I've spent the lot of time exploring lake anna fishing hot spots, and if there's one thing I've learned, it's that this lake offers a bit of a split character. Whether you're the local or simply hauling your motorboat in for the weekend, you most likely know that Lake Anna is usually divided into 2 very different sides: the "public" side and the "private" side. Because of the North Anna Power Station, the water temperatures can differ wildly between the two, which means the fish behave differently depending on to drop your line.
If you're looking to really land something worth bragging about, you can't just throw a lure anywhere and hope regarding the best. You need to know where the structures are, where the current flows, plus how the water temperature is impacting the baitfish. Let's dive into a few of the almost all reliable areas that have consistently produced for me over the years.
The Magic of the "Warm Side"
Men and women talk about lake anna fishing hot spots, the private side—often called the "warm side"—is usually the first thing that will comes up. This particular area is essentially a giant air conditioning pond for the particular power plant, meaning the water stays significantly warmer than the particular rest of the particular lake, even within the dead of winter.
One of the particular most legendary spots here is Dike several . Because the water is constantly moving and staying warm, the metabolic process of the seafood here stays high all year longer. You'll find largemouth bass that are a lot more active in January than they have any ideal to be. The present near the dikes attracts schools associated with baitfish, and exactly where the food goes, the predators adhere to. If you may obtain access to the private side (usually simply by knowing a property owner or hiring a place there), Dike 3 is really a mandatory stop.
Even if you aren't right at the particular dikes, the waterways on the hot side are fantastic. Look for any kind of kind of submerged brush or rugged transitions. The largemouth bass here tend to grow a bit faster simply because they eat year-round, so don't be surprised in case you hook right into a real hog when the folks on the particular public side are still awaiting the particular spring thaw.
Working the 208 Bridge and Mid-Lake Structures
With regard to those of us sticking to the public side, the location close to the Route 208 link is easily one of the most popular lake anna fishing hot spots for a reason. The bridge pilings act like a massive magnetic for both seafood and fishermen. These types of pilings provide straight structure that allows fish to proceed up and lower in the water line as the sun modifications during the day.
Earlier each morning, I like to toss topwater lures or crankbaits near the shadows of the bridge. As the sun will get higher, the seafood usually move deeper down the pilings. This is the great spot for both largemouth bass and those aggressive striped largemouth bass that Lake Anna is famous intended for.
Simply a bit north from the bridge, you'll find Contrary Creek . This area is usually a bit of the wildcard. The drinking water can sometimes be a small more stained right here, which is actually a very important thing if you're looking for bass. They will feel more secure in the more dark water and will certainly often hang away around the shallow laydowns and stumps. Just be careful navigating; there are plenty of lower units that have got met their finish on the submerged timber in this particular neck of the woods.
Chasing Stripers in the Heavy Water
In the event that you're fed up with going after bass and desire something that fights like a shipment train, the lake anna fishing hot spots for candy striped bass are generally toward the low finish of the lake, near the dam . Stripers love frosty, deep water along with plenty of oxygen, and the area between the dam plus Sturgeon Creek is usually where they congregate throughout the warmer weeks.
I've discovered that the easiest way to find them is to keep the close eye upon your electronics. Search for those big "clouds" of baitfish—usually threadfin shad—on your fish finder. If a person find the lure in 30 to 40 feet of water, the stripers are almost certainly lurking right underneath all of them.
Straight jigging with spoons or using live life shad could be the method to go here. There's nothing very like the sensation associated with a striper slamming a jig in deep water. It's a sudden, heavy thud that'll wake you up true quick. Also, keep an eye out there for birds. If you see seagulls diving in to the drinking water, get over generally there as fast as you can. They're eating the baitfish that the stripers are pushing in order to the surface, plus it's usually a total feeding madness.
The Hidden Gems in the Coves
While the main lake gets most of the fame, some of the most consistent lake anna fishing hot spots are tucked away in the smaller coves. Places like Rose Valley and Duck Inlet give a large amount of protection from the wind plus the heavy ship traffic that effects the main channel on summer weekends.
In these coves, you would like to look for "secondary points. " These are usually the little chunks associated with land that stick out inside the cove itself. Bass make use of these as setting up areas when they're moving through the deep water towards the low flats to spawn.
- Docks: Lake Anna provides thousands of docks, but not most of them are created equal. The best ones are the older, wooden docks that have some age on them. Why? Since they've usually got time to develop some algae and attract small baitfish.
- Brush Piles: A lot of the local people have "secret" clean piles they've sunk at the end of their docks. If you're skipping a jig or a worm under the dock and you feel something snaggy that isn't a rock, you've probably found a platinum mine.
- Rock Veins: Look for areas where the coastline changes from red clay to chunky rocks. These transition zones are prime real estate with regard to crawfish, which are basically steak dinners for striper.
Crappie Fishing Close to the Marinas
We can't discuss lake anna fishing hot spots without mentioning the crappie. If you want to fill a much cooler for a fish fry, the marinas are where it's at. Places such as Anna Point Marina and High Point have plenty of submerged structure and dock pilings that crappie definitely love.
The particular trick with Lake Anna crappie is to stay lighting. I usually use a 4-pound test line and tiny 1/16th ounce jigs. During the springtime, they'll move in to the shallows plus you can capture them in two feet of drinking water. But for most of the 12 months, they're hanging away throughout the deep-water docks or submerged "crappie houses" (those brush piles I described earlier).
If you find a great dock, you are able to usually pull ten or even fifteen fish off a single piling. It's all regarding patience and getting a light sufficient touch to feel that subtle "tick" when they take the bait.
When to Hit These Hot Spots
Timing is almost everything. During the high temperature of the summer season, the "hot spots" shift. The midday sun can create the fish pretty lethargic, so I'm a big lover of night fishing on Lake Anna. The lake gets a lot of recreational traffic—jetskis, wakeboats, you name it—which can stir up the water and spook the fish during the day.
Once the sun goes down, the lake quiets down, and the big predators move shallow to hunt. Throwing the black spinnerbait or a jitterbug around the shoreline in 10: 00 PM HOURS can result within some of the most exciting strikes you'll ever experience.
In the fall, every thing changes again. As the water cools, the baitfish head towards the backs from the creeks, and the particular bass follow all of them. This is how the "topwater bite" really turns on. Seeing the five-pound bass increase on a Zara Spook in the back of a quiet cove is why we do this, right?
Final Thoughts on Exploring the Lake
At the end of the day, Lake Anna will be a massive entire body of water with a lot of variety. You could spend a lifetime fishing here and still find new areas in order to explore. The essential to mastering the lake anna fishing hot spots is definitely to stay mobile. If the seafood aren't biting on the bridge, move to a cove. If the coves are usually dead, visit the particular dam.
Don't be afraid to talk to the folks in the local lure shops, either. Many of them are more than happy to give a person a nudge in the right path, especially if you're buying a few luggage of worms or a bucket of minnows. Keep in mind in order to respect the water, watch out for the underwater hazards, plus most importantly, have got a blast out there. There's really no such thing as being a bad day upon Lake Anna, whether or not the fish are gnawing at or not—though it's definitely better when they are.