Burke Lake VA!

[Holden]

Anyone know how the fishin is over there? I'm heading out tomorrow for the first time ever at that lake. I just wanna caught fish. Or does anyone have any other recommendations for me? Like Accotink or Lunga? Thanks

Holden

[Michelle43]

I was there yesterday and we got some nibbles but didn't catch anything.  There are fish there but they are not easy to catch.  We did catch catfish though.  

We saw a lot jumping around 6:30 pm but they wouldn't bite.

Do you have a boat, renting one, or fishing from shore?

[NewAngler]

dude, i would go with lunga. from what i understand burke lake has a lot of pressue, and accotink is pretty shallow. i would def go with lunga, its about 1,000 acres i believe, which is a lot bigger than either of the other two. which could be good, could be bad as well.

[Holden]

Michelle43 - I have a 18' 08 PT 175 so I would be just fine on Burke.

I'm trying to figure out where to go man. I heard that Lunga can be tough fishin too. I might be goin to Triadelphia tomorrow and then fish Lunga all next week. I have no clue haha.

[Michelle43]

Have you considered Fountainhead?

Since you have your own boat, Burke might be very good after dark.  Burke is a electric motor only lake.

[Holden]

Haven't really considered Fountainhead. I heard it can get really tough there as well though. I just wanna catch fish haha.

[Dan:]

Why not the Potomac?

[Slip Gun]

I agree with Dan the Potomac is the best fishing ive found around here so far.

[Holden]

Shoot I have been on the river everyday all summer long. Lookin to give something else a try. And the Upper Bay isn't in top shape right now and its a long way from home.

[Dan:]

Gotcha.

[Michelle43]

Give Burke a shot!  It isn't impossible to catch fish there.  I have only caught catfish there but I am also very new to fishing.  I know there are decent bass there, I saw one caught by someone else.  Make sure you bring your fishing license, they do check them often near the public boat dock / parking lot.

[Purpleworm82]

Burke can be pretty good at night this time of year, especially around a full moon. I've had success in years past with black buzzbaits and big texas-rigged worms. If all else fails, take a big grub or curl-tailed worm, dye the tail in chartruse and throw it around the light lines by the dock. You can usually always get something to bite around there. Don't be afraid to throw big stuff like a 3/4 lipless or a loud DD crank. That place is filled with big gizzard shad and giant muskie and bass that feed heavily at night. Sometimes you can hear them eating, it sounds like someone throwing bricks in the water.

[Bigs]

If you been fishing the potomac all summer and you wanna go somewhere like Burke lake instead then something is wrong here . I fish the river with my roomate 3-4 days a week and we catch as many as 40 bass a day out there in grass beds. Average 2-3 pounds. I wont ever get tired of fishing that river, there are many grass beds that no one even really knows about. Plenty of 4-6 pounders to catch out there too. I had one that was between 8-10 pounds that I lost right in front of the boat after about a 3 minute fight 2 days ago. If you really want something different then go to lake anna and launch on the public side. Theres way better fishing there then any other lakes  between DC and central VA. Also consider the James River and Chickahominy lake and river too. Good luck

[Jake...]

If you been fishing the potomac all summer and you wanna go somewhere like Burke lake instead then something is wrong here . I fish the river with my roomate 3-4 days a week and we catch as many as 40 bass a day out there in grass beds. Average 2-3 pounds. I wont ever get tired of fishing that river, there are many grass beds that no one even really knows about. Plenty of 4-6 pounders to catch out there too. I had one that was between 8-10 pounds that I lost right in front of the boat after about a 3 minute fight 2 days ago. If you really want something different then go to lake anna and launch on the public side. Theres way better fishing there then any other lakes  between DC and central VA. Also consider the James River and Chickahominy lake and river too. Good luck

haha thats what I was thinking

[T.R. Express]

Technique may be the issue here... Fishing grass and fishing structure are two different approaches.  The river will produce great fish for some while Fountainhead will produce great for others.  Reading this thread tells me your presentation and technique might not be suited for the river.  Try horny toads, weightless senkos, and trick worms on the potomac matts.  Throw weightless senkos and carolina rigs at fountainhead.

Tidal fishing can be very tough as well, the fish position themselves where the current works in their favor.  In reservoirs the bass hold in deeper water and tight to structure.  Either way each body of water has plenty of fish, it is up to you to figure out what they will strike and where they are located.

[Holden]

Theres nothing wrong here. I know the river like the back of my hand from Fletchers Boathouse to Smallwood. I've caught a couple hundred pounds of bass on the river already this summer, and as much as I love punchin' and flippin' and froggin', I'm ready to try something new.

I was out today on Triadelphia Reservoir MD. Caught about 10 or so on a Carolina Rig and Drop Shot. The bite is slow and deep. 5 best went about 12lbs.

Looking to try Fountainhead this week because the lake seems a lot like Triadelphia. I'll post pictures later.

[Holden]

Biggest one of the day. Sorry for the poor quality pic.

[JVM]

Fountainhead can be fun and can produce nich fish and decent numbers. If you are looking to get off of the river, like 420 said Lake Anna would be great, You might also enjoy Hunting Run? http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=193

Fountainhead can be tough thise time of year, especially if u dont have decent electronics and a knack for fishing deep. Sounds like you did alright at tridelphia though.  I am 'sposed to be going out to Fountainhead on Monday. Let us know how you do and i"ll do likewise. Goodluck.

[Linewinder]

Fountainhead can be tough thise time of year, especially if u dont have decent electronics and a knack for fishing deep. Sounds like you did alright at tridelphia though. I am 'sposed to be going out to Fountainhead on Monday. Let us know how you do and i"ll do likewise. Goodluck.

JVM,

Sorry to butt in here... I was out on the Res this past Monday evening out of Fountainhead. A day after the rain; debris floating down from Bull Run was on its way. Anyway, I went to the old dam, where I hadn't fished in many years, hoping to duplicate a spectacular day worm fishing the deep side. Too many boats there already! Some shad and small fish on the finder but no hits. Saw one boat lose a small catfish and another bringing in small somethings. Heard of one guy caught a 3 lb bass and nothing more.

At this time of year, was I off-base with worms and shad crankbaits on the dam? Summer was always good to me, but maybe that was because I mostly fished the lower end. What do you think?

Thanks.

[T.R. Express]

Linewinder,

The Occ is tough in the summer, carolina rigs produce off main channel points. Senkos and dingers are also a great bait for this time of year. If you fish the rez, fish early or at dusk...

[JVM]

TRE was on that one.  The two of us went out Monday and caught 5 total with several misses a piece.  I landed one 12+ inch.  TRE had a couple 2-3lb fish and 2 smaller with all fish legal size.  Also a blugeill      Everything was on soft plastic, slow, either 8-plus ft of water or near some deeper water, tight to cover/structure.  Good call TRE.