Jig (Casting & Pitching) Fishing on Lake Anna
Lake Anna · Virginia · Southeast
Lake Anna is a sprawling 13,000-acre reservoir created by the North Anna River in central Virginia, offering excellent bass fishing with a mix of largemouth and smallmouth populations. The lake features extensive structure including standing timber, submerged brush piles, and natural creek channels that attract bass throughout the year. Known for its accessibility and consistent fishing, Lake Anna is a favorite destination for both tournament anglers and recreational bass fishermen in the Southeast.
A lead or tungsten head with a weed guard, skirt, and soft plastic trailer. Fished on the bottom by pitching, casting, or slow-rolling. The jig imitates crawfish and bottom-dwelling forage. More big bass have been caught on jigs than any other lure category — it's the lure that separates serious anglers.
Jig (Casting & Pitching) Setup for Lake Anna
| Rod | 7'–7'3" medium-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 15–20 lb fluorocarbon (cover) or 50 lb braid (heavy grass) |
| Weight | 3/8 oz standard; 1/2–3/4 oz in wind or deep; 1/4 oz finesse |
| Hook | Built-in, typically 4/0–5/0 |
Seasonal Tactics on Lake Anna
Lake: Spring at Lake Anna sees aggressive largemouth bass moving to shallow spawning areas in protected coves and creek channels as water temperatures warm. Target newly flooded timber and shallow grass beds with crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and soft plastics during this productive season.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Pre-spawn is prime season — pitch brown/green pumpkin jig to 45° bank transitions and rocky points.
Lake: Summer bass at Lake Anna retreat to deeper creek channels and around submerged structure in 15-25 feet of water as the lake warms. Focus on early morning and late evening topwater patterns near timber, or work deep-diving crankbaits and Texas-rigged worms on steeper breaklines.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Football jig on offshore ledges 15–30 feet. Swimming jig around grass edges at dawn.
Lake: Fall brings excellent bite conditions as cooling water temperatures activate bass throughout the lake, particularly around grass beds and timber in 8-15 feet of water. Crankbaits, jerkbaits, and shad-pattern swimbaits produce well as bass feed aggressively before winter.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Swim a jig around baitfish schools near points and flats. Shad trailer colors in fall.
Lake: Winter bass at Lake Anna slow considerably but can still be caught by targeting the deepest creek channels and structure in 20-30 feet of water with slow presentations. Jigging, drop-shotting, and subtle soft plastic presentations near main lake points and channel ledges are most effective during cold months.
Jig (Casting & Pitching): Slowest presentation — drag a 3/8 oz football jig on deep hard bottom. Barely move it.
Best Conditions
All seasons, all depths, all cover types; most effective in 50–70°F water; excellent in pre-spawn and when fish are on hard bottom
Match trailer to conditions: craw trailer in cold water (slower fall, bigger profile), swimbait trailer when swimming, chunk trailer for flipping.
More Techniques for Lake Anna
Ready to fish Lake Anna?
Ask Hank about current conditions, water temp, and exactly what to throw today.
Ask Hank →