Page 22 - Discover Spring 2021
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Moon Phase Fishing
A good fishing technique for the winter Once daylight fully arrives, the bait and their
months involves jigging a lure over a point or predators leave the shallow water in favor of
other structure, usually about 30 feet deep or the deeper water in the channel. If you have
more. Trolling is also productive, mainly in been fishing a while and have a good catch, you
the main channels at the same depth, passing may want to take a break and go to breakfast…
over structures while being careful not to hang. or you might want to move to deeper water.
A deep diving minnow, or a jig and spoon
combo with lead line are good tackle choices. A striper will put up a terrific fight with
Some anglers also fish top water in the coves all it has in it; in warm water situations, these
or creeks, with floating minnows (Redfin, fish produce a lot of lactic acid. When the
Thunderstick, Rebel, Long-A, etc.). It’s best to amount of lactic acid reaches a certain point,
retrieve very slowly where spots are showing they may not be able to pull water thru their
on the depth finder, in water about 15-20 feet gills after being released, and this actually
deep. You’ll see bubbles rise to the surface as causes the fish to drown. The Maryland Game
the sky begins to slowly move from darkness Dept. did some studies with striped bass in the
to light. This is a good time to catch a trophy bay, and found that in warmer weather, “catch
Striped Bass/Rockfish. & release” fish would have a mortality rate as
high as 88%. Years ago, the Virginia Game
Almanac
Fisherman’s
by Bob King
20 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SPRING 2021
