Fishing Report For Lake Moomaw, VA

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Smallmouth bass fishing is currently experiencing good results using the latest high-tech fish finders and forward-facing sonar. Especially anglers who fish from a boat, are improving their catch rate. Even when fishing is slow, it's easier to catch them when you know exactly where they are holding. The advent of new lures and equipment has also improved success for anglers fishing from the bank as well. Savvy anglers, who study smallmouth movements and patterns, continue to catch nice fish, even without the new technology.

Gizzard shad and alewives and crawfish are favorites food sources of smallmouth bass here. Find schools of gizzard shad and alewives typically, or search out rocky and gravel shorelines where crawfish thrive, and there;s likely to be smallmouth bass in the area.

WINTER. Winter has isolated smallies around deeper structure, points, flats and creek channels, often suspending in open water above some of these features. Before, during and after ice fishing season, they can generally be found from 25 to 40 feet deep. Locals report catching nice fish around the mouths of Back Creek and the Jackson River in the upper section of the lake, as well as around along McClintic Point and Coles Point. Jigging spoons, tube baits, drop-shot worms, jigs and Ned rigs are tempting smallmouth to bite in deep water. I like to work these deeper haunts very slowly, as the bass are somewhat sluggish. Here they hold, feeding less frequently, awaiting warmer water to return in Spring.

SPRING. After ice out, when water temperatures rise into the 50's, smallmouth move from deep wintering spots to shallower water, just outside spawning areas. They feed heavily in 10 to 20 feet of water at this time, and are typically caught on jerkbaits, crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, and crayfish imitating plastics. Once water warms into the high 50's, they move into shallower water, 3 to 12 feet deep and create nests in gravel or sand areas, then lay their eggs. Some of the better spawning areas include protected, shallow flats and points in coves near the Forest Service campground, around the islands, and in the rocky cuts and drop offs near Coles Point. Females then move to deeper water and males remain to guard the eggs, and then the fry. After a couple weeks, the males also move into 15 to 20 feet deep, and feed aggressively. Crankbaits, tube baits, Ned rigs, plastic worms, spoons and swimbaits are catching smallies during this period.

SUMMER. Smallmouth bass typically feed shallow early and late in the day, in 10 to 20 feet of water. They are being caught on topwater, crankbaits, swimbaits, Ned rigs and tube baits. Smallmouth bass here feed on crawfish, gizzard shad, threadfin shad, and small sunfish. They prefer rocky or gravel bottom areas, as this is where crayfish live. Popular Summer holding areas include rip rap at the dam, as well as rocky points, humps and structure near the thermocline. During the hotter parts of the day, they are being caught on points, humps, and ledges around 20 to 35 feet deep. Often these deeper fish tend to school, so finding them can deliver some fast action. Anglers fishing the rocky points and ledges throughout the main basin, and the rock walls on Coles Point, are reporting good catches.

FALL. Once Fall arrives smallmouth move into coves and bays 6 to 20 feet deep. Popular areas include McClintic Point and Coles Point. Smallmouth thrive in the cooler, shallow water, which is an ideal environment for them. Locals report that tube jigs, and drop shot rigs with small worms or shad shaped plastics, are popular in 10' water or deeper. Worms, jigs, deep-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and slow-rolled spinnerbaits, are also successful, when bass are shallow to mid depth. Later in Fall, smallies move to slightly deeper water, around 10 to 35 feet deep.

Current Fishing Report: Good To Very Good

Black crappie are being caught using new technologies, reducing the amount of time it takes to locate schools. Forward-facing sonar is allowing anglers, fishing from a boat, to locate schools and focus fishing time on areas with good numbers of crappie. Anglers fishing from the bank still have to search via test casting, until a school is located. Then, they are catching them as anglers have for many decades, before the new electronics became available.

Crappie fishing has been on the rise here for both quantity and quality. Planted fish habitat, wood and vegetation are all good places to cast small crappie jigs or live minnows. Light tackle with 4 lb to 8 lb line is ideal. Anglers are reporting good success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie.

WINTER. The current water temperature is in the mid 30's. Now that the shallows have turned cold, crappie have migrated to deeper holding areas, mostly off shore. Currently they are being caught using a very slow presentation, in 15 to 25 feet of water. Most are caught around creek channel bends, submerged timber, deep brush piles, and main-lake structure. Good reports are coming from main basin points. Crappie will remain in these wintering spots during and after ice fishing. When they suspend in open water, they often relate to some cover, or structure change, directly below them. During warming trends, especially warm afternoons, they are drawn into 10 to 14 feet of water to feed.

SPRING. In early Spring, crappie begin staging in 10 to 15 feet of water, just outside spawning bays and shallow flats. Spring is prime time to be on the water, as crappie have moved shallow to spawn. At that time, they are typically caught in 5 to 10 feet of water. Vegetation, rip rap, docks, brush and wood are where most anglers catch crappie using small crappie jigs or live minnows. After the spawn, crappie typically move outside the spawning area and hold on cover close by, in 12 to 15 feet of water. Once they move deep, anglers report success using fish finders and forward facing sonar to locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover.

SUMMER. Water temperatures get quite warm, and crappie fishing is usually pretty good. They feed in 12 to 15 feet of water early and late in the day, until the hot Summer sun causes them to retreat to depths of 15 to 25 feet. Also, a few have embedded in the shade of slightly shallower vegetation. This is a good time to focus around brush piles, standing timber, deep lay downs, bridge pilings and deeper docks. Anglers are also locating schools of crappie hanging over deep structure and around creek channel edges, using fish-finder electronics.

FALL. As Fall begins warming the shallows, baitfish, move into shallow flats, coves and bays, which draws crappie into these areas. They will be feeding heavily in preparation for the cold Winter, in 8 to 15 feet of water. Minnows, hair jigs, and crappie jigs, are good options during this feeding marathon. Late Fall which turns the shallows cold, starts pushing crappie deeper, toward winter holding areas. Small flutter spoons, fished in 10 to 15 feet of water, are a good option during this transition. Good results typically come around points, creek channels, and brush piles. Brush piles, fallen trees, and vegetation edges are popular areas in Fall.

Current Fishing Report: Fair To Good

Feeding on alewives, gizzard shad and small fish, brown trout are excelling in Lake Moomaw. Weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other small offerings. Brown trout can be very aggressive, and put up a good battle. In addition to browns, rainbow and brook trout are also stocked periodically to maintain a favorable trout fishery.

WINTER. Winter has set in, and anglers are still catching a few browns before the lake freezes over. Once the ice is safe, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching most limits of brown trout, in 15 to 25 feet of water. After ice out, trolling, drift fishing and jigging spoons all work well. Slower presentations improve catch rates as these trout have a low metabolism in the colder months.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallower, warmer water. Annually, after ice-out, weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared offerings. They congregate around inflowing creeks, backwaters and onto flats - 15 to 25 feet deep. The most productive fishing happens from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmer part of the day.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 20 to 40 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallower in these low-light conditions. Trolling around river channel ledges and structure, using downriggers or leaded line, or drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Anglers fishing from the bank are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig to get baits into deeper water.

FALL. Cooling water temperatures again draw browns shallower. Successful anglers are catching them early in the season 12 to 15 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Brown trout spawn in the Fall. For browns to spawn, the Jackson River has to be flowing, as they don't spawn in the lake, only in rivers and streams. decent Decent catches are coming on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Once they have had a full summer to grow, it's a good time to catch a trophy. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.