Advice / Some One To Learn From

[Ed Dunn]

I have been fishing the Occoquan reservoir for over 15 years and although I seem to catch a good amount of bass I can't seem to catch anything bigger than 1.5 to 2 lbs.  I fish just about every weekend and have serious interest in joining the Fountainhead bass club for the tournaments although I have no boat yet (which should be remedied by next spring).  I guess what I am looking for is someone to go fishing wish from time to time to show me some tips, to learn from.  Strange request, I know, but I know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy fishing as much as I do

 

It gets frustrating not ever being able to get better at your loved hobby.  So if any one needs some one to go fishing with, I am always looking to go

 

 

 

[quanjig]

This month Fountainhead park will be selling some of their older boats. I posted a thread in the southeast section with details. As far as joining FHBC, only 1 tournament left this season. Check out the website for the club and watch for the season schedule for next year to be posted sometime in January or February. Lots of useful info in the southeast section on the res. you are probably going to find that most of the "old heads" out there are tight lipped about spots and techniques. Read,re-read and apply what you see here on BR to the res and your catches will increase. I've been fishing the res for 25 years and believe me, I'm still learning how to be a better angler out there!!

[Snakehead Whisperer]

I have been fishing the Occoquan reservoir for over 15 years and although I seem to catch a good amount of bass I can't seem to catch anything bigger than 1.5 to 2 lbs.  I fish just about every weekend and have serious interest in joining the Fountainhead bass club for the tournaments although I have no boat yet (which should be remedied by next spring).  I guess what I am looking for is someone to go fishing wish from time to time to show me some tips, to learn from.  Strange request, I know, but I know there are a lot of people out there who enjoy fishing as much as I do

 

It gets frustrating not ever being able to get better at your loved hobby.  So if any one needs some one to go fishing with, I am always looking to go

Is there any reason you don't fish the tidal Potomac? World class LMB fishery with a good chance of catching snakeheads too.

There are some nice lakes in the DMV area, but if I'm fishing for largemouth there's really only one destination on my mind... the river. Lots of 4-7lbers. lurking out there.

Nothing against Occoquan, btw. I know that there are some real hogs in there. I admit that I'm a river rat.

[WRB]

Looking at a map Occoquan reservoir appears to be a riverine lake with constant water flow and fairly small at 2,100 acres. Lots of points that should intersect the river channel. I usually like to start near the dam and work my way up river, probably not much further than the water color change, depending on water temps and baitfish depth.

This looks like jig and crankbait lake during the day and jig or big worm lake at night.

Current will dictate the direction the bass are facing, usually into the current. Most of your presentations should be casting up river (lake) and working up and over point ridges and other structure that provides a current break.

I know you are saying what current? It's a lake with a dam! Largemouth bass don't like current, unless it brings prey to them. This is a water storage reservoir that is supplying drinking water on a constant basis, so the water is moving slowly, not like a river but some flow towards the dam. Keep this in mind! This type of lake may have multiple thermoclines where bass can be at different thermal depths, this makes it a challenging lake to dial in.

Tom

[quanjig]

WRB, for the most part, you are correct, flow may not be obvious or noticeable, but its there. Being a water supply reservoir, it's more like a constant draw so the fish are not really keying in on the current like they would on a body of water that has a dam for electricity. The best times to take advantage of flow and current are the couple of days following a heavy rain that raises the level and pulls water over the dam. The occoquan fishes like 3 bodies of water. The upper stretches are more like rivers that do have some slow moving current. The middle fishes more like a lake and the bottom section fishes like a deep water reservoir. Lots of shore cover in all three sections as well as ledges and creek channels.

SHW, I've fished both the Potomac and the Occoquan for 25+ years! For the most part, I'll take the res! I do enjoy catching striper and snakehead but ask the guys that have really unlocked the res and have really done some damage on the river and you might be surprised. Our last 3 tournaments have produced a 7lb fish with plenty of 5's and 6's!

[bigbasshunter]

Tidal Potomac is pretty much off limits for small outboard powered Jon boats. Unless you stay in the no wake zones, pleasure boaters don't pay attention to smaller vessels. Don't get me wrong, pre spawn and spawn are key times to finding Potomac 6+lb hawgs staging up on the flats. But its really like fishing out of a barrel down there, bass are everywhere.

The rez really make you use your noggin, patterns change throughout the day, and like quanjig said it fishes like 3 different bodies of water.

Best advice I can give is, beat the banks (16-18fow and shallower) before 11a and after 5p. From 11a-5p look for deeper structure/cover and channel swings.

[Sam]

Ed, you really need to consider joining a bass club next year.

 

You will fish a number of bodies of water but most of all you will meet a number of guys who love bass fishing and are very good at it.

 

Check out the Links at the top of this page and then go to the Virginia listing. Speak with the clubs to find out where they fish, how many members do they have, what is expected of a nonboater, dues, etc. and consider which one meets your needs.

 

You will learn a lot, especially where to launch your boat, and make a bunch of new friends.

 

Just a suggestion.

[FD.]

You should find a tournament trail that fishes the draw system and fish as a non boater for a year.  You will learn a lot in a hurry if you pay attention.

[romeo]

Hey Ed, I am in the same "boat" as you. hehehe.

[Ed Dunn]

Yea I plan on joining the fountainhead bass club next year, I am trying to find a boat before next season, I have an outboard, trolling motor, fish-finder etc, just need the d**n boat.  I tend to hit the banks with a Texas rigged worm and on occasion have caught a few big ones.  Just started fishing a drop shot a few weeks ago with very good success.  I think I have MOST the knowledge I need, but need to hone in on it a little more.