Virginia lakes

[SDoolittle]

I found out this week that I may be moving to Virginia this summer. I'm not sure where yet and I've never even been to that part of the country. What are some of the more popular bass fishing lakes in VA? Just trying to get an idea about what to expect out there. Any info about VA bass fishing would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve.

[Dan:]

The best general resource is the VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website.

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/?type=1

Not all public bodies of water on there. We don't have too many really big lakes but there is no shortage of water to fish.

Once you find out, let us know the area to which you are relocating and the local guys will be able to help you further.

[Carrington]

smith mountain lake is good, ive hear lake anna is good also.  those are some of the larger lakes.

[Thai]

It's not so much the lakes but the rivers I think that reign supreme, a couple that come to mind are the Potomac, Shenandoah, James, New, and Rappahannock

Dan's link to the VDGIF will yield vast amounts of information for you

[s13john]

briery creek

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=21

awesome lake and probably your best bet to get a dd in va, in my opinion

[Sam]

When you arrive in Virginia go to your local Wal-Mart and pick up a copy of the DGIF free publication, Freshwater Fishing in Virginia.

If you want to learn the bodies of water; where to launch your boat; baits; techniques; tackle; tidal rivers; and more, consider joining a bass club.

Virginia has both FLW and B.A.S.S. clubs.

If you are interested here are the web sites for both:

www.vafederationnation.com

www.vabass.com

You will have to learn how to fish a tidal river if there are no tidal rivers in the area of Texas where you are living.

May I also suggest you Google the different bodies of water for their fishing reports.

Good luck and I hope you like snow.  ;D   ;D   ;D

[Wayne P.]

Bird Dog, if you have fished Lake Fork, there is a small version of that lake in Va. called Briery Creek Lake (845 acres).

[SDoolittle]

Hey, thanks for the info guys. I should find out more about my new assignment in the next week or so. I received a message that I am being sent to VA to be an ROTC instructor, but I don't know which school yet.  I hate to leave this good Texas fishing, but I am excited to check out the east coast fishing scene. Thanks again, Steve.

[Bigs]

Hey Steve lemme know when you find out where youre headed. Texas guys are always welcome to fish with me on my boat esp ones with the same name as me  ;D Oh and no one mentioned the Chickahominy river which is a great fishery. Im gonna be fishing it alot this spring and summer. If you end up in northern va then the potomac river is gonna be your best bet. It has been rated by some publications as the best river for bass in the country. Either way it's still top notch. Good luck

[RockvilleMDAngler]

The VA/MD/DE area has more fishing options than anywhere else in the country. You may not catch double digit fish but you will have more variety than anywhere else. The places I have listed are within a 3-4 hour drive from Northern Virginia, places marked with a * would be further than 3-4 hours from Central our Southern VA, places with a # have a hp restriction or are electric only.

Lakes:

Lake Gaston

Kerr Lake (aka Buggs Island)

Lake Anna

Occoquan Reservoir #

Conowingo Reservoir *

Deep Creek Lake *

Chickahominy Reservoir

Triadelphia Reservoir #

Rocky Gorge Reservoir #

Briery Creek #

Little Seneca Lake at Black Hills Regional Park #

Tidal Rivers/Bays:

Potomac River

Rappahanock River

Chickahominy River

James River

Middle River *

Elk River *

Sassafrass River *

North East River *

Susquehanna Flats/Upper Chesapeake Bay *

Choptank River *

Nanticoke River *

Wicomico River *

Pocomoke River *

Non-Tidal Rivers (many of these are too rocky for fiberglass bass boats but work well with aluminum jet boats or canoes, these waterways offer great smallmouth fishing):

Upper Potomac River

Upper Susquehanna River *

Shanendoah River *

Upper Rappahanock River

Rapidan River

Upper James River

New River

Those are all the waterways I can think of off the top of my head but there are definitely more that aren't coming to mind right now. I primarily fish the Potomac River but I fish many of these waters at least once a year.

[SDoolittle]

Thank you all for your help, but I found out today that there was a mistake in the email I received from my assignment manager. I'm actually going to West Virginia! I guess I'll start another thread.