Fishing Lake Anna

AKA: Anna Lake

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Lake Anna Fishing Video
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Lake Anna, VA

Popular Fish Species Lake Anna, VA

Black Crappie Fishing

Black crappie reside in good numbers throughout Lake Anna, and they are averaging a very good size this year. Crappie fishing is excellent using live bait and small jigs, which are the most common method for crappie here. Crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water. White crappie, in smaller numbers, also make this lake their home.

Striped Bass Fishing

Due to their large size, striped bass are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at Lake Anna. They are plentiful, run in schools and can grow to bragging size. Blueback herring and threadfin shad are the primary baitfish in the lake, and are a favorite food source of stripers. n Spring and Fall work the upper end of the lake where water is flowing into the lake. Look for deeper water in the river channel, as a holding place for stripers. In Summer and Winter, stripers hang out in deeper water during the day and feed close to the bottom, 50 feet or deeper. Morning often draws the stripers to the much shallower water, look for them around the 20-foot range as they feed on shallow-running schools of bait. The lake is filled with plenty of baitfish and sunfish to to keep the fishery thriving. Being successful at fishing for stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and the wolf packs of stripers which are likely to be nearby. Fish finders, and forward facing sonar, are a big help in locating these roaming schools. Live bait is very effective here, and stripers can be caught year round. Hybrid stripers also populate the waters of Lake Anna.

Largemouth Bass Fishing

Lake Anna has always been a great destination for largemouth bass fishing. Lately the fishing here for bass has been quite good, and should continue throughout the year. Many big bass roam Lake Anna, thanks to excellent fisheries management by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, as well as the availability of extensive cover for both baitfish and bass. When the bite is good, bass typically move shallow and are quite aggressive. If you find them shallow and they are not tempted to bite, slow down and use smaller, lighter baits. Fishing for largemouth bass is good virtually any time they are shallow - in spring, mornings in summer, and during warm Fall afternoons. Use shallow crankbaits around rip rap. Around grass use worms, jigs, topwater and spinnerbaits. In deeper water, big worms, jigs and spoons are three good weapons. In winter, spend your time fishing Lake Anna on deeper structure where the bass spend much of their time. Smallmouth bass and spotted bass also reside here in good numbers.

Lake Anna Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, white catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, redear sunfish, redbreast sunfish, white perch, striped bass and hybrid striped bass at Lake Anna in Virginia.

Although it known as a bass fishing lake, Lake Anna is also an outdoors vacationland for the whole family. And, in addition to bass, the lake has quality populations of crappie, walleye, stripers, catfish, hybrid striped bass and several species of sunfish.

This is a 9,600-acre lake in the northeast part of the state, at Bumpass, VA. Fishing enthusiasts will find 250 miles of shoreline, much of which has aquatic vegetation to hold fish. There are also a significant number of boat docks along the deeper stretches of bank. A few areas around the lake are accessible for fishing from the bank. Bring a fishing boat, pleasure boat, pontoon, kayak or canoe and launch using the boat ramps at marinas, campgrounds, and the Lake Anna State Park. Some VA fishing guides offer guided trips on Lake Anna with all gear furnished. Marinas, stores, camping, lodging and boat rentals are available at or nearby the lake.

Fishing Report

Primary fish species residing in Lake Anna

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

Lake Anna Amenities

Marina: YES
Boat Rental: YES
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: YES
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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