Briery Creek , VA

[osbornj2]

Hello All, just wanted to give a report on a trip last week to Briery Creek. I snuck off of work last Tues (the 23rd) to try my luck down at Briery. I have only fished it 2 times prior to this visit, the last time back in the spring. Not knowing exactly what to expect with the drought and all, I loaded up my little aluminum jon boat, got me a thermos of coffee, and hit the road with eager anticipation! I knew from prior experience that I was going to get beat-up a little bit, but I was hoping that somehow, maybe, just maybe, that the low water conditions would make navigaton a little easier since the tops of most of the trees would actually be exposed, instead of just under the surface. This proved to be mostly true, although I was still able to hang myself up more than once! I never even bothered putting down the gas motor this time (until it came time to get the boat back on the trailer)...and, would you know, even in the locked, raised position, the motor STILL managed to get hung up on some stumps!

However, all was not lost, as the fishing gods were kind to me that day. As I mentioned, I had been there twice before, and not skunked on either trip...but no real hawgs to write home about either. And though I didn't catch any records or anything, I did manage to find one real nice bass (right at 20" and about 5 lbs) , along with several other smaller bass (2-3 lb range) and even two pickerel (which are always fun to catch, regardless of their size).

The weather was overcast all day long, and the air temp was probably in the mid-to-low 60's. There was a steady breeze all day too, so you know what this spells in my book...SPINNERBAIT ! I think that it was Jimmy Houston who once said that even if he wasn't catching any fish, that he'd rather not be catching them on a spinnerbait! (I'm probably way wrong on this quote, and it probably wasn't even Houston who said it, but you get the picture!!). Of course, I started the morning at the "upper" boat ramp (not the one at the dam), and I started fishing the cove there, as far back as I could until the fenced-off area. I threw buzzbaits and a red-fin, as well as a giant swim-bait...just hoping for an early morning big bite. But, alas, nothing there . In fact, I didn't see any baitfish at all in the cove. I was hoping that since it was a couple of days prior to the full moon that they would be aggressive, but *imagine this*...I was wrong about that as well!!

So, I eventually moved out of the cove and worked my way back up the lake, throwing the white spinnerbait and a chatterbait as I went. I even tried a small Lucky Craft (which I know is plum crazy in Briery, and I did get it hung a couple of times...but I'm one of those dweebs who actually carries a lure retriever in my boat for just this exact reason 8-) I will have you know, however, that I do refuse to carry a ball retreiver in my golf bag...I do have some limits!). Anyways, nothing was happening at all, until I finally hooked up with several of the smaller bass on the white spinnerbait. They all came from near the bank, but not right up on it. I was fishing about 20 yards or so off shore, casting towards the stumps that were further out (probably 8-11 ft water). About an hour later, I found big momma on the opposite side of the lake, but in a similar situation.

I hope that this helps. I would love to try to get back down there again this fall, because I know there are some brutes in there...I hope to see lots of replies to this post along with other photos and tips! Tight Lines....

[JCrzy4Bass]

Good job dude.  Nice report.  It sure was windy all day, and quite cold until the sun showed it's face late.  My wife, my dad, two friends of mine and I all shorefished yesterday there for about 10 hours or so.  I caught a pickerel on a Rapala Floater (about 11" long) and a small largemouth a little under a pound.  My dad caught a 1lb 9oz largemouth at the pond behind the parking lot and my wife nailed a 1lb 4oz largemouth on a live minnow.  It was tough fishing.  I definately think the wind, the ambient temps and the post front conditions turned a lot of the fishing off.  I tried a buzzbait alot in the morning, minnow type lures like rapalas, mann's crankbaits, bomber crankbaits, senkos, jigs and spooks.  Barely any action.  My friends had a bit of action on culprit worms by the stump area and cove near the parking lot (going back down that little narrow strip of water there).

Definately not what I was expecting for my first trip here but I shouldn't have got my hopes up with the conditions I knew we would be facing.  It was a lot of fun though.  Long car ride for us, almost 3 hours each way.  My wife surprised me and set this up for my bday so that was really cool of her.  I thought they were taking me to Mattawoman but she knew I had wanted to try this place since early spring.  

Anyway, great job man and nice fish.

[AnglerNFuego]

Nice catch!

Jay, I will post the pics this evening.  

[Wayne P.]

I fish it often although I haven't been there for a couple of weeks. I'll probably go there late this week after hitting Hunting Run on Wednesday. I post fishing reports on fishingva.com under the same handle.

[rondef]

I agree, what a tough place to fish yesterday, I also believe it was due to the rain and the cold front that passed through. Like Jay stated I caught one LMB 1lb 9oz on a pumkinseed senko swimworm back in the dike. I had hooked into something earlier that morning that fought me pretty good, it looked like my pole was ready to snap, then the fish split the Booyah boogie bait out at me, It must have been good size judging by the fight it put up.

[johnkook73]

Thanks for the report, I was actually thinking about going there or Sandy River real soon. Hopefully with the rain we got will help things out.  We actually got about 6 inches of rain in the Prince George Area.

[bass109]

nice fish rondef 8-)

[rondef]

Here is a picture of Stephanie's LMB that she caught Sunday using live minnows.

[Wayne P.]

I went there yesterday. The water level is not noticeably higher since the rain last week and I did not see any runoff stain at the upper end either.

[rondef]

Wayne,

Did you catch anything when you while you were there?

[Wayne P.]

rondef, Yes I did. I post fishing reports at fishingva.com. Click on Briery Creek at the main page, then choose fishing reports, and select Jan 2007. The webmaster is a little slow in sorting out report dates.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey Wayne,

No disrespect just a couple questions.  Are you a guide on Briery Creek, cause it seems to me you average between like 20-40 bass an outing.  How long do you spend on the boat?  Is this including other parties that are fishing with you?  If you can figure out that kind of pattern and be that successful every time out, you must be a guide or you must be on your home turf.  Either way, sign me up man.  For a bit of cash would you be willing to take a young fella out and get on some fish?  If so pm me your info I'd love to get out with ya some time down there.  Though it's a bit of a drive it may be a great way to start off the spring season next year.  If not no biggie boss.  Send me a pm with info if your up for it.  Later boss.

[AnglerNFuego]

Here you go Jay.  Sorry I a little late but I had some work stuff to attend to at our other site.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Thanks for posting those pics up Andy.  I appreciate it boss.  I'm looking to hit up some fishing spots next week during the evening hours including a new pond I found in my area.  Haven't caught anything big there but heard good things from someone who fishes our other "spot" that saw me casting there the other night.  Said 5-6lbers come out of this pond regularly and no one fishes it so... maybe we can hit it up.  Sorry I didn't answer your call.  I'm at work til' 5 man.  Later.

[Wayne P.]

JCrzy4SmlMth----Private message sent.