Post by GhostComanche©® on Jan 25, 2021 1:08:18 GMT
Fishing is better than ever at Buggs Island
by Captain C.C. McCotter at www.MccottersLakeAnna.com | June 7, 2017
John H. Kerr Reservoir was once revered as one of bass fishing’s jewels of the east. National bass fishing organizations made Clarksville and South Hill into “Tournament Towns” on the weekends.
Known by many as Buggs Island, this 49,000 acre lake was one of the top destinations for the weekend angler and the serious tournament angler alike. That began to change in the early 2000’s when anglers as well as biologists started noticing a decline in numbers of bass being caught and particularly those in the 3 to 5 pound range.
Although it was obvious that fish numbers were down, the reasons still remained a puzzle. Many began to speculate that the bass were over-pressured, stressed by low and constantly fluctuating water levels, and some even blamed the exploding numbers of blueback herring, claiming that these baitfish were feeding on the eggs of spawning bass.
In 2002 the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries sought out answers and discovered something far worse than had been imagined. The department had discovered that one in every 60 bass surveyed tested positive for LMBV, or Largemouth Bass Virus. In 2009 this virus gained national attention as fish numbers dropped to an all time low, and tests revealed that 41 percent of bass on the lake were infected. This was the same virus that had plagued lakes in Alabama, Texas, Florida, and throughout the south in the late 1990s.
The good news is that in each instance of a LMBV, the infected fish died off, and it was discovered that the surviving populations were completely immune to the virus. This virus had taken its course in a period of about six years.
Now some eight years later the virus has run its course, and the bass fishing is better than ever. Buggs’ famous crappie fishery is also fairly healthy. Landlocked striper and massive blue catfish also draw thousands of anglers per year to this famous lake.
To get a good idea of how Buggs is faring currently from a scientific standpoint I contacted VDGIF Aquatic Biologist Dan Michaelson. Michaelson has been in charge of managing Buggs since 2010 and assisted another top manager prior to that since 2001.
Michaelson did his undergraduate work at the University of Missouri, earning a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife science. He completed his masters in fisheries and wildlife at Virginia Tech, so he knows his fish science.
I asked him for a “State of the Lake” on Buggs’ major species – largemouth bass, crappie, striper and blue catfish.
“The largemouth bass fishery has recovered well from a decline in the late 2000’s. Our spring samples have shown improvements in size and density and mortality rates have returned to acceptable levels.”
Crappie is still a great fishery, but density has declined in our samples. Anglers are reporting declines in catch rates as well. Fishing pressure and year class strength are probably the major culprits for the decline. Growth rates are still very good for crappie so that is a big plus. We’re looking hard at this fishery now.”
The striped bass population looked very good this past fall with much healthier (heavier) fish than the previous year and angler satisfaction pretty high this winter. Growth rates continue to be a concern at Buggs due to the decline in system productivity and the vast number of predators in this system. The copepod is still observed in fish we sample in the fall, but they are not as densely infested as they were 5-6 years ago. We have actively worked at reducing density of this population trying to improve growth rates and overall condition of Buggs Island stripers.”
The blue catfish population continues to expand with increases observed in our fall gill nets. Size is obviously very impressive even though growth rates at Buggs are average to poor compared to other systems in the country.”
Noteworthy changes in the lake Michaelson cited include the explosion of the blue catfish with a world record pulled from the lake in 2011 that weighed 143 pounds. A 141-pound specimen was recorded this winter, too. The decline and recovery of the largemouth bass population was observed as was a serious problem with the lake’s land-locked striper population.
“We have had some challenges with the striped bass fishery with the parasitic copepod and habitat issues (warm summer water temperatures). Over the years we’ve seen a significant decline in the productivity of the system as the reservoir has aged. Most probably due to changes in land use in the watershed and just age.”
Careful management can often assist and protect a water from natural and human-induced trends. Michaelson says he is looking at crappie regulations now intended to keep the freckle fishing good into the future.
“We may be considering a crappie regulation if we continue to experience the decline in abundance we’ve detected over the past three years. We’re right in the middle of our investigation of the decline, so there’s nothing formally proposed at this point.”
While I discussed a decline in the fishery and an overall reduction in system productivity, there is still a quality crappie fishery at Buggs, and it is still a productive system. Abundant forage in the shad and herring species (gizzard shad, threadfin shad, alewife and blueback herring) provide ample forage for this species. Having habitat conditions to support both species of crappie, white and black, helps too. There are some high quality white crappie in this system.”
Buggs is a very unique system in that striper actually reproduce – something that happens in only a handful of lakes around the country.
“There is limited natural recruitment still occurring in the system. Stripers run up the Staunton River to about Brookneal and annually spawn. This is a very unique system in that it is completely isolated from an ocean run and one of very few places in North America where we have a land-locked, naturally reproducing striped bass population.”
Even with this natural reproduction, the VDGIF stocks striper annually in Buggs - 175,000 annually.
A great resource for fishing information at the lake is Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle. The Whitlow family has overseen this shop for many years, selling “hot” lures and certifying thousands of citation fish. If you are traveling to the lake to fish, stop in and poke around. You should leave with a bag of goodies for the fish and a better idea of where to go than before you stopped in. (434-374-8381)
Things to consider for your trip is to check the water level of the lake. Buggs can fluctuate up to 20’ seasonally. In the spring it’s not uncommon for runoff to swell the reservoir from full pool of 300’ MSL to 306’ to 310’ MSL. When this happens the bass and crappie often reposition themselves on shoreline willow trees and alder bushes, making for some great fishing conditions.
you stay, we recommend the Lake Motel located on the lake shore in the great town of Clarksville on the upper end of the lake. This place welcomes anglers with an awesome view, is within walking distance of Clarksville restaurants and has boat slips for guests.
by Captain C.C. McCotter at www.MccottersLakeAnna.com | June 7, 2017
John H. Kerr Reservoir was once revered as one of bass fishing’s jewels of the east. National bass fishing organizations made Clarksville and South Hill into “Tournament Towns” on the weekends.
Known by many as Buggs Island, this 49,000 acre lake was one of the top destinations for the weekend angler and the serious tournament angler alike. That began to change in the early 2000’s when anglers as well as biologists started noticing a decline in numbers of bass being caught and particularly those in the 3 to 5 pound range.
Although it was obvious that fish numbers were down, the reasons still remained a puzzle. Many began to speculate that the bass were over-pressured, stressed by low and constantly fluctuating water levels, and some even blamed the exploding numbers of blueback herring, claiming that these baitfish were feeding on the eggs of spawning bass.
In 2002 the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries sought out answers and discovered something far worse than had been imagined. The department had discovered that one in every 60 bass surveyed tested positive for LMBV, or Largemouth Bass Virus. In 2009 this virus gained national attention as fish numbers dropped to an all time low, and tests revealed that 41 percent of bass on the lake were infected. This was the same virus that had plagued lakes in Alabama, Texas, Florida, and throughout the south in the late 1990s.
The good news is that in each instance of a LMBV, the infected fish died off, and it was discovered that the surviving populations were completely immune to the virus. This virus had taken its course in a period of about six years.
Now some eight years later the virus has run its course, and the bass fishing is better than ever. Buggs’ famous crappie fishery is also fairly healthy. Landlocked striper and massive blue catfish also draw thousands of anglers per year to this famous lake.
To get a good idea of how Buggs is faring currently from a scientific standpoint I contacted VDGIF Aquatic Biologist Dan Michaelson. Michaelson has been in charge of managing Buggs since 2010 and assisted another top manager prior to that since 2001.
Michaelson did his undergraduate work at the University of Missouri, earning a B.S. in fisheries and wildlife science. He completed his masters in fisheries and wildlife at Virginia Tech, so he knows his fish science.
I asked him for a “State of the Lake” on Buggs’ major species – largemouth bass, crappie, striper and blue catfish.
“The largemouth bass fishery has recovered well from a decline in the late 2000’s. Our spring samples have shown improvements in size and density and mortality rates have returned to acceptable levels.”
Crappie is still a great fishery, but density has declined in our samples. Anglers are reporting declines in catch rates as well. Fishing pressure and year class strength are probably the major culprits for the decline. Growth rates are still very good for crappie so that is a big plus. We’re looking hard at this fishery now.”
The striped bass population looked very good this past fall with much healthier (heavier) fish than the previous year and angler satisfaction pretty high this winter. Growth rates continue to be a concern at Buggs due to the decline in system productivity and the vast number of predators in this system. The copepod is still observed in fish we sample in the fall, but they are not as densely infested as they were 5-6 years ago. We have actively worked at reducing density of this population trying to improve growth rates and overall condition of Buggs Island stripers.”
The blue catfish population continues to expand with increases observed in our fall gill nets. Size is obviously very impressive even though growth rates at Buggs are average to poor compared to other systems in the country.”
Noteworthy changes in the lake Michaelson cited include the explosion of the blue catfish with a world record pulled from the lake in 2011 that weighed 143 pounds. A 141-pound specimen was recorded this winter, too. The decline and recovery of the largemouth bass population was observed as was a serious problem with the lake’s land-locked striper population.
“We have had some challenges with the striped bass fishery with the parasitic copepod and habitat issues (warm summer water temperatures). Over the years we’ve seen a significant decline in the productivity of the system as the reservoir has aged. Most probably due to changes in land use in the watershed and just age.”
Careful management can often assist and protect a water from natural and human-induced trends. Michaelson says he is looking at crappie regulations now intended to keep the freckle fishing good into the future.
“We may be considering a crappie regulation if we continue to experience the decline in abundance we’ve detected over the past three years. We’re right in the middle of our investigation of the decline, so there’s nothing formally proposed at this point.”
While I discussed a decline in the fishery and an overall reduction in system productivity, there is still a quality crappie fishery at Buggs, and it is still a productive system. Abundant forage in the shad and herring species (gizzard shad, threadfin shad, alewife and blueback herring) provide ample forage for this species. Having habitat conditions to support both species of crappie, white and black, helps too. There are some high quality white crappie in this system.”
Buggs is a very unique system in that striper actually reproduce – something that happens in only a handful of lakes around the country.
“There is limited natural recruitment still occurring in the system. Stripers run up the Staunton River to about Brookneal and annually spawn. This is a very unique system in that it is completely isolated from an ocean run and one of very few places in North America where we have a land-locked, naturally reproducing striped bass population.”
Even with this natural reproduction, the VDGIF stocks striper annually in Buggs - 175,000 annually.
A great resource for fishing information at the lake is Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle. The Whitlow family has overseen this shop for many years, selling “hot” lures and certifying thousands of citation fish. If you are traveling to the lake to fish, stop in and poke around. You should leave with a bag of goodies for the fish and a better idea of where to go than before you stopped in. (434-374-8381)
Things to consider for your trip is to check the water level of the lake. Buggs can fluctuate up to 20’ seasonally. In the spring it’s not uncommon for runoff to swell the reservoir from full pool of 300’ MSL to 306’ to 310’ MSL. When this happens the bass and crappie often reposition themselves on shoreline willow trees and alder bushes, making for some great fishing conditions.
you stay, we recommend the Lake Motel located on the lake shore in the great town of Clarksville on the upper end of the lake. This place welcomes anglers with an awesome view, is within walking distance of Clarksville restaurants and has boat slips for guests.