Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – March 2024

Blue Ridge: Level: 14.3 feet low 1686. Temp: 43-50 degrees. Clarity: Clear and stained.

Bass: Eric Welch, of Welch’s Guide Service, reports, “Fishing has been good. Water temps have come up a little, and the lake has really not been fluctuating much. I normally start my mornings out fishing the main body of the lake around the dam and up toward Star Creek. I’m normally throwing a 3.5-inch tube, Ned rig or a drop shot. If I’m marking fish on my Livescope, I will try catching them with a minnow-type bait around 3 to 3 1/2 inches on a 1/4- to 3/8-oz. swimbait head. The spotted bass loves the new Berkley Finisher, and you can really see it well on Livescope. The fish I’ve been marking and catching have been around 12 to 45 feet. I’ve been catching most of my fish on a Ned rig fishing deep rocky banks and points. My setup is a 7-foot medium-fast St. Croix Legend X spinning rod with a Daiwa Fuego reel spooled with 7-lb. Gamma Touch fluorocarbon line. I will also throw a drop shot with a 4.5-inch Roboworm. In the winter when the water temp is cold, I like throwing the 4.5-inch worm over the 6-inch worm, but when the water temp gets above 55 degrees, I like throwing the 6-inch worm. The areas I’m targeting are deep banks with rocks and way-off points. If using forward-facing sonar and you start marking a lot of fish but can’t seem to get them to bite, try throwing a Flex-it spoon or a Silver Buddy. Since the days are getting longer, on a bright, sunny day you may want to start targeting spawning areas that you have caught fish in before. These bass will start moving up some. Also a jerkbait and an A-rig catch good fish this time of year. Good luck.”

Lake Blue Ridge Page: Archived Articles, News & Fishing Reports

Walleye: Guide Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service reports, “March is a good time on this lake because it really starts to come alive. The baitfish are on the move. The crayfish are on the move and now with the DNR stocking the trout in the lake, the trout will be on the move, too. The herring and crayfish have been a staple imitation for a long time, but we may see some new big-fish pattern develop with the trout across all the other predator fish. The walleye are still on a vertical bite. Spoons, blade baits and jigs are the go-to still when working rocky areas off points and humps in 20 to 50 feet throughout the day. The fish are moving up at night to feed and lingering around after sunup for a short time before sliding off to darker waters. Points 2, 4 and 5 have been holding good numbers of walleye and should continue this month, as well. As the water warms, we start throwing jerkbaits and small cranks to active areas and working them out with fast twitches followed by a long pause. You can really fish a variety of colors this time if year, but red and orange is a good place to start. The night bite will be good, as well, working the shallows around any light source that might be attracting baitfish of any kind.”