Lake Anna Cooling Ponds

[RobVT3]

I'm going to be fishing the cooling ponds for the first time in a couple weeks and was wondering if anyone could provide me with some tips on how to approach this unique fishery. I assume the fish will be on different patterns than they are on the cool side? I'm not looking for your hot spots, just some general ideas on how to approach fishing this water.

Thanks,
-Rob

[Gaston Mike]

Crankbaits with a Loomis 843 this is a MUST for this area!!

[Blue Steel]

Conditions are going to change there soon, as of Sunday nite.You can IM me for more info.

[Centipede]

Does the outage start Saturday night or Sunday night?

[Blue Steel]

Sunday nite...

[RobVT3]

Gaston Mike,

Can I borrow yours? Otherwise the CBR 845 will have to do.

-Rob

[Gaston Mike]

Still has your fingerprints on it I'm sure. Used it alot last week you must've used all the magic up.

[tritonman]

I was there weekend before last. IM sent.

[Carlos H]

I wil be there this weekend!

[newbob]

The unit will be shut down SAT. Night @ 2200

[Centipede]

If that is the case, Sunday will suck....nice weather though.

[Hump]

When the "unit" is shut down, does the water still flow and is there still the strong current just with colder water, or is it completely down - "no flow, and no warm water" ????????????

How can I get the IM's with the good info?????????? I'll be there Sunday also.

[JonBoat14]

Water will still be warmer than normal and/or anywhere else right now just with no flow. Hearing fish are on beds now, but not 100% positive. You should talk to Blue Steel, Carlos H, Toxic, or Gunny here on the board as they all know it very well anc can help out. Good luck

[newbob]

there will still be a flow of warm water. There is 2 units that dump in to the hot side. Only 1 unit will be shut down.

[Centipede]

Dominion is trying to get a third there.

[alpha-199]

lake fork special rat-l-trap spinner bait with silver blades slow roll in boat docks and wake on stumpy points

[BrianD]

Fished the hot side today. Turning off one of the "units" did not seem to have any effect on the fishing. Caught about 20 fish today from 7-1pm. Didn't catch any real nice ones all were in the 12-14" range. Best five probably went about 6 - 7 lbs. Fun day on the water.

[Centipede]

I had 11-4 all of which were caught before 10 am.

Saturday was the most boats I had ever seen on the hot side.

[BrianD]

Yes there were a ton of boats. 11-4 is a nice bag of fish. I tried everything couldn't find the bigger fish or what they wanted. Going back up this weekend to try again any suggestions on how to get the bigger fish? Probably my last trip up there. The James River should be turning on soon and I will spend the rest of the year trying to figure that place out.

[Hump]

I have heard the hot side is crazy with boat traffic in the summer but have been fortunate to never have seen it. I have never been after April or before Oct, I only fish it in the cooler months and most often durning the week, so I normally see a few boats at best. Sunday it had insane boat traffic, jet skis, water skiers, and dang pontoon boats. The pontoon boats were the worse. Yes - it was the pontoons I wanted to sling the R trap at and not the jet skis - although it was plenty of jets as well. Normally it is other bass boats flying by and swamping other fisherman. I could not believe the number of times bass boats slowed or delayed blast off a bit to keep from rocking other fisherman - very classy! It even made me feel guilty and I did the same. However on the flip side - I got nearly run over 3 times buy pontoon boats! They appeared to change directions just to get as close to me as possible when the other side of the lake was empty with 30' + of water. I think they wanted to see what type of knot I had used on the rods that I had yet to remove from my box! They all looked friendly and even waived - what is wrong with people?

I too only managed a 7lb bag like Brian D with my best 5 fish and also managed too much sun (forgot the sun screen on the neck - and it is official - I am a red neck!). I may have squeaked another pound or 2 if I had known the last spot I fished had been camped out on for the previous solid hour and a good dozen LB had just been sore mouthed! That is too funny!