NWR Jan 5th / Lake Smith 7th

Arrived at the river around 9(ish) less than a doz trailers in the parking lot my motor is not a winter motor nonono
Finally got er started, my bud and son shows up we fish structure with only one about 8 inches on a silver buddy.
I met Dean at the same spot (Idunno) see his earlier report (NWR) he gave me a heads up of what to expect I should have listened and turned around on the spot :bash
after an hour and a half or so my trolling motor battery is near dead... I carry a spare got her in and headed to the park, had a couple misses brought in one standard NWR crappie (10 in) minnow slip bobber, a couple misses tighlinning, we decided to call it a day early.

Lake Smith

Arrived about 9:30 NO ONE THERE...:scratchhead

What the heck got the lake to myself :woohoo headed to all my favorite spots water temp 42 to 43
water was clearer than NWR, wind in the open lake was maybe 10 mph.... not a bad day what did I catch?

Nothing not even a bite.....it drizzled off and on, I put up with it until about 2:00 and when I left still no boats out
I guess I didn't get the memo:banghead

Note: Lake Smith day was Sunday the 6th not the 7th

sounds like me on sunday at i/t. not one crappie. well things will get better. good try!!

rough report....as jim said things will get better

I've heard of some monster being pulled out of Lake Smith. I got a 15"er during the summer but it only weighed 1lb 8oz.

Hey Mike, it was nice seeing you on the water. I was wondering how you did. Should have come down river with me.

Good report, thanks.

I have never tried Smith, and from your report, maybe I still won't. :Rofl

Good luck,
Dean

lake smith can be a hard lake to fish,no large numbers,but close to home.

Believe it or not back in the 60's Smith used to register as many citation bass and crappies as any lake in the state, then they stocked channel and blue cats. I think that wiped out all the baitfish and panfish, hard to even catch a bluegill in ther any more.

when are they going to build a ramp for Whiteherst ,the money was aloted last year.

We were shooting the breeze about opening Whitehurst last week at oceans east.....that lake has also been a tough code to crack (for me) but it did have Walleye and Crappie and the other usuals..... hey with the pressure off the fish during the last ....three years???
Should be some nice size fish starting to show up when they decide to open.
They have started doing work on the lake if anyone else is watching....

[QUOTE=papermouth scaler;2151441]Should be some nice size fish starting to show up when they decide to open.
QUOTE]

At times like this you have to ask, What would the Duck Dynasty dudes do?...a little midnight reconnoitering? Bob's sales Luche Libre Masks.....could come in handy. :biggrin

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Originally Posted by ifish4redd

when are they going to build a ramp for Whiteherst ,the money was aloted last year.

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i wish they would open whiteherst back up!!! ive heard great things about that lake and it would be very nice to have another fishing hole close to home!

me too, I need to find where and when it will open ,I live 5 min. away

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Originally Posted by ifish4redd

me too, I need to find where and when it will open ,I live 5 min. away

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Try an email to Mr Rosenthal, he's good source of info


Utilities - Water Resources - City of Norfolk, Virginia

That would be very good to know, that lake use to be crawling with small white perch...

Mr. Neel – City Council placed money in the budget to develop a boat ramp but I have no information on where it may be located ( reply from city)

Why is it that they have the other two existing ramps closed on whitehurst? I live VERY close and would love to get out and see whats biting!

I have fished Whitehurst for years. Still do, on occasion. They closed the Shore Dr ramp because the airport/city decided not to renew. Word is, the airport will expand one of the runways closer to the old ramp site. Airport is the owner and Norfolk rented that land for years. Also, word is the new ramp will be in or near Botanical Gardens.
It is a tough lake to fish. The walleye in there are on fire for a few weeks each May. I have caught them up to 6 pounds. Have caught some nice crappie in there, but never in numbers. The white perch are everywhere, but stunted badly. The guy who owns C Tackle (Richard) in Norfolk used to run the ramp/concession for years. He gave out hundreds of white perch citations years back only to later find out, they were not freshwater perch, but saltwater perch spilled over from Little Creek. Not sure if that is why he left Whitehurst though. Did see a 40 pound catfish pulled out of there as well in the late 90's. I have two close friends that live on the lake and allow me to launch from their yard or use their boat and I always have the lake to myself. That is kind of nice.

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Originally Posted by Sunbelt161

I have fished Whitehurst for years. Still do, on occasion. They closed the Shore Dr ramp because the airport/city decided not to renew. Word is, the airport will expand one of the runways closer to the old ramp site. Airport is the owner and Norfolk rented that land for years. Also, word is the new ramp will be in or near Botanical Gardens.
It is a tough lake to fish. The walleye in there are on fire for a few weeks each May. I have caught them up to 6 pounds. Have caught some nice crappie in there, but never in numbers. The white perch are everywhere, but stunted badly. The guy who owns C Tackle (Richard) in Norfolk used to run the ramp/concession for years. He gave out hundreds of white perch citations years back only to later find out, they were not freshwater perch, but saltwater perch spilled over from Little Creek. Not sure if that is why he left Whitehurst though. Did see a 40 pound catfish pulled out of there as well in the late 90's. I have two close friends that live on the lake and allow me to launch from their yard or use their boat and I always have the lake to myself. That is kind of nice.

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I wasn't aware that the lake was deep enough or had enough structure to hold walleye?

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Originally Posted by Boltz90

I wasn't aware that the lake was deep enough or had enough structure to hold walleye?

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They stocked 40,000 yearling walleye for 12 or 13 years to combat the white perch that were stunted so bad. There are 50-60' holes near the airport.

Wow, good to hear! Besides someone's yard, is there any way to put in on the lake? I have a kayak and would like to give it a go.

There is a spot on a side road in the bend of Azalea Garden Rd but you do need written permission if they catch you.

Where are you supposed to get permission from?

Anyone who lives on the lake.

Ok,good to know. I do know someone who has shore property on the lake. Thank you for the info!

[QUOTE=Idunno;2151574]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by papermouth scaler

Should be some nice size fish starting to show up when they decide to open.
QUOTE]

At times like this you have to ask, What would the Duck Dynasty dudes do?...a little midnight reconnoitering? Bob's sales Luche Libre Masks.....could come in handy. :biggrin

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If You are too skeered, turn in Your man card!CF