When the temperatures rise, the cold winds of March
subside, and the warm April showers fill the air and waters with inklings of
summer, the fishing in Virginia takes off.
The Old Dominion’s many small lakes and ponds can provide quality
fishing in the spring months. Here are
just ten destinations that should be on every fisherman’s calendar this month.
Lake Robertson
Contained by the Blue Ridge’s rocky skeleton,
Rockbridge County’s 30-acre Lake Robertson is an overlooked place to catch big
fish.
Beaver huts, hinge-cut trees, and large emerging
weed beds provide ample structure for spawning bass; and, coupled with the
crystal clear water, suggest a great place to sight fish for one of the many
10-pounders. Walleye also cruise Lake
Robertson, and fish are caught up to seven pounds annually.
Redear sunfish are particularly active on Lake
Robertson later this month, and can provide exciting fishing on light
tackle. Leave a worm or nymph imitation
motionless on the shallow bottom to produce strikes from the scrappy bottom
feeders.
The lake also sports good populations of bluegill and
channel catfish.
Gas motors are prohibited; but a concrete boat
ramp and boat rentals make this gem an accommodating destination for anyone.
Lake Burke
Located in Burke Lake Park in busy Fairfax County,
218-acre Lake Burke is one of the most fished lakes in the state. This threat is met by a strict management
practice to ensure the health of the fishery for years to come.
Lake Burke is known for its largemouth bass
fishing; but musky, walleye, bluegill, crappie, yellow and white perch, and
blue and channel Catfish all fin the lake.
No gasoline motors are allowed.
Lake Frederick
With or without a boat, Lake Frederick of
Frederick County can provide some great fishing.
Its 117 acres are filled with standing timber, which
hide a multitude of species. Largemouth
bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, walleye, and the occasional pike
can all be caught from the bank of Lake Frederick.
Gasoline motors are
prohibited, but if you own a boat with an electric motor, cast to standing timber
for one of the 10-pound largemouth that gave the lake its reputation as the
best bass fishery in the Shenandoah Valley.
Harrison Lake
If you’re looking for a peaceful place to fish or
paddle, Harrison Lake in Charles City County might be your next trip. At 82 acres, Harrison Lake is the epitome of
larger tidewater fisheries like the Chickahominy River.
The usual tidal customers occupy the lake,
including chain pickerel, warmouth, bluegill and redear sunfish, flier, bullhead,
bowfin, crappie, and largemouth bass. While
the lake is not known for trophy sized fish, its inhabitants are known for the
sport which they are able to provide.
A boat ramp and piers for the handicap or bank
fisherman provide access to the lake.
Germantown Lake
100-acre Germantown Lake is located in Fauquier
County’s Crockett Park.
The small lake is known for its thick population
of trophy largemouth; and produces several fish a year approaching 10 pounds.
Germantown also supports the traditional southern
mixed-bag of bluegill, crappie, and channel catfish.
Gas motors are prohibited; but the park provides
boat and motor rentals; bait and food sales; and a fishing pier to the
prospective angler.
Skidmore Reservoir
A big part of spring in Virginia is trout
fishing—and Skidmore Reservoir offers just that. The 120-acre, Harrisonburg impoundment is a
put-and grow fishery, and therefore offers opportunities for excellent brook trout
fishing year round. Brook trout reach
three pounds in the reservoir as a result of good management.
Fisheries biologists have recently noted an
emerging pike fishery within the lake.
These toothy fish spawn in April, and can be caught in the shallows on
spoons.
Skidmore also boasts a host of warm water species
such as largemouth and rock bass, crappie, bluegill, and bullhead.
Gas motors are not permitted on the lake.
Lake Conner
Located in beautiful Southside Virginia, Lake
Conner has a reputation that far exceeds its size. The small 100-acre lake is renowned for
producing the Virginia state record largemouth bass; and its other qualities
can be easily overlooked.
Lake Conner does feature a thick trophy bass
fishery; but also yields citation-sized redear sunfish regularly.
Gas motors are prohibited, but an electric motor
can be used to chase crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, chain pickerel, or bullhead.
Hungry Mother Lake
Hungry Mother Lake is a very diverse and unique
lake.
The walleye fishing here takes off this month,
with night fishing yielding the best results.
Trophy musky are taken from the lake annually as
well—some reaching sizes of 48 inches and beyond.
Largemouth, smallmouth, spotted, and rock bass all
inhabit the lake, as well as crappie, channel catfish, and sunfish.
Gas motors are prohibited.
Located in Hungry Mother State Park, camping is
permitted and boat rentals are available.
A minimal fee is required to gain access to the lake; but the promise of
great fishing is well worth the charge.
Lake Orange
Spring wouldn’t be spring without crappie fishing. Papermouths are in very good condition in
Lake Orange, and offer good sport on light tackle.
The largemouth bass population is just as
successful, and the lake has produced 11-12-pound fish.
Lake Orange’s walleye fishery also deserves
attention. Walleye are stocked yearly,
and anglers have a fair chance to catch 4-5-pound fish.
Sunfish, channel catfish, northern pike, chain
pickerel, yellow and white perch, and warmouth provide a further mix of species
to the lake.
Gas motors are prohibited; but boats can be
rented, concessions are available, and a pier and a boat ramp provide access to
some outstanding fishing.
Little Creek Reservoir
A small lake in Southeastern Virginia, Little
Creek Reservoir offers quality fishing for the tidal species: largemouth and striped bass, crappie, chain
pickerel, yellow perch, sunfish, blue catfish, and even walleye.
Little Creek is a relatively deep lake containing
little structure. Most fishing is done
along points and drop-offs, but in the spring, surprising crappie and perch
fishing can be found in the shallows.
It is worth noting that gas motors and bank
fishing are prohibited.
Lake Shenandoah
At 36 acres, Rockingham’s Lake Shenandoah is the
second smallest on our list; and with an average depth of three feet, certainly
ranks first in volume.
What makes this lake special is its musky
fishing. Most other species in the lake
are of small size; but the musky thrive in the small impoundment on stunted bluegill. The toothy critters spawn in April, so catch
them on spoons and big spinners near the grass.
Gas motors are prohibited because of the lake’s
size.
Biologists are currently pondering a renovation of
the lake, so have your chance at a trophy musky before it’s gone!
While Virginia boasts many large fish-producing
impoundments, the smaller waters often get overlooked, and can provide the
angler with an equal chance of landing their trophy. This list is only a small selection of such
waters. So do some research, and enjoy
the spring season!
No comments :
Post a Comment