Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – August 2024

Blue Ridge: Level: 0.6 feet below 1686. Temp: 84-86 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Eric Welch, of Welch’s Guide Service, reports, “Fishing has been fair, but it’s been hot. There has been a little topwater action in the mornings. I like throwing a Pop-R and a Whopper Plopper. I will spend a couple of hours on the main body of the lake throwing a drop shot with a 6-inch Roboworm around deep banks and long points. I then will start working my way up the river fishing the deep banks and bends that the river hits. I’m going to use a shaky head with a 5-inch finesse worm and also a drop shot. At the laydowns up the river, I will also throw a Zoom Fluke. Always remember in the summer when the water temps are hot like they are that it doesn’t hurt to fish like you would if you were fishing cold water in January, which means fish slow and feel the bite. Good luck.”

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “Bait is everywhere, and the fish are following them. Walleye are eating them deep, bass are chasing them to the surface, and trout are eating them in between. It’s making for some fun fishing. Sonar is a must this month for location as the fish are on the move, and electronics are the only way to know where they are. Find the bluebacks on the graph, and you’re in the right area. The average blueback herring is about 3 inches long, but there’s a bunch of them. With a smaller bait size across the lake, your baits for walleye need to match. Spoons, crankbaits and swimbaits are the go-to daytime baits, and jerkbaits and smaller, shallower crankbaits at night should all fall in the 2- to 4-inch size. Finding the fish can be easy, as they are schooled up in groups of about 10 to 12 fish on the humps and points. Getting them to commit to the artificial can be tricky. Live baits are another great option right now with the super clear water. Live bluebacks will get the attention of all the predators in the lake, including the rainbow trout. The trout are typically in the 25- to 50-foot range, and they are never far from big schools of herring. Light fluorocarbon leaders should be used when targeting both species with the water as clear as it is.”

Lake Blue Ridge Page: Archived Articles, Fishing Reports and Official Lake Records