October 19

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in low to mid-70s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The buzzbait bite for bass on Lake Monticello is still very good, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that early in the morning you can’t go wrong targeting rock, laydowns and even blank banks with a buzzbait. If it’s cloudy the bite can last all day long. A jerkbait is also good early in the morning, but on sunny days it can also produce a little further into the day than the buzzbait. 

When the sun gets up then fishing a jig or shaky head around structure in the pockets and coves in 15-25 feet of water is the best pattern when they are not pulling water, but if current is flowing then you can either stick with the jerkbait or fish a deep-diving crankbait in the same depth range. 

It won’t last much longer but for now the free-line drifting catfish bite is still really good on Lake Monticello, andCaptain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that tons of eating-sized blues remain suspended high in the water column over deep water where they are feeding. You can drift a variety of baits ranging from small pieces of cut gizzard shad to chicken to mussels. Even though you are generally targeting smaller fish William still prefers to fish with 8/0 circle hooks, which seem to offer the best hookset. 

You can also catch small fish anchoring small baits on the bottom, and you can even hook a big one free-line drifting. 

However, the best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 20-60 feet around long points and underwater humps. It’s easy to do on Monticello, but you want to find areas to set up where you can cover a broad range of depths from one anchored position. 

It can also be worth starting to drift, because at some point that pattern will really turn on. 

White perch, bream and gizzard shad are the preferred baits right now for drifting, due to their durability, and for anchoring you can also add herring to the mix.

October 5

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 70s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The buzzbait bite for bass on Lake Monticello is still red-hot, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that his buddy Don Beason came within 3/100 of a pound of winning first place in the Lake Murray Seniors Club tournament fishing a double propeller buzzbait for 17 pounds this week in their tournament. That bite is good until about 9:30, and you can catch both largemouth and smallmouth throwing it anywhere there is a rock outcropping. Downed trees are also holding fish, and on the lower end you are more likely to run into smallmouth. 

They haven’t seen as much schooling activity this week, particularly when water is not being pulled, and the best way to catch fish once the sun gets up has been with a shaky head in pockets. However, this has mainly been a pattern for smaller fish. 

If there is current then after the sun gets up you can fish the middle of the pockets ticking the tops of brush with a 5XD or 6XD crankbait. 

Catfish report to follow next week.  

September 28

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the upper 70s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The buzzbait bite for bass on Lake Monticello has come on even more this week, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that running pockets in the morning with a buzzbait is a really good pattern all over the lake. Additionally, on the lower end going along the bank and throwing a buzzbait at downed trees is working really well for smallmouth. 

More generally fish are in the pockets, and in the morning in addition to buzzbaits they are sometimes catching them schooling. The Mad Shad has been working very well as has a fluke. 

If fish aren’t schooling but there is water being pulled then cranking the ends of the secondary points first thing with a DT-10 or DT-6 crankbait is another option. After the sun gets up move to the middle of the pockets and tick the tops of brush with a 5XD or 6XD crankbait. If there is no water moving then you pretty much need to fish a shaky head.

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and even though it will slow a little in the coming weeks Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that on warm, sunny days well into the fall it can be productive. For now smaller fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. The suspended catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. However, very soon the deep fall bite will turn on with more cooling.

White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. 

September 21

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the low to mid-80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass on Lake Monticello have made their early fall transition, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that they have made their way into the pockets. In the morning they are catching them schooling, and the Mad Shad has been working very well. If fish aren’t schooling but there is water being pulled then cranking the ends of the secondary points first thing with a DT-10 or DT-6 crankbait is working well. After the sun gets up move to the middle of the pockets and tick the tops of brush with a 5XD or 6XD crankbait. If there is no water moving then you pretty much need to fish a shaky head.

There is also a surprisingly good smallmouth bite, and particularly on the cool mornings the fish are getting around any shallow wood in the water. You can just go along the bank and throw a buzzbait at downed trees to catch smallmouth, especially on lower end.

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. The suspended catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. However, it won’t be long until the deep fall bite turns on with more cooling.

White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. 

September 7

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass on Lake Monticello have begun their fall transition, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that they are starting to pull into wind-blown pockets and coves following baitfish. While a few fish can still be found on main lake points where they can be caught on a 6XD or an 8XD (when water is being pulled) or a shaky head, most of the fish are moving in. 

When they are pulling water then fish will be tighter to secondary points about 10 feet deep, and they will take a 5XD or a 6XD. When no water is moving then they will be off the points a bit sitting in ditches in 10-25 feet, and a big Texas-rigged worm like a Zoom Ole Monster is the best way to target them. With a lot of brush and rocks in the coves a shaky head doesn’t fish as well. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. The suspended catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. However, it won’t be long until the deep fall bite turns on if we get a little cooling.

White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. 

August 24

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lake remains clear.

It’s still a strong offshore bass bite on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that the quality of the action varies with the water conditions. When they are pulling water then you can wear out big fish off the ends of main lake points in 15-25 feet with a big flutter spoon or a deep diving crankbait like a 6XD or 8XD.  But when they are not pulling water then the bigger fish don’t bite as well, and you pretty much have to fish soft plastics. Right now a green pumpkin trick worm on a shaky head is working better than a drop shot. In 18-25 feet go with a 3/8 ounce, and in shallower water use a ¼ ounce.  But even switching to soft plastics the big ones aren’t biting when there isn’t water moving, and you are basically targeting 2-pounders. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. They suspended catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. However, it won’t be long until the deep fall bite turns on.

White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. 

August 17

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lake remains clear.

If you want to learn to offshore bass fish, BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that right now on Lake Monticello is the time and place to do it! They are still wearing out the fish on main lake points in 15-25 feet of water, and when they are pulling water then a big flutter spoon or a deep diving crankbait like a 6XD or 8XD is the best option. When they are not pulling water then the fish usually want soft plastics, and right now a green pumpkin trick worm on a shakey head is working better than a drop shot. In 18-25 feet go with a 3/8 ounce, and in shallower water use the ¼ ounce.

This summer fish are not getting inside the big pockets, and Eric thinks that’s something to do with the way Dominion is generating power. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. However, it won’t be long until the deep fall bite turns on.

White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work. 

August 3

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lake remains clear.

Lake Monticello bass fishing is on fire right now, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that catching a 20-pound limit right now is very doable. By yourself! If you are wanting to teach a young person how to catch fish Eric says that now is the time.

Fish can be caught on the ends of main lake points and humps in about 15-25 feet of water. The most reliable way to catch numbers is with a ¼ or 3/8 ounce green pumpkin trick worm, but for quality a 6XD or 8XD deep-running crankbait is your best option. 

A flutter spoon can also be really good, even though the bite can be hit-or-miss. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish also continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, but there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.

July 27

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid- to upper 80s, and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  The lake has cleared this week. 

It’s a pretty exciting time to fish Lake Monticello when the bass are stacked up like this, and BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that he is seeing tons of schools of 50-100 fish out on the main lake. They are off the end of points and any high spots like underwater humps, while the pockets are pretty dead. 

The preferred way to approach these fish is to start off cranking in 15-25 feet first thing with a 6XD or 8XD in a shad pattern, but as the sun gets up then pull out a flutter spoon if there is some wind. You can also keep cranking. However, on more typical calm days then a shaky head with a green pumpkin worm is working extremely well. You have to wade through a lot of small bass but there are plenty of good ones, too. 

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.

The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps.  White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.

July 13

Lake Monticello morning surface water temperatures are in the mid-80s and water levels typically fluctuate daily.  

The bass fishing is still pretty good on Lake Monticello, but BYA Fishing’s Eric Enlow of Union reports that – as you would expect in the summer – the bite is better first thing and in the evenings. Deep is still the best place to look, but there are also some fish around stumps, rocks and brush in the 10-20 foot range. This is almost exclusively a soft plastic bite with Texas rigs and shaky heads. 

As far as offshore spots, the biggest fish seem to be in 20-30 feet of water around depth changes, including points and humps and ridges. The top three baits are a crankbait, a spoon and a big worm like an Ole Monster, but as it stays hot we are also getting into the period where fish may want something more subtle like a drop shot and a small worm. 

There is still a sporadic topwater bite shallow.

The free-line drift fishing forcatfish continues to be strong,and if you want to fill a cooler with eating-sized fish Captain William Attaway (803-924-0857) reports that’s your best bet. Fish are suspended high in the water column over deep water and they are hungry. Catfish typically run up to about five pounds, and there is certainly the chance for a big one. A variety of baits ranging from cut fish to chicken to mussels will work, and it’s really as simple as pulling several rods with small pieces of bait across the lake.   

Many of the biggest fish are still focused on the spawn, but with some of the better fish starting to come off of beds the chances of catching a good one are going up again. The best pattern for targeting large fish remains to fish a lot of rods and fan-cast baits at a variety of depths from 10 feet out to 30 feet around long points and underwater humps. White perch and bream are the preferred baits for big fish right now, but herring and gizzard shad will also work.