The alewife is the classic prey species for open water predators such as trout, walleye, and striped bass. Chain pickerel – 6 lbs. Hinge trees and brush shelters that work well for bass also benefit the crappie. First, coldwater habitat for trout is critical during late summer/early fall. Brook trout have been periodically stocked to add variety to the coldwater fishery. Transplanted from Smith Mountain Lake and Flanangan Lake in the early 1980’s, the alewife has thrived in the clear, deep waters of Lake Moomaw. Highs in the upper 60s. Brown trout have done extremely well, and it is not uncommon to catch brown trout in the 3-5 pound range. 241 W. Main Street Yellow bullheads do very well in the shallow flats around mid-lake. Please Contact Us. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District Image Gallery, Gathright Dam, constructed between 1975-79, by the US Army Corps of Engineers
Rented a pontoon boat from Lake Moomaw marina and had the lake virtually to ourselves.
When trout are stressed, then tend to eat less and eventually lose weight. Temperature 8-14 Day Outlook. The river would normally provide limited habitat for trout, since low flows during the hot summer months would result in water temperatures too high for trout. Sorry, this video is unavailable in your browser. Lake Moomaw is definitely on of the most scenic lakes I have ever visited, and has far more in common with northern Minnesota than the Mid-Atlantic. The impoundment is “drawn down” between 10-15 feet annually, beginning slowly in June and reaching its lowest level usually by September. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Gathright Dam Construction - 7, Gathright Dam, constructed between 1975-79, by the US Army Corps of Engineers (1992) Bath County VA, © 2020 Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
Large silvery rainbows can be caught during late winter through spring in the Jackson River as far as Highland County. Mostly cloudy. They hit with the ferocity of their larger cousins, the northern pike and the muskellunge. Lake Moomaw weather forecast issued today at 10:15 am. There is no size limit on black crappie and rock bass at Lake Moomaw, but only 25 per angler may be taken daily of each species. They provide good recreation for young fishermen and are a preferred food fish among some of the angling community.
The coming week will have mixed overhead conditions with some days dry and some seeing a …
517 Lee Highway P.O. Regulations require that certain downstream water levels and temperatures must be met. 11 oz. This massive earthen structure backs up the Jackson River for over 12 miles, forming Lake Moomaw. Also, buttonbush has been planted on some of the barren flats to mixed success. Summary of all available data for this site Instantaneous-data availability statement . NWS With this in mind, the lake was stocked with thousands of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish in 1980. Lake Moomaw averages 80 feet in depth, with a maximum depth of 150 feet at Gathright Dam, and the state and Federal agencies recognized that water drawn from the depths could provide a steady supply of cold water for trout downstream.
Before the private property/public access lawsuits, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries had established a cold-water trout fishery on the Jackson River below the dam. (More Info), Temperature from our forecast perspective are fairly well defined, they are what we would expect to measure in a standard meteorological screen (in other words, shaded and well ventilated) at 2 metres above ground level. Unlimited horsepower: there are no boat motor restrictions for Lake Moomaw. Lowest 21 January, 2020 … On the whole winds are likely to be light.
The Department and the U. S. Forest Service have cooperated with local bass clubs, the Izaak Walton League of America, the Boy Scouts, and other citizen volunteers over the years to enhance littoral (shoreline) fish habitat. (More Info), The value given is a total predicted for the previous 3 hrs and includes the time of the forecast being looked at. or *Used to locate nearby fishing activity. Highs in the upper 60s. 2 oz. In 1996, the Virginia Supreme Court decided in Kraft v. Burr that four riparian landowners could block the public from walking on the riverbank from .75 mile below the dam to Johnson Springs. early December, Campgrounds 2 and 3 open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, McClintic Point (North end) Expect 0.15 In of precipitation over the past 3 hours. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Gathright Dam Construction - 10, Gathright Dam, constructed between 1975-79, by the US Army Corps of Engineers Sunfish – 2 lbs. 540-962-2178 Lake Moomaw is the second largest impoundment in western Virginia. The Jackson River is navigable, so normally the state would own titles to the riverbed below the Mean Water Line and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission would be the responsible state agency for managing that land. Water from the lake is now mixed before being released below into the Jackson River. Route 1, Box 30 Bass under 12 inches long must be released immediately. The day label given represents the local day relative to the local time for the location you are looking at.
540-839-2521 Those that remain, or return, to the lake can be found in trophy proportions. (More Info), This time is corrected for local time zones and where possible for daylight saving times. Anglers may take 20 of each species per day. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Gathright Dam Construction - 12, Environmental Assessment: Gathright Dam Low Flow Augmentation Project, http://vwrrc.vt.edu/pdfs/specialreports/sr131999.pdf, http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Portals/31/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2012/Dec/GathrightDamLowFlowAugmentation_EA.pdf.
Sunny. (More Info), The total amount of cloud as a percentage is derived from looking at cloud cover throughout the atmosphere and estimating how these combine when looked at from the ground. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Gathright Dam Construction - 2, Gathright Dam, constructed between 1975-79, by the US Army Corps of Engineers It looks like Tuesday 3rd will have the most precipitation with an accumulation of around 25.0mm. 00010 Temperature, water: 2007-10-01 : 2020-10-31: 00060 Discharge: 1990-10-01 : 2020-10-31: 00065 Gage height: 2020-07-03 : 2020-10-31: Output format Graph Graph w/ stats Graph w/o stats Graph w/ (up to 3) parms Table Tab-separated. Latest observed water temperatures (within last 24 hours). 7 oz. One pound redears have been taken from Lake Moomaw, from time to time. In Moomaw, the alewife is the perfect link in the food chain between the microscopic plankton and the lunker brown and rainbow trout. 2 Bullheads were abundant in a couple of farm ponds prior to the lake being filled, hence they were introduced “accidentally”.
I can't believe I have not heard more about this lake.
Sunny. To a lesser degree, pumpkinseed, rock bass, and redbreast sunfish, make up the remaining component of this popular sport fish group at the lake. (1994) portal or near the surface. Actually, they were introduced with a load of stocked fish in the 1980’s, but it took a full decade before numbers of trophy size yellow perch became the norm.
Bluegill and redear sunfish have been coming on strong during the 1990’s. Some landowners adjacent to the Jackson River claim that the riverbed below Mean Low Water is their private property.
(1984)
It covers 2,530 surface acres and has a maximum depth of 152 feet.
Next forecast at approx. No camping, 20 picnic tables, beach, bathhouse, boat launch, Morris Hill (South end) Future plans are to continue with brush attractors, as well as hinge trees that are cut and felled from the bank. Black crappie and yellow perch were later additions to the fishery. Box 996 Covington, VA 24426 Mostly cloudy. 540-839-5409 Feet MSL. Lake Moomaw has 9 portals, distributed vertically along the outlet tower, that enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet downstream water quality requirements. This small member of the pike family haunted the cool waters of the Jackson River prior to lake construction.
Lake Moomaw averages 80 feet in depth, with a maximum depth of 150 feet at Gathright Dam, and the state and Federal agencies recognized that water drawn from the depths could provide a steady supply of cold water for trout downstream.2. (1984) Just downstream of Lake Moomaw, access to the Jackson River is limited by Kings Grant ownership claims of landowners. Moomaw Lake Water Level. Lows in the lower 40s. After the lawsuits blocked public access, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries stopped stocking trout. Yellow perch are often taken using techniques and lures that commonly work for black bass in the spring. The average minimum temperature will be 14°C, dipping to its lowest on the morning of Tuesday 15th at 10°C. 1,580.78. A U. S. Army Corps of Engineers project, Lake Moomaw was constructed for downstream flow augmentation (water quality), flood control, and recreation. (1994) The project was pushed forward by Covington businessman Benjamin Moomaw, after which the lake was named.
Fingerlings switch to natural food quickly and reach quality size in a couple of years. Questions?
Largemouth bass – 10 lbs.
The state record yellow perch was caught, then surpassed, then caught again at Lake Moomaw in 1999 (2 lb, 7 oz).
They also have free maps and helpful brochures. Lows in the mid 50s.
Data prepared Tue 03 Nov 2020 09:55:08 AM EST, National River and Lake Observations and Forecasts, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Black crappie – 3 lbs.
Three campgrounds, 90 sites, boat access, toilets, showers, picnic tables, some electric hookups, Campground 1 open from mid-April ?
Light and variable Winds. (More Info), When we measure for forecast air pressure we are normally doing this relative to a certain height and most commonly relative to Mean Sea Level. The Jackson River was already home to wild populations of smallmouth bass, rock bass, and chain pickerel, so it was understood that these species would acclimate to their new surroundings. Source: US Army Corps of Engineers, Gathright Dam Construction - 9, Gathright Dam, constructed between 1975-79, by the US Army Corps of Engineers Expect the next 14 days have some days seeing a little precipitation and some days with rain.
(More Info), The wind direction we use on this page is the direction the wind is coming from, given in a 16 point compass format. Alewives, members of the herring family, were stocked in the early 1980’s in order to establish a plentiful food base for both trout and other predators.
Alewives are a schooling fish, occupying the open waters of the lake. Middle Atlantic RFC328 Innovation BoulevardSuite 330State College, PA 16803(814) 231-2400Comments?