The Common Fish of Western LoudounIDEAL TECHNIQUES AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR CATCHING

BY MATT ASHLEY

Baits and Lures Used

Crankbait (middle center)

Plugs (Poppers, top right)

Senkos (bottom left)

Frog Lures (center left)

Spinning Jigs (top left)

Minnow Lures (center and bottom right)

Hot Dogs

Chicken Liver

Largemouth Bass

Found in creeks, ponds, and lakes throughout Western Loudoun, these predators are active almost all of the time. In colder water and rainy days, they tend to lurk in deeper areas biting on cut baits, such as hot dogs and chicken liver. In warmer water, they thrive near banks biting on almost any lure, usually being under hanging trees. They also bite on lures or bait all throughout the day.

20 Inch Largemouth caught on Senko

14 Inch LargemouthCaught on Crankbait

Adolescent caught onBrown Trout Minnow

Bluegill

Swimming in schools, Bluegill tend to hang around docks or banks. They will bite on almost anything, including (sometimes surprisingly large) lures, and baits. They are catchable at all times of the day, and almost seem domesticated, even in the wild, as they all seem to swim towards bait awaiting a meal, regardless of the weather.

Young Bluegill caughton Chicken Liver in the rain

Adult Bluegill caughton Brown Trout Minnow

Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Caught in several creeks in Western Loudoun, these fish are very similar to their Bluegill cousin. They swim in schools and are very attracted to food, and can be found almost anywhere. These are also very beautiful fish.

Two Pumkinseeds caught on a hot dog bait off of a cliff.

Black Crappie

While they swim in schools and are usually seen in very large numbers, these fish were quite illusive to me. Caught on both a lure and bait in a deep patch of water, they prefer relatively warm (but not too warm) water.

Adolescent Crappie caughton a Senko lure

Channel Catfish

Lurking in channels in large creeks, ponds and lakes, these fish are very illusive and tricky due to the fact that they depend on sight rather than smell. They prefer baits in deep channels or in sites with caves or a great amount of obstacles at cool temperatures, usually in the early morning or evening; but not too late due to their dependence on sight, unlike most cats.

Very large Channel Catcaught on hot dog Young Channel Cat

caught on Chicken Liver20 Inch Cat caughton hot dog

Areas Fished and Fish Caught

Franklin Park Pond – Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill.

Lake off of Loudoun Orchard Road – Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill, Black Crappie.

Pond in Hamilton – Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Bluegill.

Small Pond off of Allder School Road – Largemouth Bass and Bluegill.

Goose Creek – Channel Catfish and Bluegill.

Catoctin Creek—North Fork – Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Fish and Their Bites on Each Lure and Bait

Largemouth Bass – Senko, Frog Lure, Spinning Jig, Hot Dog, Brown Trout Minnow, Chicken Liver, Crankbait.

Bluegill – Frog Lure, Spinning Jig, Hot Dog, Brown Trout Minnow, Chicken Liver.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish – Hot Dog, Chicken Liver.

Black Crappie – Senko, Hot Dog.

Channel Catfish – Hot Dog, Chicken Liver.

Ideal Weather and Temperature Conditions for Each Fish

Largemouth Bass – Will bite on sinking lures occasionally and cut baits in colder weather, but mostly cut baits in rainy weather. Will bite on most baits and lures in warm weather.

Bluegill – Will bite on almost anything at any time of the day, in any weather, in warm or cool water.

Pumpkinseed Sunfish – (See Bluegill).

Black Crappie – Will bite on sinking lures and baits in moderately warm water, but not too hot.

Channel Catfish – Prefer the cooler waters of morning and evening and dwell on the bottoms or under wreckage in lakes, ponds, and creeks, and seem unaffected by rainy weather.