Good spots for bait around Hardy? New to SML

[iasus]

Hey guys, first time posting here. I am a Virginia Tech student originally from Marion and I finally decided to bring my boat up here to give it a go this Monday and/or Wednesday morning for what I hope is a good learning experience on a new lake and maybe a slight chance at a few stripers! I have been hooked on striper fishing for the past few years and mostly fished Claytor Lake and Lake Norman(pre-kill) for them so I've got a few spots mapped out already on where I'll fish the upper end of the river. I will be launching from Hardy and my only concern is bait. From what I have read on here it seems you stand a pretty good chance of netting bait in the cove at the ramp... is this true? On most other lakes I have fished there always seems to be a few "go-to" coves with creeks running in to them that hold bait almost every morning. Are there any good spots like that around Hardy that I should check if I can't find any by the ramp? I've got fairly good electronics, but my net is only 9' diameter and medium weight so I'm mostly only able to net bait down to about 12-15 feet. Thanks for any information you guys can give me and hopefully I can post a few pictures after the trip!

[mwardncsu]

I've not been up that way this Spring but I'd check the cove under the railroad Tressles down a bit from Hardy after you cross the flat. May be some around the Marina or in the cove just below Hardy bridge as well.

[iasus]

thanks, yea I was gonna go down river so hopefully there's bait plenty and early

[iasus]

After talking to a few people who have been out on the lake in the past couple of days I might try to go a little further down than expected tomorrow. Is there a launch between Hardy and Hales? Heard about some place called Mormans, but I can't find it in any searches. Don't mind paying a couple of bucks either to launch. Thanks for the info!

[BentRod]

Moormans isn't far at all from Hardy, but you can put in there also. It's off Goodview Rd.

[mwardncsu]

Moormans is a private "campground" that has a ramp which I believe is open to the public with a pay box. It is on the Bedford side not that far down from Hardy - by water you go through the flat below Hardy, down past the tressles, make the right and Moormans is there on the left - not sure exactly how you get there by road.

No other public ramps before you get to the public ramp below the bridge in the WaterWheel cove. There is a steep ramp at the hotel in Indian which you may be able to use for a fee. Some of the guys here may know the status on that - Ron is the guy that runs the hotel - I think he's open for the season now - you could give him a call - Westlake Waterfront Inn.

[HokieChad]

Moormans isn't too hard to find by road. When you get to Roanoke, you will take the RT 24/Elm Ave exit off I581. The road will change names several times but will remain as Rt 24 all the way out toward Vinton. Continue on Rt 24 (you will pass through Vinton) and when you pass the Blue Ridge Parkway you will be on Rt 24 for about 3.5 more miles. You will get to an intersection out on Rt 24 and take a right on Goodview Rd. Follow Goodview Rd for 3.5 miles and there will be a small sign on the right for Moormans. It is a gravel road that will snake down to the lake. You should be able to catch bait near Moormans ramp.

[YAKforTHEM]

Moormans is easy to find..Hokie's directions are spot on. Went there Sunday and there were tons of 8-10 inch gizzards all around the ramp dock and the surrounding banks/ docks. Talked to owner of hotel at Indian point as well on Sunday. He said its 10bucks to use if not staying at the hotel. Office is located on the back/water side of the hotel, bottom level. He told me that if he wasn't there in the office, just slide a note with the 10$ and your plate number under the door. Nice newer ramp..it's on the point towards the left when you drive down. Good luck. BTW.. Directions there are easy, just look up hotel or Indian point Marina (now called something else but still comes up under the search)

[iasus]

Just got in from a great day of fishing. Thanks for the advice and directions guys! Ended up taking Moorman's and the 8-10 inchers are still there. Took a bit to get with the rain and muddy water, but I didn't run in to feeding striper until about a mile down river in a cove. They were hitting left and right on planar boards set 8 feet down with split shots. I'll definitely be back!

[rubberworm]

Stay in the Beaverdam area and you won't go wrong....Was there yesterday most of the day and caught 8...Most were in the slot but two were not....Striper were stacked in waters around the Islands about Marker BE 9 I think...We moved around some and I might be mistaken on the marker... Lots of boats in there with planning boards, some with as many as 9 lines in the water. They were catching fish also......We caught most in the AM before noon but most of the time we had it all to ourselfs...Boats came in around 12 or 1.... Hope you catch them on Wednesday............

[iasus]

Ended up doing pretty well on wednesday. Once again found the fish at the first point and ended up not making it down to the islands although we did go back there to get more bait. Had problems finding bait at Moorman's... where do people normally get bait up around that area? I figure next time I might just head straight to the back of beaverdam for bait.