Claytor Lake 2007

[GhostComanche©®]

Claytor Lake 2007
by www.nrvoutdoors.com



Imagine yourself on a waterbody that is more like a wide river than a lake.

When you do, you will have a picture of Claytor Lake. Claytor Lake, a 4,475-acre reservoir, stretches northeastward across the Pulaski County countryside near Radford for about 21 miles. Claytor Lake State Park visitors have a limited view of Claytor Lake.

From this popular state park, visitors can view a sparkling lake, bustling with boating activity, with the top of the Claytor Lake dam in the distance.

A powerboat leaving the state park boat ramp can easily reach the dam and major coves in 5
minutes. Visitors who want to explore can ride 15 miles upstream to the Allisonia boat ramp, where
the New River enters the lake (up to an hour’s ride from Claytor Lake State Park).

Claytor Lake is shallow in areas upstream from Lighthouse Bridge, the only bridge that crosses the main lake (Pulaski County Route 672). Near the midpoint of Claytor Lake, the only major tributary of the lake, Peak Creek, enters the lake.

American Electric Power Company (AEP) impounded Claytor Lake in 1939 to produce
hydroelectric power from the incessant flow of the New River. Claytor Lake dam features 4
hydroelectric turbines that produce electricity. Because Claytor Lake is a main stem impoundment
with a large watershed upstream, water passes through more quickly than in most large Virginia
reservoirs. As a result, Claytor Lake has different temperature and oxygen levels from other nearby
reservoirs like Smith Mountain Lake. Claytor Lake’s temperature and oxygen levels are big factors
for fishes like striped bass and hybrid striped bass that are stocked for anglers to catch.

When Claytor Lake was first impounded, New River fish were trapped in the reservoir. Fish
that found Claytor Lake’s waters a suitable place to live expanded their populations. Smallmouth,
largemouth, and spotted bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel and flathead catfish, yellow perch, and
carp flourished in this new environment called Claytor Lake. Most of these fish prefer shoreline
areas of the lake. Under a cooperative management agreement with the Virginia Department of
Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF), AEP maintains stable water levels in Claytor Lake between
April 15 and June 15 to protect spawning habitat for shallow water spawning fishes like sunfish,
crappie, and bass.

During the early years of VDGIF management efforts at Claytor Lake, fish were introduced
to take advantage of open water areas. Species like trout did not do well, since the coldwater habitat
they needed was not available. VDGIF fisheries biologists successfully introduced alewife as a prey
fish in the open waters. Then, they began stocking walleye to prey on the alewife. In 1996, walleye
stockings were discontinued after a genetic study of walleye in the lake and the upstream New River
found that a unique strain of walleye exists in the New River. Prior to this study, walleye stocked in
Claytor Lake were brought in from other areas of North America. Biologists managing the fishery
feared that these other genetic strains of walleye would contaminate the unique New River walleye
strain that was produced state record walleye through the early 1990’s. Since 2004, VDGIF
biologists have produced New River strain walleye in their fish hatcheries, so Claytor Lake is now
stocked with these walleye. Since 2004, walleye numbers in Claytor Lake have increased, so angler
catch should increase. Walleye in Claytor Lake are regulated with a 20 inch minimum size limit and
a 5 per day creel limit.

Starting in the late 1960’s, striped bass were stocked as an additional predatory fish in the
open waters of Claytor Lake. Annual stocking of stripers continues today. In 1993, fisheries
biologists added striped bass hybrids (a cross between striped bass and white bass) to provide
another open water predatory fish for anglers.

Claytor Lake offers something for every type of angler. Whether you enjoy working
shoreline trees for bass and bluegill or trolling deepwater areas for striper, hybrids, and walleye,
Claytor Lake is the place for you. Read on to learn about the mysterious waters of Claytor Lake and
how to catch the fish that swim in them.

Striped Bass

VDGIF fisheries biologists maintain the striped bass population in Claytor Lake through
annual stocking. Recent lake sampling indicates that strong year classes were produced in 1997,
1998, 2001, and 2003, so striped bass anglers should enjoy good fishing in coming years. Claytor
Lake produced 13 certificate (more than 20 pounds or over 37 inches) stripers in 2006. At least one
striper over thirty pounds is caught each year. Stripers can be caught year-round, although most
anglers have their greatest success from late September through May. Water temperatures below 70
degrees produce the best striper fishing.

Striper diet studies at Claytor Lake showed that stripers rely mostly on alewife and gizzard
shad. Therefore, it is no surprise that Claytor Lake anglers experience the best success using these
species as bait. Gizzard shad and alewives are most easily caught using a cast net near the back ends
of coves. Peak Creek is a great place for finding bait, but don't overlook smaller coves in the lake.
Many stripers are taken with topwater baits (Redfins, Rapalas, etc.) and bucktails in the spring and
fall. For best topwater action, fish points and flats adjacent to deep water. Trolling bucktails in 20-60
feet of water can produce good catches.

During the summer and early fall months of normal and wet years stripers primarily “hole
up” in the middle and lower lake areas close to the lake’s thermocline (50-70 feet deep), where they
find suitable temperature and oxygen levels. In drought years, stripers are unable to find suitable
habitat anywhere in the lake during the summer months, so they roam the lake in search of suitable
habitat. During summer, stripers are typically located from the mouth of Clapboard Hollow
downstream to the dam. When the lake begins to cool in October, stripers begin chasing shad and
alewife schools around the lake and are more difficult to locate. If you see stripers chasing shad at
the surface, you can catch them on top water lures. In winter months, look for stripers in the middle
and upper lake areas, from the mouth of Peak Creek up to the Lighthouse Bridge. Find the bait
schools and you are likely to find the stripers nearby. In March and during times of high inflows,
stripers run to the headwaters of the lake at Allisonia.

Striped Bass Hybrids

Striped bass hybrids, introduced to Claytor in 1993, are stocked each year. Strong year
classes were produced in 1997, 1998, 2000, and 2003, so hybrid fishing in the lake is good. Striped
bass hybrids are a hard fighting fish that are good to eat! Since they can tolerate higher water
temperatures, hybrids often chase schools of shad at the lake’s surface at night in the summer
months. In the summer, hybrids are usually found between Lighthouse Bridge and Peak Creek
(upper end of the lake) and between Felt’s Hollow and Hidden Hollow (midlake area). In the fall,
winter, and spring months, hybrids can be found throughout the lake. Hybrid striped bass diets are
very similar to striper diets, so they can be caught using the same techniques.