Virginia Beach Winter Fishing?

[VABassFish]

Haven't dont much fishing in the winter, but looking to start. Any suggestions? I don't have a boat though so just looking for somewhere I could drive and walk. I tried Lake Smith the past 2 days but didn't have any luck.

[Sam]

VA, you would think there are many places to bank fish in the greater Tidewater area, but other than for Mount Trashmore I can't think of any off the top of my head.

 

Here are my suggestions:

1. Go to the BPS in Hampton or any Dick's Sporting Goods store and try to locate a copy of the Freshwater Fishing & Boating in Virginia booklet.

2. Look on page 43 for the Public Lakes Guide.

3. Google "Ed. Allen's" on Chickahominy Lake and note where he is located. He has small skiffs with motors for rent plus a long pier you can pay to fish. He is in Lanexa off Route 60.

4. Plan to attend the Richmond Fishing Expo this January in Doswell, VA. Check it out on the Internet for details and the dates. You can speak with guides and others who may be able to give you some suggestions.

 

I will ask Woody who lived in that area to give you some suggestions. He bank fished and he knows where to go.

 

Good luck.

 

[VABassFish]

59 minutes ago, Sam said:

VA, you would think there are many places to bank fish in the greater Tidewater area, but other than for Mount Trashmore I can't think of any off the top of my head.

 

Here are my suggestions:

1. Go to the BPS in Hampton or any Dick's Sporting Goods store and try to locate a copy of the Freshwater Fishing & Boating in Virginia booklet.

2. Look on page 43 for the Public Lakes Guide.

3. Google "Ed. Allen's" on Chickahominy Lake and note where he is located. He has small skiffs with motors for rent plus a long pier you can pay to fish. He is in Lanexa off Route 60.

4. Plan to attend the Richmond Fishing Expo this January in Doswell, VA. Check it out on the Internet for details and the dates. You can speak with guides and others who may be able to give you some suggestions.

 

I will ask Woody who lived in that area to give you some suggestions. He bank fished and he knows where to go.

 

Good luck.

 

thanks for the tips man! Let me know whenever you hear back!

[WdyCrankbait]

Hey, I am sure others will be along to give their opinions.  First, I would look at the Finger lakes in Suffolk.  You can fish from the bank, but you have to pay $$ to enter the park.  Second, Mt. Trashmore lake is a waste of time from what I have been told.  Also, go with shad colored crankbaits for bass and pike/chain pickerel down there.  Also, black & blue in the winter.

 

Good luck,

Wdy

[Darren.]

I know you probably want freshwater, but the striper season

is pretty stout right now. Some of the inlets down there may

have public access areas that would allow you to fish from 

shore or dock. 

 

I've gone out 2x with one of my sons and caught a 3lb striper,

an 18" red drum, and a flounder. Was seriously fun fishing, 

something I haven't done (kayak fish in salt water) until this

past week.

[VABassFish]

5 hours ago, WdyCrankbait said:

Hey, I am sure others will be along to give their opinions.  First, I would look at the Finger lakes in Suffolk.  You can fish from the bank, but you have to pay $$ to enter the park.  Second, Mt. Trashmore lake is a waste of time from what I have been told.  Also, go with shad colored crankbaits for bass and pike/chain pickerel down there.  Also, black & blue in the winter.

 

Good luck,

Wdy

how much is it to get in? $5 like First Landing?

[MassYak85]

I'll be down there January through June and I was down there last summer. It was tough going for me. I ended up going to Western Branch and Smith a lot in my kayak and never had great luck. If you do some good searching on Google maps though there are surprising amounts of tiny little neighborhood ponds and drainage areas, some are accessible, many aren't, you have to look. But I had better luck in those than from my kayak at the major reservoirs. I'm sure it was mostly me not knowing where the fish were, and that was middle of summer too so I'm not sure how winter fishing is down there. 

[Spy]

Fishing any natural body of water from shore is frustrating but especially here as heavy cover limits access to casting lanes and the spots that are open face heavy pressure from the 'Bucket Brigade' who keep everything they catch regardless of size or species. Add to this is the large number of active duty military (can't fit a boat in your seabag) and you are in for a frustrating experience. 

 

Your best bet would be drainage ponds and canals located around malls and shopping centers. Sounds nuts but there's lots of big bass in them and they are much easier to locate and catch given the limited size of water and cover, plus they tend to be fished by responsible folks who practice catch and release so they tend to consistently hold a viable population of fish.

 

Sounds silly until your buddies show you pics of the +5 pounders they hook in the Toys R Us pond while on lunch break or the the multiple big fish they pulled in a drainage canal next to Walmart!