Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report June 2014

Blue Ridge: Level: Full pool. Temp: 68-72 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Good. Guide Eric Welch reports, “We are catching some fish in the mornings on Strike King KVD Splash and flukes. We are also catching fish on drop shots and shaky heads. The fish are scattered on main-lake points and around any laydowns or brush. Also fish a Strike King Bitsy Tube and Bitsy Jig around docks and on rocky points and banks for smallmouth. Also try using crankbaits the size of the bait you are seeing in the lake, like a Shad Rap. This month with the heavy boat traffic you should start seeing the bass moving to their deep summer patterns off ledges and deep points. Keep an eye on your electronics to find these fish.” Guide Eric Crowley reports, “Blue Ridge has come alive in the past few weeks, really kicking into spring for the first time this year. The herring spawn was really strong this year and has the fish fattened up really good. We have also seen a great number of white bass this year, which is good news as they seemed to be on the decline the last couple years. The smallmouth bass are few and far between. If we see three or four in a day now, it’s a good day as compared to four years ago when you could catch a dozen in four hours. The spots are everywhere, and we try to do our part by filling the cooler with them, but it just doesn’t seem to be helping, although it is filling the freezer. The smallmouth we have been catching are either on old roadbeds, big rock structure or in big rocky bends up river. I haven’t seen much topwater activity at dawn lately on the main lake, and that’s usually where they are this time of year. Please release the smallies, so they can maintain this natural stronghold in the mountains. The other green fish are pretty easy to find while the water is hovering around 70. Check docks, overhanging trees, shaded banks with cover, house boats, anywhere they can hide until the temps push them down deeper.”

Walleye: Eric Crowley reports, “The walleye are up in the 10- to 30-foot range on a lot of points and flats right now. With the bait schooled up shallow, they are focused on feeding. Just after dark seems to be key, and the bite continues into the night. Follow the saying: ‘Find the bait, find the fish. Then match the hatch.’ We have caught them on live baits, dead bait, Rapala CountDowns and jerkbaits in multiple colors.”