Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – February 2006

Blue Ridge: Level: 14.6 feet below full pool. Temp: 48-54 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Early and late, try a No. 5 or No. 7 firetiger Shad Rap on rocky main-lake points to catch smallmouths, said J.R. Donalson. He likes to find windblown points with a little dingy water to throw the crankbait. If the fish won’t take the crankbait, J.R. will fall back to a chartreuse twister-tail grub and swim it slowly along the top of the rocks. Guide Nathan Lewis said on windy days a glass-colored Shad Rap is a good bet for smallmouths on rocky points, and you can cover a lot of water looking for active fish. If the wind dies, try tube jigs or a four-inch worm on a drop-shot, and slow down.

Walleye: Slow. “We were catching them earlier in the year on jigging spoons, but they have disappeared lately,” said Nathan. “They may be heading up the river, but so far I have not been able to find them.” Nathan said expect to catch an occasional walleye throwing small crankbaits or curly-tails on the bank early and late in the day.

Perch: A new lake record of 1-lb., 7.4-ozs. was set recently by Jessie McKeral (see page 78). Nathan Lewis reports catching fatter-than-usual perch on jigging spoons in 20 to 40 feet of water. The average size is up.