Ok. That's crazy talk. Bank fishing it is.

yeh good luck mercer is a tough little lake

I am starting/trying to use senkos.  I have absolutely no luck with them at mercer.  I need help, what color/size do you guys use? also what type of retrieve do you use?

 

I caught 5 from the dam on the morning of the 4th.  I think the rain the previous day and the cooler temps and overcast skies helped keep them in reach.  I was catching them on the black w/ blue flake and green pumpkin.  Mostly Texas rigged, I may have grabbed one on a wacky rig but honestly I can't remember.  

 

Since I'm still getting the hang of my baitcaster I was accidentally fishing slow.  A couple times on the initial cast I'd have to clear a bird's nest so my Senko would make it all the way to the bottom and sit for a while... sometimes a minute or more.  I was getting strikes this way so I took it as needing to fish the worm really, really slow.  

 

Best of the day was 3lbs.  Had another a little over 2lbs.  The rest were in the 1-1.5lb range.  

 

Went back the following morning and... absolutely nothing!

 

I was really happy with the Senko, though, so I took advantage of Dick's buy one, get one 50% off sale and bought waaaaay too many Senkos in a variety of colors and sizes to try.  

 

- Steve

How do you retrieve senkos? That's what I don't know

Let it sit on the bottom.  Wait a bit (how long you need to wait will really be up to the fish), then bring it up a bit and let it sink back to the bottom.  Wait more.

Where were u on the dam and were u casting right on it or out more? Pm if u want

Here is a great thread on how to fish senkos. Sometimes you also have to vary things and twitch them some. That said, I am still probably missing more than I realize, because I don't set the hook when I feel a little resistance. The general theory is that if you feel you are fishing too slow, go slower. http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/13845-guaranteed-to-catch-bass/

I found that let them sink to the bottom,. give them a little twitch.  Drag/swim it a few feet let it sink, twitch and repeat.   eventually when ou go to drag, you'll feel the weight of the fish and You set the hook!

Glad I checked in here. I was planning on hitting Huntsman some evening this week. That's sad. You gotta wonder how the influx of big bass is going to affect Mercer now. Increased competition for forage. Will that make fishing better for hungrier fish?

I had some luck at dusk last night at another local spot. Nice one on a baby brush hog and a big one snapped my line after grabbing my buzzbait after dark. Frustating!

Anyone fish lake Barton this year? They dredged it last Summer and I was wondering how the fishing was affected. I'm a 5 minute walk from it, but haven't been there lately. I can be tough fishing but they are in there if you know where to look.

been there on time early this year.. been wanting to go back since i didnt get a bite since im unfamiliar with that little lake and only fished one little area before the weather forced me out

I usually catch decent sized fish along the dam and near the overflow tower mostly in the evening. Biggest was probably close to 4 lbs. several years ago.

They are planning to dredge Woodglenn now. I just looked at a slideshow and they cite Barton as an example. I guess they really drained Barton and are planning the same with Woodglenn. I wonder how much fishkill there is with draining.

The link below is the slideshow for the planned Woodglenn dredging. Slide 25 shows some fish habitat structures I assume they plan to sink. I can only assume they did the same in Barton. I love seeing that but they might not be fruitful for a few years if there was major fishkill.

 

http://www.slideshare.net/fairfaxcounty/woodglen-lake-dredging-and-restoration-presentation-20130226-final

yeh they are unfortunately dredging a couple lakes in this area.. now i just ponder what is it going to do the fishing and how long will it take to start bringing in decent bass again

I'm gonna cry....they are ruining the lakes in the area...all at the same time!

We should all get together and have a bassothon to catch and relocate fish from Woodglenn to Barton shortly before they start the drain.

George i feel the same way.  what would happen if we all showed up when they start draining and each took 30-40 bass to different lakes in the area?  

Is it even legal to transport fish to different bodies of water? 

Well the county just transferred a bunch from Huntsman to Mercer right?

I just read some stuff about the Lake Royal dredge. It looks like they plan to relocate the fish from Royal. They did it in Huntsman. I can only assume they will do it in Woodglenn. I'm really interested to see how Barton is recovering now, since the dredge there is already done.

 

http://burke.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/braddock-residents-county-officials-discuss-dredging-fe62687eb1

Well the county just transferred a bunch from Huntsman to Mercer right?

 

 

I just read some stuff about the Lake Royal dredge. It looks like they plan to relocate the fish from Royal. They did it in Huntsman. I can only assume they will do it in Woodglenn. I'm really interested to see how Barton is recovering now, since the dredge there is already done.

 

http://burke.patch.com/groups/around-town/p/braddock-residents-county-officials-discuss-dredging-fe62687eb1

 

I remember reading about the move from Huntsman, so I figure they would do it with every lake they drain.  I just doubt individuals could do it on their own, legally.  

lake royal needs a serious dredging u can see all the build up of the sediment there and keeps getting worse and worse and creek is starting to run dry.. i fish there atleast 3 times a week for the last two years and could notice the difference from last year to this year.. 

legally schmeegally. ;-)

lake royal needs a serious dredging u can see all the build up of the sediment there and keeps getting worse and worse and creek is starting to run dry.. i fish there atleast 3 times a week for the last two years and could notice the difference from last year to this year.. 

I agree. I haven't been there in at least a couple years but even then the end opposite the dam just seemed shallow and "mucky". I'm excited that they are doing these dredgings. It will make for better fishing habitats in the long run.

yeh i agree BUT fishing is going to suck for a little while till everything gets back to normal again

Crap, they are doing Lake Royal too?

 

Huntsman

Wooodglenn

Lake Braddock

Lake Royal

 

Which ones are they "not" dredging?

mercer is the only one right now.. u can still fish huntsman n still catch some nice size fish.. i havnt been there in a month so i dont know what the current conditions of the lake is right now