Claytor Lake Fishing Report 11/25/17

Princeton_Man · November 25, 2017, 03:02:36 PM

Launched out of Claytor Lake State Park about 0900. Mostly cloudy skies, wind was 10-15mph, water temp was 51. Air temperature made it to 57 by the time I loaded up at 1:00. Water was drawn down 5' below full pool two weeks ago and remains about 3' below full. I spent some time mapping and marking some spots.
Found some nice stacks of bait down about 20 feet and what I believe may have been some Stripers. Tried spoons, swimbaits, jigs, and drop shot, but I couldn't buy a bite.

Lipripper · November 25, 2017, 04:49:56 PM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on November 25, 2017, 03:02:36 PM
Launched out of Claytor Lake State Park about 0900. Mostly cloudy skies, wind was 10-15mph, water temp was 51. Air temperature made it to 57 by the time I loaded up at 1:00. Water was drawn down 5' below full pool two weeks ago and remains about 3' below full. I spent some time mapping and marking some spots.
Found some nice stacks of bait down about 20 feet and what I believe may have been some Stripers. Tried spoons, swimbaits, jigs, and drop shot, but I couldn't buy a bite.

Sorry you couldn't get them fish to bite Jim and your lucky them skunk diplomas are free.

Princeton_Man · November 25, 2017, 05:28:52 PM

Quote from: Lipripper on November 25, 2017, 04:49:56 PM
Sorry you couldn't get them fish to bite Jim and your lucky them skunk diplomas are free.

Didn't take you long to find my post!

Lipripper · November 26, 2017, 08:09:18 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on November 25, 2017, 05:28:52 PM
Didn't take you long to find my post!

Almost 2 hours. I must be slowing down in my old age.

Mike Cork · November 26, 2017, 10:07:57 AM

That lake is apparently brutal, if I didn't unlock it soon I'd expand my home lake range and pick another...

Princeton_Man · November 26, 2017, 10:33:35 AM

Quote from: Mike Cork on November 26, 2017, 10:07:57 AM
That lake is apparently brutal, if I didn't unlock it soon I'd expand my home lake range and pick another...

I met one of the new Park Police officers on my way in. He was at the gate powering things up ahead of the attendant's arrival. He hasn't done any good on Claytor and asked me why I thought the lake was so hard to fish. I told him I thought that it was extremely over fished. Roughly 5500 acres, as many as six and eight tournaments a week, very poor management efforts, and hey killed all the grass and weeds for the recreational nuts.

Most folks in these parts don't travel far and for many Claytor is the only lake they know. Claytor has been a primary source of income for Pulaski Virginia and every teat is being milked dry. I prefer South Holston over Claytor, IMHO Tennessee does a much better job with their fisheries management. West Virginia and Virginia could learn a lot from TN. SoHo is a 90 minute drive, Claytor is only 45. When I'm only wanting to get out for a few hours, a trip to SoHo turns it into an all day trip.

Mike Cork · November 27, 2017, 12:02:47 PM

All I can do is suggest you get involved. Since settling down in Louisiana Laurie and I have gotten very involved and it's made a difference. UB has been a huge help for Louisiana issues as well. Heck we have WL&F watching the site now to to find anglers views and what they don't like. They will post to get anglers to take action as something have to go to the state to get changed or fixed.

It starts small but by visiting clubs and getting them fired up, we turned things around. Everything from removing slot limits to stopping grass carp plants. Our biggest issue now is the waste of money they are doing on a specific vegetation control. But the area anglers are very involved with it and hopefully we'll all find a way.

Point is you may feel like one small voice but get a few to help you get louder, find the correct people to annoy and do it ANNOY them until they listen