Northern Virginia Pre Spawn Get Together Thread

[JCrzy4Bass]

Hey fellas, we got about another month if not a little more of cabin fever left.  I was figuring what better way to start off the year with a bang and a bag of fat bass.  Pending on ya'lls schedules, time constraints and families and such maybe we can all get together for a day on the water come March.  I was thinking somewhere along the lines of late March the 22 or 23 (Saturday and Sunday).  I could do either or as of right now.  More than likely my dad and I will have the boat out one of those days so the other one I will try and get this thing organized for.

If anyone has any ideas on how we could put this together and keep everyone on the list for one of these days throw in your input.  I'm trying to think of a lake with ample shore line access that isn't terribly hard to fish.  Rivers and so forth are probably out since most of the parks are over fished and the tide issues may put us there at a time that isn't best.

Ideas I have thus far are:

-Lake Huntsman

-Lake Mercer

-Lake Royal

-Lake Brittle

If we want to, or if everyone can afford to rent boats (if they are available this weekend, which we'd have to call to inquiry) I was thinking...

-Lake Anna

-Lake Orange

-Burke Lake (shore fishing here would be harder, but we may be able to get on fish in a boat?)

-Lake Ridge

-Fountainhead

Any other ideas welcome.  We are not limited to these ideas.  So let's get a head count as well as more ideas.  Who is in?

Let's pick this lake or reservoir based off best location, easiest place to fish, most fun, and most versatile.  Doesn't just have to be for bass, but I know most of us will be fishing for that.  Families welcome.

[Dan:]

Put me down as a maybe. THere's just no way for me to tell what my school work will be like that weekend. I'd like to make it though. I've got a jon boat and I may be able to fit someone else in it if I can find a good way to transport it.

I would personally prefer Huntsman, Royal or Mercer but that's just me. I could probably make the trip to other places though. That's based on the relative toughness of some of the other close lakes as well as some of the pictures that guys have posted of big fish coming from Huntsman, Royal and Mercer. (your dad did pretty darn well during late fall at Huntsman or Mercer, correct?)

[JCrzy4Bass]

I had my PB Largemouth from Mercer last year on December 3, 2lb 14oz. I also had my best day as far as weight was concerned as well pulling in 5.5lbs of fish one day back in July on a crankbait bite. Mercer has been good to me.

But your right. My dad tore it up there last year pulling in one at 5.25lbs and another at 5.5lbs. Both caught within' the same bait in the fall on a Rat L-Trap.

It's a great lake and I'm sure with the pre-spawn there could be some hogs coming up from the deeper water to the mouths of the coves and surrounding bank areas. If we fish some of the coves to the left or right of the d**n and even the deeper water from the clearing or from the wooded side of the lake (opposite the clearing) we may have some pretty good luck, front permitting that is.

I know some other guys here have lost some big fish there and also hooked into some nice ones in the 2-3 lb range. Not too many dinks at Mercer.

Would be fun. That's two votes for Lake Mercer.

[SimonSays]

I'm in! hopefully I'll have a trolling motor and my Sea Eagle all patched up by then =D

[JCrzy4Bass]

Alright Simon.  Two definates and one maybe.  Keep it coming folks.

[armesjr]

How far is mercer from Richmond

[JCrzy4Bass]

Bout an hour and twenty minutes or so.  You could gladly hook up with one of us from the forum and drive over with us.  Access can be complicated for those who haven't been there before as you have to deal with some residential neighborhoods and such and quite a few back roads.  

If you would like directions you can pm me and I can try and help as much as possible.  Or one of the guys who are more creative with google earth may take a snapshot and explain on here.  Simon and a few others are good at that stuff.

[SimonSays]

I would but I don't think I've been to Mercer before, the one we went to that first time was Huntman right?

[rondef]

I am in and hope to pull in some hawgs.

[flippin4it.]

         Your going to be about 2-3 weeks to early for the pre spawn frenzy. You might want to wait if your fishing from the bank. Now if your in a boat, you might be lucky enough to catch them staging up.

             Lets see who can catch the largest sack, 5 fish and all need to be longer than 16 inches to count. No dinks, look at it like a tourney. If I catch 20 and only 6 are keepers, I only see it as if I only caught 6 total. Dinks do not count. Try it.

[Hung up Paul]

Put me down for a maybe.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Rob,

Fun way to start the year, that could work if everybody is down for a little friendly competition. I know it would be easier from a boat and it won't exactly be the start of the spawn but if we get some decent days later in the month I'm hoping they will at least be on the move.

And I'm not worried about having a boat. This new Suffix Elite line I've been using on my crank and topwater plug rod can cast A TON! Haha. And using some heavier jigs and drop shot setups I should be able to get out a way with my other pole. Finding the better structure to cast it will be the more difficult part (just going on visual), but that's what makes it interesting. I caught here pretty late in the year and got my pb then so maybe early will be on my side too? Gotta have confidence!

We could always have a bigger get together in April or something when the water gets better (maybe for smallies or something at the Rap or Pony Pasture), if not at a bigger lake like Lake Anna for some largies and striper.

Anyway hope to see you there man.

Paul, alright man... maybe #2.  Lol.

[A.Do?]

put me down as a maybe,

Simon, i have a trolling motor/battery you can use.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Ok fellas current list:

Definates:

-Rondef

-Simonsays

-Jcrzy4bass

Maybes:

-Dominion Dan

-Ado124

-Pkschul

Let's get some more commitments guys!  Hopefully some of you guys will be able to commit further down the road.  I know it's early.  Spring can't come quick enough!

[SimonSays]

put me down as a maybe,

Simon, i have a trolling motor/battery you can use.

score! now to just get it patched up....lol

[cjbs2003]

I am brand new to the forum and this is my first post, but I wouldn't mind meeting up for some bass fishing... Not sure if I can fish those dates in March but if I can count me in!

Travis

[roadwarrior]

Welcome aboard!

8-)

[vaparrothead]

Unless something happens to stop me I plan on being there.

Huntsman or Mercer work for me

[flippin4it.]

CJBS, Wellcome aboard. Good to see another Virginia guy chime in. Looks like I'll have to come out too, I have met Jay, his dad/Ron, Andrew and Paul. It will be nice to put some faces on heses names. I still have some new fishing rods I need to get acustomed to, so I'll see you there.

    Why Mercer? Lets try a lake that is more freindly to manuever around, Like Burke or Royal.

[rondef]

Rob,

What is wrong with Mercer? It is really easy to navigate around the lake. I have walked all the way around that lake at least a couple of times. It also has some hawgs in it that should start getting active soon.

CJBS2003   to the forum!!

Ron

[flippin4it.]

      Ron, This time of year and the given terrian of Mercer. I don't think it is a good choice for a " get together ". I have seen way more hawgs pulled from Royal than Mercer and Huntsman combined and even more so this time of year. The key is steep drop off's, I only know of one at Mercer .

[vaparrothead]

Flippin:  Don't know where you fish but I've pulled several 5lbs from Mercer.  Have never fished Royal.

Huntsman is almost overfished; plus I've seen alot of folks take fish home.  Not too much catch and release on that lake.

[flippin4it.]

           Vaparrot, I hope this does not come off sounding wrong. I look at 7+ pounds as a lunker. I have caught alot of 5 pounders on all lakes mentioned. I guess my view of a lunker is a little different. Mercer has alot of great fish in it, but. My buddy Marvin has the lake record for Royal 10 pounds 6 ounces. I posted up a 9+ pounder out of Royal that was caught by the master of the Senko / Tom Doyle. I watched a guy in a kayak lose a "masive" LMB about 2 years ago. Royal backs up to my neighborhood. I used to walk to the lake almost every night after my daughters went to bed and throw the 'ole buzzbait for a couple of hours and would catch 5+ pound fish, that was until the Police started patroling the lake.

        All I'm saying is that I would like for all of use to get on a lunker,  it would be great if I took one of you guys and said "cast this, over there" and walla! A PB is caught. I have been fishing these lakes for 20+ years and have talk to and fished with alot of the locals. I would like to return the favor to one of these other guys. I went back and looked at my earlier posts and I guess I came off as a pr1ck. :-/   Sorry about that.  

       Get a canoe and I'll show you where the fish are in Huntsman in the summer, I can point to it from shore.

[rondef]

I vote for Jay picking the location, he was the man with the idea. I will fish at any location that Jay chooses, all local lakes have decent access for fishing.  I do not have a problem with any of our local lakes.

[armesjr]

Put me down as a maybe.  Lets go where the big fish are.

Jason