Anglers have reported better with catches in the 4-5 pound range. Since implementation of a 16-24 slot limit, abundance of bass in the slot has tripled and remained consistent. The reservoir has a number of large arms with plenty of interesting contour and structure. All Rights Reserved. Although not nearly as abundant as in nearby Chickahominy Lake, Bowfin in Diascund provide excitement and trophy potential. Spotted Bass with a Leland's Crappie Magnet Jig Heads, 5 lb. Anglers can find Largemouth Bass in coves, but the best places are Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower end. Daytime trolling has produced some
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"NoU4ql%d[?;/|_55>3#rR; Reduced stocking success and regulation changes reduced overall numbers of stripers, but that improved the forage and growth rates. Improved growth has allowed Striped Bass to grow better, and the catch of fish > 30 has doubled since 2016. Sampling in spring 2021 revealed good numbers and good size structure. Stocking will continue for at least several more years and will continue to be evaluated with electrofishing and tournament samples to determine if stocking benefits are worth the investment. Best Tools, Gear and Gadgets to Have on Your Boat, ISLE Sportsman Review: Fishing From a High-End Paddle Board. `~X1a[Ho8Gl|'-GLFH'F#[B5HIqoJu{~!
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\=/c8|l Flathead Catfish up to 30 pounds, and Channel Catfish up to 15 pounds can be caught. From September 16 to June 30, Striped Bass and Hybrid Striped Bass must be 20 inches long to be harvested and anglers are allowed to keep 2 per day combined. The Department maintains ramps at Allisonia (in the upper lake area) and near the entrance to the state park (Dublin Ramp). The most popular sportfish are Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, hybrid Striped Bass, Black Crappie, catfish, and sunfish. The 2020 survey was consistent with past years showing an abundance of medium size Bluegill and Redear Sunfish. Anglers here will find a wide variety of species that can provide an enjoyable day on the water. Limits of rockfish and 21 lingcod. An experimental Largemouth Bass stocking program was initiated in 2015 to determine if supplemental stocking of F1 bass in Virginias larger lakes can improve populations. Location. and memorable size (> 20) was 0.4/hr. The positive trend was likely a function of increases in primary productivity and habitat improvements related to the return of aquatic vegetation (both submersed and emergent). Most Bluegill are small with sizes ranging from 3-9, but most are 4-6. With the possibility of catching Smallmouth, Largemouth, and Spotted Bass, Claytor Lake is popular with nearly 67% of lake anglers fishing for these three species of black bass. The eventual goal of the supplemental stockings is to increase the overall top-end size potential. The crappie population has been generally consistent for both number and size. There are still some Flathead Catfish, although they are not abundant. Bass up to age-16 were found in 2019 in an age study prior to F1 supplemental stocking. Fishing for Walleye may continue to be somewhat challenging in 2021, but there are good numbers of 18 to 20 fish. During spring 2019 electrofishing, 69% of the Largemouth Bass collected over 8 inches Largemouth Bass are abundant with good numbers of fish up to 17. Walleye: 5 per day with no length restrictions. The striper population was too high from 2010-2015 resulting in a depleted forage base and severely reduced growth. Campgrounds: YES Crappie. 29 yellowtail, 44 reds, and 100 whitefish. Brown trout to almost six pounds are being caught on live minnows at night, under the lights. Learn More, 09/21/2022
660 of Dublin The combined catch rate of Walleye and saugeye (measured as the number collected per net set overnight) in 2021 (9.5 /net night) represented a 33% increase compared to 2020 (6.4 /net night). However, survival of triploids may be lower than diploids traditionally stocked. and fell further behind 2019 (117/hr.). Surveys in 2021 followed up on fast growing saugeye with females pushing 4-4.5 pounds in just 2.5 years. Largemouth Bass in the 24 pound range are still common; however, density of those over four pounds has declined somewhat mainly due to reduced productivity of the system. 603 Bridge at the upper end. Learn More, Get Special Offers Delivered Right to Your Inbox. This body of water was created in 1939 and is named after a former Vice President of Appalachian Power, Graham Claytor, Sr. Collections by biologists in 2019 yielded the highest catch rates of Largemouth Bass > 20 ever. Community electrofishing is conducted every other year to assess the fishery and is next scheduled for 2022. Premier Angler - The World Lives Outdoors. Smallmouth Bass are present but in lower numbers and are typically caught in deeper water. hXnF5A @[ XLTUn%)6m*>jg9;{sf`X2#Q)az9]I3gBxHLI/!x
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Four additional years of stocking will be conducted in an attempt to improve top end size structure. From the I-81 exit ramp, take Route 605 (Little River Dam Road). Chickahominy Lake continues to produce an abundance of 4-6 pound Bowfin with a chance at a citation over 10 pounds. Additionally, DWR experimented with stocking steelhead Rainbow Trout from 2009 2017. During the electrofishing sample in spring 2021, 41% of largemouth collected >8 were also over 15. Electrofishing catch rates of bass >15 are similar to neighboring Smith Mountain Lake. Tournament bass > 4 pounds were 13% stocked. Black Crappie in the 12-17 range were abundant, and as a result; prospects for anglers pursuing crappie looks good in 2022. Anglers can also find excitement from Longnose Gar and Chain Pickerel. Anglers are reminded the minimum size for saugeye and Walleye is 18 at 5/day in aggregate. This fishery has an increasing abundance of larger fish that have been foraging on juvenile shad. 13 oz. Flannagan Reservoir should provide anglers with good bass fishing in 2021, especially for Largemouth Bass. Bluegill are numerous throughout the lake providing action when other species are not biting. The easiest way to get to Harrys Point from I-81 is to take the Route 605 exit (near the south end of Radford), and then follow the brown trailblazer signs to Harry DeHaven Park. Stripers - Still some night fishing from midnight till 2:30 AM bucktails and rapalas F-18 still the baits of choice. The best fishing is on the upper end of the lake and in the lower creek arms, especially during high water in spring. Since they tolerate higher temperatures, hybrids often chase schools of shad at the surface at night in summer. Eighty-three percent were over 12, and 44% exceeded 15. }7 k!r?u) |-:+8zAdX5upoqebnJv&:;9h's&8 With catches of 20 to 30 pound Common Carp possible, anglers from as far away as England come to fish here. Catch rates are good, with an average of 1.2/hr. %PDF-1.6
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Large and small mouth bass fishing tournaments are a regular seasonal event at Claytor Lake with weights of 15 to 20 lb per fisherman being an average winning catch. In partnership with Appalachian Power Company, Claytor Lake State Park, Friends of Claytor Lake, and the Virginia BASS Nation, DWR fisheries biologists have worked to enhance fish habitat across Claytor Lake. ^J+y336/{CrmW`|-g*i#xhmGjY\u(;2">. tMN{ktl$.W7lk@7_OZ{_7L~Xn$4,oJ]Z/@KTJ4dc"dfv2}EsQWrl.Ydr[97]fv=MV-s;T&d\Of/|c&I' 1
This fishery has the capacity to produce some respectable fish, but recent surveys have failed to yield many bass over 6 pounds. The number of crappie collected in DWR sampling did decline in 2018-2020 compared to the previous 6 years. The community has seen a relatively recent shift from Yellow Perch to White Perch. Using this web site acknowledges your agreement to the, Stripers, 14-16 pounds, are taking live shad. Anglers can also catch decent numbers of Black Crappie and sunfish. Smallmouth Bass are less abundant, and anglers targeting this species should focus on the lower lake. The Striped Bass population is recovering well with high densities of stripers from the 2018 year class. Both of these species are throughout the lake, but Channel Catfish are more abundant in the upper third. Steelhead appear to have not done as well as McConaughy Rainbow Trout that were previously stocked. Chickahominy Lake is a popular destination for anglers who enjoy fishing a 1,230-acre reservoir with plenty of habitat and cover. Thirty percent of all Largemouth Bass collected were > 15, and 45% of Smallmouth Bass measured at least 14. Learn More, 09/21/2022
Catfish are abundant with the most common species being Channel and Blue Catfish. NOTE: THERE IS A COST OF $7 TO PARK AT THE STATE PARK. During fall, winter, and summer, look for schools in the same areas where stripers hang out. along with two saugeye. Channel Catfish were the fourth most harvested fish with an estimated 2,692 fish. Claytor Lake State Park The night survey also yielded a fair abundance of 10-19 bass. Subscribe and save by Joining Sportsman's Warehouse newsletter. Several small islands, numerous large points, and bridge crossings all add to the extreme variability of the topography. White bass are schooled, taking topwater baits. Field staff The yellows are eating anything from fly-line sardine and dropper-loop to the surface iron and yoyo jigs. The reservoir has potential to produce citation Yellow Perch and Black Crappie, and anglers with good electronics can sometimes find these schools. Of those, 94% were legal (>10). Anglers who are familiar with Claytor Lake are asked to suggest changes using the link above. Fortunately, Walleye were stocked in Flannagan in 2019 and 2020 which should help the population rebound soon. During your visit you can fish for bass, catfish, walleye and muskie from shore, boat or the universally accessible fishing pier. Both of these bass species eat a lot of Bluegill as well as some Alewife and Gizzard Shad, so they may also hit lures that imitate fish. HTKo0WF$y)*CJ4gffJog{|>6OB This new format should result in consistent recruitment and abundance of legal fish (nearly 200,000 stocked annually). Eighty-seven percent of adults were 18 inches, and 32% exceeded 20. There is often thick Hydrilla growth along shorelines in most northern creek arms from June-November. Anglers can find Largemouth Bass in coves throughout the lake, but the best places to fish are Peak Creek, Clapboard Hollow, and large coves in the lower lake area. Intensive forage stocking of 1-3 Bluegill annually since 2015 has resulted in a 20% increase in forage abundance.
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