Burke Lake (Fairfax) 2024
bigbasskiller reply :
Went out twice this week and got skunked both times. Worked the points Texas rigged also various spinners and even boppers. No luck. No strikes. Went back and tried some live minnows and crawlers just hoping to catch something. But no luck. Fish can be seen jumping all over the place. The water seems pretty warm. Anyone else have any luck? Any ideas?
Pikesnogle reply :
QuoteWent out twice this week and got skunked both times. Worked the points Texas rigged also various spinners and even boppers. No luck. No strikes. Went back and tried some live minnows and crawlers just hoping to catch something. But no luck. Fish can be seen jumping all over the place. The water seems pretty warm. Anyone else have any luck? Any ideas?
Don't get discouraged brother, fishing is tough there. I went last weekend for a few hours early morning and only caught two. I had one nice one 3lb 2oz, and a little one. See below.
I didn't catch them until right before I left. I threw everything I had, which leads me to believe that I just wasn't finding where they were located. But I ended up catching the bigger one a 4" Watermelon Senko with red flakes, and she hit it like a ton of bricks. It was great, and a pretty good fight too.
I say keep at it, I think that you and I both just need to find where they are. Good Luck
-Snogle
Bigs reply :
u live down in dumfries but youre wasting time at burke lake ? Do u own a boat and if so what do you have ? I been goin to the potomac every other day lately and catching 3-5 pounders every time out. Thats where it's at. Lemme know if you need any help, I can get you on some of these monsters like this one caught last night
Dan: reply :
Right now with the warm water I would assume the fish are deep. There are lots of deepwater brushpiles at Burke. I will see if I can find my map of them and help you find a few. I would think they would be a good choice right now.
VolFan reply :
Also in reference to your question, if you start from the dam and work your way around the area off points and themouths of coves with 10 ft + cranks or slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait, you'll find some deep brushpiles pretty quick. If you don't get bit on the crank/spinnerbait, slow down and work the brushpiles as you bump them with tx rigged plastics or jigs. I've had better luck getting bit on the cranks, but the spinnerbait locates the piles faster without electronics. Also, the spinnerbait always comes back from the brush, which I can't say the same for the cranks.
You can also fish spooks or oter topwater early and late over these same areas. Be prepared to hook a musky, or be prepared to lose the spook. Either way, it'll get your heartrate up.
Failing that, maybe try a day with Steve, but you'll probably be able to do just as well on your own.
Bigs reply :
I'll be the first to admit I know little bout Burke Lake. What I do know is usually the folks who do well there really know that place. Which is why I suggested the potomac. You will catch more fish on accident there then you will on purpose at Burke Lake any day. And since we both live in the dumfries area I wanted to help you out. My two cents for that its worth.
shimmy reply :
Hang tight for a few more weeks and get ready come July. Fish will remember that they need to eat by then. I have only fished Burke a few times but have always done well up till 9 oclock in the morning. After that, my expertise is useless on this lake. Like Dan says, deep will work but i think it will be a few more weeks until we start seeing bass aggressive again. Get there early early early. That's your best bet in the mean time. Go get em.
Dan: reply :
Couldn't find my map but I would think if you aren't catching them on the points you need to fish out deeper. Remember, the points continue underwater out into the lake (some of them go a fairly long way out into the lake)
azsamsancho reply :
I myself am very dissappointed with Burke lake. I have not been going too many times, and I am doing offshore, which means I get to the spots where pretty much everyone fishes...
I am yet to go to the potomac. Nice, nice catch RedneckSteve! Mind sharing where in potomac do you go?
hotrod reply :
RedneckSteve - pm sent
mudkart reply :
Ummmm.....yeah....that guy above is right, there are no bass in Burke......so, don't fish it. It's a waste of time (wink wink), really, I swear (wink wink).
bass_slayer_1 reply :
My buddy and I went to Burke on Saturday afternoon. We got skunk'd bad. We saw a few people with nice stringers of catfish, but no bass to be found. We pounded the shoreline with spinnerbaits and soft plastics, but nothing. Looks like the bass have moved to deeper water. Found several marks on the fishfinder in the middle of the lake between the dam and the park ramp. Suspended at about 10 feet in 30+ feet of water, Not sure what they were, but couldn't get them to bite on crankbaits and swimbaits. Burke is tough place to fish!!
Dan: reply :
At this time of year I would spend most of my time offshore on the drops and brush piles.
DieselvRR reply :
Its a tough lake to fish..always has been but there are some big ole fish in there.
Bigs reply :
anyone even caught anything over 5 pounds there this year or any numbers ?
A.Do? reply :
not sure why my post got deleted but...uh...
i'd like to get out there during the day to do some recon, mark some spots and come back at night to give the bass fishing a try. i haven't been there since fishing in 30 degree temps with quanjig and simonsays.
who's in?! let's prove there are some good fish in here and that they're catchable! ;D
NewAngler reply :
In. Just got a swarm of cranks to try out.
VolFan reply :
Wow, I got deleted too.
FISH THE BRUSHPILES OFF DROPOFFS JUST AT THE MOUTHS OF THE SMALL COVES NEAR THE DAM. TO FIND THEM, USE YOUR ELECTRONICS, OR IF YOU"RE SHORE-BOUND, WORK SOMETHING BOTTOM BOUNCING AROUND THE MOUTHS OF THE COVES, AWAY FROM THE BANK
Once you locate the brush piles and drop offs, fish them with shakeyheads, tx rigs, jigs, etc. You could even use a heavier carolina rig to make long casts to locate them, AND fish them more thoroughly, especially from the bank. Fishing from the bank can be difficult there as most of the brush piles and some of the drop-offs are a long cast off the bank, but not all.
With a boat, it gets considerably easier.
Burke is the best lake for numbers of good sized fish in the area, far and away.
Now the muskies...those'll drive you nuts.
[edit]Sarcastic remarks removed.[/edit]
Glenn reply :
All - keep your trivial, petty differences out of this thread or you'll be banned. I've had it with the juvenile remarks!
The mods and I shouldn't have to babysit grown adults, and we won't. We'll just kick people off the site one-by-one until the antics end.
You've been warned.
Nitrofreak reply :
I have not seen where any of you mentioned the drop shot anyone tried that yet?
It works pretty good there you may want to rethink a little 
VolFan reply :
I thought my etc covered dropshot?
Once you locate the brush piles and drop offs, fish them with shakeyheads, tx rigs, jigs, etc. You could even use a heavier carolina rig to make long casts to locate them, AND fish them more thoroughly, especially from the bank. Fishing from the bank can be difficult there as most of the brush piles and some of the drop-offs are a long cast off the bank, but not all.
Nitrofreak reply :
I stand corrected sorry about that. :-[
bigbasshunter reply :
I got a few over 5lbs. heres a 6 and 7
A.Do? reply :
and there you have it, big fish from burke! now lets go get some!
bigbasskiller reply :
Quoteu live down in dumfries but youre wasting time at burke lake ? Do u own a boat and if so what do you have ? I been goin to the potomac every other day lately and catching 3-5 pounders every time out. Thats where it's at. Lemme know if you need any help, I can get you on some of these monsters like this one caught last night
Nice fish there! I got a small 14 ft jon boat. I hit Burke and the Occoquan Res. so far. Not much luck yet. I don't have a regular motor yet, so the Potomac would not work for me right now. I hope to get one this summer and get out there. Unless I would need a bass boat for that. Thanks for the tips!
VolFan reply :
My wife and I fish the Potty out of a canoe. You just have to stay closer to where you lauch. The bays fish the same whether you're in a canoe or a bass boat.
bigbasskiller reply :
Thanks everyone for your comments. Much appreciated! I have a small 14 foot jon boat with a trolling motor. So far tried Burke and the Occoquan Res. Last couple weeks went out 4 times with no luck. My buddy caught one good sized walley, wacky rigged. On the Occoquan, we were getting some strikes but the fish were not taking it hard, just playing with it. I'll try Burke again and continue to work those points and try to find some brush.
A.Do? reply :
QuoteMy wife and I fish the Potty out of a canoe. You just have to stay closer to where you lauch. The bays fish the same whether you're in a canoe or a bass boat.
Agreed! there are a few bays you can launch out of and just straight out stay in and still catch a lot of decent fish.
Bigs reply :
don't let anyone tell you that you need a fancy boat to catch quality fish on the river. Don't limit yourself to small bodies of water just cuz you have a smaller boat. There are a few guys that cash checks in those potomac tourneys out of jon boats. The last few times I went out it was real calm out there with no chop or waves at all. Boat traffic and wind play a part
steveb1 reply :
QuoteThanks everyone for your comments. Much appreciated! I have a small 14 foot jon boat with a trolling motor. So far tried Burke and the Occoquan Res. Last couple weeks went out 4 times with no luck. My buddy caught one good sized walley, wacky rigged. On the Occoquan, we were getting some strikes but the fish were not taking it hard, just playing with it. I'll try Burke again and continue to work those points and try to find some brush.
You could launch out of Pohick Bay State Park without any trouble on a quiet day. Pohick Bay is very shallow and the waves don't get that big. Launch, turn left follow the shore and head for the pads. There is a feeder stream that you can follow way back into the pads. Be prepared to land a monster Snakehead.
DieselvRR reply :
Thinkin about tryin Burke tomorrow morning...will let you know how it goes.
DieselvRR reply :
Went from 7pm-9pm today and not even a bite....
Jake... reply :
^lol
skinyea reply :
been fishing burke lake for over 20 yrs. I alays have better and bigger fishing from 12 midnite to about 6 am.
Bigbarge50 reply :
Went out Friday from about 530pm to 1030 pm and was also skunked. I went from end to end and worked the edges, which seems like a mistake.
Must admit only been there twice before and am totally new to NOVA fishing. Was a NY-er my whole life and fished Florida too, so looking forward to learning the Bass of NOVA. Burke has the most split opinion of any lake I have ever seen.... though it certainly looks like prime territory. I am going to hit it up again this week, though will try the early AM this time around.
Any pointers on where these underwater brush piles are would be nice. I tried some deeper spots with a Carolina rigged sluggo with no luck, but to be frank it was an aggressive rattle and I did not really pound it.
Glad I found this forum, will report later with the next trip and looking forward to any pointers.
Bigbarge50 reply :
Just an update.....
Went out Thursday and was on the water by about 430am or so. Not much luck hitting the shallows with topwater. Later on in the morning had some luck, two largemouth, a walleye, and a catfish. All on cranks.
No real luck finding these underwater brush piles, worked off points and where there was some deeper water near some shallow flats. Also worked the d**n area topwater wise early. I think I need electronics to really take advantage.
Think will move over to the potomac or sounds like people are going to huntsman.... will look into that too. Will still keep hitting Burke too, just seems everyone is catching a lot more a lot quicker elsewhere.
fishguts reply :
I used to live in NoVa and fished Burke frequently, especially in the summer. My best action came at first light by throwing small topwaters along the edges of the willow grass, especially if there was deep water nearby. I think everyone throws the same topwaters--Pop Rs, Spooks, etc-- and the bass are clued in on those bigger baits. My best bait was a Tiny torpedo that i worked slowly. I also did well on unweighted T-rigged finesse worms dropped into the open pockets of the willow grass. Green pumpkin or black.
We caught some on 7-inch T-rigged Culprit worms fished down ledges and points later in the morning.
Bigbarge50 reply :
good stuff, did you use electronics on burke normally or you just new where a lot of the underwater structure was? I am going to go either there or huntsman after the rains pass here .... probably Thursday. I was also fishing a tiny torpedo up until early light.... then I got one to the side of the boat before I lost him on a medium sized jitterbug. Did not see a lot of higher underwater grasses, but there was a weird swirl of algae on the lake by the dam early.
Anyone got some boat launch info on Huntsman? checked a lot of the older threads, and parking sound sketchy and everyone seems to be casting from shore. I would like to launch my boat on huntsman.... 11 ft inflatable seamax.... I am the guy in that red boat on Burke if anyone has been there lately.
As for burke, I was really surprised to catch the cat fish that day just because I was not trying to land one. I caught it on a lipless crank..... never woulda thought that would be what a cat would go for.
Bigbarge50 reply :
Hit Burke last night from about 830pm to about 2 am. The sole positive was I did locate a bunch of brush and timber off a point with my carolina rigged sluggo.
The bad.....
1)- Boat value had an issue, so got on the water an hour later than I wanted.
2)- No caught fish. Got three within 10 feet of the boat, one looking like a nice fish. I also had one throw my jitterbug about a yard when it missed.
3)- I have not had a backlash seriously in 2 years. Last night I had like 4 huge ones, all in the dark of the night. Throw in I had one pole keep fouling for some unknown reason and I was down to three for the night.
4)- The bushpiles produced nada......
5)- I did catch something..... I sunken beer can from the 70's. I took a pitcure of it to post on here for a laugh.... but my batteries died as soon as I took the pic. Just one of those nights.
So all in all it was a bad trip. Just one on those times you really try to squeeze in some fishing and it backfires. Then you try to make some positive so bad you stay out till 2am when you have work at 8 the next day......
Last week Lebron had "the decision"..... Today I am going for "the redemption" .... going straight from work with the seamax to Pohick Park and going for some of these lilly pads I heard about.....
Anyone on Burke lately too?
Rocky1965 reply :
I was at Burke Lake last night from 2am till 5 LOL I didnt catch anything I did get a bite or two... LOL sorry to hear your trip was so rough
lollerskated reply :
Went out this morning to Burke Lake for about an hour and caught my very first LMB (ever).
DieselvRR reply :
congrats
AnglerNFuego reply :
Way to go!
Rocky1965 reply :
Nice!
lollerskated reply :
Thanks guys. I also went out to Lake Royal today and snagged something, but unfortunately it broke my line.
Bigbarge50 reply :
Did an overnight at Burke Monday into Tuesday morning. Was out there a long time, the weather was so much nicer not being 95..... heck just before sun up was actually a little cool.
Nothing worth reporting really..... lost what felt like a good one and caught a small bass and a small walleye.
The most notable thing was the water was like a bath. Still seemingly way too warm.....
Rocky1965 reply :
I hit Burke lake this morning and around 8:15 i caught my 1st bass on my trusty topwater then 15min later i caught another!
Rocky1965 reply :
here is the 2nd one i caught...
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