Does anyone know some good smaller lakes to fish in Northern Virginia? I have a 14 ft boat with a 9.9 hp motor. I live close to the Occoquan Reservoir but have only caught 1 over the past 3 years.  Any help would be appreciated,ie. best timeof year, baits.

All I know is that the Occoquan Res. has some huge crappie.....

These are from the bass tournaments that they have at the Res every other weekend.

They must have been biting that day cause both were caught the same day.

Lake Mercer has a lot of crappie but you can't use a motor in it and it does not have a boat launch. You have to carry a canoe or some other boat to it.

Matt,

Where on the rez did you catch those and what were they biting on, if you don't mind sharing?

I didn't catch those beauties, some other guys in the tournament did. I have no info on them, sorry.

If you don't mind driving to Fredericksburg, try the Ni River Reservoir a few miles southwest of town. I was there in September, and my partner--who was fishing for crappie specifically--caught several very nice fish in the 1lb range. The reservoir is closed right now, and when it opens up this spring you will need a Fredericksburg city license to fish it, but if you want to fill a cooler with crappie that is one place to go. Another is Curtis Lake in Stafford county. This time of year you want to fish near the dam, across the lake from the boat ramp. There is deep water and standing timber in that part of the lake.