Driving Map to Lake Anna - Click to Enlarge
| Lake Anna citation striper caught with Jim Hemby - July 2006 |
| Bob Hargis and friends with stripers and catfish caught with Jim Hemby of Lake Anna Striper Guide Service |
| Click Photos to Enlarge |
Lake Anna Overview
Lake Anna is a 9,600 acre impoundment located in the Northern Piedmont region.
It provides cooling water for the North Anna Nuclear Power Station. It is renowned
for its largemouth bass fishing and also offers excellent opportunities for
landlocked striped bass and crappie. It provides the best trophy largemouth bass
fishing of any of the major reservoirs in the state. Numerous citation fish (over 8
lbs) are caught each year and 10 lb fish are possible (an 11 lb 8 oz fish was
caught in 2003 and the lake record is 13 lbs). Due to its proximity to major
population centers (Northern VA and Richmond), the pleasure boat traffic is very
heavy during the summer months; however, fishing is still enjoyable from daylight
until around 11 am on summer weekends.
It provides cooling water for the North Anna Nuclear Power Station. It is renowned
for its largemouth bass fishing and also offers excellent opportunities for
landlocked striped bass and crappie. It provides the best trophy largemouth bass
fishing of any of the major reservoirs in the state. Numerous citation fish (over 8
lbs) are caught each year and 10 lb fish are possible (an 11 lb 8 oz fish was
caught in 2003 and the lake record is 13 lbs). Due to its proximity to major
population centers (Northern VA and Richmond), the pleasure boat traffic is very
heavy during the summer months; however, fishing is still enjoyable from daylight
until around 11 am on summer weekends.
Jim Hemby of Lake Anna Striper Guide Service provided the following Fishing
Report for July 2010. Visit Jim at www.jimhemby.com or call 540-967-3313.
JULY FISHING FORECAST FOR LAKE ANNA
STRIPERS: The days of July are Hot, the water temperature is Hot [90*], but the
Striper fishing is even Hotter and will continue to be for the rest of the month.
There are literally hundreds of schools of Stripers roaming the lake feeding
aggressively now. We are seeing acres upon acres of Stripers ranging from
above the splits down to the dam. July is the month when any angler can catch
Stripers on the lake, just pick your preferred method. Here are a few techniques to
try to cash in on this great fishery.
In low light conditions, the Stripers will be near the surface busting on the small
bait fry. When you see the action, ease up to the school, cut your big motor off 100
yards from the action and use your trolling motor to sneak up to the school
throwing Pencil Poppers, Chuggars, Spooks and plastic jerkbaits on top working
them as fast as you can. Please respect your fellow fisherman by not encroaching
on them in a manner to spook the school. You can also throw Sea Shads and
Berkley Hollow body swim baits under these breaking fish to catch some larger
Stripers. A ¾ oz Hopkins spoon can also be cast a long distance into the breaking
fish and retrieved as fast as you can across the surface. Vary your retrieve,
occasionally letting the spoon fall where you saw a fish boil and Hang On to your
rod. When the sun gets bright the fish will retreat to the depths and that is when
you must locate the schools on your Lowrance depthfinder. Once you locate them
you can use many methods to catch them. Many anglers simply troll Deep Diving
Redfins with a Bucktail tied to the middle hook holder on a 3' leader. Others troll
umbrella rigs and drop rigs. Some anglers locate the schools and vertically jig for
them using ¾ oz. Hopkins Spoons and Zoom Super Flukes rigged on a ¾ oz. jig
head. Simply drop the spoon to the bottom and jerk your pole up 2 to 3 feet and
follow the spoon back to the bottom. If the Stripers are suspended , note how
deep they are and measure out line to present your spoon in their face.
The most productive way to catch Stripers this month is to locate the schools and
put downlines rigged with Herring right in their face. Note the depth the fish are
using and count down your bait to that depth, engage your reel and get ready. This
is the tactic I use, it is common for my clients to experience 200 to 300 hits a
morning! When you use this method you can't keep up with the constant and
frantic action and this method usually produces the larger fish. To view our daily
catches, visit my journal at www.JimHemby.com .
BASS: By now the Bass have taken up residency in their summer haunts and are
predictable in their feeding patterns. In low light conditions, fish top water baits
[chuggars, prop baits, twitch baits, etc.] on main lake points, flats and humps.
Many fish will school in the mouths of creeks and on structures especially humps
and ledges where baitfish are present. After the sun gets bright the Bass will
retreat back to the depths using stumps, rock and brush piles, bridge pilings and
ledges as cover. To catch fish that don't see lures try fishing ledges that drop
sharply from 10 to 25'deep. Use your favorite lures [Carolina rigs, worms, drop
shots rigs, deep diving crankbaits, etc.] to catch the Bass. Once you catch one fish
you are likely to be on a school where you can catch numerous Bass. Parallel the
bluff banks and Rip Rap along the dikes and the roadbeds early with topwater
baits and change to crankbaits in brighter conditions to catch schooling Bass. Try
fishing deeper than you ever have to catch the larger fish. Up lake concentrate on
structure nearby the channels of the creeks. This is a great “Structure” lake and
now is the time of year when a good depthfinder is essential. Later in the month
Bass will be feeding heavily in the backs of the creeks and all the way up the
rivers nearby the schools of bait, usually on the ledges of the channels in water
depths ranging from 2 to 8 feet deep.
CRAPPIE: Most slabs have moved to deeper water now using bridge pilings,
brushpiles and ledges in 15 to 30 feet of water as holding areas. Also try fishing
the docks that have lights on them in deeper water. Use heavier jigs or slip
bobbers tipped with small minnows to catch the slabs this month. On the private
side of the lake the crappie are stacked up under the bridges. The best way to
catch these fish is to use a tandem crappie rig with 2 minnows, drop the rig down
to the depth you see the fish at on your depth finder, and once you start getting
double hookups mark your line at your reel with a magic marker. You will be able
to limit out very quickly using this method, and have a lot of fun in the process.
CATFISH: The Cats have moved to the 20 to 40 foot depths and are feeding on
Herring now. You can use live bait as well as cut bait to catch the fish. They are
either behind or underneath the schools of Stripers and can be located on your
depthfinder as arches on or just above the bottom on deep flats. There are so
many good eating size Cats in the lake, it is a great way to spend a couple of
hours catching fish and filling your freezer. Many anglers enjoy eating Catfish but
don’t like cleaning the fish. Instead of skinning the catfish the old way simply fillet
the fish like you do any other fish, remove any yellow meat and have a great fish fry.
Report for July 2010. Visit Jim at www.jimhemby.com or call 540-967-3313.
JULY FISHING FORECAST FOR LAKE ANNA
STRIPERS: The days of July are Hot, the water temperature is Hot [90*], but the
Striper fishing is even Hotter and will continue to be for the rest of the month.
There are literally hundreds of schools of Stripers roaming the lake feeding
aggressively now. We are seeing acres upon acres of Stripers ranging from
above the splits down to the dam. July is the month when any angler can catch
Stripers on the lake, just pick your preferred method. Here are a few techniques to
try to cash in on this great fishery.
In low light conditions, the Stripers will be near the surface busting on the small
bait fry. When you see the action, ease up to the school, cut your big motor off 100
yards from the action and use your trolling motor to sneak up to the school
throwing Pencil Poppers, Chuggars, Spooks and plastic jerkbaits on top working
them as fast as you can. Please respect your fellow fisherman by not encroaching
on them in a manner to spook the school. You can also throw Sea Shads and
Berkley Hollow body swim baits under these breaking fish to catch some larger
Stripers. A ¾ oz Hopkins spoon can also be cast a long distance into the breaking
fish and retrieved as fast as you can across the surface. Vary your retrieve,
occasionally letting the spoon fall where you saw a fish boil and Hang On to your
rod. When the sun gets bright the fish will retreat to the depths and that is when
you must locate the schools on your Lowrance depthfinder. Once you locate them
you can use many methods to catch them. Many anglers simply troll Deep Diving
Redfins with a Bucktail tied to the middle hook holder on a 3' leader. Others troll
umbrella rigs and drop rigs. Some anglers locate the schools and vertically jig for
them using ¾ oz. Hopkins Spoons and Zoom Super Flukes rigged on a ¾ oz. jig
head. Simply drop the spoon to the bottom and jerk your pole up 2 to 3 feet and
follow the spoon back to the bottom. If the Stripers are suspended , note how
deep they are and measure out line to present your spoon in their face.
The most productive way to catch Stripers this month is to locate the schools and
put downlines rigged with Herring right in their face. Note the depth the fish are
using and count down your bait to that depth, engage your reel and get ready. This
is the tactic I use, it is common for my clients to experience 200 to 300 hits a
morning! When you use this method you can't keep up with the constant and
frantic action and this method usually produces the larger fish. To view our daily
catches, visit my journal at www.JimHemby.com .
BASS: By now the Bass have taken up residency in their summer haunts and are
predictable in their feeding patterns. In low light conditions, fish top water baits
[chuggars, prop baits, twitch baits, etc.] on main lake points, flats and humps.
Many fish will school in the mouths of creeks and on structures especially humps
and ledges where baitfish are present. After the sun gets bright the Bass will
retreat back to the depths using stumps, rock and brush piles, bridge pilings and
ledges as cover. To catch fish that don't see lures try fishing ledges that drop
sharply from 10 to 25'deep. Use your favorite lures [Carolina rigs, worms, drop
shots rigs, deep diving crankbaits, etc.] to catch the Bass. Once you catch one fish
you are likely to be on a school where you can catch numerous Bass. Parallel the
bluff banks and Rip Rap along the dikes and the roadbeds early with topwater
baits and change to crankbaits in brighter conditions to catch schooling Bass. Try
fishing deeper than you ever have to catch the larger fish. Up lake concentrate on
structure nearby the channels of the creeks. This is a great “Structure” lake and
now is the time of year when a good depthfinder is essential. Later in the month
Bass will be feeding heavily in the backs of the creeks and all the way up the
rivers nearby the schools of bait, usually on the ledges of the channels in water
depths ranging from 2 to 8 feet deep.
CRAPPIE: Most slabs have moved to deeper water now using bridge pilings,
brushpiles and ledges in 15 to 30 feet of water as holding areas. Also try fishing
the docks that have lights on them in deeper water. Use heavier jigs or slip
bobbers tipped with small minnows to catch the slabs this month. On the private
side of the lake the crappie are stacked up under the bridges. The best way to
catch these fish is to use a tandem crappie rig with 2 minnows, drop the rig down
to the depth you see the fish at on your depth finder, and once you start getting
double hookups mark your line at your reel with a magic marker. You will be able
to limit out very quickly using this method, and have a lot of fun in the process.
CATFISH: The Cats have moved to the 20 to 40 foot depths and are feeding on
Herring now. You can use live bait as well as cut bait to catch the fish. They are
either behind or underneath the schools of Stripers and can be located on your
depthfinder as arches on or just above the bottom on deep flats. There are so
many good eating size Cats in the lake, it is a great way to spend a couple of
hours catching fish and filling your freezer. Many anglers enjoy eating Catfish but
don’t like cleaning the fish. Instead of skinning the catfish the old way simply fillet
the fish like you do any other fish, remove any yellow meat and have a great fish fry.
Virginia Outdoors - A Resource for Virginia Anglers and Hunters
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Fishing Lake Anna
Lake Anna Fishing Guides
Largemouth Bass: February - April provide the best chance at a trophy; however,
the bass fishing is normally good throughout the year. In the summer months,
bass congregate at predictable locations near structure. These areas may be
fished slowly and methodically. Deep diving crankbaits and Carolina and Texas
rigged plastics work well. During the spring and fall, it is important to cover more
water. The lake is heavily developed. Flipping and skipping soft plastics around
boat docks is always a good bet - especially for newcomers to the lake - and the
water willow beds in the mid-lake region and North Anna arms are worth a try with
spinnerbaits and weightless plastics. Uplake (above the "Splits" area where the
North Anna and Pamunkey arms come together) typically has stained water while
the water becomes increasingly clear moving downlake. The uplake region has
the highest density of bass and crappie.
Striped Bass: Several hundred thousand fingerling striped bass are stocked each
year. The striper fishing continues to improve and attract more anglers. In the
spring and fall, the stripers move uplake where they may be targeted by casting
swim baits (Sassy Shad, Shad Assassin, Storm Lures). In the summer months,
the fish are most commonly targeted in the mid-lake region using live bait and
trolling deep-diving crankbaits (Cordell Redfins and Norman DD-22s). Live bait
may be caught using a cast net. An easier choice is purchasing jumbo minnows
sold by the major marinas on the lake. Throughout the year, low light conditions
(dawn, dusk, overcast days) are the best times to fish.
the bass fishing is normally good throughout the year. In the summer months,
bass congregate at predictable locations near structure. These areas may be
fished slowly and methodically. Deep diving crankbaits and Carolina and Texas
rigged plastics work well. During the spring and fall, it is important to cover more
water. The lake is heavily developed. Flipping and skipping soft plastics around
boat docks is always a good bet - especially for newcomers to the lake - and the
water willow beds in the mid-lake region and North Anna arms are worth a try with
spinnerbaits and weightless plastics. Uplake (above the "Splits" area where the
North Anna and Pamunkey arms come together) typically has stained water while
the water becomes increasingly clear moving downlake. The uplake region has
the highest density of bass and crappie.
Striped Bass: Several hundred thousand fingerling striped bass are stocked each
year. The striper fishing continues to improve and attract more anglers. In the
spring and fall, the stripers move uplake where they may be targeted by casting
swim baits (Sassy Shad, Shad Assassin, Storm Lures). In the summer months,
the fish are most commonly targeted in the mid-lake region using live bait and
trolling deep-diving crankbaits (Cordell Redfins and Norman DD-22s). Live bait
may be caught using a cast net. An easier choice is purchasing jumbo minnows
sold by the major marinas on the lake. Throughout the year, low light conditions
(dawn, dusk, overcast days) are the best times to fish.
Lake Anna Fishing Report
|
| Great catch of stripers and a citation largemouth by clients of Jim Hemby in April 2008 |
| Beautiful 21 lb striper caught by client of Jim Hemby on April 3, 2007 |
| Copyright © 2009 Virginia Outdoors, LLC Ruckersville, VA |
Virginia Outdoors - Lake Anna
Other Useful Links and Info
Marinas and Boat Ramps:
Sturgeon Creek Marina: (540) 895-5095
Anna Point Marina: (540) 895-5900
High Point Marina: (540) 895-5249
Hunter's Landing: (540) 854-5756
Lake Anna State Park (Boat Launch, Swimming, Picnic Area): (540) 854-5503
Camping and Lodging:
Christopher Run Campground: (540) 894-4744
Lighthouse Inn: (540) 895-5249
Sturgeon Creek Marina: (540) 895-5095
Anna Point Marina: (540) 895-5900
High Point Marina: (540) 895-5249
Hunter's Landing: (540) 854-5756
Lake Anna State Park (Boat Launch, Swimming, Picnic Area): (540) 854-5503
Camping and Lodging:
Christopher Run Campground: (540) 894-4744
Lighthouse Inn: (540) 895-5249
| Featured Article: Where to Catch Virginia's Trophy Largemouth Bass |
| Owen Burkholder with a 16", 2.5 lb citation crappie caught April 5, 2008 |
| Steve Will with a 30" striper caught April 5, 2008 |
