The largest bass in the 2021 survey weighed 6.5 pounds. 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. 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. Flathead Catfish are also sought by Claytor Lake catfish anglers. WebFishing licenses are also available in Radford at the Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue: 619 2nd Street Radford, VA 24141 The Office of the Commissioner of the Revenue may also be reached at 540-731-3613. Copyright 2023Sportsman's Warehouse. There is often thick Hydrilla growth along shorelines in most northern creek arms from June-November. 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. Both of these bass species eat a lot of Bluegill as well as some Alewife and Gizzard Shad, so they may also hit lures that imitate fish. The bass population receives a great deal of pressure from tournaments, so anglers are encouraged to try new and different lures and patterns to entice these heavily pressured fish. Gizzard Shad provide a great forage base but also can make fishing a bit tricky for the average angler. 305 0 obj <>stream South Holston offers the best crappie fishing of all lakes in southwest Virginia. endstream endobj 260 0 obj <>/Metadata 43 0 R/Pages 257 0 R/StructTreeRoot 55 0 R/Type/Catalog>> endobj 261 0 obj <>/MediaBox[0 0 612 792]/Parent 257 0 R/Resources<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC]/XObject<>>>/Rotate 0/StructParents 0/Tabs/S/Type/Page>> endobj 262 0 obj <>stream We are done, full boat limits for our 31 passengers. and bucktails in the spring and fall. Anglers can find Largemouth Bass in coves, but the best places are Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower end. WebClaytor Lake is a 4,500 acre lake with a marina, three public boat ramps, and a public beach. "Just outstanding fishing on those Yellowtail. Good catches of crappie and catfish are being taken at night. Spotted Bass do not grow as large as the others rarely reaching 2 pounds, although the state record 4-pound, 12 ounce Spotted Bass was caught at here in January 2020. This popular destination continues to produce very respectable Largemouth Bass. 0 These first two stockings of a 6-year study are being assessed for survival and contribution to the fishery. As the season progresses and water temperatures increase, Walleye move deeper. Abundance of bass over 15 in 2021 was above average, and numerous bass below 12 were sampled which should provide quality fishing in coming years. Also sign me up for tips and deals from the Omnia newsletter. You can find White Crappie, Black Crappie,Channel Catfish, Flathead Catfish, Muskie, Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Spotted Bass, Striped Bass, Hybrid Striped Bass, Striped Bass, Walleye and Largemouth Bass on these waters. The reservoir has potential to produce citation Yellow Perch and Black Crappie, and anglers with good electronics can sometimes find these schools. Hi guys, sorry for the lack of a report yesterday. A new size and creel limit is in place from Claytor Lake Dam upstream to Buck Dam on the New River in Carroll County year round (formerly a seasonal size and creel limit). Anglers primarily target catfish from April to June, with a second bump in effort in early fall. Anglers fishing for black bass in the lake can use information collected during a bass food habits study at Claytor Lake to select lures and techniques for these species. Find fishing tackle, live bait, fishing guides, fishing charters, campgrounds, and hotels near Claytor Lake. Claytor Lake State Park Early morning 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. The crappie fishery has produced good size but low numbers for the past 20 years, limiting the fishery. Anglers who put enough time in can usually find hot spots and catch quality limits. This was an increase from 2020 (62/hr.) Walleye. However, only Walleye were stocked since 2016, and this fishery declined to a level similar to historical populations. There were some bass in the 3-4.5 pound range, and the largest was 20 and 5.2 pounds. Musky lures used ar 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Claytor is considered a good smallmouth lake with anglers targeting large fish during winter. Spotted Bass are the most abundant, so they are more frequently caught. Anglers should study the differences between these fish carefully. 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. Two of the more attractive components to this fishery are White Perch and Black Crappie. There are still some Flathead Catfish, although they are not abundant. Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass combine to create an important fishery at Claytor Lake, with nearly 6% of anglers fishing for these 2 species. Smallmouth Bass are less abundant, and anglers targeting this species should focus on the lower lake. We have 2 openings on a two day charter next week. Most fish are 13-17, but there are bass to 22. Those numbers declined slightly in 2020 and 2021 but are still well above levels observed in the mid-2000s. Anglers are encouraged to switch over from bass to perch and crappie. Markdowns on popular products - See all bargain offers, 14 Reports for Largemouth Bass + SpringChange, SPRO RkCrawler 55 Crankbait Red Craw / 2 1/5", Buckeye Lures G-Man Ballin' Out Jig 3/8 oz / Green Pumpkin, SPRO RkCrawler 55 MD Crankbait Red Craw / 2 1/4", Subscribe to Email Updates for the Latest 2023 Claytor Lake Fishing Reports, Lures G-Man Ballin' Out Jig 3/8 oz / Green Pumpkin, PowerBait MaxScent The General Stick Bait 5" / Watermelon Copper Orange with Red, Reported for Shallow Diving Crankbaits (0-6'), RkCrawler 55 MD Crankbait Red Craw / 2 1/4", Reported for Medium Diving Crankbaits (7'-12'), Ito Vision 110+2 Jerkbait French Pearl / 4 1/3", Ito Vision 110+1 Jerkbait GP Pro Perch / 4 1/3", 200 Series Crankbait Pearl/Black Back / 2", Jack Hammer Chatterbait 1/2 oz / Green Pumpkin. we have room on out 1.5 day trip leaving tomorrow night, give Seaforth Landing a call at 619-224-3383 to get on board. In 2021, the catch rate of preferred size (> 15) largemouth was 14.3/hr. You also can get helpful information from the Fishing Forecast. This fishery has the capacity to produce some respectable fish, but recent surveys have failed to yield many bass over 6 pounds. On the other-hand, today is a hell of a lot better day. The night survey also yielded a fair abundance of 10-19 bass. Anglers can find Largemouth Bass in coves throughout the lake, but the best places to fish are Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower lake area. Smallmouth Bass and Spotted Bass have very similar diets, with both relying mostly on crayfish. Drum densities have increased greatly in recent years. The 2021 spring electrofishing survey collected 191 Largemouth Bass for a catch rate of 64/hr. Claytor Lake Habitat Enhancement Projects Map (20122016), Claytor Lake Habitat Enhancement Projects Map (20172021), Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass: 5 per day in the aggregate, No Minimum Size Limit for Largemouth Bass, September 16 to June 30: 2 per day in the aggregate, minimum size limit 20 inches, July 1 to September 15: 4 per day in the aggregate, no minimum size limit, Year-round: 2 walleye per day; no walleye 19 to 28 inches, 2023 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. The current population is fair but improving due to better recent recruitment. Located in the northeast section of the lake, north side, off Ben H Bolen Drive, this is a four-lane, concrete ramp with docks and lots of paved parking. Claytor Lake Weather Click here to unsubcribe from your fishing reports. Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir is a 635-acre impoundment in Gloucester Count providing valuable angling opportunities on the middle peninsula. This group is here to talk about all fishing at Claytor Lake. The 2021 net survey yielded the highest catch rate of flatheads with most 8-12 pounds. Crappie. Catfish. Sampling in 2018 showed stocked bass only added 6% to years when stocking occurred and only 0.03% to the entire adult population after three years of stocking. Fishing for Walleye may continue to be somewhat challenging in 2021, but there are good numbers of 18 to 20 fish. The two saugeye were older fish from the 2014 stocking that weighed 6 and 7+ pounds. Live bait o but not as impressive as 2018 (71/hr.). HT=0+DX 21 in. hXnF5A @[ XLTUn%)6m*>jg9;{sf`X2#Q)az9]I3gBxHLI/!x A1$4^c5[&x4 0E:-4Vbbykk~yUo.E(6uuf2/ozBl{M\y}4qYv$bDgNoqaoEg2:co>gytU$EyrL9lY\OVex12}k)e~1hU*4jx1U ZI48JODsVJ*Mf}M'%d!16TlOKHK Good largemouth bass fishing can be found throughout the reservoir but smallmouth bass densities appearing to be greater in the Topwaters, plastic worms an Fishing Claytor Lake, VA on 1/21/2023 will be best from 12:00AM through 12:00AM, and from 12:00AM to 12:00AM. Recent surveys continue to reveal an abundance of bass in the 3-5 pound range which should make tournament anglers happy. Brown trout to almost six pounds are being caught on live minnows at night, under the lights. During your visit you can fish for bass, catfish, walleye and muskie from shore, boat or the universally accessible fishing pier. WebAll about fishing at Claytor Lake for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, spotted bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass, yellow bass, The second cohort is in the 1620 range, and the third cohort produces fish > 20. No Walleye 19-28 may be kept, and anglers are limited to 2 per day. This was a slight decline from 2020 (129/hr.). The reservoir has produced some trophy redear with most of these larger fish stacked up tightly during their spawn on the outside edges of flats. During summer, habitat (combination of temperature and dissolved oxygen) forces Striped Bass to occupy the lower end of the lake (the dam to about Buoy 9 and in the mouth of Nutbush Creek). 540 980-1488. The 2021 electrofishing survey collected 141 perch, but only five were >8. For up-to-date information, look up the fishing report for the water of your choice. However, it is still a 21% decline from 2019 (12.0 /net night). An abundance of Chain Pickerel and large American Eel can provide additional action. The Leesville Lake Largemouth Bass population has been stable for many years. The 2021 spring survey collected 173 Largemouth Bass for a CPUE of 86/hr. ugZe9Ldu3S@'\]wZuH@3FTr"8JDJ\)1I Stripers - Still some night fishing from midnight till 2:30 AM bucktails and rapalas F-18 still the baits of choice. DWR staff plan to trap net the reservoir in 2022. Public access is somewhat limited but there is a good boat launch area at Claytor Lake State Park on the northern shore of the lake. 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 largemouth population has remained consistent, and good numbers of 1218 fish should be available in 2022. Hey everyone it's time again to start seriously thinking about when you will be able to get on the boat for a tuna trip. Anglers who take notice of shad activity and adjust their methods accordingly are often very successful. and memorable size (> 17) was 5.2/hr. It is illegal for anglers to move Alabama Bass from Diascund Reservoir and can only be held alive (in possession) if actively fishing a tournament. Anglers might want a few fully charged batteries if they plan to make long trips toward the upper end. 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. Since Alabama Bass are not easily distinguished from Spotted Bass, size and creel limits on Spotted Bass are no longer in place. It is unclear why the drastic change after 20 years, so it is uncertain if this population will continue to sustain current numbers or will return to historical levels. Techniques and lures that mimic crayfish are most likely to be successful in producing catches of these fish. Channel and Flathead Catfish should be similar to the past few years. Anglers can explore over 60 miles of shoreline in search of bass, crappie, walleye, catfish, stripers, hybrid striped bass, perch, bluegill, white bass and sunfish. Some VA fishing guides offer guided bass, striper and crappie trips on Claytor Lake. Several boat launch ramps, some for a small fee and some for free, are scattered around the lake. Water temperatures below 70 degrees produce the best striper Striped Bass and hybrid striper Hybrid Striped Bass fishing. WebOur moderators are 100% fisherman that fish Claytor Lake. Bass anglers fishing South Holston Lake in 2022 should have an exceptional season. NOTE: THERE IS A COST OF $7 TO PARK AT THE STATE PARK. Fishing Philpott Reservoir in 2022 should provide anglers with great recreation. WebNew River (Claytor Dam) Fishing Reports Recently shared catches and fishing spots. placing Chesdin in first place again for all district lakes. Steelhead appear to have not done as well as McConaughy Rainbow Trout that were previously stocked. Alongside stunning vistas, the lake features some of the best angling in the area. The decline appeared to be from poor year classes but it has since recovered to historical highs. The Smith Mountain Lake Largemouth Bass population, based on DWR sampling, has been improving since 2015. $9 IF YOU ARE FROM OUT-OF-STATE. Reduced stocking success and regulation changes reduced overall numbers of stripers, but that improved the forage and growth rates. Catfish: 20 per day no length restrictions. Yellowtail sightings are starting to become very consistent. You are trying to access a feature that requires a Fishidy account. The return of stocking only Walleye (no saugeye) into Leesville was to maintain genetic integrity since most broodstock come from this system. Learn More, 09/21/2022 Catch rates are good, with an average of 1.2/hr. Depth: Unknown Water Clarity: Stained (6/10) Species: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Panfish / Bluegill, Catfish View Lake Details File a Fishing Report Largemouth Bass Winter (Current) DWR stocks over 3,500 Channel Catfish annually to bolster this population. Anglers are encouraged to continue practice catch-and-release of trophy-size bass from the lake. However, anglers can also be successful throwing top-water lures at night in May through early June, which coincides with the Alewife spawn. W0CD;=+;q|M"V=hWE(bPmTHU.#E| K@@? 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