National Sponsors: Legend Boats, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide, Rayjus, SolarBat, TFO Rods, Lunker Lure, Fishidy, SureLife, EGO S2 Slider and Bass Tackle Depot.

Our next event will be on Lake Gaston on April 19th at Eaton Ferry Marina. If you have questions about the upcoming events or the tournament trail, please feel free to give me a call. Jeff Salmon 804-221-7653

U.S. Angler’s Choice Tournament Trail VA Division – March 29th 2014 Results & Photos

AC-RESULTS-logo

Lake Anna – Sturgeon Creek Marina
3/29/2014
Final Results

1st-Place-anna-3-29-141st Place Mike Hicks & Keith Lupo

2nd-place-3-29-142nd Place Chad Hicks and C.G. Hicks

Click Here To See More Photos

Click Here To See Final Results

Hicks and Lupo take Season opener on Lake Anna

Richmond Marine Center’s AC Tournament Trail Virginia Division started the season on Lake Anna Saturday March 29th. We had 25 teams in the event today launching out of Sturgeon Creek Marina. Conditions were tough to say the least. We had heavy rains in the forecast with air temperatures expected to be in the mid 50’s all day. We started the day off with a fog delay that lasted over an hour and had teams really anxious to get out and capitalize on the low light conditions.

After the fog delay and rain most of the day, the team of Mike Hicks and Keith Lupo topped the field of anglers with 5 bass weighing 17.52 lbs. The winning team also captured the Big Bass award for the tournament with a beautiful bass weighing 6.52 lbs. Hicks and Lupo found there winning fish shallow in the 3-5 foot of water with spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The spinnerbait, fished by a shallow stump was the bait responsible for the big bass of the day. They stated the key to victory was covering water in the mid lake area to catch their fish. With the first place prize and big fish the team took home $1,474 in winnings.

Second Place honors when to the team of Chad Hicks and C.G. Hicks with 4 bass weighing 12.27 lbs. The Rockville VA team stated they were fishing main lake pockets and coves with shallow and medium diving crankbaits. For their efforts the team took home $700.

Finishing third was Don Warren and Robert Whitus with 4 bass tipping the scales at 11.00 lbs even. Team Warren and Whitus were targeting bluff walls and rock on the main lake looking for pre-spawn largemouth with crankbaits and a Yum Flash Mob Jr. They were fishless until about 12:30 when they ran to an area that had been unproductive earlier in the day and started catching their fish. The team took home $403 for their 3rd place finish. They were also the winners of the AC Tournaments Decal Contingency Award and will receive another $100 from AC tournaments.

Rounding out the top 4 was the team of Clay Lewis and Mike Nelms. They weighed only 2 fish for a whopping 9.02 lbs. If you only catch 2, those are the right kind to catch. The team collected $213 for their winnings.

The Virginia Division also offers the Missile Baits “Boost Award” to the team that finishes the first spot out of the money in each event. The Missile Bait “Boost Award” winning team for Lake Anna was the team of Ray Emery and John Hutchins. The team will receive $50.00 in Missile Baits products of their choice. Congratulations!

For the event, we had a total of 39 fish brought to the scales for a total weight of 111.71 lbs for an average of 2.86 lbs per fish. Only 16 teams of the 25 participating were able to bring fish to the scales. With some of the best sticks in the area, these figures show how tough the fishing was for most of the field.

Richmond Marine Center’s AC Tournament Trail Virginia Division could not exist without great sponsors. We would like to thank Richmond Marine Center for logistics and organizing the set up and take down for the event. If you are looking for a new bass boat or need service on your current rig, give Ben Gibson a call, they will take great care of you and your equipment.

A big thank you goes out to Hopkins Gun and Tackle located in Mechanicsville, VA for the awesome weigh-in trailer that provided us protection during the terrible weather conditions. If you have not visited their store, make plans to do so soon. They carry everything a bass fisherman could want and need for their tournament success.

We would like to thank these other great sponsors, Missile Baits, ALX Rods, Optima Batteries, Jethro Baits, Lowrance Electronics, All Terrain Tackle, Propeller Dynamics and Sqwincher.

AC Tournament Trail National Sponsors: Legend Boats, Mercury Outboards, Motorguide, Rayjus, SolarBat, TFO Rods, Lunker Lure, Fishidy, SureLife, EGO S2 Slider and Bass Tackle Depot.

Our next event will be on Lake Gaston on April 19th at Eaton Ferry Marina. If you have questions about the upcoming events or the tournament trail, please feel free to give me a call. Jeff Salmon 804-221-7653