My buddy is heading down from NY the first of april and I want to take him out on the res. I was wondering if anyone has been out there yet and what they have been hitting on.

Wlewis55, post in the Southeast Fishing section.

 

The Virginia guys will help you out.

 

Be safe and be on the lookout for the Dogwoods to bloom.

Went out last Sunday. It was really tough. Lots of cold and muddy water. 

Usually this time of year you can catch them up pretty good on jerkbaits but three big rains in three weeks have put the kaibash on anything like that! The res right now is cold and muddy top to bottom. My last two trips have resulted in absolutely nada, not even a bite!

The time frame you are planning to fish the res should be good. Depending on water temps, you should probably find these fish in full prespawn. Spinnerbaits, creature baits, jigs and jerkbaits should all get you some quality fish!

Check this section before you go or PM me and I will let you know how things are progressing on the res!

thanks for the info, quanjiq ill def hit you up. and if you guys start having any luck out there i would appreciate some info, thanks agin.

We had our first tournament on Sunday. It was really tough. Cold and muddy. 

I didn't fish but walked along bullrun yesterday. The water is much clearer than it was a week ago. Probably still cold though, and this snow ain't gonna help. I fish occoquan a lot and never catch smallmouths. I hear they are in there. Any tips for catching them would be appreciated. I crush them in the Potomac, but I guess I don't know how to target them in the res.

Hey yall just joined the forum today. I fish the occoquan all the time. Haven t been this year but might head out tomorrow and use the new kayak. Seems like everyone is saying that there still sittin pretty deep.

Any luck?

Thelastrodbender and I are heading out tomorrow. Hope the water has warmed up some...

Hey guys just wanted to give a little update, I did some bank fishing on the res above bull run marina last Friday and killed it! The smallies were def out! Caught 5 total, my 2 fatties of the day were 4 and 5+ pounder! They were hitting my crankbait, small white grubs, and my buddy was killing it with his hudd minnow. Going back this weekend hope they are still there!

Pics or it didn't happen!

Haha it def happened! It won't upload says the file size is too big, it will only allow me to upload pics of 150k or less

Went out yesterday. Water was warmer and definitely clearing up. We caught 7 including two over 5lbs. Here are two of the larger fish. Sorry for blurring the backgrounds but we have a tourney tomorrow...

 

 

I still know where you caught them!!! Good job guys, the res has been very stingy to me lately, gives me hope!!

hahaha

Heading out to the river this later tius afternoon...any new reports since the water temperature went up these past couple of days

Finally, a day on the res worth commenting on! Took second place in the tx today!! 21.68 lbs! Had two over 5!! Thank goodness for stable weather!!

How is the water clarity near fountainhead?  I am limited to a canoe, and last time I went out near the soccer flats.  The water was like coffee with a splash of cream.  

A little stain around the marina. Cleaner down lake.

QuanJig...Have the Bass started to spawn on the beds yet or the females still waiting?  

Water temps were crazy out there. Started out down lake a bit with AM temps around 60* and didn't see any spawning going on. Did find some areas where it appeared some fanning going on. Up lake, the water temps were 5-6* warmer. Lots of fish have moved up, lots of smaller bass shallow. First wave is probably really close to locking on.

Went out today. Too windy for my canoe, but did manage a fish on a crankbait near the mouth of a cove. He was spitting up shad as I brought him in. Saw a guy pulling in a 3ish lber on a white spinnerbait on the main lake.

yea the active baits, spinner baits and crankbaits, in shad colors I hear are often the best to use this time of year...