Anyone Hit The Occoquan Reservoir Lately?

[big poppa]

Went out from about 2:30 to 6:30 yesterday, trolling out of Fountainhead. Beautiful afternoon, but fairly slow again. I'm pretty committed to becoming a better jig fisherman, so I may be limiting myself and not trying hard enough to find a sweet-spot lure. Caught a three pounder and a couple dinks. Broke one off that I must have hooked beyond or around a branch. Just sat for a bit and then took off and almost immediately snapped my 15# hybrid. I did miss a few really had jig bites, but I'm getting a little more confident each time out.

I tossed a blue DT6 that I got from Lucky Tacklebox and promptly caught a 5# cat. Seems crazy - I had a cat on a DD22 just two weeks ago. Don't think I'd ever caught a catfish on a crankbait before these two.

I caught more catfish in the Potomac on cranks than I have bass. I also dedicated myself to jig fishing this year. Althought it may be challenging at times it is a great skill to have. Just try to match the hatch with your jig skirt and style. I have started to hand tye my own jigs to better adapt to the situation. Id recommend a light purple and white swim jig with a baby swimming fluke as a trailer since the shad activity is increasing (shhhh. Its a secret) or maybe a heavier 3/4oz blue gill color (green pumpkin, orange, and a little bit of purple and black.) The biggest thing is watching your line constantly.

[FinesseFishing]

Went out Sunday from about 7am to 10am. Dink and a nicer one that threw the hook about a foot from the boat.  Got those two on rubber worms, no luck on the crankbaits. Only my 3rd time there but liking it more each weekend.

 

Two Questions

 

1. I'm newer to Virginia, how long is the typical fishing season? (I'm from up north so I'm used to the cold kinda ending it since everything freezes)

 

2. I would like to meet people to fish with. Any clubs in the area anyone could recommend? I've applied here http://www.another siteanglers.com/About.html (since they are close to me) but the guy is horrible with response times and very dodgy. I'm just looking for good people to enjoy the sport with. Any opinions appreciated. Thanks guys. 

[Choporoz]

Welcome, FF!  My boating season ends when Fountainhead marina closes - usually around Halloween...maybe a weekend into Nov.  I also rent from Lake Ridge, but they shut down even earlier in the year; if they haven't already.  

   

   But I still try to hit banks and piers anytime except Dec to about mid-Mar.  I've seen boats out on the Potomac in January, but not many lol. 

 

I've never looked into any clubs, except for some cursory googling.   

 

I've said more than once (probably more than once in this thread) that Occoquan reservoir never ceases to intrigue me.  I've been fishing it more and more over the past 3-4 years with gradually increasing confidence, but it still kicks me in the teeth all summer long.   I've tried to learn as much as I can about every inch that I can cover from Lake Ridge and Fountainhead with a trolling motor.  But, I think that I've done myself a disservice.  I plan to concentrate on much smaller areas and learn them better. 

[nitro557]

ive meet a couple good people in the woodbridge area on here and also thru facebook group northern Virginia bass fishing I enjoy meeting new people and learning new fishing areas .im open to meeting someplace having a beer and talking fishing

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

We should all meet up at Brittany's one weekend for drinks. That is if everyone is at least 21. could could be a good time.

J-

[big poppa]

We should all meet up at Brittany's one weekend for drinks. That is if everyone is at least 21. could could be a good time.

J-

My beer is gonna have to be a rootbeer. I dont turn 21 until April. Haha

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

How does Friday Oct 10th 7pm sound to all. If we plan it to far in the future everyone will have things come up. Oh yeah and I guess we will need a count if to many people are going, we may need to reserve something. Brittany's is located just north of opitz blvd on old bridge road. We can also change the location if someone knows a better spot.

Jay

[Choporoz]

I'm great with the idea and love the location. However, I'm out of town that weekend. Tues nights are generally best for me, but I'll be flexible

[nitro557]

im in and open just about any nights ,are Tuesday nights still wing night at brittanys

[Choporoz]

Hit it for a lot of hours on Sat south out of Fountainhead.  Dinks and more dinks.  They were few and far between and probably nothing over about 1.5.  Good thing it was a beautiful day.  I had a broken wire on my fishfinder right out the chute and that was a bit of a hit.  I generally struggle on that water without it.  I did, however, catch another large cat on a DT6.  Never caught a cat on a crank before a couple months ago and now it seems like it happens every time out there.

[big poppa]

I wouldnt be able to make that friday. But went out for two hours yesterday morning and caught a quick limit with an absolute donkey (and my new pb) to anchor it. 6.1lbs and 23" 

[WDinarte]

I wouldnt be able to make that friday. But went out for two hours yesterday morning and caught a quick limit with an absolute donkey (and my new pb) to anchor it. 6.1lbs and 23" 

that is a good catch, congrat.

[big poppa]

Realized the board wasnt fully extended. 21" and no citation

[Clemson_Terry22]

Is there any tournaments up coming or around the area that anyone knows of that I can be a co angler with someone? Thanks.

[The Bream Reaper]

Had a solid numbers day today chasing shad schools in the creeks.  specifically the creek up by the old dam and down by the pier at fountainhead.  lots of shad swirling around WAY back in those creeks.  took me about 2 hours to figure out how to catch them but threw a DD10 or 12 maybe underneath the schools of shad to catch them.  no quality (maybe biggest was 3#...MAYbe) but solid quantity.  I tried throwing soft jerk baits and spinnerbaits and swim baits and chatter baits in the schools at first but that wasn't working.  so went with the deeper diving crank bait when they were suspended out in deeper water and then threw a square bill when the shad moved closer to cover.  probably caught 15 keepers from about 8:30am to 2pm.

[Huntrava]

Better than average day at Occoquan yesterday kayak fishing cover along the banks, but I wasn't able to get the topwater to work.  Anyone want to enlighten me on how to identify and fish shad schools?  I'm not certain what to look for...when you see the water boiling/popping in an area...are those shad?  Do you have to follow the shad?  

[Nubbins1911]

I have been chasing the baitfish for a few days with a few fish but nothing of size, like the Brim Reaper I have been trying everything

[Choporoz]

Thanks for the reports, guys!

 

I went out in the rain Saturday morning.....trolled south out of Fountainhead.  Through a lot of different stuff, but I think nearly all my fish were on green Rage Cut-R's - and a couple dinks on earthworm colored roboworms.  Biggest was just shy of 3 on a Cut-R; very stealthy bite that I didn't feel so much as watched the line go sideways.  I was marking a lot of fish between 15 and 20 feet, but couldn't get a bite.  I kept going back to tossing plastics and jigs into the banks with steep drop-offs.  That's really the only type of location I regularly have any confidence in out there after May.  I was in the wind for a good part of the day, which makes chasing bait balls tough.  Numbers weren't great, but enough not to make me regret going out in early in the rain.  I think I caught about a dozen total, but 5-6 were smallish ones that all came in a short burst of a bout 40 minutes in 3-7 FOW at the edge of grass.  I probably wasted too much time tossing deep cranks, but I've done well with them in 'similar conditions' in the past and I'm hard headed.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

A few stupid questions about the Occoquan from someone who is trying to find new spots now that the Potomac is in a decline:

1) Can I fish the Occoquan with my trolling motor only if I have a 225hp on the back of my boat?

2) If I can fish the Occuquan in my boat this weekend where should I launch if I want to fish shallow for fish chasing bait?

3) Any other tips (if I can in fact fish this reservoir in my boat) would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[Choporoz]

Yes.  You can put your boat in.  I can't find the 'regulation' about whether you need to disconnect gas lines, or what.  But I was out there about 6 or 7 weeks ago and there was a 'club' or group of 8 or 9 big boats trolling the rez.  I asked 'why here'?  They said they try to get out there a couple times a year because even without gas motors, they enjoy fishing it as much as other, bigger waters.   

 

Unrelated more or less.....I suspect the lack of info on the 'law' is not a complete coincidence of the fact that I've never once been approached by a warden there in 4 years.  So, it seems to be self-regulated.  I've been convinced that some boats are being pushed by a lot more than 10HP, but without enforcement...... I suspect the most likely reporting entity would be the high school rowing coaches if they think their kids are getting rocked too much

[RockvilleMDAngler]

Thanks for the info!!!

 

So which launch should I use?

[Choporoz]

I'm going to add little value except maybe something to look into while waiting for someone with actual knowledge comes along....I only rent jon boats (out of Lake Ridge and Fountainhead), so I'm a decided non-authority

 

To best of my knowledge, there's only three ramps: Fountainhead, Lake Ridge and Bull Run

Used to be that Bull Run requires you to have a season pass and key to the gate.  Lake Ridge Park isn't too bad, but hours aren't as good as Fountainhead and their season is shorter.  Fountainhead is a pretty good operation, opens at dawn, operates into November, and is farther 'upstream' than Lake Ridge, which many bass fishermen tend to prefer.  Not to say that there isn't quality fishing closer to Lake Ridge.

[RockvilleMDAngler]

Great! Thanks!!!

[DelfiBoyz_One_and_Only]

Chopo I wish I had your type of luck. I get stopped by the game warden out there about 5+ times a year sometimes twice a week. I have seen a lot of bass boats out there with the big motors completely out of the water. I am not sure if that is sufficient but I have never seen them getting in any trouble.

J-

[big poppa]

Over the past week fishing has slowed for me. Caught a few on a swimbait here and there. Nothing much going on. Thinking about trying Burke Lake for some musky as the water temp drops.