ni reservoir or huntin run, anyone fish them???? 2024

Punkinseedfyretailz reply :

has anyone fished either reservoir???? i've been to hunting run on my last three trips, and all were successful. its a great lake to fish.. 400+ acres, lots of structure. i've only been there 3 times but it's a great lake to fish.. i want to go to the ni on my next trip(i've never been) i was hoping someone here could give me some idea as to a good location.. i fish hunting run deep, so should i fish it the same way???

endless reply :

Quote
has anyone fished either reservoir???? i've been to hunting run on my last three trips, and all were successful. its a great lake to fish.. 400+ acres, lots of structure. i've only been there 3 times but it's a great lake to fish.. i want to go to the ni on my next trip(i've never been) i was hoping someone here could give me some idea as to a good location.. i fish hunting run deep, so should i fish it the same way???

i think you need to leave you dont belong here!!

well i wondered when you going to post anything, NOW GO!!

(its my brother everybody)

Wayne P. reply :

I have never fished Ni, but I fished Hunting Run last Friday. I try to fish it at least once every week weather permitting. The bass I caught were mostly less than 1 1/2#. I did catch a bunch though on the outside weed line.

This is the thermocline from last week---

Punkinseedfyretailz reply :

yeah my brother in law pulled out a six pounder a couple weeks ago we were sitting off the edge of a point in about 15 ft of water (the point directly across from the boat house), we nabbed about 7 crappie 9 bass and 3 cats on that day. my most recent trip we nabbed 7 bass 1 crappie 3 quality cats and some bream. so i really like the fishing there.. but i hear ya there is a bunch smaller ones, but compared to other places i've fished namely lake orange they're a better quality in hunting run, catch more keeper bass than not you know what i mean... the catfishing is great too usually about 17 18 inches on average... black crappie and bream are also a part of the overall equation, good numbers and quality.. i've been tryin to catch some of the pickerel in there, (not sure if there pickerel or pike) but cant seem to catch one.. i've been working the outsides of the submerged brush, with cranks, they'll follow but they wont hit.... but anyways love the place... the pic is from our recent trip, didnt plan to keep the bass but they died in the livewell..

Punkinseedfyretailz reply :

that pic sucked heres a better one

NewAngler reply :

why put them in the livewell in the first place?

Wayne P. reply :

Newangler, the keeping of under slot fish is encouraged to help with the bass population. There are many, many, small bass in the lake and it was stocked about 4 years prior to opening for fishing. This year is the second full "season" that the lake has been opened to fishing. It was opened for fishing in the Fall of 2007 for about 2 months. Catching over 50 bass in a day's fishing is quite common.

If you concentrate your efforts in the depth range of last year's shoreline and the thermocline, with the proper presentation, it's easy to catch a lot.

NewAngler reply :

gotcha, so keeping smaller bass in encouraged there?

reason why i ask is because i am strictly a catch and relase fisherman. but i always told myself if i had to keep a fish to help the firshery, then i would. and i actually planned on fishing there this weekend, thats why i ask.

Wayne P. reply :

NewAngler, just read the signs posted at the ramp. I'm going there tomorrow, so I'll get the the bass stirred up for you.

endless reply :

Quote
why put them in the livewell in the first place?

to answer for my brother Punkinseedfyretailz hes gone for the week, they was throwing their own family tournament with friends and family and at huntingrun they rent live wells with their boats but he told me they manage to die in it. he was planning on releasing them after they all was finish. how im not sure my guess aeration wasnt good enough. and new angler this place aint to far from you maybe 30 mins tops if go 95 south, its in fredericksburg near motts run from what my brother told me they rent boats, trolling motors, live wells, you name it. i have yet to been. i was planning to take my boat but now my truck is down so im blown.

Wayne P. reply :

I wasn't aware that there were livewells for rent. I'll check in the morning about that revelation. Some of the larger jon boats may have built-in water tanks in the middle seat though, but would be a stretch to call them "live" wells as they drain almost completely when moving about unless an extra plug is provided (which I doubt). The larger boats look like transplants from other county lakes that had them before Hunting Run opened for fishing and were quite "rugged" looking when brought to the lake at the beginning of last year. Some even had leaks and were taken out of service almost immediately.

endless reply :

Quote
I wasn't aware that there were livewells for rent. I'll check in the morning about that revelation. Some of the larger jon boats may have built-in water tanks in the middle seat though, but would be a stretch to call them "live" wells as they drain almost completely when moving about unless an extra plug is provided (which I doubt). The larger boats look like transplants from other county lakes that had them before Hunting Run opened for fishing and were quite "rugged" looking when brought to the lake at the beginning of last year. Some even had leaks and were taken out of service almost immediately.

yea im not sure he told me they rent their boats and get live wells too in less like you said mounted in the boat it self. if so they might have a liner and you just add water and when done they pump it out. (not to bad of and ideal hmmm im thinking.......man i wish i had a middle seat to do this with. beats carrying a tote around.) but if im sure i think thats what they do have like a tote type with an aerator. cause he says the boat they rent is about 25 for half a day. so they must be getting a 12 or 14 footer.

NewAngler reply :

Thanks for the thread. I can't wait to getout there and slay them. I'm gonna go with a wacky weedless presentation, which I heard about from wayne. Thanks in advance

endless reply :

Quote
I wasn't aware that there were livewells for rent. I'll check in the morning about that revelation. Some of the larger jon boats may have built-in water tanks in the middle seat though, but would be a stretch to call them "live" wells as they drain almost completely when moving about unless an extra plug is provided (which I doubt). The larger boats look like transplants from other county lakes that had them before Hunting Run opened for fishing and were quite "rugged" looking when brought to the lake at the beginning of last year. Some even had leaks and were taken out of service almost immediately.

yea your right their built in the middle seats and fills with the lake water so much be a fill hole that drains to at same time.

Wayne P. reply :

I fished Hunting Run today. There are no livewells for rent and I only saw one jon boat with the "livewell" and there was no plug in it for the drain hole. There was one other rental jon boat out this afternoon with 3 guys in it and that boat may be big enough to have the "livewell" in it.

The bass were eating up the wacky rigged finesse worms. Catching them that way is so easy, "even a caveman can do it"

endless reply :

Quote
I fished Hunting Run today. There are no livewells for rent and I only saw one jon boat with the "livewell" and there was no plug in it for the drain hole. There was one other rental jon boat out this afternoon with 3 guys in it and that boat may be big enough to have the "livewell" in it.
The bass were eating up the wacky rigged finesse worms. Catching them that way is so easy, "even a caveman can do it"

so far i got the truck running again so i might try there sunday. im going hit it maybe 5 or 6 if truck allows. im hoping i can get depth finder to work right and maybe learn how to read thermoclines and structures. so i can hit it deep. when heat hits. im probably go with jigs and the carolina rig. how was the bass all still 1 to 2 pounders??

NewAngler reply :

Nice, wayne. Thanks for the post. And of good size? Do you personally keep the dinks? Do you only fish the wacky weedless? Which finesse worm you like the best?

Last question; how do you like being interviewed? Lol. Sorry, thanks in advance, your info is great.

Wayne P. reply :

I caught a few in the 1-2 pound range and a lot that were less than 12". The largest was 6 pounds 2 ounces. I don't keep any fish. I fish wacky exposed point when I am not around weeds and wood. I use the Zoom worms with lots of flakes in them because they are real soft and they work well when rigged weedless wacky.

You don't need a sonar unit at Hunting Run right now. Just have a Tx rigged worm with a 1/8 oz sinker handy and throw it towards the submerged bushes and pull it out of the weeds until you don't feel them any more. That is were the bass are--right at the outside weed edge in 7'-10' depths. Throw the weedless wacky rigged finesse worm in the first few feet of the weeds and work it to the edge and let it fall. " Piece of cake"

I need to buy some more worms. LOL

endless reply :

Quote
I caught a few in the 1-2 pound range and a lot that were less than 12". The largest was 6 pounds 2 ounces. I don't keep any fish. I fish wacky exposed point when I am not around weeds and wood. I use the Zoom worms with lots of flakes in them because they are real soft and they work well when rigged weedless wacky.
You don't need a sonar unit at Hunting Run right now. Just have a Tx rigged worm with a 1/8 oz sinker handy and throw it towards the submerged bushes and pull it out of the weeds until you don't feel them any more. That is were the bass are--right at the outside weed edge in 7'-10' depths. Throw the weedless wacky rigged finesse worm in the first few feet of the weeds and work it to the edge and let it fall. " Piece of cake"

I need to buy some more worms. LOL

6 pounds. congrats yea i might throw a few worms out too. been wanting to give the anacondas a shot. might throw the ten inch red shad to see if produces anything. also might throw the 7 inch sticko. but i got some watermelon red flakes if the dont work in finesse and shakey. also got june bug and red bug for more of a shine with more flakes. i wont keep any either but if catch a good size i might see if someone shoreline will get a shot of me and the fish. i seemed to always buy worms even when no need now i have to get them their own bag but only thing i like is small coolers. i might kid sections for a small carrying bag it will help me free up some one in the tacklebox.

wayne p what size hook was you using. mine range from 2,3, and 5.

newangler how bout those skins?? u should of signed vick im telling you he would have no problem becoming starter.. well at least my team look good. the 49ers. though i think bronco is in dying need of a qb now we picked orton off three times back to back GO TEAM!!! just messing with you but do you think campbell is going to turn around??

Wayne P. reply :

endless, I use a 2/0 Gammy Octopus hook #02412 with the wacky rigged finesse worms. When I use Trick worms, I use the 3/0 #02413.

If you want to catch a lot, use the smaller worms 6" or less. If you just want casting practice, you can use all that other stuff you mentioned.

This picture has a bubblegum color finesse worm and I just used that to get a sharper contrast picture.

Wayne P. reply :

These are some of the casualties from yesterday. Many more than these were pulled off or thrown off when the bass jumped.

NewAngler reply :

Thanks wayne. I am going to use your setup today. Don't know if I'll make it to hunting run, but will hit up the potomac. And those skins, oh man... Rough start. But I don't think vick could havede it as a starter anywhere. I think he can bring a whole new element to an offense by running the wildcat format, and I'm not happy we have to play him twice. OH WELL.

Wayne P. reply :

NewAngler, PM sent.

endless reply :

thanks for the pics. the second bubble gum pic that make wacky weedless??

Wayne P. reply :

endless, yep that's it. If you add the 1/4 shrink tubing like with the Trick worm picture I have posted several times, you will have a rig to throw in the bushes and vegetation that the bass will eagerly take.

endless reply :

so far im set to head out tomorrow just hooked up the new depth finder and put a new valve cover gasket on. so hopefully does alright. just got me one those fishing carrying bags from walmart a lil small one and put all my plastics in there to free up space in tackle box. sad part ill be getting up early and wont be going to bed till late got that carano vs cyborg fight to watch.

endless reply :

it went today and got there a lil late some dummy not giving no name (me) crossed my spark plug wires on truck and couldnt get it out this morning till switch them back. sadly though my gasket aint fixed got to put another one on. sucks but to fishing. i would say got on water bout 7 7:30. i tried wacky for awhile senko and finesse. i think my hook was to big for the fiesses but did manage to catch 2 lil guys of the 5" green pumpkin senko. i caught 2 other lil guys off the 7" anaconda watermelon red. and 1 off the ragetail craw. the biggest was a pound. the rest a foot and 1 8". but my catch of the day was cat that i caught on a spinner so thats a first for me. i did everthing i could to figure out my depth finder. i think the only with it is the fishes arches dont show. but im learning to make things out like grass to rocks to solid ground. but man some of the grass near the shore the finder cant see through it at all but that stuf is very thick and got my tolling motor caught a few times. i did have a few good hits in the bushes like you said wayne. i had one hit my 7 inch sticko but couldnt hook him. he felt decent. but the worst was i had one set on my crawfish jig with a chigger craw. got him to the boat went to get him and gone. got off right there. he felt and look at least 2 pounds. i tried over by the rocks near the d**n. that water is very deep there 60 feet but i stayed in the 10 to 20 feet range. i throw some cranks too but nothing took. but all in all that was my day had a good time so im happy.yea wayne your a good ol regular there i was talking to the old man inside about you. everyone there seem nice too they ride and by and ask how you day going and one guy tried to help me set my depth finder. i just learn to stay out the grass man it comes up on you fast next you know your stuck in it.so if anyone else goes there at stay from the shore bout ten feet in spots and there is some spots you wouldnt think and next you know wrapped up. i want to get on other side of the road he said thats about ten acres but theres no access to it besides road and i guess not allowed. but i will go back alot of bass stories there about 5 pounder and citations. i was talking to guy inside. he was telling me about ni to. i think thats where he caught his 5 pound pickerel. i think he said other was 3 pounds. so i will eventually try there too. hey newangler did you ever go? if not where you round up at and how it go??

oh only thing i dont like about the place is the parking but the place makes up for it in many ways so.

Wayne P. reply :

That gently sloping ramp is a challenge too.

Here is a screen shot of the weed and brush edge where most of the fish are holding. It is about where last year's shoreline was.

basskiller reply :

is there any hot spots u can direct me to..hope n to get up to huntin run in a week or 2..thanks in advance!!

Wayne P. reply :

basskiller, the whole lake is a hot spot. Just stay off the shore and fish the outside weed edge. There are so many bass in the lake that just about everywhere some can be caught IF you fish the right pattern with the right presentation.

basskiller reply :

thank ya, lookin at it from sattelite, wonderin about the area with the standing timber with the creek comin in, it looks pretty awsome!its on a cove to the east or right from the boat landing, can't wait to fish i've heard so much about this resevoir. i'm pretty close to u wayne p. i live in good ol waynesboro. woohoo. but for sure enjoy bassin all over the state when possible. any body had any luck with deep divin cranks?

Wayne P. reply :

You must be looking at a lower water level satellite picture where bushes are sticking out above the surface in the middle of the cove and elsewhere. There isn't any standing timber in the lake, only on the shore. All the islands on the satellite pictures I have seen are now submerged with some just having bushes above the surface.

endless reply :

basskiller i just fished there over the weekend for my second time and nailed me a four pounder. if needing any advice wayne is the man to ask he help me out there. told me wacky and thats what i did. i was though using my 5 inch green pumpkin senko. the only downfall i had for the day is not having enough to last. my finesse was to light for my pole and so was 4 inch senkos. my 7 inch sticko they didnt want. and for some dumb reason i dont know why i just didnt switch rods and go to my spinner for a finesse wacky now to come think about it. but just like wayne says weed edge thats how i got mine.

basskiller reply :

must have reached full pool, nice fish endless will go by waynes advice thanks for all the help guys and i hope to see more info, that water looks awaome!

endless reply :

heres more of the lake

Wayne P. reply :

If you notice the shoreline in the background from last year, all the weeds and bushes are now mostly submerged.

Wayne P. reply :

There are a lot is this type cover now submerged:

Wayne P. reply :

This pile is one of the best and is about 9' below the surface now.

Dan: reply :

I must have motored right over that thing. Would have never known it was there.

Wayne, would you say the fishing is better when it is high or low?

Wayne P. reply :

Dan, the catching was better for me last year once I figured out the best pattern. I caught 1,989 bass there last year. It has taken me a few months to adapt to the higher water level, but after the submerged vegetation got to about the same stage as last year in about the same water depths, it's quite easy again. I don't even try to catch fish out of the visible submerged bushes and briars. Right now they are too shallow.

I also fished it a few times after it opened for fishing in Oct. 2007 when the water level was even lower than last year. My first two trips there produced a total of 321 bass.

Endless, that shot of the dam you took if taken last year would show an island that is now a hump at around 10'. In this picture, a boat is fishing the island shore.

endless reply :

nice pics wayne. yea i never knew about the island. i been near the d**n but not in the direction of island i was more to the right. is the water really 60 ft deep there at the d**n? i tried fishing near the rocks on the left of d**n too but just few small guys. do they allow you to access the 10 acre section across the road? my brother says he was told you can and i was told theres no access to it?? nice bass too in one pic.

Wayne P. reply :

endless, yep the water is about 60' deep.

As far as I know, only one person not living on that section has permission to fish it. He got special permission from the county. There is no public access and probably won't be. I got that info from the guy that works at the boat rental.

I think that bass is about 5#. I have caught larger ones and on one of those days, my best 5 bass weighed 30 pounds and 11 ounces. There used to be pictures of them on the wall in the rental house.

Punkinseedfyretailz reply :

the boat house guy (the older fellow) told me if you can get to it than you can fish it. either way that side doesn't offer much, i'd imagine its not overly deep, or nearly as fun to fish. the fish are trapped in there so it would be like fishing a regular private pond i would think, toss anything out and catch a fish... that makes for a bitter sweet day, but anyways the best way to approach any new fishing hole in my opinion is to look at a satellite image of the place, find yourself a creek channel and hit it hard.

13646

ni reservoir or huntin run, anyone fish them???? 2024

related Southeast Bass Fishing topic

previous topic

next topic

most viewed Southeast Bass Fishing topic