Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Report – September 2009

Blue Ridge: Level: 4.1 feet below full pool. Temp: 83-85 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Smallmouth: Fair. “Fish are scattered over the main lake and holding close to structure and rocky points in 20 to 30 feet of water,” said guide Eric Crowley. “Early in the morning you can still find fish busting around the marina and around points 2 and 5. These fish will hit 3-inch chrome/black spoons and white/pearl flukes. The midday bite is tough. Try brushpiles and the DNR fish attractors with any type of crawfish lure or tube jig. Red or brown tubes seem to be the colors of choice,” Eric said. Guide Nathan Stuart said there’s been the usual aggressive topwater bite for smallies on soft-plastic, paddle-tail swimbaits. Fish a 4-inch swimbait either on a jig head or swimbait hook. This bite is best in the middle of the day, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. For spots, fish deep brush, 20 feet and deeper, with either a Texas rig, drop shot or jig-head worm. Nathan likes a Roboworm, morning dawn in color.

Largemouths: Eric said, “The largemouths have been cruising the grass flats and backs of coves early in the day and just before dusk. Try to be very quiet on arrival and cast into the grass with flukes or weedless-rigged worms. The coves in Star Creek will have good numbers of fish this time of year.”