How about a Tidewater Virginia freshwater fishing report?
The past few weekends the weather has been questionable, but bordering on decent. In between Nor’easters, and layered with warm wind-proof clothes and a pockets full of hand and foot warmers, we have hit some local freshwater fishing holes.
Did we catch anything?
Tidewater Virginia Freshwater Fishing Report
Bottom line, finish reading, take a few mental notes and grab your rods and tackle bag and get outside.
The past few weeks have been the makings of legends. The action is showing no signs of slowing down.
We have been hitting older retention ponds fishing Berkley flicker shads. I have had the best luck with the 2-inch Berkley flashy ghost flicker shad tied to 8-pound mono.
In late February, the first fish caught this year was a 24-inch largemouth bass. It was my third cast in a nearby retention pond. Here in Virginia, a citation by length is 22 inches. This 24 incher was largemouth citation number 7. Caught the 2-inch flashy ghost tied to 8-pound mono.
A week later, in one larger Virginia Beach retention lake, Scott and I floated a canoe for several hours and hauled in largemouth after largemouth. As a surprise, we even landed an equal number of chain pickerel. All caught the 2-inch Berkley flashy ghost flicker shad tied to 8-pound mono.
Among that haul was a 22-inch largemouth bass and 24 inch chain pickerel. This would mark largemouth citation number 8 and chain pickerel citation number 1.
Today, hitting a nearby retention pond, I landed the biggest largemouth bass I ever caught. That hawg measured in at 25 and 1/4 inches. She could have swallowed a football whole with room enough for several basketballs. Caught the 2-inch Berkley flashy ghost flicker shad tied to 8-pound mono.
I wish I had a certified fishing scale. I really need to research getting one.
That hawg is largemouth citation number 9. I’m sure it was well over 12 pounds, maybe 13 plus. She was fat, sassy, and heavy. I let her go — hoping I’m lucky enough to catcher her another day.
The Virginia state record for a largemouth bass is 16 pounds 4 ounces.
Virginia Outdoors says the best time to catch a monster like these are in March and April.
When can I get out again?