Northern Virginia

[J & M]

New to the area, spent some time on the Potomac & Shenandoah at the end of last season. Looking for the right places to go.

Boat or bank! Just get me one on the line!

Any one want to throw out a few suggestions!??

[Choporoz]

I'm in Woodbridge.  I don't have a boat yet, so I can steer you to banks and boat rental places.   I'd like to think I've found most boat rentals between DC and Lake Anna.  When I do get a boat, I imagine I'll be putting in at Pohick and Occoquan Regional Park.  Belmont  Bay and Gunston Cove hold a ton of appeal for me at the moment.  I rent boats at Lake Ridge and Fountainhead to fish the Occoquan fairly frequently.  Lots of bass all around here.

[J & M]

Thanks for getting back to me. Ill look into the places you mentioned. as of now, the only place that seems to produce has been on the potomac near leesburg. Decent smallmouth at dusk. went to Lake Frederick yesterday for a few hours with no luck trolling the banks.

[Clemson_Terry22]

I'm in Woodbridge.  I don't have a boat yet, so I can steer you to banks and boat rental places.   I'd like to think I've found most boat rentals between DC and Lake Anna.  When I do get a boat, I imagine I'll be putting in at Pohick and Occoquan Regional Park.  Belmont  Bay and Gunston Cove hold a ton of appeal for me at the moment.  I rent boats at Lake Ridge and Fountainhead to fish the Occoquan fairly frequently.  Lots of bass all around here.

 

Choporoz, what are you having luck with when fishing Fountainhead? I myself often rent john boats and motor from there I'm new to the area and here for a few months with the military....I've only had luck throwing a Texas rig on points and to cover and finesse fishing I've had no luck on jigs or top water early also I know nothing about the average depth of the lake or how under water structure is or what depth they are holding at in these warmer water temperatures..... any tips will be greatly appreciated thanks!

[Choporoz]

CT,

   Recommend that you 'follow' this thread:

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/133334-anyone-hit-the-occoquan-reservoir-lately/

 

LOTS of info from many who are much more experienced than I.

 

Occoquan has had a peculiar hold over my psyche in the four years I've been fishing it.  I did horribly there at first and still nearly get skunked on occasion.  But, since the earliest days, I felt that this lake will give up big fish if I have the patience to learn it better every time out.   I've never been on a body of water that is so challenging to learn, but so worth the effort.  

    I've always fished it alone and until coming here (BR), I'd had little advice.  I also fished the first year without a depth finder.   Both are recipes for long, dry days.  The fact that the cliffs can drop 35 feet in a couple of yards....and the flats can go on for a mile at times means that I still miss humps, holes and ledges ALL the time, even with a depth/fish finder. 

    I still hit Hunting Run once in a while just to prove I can catch bass....even if the biggest might be two pounds ....lol.  Occoquan kicks my rear once in a while and gets in my head still, but has also been extremely rewarding on days when I 'figure things out' for a few hours. 

 

    Funny...as to jigs and topwater --- I don't think I've ever caught a bass there on a topwater - and very very few (accidental?) bass on bottom jigs.  I am well aware that the old pros there use jigs VERY effectively.  I toss topwater every time I'm out early and throw jigs a lot, but I've got some learnin to do.  My best days have been using deep cranks, plastics (Rage Tail stuff, Senkos and flukes, mostly) and some square cranking and swim jigs --- had a great couple days hard jerking last fall