Occoquan River: Fishing Reports
December 28, 2018....Mixed
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Lots of bass are located on dropoffs near the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled up around bridge pilings, submerged brushpiles and boat docks. Yellow perch are showing near the mouth and are taking small grubs and minnows, fished on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Most of these fish are bucks, as the females are not showing as well as we would like. Some stripers are working, off and on, near the foot bridge at the back end of the river. Sassy Shads, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Red Fins and jumbo minnows are taking the fish.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Lots of bass are located on dropoffs near the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled up around bridge pilings, submerged brushpiles and boat docks. Yellow perch are showing near the mouth and are taking small grubs and minnows, fished on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Most of these fish are bucks, as the females are not showing as well as we would like. Some stripers are working, off and on, near the foot bridge at the back end of the river. Sassy Shads, Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Red Fins and jumbo minnows are taking the fish.
December 13, 2018....Mixed
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Lots of bass are located on dropoffs near the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled up around the submerged brushpiles and boat docks. Yellow perch are showing near the mouth and are taking small grubs and minnows, fished on the bottom in 10-20 feet of water. Most of the perch are bucks, but more roe perch are moving in daily. Occasional stripers are being taken in the area around Hoffmaster's Marina on Sassy Shads and live jumbo minnows. Bass are also being taken in the back end of the river, jigging Silver Buddies and Hopkins spoons at the base of the dropoffs, under the schools of baitfish.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Lots of bass are located on dropoffs near the mouth of the river. Crappie are schooled up around the submerged brushpiles and boat docks. Yellow perch are showing near the mouth and are taking small grubs and minnows, fished on the bottom in 10-20 feet of water. Most of the perch are bucks, but more roe perch are moving in daily. Occasional stripers are being taken in the area around Hoffmaster's Marina on Sassy Shads and live jumbo minnows. Bass are also being taken in the back end of the river, jigging Silver Buddies and Hopkins spoons at the base of the dropoffs, under the schools of baitfish.
December 7, 2018....Mixed
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
The dropoffs around the Route 1 bridge are holding a few bass, as is the rock wall on the North bank of the river. Larger bass are available on the rock points on the southern shore. Jig 'n pig baits will take the larger fish, while numbers of fish will be caught on plastic grubs or rib worms. + Lots of crappie, most of them small, are around the boat docks and brushpiles. Yellow perch are on the increase on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Most of these are bucks, but more roe perch are moving in daily. Live minnows or small plastic grubs in yellow, fished on the bottom will take the ring perch. Some anglers are taking yellow perch on small, gold, Silver Buddies, jigged slowly just off the bottom. They are also being regularly surprised by bass on their lines.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
The dropoffs around the Route 1 bridge are holding a few bass, as is the rock wall on the North bank of the river. Larger bass are available on the rock points on the southern shore. Jig 'n pig baits will take the larger fish, while numbers of fish will be caught on plastic grubs or rib worms. + Lots of crappie, most of them small, are around the boat docks and brushpiles. Yellow perch are on the increase on the bottom in 15-20 feet of water. Most of these are bucks, but more roe perch are moving in daily. Live minnows or small plastic grubs in yellow, fished on the bottom will take the ring perch. Some anglers are taking yellow perch on small, gold, Silver Buddies, jigged slowly just off the bottom. They are also being regularly surprised by bass on their lines.
November 30, 2018....Mixed Report
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Yellow perch are showing up in the river, with only a few large ones at present. More fat females are showing up every day. Bass may be caught on the bottom on small plastic worms and grubs, fished very slowly along the rock wall and around the wood structure. Flipping boat docks with tiny grubs and live minnows will produce livewells full of a wide variety of fish. Patience is the key, along with very slowly fished, small baits. Bass and yellow perch will be found on the bottom and on humps in the middle of the river, while the crappie will be adjacent to cover or suspended in open water over humps, etc. Check your depthfinder for schools of fish suspending on the lip of the dropoff into the river channel. These fish are suckers for Silver Buddies, Shakey Head lures and Drop Shot rigs.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Yellow perch are showing up in the river, with only a few large ones at present. More fat females are showing up every day. Bass may be caught on the bottom on small plastic worms and grubs, fished very slowly along the rock wall and around the wood structure. Flipping boat docks with tiny grubs and live minnows will produce livewells full of a wide variety of fish. Patience is the key, along with very slowly fished, small baits. Bass and yellow perch will be found on the bottom and on humps in the middle of the river, while the crappie will be adjacent to cover or suspended in open water over humps, etc. Check your depthfinder for schools of fish suspending on the lip of the dropoff into the river channel. These fish are suckers for Silver Buddies, Shakey Head lures and Drop Shot rigs.
November 23, 2018....Mixed Report
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Yellow perch are to be found on the flat below the Route One Bridge. Largemouth bass are available along the rock wall in 8-15 feet of water, and on the rock points along the southern shore. Hopkins Spoons, Silver Buddies, plastic grubs, jigs, drop shots and live bait are the preferred choices. Plenty of bass are available under the baitfish schools in the mid section of the river. Crappie are taking live minnows and tiny jigs around the boat docks below the Route One Bridge. Stripers are reported, taking Sassy Shads, in the deep water around Hoffmaster's Marina.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Yellow perch are to be found on the flat below the Route One Bridge. Largemouth bass are available along the rock wall in 8-15 feet of water, and on the rock points along the southern shore. Hopkins Spoons, Silver Buddies, plastic grubs, jigs, drop shots and live bait are the preferred choices. Plenty of bass are available under the baitfish schools in the mid section of the river. Crappie are taking live minnows and tiny jigs around the boat docks below the Route One Bridge. Stripers are reported, taking Sassy Shads, in the deep water around Hoffmaster's Marina.
November 18, 2018....Bass Report
by Bay Bass
Launched at 1pm and pulled out at 4pm. Wife and mother in law went out for a few hrs with me in the Blue Magic. Water was super high and debris were scattered everywhere all over the river. Huge logs, tree stumps, trash, tires, and more.
Water visibility was 2 INCHES.
Water temp was ONLY 43. It had dropped 10 degrees in 10 days.
Air temp was 47.
We spent 1hr riding around outside of the no wake zone just to run some fuel through the motor, and 2hrs fishing. We only managed 2 bass largest 15” and chunky. One caught on a Bitsy Bug 3/8oz jighead with the skirt removed and a black BayBass Bug, fished on 15lb braid and the second on a 4” watermelon senco on a 1/8oz darter head fished on 6lb cxx.
by Bay Bass
Launched at 1pm and pulled out at 4pm. Wife and mother in law went out for a few hrs with me in the Blue Magic. Water was super high and debris were scattered everywhere all over the river. Huge logs, tree stumps, trash, tires, and more.
Water visibility was 2 INCHES.
Water temp was ONLY 43. It had dropped 10 degrees in 10 days.
Air temp was 47.
We spent 1hr riding around outside of the no wake zone just to run some fuel through the motor, and 2hrs fishing. We only managed 2 bass largest 15” and chunky. One caught on a Bitsy Bug 3/8oz jighead with the skirt removed and a black BayBass Bug, fished on 15lb braid and the second on a 4” watermelon senco on a 1/8oz darter head fished on 6lb cxx.
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November 16, 2018....Mixed
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Big crappie should be taken by anglers fishing live minnows around boat docks and submerged structure. Some of the crappie exceed one pound, but most are in the 3/4 pound class. Yellow perch are beginning to appear around the mouth of the river. Bass are located on the dropoffs adjacent to vertical structure and to the remnants of grass on flats. The wood pilings and the rock walls are the best cover in the river and most always hold fish. Fish for them with Shaky Heads, plastic worms and small crankbaits. A recent bass tournament had successful anglers using Shakey heads, tipped with Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or Yum Dead Ringers. Work the baits from shallow water into deeper water. Watch the line very carefully, as the hits will be very soft and normally will not be felt. Should the bait feel heavy, or the line move at all, set the hook. Some of the larger fish initially feel very small. If they are not moved away from cover immediately, you stand a good chance of losing them.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Big crappie should be taken by anglers fishing live minnows around boat docks and submerged structure. Some of the crappie exceed one pound, but most are in the 3/4 pound class. Yellow perch are beginning to appear around the mouth of the river. Bass are located on the dropoffs adjacent to vertical structure and to the remnants of grass on flats. The wood pilings and the rock walls are the best cover in the river and most always hold fish. Fish for them with Shaky Heads, plastic worms and small crankbaits. A recent bass tournament had successful anglers using Shakey heads, tipped with Zoom Baby Brush Hogs or Yum Dead Ringers. Work the baits from shallow water into deeper water. Watch the line very carefully, as the hits will be very soft and normally will not be felt. Should the bait feel heavy, or the line move at all, set the hook. Some of the larger fish initially feel very small. If they are not moved away from cover immediately, you stand a good chance of losing them.
November 14, 2018....Bass Report
by Matt Berrige
The bass are still biting good...
by Matt Berrige
The bass are still biting good...
November 10, 2018....Bass Report
by Bay Bass
40-45mph wind gusts. Water temp 53....air temp 37-45.
Had to work for them in 5-9’. Water clarity like doo doo water.
by Bay Bass
40-45mph wind gusts. Water temp 53....air temp 37-45.
Had to work for them in 5-9’. Water clarity like doo doo water.
November 2, 2018....Mixed Report
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Crankbaits, worked along the rock wall, are taking a few bass in this river. Most of the bass, however, are being caught in deeper water, on dropoffs. Better baits include live minnows, Shaky Heads, drop shot rigs and Silver Buddies. Crankbaits that root the bottom in 15 feet or more of water will occasionally turn a good fish or two. The rock wall along the North shore, rocky points and submerged pilings are some of the better areas to fish. Crappie and bluegill are taking small minnows around the boat docks, where the occasional good bass will also hit. Catfish are being caught by crappie fishermen on minnows, but there are few anglers fishing for them. When fishing this river, always take the time to investigate the rocks in the back of the river. This area is constantly being flushed by the overflow from the Occoquan Reservoir and will hold some good schools of fish at various times. One never knows what species of fish are feeding here at any given time. Lots of stripers are normally feeding there at this time of year.
by Charlie Taylor Fishing
Crankbaits, worked along the rock wall, are taking a few bass in this river. Most of the bass, however, are being caught in deeper water, on dropoffs. Better baits include live minnows, Shaky Heads, drop shot rigs and Silver Buddies. Crankbaits that root the bottom in 15 feet or more of water will occasionally turn a good fish or two. The rock wall along the North shore, rocky points and submerged pilings are some of the better areas to fish. Crappie and bluegill are taking small minnows around the boat docks, where the occasional good bass will also hit. Catfish are being caught by crappie fishermen on minnows, but there are few anglers fishing for them. When fishing this river, always take the time to investigate the rocks in the back of the river. This area is constantly being flushed by the overflow from the Occoquan Reservoir and will hold some good schools of fish at various times. One never knows what species of fish are feeding here at any given time. Lots of stripers are normally feeding there at this time of year.
