Info needed on spring Virginia trip: hello all. I am a Maine BASS federation member and some of the guys in the club have been talking about a spring trip to Virginia for largemouth...

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

hello all. I am a Maine BASS federation member and some of the guys in the club have been talking about a spring trip to Virginia for largemouth, smallmouth and maybe even spotted bass. Some of us have been researching and Claytor Lake has come up on more than one occasion. Looking for information on Claytor (or a better spot if known) as to whether March is a good month, what section of Claytor we should concentrate on for both fishing and lodging, whether we're better off coming in April, and any other information you can provide. If anyone has any thoughts of ever fishing in Maine, would be glad to steer you in the right direction. Thank you and look forward to hearing from you. Lou

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

louzam wrote:

hello all. I am a Maine BASS federation member an... (show quote)

Welcome to the Forum, Lou. I think if you go back to the profile page and put your location down you would have more replies. Also if they see what part of Maine you are from they can pinpoint the area that you are from and bug the he!! out of you.

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

louzam wrote:

hello all. I am a Maine BASS federation member an... (show quote)

Does Claytor Lake have a fishing report from one of the guides?

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

Thank you. I fish in Central Maine, mostly in Kennebec Valley, with popular lakes being Lake Cobboseecontee, China Lake, Androscoggin River, and a myriad of others. I will go back to profile page

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

louzam wrote:

Thank you. I fish in Central Maine, mostly in Kennebec Valley, with popular lakes being Lake Cobboseecontee, China Lake, Androscoggin River, and a myriad of others. I will go back to profile page

Thank you!

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

Looks like we're going to look into Stone Mountain near Roanoke. found out I know someone there. Any Stone Mountain info would be greatly appreciated, thanx, Lou

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

louzam wrote:

Looks like we're going to look into Stone Mountain near Roanoke. found out I know someone there. Any Stone Mountain info would be greatly appreciated, thanx, Lou

Hi, louzam ! I used to be a former neighbor (N.H.) and have also fished the Androscoggin, though
it was many years ago ! I also
lived in Roanoke briefly about 12 years ago; SMITH MOUNTAIN
LAKE is known for big stripers
and largemouths ! Claytor Lake/ New River (about 1-3/4 hrs. West) has a great reputation for 'smallies', and Briery Creek Lake
(about 2 hrs. East, just south of Farmville) is reputed to have
some of the best largemouth
fishing in the state ! Remember; local tackle/bait shops are some of your best references for the most current local conditions and/or bait choices ! Good luck and tight lines !

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

Big A, thanx for the response, Appreciate the info. The Androscoggin has bounced back over the last 5 or 6 years. Struggled with water clarity issues for a good deal of time (it was dirty) but efforts on the part of everyone have cleaned it up quite a bit. Tournaments have been producing big bags of both large and smallmouth. Thanx again, Lou

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

louzam wrote:

Big A, thanx for the response, Appreciate the info. The Androscoggin has bounced back over the last 5 or 6 years. Struggled with water clarity issues for a good deal of time (it was dirty) but efforts on the part of everyone have cleaned it up quite a bit. Tournaments have been producing big bags of both large and smallmouth. Thanx again, Lou

As stated, it has been a long time since I last fished the Androscoggin, like '79/'80 ?
It almost got me that day when
I lost my footing during spring
run-off and got carried about a hundred yards downstream !
I was there for the early season trout and salmon run ! Haven't fished it since; I try not to press my luck !

DeeJay Loc: Southwest Virginia

For largemouth bass forget about Claytor Lake. At night you catch lots of fish. SM, & LM, but most of the LM are not keeper size. It's not a large lake, and shallow in some places. A lot of tournaments there
willon fish over 3 #, with 5-10# winning. I live about an hour away and it's the lake i fish the least. The better lakes are toward the east. South Holston lake on the Va Tenn line is a fantastic smallmouth lake, 2 hours west of Clator Lake. Traveling from Maine to Va, is a long drive. I would rather fish the eastern lakes. Buggs Island, Gaston, Roanoke Rapids. There are lots of smaller lakes in Va and N C. That produce a lot of 10 # plus fish. Check out those areas, Va & NC have a reciprocal licences agreement on lakes on the border. Good luck. DEEJAY

sumcatone Loc: Salem VA

I grew up near Claytor Lake. I remember my parents taking me to the dedication of the dam in 1939. For me it was never an easy lake to fish. It's only about 5k acres and the main body is mostly 40 to 80 feet deep. A bridge crosses the lake about the midpoint and above that it's not as deep but is becoming badly silted in. When I wanted to catch fish I went to Buggs Island (Kerr) Lake at Clarksville VA. Over 50k acres and much more fishable. Usually went in late march or early april and again in early october camping for a week. COE lake so no development on shore. We had waterfront (Longwood on Rt15) campsites and didn't have to do the boat ramp every day. Most fish caught on plastic worms and jigs. In your favor it's just west of I95. Bass, pickerel, striper, catfish. Haven't been there since '07. That was the end of 33 memorable years. Good luck!

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

Thanx for the info DeeJay. I found out I had someone I know that actually lives on Smith Mountain Lake. Because he's there and we'll basically be getting free guide service there and to other nearby places, we decided to to give SM a try. thanx again, Lou

louzam Loc: central Maine, Kennebec Valley

Sumcatone, thank you for the info. We decided to try Smith Mountain Lake. I found out that I had someone I know that actually lives there and will basically be able to give us free guide service there and in nearby waters as well. First time down there so going to play it safe on this trip. Thanx, Lou