Northern VA Help!! Lakes/ponds

[ttonagel34]

I am pretty new to Northern VA and don't know many places to fish in the area. I moved here from Indiana a few months back. I don't own a boat, so if anyone has some advice on some shore fishing on both lakes and ponds that can be atleast decent, that would be great. I do plan on renting a boat a few times, but am looking for a few ponds or lakes to fish from the shore in between renting. I'm located in Lorton, VA in Fairfax County.

Help a brotha out!

[JCrzy4Bass]

Pm sent. Check your messages.

[soccplayer07]

welcome to the NoVa crew. You'll learn a lot here!

[stevecastle]

I am pretty new to Northern VA and don't know many places to fish in the area. I moved here from Indiana a few months back. I don't own a boat, so if anyone has some advice on some shore fishing on both lakes and ponds that can be atleast decent, that would be great. I do plan on renting a boat a few times, but am looking for a few ponds or lakes to fish from the shore in between renting. I'm located in Lorton, VA in Fairfax County.

Help a brotha out!

I'm with you on the bank fishing. I've just started fishing around here recently and finding somewhere to fish from the bank that is productive is proving difficult. I took up fishing to spend some quality time with my 14 year old son and he loves it, so i need ti find some decent places to take him.

[Nitrofreak]

Have you guys tried Barcroft lake?

[Dan:]

it's private and mostly lined with backyards

[Nitrofreak]

How far are you all willing to travel?

And are you kidding me?  WOW its been a long time since I left there.

What about lake Manassas? That really was a great place to fish

[A.Do?]

Lake manassas? wow, you must be old if you remember fishing there JK! It's been closed to the public for a loooong time. They're trying to open it back up now so maybe in like 2 years!

[Dan:]

Nitrofreak, if you don't mind me asking...where are you in H'burg? I used to live near Cantrell and Reservoir when I went to school at JMU.

[ymduhh]

pm sent

[darchu]

I too just moved to the area, really close to Royal Lake actually.  How's the bank fishing there?  I noticed some kayaks on the bank, are they for rent? 

Thanks a lot

[Nitrofreak]

Dan,

Sent you a pm check your messages.

[Nitrofreak]

Yea, it has been a long time since I have been home I guess since you all are telling me this stuff.

Man that place must have gone to the crapper or it belongs to the rich and famous now, Oh well either way I guess its gone.

Darn and I was hoping to take my children there someday.

Lake Mannassas was a great place to fish it had some really big crappie there.

[m4gicm4tt]

I was surprised to see a the pm's. I guess everyone is afraid of people overcrowding the lakes and ponds.  Although I'm not new to the area, I would love to explore better places to fish as well, maybe you could share some of the pm's info with me. 

Anyway, I have had a great time at lake braddock(semi private, i see lots of outsiders there though), and mercer.

I am not sure of the etiquette here about info sharing so I wont go crazy talking about places. (if you are interested in spots i will gladly share)

I wish this forum were a bit more open, but I guess if I were an even better fisherman I would want to keep my job security intact and go easy on the sharing.

[Nitrofreak]

I was surprised to see a the pm's. I guess everyone is afraid of people overcrowding the lakes and ponds. Although I'm not new to the area, I would love to explore better places to fish as well, maybe you could share some of the pm's info with me.

Anyway, I have had a great time at lake braddock(semi private, i see lots of outsiders there though), and mercer.

I am not sure of the etiquette here about info sharing so I wont go crazy talking about places. (if you are interested in spots i will gladly share)

I wish this forum were a bit more open, but I guess if I were an even better fisherman I would want to keep my job security intact and go easy on the sharing.

If you want to find somewhere to fish other than your local waters all you have to do is ask.

It's pretty obvious I have not been to my home town in a long time but I am located in north west Va. and if you are willing to travel then I will be happy to help you out.

[ggfishing]

I live in falls church and I have been fishing for around 10 times, mostly @ river bent, and great falls, never got any decent fish.  :-[ Recently I have some time, just got a new 6ft ugly stick, a bunch of lures and so ready to fish for some good ones. could you guys give me some advices as well. Thanks a lot....

PS, I got a car but no boat...

[Nitrofreak]

ggfishing,

Sent you a pm... just kidding lol

Since things have obviously changed around my old stomp'n grounds I really cant help you much...But if you are coming close to my area some day I will help you.

There are a lot of river stretches and little lakes here where you can enjoy fishing from Front Royal to Harrisonburg which is where I live.

What do you want to fish for Bass, Northern Pike, or just fishing in general?

And if you are interested I can help you find a place to rent a canoe.

[ggfishing]

Thanks for the reply.

I fish whatever I can get... still at greedy newbie stage.

If you can give me some names of creeks or coordinates (no intention to steal ur sweet holes.) in your area where is good to fish from bank, that ll be greatly helpful.

ggfishing,

Sent you a pm... just kidding lol

Since things have obviously changed around my old stomp'n grounds I really cant help you much...But if you are coming close to my area some day I will help you.

There are a lot of river stretches and little lakes here where you can enjoy fishing from Front Royal to Harrisonburg which is where I live.

What do you want to fish for Bass, Northern Pike, or just fishing in general?

And if you are interested I can help you find a place to rent a canoe.

[Nitrofreak]

I have no secrets when it comes to fishing, Me personally I want people to have fun fishing after all that's what it is supposed to be about anyway.

Mostly I will fish the Shenandoah river in Luray Va. and mostly from a boat but I will gather some info for you on specific road names and such and find out exactly where you will be able to fish from shore.

There is also a new state park that recently opened up between Front Royal and Luray that has lots of different species of fish you can catch like carp, bass, etc...

That is on rt. 340 off of 66.

I tend to like the rivers more than the lakes you have better luck on them.

But I will post some info on the smaller lakes and such on Tuesday for you.

[Dan:]

^Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. State Park

Very nice park, just be careful, it can be a difficult wade.

[Nitrofreak]

Yes thank tou Dan I could not think of it for the life of me.

[AnglerNFuego]

^Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. State Park

Very nice park, just be careful, it can be a difficult wade.

Dan, did you do a day visit or did you camp out? How was the fishing?

[ggfishing]

Thanks guys for the info.

fished @ Fountainhead from shore this afternoon for like 4 hours.

A baby bass, a couple of blue gills and a crappie were caught and released.

[Dan:]

^Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. State Park

Very nice park, just be careful, it can be a difficult wade.

Dan, did you do a day visit or did you camp out? How was the fishing?

I've done both. That park is basically where I started fishing. Me and a friend used to go there a lot during the summer after high school. The campsites are nice but kind of mushed together. The fishing was decent. We caught LOTS of fish but almost all were small. Of course, that was closer to the time of the fish kills so there should be some larger fish around now. That stretch is full of big bedrock which is fun for fishing (I like throwing topwaters in those types of areas) but it makes it very difficult to wade. There is a canoe/kayak launch at one corner of the large parking lot. I would imagine a canoe or kayak would make it much more comfortable to fish.

[AnglerNFuego]

^Raymond R. "Andy" Guest Jr. State Park

Very nice park, just be careful, it can be a difficult wade.

Dan, did you do a day visit or did you camp out? How was the fishing?

I've done both. That park is basically where I started fishing. Me and a friend used to go there a lot during the summer after high school. The campsites are nice but kind of mushed together. The fishing was decent. We caught LOTS of fish but almost all were small. Of course, that was closer to the time of the fish kills so there should be some larger fish around now. That stretch is full of big bedrock which is fun for fishing (I like throwing topwaters in those types of areas) but it makes it very difficult to wade. There is a canoe/kayak launch at one corner of the large parking lot. I would imagine a canoe or kayak would make it much more comfortable to fish.

Thanks. I might have to give it a whirl.