To those who think it to be a dead sea.....Went out this morning for 2 hours. Fished the dam area and the shallows next to the soccer feilds. Buzzbait was king, caught 14. 9 of them keepers, the biggy was caught by the soccer feilds and was about 4lbs. I wish I could have stayed but I'm off to my girls soccer game!!!!  

Nice! Been skunked the few times I've been there. Its hard to believe there are no decent bass there, its a pretty nice size body of water.

      I have fished it since the early 80's and it seems to come and go..........But it was here this morning!!!

Royal was tough the few times I went over the Summer, but I seem to have my best luck in the Fall.  I caught a couple nice ones there last November.

I think I'm going to give this lake another try in October off the yaks. I know there are some fatties in there and they're callin my name!

I have fished this lake numerous times with quite a few individuals and I have yet to see anybody pull out a nice size bass out of here.  I have heard how it has hawgs in it numerous times but I personally have never seen any caught.  

I stopped by Royal for an hour yesterday with a friend and my nephew. My friend hooked into a nice two pounder on a buzzbait, but the fish threw the hook.

Whats the deal with all the construction near the dam?

Were you fishing from shore?

From what I have read, the construction is an improvement to the dam area, primarily to prevent erosion in the "overflow" area.  It is the first of several such projects designated for similar local ponds.

I caught one close to 3 pounds in the early spring/later winter this year when we were all out there for the first meet. The sucka couldn't resist my megabass.

I caught one close to 3 pounds in the early spring/later winter this year when we were all out there for the first meet. The sucka couldn't resist my megabass.

Still have a pic of that. Ron I told you where to fish Royal.......Every "season" a bass 7-10lbs is caught and released in that lake! I know it is tough to swallow, but it's in my back yard. So when ever I fish it or go for a walk, I stop and talk to the regulars and get the scoop. The other thing that I have been hearing is they are shallow. I had the chance to experience this last Saturday.

Very nice... I'm new to NOVA, any advice on places to park/areas of Royal to fish by foot? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Just moved up from Southern, VA... If you guys ever need any input on the Suffolk Lakes, let me know.

B

mudkart and I carried my 12 ft. jonboat from the cul-de-sac at the end of Chatsworth Ct. a few weeks ago for some night fishing.  We each boated one.  It was really windy.  If I launch again I'll find a better access point for launching a boat.  

Anyway, park on Chatsworth if fishing the bank.

mudkart and I carried my 12 ft. jonboat from the cul-de-sac at the end of Chatsworth Ct. a few weeks ago for some night fishing. We each boated one. It was really windy. If I launch again I'll find a better access point for launching a boat.

Anyway, park on Chatsworth if fishing the bank.

Depending on where you want to fish there are a few spots around the lake: google maps is your friend. Just be sure to park outside of the "official" parking lots after dark or you will get locked in. That's why we launched from such a difficult spot: there is no gate at Chatsworth and we fished after nightfall. I park on Gainsborough Dr just outside the park entrance when night fishing the main lake point. Another option is Starboard Ct. if you want to fish the western riprap of the dam or the western cove. This lake has been like a thick stew lately due to the rains, so my advice is don't bother until it clears up a bit.