Blue Ridge: Level: 9.1 feet below full pool. Temp: High 40s to low 50s. Clarity: Clear.
Smallmouths: Good. Eric Crowley, with Lake and Stream Guide Service, reports, “March on Blue Ridge is all about two things — crawfish and climbing temps. The crawfish will start to gather for the spawn, and the smallies love crawfish. This month you can target smallmouths with a number of baits and methods. I like a slow retrieve until the water temps come up a bit. Anything red is key. Crankbaits in the red-crawfish pattern will work well this month. Look for rocky areas with a sand or mud bottom, and watch the sonar. The fish will be in smaller groups of three or four fish on the graph. These fish cruise the edges of the rocks looking for the crawfish. Cast parallel to the rocks, and retrieve as slow as you can while keeping the bait down. We have been seeing some fish busting in the morning but only on the warmer sunny days. Look for this activity to increase as the month goes by. The smallies and the white bass will start chasing the bait up to the top, and this will be the official start to spring if you fish Blue Ridge. Pre-frontal fishing will be the best pattern until we are well into March. This can be a good month for fishing, but it can also be hit or miss. Stick with it, and follow the baitfish. As always on Blue Ridge, watch for debris floating down river this time of year. With the storms and strong rains, trees and tree limbs will be washing down river.”
