The Shenandoah River is an amazing fishery. It holds a good population of musky and is an outstanding smallmouth river. 100 fish days on smallies are not out of the question any day on this river. Big streamers in the spring will produce bass and musky.
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What time of year is best for muskie fishing?
Some of the highest catch rates for muskies are during the summer months when the water is warm and the fish are most active. Fall fishing can also be very productive at times, and many of the largest muskies are caught during the fall.
Is fishing good at Claytor Lake?
Claytor’s steep and rocky shorelines make it particularly good for Smallmouth Bass. Good areas for Smallmouth Bass are the shoreline across from the mouth of Dublin Hollow, the shoreline between Spooky Hollow and Texas Hollow, and in Dublin Hollow.
How old is a 50 inch muskie?
On average, musky are about 11 inches long after their first year of life, reach 34″ in year 7, reach 40″ in year 9, and reach 50 inches by age 17.
What bait is best for muskie?
Bucktails – Bucktails are arguably the most popular bait used by musky anglers. Bucktails produce vibrations in the water that are easily felt by a musky’s lateral line. Bucktails can be retrieved at any speed, depending on the conditions. The most popular bucktails are double 9 blades and double 10 blades.
Are there trout in Claytor Lake?
Claytor Lake offers 26 different types of fish including bass, catfish, Muskie and carp. The New River offers Muskellunge, Walleye, Catfish, Panfish. Residents: All residents 16 years of age and older are required to possess a state freshwater fishing license to fish for trout.
Are there blue catfish in Claytor Lake VA?
Don’t go out under gunned, though — blue cats over 90 pounds have been caught at Buggs. In this region, Claytor Lake is likely the top place to wet a line for either channel catfish or flathead catfish.
Can you swim at Claytor Lake?
Swimming is available in Claytor Lake from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. The area has a diving tower, snack bar, and gift shop. About 3 miles of hiking trails with easy to moderate ratings are open year-round.
What is the biggest muskie ever caught?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the tiger muskie is the biggest on record. The biggest muskellunge ever caught was 68 pounds and 631⁄2 inches long. It was caught on the Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County on Oct. 10, 1949.
How many casts does it take to catch a muskie?
Muskellunge, also known as muskie or the fish of 10,000 casts is the largest pike in North America. They are notoriously difficult to catch, but often reach over 20 pounds and occasionally grow longer than 50 inches.
Are muskies good eating?
People who love eating muskies will tell you that muskie tastes quite similar to bass. Others believe it tastes more like pike. Either way, muskie is more of a bland fish with not as much flavor as other fish species, like salmon or tuna. Much of the taste of the fish depends on how you cook it.
What is considered a trophy muskie?
What is this? This is a much-debated question, and the answer most anglers will give you is that a trophy muskie is a fish of at least 50 inches. A 50+ incher is undoubtedly a fish that dreams are made of, and to many, it’s the ultimate goal in life.
What is the lifespan of a muskie?
Adult muskies have no aquatic predators, but may fall victim to disease, large birds of prey, or people. Muskellunge can live to about 18 years old, but fish up to 30 years of age have been documented.
What is a muskies favorite food?
Given the opportunity to choose, Muskies prefer soft rayed, high protein based fish such as Suckers, Tullibee, Ciscoes, Bullheads, Carp, and minnows. In fact, the food sources Muskies prefer most are usually fish species that most people would desire to not have in their lake.
What is the best time of day to catch muskie?
Like many predatory fish, muskie are most active at dawn and dusk, and these times typically provide the most action, especially on warm, sunny days. Cool, overcast days are usually best for muskie fishing.
Is Claytor Lake clean?
In response to questions: the lake’s water quality has improved over the last 20 years; fresh water sponges in the lake are a sign of clean water. The water is tested for clarity, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, e-coli, phosphorus & chlorophyll-a.
How old is Claytor Lake?
Description. Elevation: 1856 ft. Claytor Lake, formed from the damming of the New River, sits just above the City of Radford. The dam forming the lake was completed in 1939 to produce electricity for the Appalachian Power Company.
Are dogs allowed at Claytor Lake?
Claytor Lake State Park is pet friendly. You must keep your dog on a leash and clean up after them. Most of the cabins are pet friendly also with a small additional charge/night.
Do you have to pay to get into Claytor Lake?
There is a $7 entrance fee per car into Claytor Lake State Park.
How many miles of shoreline is Claytor Lake?
The Claytor Project was completed in 1939 to produce electrical power for the region. o The project has four generating units capable of producing 75 megawatts of electricity. o The project reservoir has a surface area of 4,633 acres at normal full pond elevation of 1846 feet o The reservoir is 21 miles in length and …
What is biting at Smith Mountain Lake?
Black bass (largemouth and smallmouth bass) are the most sought after species by anglers at Smith Mountain Lake. Largemouth bass comprise the bulk of this fishery and far outnumber smallmouth. Largemouth bass fishing on this 20,600-acre lake is very good but this fishery receives a lot of pressure.
What is an Alabama Bass?
What are Alabama Bass? Alabama Bass (Micropterus henshalli) are one of approximately twelve species of black bass. They are an aggressive species that outcompetes Largemouth Bass and readily hybridizes with Smallmouth and Spotted Bass.
What’s the biggest catfish ever caught in Virginia?
The record stays with Kerr Lake The official weight is 143 pounds, performed by Virginia Game officials the morning of June 18,with State Certified scales. The State Record Fish Committee of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) has reviewed and certified the new state record blue catfish.
What’s the biggest catfish caught in Virginia?
There is a new fishing record in Virginia. Jason Emmel, of Louisa, Virginia, broke the state record catching a 66-pound, 5-ounce blue catfish with a bow and arrow, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
What is Virginia’s largest lake?
Virginia’s largest lake, John H. Kerr Reservoir / Buggs Island Lake includes more than 50,000 acres of fresh water and over 800 miles shoreline! Experience the lake from both Occoneechee State Park and Staunton River State Park.