Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – July 2008

Blue Ridge: Level: 2.9 feet below full pool. Temp: Low 80s. Clarity: The main lake is clear.

Bass: The fishing is slow, said mountain lake guide Nathan Stewart. “It is getting hot, and the fish are deep on the summer pattern. Your best bet is a drop-shot rig or a worm in deep brush. There has been some surface activity early and late, but it is usually just single fish.” Try a Gulp Live Minnow on the drop-shot rig. “It is supposed to taste just like a real minnow,” said Nathan. When he is fishing a drop shot, he moves it very slowly, just twitching it along. A Texas-rigged finesse worm pulled slowly through brush in 10 to 15 feet of water will also catch fish.

Walleye: The fish are deep, holding on river channel turns with brush or rocks. A 6/10-oz. Flex-it spoon will catch an occasional fish. Nightcrawlers under a crappie-fishing light on main-lake points will also work during summer nights.