For you Northern Virginia bassers... Any of you found any good patterns this fall on the rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds you fish? I'm talking any of the lakes in Fairfax/Springfield (accotink, burke, royal, barton, mercer, crosspointe, huntsman) and Woodbridge (potomac river, occoquan river, occoquan reservoir at bull run/fountainhead/lake ridge)? I've been having a tough time getting on multi-fish days here. Most days seem to be pretty breezy and cold now and I've never fished in these elements. I've been using shallow and deep diving cranks as well as rapala lures, spinners and jigs. Haven't got out a lot in the morning so I really haven't given topwater too much of an effort other than today when I fished it mid day at the pond, but no luck. All the vegetation in the areas I normally fish seems to be dying or almost dead now and I don't know where to find the fish ESPECIALLY from the bank. If any of you guys have found some good patterns or good techniques this fall let me know.

I've been catching some smallies this fall but it's really been hit or miss. Swimbaits have been the best producers for me in the past month when fished near deeper water. I think now that the colder air and water is finally here small jigs fished slowly will start producing better. Haven't done much LM fishing lately. I might take my boat to Lake Brittle this weekend just for the heck of it.

There is another pattern that will be turning on soon. Some of the lakes you NoVa guys fish are great places to catch panfish from December-early March. No boat necessary! If any of you are interested in catching nice panfish (and occasional bass) this winter let me know and I'll tell you where and how to do it. If you want you can join me and some of the other guys that will be out there all winter. We are a dedicated bunch.

Hey Bt,

I'm hitting Lake Brittle Sunday morning.  Are you interested?  Not that I'm trying to hog up space on your boat  

Let me know if you wanna do that, if not I'll pretty much be bank fishing by myself unless I get my dad to join me.

Hey Bt,

I'm hitting Lake Brittle Sunday morning. Are you interested? Not that I'm trying to hog up space on your boat

Let me know if you wanna do that, if not I'll pretty much be bank fishing by myself unless I get my dad to join me.

Jason, Lake Brittle is a WASTE of time anyone will tell you that, it hasn't been good in ten years or better, pick another spot, maybe lake curtis in Stafford County... or come see me on Lake braddock, I'll go early AM if you want, much better than brittle. Fact not opinion.

Hey Trev can we get the boat in Sunday morning on Braddock?  I'd be ok with that.  If so what time can you be up Sunday morning to do so?  Get me directions to your place via pm and count me in.  I won't turn down that offer.

Hey Trev can we get the boat in Sunday morning on Braddock? I'd be ok with that. If so what time can you be up Sunday morning to do so? Get me directions to your place via pm and count me in. I won't turn down that offer.

done deal then, i'd like to have my foat on the motor pedal before sunrise, heading to the back for some topwater action... i'll pm you directions... where are you coming from? road wise? do you know henderson rd off of davis ford road where it crosses bull run?

Trev pm sent.

here ya go

bring spinnerbaits

topwater frogs

buzzbaits

prepare to texas rig, jib and tube

and crankbaits

here's what we're going for, all caught out of Lake braddock...

Hey Trev, avg fish between 2-3lbs???  Or are those just the bigguns you guys have reeled in?  Can't wait man, just shoot me the pm with direcs from burke lake rd and I'm ready to go.  Thanks for the offer bud.

Looks like you guys are in for a good time.  Have fun!

I have another question relating to the size of lakes and the cold.  I would think the smaller lakes would cool down faster and become dead a lot faster than some of the bigger lakes.  No steam coming off little lake Barton this morning, so I'm thinking that's a bad sign for holding active fish.  Would I be better off heading out to a larger lake?

It really depends on the depth of the lake.  If it is not too deep the layers aren't too different and there really is no warmer water to come up from the bottom (turnover) as you'd find in a river or much larger lake.  So the water temp may be the same throughout and may be cooling significantly because the days have been much cooler for weeks now and the nights dropping real low.  I think I heard on a previous thread that Lake Barton is 16' deep max so there should be some type of turnover.  You may want to take a temperature device down to the lake and check when you go on by.  Would give you a good idea as far as how much time the lake has in regards to "decent or good" fishing this year.  Someone else may be able to provide a better answer but that's my knowledge I've found throught the threads and articles here.

Jason, Lake Brittle is a WASTE of time anyone will tell you that, it hasn't been good in ten years or better, pick another spot, maybe lake curtis in Stafford County... or come see me on Lake braddock, I'll go early AM if you want, much better than brittle. Fact not opinion.

How often do you fish Brittle?

Jason, Lake Brittle is a WASTE of time anyone will tell you that, it hasn't been good in ten years or better, pick another spot, maybe lake curtis in Stafford County... or come see me on Lake braddock, I'll go early AM if you want, much better than brittle. Fact not opinion.

How often do you fish Brittle?

never anymore, my dad and I used to go there, curtis and lake manassas, brittle stopped producing so i don't waste my time, i've spoken with many people that have tried and NOT ONE person has said a good thing about it, the last thingi caught our of there was a snoopy fishing pole... it's a haul to get out there for most people it's not worth the trip go to curtis or crockett

Most people who think Brittle is horrible only fish there when it's warm outside. That's all I'm gonna say. tight lines

Most people who think Brittle is horrible only fish there when it's warm outside. That's all I'm gonna say. tight lines

i've fished there in the past in many different types of conditions with my father... it's just never ever produced anything for us or anyone i've spoken too....

i take it you fish there? well keep at it and share you success stories... i will however stick to my places that have produced fish on numerous occasions