Lake Blue Ridge Fishing Reports – February 2023

Blue Ridge: Level: 18 feet below 1686. Temp: 45-50 degrees. Clarity: Clear.

Bass: Capt. Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The bass bite has been pretty steady the last few weeks with big schools of fish chasing herring. Bait selection isn’t as important as timing. When the spots are chasing bait, they will hit pretty much anything that’s in the water. I’ve been fishing big flutter spoons, like a 1-oz. Krocodile Spoon, and a Zara Spook when they are on top. I am fishing a Hopkins spoon when I mark schools under the boat. You can find the fish by running and reading sonar or just by trolling a few crankbaits around until you catch a few in the same area. Then, pick that area apart with the spoons. Fifteen to 35 feet of water had been the starting point for finding the fish early, but we are seeing and catching fish as deep as 60 feet deep this week.”

Eric Welch, of Welch’s Guide Service reports, “Bass fishing at Blue Ridge has been good. We’ve been starting our mornings out on the main lake, fishing small pockets and secondary points. The baits of choice have been a Ned rig with a TRD, a Strike King 3.25-inch Magic Swimmer on a 1/4-oz. homemade jig head and a drop shot on a 4.5-inch Roboworm. I’m using Gamma Touch 7-lb. finesse fluorocarbon line on 6-8 to 7-foot St. Croix spinning rods. I’m also finding a lot of my fish using the Garmin Livescope. Most of the areas where you find fish, there will be a group of them, and you can catch multiple fish. Normally around 1 p.m., I will start making my way up the river, but that also depends on how much rain we have had the last few days, because with the lake being down 18 feet, the river will muddy up quicker, and I’ve had better luck catching numbers of fish in the clear water. But I will be using the same baits in the river. I will sometimes throw a crawfish-colored crankbait on the rocky banks and points up the river. Blue Ridge is also a good lake to throw the float-n-fly. Use shad patterns on cloudy days and brighter colors on sunny days.”

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

Walleye: Capt. Eric Crowley, of Lake And Stream Guide Service, reports, “The walleye are still buried in the mud looking for easy meals. Small baits are what’s getting the most attention right now for two reasons. Fish small crankbaits, spoons, anything you can keep in the strike zone for maximum exposure time. I like a vertical presentation this time of year, as it keeps lethargic fish from having to chase down a bait. Plus if you find a school of fish, you’re not leaving them or past them when you get a bite, like if you were trolling. That being said, if the fish are spread out or not stacked up at all, trolling may still be the best option. Trolling speeds between 1.5 to 2 mph is best for cold-water walleye. Areas to target are typical walleye areas, like flats holding baitfish, grassbeds and rocky outcroppings near major structures like the dam, points or big bends in the river channel. This time of year, I like two or three color options: green and white, purple and firetiger, matched with current sun conditions.”