Burke Lake (Fairfax)

[bigbasskiller]

Went out twice this week and got skunked both times.  Worked the points Texas rigged also various spinners and even boppers.  No luck.  No strikes.  Went back and tried some live minnows and crawlers just hoping to catch something.  But no luck.  Fish can be seen jumping all over the place.  The water seems pretty warm.  Anyone else have any luck?  Any ideas?

[Pikesnogle]

Went out twice this week and got skunked both times. Worked the points Texas rigged also various spinners and even boppers. No luck. No strikes. Went back and tried some live minnows and crawlers just hoping to catch something. But no luck. Fish can be seen jumping all over the place. The water seems pretty warm. Anyone else have any luck? Any ideas?

Don't get discouraged brother, fishing is tough there. I went last weekend for a few hours early morning and only caught two. I had one nice one 3lb 2oz, and a little one. See below.

I didn't catch them until right before I left. I threw everything I had, which leads me to believe that I just wasn't finding where they were located. But I ended up catching the bigger one a 4" Watermelon Senko with red flakes, and she hit it like a ton of bricks. It was great, and a pretty good fight too.

I say keep at it, I think that you and I both just need to find where they are. Good Luck

-Snogle

[Bigs]

u live down in dumfries but youre wasting time at burke lake ? Do u own a boat and if so what do you have ? I been goin to the potomac every other day lately and catching 3-5 pounders every time out. Thats where it's at. Lemme know if you need any help, I can get you on some of these monsters like this one caught last night

[Dan:]

Right now with the warm water I would assume the fish are deep. There are lots of deepwater brushpiles at Burke. I will see if I can find my map of them and help you find a few. I would think they would be a good choice right now.

[VolFan]

Also in reference to your question, if you start from the dam and work your way around the area off points and themouths of coves with 10 ft + cranks or slow rolling a heavy spinnerbait, you'll find some deep brushpiles pretty quick. If you don't get bit on the crank/spinnerbait, slow down and work the brushpiles as you bump them with tx rigged plastics or jigs. I've had better luck getting bit on the cranks, but the spinnerbait locates the piles faster without electronics. Also, the spinnerbait always comes back from the brush, which I can't say the same for the cranks.

You can also fish spooks or oter topwater early and late over these same areas. Be prepared to hook a musky, or be prepared to lose the spook. Either way, it'll get your heartrate up.

Failing that, maybe try a day with Steve, but you'll probably be able to do just as well on your own.

[Bigs]

I'll be the first to admit I know little bout Burke Lake. What I do know is usually the folks who do well there really know that place. Which is why I suggested the potomac. You will catch more fish on accident there then you will on purpose at Burke Lake any day. And since we both live in the dumfries area I wanted to help you out. My two cents for that its worth.

[shimmy]

Hang tight for a few more weeks and get ready come July. Fish will remember that they need to eat by then. I have only fished Burke a few times but have always done well up till 9 oclock in the morning. After that, my expertise is useless on this lake. Like Dan says, deep will work but i think it will be a few more weeks until we start seeing bass aggressive again. Get there early early early. That's your best bet in the mean time. Go get em.

[Dan:]

Couldn't find my map but I would think if you aren't catching them on the points you need to fish out deeper. Remember, the points continue underwater out into the lake (some of them go a fairly long way out into the lake)

[azsamsancho]

I myself am very dissappointed with Burke lake.  I have not been going too many times, and I am doing offshore, which means I get to the spots where pretty much everyone fishes...

I am yet to go to the potomac.  Nice, nice catch RedneckSteve!  Mind sharing where in potomac do you go?

[hotrod]

RedneckSteve - pm sent

[mudkart]

Ummmm.....yeah....that guy above is right, there are no bass in Burke......so, don't fish it.  It's a waste of time (wink wink), really, I swear (wink wink).

[bass_slayer_1]

My buddy and I went to Burke on Saturday afternoon.  We got skunk'd bad.  We saw a few people with nice stringers of catfish, but no bass to be found.  We pounded the shoreline with spinnerbaits and soft plastics, but nothing.  Looks like the bass have moved to deeper water.  Found several marks on the fishfinder in the middle of the lake between the dam and the park ramp.  Suspended at about 10 feet in 30+ feet of water,  Not sure what they were, but couldn't get them to bite on crankbaits and swimbaits.  Burke is tough place to fish!!

[Dan:]

At this time of year I would spend most of my time offshore on the drops and brush piles.

[DieselvRR]

Its a tough lake to fish..always has been but there are some big ole fish in there.

[Bigs]

anyone even caught anything over 5 pounds there this year or any numbers ?

[A.Do?]

not sure why my post got deleted but...uh...

i'd like to get out there during the day to do some recon, mark some spots and come back at night to give the bass fishing a try. i haven't been there since fishing in 30 degree temps with quanjig and simonsays.

who's in?! let's prove there are some good fish in here and that they're catchable!  ;D

[NewAngler]

In. Just got a swarm of cranks to try out.

[VolFan]

Wow, I got deleted too.

FISH THE BRUSHPILES OFF DROPOFFS JUST AT THE MOUTHS OF THE SMALL COVES NEAR THE DAM. TO FIND THEM, USE YOUR ELECTRONICS, OR IF YOU"RE SHORE-BOUND, WORK SOMETHING BOTTOM BOUNCING AROUND THE MOUTHS OF THE COVES, AWAY FROM THE BANK

Once you locate the brush piles and drop offs, fish them with shakeyheads, tx rigs, jigs, etc. You could even use a heavier carolina rig to make long casts to locate them, AND fish them more thoroughly, especially from the bank. Fishing from the bank can be difficult there as most of the brush piles and some of the drop-offs are a long cast off the bank, but not all.

With a boat, it gets considerably easier.

Burke is the best lake for numbers of good sized fish in the area, far and away.

Now the muskies...those'll drive you nuts.

[edit]Sarcastic remarks removed.[/edit]

[Glenn]

All - keep your trivial, petty differences out of this thread or you'll be banned. I've had it with the juvenile remarks!

The mods and I shouldn't have to babysit grown adults, and we won't.  We'll just kick people off the site one-by-one until the antics end.

You've been warned.

[Nitrofreak]

I have not seen where any of you mentioned the drop shot anyone tried that yet?

It works pretty good there you may want to rethink a little 

[VolFan]

I thought my  etc covered dropshot?   

Once you locate the brush piles and drop offs, fish them with shakeyheads, tx rigs, jigs, etc.  You could even use a heavier carolina rig to make long casts to locate them, AND fish them more thoroughly, especially from the bank.   Fishing from the bank can be difficult there as most of the brush piles and some of the drop-offs are a long cast off the bank, but not all.

[Nitrofreak]

I stand corrected sorry about that. :-[

[bigbasshunter]

I got a few over 5lbs. heres a 6 and 7

[A.Do?]

and there you have it, big fish from burke! now lets go get some!

[bigbasskiller]

u live down in dumfries but youre wasting time at burke lake ? Do u own a boat and if so what do you have ? I been goin to the potomac every other day lately and catching 3-5 pounders every time out. Thats where it's at. Lemme know if you need any help, I can get you on some of these monsters like this one caught last night

Nice fish there!  I got a small 14 ft jon boat.  I hit Burke and the Occoquan Res. so far.  Not much luck yet.  I don't have a regular motor yet, so the Potomac would not work for me right now.  I hope to get one this summer and get out there. Unless I would need a bass boat for that.  Thanks for the tips!