Lake Chesdin Multi-Species Trolling Trip | Goober Time Guide Service
- Captain Dan Szajta
- 14 hours ago
- 3 min read
The summer season is in full swing here on the water, and with water temperatures holding steady between 73°F and 76°F, the bite has been consistently active. On June 3, 2026, I had the pleasure of hosting Jeff, James, and Josh, who made the trip down from Fishersville, Virginia, with a clear objective: securing a fresh haul of panfish for the dinner table. We hit the water at 9:00 AM and spent a productive four hours working the depths, finding the most consistent action in 8 to 14 feet of water.
To ensure we were prepared for a multi-species day, we rigged up with our go-to Catch the Fever Precision Cast Rods. These rods offer the perfect sensitivity for detecting subtle bites, while maintaining enough backbone to handle the variety of species we encountered. We paired these with Slime Line, known for its reliability and low-stretch profile, and secured everything in our SmackDown Rod Holders to keep our setup precise and efficient.
We kicked off the morning by trolling crankbaits—specifically two Arkie 220s and two Bandit 300s. The water was primed for action, and we didn't have to wait long; within the first five minutes, we landed our first fish of the day, a nice Largemouth bass. While the bite lulled momentarily, it wasn’t long before we started putting crappie in the boat.
As the morning progressed, we transitioned to targeting weed-lined shores, which proved to be a turning point. We enjoyed several double-headers, pulling in a mix of quality crappie and aggressive white perch. When we moved further up the lake, we encountered some stained water resulting from recent rainfall. We adjusted our tactics by trolling into a nearby creek, which kept the white perch and crappie hitting consistently. Notably, we brought a beautiful 13-inch crappie over the rail during this stretch.
As the bite began to taper off in the creek, we moved back out to open water, where we rounded out our catch with a few more white perch, another crappie, and a surprise channel catfish to cap off the morning. By 1:00 PM, we had a fantastic cooler full of fish and a great group of anglers headed back to Fishersville with plenty of fillets for the freezer.
A huge thank you to Jeff, James, and Josh for joining me on the water; it was a pleasure sharing the boat with you all. If you are looking to sharpen your skills or fill your cooler with fresh panfish, I invite you to visit our website and book your own adventure with Goober Time Guide Service.
Trip Summary Table
Species | Total Caught |
Crappie | 14 |
White Perch | 11 |
Largemouth Bass | 2 |
Channel Catfish | 1 |
Final Trip Total | 28 |
Captain Dan Szajta is a USCG Master and IGFA Captain who brings a unique, analytical edge to the waters of Central Virginia. When he isn’t guiding clients to "river monsters" on the James River, Dan serves as a high school math teacher—a background that fuels his precision-based approach to angling. By combining formal maritime expertise with a teacher’s knack for breaking down complex patterns, Dan specializes in breaking the code on trophy Blue Catfish, Flathead Catfish, and Smallmouth Bass for anglers of all skill levels.
Operating Goober Time Guide Service, Dan offers a versatile experience tailored to the water's demands. Whether you are hunting giants from his fully equipped main vessel or launching a kayak or raft to reach remote, low-pressure fisheries, his mission is to provide more than just a day on the water. Every trip is an opportunity to learn the "why" behind the bite, blending high-energy adventure with the technical insights of a true multi-species specialist.
Captain Dan Szajta
USCG Master Charter Captain
804-592-0456
*Contents of this article may not be reproduced without the prior consent of Goober Time Guide Service, LLC.
Comments