I have been fishing alot for about a month and a half now and probably spend 4-5 days and about 4-5 hours each of those days fishing local lakes and havent caught much, i mainly fish lake mercer but dont have much luck, my main lure of choice is the spinner bait, i am looking for tips and hints for nova fishing from the shore.

Try a Senko....Fish it slower....

 

Im like you live in the area and wish i fished as much as you did.  I have two jobs so I dont get out much.   Where do you access Mercer?  Ive wanted to fish there.   used to catch bass years ago in Crosspointe, just south of Mercer, and its much smaller.

 

I tried Burke a few weekends ago....got skunked.

burke lake is down i have never caught anything since i have been fishing... as for mercer ffx parkway and take a right onto hoose rd and parking is on ur right b prepared to walk as there isnt much bank fishing.. have u tried lake royal my biggest this year has come from fishing next to the d**n w/ a texas rigged craw papi black and blue color

I got another one today but there just not plentiful even after the transfer of fish from huntsman

I've caught small bass up to 1lb in Burke but this was 15-17 years ago.  hooked a 4-5lber once there also, guess those memories are what made me try there recently but like I hear everywhere, its too pressured and the bite isn't worth it.

 

I've yet to try mercer, but Im off work Thursday and Might give it a shot.  Guess I'll make sure I have my sneakers on since it sounds like theres a lot of walking to do.

 

So from what I understand.  Fishing is decent near the dam, and then at the opposite end of Mercer, there's an area of stumps that produce fish as well?

Well I've never caught anything right on the dam but around it yeah, but never could find access from the shore at the stumps

i lost something big there last year which makes me go back a couple times a year....  but u can acess the stumps BY parking in a  neighborhood and take a good mile walk.. ive had some good numbers back there but not big to brag about

Mercer is good, I don't pay it too much attention after the spawn.  Burke lake on the otherhand is a great lake! I like to fish it in late November to ice up.  Big fish can be had in numbers if you can find them.  Locate the brush piles and drag big jigs!  It can be lights out on the right day.  You can also get into some nice walleye and the occasional muskie.

Good to hear that Quan , thats what local fishing reports that they have good bass in there.  But if you talk to people that fish it, they say its too pressured and too tough.

 

 

i lost something big there last year which makes me go back a couple times a year....  but u can acess the stumps BY parking in a  neighborhood and take a good mile walk.. ive had some good numbers back there but not big to brag about

Im lazy I guess, I'm not walking a mile just to fish LOL...1/4 mile maybe lmao...guess I need to find a small boat. I have a 14ft fiberglass boat but that requires luanchign with a trailer.

 even after the transfer of fish from huntsman

 

Hey tell me more about this. When and how did they move all the fish? I used to catch a whole bunch of catfish and carp on Huntsman. Now it seem completely dead.

burke lake is down i have never caught anything since i have been fishing... as for mercer ffx parkway and take a right onto hoose rd and parking is on ur right b prepared to walk as there isnt much bank fishing.. have u tried lake royal my biggest this year has come from fishing next to the d**n w/ a texas rigged craw papi black and blue color

 

I went to the dam at Lake Royal last Friday and got this one. I am not sure if I just got lucky or what. Got it on a senko worm.

 

nice Fish Georgeyew,   How do you fish your Senko?  I just tried a few times this year fishing it.   Tried Texas rigged, and wacky rigged and only caught one small bass thus far with it wacky rigged.

I love wacky rigging it. Ever since I started fishing it, I can't seem to get off of it.

theyve started clearing some fish out of huntsman to drain it, and there moving them to mercer, theres still fish in it but not too many, and they are doing work on the dam and clearing the sediment from the bottom

 

I went to the dam at Lake Royal last Friday and got this one. I am not sure if I just got lucky or what. Got it on a senko worm.

 

 

 

nice fish man... funny cuz thats where i caught my biggest this year at in the exact spot lol...

 

nice Fish Georgeyew,   How do you fish your Senko?  I just tried a few times this year fishing it.   Tried Texas rigged, and wacky rigged and only caught one small bass thus far with it wacky rigged.

slow is the key.. i fish my senko wacky rigged and just move my rod up in like a twitching motion and reel in the slack....

 

 

i went out to huntsman today caught one around 2 pounds and had a big catfish try to get my crank bait at the shore AS I WAS pulling it out of the water

theyve started clearing some fish out of huntsman to drain it, and there moving them to mercer, theres still fish in it but not too many, and they are doing work on the dam and clearing the sediment from the bottom

 

Are they netting the fish? I haven't seen any trucks in the area. I'd be curious to see the fish that they pulled out of there.

yeh thats the first time i have heard this and i was there and it didnt appear to b being drained or moving fish from it...

If you google lake huntsman you can find a clip of them electro shocking the bank lines. It says they transferred 800-1000 lbs of fish. Also said it was a healthy fishery with lots of fish in the 2-4 lb range. Was out there yesterday and caught 2 fish around 3lbs each. I'm sure they missed quite a few good fish that were not relating to the banks. As they drain it, it should be interesting to see what they missed!!

i was out there yesterday too till a water moccasin chased me off.. i caught one around 2.. i hope this project doesnt take too long to complete 

There are no water moccasin's here in northern va. Possibly a water snake, similar in coloration. The project is said to take 6-8 months.

well dang now i feel like a little b.. tripped over the rocks and popped my shoulder out for a common water snake  ...

does any1 know if the project on lake accotink  has been completed or is the lake still being drained?!

I read that the work on Lake Accotink has been completed.

 

I just saw the video on Huntsman. I guess that I just suck at fishing since there seems to be plenty of bass in that lake.

o sweat mayb ill stop by there tomorrow or go to mercer tomorrow. decisions decisions...

I read that the work on Lake Accotink has been completed.

 

I just saw the video on Huntsman. I guess that I just suck at fishing since there seems to be plenty of bass in that lake.

 

Can you post a link? I couldn't find it.