Briery Creek Lake...

[BlackMagic82]

Got to Briery at about 10:30 Saturday... Foggy as all get out and about 58 (64 when we left) out.  Water was at 50 - 54 depending on where we were.  Fished stumps and trees in the 5 - 20 transition on a ledge with a 3/8 jig and craw trailer, slow to very slow presentation.  Caught one chunk that went about 1.25 and that was it.  Pretty rough day overall as the sun never really broke through and the wife was not loving the January chill.  We fished until about 2:30 and then had to head back in.

 

This was my first trip to Briery and I can definitely see why it produces so many big fish... what a body of water.  With that said, oh man was it an adventure trying to cross that lake - everything I have read about the stumps is true and then some.  I was glad to get out there though and even happier when I realized it's only about an hour and 15 minutes from the house.  Gonna try out Sandy River next and then hopefully tournament season will be upon us.

 

Thank you to everyone who gave me some pointers, the spots I tried were amazing... I am actually excited to get out there and fish some ledges in June and July.  I learned how to do it last year on Kentucky lake and wowza does the deep water layout at Briery get me excited.

 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

[Chip M.]

Fished briery for 9 hrs yesterday..stuck to the main lake the whole time...rained early then hung around 60 degrees all day...fished banks and deep water but only had three bites! Threw everything in the tackle box! Hooked into one but got me around a log! No electronics this time and water was rather muddy looking. I've put close to 40 hrs on this lake and jus cant seem to find fish! Putting another 8 hrs on it next weekend so any advice on where to fish in these conditions would be awesome! Kind of tired of getting my butt whipped! Thanks!

[Hanover_Yakker]

I'm getting ready to try it out here soon myself again.  It's been far too long for me.

[Wayne P.]

I'm getting ready to try it out here soon myself again.  It's been far too long for me.

The last time I was there was the 10th and there were a few yakers on the water South of the power line.

[T-Simp]

How feasible/worth it is it to use a kayak on Briery? Or do you need a powered boat to fish it well due to its size?

[Hanover_Yakker]

You can fish Briery in a kayak - do it all the time.  You just need to take your time and not go to fast.  My advice would be to go out with someone a few times first.  It can be quite a challenge trying to unsnag a kayak that is stuck fro ma submerged stick that is caught in a scupper hole.  The tree limbs flex a lot, so once you are stuck it becomes difficult to get free.  Last thing you want to do is have to get out and lift the kayak off but it can be done.

[lefty]

You will be fine with the yak. Lots of people take em out there. Put in at 701 ramp. Its mid lake.

[Rustyhook24_7]

The fishing is getting good and fast on the lake. Went out yesterday and caught between 30 and 40 bass and a citation size crappie. The bass ranged from about two pounds to a little over four pounds but the trip was still fun. Might go back tomorrow and look for that lunker that has been avoiding me. Speaking of lunkers, I saw that an individual pulled about a twelve pounder a couple weeks ago. Congrats to him and to the fish of a lifetime.  Anyone else been on the lake or heard of any action?

[T-Simp]

Awesome, thanks for the responses. I'm not sure what to expect with all the submerged timber but I'll give it a go in the next few weeks hopefully and report back.

[Wayne P.]

I fished there yesterday and today. While the surface temp got up in the low 60's, the bottom temp in 5' or more was still in the low 50's. Caught most in the 3'-6' depth range.

 

Yep, caught a bunch both days-no DD though.

[armentdw]

Does anyone know what the main forage is for the larger bass in Briery Creek?  

 

I've read that blueback herring have been introduced.  Are they present in large numbers? 

[madweazl]

Are there boat rentals at Briery? I havent been able to find anything about it so I'm leaning towards no. Was really hoping to head down tomorrow but wont do it without a boat

[Wayne P.]

Are there boat rentals at Briery? I havent been able to find anything about it so I'm leaning towards no. Was really hoping to head down tomorrow but wont do it without a boat

No, there is nothing at Briery Creek but some fishing piers and lots of shore access at the dam area

[madweazl]

Poo. Fishing near the dam any good? I need to buy a boat.

[flyfisher]

Get a kayak and it will open up many lakes that were previously inaccessible.  I still have yet to fish out there this year but it looks like i may have a few days off before i start my long term sub position so i am gonna try and get out there this week.

[cmaher]

This page was a great page why no activity in 2 years??

[DaveT63]

Any recent word on either Briery or Sandy River ?  Some friends and i are going to be fishing there weekend after next.   We stay at Sandy River Resort,  fish Briery from sun up until about 2 or 3, then Sandy from about 5 til dark. 

[Dan B.]

I'm new here. Just wanted to thank everyone who posted on this thread. There's some great info here (special thanks to Wayne P.). Wish I'd seen this before fishing Briery on Sunday, because it could have come in handy.  :-)

 

I went to Briery on 4/12 for the first time. Water temp was 70, and water was stained. I figured bass might be on beds, so I was concentrating on shallow water sheltered from the wind. I caught 7 and lost a solid 8th pitching creature baits to shallow water structure in a few different coves and pockets. All the fish were in skinny water hugging the shoreline or laydowns. I couldn't actually see any beds or bass guarding fry, but there were definitely bass acting like they were spawning (I also saw or heard multiple fish inches from shore or shallow laydowns splashing around, and they weren't carp). Biggest was 21.5" and 5 lbs. 11 ozs. (a PR for me). Three more were 18 inchers, and the other three were 12-15". The one I lost was probably in the 3 lb. range. I also threw a chatterbait for a bit in slightly deeper water without any bites. A guy at the ramp when I was launching claimed his son caught and released an 11 lber. that morning on a plastic worm in the cove opposite the ramp by the dam.

 

I went back on 4/16 hoping to maintain the pattern and try it in new spots, but conditions changed. Water temps increased to 72-73. The wind was fierce and nearly constant (there were whitecaps), and it muddied up the water. I looked for sheltered water, and hooked a 3 lb. class bass on a creature bait in a couple feet of water by some laydowns outside of the wind (water was still dirty). I lost that fish when it jumped. I tried to repeat the pattern from 4/12 in other spots, but it wasn't working well. I hooked and lost one other smaller bass, also on a creature bait, in some water that was actually windier but also clearer than the first spot. That was all for me that day. I didn't land anything, or get any other bites. I probably should have covered more water, including deeper water, with a chatterbait or spinnerbait, or used my electronics more. A guy at the ramp, who I saw at one point fishing slightly deeper than me, said he caught 8. 

 

I also went to Sandy a couple times earlier in April. I had a similar experience there. One day I caught 8, including a 19" 4.25 lber., and another day, I just got one dink. However, there I did the opposite. I was concentrating on deeper water first (and not getting bit), and the next time when I focused on shallower water, I did well (for me).

[DaveT63]

20 hours ago, Dan B. said:

I'm new here. Just wanted to thank everyone who posted on this thread. There's some great info here (special thanks to Wayne P.). Wish I'd seen this before fishing Briery on Sunday, because it could have come in handy.  :-)

 

I went to Briery on 4/12 for the first time. Water temp was 70, and water was stained. I figured bass might be on beds, so I was concentrating on shallow water sheltered from the wind. I caught 7 and lost a solid 8th pitching creature baits to shallow water structure in a few different coves and pockets. All the fish were in skinny water hugging the shoreline or laydowns. I couldn't actually see any beds or bass guarding fry, but there were definitely bass acting like they were spawning (I also saw or heard multiple fish inches from shore or shallow laydowns splashing around, and they weren't carp). Biggest was 21.5" and 5 lbs. 11 ozs. (a PR for me). Three more were 18 inchers, and the other three were 12-15". The one I lost was probably in the 3 lb. range. I also threw a chatterbait for a bit in slightly deeper water without any bites. A guy at the ramp when I was launching claimed his son caught and released an 11 lber. that morning on a plastic worm in the cove opposite the ramp by the dam.

 

I went back on 4/16 hoping to maintain the pattern and try it in new spots, but conditions changed. Water temps increased to 72-73. The wind was fierce and nearly constant (there were whitecaps), and it muddied up the water. I looked for sheltered water, and hooked a 3 lb. class bass on a creature bait in a couple feet of water by some laydowns outside of the wind (water was still dirty). I lost that fish when it jumped. I tried to repeat the pattern from 4/12 in other spots, but it wasn't working well. I hooked and lost one other smaller bass, also on a creature bait, in some water that was actually windier but also clearer than the first spot. That was all for me that day. I didn't land anything, or get any other bites. I probably should have covered more water, including deeper water, with a chatterbait or spinnerbait, or used my electronics more. A guy at the ramp, who I saw at one point fishing slightly deeper than me, said he caught 8. 

 

I also went to Sandy a couple times earlier in April. I had a similar experience there. One day I caught 8, including a 19" 4.25 lber., and another day, I just got one dink. However, there I did the opposite. I was concentrating on deeper water first (and not getting bit), and the next time when I focused on shallower water, I did well (for me).

Thanks for the post!  Friends and I are going nest weekend.  It's those stories of the 10, 11, 12 lb bass that keep us coming back every year.  Our best so far is 7lbs.  Water temps are much warmer than I thought they would be, based on recent water temps here in MD.  Gonna have to revise our strategy for sure!  Nice looking fish, BTW!

[Wayne P.]

2 hours ago, DaveT63 said:

Thanks for the post!  Friends and I are going nest weekend.  It's those stories of the 10, 11, 12 lb bass that keep us coming back every year.  Our best so far is 7lbs.  Water temps are much warmer than I thought they would be, based on recent water temps here in MD.  Gonna have to revise our strategy for sure!  Nice looking fish, BTW!

 

 

Fished Briery yesterday none over 6#, all shallow, 44 bass. Water temp was 67-70. Sort of breezy again.

[Dan B.]

Any recent reports from people who have fished Briery or Sandy? Thinking of going down there this weekend, but wondering what impact the weather from the past couple weeks has had. 

[joecarroll42]

Curious as well, heading down this coming weekend. It'll be my first

time fishing Sandy River, I've been to Briery Creek once before. But curious what the conditions are like down there right now! 

[TravisVirginiaAngler]

Thinking about going for first time next week. Early June have the bass moved deep or is the shallow bite still on? Never hear word one on any top water bite success but at 7 am with a popR or frog it's gotta be good yeah? 

[kfili]

Heading out to briery in the am, for the first time. Anyone have any advice on finding the ledges without electronics? Im assuming there deep, I plan on putting in at the 701 ramp and fish my way up north. thinking carlolina rig, texas rig, dropshot if it gets tough? whatre your thoughts?

[david in va]

get there early 5:30 am , best fishing will be from then till about 9 am you can mess up a lower unit there, be carful. Wacky rig and deep running crank baits, Frog early on or so I am told

Good luck