Kerr Reservoir / Buggs Island Lake, VA Fishing Report

Buggs is absolutly farther along than Gaston is and clearer water is more easily found. Shad raps in the pockets where there is rock seems to be the prevalent pattern throughout much of the lake. Spinnerbaits and jerkbaits are also catching fish when the wind blows. Alabama rigs are also still producing effectvely when you can find large amounts of baitfish.

Fish are entering their early winter patterns. Most fish are now in deeper water and are being caught on shad type baits. Rattle traps, cranck baits and jigging sponns and jerk baits. Best time to fish for these guys is in the afternoon when the water warms up a bit.

Bob Cat's Lake Country Store, (434) 374-8381. Bobby Whitlow reports that bass are moving from their summer pattern to their fall pattern, so some are still deep, some shallow. They are responding to top-waters and plastics in green pumpkin. Crappie are also transitioning; look around bridge pilings, brush and underwater structures and throw minnows at them. Flathead cats are doing well at night on live brim or shad. No word on perch or bluegill. The water is clear, 4 feet below full pool and 80 degrees.

Fall fishing is getting started. Up to date fishing reports coming soon.

Bobby Whitlow told me that the bass have gone deep, so try plastics in green pumpkin or cranks. The fish should be hanging out 15 to 20 ft. down. Crappie are about 15 to 30 ft. down near brush and bridge pilings. Not many crappie have been landed lately, but those that have been were good sized. The slabs will take minnows and jigs. Cat action is fair, with cut bait and live shad and bream proving effective. No word on bluegill. White perch can be had off points with minnows and jigging spoons. The water is clear and in the upper 80s.

Brandon Gray told me that the bass bite is picking up in deeper waters with cranks, jigs and plastics, with green pumpkin being a good color choice. Crappie have moved to their summer patterns, and can be found at bridge pilings and brush piles. They will take minnows and jigs. No word on perch, but they should show up soon. Stripers are being landed by trolling spoons and bucktails. Bluegill are slow to bite, but sometimes attack small worms or crickets. The water is fairly clear and in the mid 80s.

Bobby Whitlow reports that bass action is good with top-waters and plastics in green pumpkin, watermelon and June bug. Crappie can be found near bridge pilings, docks and brush, try minnows and jigs. Catfishing is good as well with live bream and cut shad. No word on perch or bluegill. The creeks are clear, with the main lake being muddy. Temperatures range from the upper 60s to Low 70s.

Catching fish on the lake right now is not a problem. Finding a quality bite however is fairly difficult. Topwaters and wacky worms fishing shallow around bream beds provide a consistent bite. There is also a carolinia rig bite on stumpy points. We have began to catch a few on crankbaits and swimbaits deep. This bite should get better in the following weeks.

JT

Bobby Whitlow reports that the bass bite is "tough", but you might get one on a spinner or green pumpkin plastic. Crappie action is heating up, with some on the beds and some not. Try a traditional minnows or jigs around bridge pilings, docks and lay downs. Cats are really biting bluegill, shad and eels. The water is stained and in the upper 60s. 

Fishing on Buggs has become tougher over the past few weeks., The water jumped to 307 and has been falling like a brick since it crested. All the moving of the water confuses the fish and the fisherman. Once the water stablizes I look for things to improve drastically some fish are already spawning while many others are waiting for the water to stablizes to insure a good hatch. Most consistencey is being found along your steeper banks flipping baby brush hawgs texas rigged into buck brush and flooded timber. Also head out to main lake points and through a spinnerbait if the wind gets up this time of year.

JT

Unbelievable would be the best word to describe Buggs right now. You can literally get a bite on anything right now. It is a great time to go to the lake. The bigger fish are definately harder to come by however numbers are what keeps it interesting. Floating worms and texas rigged plastics fished in pockets around anything in the water are producing the most bites right now.

Tight Lines,

JT

Still competing in Florida Fishing reports soon

With the recent warm spell.  Most of the fish now are being caught on  football head, jerk baits, shad wraps worked slowly along rocky points. You can still catch a few fish on shaky head worms in 20-30 ft of water on brushpiles. As the days continue to get longer the fishing will began to greatly improve.