Lake Anna's August Lake Report by Chris Craft

CCBASSN GUIDE SERVICE is offering an EARLY BIRD TOP WATER TRIP for the months of June, July and August on Monday, Thursday and Friday only . These trips will be 3 hour outings for 1 or 2 anglers and will be TOP WATER only. The rate for the EARLY BIRD TRIPS are $125!!!!!!!!!!!!!! .

BASS– Most of the bass in the lake have made their move to deeper water for the summer in the Mid and Down lake regions. Look for them on deep brush piles, bridge pilings and rock piles in the middle of the day. Early and late in the day, some of them will move up to feed on the many bait fish pods in the lake, but the majority of them will stay in deep water and feed. You can catch them on deep crankbaits, Texas and Carolina rigged plastics and Shakey Head plastics. One of my favorite crank baits is the Luck E Strike Rick Clunn Freak. This shovel lip deep diver will get to its maximum depth faster than any other crank bait that I have thrown.

Throughout this month you can still catch uplake bass in and around the willow grass. During low light conditions, top water will produce for you. Fish Damiki MTB Noisy Buzz Baits in and around the grass, try putting a Damiki Air Frog in the thickest willow grass you can find and be prepared for very violent strikes. Don Iovino Splash It poppers will work around the edges, Fish Tales has a very large assortment of colors in this great top water popper! once the sun gets above the tree line, pitch an Arson JIgs Arkie Head Jig under boat docks and into the willow grass. 

August is the month to start looking for schooling bass in the early mornings and late evenings busting the many pads of shad and herring fry. The top water action is great with these schoolies. The Paycheck Baits Repo Man walking baits, Don Iovino Splash It, Damiki Rambler, D-Pop are great choices for surface fishing. For sub surface strikes, the Damiki Armor Shad is a hard bait to beat. More great soft jerkbaits are Zoom Super Fluke’s, Super Fluke Jr’s and North Anna Bait Company CC Minow’s. 

You can also catch these schooling fish with spoons and blade baits. Toothache Spoons are small in size to match the baitfish that they are feeding on. Another great spoon is the Strike King Sexy Spoon, Fish Tales has the in 2 proven colors. 

STRIPER- The Lineside’s are in FULL BLOWN SUMMER pattern NOW. You can find them feeding on the surface early in the morning from the 208 bridge up to Stubb’s Bridge on the Pamunkey arm and up to the Holiday Bridge on the North Anna arm. Popping baits, Walking baits and soft jerkbaits are all great choices. My favorite is a Cotton Cordell Broken Back Redfin. Just wake the bait under the surface and hold on, the strikes are usually very violent. After the morning feed is over, look for them with your electronics. Once you find the school, you can catch the by vertical jigging Toothache Spoons, Damiki Vault’s and Damiki Vortex Blade Baits.

Trolling is also in FULL SWING. Deep Diving Redfin’s with a bucktail trailer, DD22’s in Chart/Blue back and BPS LEC15’s in Chart/Blue and XXX Shad are all great trolling baits. One little trick that I do with the DD22’s and LEC15’s are to add a “FLUKE KILLER” bucktail trailer to them. The “FLUKE KILLER” is a weightless bucktail with a spinner blade in front of it.

Live Bait is also working well for the anglers wanting to fish that way. Store bought large or jumbo shiners will work but, the native bait in the lake will be a better choice if you can get up early enough and throw a cast net. Go to Stubbs Bridge, 208 bridge or Holiday Mill Bridge and hang a lantern to attract the Blue Back Herring to it. Remember, that as the water temps get warmer, the striper will “GIVE UP THE GHOST” rather quickly. Once you have your limit (20″ minimum- 4 per person) PLEASE DO NOT not continue to catch and release them. Even though they may swim off right after the release, most will dye for the stress of being caught.

CRAPPIE- The Specks are in their summer haunts at this time. Look for them under deep boat docks, around bridge pilings and brush piles. Small minnows rigged on jig heads or slip bobber’s will be your best bet to catch a cooler full of these tasty morsals.

Lake Level– Full Pool

Water Temps Dike 3- 84-88 degrees Mid lake- 83-86 degrees Up Lake- 84-88 degrees

Clarity Down Lake-  Clear Mid Lake- Mostly Clear Up Lake- Moderate Stain

Chris CraftCCBASSN Guide Servicewww.ccbassnlakeanna.blogspot.com[email protected]540-894-6195540-895-5770540-895-5900 ext5

TEAM LEW’S PRO STAFFwww.lews.com

PAYCHECK BAITS PRO STAFF www.paycheckbaits.com

BULLDOG CUSTOM RODS PRO STAFF www.bulldogrods.com

ARSON JIG’S PRO STAFF www.arsonjigs.com 

IZORLINE INTERNATIONAL PRO STAFF www.izorline.com 

EYE SURRENDER PRO STAFF www.eyesurrendernow.com

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