ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, May 6, 1996 TAG: 9605060115
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN
KERR LAKE: The level at this 50,000-acre impoundment has been 2 feet above full pool for much of the spring, which usually is bad news for crappie fishermen. High water can push the shoreline back into a maze of cover, an act that can scatter crappie.
Even so, Kerr fishermen are enjoying good-to-excellent crappie action, maybe because there are so many fish that there are plenty to go around - even when they are scattered. The fish are being found shallow around bushes and beaver huts.
Kerr is Virginia's biggest producer of crappie citations. Last season's count was 49, almost double the previous season.
LAKE ANNA: The crappie are about to spawn here, as the water temperatures ease into the mid- to high-60s in the upper- and mid-lake areas and into the low 70s in the lower lake. Numerous 1-pound fish continue to be caught, thanks to an upswing in the Anna population. Last year, Anna accounted for 23 citations, ranking it third in the state, behind Kerr and Smith Mountain.
Beaver huts, brush piles, docks and bridge pilings provide crappie cover in this 9,600-acre lake, which is located east of Charlottesville.
JAMES RIVER: Most anglers think about bass and catfish when this stream is mentioned, but it also is one of Virginia's major producers of citation-size crappie. Most of the fish are caught in the lower, tidal sections of the river.
CHICKAHOMINY: Crappie fishing is rated excellent at this lake/river located near Williamsburg. Chickahominy saw its crappie fishing take an upswing last season, accounting for seven citations. The rebuilding has continued this spring.
LAKE GASTON: When you hear the local people mention ``speckles,'' they are talking about crappie at this 20,000-acre impoundment along the Virginia-North Carolina border. The lake's crappie population appears to be in a down cycle, with fewer citation catches, but a few 21/2-pound fish have been weighed this spring.
LAKE MOOMAW: The handful of fishermen who have learned how to catch Moomaw crappie do extremely well, but the 2,530-acre lake, located northeast of Covington, can be tough for the average angler. Moomaw's water is so clear the crappie tend to hold deep - 18 to 20 feet.
PHILPOTT LAKE: Take your boat up the lake to catch crappie here. Philpott doesn't have a history of turning out trophy crappie, but the 2,880-acre lake near Bassett offers satisfying sport when spring brings the fish shallow. And there is an occasional citation. Rakes Sports Center has weighed a couple of 2-pounders this spring.
CLAYTOR LAKE: One of the late starters, fishermen are beginning to catch decent numbers of average-size fish from this 4,500-acre lake located in Pulaski County.
SOUTH HOLSTON RESERVOIR: Leave it to the fishermen at this far Southwest impoundment to come up with innovative ways of catching fish. The hot, new crappie lure this season is a local jig called the ``duck fly.'' It consists of mallard flank feathers on a small red-headed jig. The offering is producing good crappie results, as are minnows and more traditional jigs.
PONDS: Private ponds are best known for largemouth bass and sunfish, but a few offer excellent crappie fishing. Last year, the two largest crappie registered in the state were pond catches. Cynthia Moorefield of Brookneal landed one that weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces. Mike Weaver of Bassett landed the second largest, 3 pounds, 13 ounces.
BRIERY CREEK LAKE: This 845-acre, state-owned lake near Farmville has a pattern of producing jumbo-size fish. First big bluegills, then huge largemouth bass and now platter-size crappie. The crappie can be tough to locate, because there is so much cover, but look for Briery Creek to account for growing numbers of trophy fish in the future.
GATEWOOD RESERVOIR: You can thank the ice storm of 1993 and the beavers for improving crappie fishing at this 162-acre water-supply impoundment in the hills of Pulaski County. The ice storm tumbled numerous trees into the water to provide cover for crappie and so has the activity of beavers, said Trace Lumpkin who works at the lake. Last season, crappie could be caught well into the summer.
``It can be a hit-or-miss affair, but if you can find them, you can catch crappie,'' Lumpkin said.
TIDEWATER LAKES: A bevy of water-supply impoundments in the Tidewater section of the state are consistent producers of crappie. Included are Speight's Run, Kilby, Cohoon, Mead, Burt Mill, Prince, Western Branch and Little Creek lakes. One angler docked at Cohoon with a string of 14 crappie averaging 1 pound apiece. Little Creek has been dominating the crappie-fishing news with numerous citation catches.
LENGTH: Medium: 96 linesby CNB