"At Claytor, I would try fishing 1/16- or 1/32-ounce white jigs tipped with a piece of night crawler, fished along the steep, rocky bluffs on the lake," Copeland advised. "Watch for especially intense bluegill feeding activity during the huge annual Hexagenia (burrowing mayfly) hatches that occur during late June into early July.

During these hatches, bluegills will strike almost anything that hits the water along these rocky bluffs. Look for mayfly adults dropping from shoreline vegetation. The best hatches are in the upper lake area, from Peak Creek to Lighthouse Bridge."

The biologist says that one underrated sunfish destination in his district is 90-acre Rural Retreat Lake in Wythe County. The focus of management has been on reducing the overabundant black crappie population in this highly productive impoundment. However, the lake does have some nice bluegills and redear sunfish. At Rural Retreat, the spawn will likely be over by early May, so expect the fish to be deeper.

Additionally, Copeland says that while anglers are dangling crawlers for sunfish, folks shouldn't be surprised if they tangle with a catfish or two. Channel catfish populations are good in Claytor Lake, especially in the upper lake area, specifically upstream from Lighthouse Bridge. Rural Retreat Lake, the biologist adds, is also a channel hotspot. Since the impoundment is state-owned, the VDGIF stocks it with 10- to 12-inch channel catfish every other year.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA CATFISH
Right now, catfish populations and interest in these creatures are both booming in the Commonwealth. VDGIF biologist John Odenkirk relates that three northern Virginia impoundments sport a quality channel cat fishery. The bodies of water are VDGIF-owned 218-acre Burke Lake in Fairfax County (with its 650-acre Burke Lake Park adding to the impoundment's appeal), 75-acre Mountain Run (a water supply lake for Culpepper), and VDGIF-owned 124-acre Lake Orange in Orange County.

Odenkirk reveals that Burke is very bank accessible (there is a trail around entire perimeter), plus has a very nice pier. Lots of amenities like toilets, picnic shelters, concession stand (seasonal) and playgrounds make a visit nice for families.

"Channel catfish are stocked every year, but we have had private religious groups donate large lots of channel catfish as part of prayer release," said Odenkirk. "Anglers at Burke benefit from this."

Although anglers will need a permit from the town of Culpepper to fish Mountain Run, this is just a formality and well worth the effort. Odenkirk relates that Mountain is a small but a good and overlooked destination.

"Channel catfish seem to do very well with the alternate year stocking, and our catch in samples (here are) among the highest that we have seen," said the Fredericksburg-based biologist. "There's good bank access with more limited shoreline amenities, but there are picnic areas and toilets."

Odenkirk notes that Lake Orange lies in a very rural area, has some bank access and possesses a nice new pier. Boat rentals, toilets and in-season concession stands exist at Angler's Landing.

"Channel catfish also do very well here with our annual stocking," said Odenkirk. "The VDGIF lakes are stocked at a higher rate than municipal lakes, so (other things being equal), channel catfish angling should be better.