has anyone been out to any of the lakes in NOVA like Mercer, Huntsman, Braddock, Royal, or Accotink yet? If so are the fish active, or are they still hideing? I was thinking of heading over that way this week sometime, and was wondering if anyone had been out there recently.

i fished the tourney out of fountainhead this weekend. conditions were extremely tough. water temps were 45-47. all i can say is very tough!

Water tmps are still in the 40s, fish slow.

I fished the Potomac from the bank in and around DC this past weekend, and had a pretty good spnnerbait bite.  You don't need to go as slow as you'd think.

Relative to a month ago, the bite is picking up.  That said it is still slow.  PM sent w/ some specifics.

Haven't been out much as of late but I'd say that the spinnerbait bite is on key as I had quite a few short strikes on it last time out (Thursday last week at Woodglenn).  I'd use trailer hooks if ya got em' with this kind of water temp and most bites not being that aggressive.  Also I normally do really well this time of year on shallow cranks (Mann's style) and lipless crank baits.

That being said the only baits I've caught fish on the last two months at local ponds and lakes have been Boo Yah jigs w/ Rage Craw trailers and Lipless Cranks (Sexy Shad, Chart/white).

Good luck if you head out this way.  I'll be out tommorrow with my dad doing some pond hopping.  Will post with basic info on the bite when we get back.  Later.

I've had good luck the past couple of times out (within the last week) using rattle traps. I've been throwing 1/2 oz, and have done fairly well but my fishin' partner (or one of them anyway) has been using 3/4 oz and has pulled in quite a few 3lb plus bass! By the way, we've been on smallish 'farm ponds' in the area. Haven't had much luck yet at Huntsman. The water is still on the cool side on the larger bodies of water. Good luck...I think the season is beginning!

Jim

Thanks for the advise guys, I will post a report after I get back.