March 2025 Fishing Report

There isn't a great way to say it other than “February was brutal.”  Coming off a kill at the end of January, the fish were ready to start (happily, there’s usually at least a few hungry ones) eating again.  This was promptly met by nearly a foot of snow that put ice cover inside many of our inlets and the flats, coves, and feeder creeks that fish had been using as refuge up through the day before the snowfall.   After the devastating cold stun and kill at the end of January, the mid-February event added to the loss.  While a few more redfish fell victim, the areas well-known for their trout populations took the biggest hit.  An untimely second round for our specs hit the Southern Branch of the ER, Linkhorn, the Back River, and more.  Again, this is a natural challenge to fish at the northern end of their range, and the good news is, it’s March, and it looks like we’re through it!  The warming trend at the end of last month should continue and have us looking forward to climbing water temps, more active resident fish, and rumors of the return of some of our southerly transients.

The redfish remain in their winter pattern and will likely continue to be throughout most of the month.  Small, natural-colored lures on light jigs, slow-moving suspending twitch baits, and flies continue to be the way to target these fish.  The cold-water clarity gives the angler the advantage but also requires finesse in both the approach and presentation.  Feeding fish are pulling small crustaceans and invertebrates out of the mud and tend to be meandering rather than simply facing the current.  The fish you want to be casting to are the ones most likely to surprise you rather than the big schools sitting on a sunny bank.   While that’s the case, don’t overlook bumping a fly or lure past these schools.  The most active in the bunch will often jump out to show his interest, and once they’ve done that, your only job is to make them think something is trying to escape.  It’s almost guaranteed at that point. 

As the month goes on, these schools will start breaking apart, becoming smaller and smaller but much more aggressive.  The high March sun will create a drastic difference between the coolest and warmest waters in an estuary, and by mid-month, we will likely see those mud flats exceeding sixty degrees in the afternoon.  There will be a period where it feels like stealing before the spring movements push these fish into much more complex movements to pattern.  Later in the month, baitfish patterns will take over as the preferred lure or fly.  Smaller paddle tails will be very effective, and if the water warms considerably, underspin lures may even come into play at the end of the month.  The fly angler should be looking to switch over to patterns like a Clouser, Lefty’s Deceiver, or EP Peanut Butter.  Until then, smaller flies, even down to size 4, are already working well.  I’m a huge Borski Slider fan, and Bob Sweeney from Legends of the Fly and Fly Fish 757 has found success with small glass minnow patterns.   

Speck fans are in mourning, but the warming water this month will start to show us how big of a hit we took.  Marsh edges should start to get action at the end of the month, presuming there is deeper holding water nearby.  The air temperature fluctuation will give away their depth on any given day, but the water temperature will help point you to their location regarding how close (or not) they are from leaving their winter sanctuaries for bigger water.  Again, small baitfish patterns will be the best way to “match the hatch,” but if the end of the month offers a day combining warm temperatures and low light – the first decent topwater bite of the year can turn on fast. 

As of mid-February, big cow stripers were still miles and miles offshore. However, they will look for the annual romancin’ up Virginia’s major tributaries and move into the lower Chesapeake Bay this month.  As they move through, electronics are a must, and large schools are often found near structure as they move upriver to spawn.  The other option is a pair of binoculars, a Bay-worthy boat, and a full gas tank.  Before moving further up the Bay, traveling schools can erupt into a blitz when they find large schools of bait.  Watching for birds is not nearly as effective as it used to be, but the action is unparalleled when you have the opportunity to get on it.  Calm seas but cloudy skies are the best combination to make this happen.

Finally, to the fly anglers reading this, if you have not fished the shad run in Virginia, you are missing out on both a part of our history and one hell of a good time with a buggy whip.  Hickory and American shad will make their anadromous run up the rivers and start to pile up at pinch points and fall lines throughout central Virginia in March.  Sinking lines and heavy (as far as flies go) shad dart styles (woolly jigger – multiple colors – size 4 or 6) can lead to a great day fighting dozens of angry “poor man’s tarpon.”  The James in Richmond, Rappahannock in Fredericksburg, and most local to Hampton Roads, the Nottoway River in Courtland, are all hot spots to hit.  When running your boat, use caution. Those underwater boulders and trees don’t give way like a sandbar or mud flat might. 

It’s officially spring this month after our long winter.  If you can, take advantage of it.  The fantastic action on the water tends to start before the buzz of excitement for the season itself does.  If you want to learn more about the fishery from the front of a flats boat, have a great day on the water, and tangle with some of the fish I mentioned above – let me know.  I still have a lot of dates available during the next couple of months, and good things are happening. 

So little gray in that beard...Ten years ago - but a great way to spend a spring day with a buddy.