Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – June 2009

Blue Ridge: Level: 0.2 feet above full pool. Temp: 68 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. The morning topwater bite is good for smallmouths and spots right now, said guide Nathan Lewis. “This is the best lake I’ve ever fished for breaking fish,” he said. “If they’re breaking, they’ll hit whatever you throw at them.” Look for breaking fish on main-lake points and throw a topwater bait like a Zara Spook or a Sammy. Nathan said to keep a spoon tied on for long casts. Late in the morning, there is a decent bite on Flukes around boat docks. In the middle of the day, Nathan will slow down and drag a green-pumpkin or root-beer tube, rigged on a 3/16- or 1/4-oz. jig in 12 to 15 feet of water around any rock or wood on the points. A finesse worm kudzu or cherry seed in color also works for this bite. If you want to go after largemouths, try a spinnerbait on windy days on points and flats.

Walleye: Good. The walleye are still settling in from their spring run, and they have not yet gone to their summer holes. They are spread out all over the lake on rocky points. Nathan said you can catch a few right before dark cranking the rocky points with something like a Shad Rap, but the best bite is on full-moon nights. Either bounce a small curly-tail jig down the rock points or fish a crankbait.