Fishing Ground Opinions?

[bushwacker]

I have been trying to get down as much as possible. Long drive and 2 young kids make it though sometimes. I have been fishing BW and the dam area primarily since I started towards the end of last summer. I have been mapping out the lake and I am looking for opinions on what areas I should be targeting. My dock is located in the B4 area. From there I can get to the Dam, Cedar and craddock area pretty quick but I have not caught anything there. Bull run has been my go to as it is also a quick trip. I have caught more of my fish there (which hasn't been a lot), but I am not finding bait there. I have been running to the back of gills to look for bait. Back of Gills is 9.5 miles from my dock which is the same distance to Bekkys and bettys which I have not fished. I have been to the 4H center a couple times which is 12miles the same distance to halesford or I can be to Indian in 16 miles which is about the same as going to the head of BW. I feel like If I have to go to the back of Gills or poplar creek for bait then I need to fish BW due to giving me more time to fish and running to the roanoke side from there would be a haul. I am looking for opinions on where I should target bait and fish. Are there any areas in the lower lake that hold bait? Cool branch is located right around the corner from me but I haven't been back in there much. Thanks for any help also thanks to all that share reports and advice it has been very nice getting to connect with you. I hope to see some of you on the water this weekend. Holler at me if you see me. Blessings

[johnr]

I've never had much luck locating gizzards in the lower lake area. Though if I was in your area I would likely head to Craddock for bait, gizzards and alewives. The alewives are easy, the gizzards got to be in there somewhere as it's a pretty expansive creek system with good gizzard habitat in the backs. Of course, that doesn't put you any closer to fish for much of the year.

The upper ends of each river are obviously the go-to areas for gizzards. From there, you've gotta disect the major creeks and learn when and where gizzards will be using them. I don't have much experience with catching bait in the creeks below the Bridge and Gills, aside from Bull Run. Used to be plenty of gizzards in there and little bull.

If it was me down in your area, I'd try to find a reliable bait hole midway up one of the rivers and then just fish nearby. The fish will be there, especially in the spring.

Once May comes around, you'll be able to catch alewives and pretty much catch fish within view of your dock until fall. Heck, you can probably catch alewives and catch fish on the now just as good.

[coheasion]

If it was me down in your area, I'd try to find a reliable bait hole midway up one of the rivers and then just fish nearby.

Yup - that would be Gills creek.

But to echo what John said - give it another month and a half and all the guys way up the rivers will be headed your direction with tanks full of alewives.

[bushwacker]

Thanks guys. Thanks to Coheasion I have had luck in Gills and poplar. Bull run and little bull would be great they are within 5 miles of my dock. I just haven't seen much bait in Bull yet and haven't been in little Bull. I have been able to catch Alewives at my dock everytime down with the exception of the last trip at the beginning of march. They were there but were super spooked and would jet as soon as you stepped on the dock. Any Idea on how Becky and Betty's hold bait or Walton Creek, Merrimam run area around the state park?

[tracker1]

My normal bait spot on BW side has been in the very back of gills as well. I thought about trying in the very back of bull run this wknd since that was the area I plan on fishing but I may scratch that and stick with gills since you've had trouble finding bait in bull.

[coheasion]

From my limited Bull Run experience I think you would be much better off finding bait elsewhere.

[BentRod]

I've only tried to catch bait in Bull Run once out of curiosity bc I was told for years there wasn't much bait in there. This was last March and the end result was it was stacked full of gizzards - we took the one telling us there was no bait with us as a witness! I'm tempted to ride over again and see now - what do you say Yam?! Wanna go on a bait catching field trip?

[bushwacker]

Mar 22, 2017 14:18:19 GMT -5 BentRod said:

I've only tried to catch bait in Bull Run once out of curiosity bc I was told for years there wasn't much bait in there. This was last March and the end result was it was stacked full of gizzards - we took the one telling us there was no bait with us as a witness! I'm tempted to ride over again and see now - what do you say Yam?! Wanna go on a bait catching field trip?

That's great to hear. I hope there is bait there it is my closest creek.

[Yam]

Mar 22, 2017 14:18:19 GMT -5 BentRod said:

I've only tried to catch bait in Bull Run once out of curiosity bc I was told for years there wasn't much bait in there. This was last March and the end result was it was stacked full of gizzards - we took the one telling us there was no bait with us as a witness! I'm tempted to ride over again and see now - what do you say Yam?! Wanna go on a bait catching field trip?

That's like asking a crack head if they would like some crack.

[coheasion]

Well - if you guys go let me know cuz I want to see numbers of mongos being caught back there as I've been over and through the whole creek pretty much...with the exception of the ski course, and have marked verly little bait back there compared to some of the other creeks.

I WANT to eat some crow!

[BentRod]

Mar 23, 2017 6:37:34 GMT -5 coheasion said:

Well - if you guys go let me know cuz I want to see numbers of mongos being caught back there as I've been over and through the whole creek pretty much...with the exception of the ski course, and have marked verly little bait back there compared to some of the other creeks.

I WANT to eat some crow!

Every year is different and in general I think the Blackwater is less fertile than the Roanoke side, but Bull Run is one of the largest feeder creeks on the lake so there's almost a guarantee that it will hold forage and fish year round.

PS. Ski cove was loaded with gizzards last spring - very shallow - you'd never mark them as we had a hard time getting the boat to them. That doesn't mean squat this year but something to keep in mind.

[Gator]

Caught these right where Bentrod mentioned. Had 25 or so in 6 throws. They're in there.

[craddockcreek]

This is a great question, and as I've been trying to learn how to catch bait I've tried to focus on the lower lake given where I'm at. I talked to a guide trip focused largely on catching shad in the lower lake/hopefully Craddock. He joked about buying a lottery ticket if I caught much. He was fishing way up river at the time and so we didn't do it, but he discussed how the water in Craddock is generally pretty clear, and that as a result shad had less to feed on. I recall a post not long ago about shad flipping near Mariners Landing, but in the handful of times I've been back there I haven't found any. I am just learning side scan so maybe its me. My main goal this string is learn how to find shad in the lower lake. The reports above are encouraging.

[tblspoon]

Mar 22, 2017 14:18:19 GMT -5 BentRod said:

I've only tried to catch bait in Bull Run once out of curiosity bc I was told for years there wasn't much bait in there. This was last March and the end result was it was stacked full of gizzards - we took the one telling us there was no bait with us as a witness! I'm tempted to ride over again and see now - what do you say Yam?! Wanna go on a bait catching field trip?

I can't believe that you called Yam out.
I would love to see a shad contest. We can have everybody form a big circle with their boats and put the competitors in the center.

[bushwacker]

I will donate my bait tank for counting. Lol