Around Bull Run to be specific. Water stain, temps, above pool or normal, etc?

Just curious. I fish around shore here a bit (on foot) throughout the year, mostly the bridge and through the woods a bit before the trees and brush start making it tough.

Trying to get an idea if even making the attempt any time soon is worth it. I know the Occoquan River doesn't get good until mid to late April but I never fish the rez this early.

Is it worth the time?

The winning bag there this past weekend was over 25, and I'm pretty sure there was at least three more over 20. So, I'd say the fishing is good there right now. Of course, these are teams in boats rather than the shore, and they've been fishing that rez for years.

wow 25 pounds is no joke esp considering how dirty the water has been lately in northern va. Too bad I cant put my stratos on plane out there or I'd be fishing there on the regular, I'm only a few minutes away from there . I wish this VA weather would make it's mind up on what season it is. This weather is so back and forth not to mention heavy rains. Kinda glad my boat has been in the shop for 2 weeks now instead of a month from now when the bite is in full force.

Seriously? I don't know the Res very well but I would MUCH rather fish the P'mac.

Dan have you ever actually navigated a boat on the potomac in rough conditions ? Riding in someones boat and fishing off the back is a totally different ballgame then driving and operating the trolling motor. The potomac is no doubt the best fishery around here but sometimes it can really test my nerves esp when there is 3-4 foot white caps and 20 mph winds, add in the hundreds of crab pots, jet skis, yachts, submerged rocks and stumps, etc...It does come at a cost. The res is alot easier to deal with. Then again if everyone was on plane with 200hp outboards it would get a lil hectic on the res as well. I will say tho, alot of my fishing buddies have caught alot more 6+ pounders on the res actually then on the river. Maybe just a coincidence, but the res is packed with big bass and there is alot less water to worry about tryin to cover not to mention alot less floating logs and debris.

the heavy bags did not come from bull run. water temps on Sunday in bull run were 52-54. clarity was getting better too. I would say about 18"

Dan have you ever actually navigated a boat on the potomac in rough conditions ? Riding in someones boat and fishing off the back is a totally different ballgame then driving and operating the trolling motor. The potomac is no doubt the best fishery around here but sometimes it can really test my nerves esp when there is 3-4 foot white caps and 20 mph winds, add in the hundreds of crab pots, jet skis, yachts, submerged rocks and stumps, etc...It does come at a cost. The res is alot easier to deal with. Then again if everyone was on plane with 200hp outboards it would get a lil hectic on the res as well. I will say tho, alot of my fishing buddies have caught alot more 6+ pounders on the res actually then on the river. Maybe just a coincidence, but the res is packed with big bass and there is alot less water to worry about tryin to cover not to mention alot less floating logs and debris.

Yeah, not sure how we got to weather conditions but all else equal I'd much rather fish the P'mac. Operating a boat in harsh weather is easy, if the conditions are bad, don't go out on the boat!

Dan have you ever actually navigated a boat on the potomac in rough conditions ? Riding in someones boat and fishing off the back is a totally different ballgame then driving and operating the trolling motor. The potomac is no doubt the best fishery around here but sometimes it can really test my nerves esp when there is 3-4 foot white caps and 20 mph winds, add in the hundreds of crab pots, jet skis, yachts, submerged rocks and stumps, etc...It does come at a cost. The res is alot easier to deal with. Then again if everyone was on plane with 200hp outboards it would get a lil hectic on the res as well. I will say tho, alot of my fishing buddies have caught alot more 6+ pounders on the res actually then on the river. Maybe just a coincidence, but the res is packed with big bass and there is alot less water to worry about tryin to cover not to mention alot less floating logs and debris.

You make fishing sound so stressful.  Relax bro!

Dan have you ever actually navigated a boat on the potomac in rough conditions ? Riding in someones boat and fishing off the back is a totally different ballgame then driving and operating the trolling motor. The potomac is no doubt the best fishery around here but sometimes it can really test my nerves esp when there is 3-4 foot white caps and 20 mph winds, add in the hundreds of crab pots, jet skis, yachts, submerged rocks and stumps, etc...It does come at a cost. The res is alot easier to deal with. Then again if everyone was on plane with 200hp outboards it would get a lil hectic on the res as well. I will say tho, alot of my fishing buddies have caught alot more 6+ pounders on the res actually then on the river. Maybe just a coincidence, but the res is packed with big bass and there is alot less water to worry about tryin to cover not to mention alot less floating logs and debris.

You make fishing sound so stressful. Relax bro!

yeah....makes me not want a boat or at least make sure I only go out on a boat with someone who enjoys it. Aaron Martin always "got the trolling motor" so maybe I should just fish with him (god I hate that show).

Back to the original post, the water is fine and people are catching fish. Steve, time on the water will go a long way to putting your mind at ease on tough weather days. Believe me, both bodies of water will jump up and bite you!! You may think the res is all nicey, nicey but you obviously have very little running time there to make that assumption. Like I said before, knowledge of a certain body of water will make things less stressful

Quan, Soccr thanx that's the exact info I was looking for.  My dad and I may drop the canoe in here at some point but no date set yet.  Definitely gonna prob check out the spots I was catching em' from last year some time soon though before all the shoreline brush gets too bad.

Thanks fellas.

I just came back from checking Occoquan reservoir( FountainHead) it looked really muddy and super windy. I am new to the area and have to rent a boat but with the wind I saw it looked like it could be dangerous( with a rental).?? I want to fish this weekend, should I try Burke or Occuquan? Which one would be easier for me to navigate and maybe catch some bass? I have never been to either. :-/ You don't have to give away your honey holes, just want a point in the right direction. Thanks.

Dang! I didn't realize it was supposed to be windy this weekend. Friday doesn't look too windy but the forecast I just checked had lots of wind on Sat/Sun.

If I were you I'd stick to the bank this weekend. Save the rental money for a day when you won't have to keep the trolling motor on high all day long.

30 mph winds this morning and I had no idea.  Buddy convinced me that a spot was worth checking out.  I have no doubt that on a better day it would have been worth it but today, white caps all over THE LAKE.  Are you kidding me?  I was getting bowled over.

I agree with Dan, wait for a better day.  There are plenty of places you can beat from the shore around here.  If you're interested I can point you in a couple directions per pm.  Just hit me up.  Most of the places I fish from the bank (ponds) are in woodbridge/dale city/dumfries/manassas.

Later.

JCrzy4Bass, pm sent.

Well I picked my boat up today and did a test run out of leesylvania and lemme tell you, that river kicked the living crap out of me.  probably the 2nd or 3rd worst conditions I have seen in my short(year) time of being on the potomac.

Both hands on the wheel, white knuckles, 20+ winds, 3 foot chop+super low tide umm ya. No way Im doing that again. I didnt get a chance to fish really since my trolling motor batteries were dead. I tried drifting the mouth of mattawoman but it was a waste of time so I high tailed it back to the ramp.

Keep in mind my boat is over 20 feet long and is considered a good rough water boat. But that river is no joke on days like today. I have never seen so many submerged stumps stickin out of the water. I marked a few for future reference. The water was doo doo brown and only 54 degrees. Thinkin bout hittin the pohick area tommorow, how is the clarity and temps there ?

Oh and Quan, you are infact right, I have only been on the res a handful of times and every time it was fairly calm. So I'm sure I havent seen the worst it has to offer but I cannot see it being as bad as the main river even on its worst day. Those big boats on the river with 250's make for a whole lot of chop on a busy day wind or no wind. Fishing isnt supposed to be stressful, but navigating a boat seems to be unless Im on the warm side of lake anna in the winter, water like glass and no logs!

In pm sent.

Steve,

I was put on a good spot today (from shore) but realized I picked the wrong place when I got there.  I thought the winds were suppossed to die down last night... nope.  White caps and swells on the frigging lake.  CRAZY!  Anyway... I'm pretty sure that there was a small craft advisory up today.  You need to invest in a weather radio for that boat dude.  You can buy em' online, worth the investment.  Many a time that thing has saved my dad and I a few long trips with the boat and saved our butts with updates before the Potomac got real bad!  Anyway, glad you got your baby back dude.  Can't wait to get out with you man.

I may... may get out for a couple hours Saturday.  Deciding on that or an all day madden session with a buddy of mine on xbox 360, beverages included (we play a coop franchise and are addicted).  If we get out it will be a few hours before hand and we will prob hit up a couple of local ponds just to see if this weather gets em' going.  Later folks.  If any of you are getting out Saturday or plan on just pounding the shore line hit me up and maybe we can hook up.

Well I have a camper flip to pickup in lynchburg and then a brazilian bachelor party on saturday which will be interesting to say the least, so I wont be fishing on saturday. Depending on how late Im out I might not even fish sunday either I do know that me and a small group of friends are goin to my lake house the following weekend for some spawn/post spawn action on the warm side. You're more then welcome to join me if you like. None of them really fish seriously so I may have room on my boat. As for next week, I'm wide open, not too busy with work next week actually so I'm game for some potomac action assuming the water clears and warms up. In the meantime I need to either get this power pole installed or upgrade my trolling motor so this wind doesnt ruin my day. Lemme know if you have a day off and we'll make set plans.

Steve next weekend my dad and I are driving the bass boat down to Charlottesville to fish a lake we found down there.  So I won't be around, but I appreciate the invite.  I am night next week on Wednesday so I'll be out fishing in the AM from about 8 til 11:30 or so from the bank in one of my usual spots.  If you wanna chill hit me up. 

Other wise lets plan on a day during the week of April 12th.  Just give me the best day available for you (except wednesday as I can't get those days off cause they are my night shift) and I'll put in for it.  And we can either do the Potomac, Anna or another river/lake in the area.

Later bro.

Let's hit the river on wednesday then. Might have room for one more person too. Anyone interested send me a pm. Hopefully the water will clear up alot by then, the weather should be great.

Steve, Wednesdays I don't have a lot of time in the am. I'd have to be back at the ramp by 11:30. So long as that doesn't inconvenience you I could do it, but I don't wanna make you cross the Potomac half way through the day to drop me off if you want to stay out there longer.

Let me know.

Dude shoot me a pm and we will work out details boss.