Central VA Warmwater: The Big Fall Feed
Sorry, no pictures, just some advice. For those near Central VA or a region that has been having similar weather patterns, GO FISHING!
After a long, hot September with little rain, the rivers were getting really low. Then we had several weekends in a row with multi-inch rainstorms, the latest of which was the rain associated with Hurricane Matthew. After the muddy water cleared up, the rivers are back to normal or a little above for this time of year. The rain is gone and the air temperature has been warming up. The water temperatures are in the mid 60s to low 70s most places, and warmer each day. This results in clear water, good flows, and hungry fish. I don't buy the "fattening up before winter" story, (I think it has to do with dwindling summer food stocks and high metabolisms in water that is still warm, making fish more likely to take an imitation) but for those that do, this is that magical window that writers often tell you about. Sunfish and bass are still taking topwaters, and are also taking streamers stripped rapidly and erratically.
It will all be changed in a couple of days though, when a cold front comes through Thursday or Friday and air temperatures drop by 15 to 20 degrees. So head out this week, before the cold front puts the fish off.
