Burke Lake

[Fish n' Chips]

Well, went out on Sunday morning. Dragged the girlfriend out of bed at 5 a.m. and we were eventually out on the water at 6:30. Was nice and calm, with some fog sitting on the water. Perfect, right?. Went behind the island and worked the two points (which i read about on other blogs). We were working jitterbugs, poppers, and rubber worms. We fished around half the lake. The weed beds looked perfect.....i could almost imagine the fish going crazy as our lures hit the edges......but NOTHING. We didn't land a fish all day. I had one bass (small) hit my jitterbug and miss. Other than that a few small sunfish playing with the rubber worm, etc. I through on a Berkley alive minnow....nothing.

By 10:30 the rain really started to come down and we got soaked. We headed back. My gf was a trooper and learned why it is called fishing, not catching. I was a bit dissapointed as the lake looked so fishable and i just couldn't believe fish weren't feeding or atleast we weren't finding them. The boat and motor we rented was perfect. I'm not a catfish type either. Largemouth is the way for me. I might try it again, but will have to get more intell first. I would like to take a weekday off and head out there. Wasn't very crowded Sunday due to the weather.

Oh well, if Burke doesn't pan out, will have to keep searching. Just not a lot of lakes that rent boats, etc. I read that Burke isn't easy and I second it. I gave it all I had :), but will most likely go back for more.

Who else has suffered Burke ;) Are there any other largemouth bass lakes in that area? I'm new the area, from Arlington. I think boat rentals are important....that seems to be the hard part. Well, sorry it wasn't better news with pics of monsters....maybe next trip!

Tight Lines - Fish n'Chips

[Son Worshiper]

It's been a long time but I've fished Burke Lake with only limited success. Catfish seem to be the fish of choice in Burke Lake.

You might try Fountainhead Park on Bull Run (near Clifton). It's a bigger body of water and there's a better variety of places to fish. They rent john boats and electric motors (Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority). I've caught 1.5 to 2 lb bass in there but I'd be willing to bet that there're bigger fish to be had.

[Dan.]

Burke Lake receives a TON of pressure. As far as renting boats, you're best bet is probably Fountainhead on the Occoquan reservoir. It has loads of good fish but sometimes it requires a lot of effort. Also, sometimes they forget to charge the batteries on their rentals. Make sure you don't go on tournament Sundays or you are going to be fighting lots of waves.

If you are willing to drive, Hunting Run and Motts Run outside of Fredericksburg offer rentals and good fishing.

[billx8]

As you discovered NVa is a tough league. I got skunked myself today. August is usually the worst month of the year in my experience. Even January is better. I very rarely fish Burke (did get a nice crappie there Friday) and never Fountainhead. These are very tough places. If you have to fish from a rental I would buy the license and go out of Fletchers in DC. It is also poor at this time but is almost always better than the other two. I have a whole fleet of junk boats but fish from shore about half the time. I recommend it as you can try lots of places with little effort or expense. Exploration is the way to locate fishy spots but it takes lots of trying. Good luck.

[Salmo trutta]

Find a good size stream and go have at it with a pair of old sneakers and an ultra light or fly rod. There will be tons of fish from gamefish to the surprisingly sporty fallfish (chub). Don't limit yourself to rental boats or places with rental boats. That only means one thing, pressured waters and educated fish.

However, I’ve always wanted to try that place for muskie. I’ve heard good things about the elusive 10000 cast fish at Burke. I’ve chased them from Canada to Tennessee and have yet to land one. It’s just that there is supposed to be a good population of them in Burke Lake.

What motor and boat and what did it cost to rent a boat there?

Good luck.

[Fish n' Chips]

Thanks Salmo, and I agree about the pressure, etc. Not being familiar with the area is tough as you can spend days just looking for decent water. Anyways, I will keep plugging. The boat with the motor was $41 for the entire day. Not too bad if you are like me and can fish for 8 hours straight. $5/hour ain't too shabby.

I may try out Fountainhead Lake. Again, another pressure lake from what I read, but I really need to get some largemouth action and soon :)

All else fails, I'll head back home to MA and go for stripers via kayak....always a good time.

[David Redding]

Fish n Chips,
Mostly a bay fisherman but this year made an effort to reaquant myself with bass fishing. Ive discovered what many people know - the potomac river is full of bass. If you have access to a canoe or john boat try Pohick bay, occoquan bay, aquia river, fishing the grass fields with frogs (Horney toads), trick worms, senko's. Pohick Bay rents john boats and canoes and if permissible head back into the creeks fishing the pad fields and grass edges. I joined a fishing club this year as a non-boater and have been invited to fish with a boating member every club tournament. We fish out of Pohick Bay often and many anglers never leave Pohick Bay. Fishing now is mostly an early morning, late evening bite. But in June and first two weeks of July, 16-20 pound 5 fish limit was needed to place in top five. If you can swing it - there are guides (Indian Head Charters) that run early bird and late evening trips on the potomac that are reasonable if you split with someone. Go get em !

[CaptMikeStarrett]

Thanks for the plug David. My summer is all booked up for LGMouth BTW but I do have catfish trips and bay trips available.

On another note I have fished Burke for many years before the drawdown. The tigers then where around the dam mostly in the shallows that are on each side. The non access side is far better.

Lets get back to tactics for success at Burke Lake. I find that a topwater bite is less likely to occur there more than anywhere else. The old trick that works is those prerigged worms with the little spinner. Small ones about 4 inches in a natural color. Also a countdown Raplala is a good bet there. The wood that was left up before flooding on the back of the island is a slow texas rigged ring worm affair across the middle of what looks like open water.

Burke Lake is tough at times. I wonder if Lake Brittle is still good?

Capt Mike

[bayviewtower]

I live down near Lake Brittle and fish it often with my kids. While you can rent a boat at Lake Brittle, you might as well be out for a boat ride. Very heavy pressure, both from shore and from a boat.

[capuzzi2]

Sleeping together and not married. Kids these days.