Park Authority

By Chase Brown

Proper maintenance off all your fishing equipment -- including rods, reels, tackle, accessories, etc.-- is important in order to extend its life and get the most use for your hard-earned dollar.

Just like a wizard who needs a properly working wand to cast magic spells, the same holds true for you and your fishing rod.

Below are some tips on how to extend the life of your equipment.

Rods

1. Make sure that you keep your guides clean to prevent any buildup of algae or dirt on them that will cause your line to become frayed.
2. Use a towel and rubbing alcohol to clean around the reel handle area on your rod every time you take your reel off to ensure that you clean out the dirt and other particles that may have built up on the inside.
3. The preferred method of storage when you are not using your rods is either on a rod rack or in a rod sleeve. If you do not have either one, then just make sure that wherever you store them they are in a vertical position. If the rods are kept horizontally in a way that they start to bend, over time it can cause permanent damage.
4. If you are a person who likes to keep your rod looking polished, then I recommend wiping it down with a disinfectant wipe a couple of times a year to give it that fresh-out-of-the-store shine.

Reels

1. Probably the most important tip to maintaining your fishing reel is to rinse it with freshwater after every use. That does not mean dipping your reel into the pond or lake you just fished. Instead, take a bucket and fill it with water from a hose or sink and dip your reel in. You never want to spray water directly on a reel, as this may cause whatever dirt or algae particles to go up inside your reel and cause further damage.
2. Make sure that you properly lubricate your reel depending on how often you fish, so that all the moving parts you retrieve stays running smoothly. You can get lubricants specifically made for fishing reels, but I find that penetrating fluid (e.g. WD-40) or a silicone oil work just as well. If you are somebody who fishes every day, then you will want to lubricate every couple of weeks. For those of you who fish every month or so, you should lubricate it each time you go.

Tackle and Lures

1. For cleaning hard body lures, use a wet toothbrush to apply cleaner and make sure you get all the hard-to-reach spots. When it is up to your standards of cleanliness, wipe it off with a dry towel.
2. Make sure that you store soft plastics in a cool, dry place so that they do not succumb to melting or loss of color. Ensure that all packages are properly sealed before storage, so they do not become dry and wilted the next time you go to use them.
3. When storing fishing weights, make sure that they are in a place where they will not get bumped around and cause damage to your other lures.
4. Fishing hooks can start to become dull after repeated uses. Before tying a hook onto your line, make sure that your hook is still sharp enough to catch a fish. A common way to tell if your hook needs to be sharpened is by dragging it softly along your fingernail to see if it catches. If it slides down your fingernail with ease, then it is probably time to sharpen it. I tend to keep a small sharpening stone in my tackle box for this exact purpose.

Accessories

1. Make sure fishing nets are properly rinsed with freshwater after each trip, so that you can prevent any rust from forming. Store your net somewhere off the ground so that it prevents things getting caught in the holes of the net.
2. Keep your tackle box clean from dirt and grass and be sure to get rid of any leftover bait that you do not intend on saving. I cannot tell you how many times I have left a piece of bait in my tackle box only to come back a few days later to an awful smell and an infestation of maggots. If you take anything away from this article, please let it be this -- DO NOT LEAVE BAIT IN YOUR TACKLE BOX!

By Dan Grulke

Although the numbers of fish caught per outing decrease during the colder months of the year, the cool temperatures provide the angler with a better chance at a trophy fish (for some species).

Fish in area waters that are still active include the smallmouth bass, walleye and musky. In addition, the larger-sized members of these species are generally the fish that are more active. These aspects are what provides the angler with a trophy of a lifetime opportunity.

Although these three fish all have different preferences for locations in streams, rivers, and lakes, there is one preference that becomes more prevalent than others, that all three share in common during the colder months: finding food easily without spending energy.

All three of these fish will begin to move to their cold-water locations during the fall. All three of these species will be looking for a secure, low stress, comfortable spot in the water that has easy access to a food source. Look for areas that have some type of cover, very little to no current, and some type of structure that allows them to change depths in an easy manner (should water temperatures become uncomfortable).

During this time of year, fish with a very slow presentation. Use something that looks like what the fish you are targeting is feeding on. For smallmouths this will be a tube or creature bait, and for smallmouth and musky it will be swimbaits. There are two schools of thought on what size lure to use: very large or very small.

For smallmouth I use 2 ¾-inch tubes; and for musky and walleyes, I generally throw 4-inch swimbaits. The 4-inch swimbait is very productive because it appeals to all three species when they are living in the same waters. I fish these lures as slow as I can possibly stand.

When fishing in colder weather, it is important to prepare for your outing in a manner that ensures your safety. Always tell a friend or family member where you are fishing and when you expect to be finished. In addition, dress appropriately. Dress in layers, so that you can peel off clothing as the weather warms. Wear a wind breaker as it will block out most wind that will penetrate regular jackets. Do not use cotton in your base layers or outer layers, as it becomes ineffective at retaining heat once wet. Have your boat, safety gear and life jackets in the proper mechanical and working condition. Be aware of changing weather conditions.

Although fishing in the winter can be slow, it is often one of the best times for catching a trophy of a lifetime. However, during the colder months, the margin of error is a lot smaller when concerning your safety. As a result, you will need to be more cautious and prepare appropriately for the colder conditions you will be fishing in.

By Dan Grulke

How do I know what type of fishing equipment to purchase? Do I need an expensive fishing rod? What is the best fishing reel to get? The purpose of this article will be to answer some of these questions to simplify things for your fishing needs.

The proper fishing equipment is mostly based on the types of waters and fish you will be trying to catch. A previous article, “Preparing for Fishing Season 2021,” talks about research. The first step is to identify what species of fish you want to catch. Once this is determined, a person can then select the rod, reel, line and proper lures to use.

Smaller species of fish generally feed on smaller food items. Therefore, rods that are more flexible and capable of casting smaller lures are more productive. In addition, smaller diameter line casts lighter weight and smaller lures more efficiently. So a smaller-sized reel is best.

Large species of fish generally eat bigger food items, so you would need a stiffer fishing rod to cast heavier lures, and a larger reel to hold larger diameter line that is stronger for catching bigger fish.

For most cases, an expensive fishing rod is not needed for most fishing situations. The two areas where I would suggest investing in expensive fishing gear is for competitive anglers (tournaments), fishing guides or people fishing several times a week.

For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on the beginning or moderate interest angler.

For the beginning angler, I suggest using less expensive equipment until you have learned how to properly care and use your fishing equipment and until you have decided if this is a long-term hobby or a passing phase.

This helps ease the pain when you break a rod (until you learn what not to do and how to handle fishing rods) and if you decide you don’t like fishing and your interests are elsewhere. There is not a lot of money tied up in your fishing gear.

If your desire for fishing increases, or you decide that this is a long-term hobby, then I suggest buying the best equipment you can afford. It has been my experience that research, proper fishing techniques, proper lure selection, and fishing line are far more important for catching fish than a $30 fishing rod vs. a $100 fishing rod. However make no mistake, there is a huge difference in the performance of a $30-$40 fishing rod compared to the fishing rods costing upward of $150.

When I first started fishing, I always spent more on my fishing rods than on my reels. Forty years later, I am still spending more money on my fishing rods than on my reels. I still purchase the highest reels I can afford but when on a fixed budget, I tend to spend more on the fishing rod and spend less on the reel.

Like all fishing equipment (and most material items), the more a reel costs generally, the more efficient and effective it is. High-priced reels are less likely to break, generally have better “drag” systems (used when fighting large fish), and in the case of baitcasting reels, are able to cast the lightest lures and the heaviest lures (more flexible). For me the rod, line and lure are the key aspects of catching a fish. In this line of thought, I spend less on the reel knowing I will have to replace it every two years.

The key points in this article are to spend what you are comfortable with, research your target fish to select your equipment, and that higher-priced gear does have a significant advantage less expensive gear.

Dan Grulke is the Fishing Coordinator for the Fairfax County Park Authority. He has lived in Northern Virginia for all but five years of his life. He has been fishing locally, in other states and in other countries for 40 years. He has previously been a freshwater fishing guide on the Susquehanna River and Upper Potomac River for eight years. Although he currently is not a guide, he enjoys introducing others to the sport of fishing. You can contact Dan at Dan.Grulke@fairfaxcounty.gov.

By Chase Brown

With winter upon us, many anglers may have put away their fishing gear until spring. But the freezing temperatures can offer some phenomenal trout fishing if you know where to go and what to use.

Trout is the common name for fish belonging to the genera Oncorhynchus, Salmo, Salvelinus, as well as the subfamily Salmoninae of the family Salmonidae. The most popular species that you can find in Virginia are the rainbow trout, brown trout or the brook trout.

Out of these three species, the only species native to Virginia is the brook trout, which inhabits areas in the Shenandoah and throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. What makes this fish unique is its ability to flourish in extremely cold-water temperatures in which most other fish would not be able to survive. Trout have been known to easily withstand water temperatures below 40 degrees, but their ideal temperature is between 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit.

The population of brook trout in the area, however, is not what it was in the past. It has suffered drastically because of pollution and overfishing. Progress has been made to protect the species, and the recovery effort seems to be showing signs of success in recent years.

Rainbow trout are native to rivers and streams west of the Rocky Mountains but were introduced into Virginia in 1943, after they became popular fish to catch among anglers.

In many streams in creeks in the mountainous areas of Virginia, you can find self-sufficient populations of rainbow trout, but there are many lakes and ponds around the state that bring in stocked fish from farms around the country.

The brown trout is native to Germany but was brought to North America around 1884 and arrived in Virginia around the 1960s. Similar to the northern snakehead, brown trout are actually considered invasive species because research has shown that they consume too many smaller species of native fish. However, there are many ponds and lakes in Virginia that stock both brown trout and rainbow trout.

You can check the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries’ website to find the closest body of water to you that holds stocked trout, as well as the last day they were stocked.

In my opinion, trout fishing is one of most difficult but rewarding experiences you can have as an angler. They are some of the most nitpicky fish that you can imagine, and as an angler you must really be on your game and know what they want if you have any chance of success out there.

Here are a few tips for both standard anglers and fly-fishing anglers:

Know where your trout is coming from.

What I mean by this is you must know whether the fish is a stocked fish or a fish that is native to that specific area. Stocked trout generally will go for wackier-colored flies and lures, such as a bright orange or pink colors resembling fish eggs, or the food they got on the fish farm.

Wild trout favor more natural flies and lures that resemble bugs or larvae that are common to that area. If the trout you are fishing for are native to that area, then before you choose a fly/lure, you should try to match it with any insects or larvae you find around the creek or stream to give you the best chance of success.

Invest in fluorocarbon.

Fluorocarbon is considered the holy grail of fishing line and can be the difference between you catching one trout or a hundred trout. Twenty-five yards of 8-test-pound fluorocarbon will run anywhere from $8 to $12, which seems like a little for a lot, but you will thank me later. Fluorocarbon is a high-strength fishing line that is practically invisible when it hits the water, making your lure or bait presentation much more believable for this fish. I typically tie a 2-foot leader of 8 test pounds fluorocarbon to the end of my line and will cut it off and re-tie when it gets down to about a foot.
 

Scented and colorful trout dough is your best friend when it comes to stocked trout.

If there is one bait that I could recommend that you should always have on you when you are fishing for trout, it would be a jar of trout dough. I have been fishing for trout for more than 10 years now, and I have not seen any bait produce as much fish as this one has over the years. There are many different colors and scents to choose from but this year the rainbow and salmon egg colors seem to be working the best.

Some other lures and baits I would recommend are small spinnerbaits (In my experience, I have found that a gold spinner along with whatever colors you think would work best for the trout in that area seems to always do the trick), super small soft plastics resembling small larvae swimming through the rocks, or small earthworms.

Find the deep pools.

Trout are typically found in fast-moving waters, such as streams and creeks, and their feeding strategy is essentially to lie in wait until an insect or larvae comes across their line of vision. Trout gather in the deeper spots of the stream or creek and behind rocks, where they can get a break from the rapid-flowing water and pick off easy prey.

When fishing for trout, you want to first be cautious approaching the stream or creek because the water is typically going to be shallow enough that you may be able to see the fish in the water. If you can see the fish, just know the fish can probably see you too, so you want to be slow and steady when approaching your fishing spot. When you find your deep pool, do not cast directly into it but rather cast a little upstream, and let your lure or bait be carried in by the current, so you do not scare the fish away.

Location, location, location.

There are many different creeks and streams in Virginia that hold trout. Passage Creek is an hour or two outside of Fairfax County but offers some amazing trout fishing, as well as some beautiful scenery. The Rapidan River is an 88-mile-long tributary of the Rappahannock and is another excellent place for trout fishing in Virginia, as well as one of the few places in the state that is still known to hold brook trout.

Wherever you decide to go, keep my tips in mind and be sure to follow Virginia state laws on recreational angling when you are out there. Good Luck!

The Fairfax County Park Authority has become certified as a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified employer. This designation serves as a welcome sign for veterans seeking employment with the agency. The V3 Program helps employers develop and implement long-term strategies and nationally recognized best practices in recruiting, hiring and retaining Veterans.

Veterans have many well-recognized and valued traits. They are disciplined team players; enter the workforce with identifiable and transferable skills, proven in real-world situations; are trained and expected to be able to perform under pressure, with deadlines and under trying conditions; they fit in and work well in diverse workplaces; and they are expected to be constantly learning, to take initiative and be accountable for their actions.

Virginia is fortunate to have one of the youngest and the fastest growing Veteran labor force in the United States. Thousands of new Veterans enter Virginia’s workforce each year, and that number is projected to rise in the coming years. While many employers are unaware of the value Veterans can bring to their workforce, other employers are actively seeking to hire Veterans as a part of their workforce. The Park Authority will continue to develop relationships with local military facilities to recruit, hire, train and retain Veterans.

The V3 Program is an official Commonwealth of Virginia Program, authorized under the Code of Virginia (§ 2.2-2001.2). For more information contact the Park Authority at Parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov. For more information about hiring opportunites at the Park Authority, visit the Jobs and Internships page.

Help tidy up your local parks and clear the earth’s arteries by volunteering for some spring cleaning in April. It’s a great way for individuals, families and groups to earn service hours, work on team building or simply give back to the local community.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s annual Watershed Clean-up Days are scheduled in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy at sites throughout the county on April 4, 5, 11 and 18. Most of the volunteer work involves collecting and bagging trash found on park grounds, but other projects may be added. For instance, the cleanup at Lee District Park involves cleaning up landscape beds and mulching.

Cleanups on Saturday, April 4 include:

• 8 to 10 a.m.: McLean Central Park (meet in the Dolley Madison Library parking lot)
• 9 to 11 a.m.: Ossian Hall Park (meet in the parking lot in front of the playground)
• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Merrybrook Run Stream Valley Park (meet in the Liberty Property Trust parking lot)
• 9 a.m. to noon: Hidden Pond Nature Center and Lake Fairfax Park

Cleanup on Sunday, April 5 includes:

• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Huntley Meadows Park

Cleanup on Saturday, April 11 includes:

• 9 to 11 a.m.: Lake Accotink Park

Cleanups on Saturday, April 18 include:

• 8 to 11 a.m.: Royal Lake Park in Fairfax
• 9 to 11 a.m.: Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Lillian Carey Park (meet by the tennis courts near the rear parking lot of Bailey’s Community Center)
• 9 to 11:30 a.m.: Arrowbrook Park, Bren Mar Park (meet in the parking lot), Chandon Park, Cub Run RECenter, Lee District Park (meet in front of the RECenter), London Towne, Scott’s Run Nature Preserve, Sully Historic Site, Sully Station I, Sully Station II, Isaac Walton, Virginia Run and Chalet Woods
• 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.: Roundtree Park
• 10 a.m. to noon: Riverbend Park

Staff will be at each cleanup site to provide trash bags, gloves, guidance and appreciation.

To sign up to volunteer, go to the Nature Conservancy website. For questions about individual cleanups, please contact the site. Find information about Fairfax County parks.

The Laurel Hill Park Volunteer Team (PVT) has been honored by the Virginia House of Delegates for its service work on behalf of parks. Delegate Kathy Tran proposed a resolution to honor the group for receiving the Park Authority’s Elly Doyle Service Award in 2019, and she presented it to the Laurel Hill PVT in a ceremony at the park on December 12, 2020.  

House Joint Resolution No. 257 was offered on February 18, 2020, as an expression of the General Assembly's “ardent appreciation for their contributions to Fairfax County and the Commonwealth.” It commends the Laurel Hill PVT for being one of the first groups to collaborate with the Fairfax County Park Authority through the Park Volunteer Team Program and helping the county refine its model for coordinating park maintenance efforts between county employees and volunteers. 

Members of the PVT conduct service activities throughout the year such as trash clean-ups, invasive plant removal and trail maintenance. The work is part of group’s mission to make Laurel Hill Park as beautiful and inviting as possible and to protect the park's pristine nature, wildlife, birds and plants.   

For more information, contact the Public Information Office at 703-324-8662 or send an email to parkmail@fairfaxcounty.gov.   

See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157717472667816 

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On Saturday, February 8, 2020, students from the Oakton High School Environmental Club spent two hours removing invasive shrubs from Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton, VA. The students removed 15 bags of Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) as part of the Fairfax County Park Authority Invasive Management Area (IMA) program.

The Fairfax County Park Authority’s IMA program encourages restoration and tree preservation through the removal of non-native invasive species. There are roughly 60 IMA sites throughout Fairfax County dealing with various invasive species. To find out more information about IMA and sign up for future workdays visit our Invasive Management Area web page.

For a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in Fairfax County parks, visit the Park Authority volunteer web page.

Pictured in photo: On Saturday, February 8, 2020, students from the Oakton High School Environment Club removed 15 bags of invasive species from Difficult Run Stream Valley Park in Oakton, VA.  

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More than 30 volunteers bundled up and braved the cold to help Lake Accotink Park on this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.  

Friends of Lake Accotink Park (FLAP) sponsored the volunteer clean-up on Monday, January 20, 2020, at the park’s marina. FLAP board members Jim Hickey and Dave Gibson met the volunteers, provided trash bags and led the group to a successful day of giving back and making a difference. Volunteers filled dozens of trash bags with garbage collected in the park.

FLAP holds monthly volunteer clean-ups at several Lake Accotink Park locations. For more information about FLAP events, visit Friends of Lake Accotink Park. For a complete listing of volunteer opportunities in Fairfax County parks, visit the Park Authority volunteer page.

Pictured in photo:  Brian, Tatiana and Thomas Lisle of Springfield, Virginia, participate in the Friends of Lake Accotink Park volunteer clean-up event on Monday, January 20, 2020.

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On Monday, January 20, 2020, Braddock Supervisor James Walkinshaw, along with the Royal Lake Park Volunteer Team (aka Friends of Royal Lake) engaging more than 60 volunteers, honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a day of service at Rabbit Branch Park in Fairfax, Virginia. The group braved frigid temps all morning to clean up the park, stream and surrounding wooded areas, removing 18 large bags of trash. They also gave the park sign a refresh by carefully hand-painting the faded lettering and touching up worn spots. The Park Authority provided the paint and supplies and provided project oversight.

Photo: Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and Royal Lake Park Volunteer Team Lead Sarah Lennon are joined by more than 60 volunteers for a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day service event at Rabbit Branch Park in Fairfax.

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