Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – October 2006

Blue Ridge: Level: 11.9 feet below full pool. Temp: 78 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: The topwater bite at Blue Ridge will pick up in October as the water temperature drops. According to guide Nathan Lewis, a smaller topwater like a Pop-R will produce better than a larger plug like a Sammy. The cooler water will also bring the smallmouths up on the banks early and late and make them more aggressive and willing to chase down a crankbait. A shad-colored Shad Rap on rocky points and banks is a prime October bait on Blue Ridge.

Walleye: J.R. Donalson was on Blue Ridge in mid September and caught 11 walleye — up to four pounds — fishing 3/4-oz. jigging spoons on river channel drops from 40 to 70 feet deep. J.R. said Flex-it spoons and Rapala Ice Jigs had both been catching fish. When working the spoon in water as deep as 70 feet, he says you need less action rather than more action, but the fish still hit the spoon on the fall. According to WRD biologist Jim Hakala, early evidence suggests a crash in the walleye population in Blue Ridge since the illegal introduction of blueback herring. Last year’s fall surveys caught no young-of-the-year walleye, which may be impacted by bluebacks eating the eggs or fry. Larger walleye in the lake, however, are gorging on bluebacks and growing large, but the walleye may be in serious trouble long-term.