Striped bass anglers know the truth about the great fishing found at Lake Anna located in the Northern Piedmont Region of Virginia. The 9,600-acre lake spans Louisa, Spotsylvania and Orange counties and serves as cooling water for the two-unit North Anna Nuclear Power Station owned by Virginia Dominion Power.

While December and January weather can be harsh in the Piedmont, at Anna the winter striper fishing is incredible.

We went to VDGIF Fisheries Biologist John Odenkirk for the scientific data on the striped bass population at Lake Anna. He pointed out several facts that will arm the reader with knowledge to be successful when fishing Anna this season.

First, Anna is stocked annually with striped bass because they are unable to successfully spawn at this lake. Odenkirk mentioned that his crew is still fine-tuning the stocking rate is for the lake.

Biologists know that the fish reach the minimum size of 20 inches by age 3, but growth slows afterwards. As of press time, biologists are adjusting their stocking rates and last stocked at 20 fish per acre, which seems to create strong year-classes of fish. Odenkirk also pointed out that the forage at Anna is excellent with plenty of shad and herring present for striped bass. The threadfin shad and blueback herring were stocked in the 1980s and have since provided great food for all predators in the lake. Last, Odenkirk pointed out that stripers can be found all over the lake during the winter, but biologists have found their most consistent sampling results during the winter took place uplake.

Next, we visited with local guide and businessman Chris McCotter, whose successful guide service includes Anna striper fishing. McCotter is a lifelong avid angler and was generous in sharing key information with us to pass on to the readers to help plan a successful outing.

McCotter agreed with Odenkirk's statement that the striped bass can be found all over the lake but often tend to be found uplake in the tributary arms. According to our pro source, the key to finding striped bass is to find bait. If anglers have not had the chance to be on the water much and will only get a day or two to go fish, then they should read blogs by other anglers, call around to marinas, look at fishing reports or anything else they can lay their hands on immediately before they head out. Doing your homework before hitting the water will save time and allow for a more successful fishing trip.

McCotter also pointed out that there are three things that will help anglers be successful on Anna. First, if you only have a day to fish, get out early and stay as late as possible. Second, be sure to present your bait or lures properly without spooking bait or fish. Third, check the weather before you go. Although it is rarely too nasty to fish for stripers at Lake Anna, sometimes it can be too windy. Avoid those days.