“Excellent panfish options exist in Western Branch and Prince,” the VDGIF biologist said. “Western Branch would have to be my top pick for big shellcrackers, or more properly, redear sunfish. The large expanse of sandy, stump-infested flats and points in the lower end of the lake offer perhaps the best habitat in Tidewater to catch a trophy redear.

“Both Prince and Western Branch will also give up citation-sized bluegills as well. Electro-fishing in the spring of 2007 again showed excellent bluegill and redear populations in the lakes, with redbreast sunfish being present as well. An abundance of shoreline cover and excellent spawning habitat makes these two lakes hard to beat in this area.”

Given their reputations as panfish paradises, Western Branch and Prince attract a great many anglers from not only the Tidewater region but also those in the Richmond to Williamsburg corridor. The fishing pressure has its positive side, however, in that sunfish are never allowed to overpopulate and thus their sizes remain substantial.

Virginia certainly hosts numerous quality panfish destinations, and May is certainly one of the best months of the year to enjoy these high-quality fisheries.

INFORMATION SOURCES

Canoe the New Outfitters at www.icanoethenew.com , (540) 921-7438.

Shenandoah RiverKeeper site at www.shenandoahriverkeeper.org .

The VDGIF at www.dgif.virginia. gov .