rivafishn

Kyle - I have seen boats in there with motors bigger than 10 HP, but they don't use them, they leave them up and out of the water. i have seen some that have a 55 HP right next to a 9.9HP. You can use a motor that is 10 HP or less. We have been talking about wakes because when you have an aluminum boat with a 10 HP motor on it they can put out a decent wake at times.

Thanks! I was able to get into the top 20, but couldn't manage to catch all those monster bass! I did better at the upper potomac event on saturday, finished 8th. It will be interesting to see what they do to the ecosystem in the reservoir. I read a story that there was an accident on one of the steep banks and that two individuals were hurt. They took them out on a boat as it was easier then getting them back up the hill.

Bream - i love having my kayak, but in order to have something that is big and stable, for both you and the dog, you are going to add weight to it. You are looking at about 85 pounds. I car top mine on my subaru and don't have any issues with it. I like being able to go anywhere. I have fished everything from the upper potomac, to smaller creeks that boats can't get into all the way up to the bigger creeks in the potomac. I have not tried any saltwater at this point, but have that on the list of things to try. A good suggestion is the hobie pro angler 12/14, but they are going to run you the most. You can find plenty of them used. I would love to take my dog out on wilderness systems ATAK, but I don't believe I can get him to stay in the kayak. He loves the water. There are some good places to look at kayaks around here. I know backyard boats in woodbridge sells hobie's, not sure what their stock is like. Hudson Trail Outfitters sells a bunch of kayaks and if you are down in the Ashland area go and see Appomattox River Company. They are a further trip, but that is all they do and they know their stuff.

Thanks Chop! I'm headed out today as soon as I get out of work, hoping to find some good ones. I haven't had much luck on a crankbait yet, all plastics, but I will keep at it.

I went out last night and made an effort to fish deeper and a new rig to me. I manged to catch this guy in what I would consider deeper water for me, about 15', and I also caught my first fish on a c-rig. It is a far cry from a lot of the big fish out there, but it is a start. I'm hoping to get back out and try it again.

Thanks for the information Quan! That is one of the things I am working on this year, trying to get better at fishing deep and reading my depth finder better! I am hoping to get out an evening or two in the next three if the storms would not roll through, we shall see. I have caught 20's in the rez before just not any lately. I have heard good of good fish coming around the road bed, so I might need to check that out.

Quan - thanks for the information! Hokie - I know what you mean. I started the tourney and was even in 7th at one point and had some decent fish and then bam! Tons of 20's showed up and big numbers. I am fishing the rez as well and hoping to upgrade some more. I have 17's and up, just haven't found some big girls yet.

There are some nice fish being caught. I'll have to see if I can find some logs down in the water and try that. I am a yakker as well, but always do my best to play nicely. I have launched out of LRM a bunch of times and found yaks just piled up from rentals. I try and help move some when they are like that. I work to unload my stuff as quick and safely as I can and then get on the water and out of the way. Even when I am doing that I stay to the side opposite the dock to allow the boaters more room to launch. Quan - nice work on the tourney! What are you considering light line for the shakey heads. I have some 8 pound test running on one of my spinning rods. Hokie - nice fish! I was out of town for the weekend and didn't get on my kayak for fishing and fell another 4 spots in the MAKBF Tourney. I have good numbers for any other tourney, but there are lots of big fish being caught this month. I hope to get out at least a couple of evenings this week and look to upgrade.

Hokie - it is probably the difference between a kayak launch pass and the boat launch pass. If you have a kayak and are launching the pass is a lot less, as long as you are a resident of the nova parks group. I paid about $70 for mine this year, but I am a resident of PWC. Here is a link to the water trail league that talks about kayak launch passes. https://www.nvrpa.org/park/occoquan_water_trail/content/owt_league

Chop - thanks for the info! I did get a pass because I fish the lower sections plenty during the year, either for myself or events I participate in. I have been to Lake Ridge, Pohick, Occoquan and Mason Neck several times this year and it has paid for itself. I might need to go and get a key so I can try that area. It sounds great! I definitely like smallies and can get just about anywhere in my kayak.

Chop - I keep seeing good fish being caught at the north end of the reservoir. I want to try and get up there at some point in my yak. Quan - I definitely need to find a good change in weather. I was able to get out tuesday evening for a little while and caught 3 fish in the 15" range, but no good ones. I saw a lot of pictures the last couple of days with a bunch of good fish caught. I'm hoping to get out for awhile this evening and see what I can do. Maybe I can get a good one or two.

Looks like I definitely need to get better at deep water fishing. I am moving around and trying different things. I was headed towards spot 1 this morning when the storms blew in, so that squashed that. Hopefully I can get out there and see what is going on. I managed one decent one last night and only one dink this morning.

Thanks Quan! I have moved around a bunch, but feel like I still have plenty to learn. I'll have to work on the main lake points some more. Good luck Saturday Eddie and enjoy the new rig! I plan on getting out saturday as well and will be down south, i run around in a blue and black kayak and I am a big guy, so if you scoot by that way say hi.

I have been out there a lot more in the last week and a half. I have a bunch of dinks and have caught a few decent fish, around the 15 to 17 inch range. I fish out of a kayak, so I measure the length and don't typically have a scale with me. I have been fishing more shallow though. I need to work on using my electronics and finding some deeper spots for fish. Is anybody finding fish in the various creeks or inlets? It sounds like there are a bunch of fish on the points on the may section of the reservoir. I still consider myself a big newbie when it comes to the reservoir, but i am trying to put it together. I also typically fish the south end of the reservoir near the dam.

I'm planning on getting out there this evening for the first time, can't believe it has taken me this long this year. So, the fish are already down in the 12 to 20 foot range? I guess things are moved well along. I'll have to see what I can do. Anybody fishing the lower end down towards the dam at all?

Nice job fry! I was out there on saturday for the first time and got blown all over the place and no fish. I am headed back this weekend and hope to find some of those nice bass you caught. The little of the lake I did see makes it look like a great lake to fish!

I was looking for some information on Briery and found this topic and figured I would see if anybody had any insight. I am going to be able to fish this for the first time later this month and was hoping to get some tips or pointers. I will be fishing in a kayak and it is the first time I will be on Briery. Any information would be appreciated.

The Occoquan reservoir is one of the best fisheries around, but you have to put time in and learn it. This time of year the better fish have moved out off the bank, but if you can find them there are better odds of running into several of them. I'm still trying to figure it out myself, but I know of plenty of people that are out there catching good fish every weekend. The tournament winners are usually pulling in bags of six fish at 25 pounds or better. You can also fish several of the creeks on the Potomac river.

Nice day Eddie! I need to keep at it and keep trying to learn more about the reservoir. Can't wait to get out again this weekend

I just recently found this forum and read the entire thing last week. I was looking for some pointers as I am still relatively new to the Reservoir and am trying to figure it out. Thanks for all the information in here. I fish out of a kayak starting about a year ago and typically launch in the creek closest to the d**n, but I am working to expand my fishing on the reservoir as I hear so many great stories of lots of fish or big fish. I managed a couple of four pounders last year, but always seem to catch fish at the southern end. I fished out of the lake ridge marina the last couple of weekends trying to get an idea of where and how to catch fish. I'll be interested to hear if there were any reports from this past weekend. I fished both mornings up until about lunch time and just couldn't seem to get it going. I only managed three fish this weekend. Based on what I was seeing around me during the day it seemed like it was a slow weekend, but the reports will tell all.

I just got an e-mail this morning that they are doing it for the next two weeks.

I really like the pro qualifier reels. I got back into fishing and picked up two of the reels last summer and just picked up another one while they are on sale now. I haven't tried all of the higher end reels, but these are great. They are very smooth and i can cast them a mile, with little worry about backlashes.

I have a couple of goals at this point: 1. Work on flippin' 2. Get a new PB 3. Pay more attention to patterns and conditions

I'm curious to see what people think about this combo. I know it is not the best color, but if it is a good combo then I could deal with the color. The price for the combo is definitely cheaper than piecing it out. How does this set-up compare to the pro qualifier and just buying an XPS trigger rod?