Crazy weather had us out on the hotside in 40mph winds and 75 degree temps.  Water was between 60-65 and although we saw a lot of beds, there were no fish on them.  Caught a few shallow on the Ned rig and a #yamamoto Cali Roll as well as a bunch that had pulled out deeper on humps.  My biggest came on a dropshot rigged with a #yamamoto Shad Shape Worm.  Was a 50 fish day with a lot of small bucks and we fought the wind but for some reason I think it really turned them on but if I had to guess, the spawn has not happened and with our predicted 40 degree temps and sleet this week, it might keep them pushed off.  As usual, I’m probably going to miss the spawn because we are getting ready to head down to Florida to visit relatives.  Here’s a few pics from our day.

Great Job!!

My grandson moved to the Lake Anna area recently and I can’t wait to check that place out!!

 

I may ask a few basic questions about it in the coming months as I know nothing about it. ?

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

7 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Great Job!!

My grandson moved to the Lake Anna area recently and I can’t wait to check that place out!!

 

I may ask a few basic questions about it in the coming months as I know nothing about it. ?

 

 

 

 

 

Mike

If you can get access, the hot side is a life saver in the winter months.  Since it’s private, there no public launch.  The cold side is putting out some monster bags right now as well.  That side is public with lots of launch options.  Feel free to ask away when the time comes.  

Thanks Pal!

 

 

 

 

Mike

Nice work Toxic!! We're headed down the week after next for our annual trip.  Any insight you might have for the hot side, I'm all ears!!

1 hour ago, BigTerp said:

Nice work Toxic!! We're headed down the week after next for our annual trip.  Any insight you might have for the hot side, I'm all ears!!

Thanks.  I’m hesitant to give you any specifics because that’s 2 weeks out and that side is right in the beginning of a pattern change.  You “might” find them on the beds up in the creeks.  We saw the beds last week and I’m not going out this week and next week I will be driving to Florida.  If you want some steady producers, Ned rigs with your favorite baits as long as they are green pumpkin or some combo of green pumpkin red.flake.  Pound the banks and first drops up in all of the creeks and under docks.  We like Compton and Elk creeks.  Dropshots with the same colors as the Ned baits.  Personally, I use all Yamamoto either a 5” kut tail or pro Senko or a Shad Shape Worm in goby or green pumpkin black fleck on the dropshot and a Cali Roll on the Ned.  If you are good with blade baits graph the pools and look for schools.  Drop straight down on them and jig the blade.  

On 3/11/2022 at 4:13 PM, TOXIC said:

Thanks.  I’m hesitant to give you any specifics because that’s 2 weeks out and that side is right in the beginning of a pattern change.  You “might” find them on the beds up in the creeks.  We saw the beds last week and I’m not going out this week and next week I will be driving to Florida.  If you want some steady producers, Ned rigs with your favorite baits as long as they are green pumpkin or some combo of green pumpkin red.flake.  Pound the banks and first drops up in all of the creeks and under docks.  We like Compton and Elk creeks.  Dropshots with the same colors as the Ned baits.  Personally, I use all Yamamoto either a 5” kut tail or pro Senko or a Shad Shape Worm in goby or green pumpkin black fleck on the dropshot and a Cali Roll on the Ned.  If you are good with blade baits graph the pools and look for schools.  Drop straight down on them and jig the blade.  

Thanks man!! We have always had trouble finding a reliable pattern over there. Not sure if it's just the nature of the hot side or the fact that we are down there this time of year, ever year, where it's right in the middle of a transition period. I'll be sure to let you know how we do. Again, thanks for the tips, much appreciated!! 

Oh, and I almost forgot, they have one of the reactors shut down for an outage so they are not pumping any water.  That is not good.  It seems to affect even the creek fish that are not directly exposed to it.  You can check online for the reactor status and output temps as well as the different pool temps. 

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

Oh, and I almost forgot, they have one of the reactors shut down for an outage so they are not pumping any water.  That is not good.  It seems to affect even the creek fish that are not directly exposed to it.  You can check online for the reactor status and output temps as well as the different pool temps. 

 

Yeah, we are down there every year during maintenance time (end of March). The way they schedule it we've only been down there twice with both reactors at 100% in the past 7 years (2017 & 2020). One of those years was the only one where we got on a sizeable school and were able to keep on them for 2 days. I'm sure the increased "current" makes a difference. 

 

As far as temps go, I always keep an eye on the output temp as we approach our trip. They stopped providing actual temps for the various pools several years ago and now publish temps based on historical data. I find those estimated temps to be far too low based on reports from others and our own experience on the lake. 

We get current temps from this site…

 

 

Fished the hot side from last Wednesday through Saturday. Water temps were from low 60's in pool three to high 60's/low 70's in pool 2 up towards canal 1. We didn't venture into poll 1 at all. Found plenty of fish in shallow(ish) near wood. When the wind picked up the last 2 days, wind blown secondary points were the ticket. Saw a few fish on beds in the creeks/coves of pool 2 and 3, but not so many as to say the spawn is in full swing. Ned rig in green pumpkin was the clear winner accounting for I'd say 90% of our fish. If it wasn't green pumpkin, it wouldn't get bit. We only found crappie on day 1 and that was under Millpond bridge. Accounted for a bunch of nice crappie, but we couldn't get on them after that. Overall it was one of our better years in terms of numbers for bass. 

Glad you had a good trip.  I’ve been on the beach in Florida for a week, then spent some time in Savannah on our trip back to Virginia. 

Depending on the weather, we will be heading back out there Saturday or possibly to the Rappahonock.  Too much rain and the rap will be off limits.