Smaller Lakes In Springfield, Fairfax, And Burke 2024
Bassmass21 reply :
I have been fishing alot for about a month and a half now and probably spend 4-5 days and about 4-5 hours each of those days fishing local lakes and havent caught much, i mainly fish lake mercer but dont have much luck, my main lure of choice is the spinner bait, i am looking for tips and hints for nova fishing from the shore.
DJ 6_6 reply :
Try a Senko....Fish it slower....
Im like you live in the area and wish i fished as much as you did. I have two jobs so I dont get out much. Where do you access Mercer? Ive wanted to fish there. used to catch bass years ago in Crosspointe, just south of Mercer, and its much smaller.
I tried Burke a few weekends ago....got skunked.
JSPOONE reply :
burke lake is down i have never caught anything since i have been fishing... as for mercer ffx parkway and take a right onto hoose rd and parking is on ur right b prepared to walk as there isnt much bank fishing.. have u tried lake royal my biggest this year has come from fishing next to the d**n w/ a texas rigged craw papi black and blue color
Bassmass21 reply :
I got another one today but there just not plentiful even after the transfer of fish from huntsman
DJ 6_6 reply :
I've caught small bass up to 1lb in Burke but this was 15-17 years ago. hooked a 4-5lber once there also, guess those memories are what made me try there recently but like I hear everywhere, its too pressured and the bite isn't worth it.
I've yet to try mercer, but Im off work Thursday and Might give it a shot. Guess I'll make sure I have my sneakers on since it sounds like theres a lot of walking to do.
So from what I understand. Fishing is decent near the dam, and then at the opposite end of Mercer, there's an area of stumps that produce fish as well?
Bassmass21 reply :
Well I've never caught anything right on the dam but around it yeah, but never could find access from the shore at the stumps
JSPOONE reply :
i lost something big there last year which makes me go back a couple times a year.... but u can acess the stumps BY parking in a neighborhood and take a good mile walk.. ive had some good numbers back there but not big to brag about
quanjig reply :
Mercer is good, I don't pay it too much attention after the spawn. Burke lake on the otherhand is a great lake! I like to fish it in late November to ice up. Big fish can be had in numbers if you can find them. Locate the brush piles and drag big jigs! It can be lights out on the right day. You can also get into some nice walleye and the occasional muskie.
DJ 6_6 reply :
Good to hear that Quan , thats what local fishing reports that they have good bass in there. But if you talk to people that fish it, they say its too pressured and too tough.
On 6/12/2013 at 4:42 AM, JSPOONE said:i lost something big there last year which makes me go back a couple times a year.... but u can acess the stumps BY parking in a neighborhood and take a good mile walk.. ive had some good numbers back there but not big to brag about
Im lazy I guess, I'm not walking a mile just to fish LOL...1/4 mile maybe lmao...guess I need to find a small boat. I have a 14ft fiberglass boat but that requires luanchign with a trailer.
georgeyew reply :
On 6/11/2013 at 9:11 PM, R21yan said:even after the transfer of fish from huntsman
Hey tell me more about this. When and how did they move all the fish? I used to catch a whole bunch of catfish and carp on Huntsman. Now it seem completely dead.
georgeyew reply :
On 6/11/2013 at 7:21 AM, JSPOONE said:burke lake is down i have never caught anything since i have been fishing... as for mercer ffx parkway and take a right onto hoose rd and parking is on ur right b prepared to walk as there isnt much bank fishing.. have u tried lake royal my biggest this year has come from fishing next to the d**n w/ a texas rigged craw papi black and blue color
I went to the dam at Lake Royal last Friday and got this one. I am not sure if I just got lucky or what. Got it on a senko worm.
DJ 6_6 reply :
nice Fish Georgeyew, How do you fish your Senko? I just tried a few times this year fishing it. Tried Texas rigged, and wacky rigged and only caught one small bass thus far with it wacky rigged.
georgeyew reply :
I love wacky rigging it. Ever since I started fishing it, I can't seem to get off of it.
Bassmass21 reply :
theyve started clearing some fish out of huntsman to drain it, and there moving them to mercer, theres still fish in it but not too many, and they are doing work on the dam and clearing the sediment from the bottom
JSPOONE reply :
On 6/13/2013 at 1:31 AM, georgeyew said:
I went to the dam at Lake Royal last Friday and got this one. I am not sure if I just got lucky or what. Got it on a senko worm.
nice fish man... funny cuz thats where i caught my biggest this year at in the exact spot lol...
On 6/13/2013 at 3:11 AM, DJ 6_6 said:nice Fish Georgeyew, How do you fish your Senko? I just tried a few times this year fishing it. Tried Texas rigged, and wacky rigged and only caught one small bass thus far with it wacky rigged.
slow is the key.. i fish my senko wacky rigged and just move my rod up in like a twitching motion and reel in the slack....
i went out to huntsman today caught one around 2 pounds and had a big catfish try to get my crank bait at the shore AS I WAS pulling it out of the water
georgeyew reply :
On 6/13/2013 at 5:16 AM, R21yan said:theyve started clearing some fish out of huntsman to drain it, and there moving them to mercer, theres still fish in it but not too many, and they are doing work on the dam and clearing the sediment from the bottom
Are they netting the fish? I haven't seen any trucks in the area. I'd be curious to see the fish that they pulled out of there.
JSPOONE reply :
yeh thats the first time i have heard this and i was there and it didnt appear to b being drained or moving fish from it...
quanjig reply :
If you google lake huntsman you can find a clip of them electro shocking the bank lines. It says they transferred 800-1000 lbs of fish. Also said it was a healthy fishery with lots of fish in the 2-4 lb range. Was out there yesterday and caught 2 fish around 3lbs each. I'm sure they missed quite a few good fish that were not relating to the banks. As they drain it, it should be interesting to see what they missed!!
JSPOONE reply :
i was out there yesterday too till a water moccasin chased me off.. i caught one around 2.. i hope this project doesnt take too long to complete
quanjig reply :
There are no water moccasin's here in northern va. Possibly a water snake, similar in coloration. The project is said to take 6-8 months.
JSPOONE reply :
well dang now i feel like a little b.. tripped over the rocks and popped my shoulder out for a common water snake 
...
JSPOONE reply :
does any1 know if the project on lake accotink has been completed or is the lake still being drained?!
georgeyew reply :
I read that the work on Lake Accotink has been completed.
I just saw the video on Huntsman. I guess that I just suck at fishing since there seems to be plenty of bass in that lake.
JSPOONE reply :
o sweat mayb ill stop by there tomorrow or go to mercer tomorrow. decisions decisions...
soccplayer07 reply :
On 6/14/2013 at 10:32 AM, georgeyew said:I read that the work on Lake Accotink has been completed.
I just saw the video on Huntsman. I guess that I just suck at fishing since there seems to be plenty of bass in that lake.
Can you post a link? I couldn't find it.
georgeyew reply :
On 6/14/2013 at 8:13 PM, soccplayer07 said:Can you post a link? I couldn't find it.
quanjig reply :
Such a shame to have to do that to a nice little lake. I understand why, just wish they could find a way to do it without disturbing an already established good fish population.
georgeyew reply :
I know. Especially since there was nothing wrong with the dam. They should have just grandfathered it in.
soccplayer07 reply :
sucks...that's my go to afternoon spot...
JSPOONE reply :
i like how it says fish rescue in the title.. when its a healthy little lake w/ some big fish
quanjig reply :
Huntsman has been my hidden little gem, I can't begin to tell you how many 5-6 lb fish I have caught from there in the past 6 or 7 years. Probably more than all the other lakes I fish combined. I will be sad when its all drained and I have to find another lake to dissect!
JSPOONE reply :
yeh ive fished huntsman twice this year. and i was starting to figure the little lake.. might as well fish it till u cant anymore
Bassmass21 reply :
im catching more fish at mercer but none with any size
JSPOONE reply :
went out to mercer late afternoon and early this morning.. cauGHT 7 in the 2 days non over 1.5 pounds and one white perch
Bassmass21 reply :
i went out today didnt catch a d**n thing too hot, and would you all consider mercer's water clear or not?
JSPOONE reply :
i would call it murky and its clear in some spots... im going out tomorrow morning to try out some new spots around the stumps and throw my double fluke rig
Bassmass21 reply :
I am starting/trying to use senkos. I have absolutely no luck with them at mercer. I need help, what color/size do you guys use? also what type of retrieve do you use?
JSPOONE reply :
for me mainly just flukes flukes and more flukes. and a kvd 1.5 sexy shad crank.. u have to find where the grass beds are n thats where the fish are going to b.. espcially with this heat we are having and the high pressure the fish are stuck on structure/grass beds since the grass beds produce more oxygen levels
Bassmass21 reply :
yeah this heat is impossible while shore fishing, its a struggle...
JSPOONE reply :
yeh its hard but i wouldnt call it a struggle.. ive switched to smaller baits weightless
s freud reply :
Can you access mercer with a boat? I might be up for that sometime and would be happy to host a copilot.
DJ 6_6 reply :
On 6/27/2013 at 2:02 AM, Bassmass21 said:I am starting/trying to use senkos. I have absolutely no luck with them at mercer. I need help, what color/size do you guys use? also what type of retrieve do you use?
Ive just started using them this year also, and rig it wacky style. ive only fished about 5 times this year but the 4 outta 5 times I did catch fish, it was on this rig. brown/watermellon/pumpkinseed colors work best for me....
DJ 6_6 reply :
On 6/27/2013 at 6:56 AM, Bassmass21 said:yeah this heat is impossible while shore fishing, its a struggle...
I feel the bass are only up shallow for the first hour or two of day light, then they move deeper 10+ ft to cooler water as the day progresses. kinda hard to reach them from the shore during the day, unless you find a point that drops off fairly quickly.
JSPOONE reply :
On 6/27/2013 at 8:28 PM, s freud said:Can you access mercer with a boat? I might be up for that sometime and would be happy to host a copilot.
YES U CAN with a canoe and a cart and u can put it in the water.. its a hell of a walk if u have to carry it
Bassmass21 reply :
Lol if u want a copilot I'm down haha
s freud reply :
Being that I have a Jon boat it sounds like you'll have to be a body builder to pull this off.
On 6/30/2013 at 9:25 AM, Bassmass21 said:Lol if u want a copilot I'm down haha
JSPOONE reply :
Unless u have a cart to wheel it down to the lake
Bassmass21 reply :
Well ur lucky I am
s freud reply :
Then let's do this! How far a trek are we talking?
JSPOONE reply :
its probably a little more than a mile to where u can put ur boat in with ease
s freud reply :
Ok. That's crazy talk. Bank fishing it is.
JSPOONE reply :
yeh good luck mercer is a tough little lake
bluezed reply :
On 6/27/2013 at 2:02 AM, Bassmass21 said:I am starting/trying to use senkos. I have absolutely no luck with them at mercer. I need help, what color/size do you guys use? also what type of retrieve do you use?
I caught 5 from the dam on the morning of the 4th. I think the rain the previous day and the cooler temps and overcast skies helped keep them in reach. I was catching them on the black w/ blue flake and green pumpkin. Mostly Texas rigged, I may have grabbed one on a wacky rig but honestly I can't remember.
Since I'm still getting the hang of my baitcaster I was accidentally fishing slow. A couple times on the initial cast I'd have to clear a bird's nest so my Senko would make it all the way to the bottom and sit for a while... sometimes a minute or more. I was getting strikes this way so I took it as needing to fish the worm really, really slow.
Best of the day was 3lbs. Had another a little over 2lbs. The rest were in the 1-1.5lb range.
Went back the following morning and... absolutely nothing!
I was really happy with the Senko, though, so I took advantage of Dick's buy one, get one 50% off sale and bought waaaaay too many Senkos in a variety of colors and sizes to try.
- Steve
Bassmass21 reply :
How do you retrieve senkos? That's what I don't know
bluezed reply :
Let it sit on the bottom. Wait a bit (how long you need to wait will really be up to the fish), then bring it up a bit and let it sink back to the bottom. Wait more.
Bassmass21 reply :
Where were u on the dam and were u casting right on it or out more? Pm if u want
s freud reply :
Here is a great thread on how to fish senkos. Sometimes you also have to vary things and twitch them some. That said, I am still probably missing more than I realize, because I don't set the hook when I feel a little resistance. The general theory is that if you feel you are fishing too slow, go slower. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/
DJ 6_6 reply :
I found that let them sink to the bottom,. give them a little twitch. Drag/swim it a few feet let it sink, twitch and repeat. eventually when ou go to drag, you'll feel the weight of the fish and You set the hook!
beergogglin reply :
Glad I checked in here. I was planning on hitting Huntsman some evening this week. That's sad. You gotta wonder how the influx of big bass is going to affect Mercer now. Increased competition for forage. Will that make fishing better for hungrier fish?
I had some luck at dusk last night at another local spot. Nice one on a baby brush hog and a big one snapped my line after grabbing my buzzbait after dark. Frustating!
Anyone fish lake Barton this year? They dredged it last Summer and I was wondering how the fishing was affected. I'm a 5 minute walk from it, but haven't been there lately. I can be tough fishing but they are in there if you know where to look.
JSPOONE reply :
been there on time early this year.. been wanting to go back since i didnt get a bite since im unfamiliar with that little lake and only fished one little area before the weather forced me out
beergogglin reply :
I usually catch decent sized fish along the dam and near the overflow tower mostly in the evening. Biggest was probably close to 4 lbs. several years ago.
They are planning to dredge Woodglenn now. I just looked at a slideshow and they cite Barton as an example. I guess they really drained Barton and are planning the same with Woodglenn. I wonder how much fishkill there is with draining.
The link below is the slideshow for the planned Woodglenn dredging. Slide 25 shows some fish habitat structures I assume they plan to sink. I can only assume they did the same in Barton. I love seeing that but they might not be fruitful for a few years if there was major fishkill.
http://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/woodglen-lake-dredging-and-restoration-presentation-20130226-final
JSPOONE reply :
yeh they are unfortunately dredging a couple lakes in this area.. now i just ponder what is it going to do the fishing and how long will it take to start bringing in decent bass again
georgeyew reply :
I'm gonna cry....they are ruining the lakes in the area...all at the same time!
beergogglin reply :
We should all get together and have a bassothon to catch and relocate fish from Woodglenn to Barton shortly before they start the drain.
DJ 6_6 reply :
George i feel the same way. what would happen if we all showed up when they start draining and each took 30-40 bass to different lakes in the area?
bluezed reply :
Is it even legal to transport fish to different bodies of water?
beergogglin reply :
Well the county just transferred a bunch from Huntsman to Mercer right?
beergogglin reply :
I just read some stuff about the Lake Royal dredge. It looks like they plan to relocate the fish from Royal. They did it in Huntsman. I can only assume they will do it in Woodglenn. I'm really interested to see how Barton is recovering now, since the dredge there is already done.
http://burke.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/braddock-residents-county-officials-discuss-dredging-fe62687eb1
bluezed reply :
On 7/13/2013 at 3:48 AM, beergogglin said:Well the county just transferred a bunch from Huntsman to Mercer right?
On 7/13/2013 at 3:56 AM, beergogglin said:I just read some stuff about the Lake Royal dredge. It looks like they plan to relocate the fish from Royal. They did it in Huntsman. I can only assume they will do it in Woodglenn. I'm really interested to see how Barton is recovering now, since the dredge there is already done.
http://burke.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/braddock-residents-county-officials-discuss-dredging-fe62687eb1
I remember reading about the move from Huntsman, so I figure they would do it with every lake they drain. I just doubt individuals could do it on their own, legally.
JSPOONE reply :
lake royal needs a serious dredging u can see all the build up of the sediment there and keeps getting worse and worse and creek is starting to run dry.. i fish there atleast 3 times a week for the last two years and could notice the difference from last year to this year..
beergogglin reply :
legally schmeegally. ;-)
beergogglin reply :
On 7/13/2013 at 10:11 AM, JSPOONE said:lake royal needs a serious dredging u can see all the build up of the sediment there and keeps getting worse and worse and creek is starting to run dry.. i fish there atleast 3 times a week for the last two years and could notice the difference from last year to this year..
I agree. I haven't been there in at least a couple years but even then the end opposite the dam just seemed shallow and "mucky". I'm excited that they are doing these dredgings. It will make for better fishing habitats in the long run.
JSPOONE reply :
yeh i agree BUT fishing is going to suck for a little while till everything gets back to normal again
georgeyew reply :
Crap, they are doing Lake Royal too?
Huntsman
Wooodglenn
Lake Braddock
Lake Royal
Which ones are they "not" dredging?
JSPOONE reply :
mercer is the only one right now.. u can still fish huntsman n still catch some nice size fish.. i havnt been there in a month so i dont know what the current conditions of the lake is right now
crossthemeverytime reply :
i've gone to mercer twice this year and both times i've pulled a 2.5 or over out of the stumps on a chartreuse KVD 1.5.
if you can't get a jon boat down there get an inflatable, they're really compact and fairly light so you can carry them to any spot on the lake where launching is an option
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