Burke area anglers

[uglystikangler]

Anyone going out this weekend? I hear saturday is going to be nice and I was curious if anyone would like to fish some lakes!  I live near Lake Braddock High School and would love to go any where in the area where they're biting.

Matt

[JCrzy4Bass]

Yo Matt, do you get access to Braddock or are you not in that residential area.  If you can get permission to fish there I saw some guys on here last year that pulled good fish out of there.  

Burke is really pressured on the weekends, but with the rain this weekend and cold front passing through on Saturday you might luck out.  Just be prepared and dress warm.  Winds on Burke Lake suck.  Do ALOT of walking.  The best spots are opposite side of the lake from the pier and boat launch, not many people make their way around that far.

Another good bet would be to head a little further down and hit Lake Huntsman.  Fish been being pulled out of there since mid-February.  Good size too.  Seen some 3+ lbers already there this year and plenty over 2.  Cranks and Rattle Traps at the d**n and any points.  Now that the water is up here too the fish are starting to head into the cove on the right, just have to fish it correctly and cover the whole area.

 

I'll be on the Potomac on Saturday or at another lake west of PW county pending on the small craft advisroy (potential for), Monday I'll be at Lake Anna.  Otherwise I'd join you.  Maybe next weekend though.  Let me know if you end up going out next Saturday and we can see what's going on.

[Hung up Paul]

I'm in Burke Centre and will most likely be hitting Lake Barton this weekend at least once.  Can't say exactly when though.  The three kids at home don't let me get out much.

[A.Do?]

Simon and I are hittin up Lake Royal saturday.  We'll be there early. we're going to try and attack the lake with kayaks and see if we can produce.

Paul, get out there and catch a bass!!! No bluegill fishing for us this week!  G'luck to everyone!

Andrew

[MattStrykul]

Yo Matt, do you get access to Braddock or are you not in that residential area. If you can get permission to fish there I saw some guys on here last year that pulled good fish out of there.

Burke is really pressured on the weekends, but with the rain this weekend and cold front passing through on Saturday you might luck out. Just be prepared and dress warm. Winds on Burke Lake suck. Do ALOT of walking. The best spots are opposite side of the lake from the pier and boat launch, not many people make their way around that far.

Another good bet would be to head a little further down and hit Lake Huntsman. Fish been being pulled out of there since mid-February. Good size too. Seen some 3+ lbers already there this year and plenty over 2. Cranks and Rattle Traps at the d**n and any points. Now that the water is up here too the fish are starting to head into the cove on the right, just have to fish it correctly and cover the whole area.

I'll be on the Potomac on Saturday or at another lake west of PW county pending on the small craft advisroy (potential for), Monday I'll be at Lake Anna. Otherwise I'd join you. Maybe next weekend though. Let me know if you end up going out next Saturday and we can see what's going on.

Hate to sound like a jerk, but you can just use dam, because that's what it is...a dam.

About burke lake though, there are some HUGE bass there. I talked to a guy last year aroudn this time, and he showed me like 8-10 pictures of some bass 6-9 lbs.  

[uglystikangler]

wow i had no idea that little old burke lake could produce like that! that lake is just at the end of my street! looks like i found a spot for my saturday morning!

[Hung up Paul]

I saw this old guy pull in a 7-8 lber. off the Burke Lake fishing pier one early morning last August.  Pretty sure he was using a bluegill or something else he caught a while earlier as bait.  I felt bad for that poor fish.  The guy threw it on a stringer and let it flop around in the shallow water while he went back to business... it was like any other fish to the guy.  I guess a guy's gotta eat.  That same morning another guy pulled in a 5 lber. using a live crayfish and an ultra slow retrieve.  I was amazed that the high pressure pier would pull in such big fish.

[cjbs2003]

Working the night shift, I tend to be up late at night so I do A LOT of night fishing... If you really wanna slam the bass in Burke Lake, night time is the way to go. You can easily fish it from the bank at night, but I tend to use my boat. Just remember to actually be fishing, the police like to arrest people in their at night who aren't actually fishing and doing more of the beer drinking thing. I have caught many bass 5 lbs plus in there at night. Anyone want to join me let me know, I tend to start night fishing when the bass start bedding but this time of year they can be caught at night as well.

[Dan:]

just a bit of advice: if you fish Burke at night, make sure to take a flash light. That place gets DARK

[VABasser]

Working the night shift, I tend to be up late at night so I do A LOT of night fishing... If you really wanna slam the bass in Burke Lake, night time is the way to go. You can easily fish it from the bank at night, but I tend to use my boat. Just remember to actually be fishing, the police like to arrest people in their at night who aren't actually fishing and doing more of the beer drinking thing. I have caught many bass 5 lbs plus in there at night. Anyone want to join me let me know, I tend to start night fishing when the bass start bedding but this time of year they can be caught at night as well.

I've told myself I am going to give night fishing a go this summer and was actually thinking Burke might be a good lake to try on.  Big bass, electric only so unlikely to run into any problems (hit unseen things, etc  : )  I assume you launch from the public ramp up by the dam? Do you just use basic night fishing lures and techniques? Thanks

[A.Do?]

I've always been skunked at burke, so i'm thinking i'll have to give night fishing a try.

[Dan:]

at Burke, you have to launch from the public ramp by the dam at night. The other entrances are all closed and they will try to ticket/tow you for parking in the other areas.

[JCrzy4Bass]

Yup and if you got a bass boat be careful.  The water is EXTREMELY shallow at the entrance to this cove.  It is a gravel ramp for the most part, but not sure how far down the mud starts.  Anyway I normally only see Kayakers and canoes go out here, but I know some guys muskie fish at night and launch their boats so I'd assume you can do it without problems.  Anyway... good luck if you night fish.  And like the other guys said make sure your fishing and don't bring alcohol.  I've personally seen people get busted one time when I was there catfishing with some friends at night.  And make sure you have your license handy too, they check quite a bit.

[rondef]

This lake is a very pressured lake.  The fish have most likely seen every lure made to date.  On the weekends this lake usually has a large volume of boaters on it.  Think outside the box when you fish there, in other words be creative with your presentations.  Good luck and let us know how you do.

[Hung up Paul]

Speaking of the Burke area, anyone know where to get live bait around here?  I want to take my two little girls fishing this weekend and I'm going to need some nightcrawlers and/or minnows.  I usually get them at Burke Lake Park, but it's not open for the season yet.

I don't want to drive too far either.

[slomoe]

Speaking of the Burke area, anyone know where to get live bait around here? I want to take my two little girls fishing this weekend and I'm going to need some nightcrawlers and/or minnows. I usually get them at Burke Lake Park, but it's not open for the season yet.

I don't want to drive too far either.

Could be wrong, but I thought they sold live worms at the consession stand there.

[NHBA Charlie]

Most 7-Eleven stores and all Wal*Marts carry nightcrawlers.

[slomoe]

On FFX County website for Burke Lake Park:

Bait available: Night Crawlers, Mean Green Worms, Small Minnows, Chicken Livers, Clam Snoots, Shrimp, and Squid. Call to be sure requested bait is available.

[Hung up Paul]

Could be wrong, but I thought they sold live worms at the consession stand there.

Yeah I know, but I didn't think they are open for the season yet.  Are they?

[JCrzy4Bass]

Paul,

Starting April 5, 2008, the park facilities will be open weekends only until Memorial Day weekend (May 25th), weather permitting.

Directly from their home page there:

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/

Couple weekends left, then your girls can do all the fishing they want with live bait. Have fun man.

The guys are right though 7-11 probably is your best bet for live nightcrawlers, or if you got a Walmart nearby, I know we got two near me down in Woodbridge/Dumfries. They also carry chicken livers (frozen), preserved shad and other baitfish, artificial flavored catfish bait, etc. Good place for alternative baits (Walmart).

[slomoe]

Ahh, my mistake man. Your right. As Charlie stated most 7-11's should carry them. I know the one by my appt in manassas does.

[AnglerNFuego]

Floating dock with minnows is the spot for crappie.  I had some teenagers pulling them out left and right with minnows.  

As far as bass, the biggest I've landed was about 1.5 lbs I believe on a 7" power worm.  Jay might know because it was his fish but it wanted my lure instead.    Hahahahahahahaaa....!!!!

[uglystikangler]

ok so i spend the morning at burke lake where i got no hits, accotink where i got yet again no hits and finally i just went to braddock lake which is at the end of my street and got 1 large mouth that was about 2 lbs and 9 inches long.  am i doing something wrong? when i fished in MA (where i used to live) i had a spot where i'd catch 15 in a days fishing. any advice?

[Hung up Paul]

It's still a bit early in the season.  Water temps are still pretty low.  Give it another week I say.  Still no luck for me in Barton.

I'm still looking for my first LM of the year.

[cjbs2003]

A 2 lb 9" largemouth??? That must have been one FAT fish! And, as far as why you are not having much luck... This time of year it not the easiest to fish. Give it another month to warm up and you might have more luck...