Park Authority

On January 1-2, 2022, the Fairfax County Park Authority joined park systems across the country to encourage everyone to start 2022 with a hike. First Day Hikes are part of a nationwide initiative led by America’s State Parks to encourage people to get outdoors. Despite wet weather, thousands of people came out to explore the Fairfax County Park Authority’s trail system and take steps toward improved health and fitness in the new year. More than 170 photos were submitted as part of the First Hike Fairfax 2022 Photo Contest presented by the Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation. The Park Authority Executive Director, a panel of Park Authority judges and a public vote have determined the following winners:  

Sarah Baldwin, Waverly Park  

Judges’ Choice: $100 Park Authority Gift Card OR a 25-Visit FCPA Rec Center Pass 

A panel of judges thought this photo offered a unique perspective of our parks. Since fungi grow best under wet conditions, the photo highlights the beauty that emerges in the parks on rainy days. The sharp detail of the hymenium gills of a mushroom are beautifully framed by the towering trees. 

First Hike Fairfax kicks off a new year of Healthy Strides activities for the whole family. For more fresh ideas, visit the Healthy Strides web page and sign up for the e-newsletter with monthly tips to get you and your family energized.

Find out more about how easy it is to support local parks by visiting the Park Foundation.

For more information on First Hike Fairfax, visit the First Hike Fairfax web page

Media Note: Click the photo to download

See all First Hike Fairfax 2022 photos.

As the Lake Fairfax Park Water Mine closed for the season to humans, dogs got their chance to take a plunge, chase tennis balls in the water and make new canine friends. More than 1,000 dogs and 3,000 people joined in the fun.

Pooches and their families packed the Reston water park on Sunday, Sept. 12, 2021, for Dog Daze – an end-of-summer ritual that attracted dogs of all breeds and sizes. The event featured dogs-only swimming, a Canine Resource Fair and fun for all members of the family. Proceeds, reaching over $10,000 will go to the Fairfax County Park Foundation to benefit parks.

Dog Daze was presented by the Fairfax County Park Authority in partnership with the Hunter Mill Dis-trict Supervisor and the Fairfax County Park Foundation, with support from Weber’s Pet Store and Aquatic Paws.

Media Note: Click on the winning photos below to download. See more photos at the Dog Daze 2021 Flickr page. (Photo credit: Beth Fredericks).

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

The thirst for history from a more personal vantage point was on full display July 31, 2021, when a large crowd, including family members from several states, park neighbors, members of the Park Authority Board and staff, local officials, and History Commission members, gathered at Freedom Hill Park in Vienna for the inaugural Untold Stories program.

Untold Stories is an interpretive project of the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA). It is a multiyear project involving dozens of parks across Fairfax County. The goal is to increase the representation of all peoples in the stories the Park Authority tells as it interprets county natural and cultural resources. This is one strategy in a larger equity and diversity plan that the organization is creating and implementing.

Saturday’s event featured a traditional land acknowledgment ceremony, as well as the unveiling of new interpretive signage that explains a unique time and circumstance during the Civil War and Freedom Hill’s role in it. It also tells the story of a special community that existed amid the racism of the time. It is about a local multiracial family and a family member who may have been a Union spy. Residents of Freedom Hill represented a quintessential American ideal – people of all races and their descendants coming together as one community.

Pictured are several generations of the Carter Family, as well as others involved in the project. Left to right in the center: Rose Powhatan, Director of the Powhatan Intertribal Museum; Gloria Runyon and Dee Carter; Park Authority Board Chairman Bill Bouie; Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn; and Edwin Henderson, project leader.

You can find more information at the Freedom Hill website or read more about Untold Stories.

See Saturday's event program here.

Media Note: Click the image above to download.

See all the Freedom Hill Ceremony photos at the Freedom Hill Flickr page. 

View a video of the event below.

By Dan Grulke

In its simplest form, fishing is casting a line with a lure or bait into the water in hopes of catching a fish. If that were all that was involved in this sport or hobby, few would continue to participate in it. So the real question is, “Why do people go fishing?”

There are many reasons why people fish, but most say fishing helps them become better people. Sounds far-fetched that a sport or hobby as simple as fishing can help people better themselves, so let us dive in depth and see how this can happen.

Fishing is mostly a solitary adventure. One person, in nature, just enjoying the outdoors. At first glance we only see the benefits of an outdoor experience that would reduce stress. However by being on our own, we realize that we must be self-reliant. We must use our creativity to figure out what the fish are feeding on, and we must interpret this information by selecting baits and lures, then put the theory into practice. If we do not catch a fish, we might experience frustration. So we would switch lures and try another spot or technique. Through this process of trying to catch a fish, we have challenged ourselves to think independently, problem-solve, maybe experience frustration, and, if we have not given up, experience success by catching a fish.

This entire process of learning how to succeed is simply disguised as fishing. The process prepares us for the next life challenge, whether its going to school, applying for a job, trying out for a sport or other life challenges.

Because fishing is mostly a solitary sport/hobby, we also learn how to set our own goals and what constitutes success. These are key aspects of building self-esteem. There is no outside pressure to tell us that success is a 5-pound bass or 30 fish caught. We ourselves get to determine what our success is and what our failures are. Maybe it is casting further than we have, or maybe it is not losing a lure or breaking a fishing rod.

By being our own judge and determining our own goals, we give ourselves a firm foundation of what our future success and failures are. We begin to develop an understanding of ourselves, learn our limits, learn our strengths and our weaknesses, and choose to figure out ways to better ourselves. We can make our experience as simple or as complicated as we choose. For many of us, including kids and parents, this may be the only part of our day or week where we get to be our own boss.

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 Rivers 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.

Fall is here and cool, crisp weather has started to emerge as the leaves change their hues. This means it is time to get a pole in the water, and perhaps find yourself a trophy.

The period between late summer and early fall is a great time to do some bass fishing if you have the right knowledge. This article will focus on the keys to successful, local fall bass fishing.  

The first and probably most important step is choosing the right lure and lure color. Crawfish imitation colors and silver/white are going to be your best color options. Here are a few lures that I recommend for targeting bass this time of year:

Swim Jig (Dirty Jigs Finesse Swim Jig or Lunkerhunt Natural Skirted Swim Jig). Fish it around boat docks, no matter what depth. Fish should still be holding up around there.

Finesse Worm (Strike King 3X Elaztech or Zoom/Yum). Fish it shallow on a Texas Rig, Carolina Rig or a Shaky Head setup.

Flipping Jig (Strike King Bitsy Flip ¼ oz or Catch Co Gamechanger Lures Trashmaster). Fish the jig both shallow and deep, swimming it or bouncing it along the bottom around cover.

Squarebill Crankbait (Strike King KVD or 6th Sense Cloud 9 Magnum). Fish it around shallow, visible cover or through schools of baitfish.

Topwater (Strike King Buzz King or 6th Sense MagDog Topwater). Buzzbaits around shallow cover, or a walking bait around schools of baitfish will prove successful this time of year.

The second step is to fish in the right body of water. Areas that have either rocky points, banks, shallow flats near creek or river channel, or matted vegetation are all excellent places to make a few casts and see what is lurking below.

In Fairfax County, you can find these bodies of water at Burke Lake, Huntsman Lake, Lake Accotink or Lake Mercer.

Bass will begin to move into shallower areas during this time of year due to hotter conditions creating a lack of oxygen in deeper spots.

As we move into the late summer and early fall period, monitor the water for those sharp 8- to 10-degree drops because this will put the bass into a frenzy and increase your chances of success.

Fishing after a heavy rain is another opportunity for anglers to increase their chances, as the rain will cause a change in water temperature and move baitfish out of the creeks.

Late summer and early fall offer some of the absolute best bass fishing you can experience.

By Dan Grulke

There are many ways to enjoy a successful fishing trip with children. The main principle is to make it fun, end the fishing trip while they are still having fun and help them achieve a positive and attainable experience. Below are some of the techniques I use with kids in our fishing classes.

Set the tone early for success based on a result the kids have control over. Some examples could be learning fishing knots, tying their own lure, or learning to cast or cast further. Outcomes that children (or adults) cannot control include catching fish, catching a certain number of fish, or catching a specific-sized fish. In short, children’s fishing experience is improved if we focus on their actions and not the end results.

Learn your child’s abilities. If your child has never been fishing, success can be as simple as fishing for 10 minutes or being outdoors in nature. With a more experienced angler, perhaps it is tying their own lure, casting without help, or freeing a snagged lure by themselves. 

Let children become their own person and make some decisions independently, but always guide them. Maybe they want to try a new area in which to fish or a different lure. In fishing these are ways for self-expression, creative thinking and problem-solving.

I often “guide” anglers (even adults) when the situation starts heading down a negative path. For instance, if a lure is stuck on a log, I will let them struggle with getting it free. When it gets to the point where they are beginning to get frustrated, I will step in and say, “That is a really tough snag you have, maybe if we try it this we can get it free.”

In the beginning, plan short fishing trips. I usually plan for about an hourlong fishing trip, as my youngest children have short attention spans. We may get 20 minutes of actual fishing in, and then spend the rest of the time hiking around the lake or seeing how many different animals we can find at the lake. If they have a shorter-than-typical attention span, we may only fish for 10 minutes before they want to do something else. This is OK.

Listen to them and let them dictate what is enjoyable. Remember it is their fishing trip, and we should listen to their voice and desires and put aside ours. If they are having a great time, end the fishing experience before they are tired and bored. This is our desired result if we want to develop and grow their passion. Ending a trip when they are having fun almost always guarantees the question, “When can we go again?” We are looking to plant the seeds in the beginning, not grow the forest in the end.

Celebrate the minor success, as well as the end results. This can be as simple as, “Well we didn’t catch any fish, but you didn’t lose any lures,” or, “We had three bites, so next time we may catch a fish,” or, “Your casting has really gotten better. You are casting 15 feet further than last week.” Always celebrate when you catch a fish but remind them that you may not catch fish every trip. Take pictures of your outing with and without fish.

The most important tip is to sell the trip as an experience. The angling experience is so much more than catching fish. It is about being outside, learning to solve problems, being creative, exploring nature, and struggling and finding success.

Emphasize the experience, praise the success, intervene as needed during the struggle, and it never hurts to stop for frozen yogurt or another of their favorite treats after the trip.

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 Rivers for eight years. Although he currently is not a guide, he enjoys introducing others to the sport of fishing. You can contact him at Dan.Grulke@fairfaxcounty.gov

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

A few of our previous articles have talked about how to maintain and service your fishing gear in preparation for the upcoming spring fishing season. This article will highlight other aspects of fishing that will help you improve your fishing success in the upcoming 2021 season.

As with any activity or sport that you partake in, research is a key element of fishing success. Use the wintertime to research possible new fishing locations and specific fishing locations on the bodies of water where you fish. Visit the lakes, ponds, rivers and streams you fish to locate areas that may offer a higher success rate when the weather warms. Winter is the best time to do this.

Lakes and ponds sometimes have pockets of warmer water than the rest of the lake or pond. This can be the result of springs, creeks or underwater rocks that can warm the water by a few degrees. As a lake or pond starts to ice over, you will spot areas of the lake that still are free from ice. Note these areas and in the spring, when water is cold, these areas are often a little warmer. As a result, small baitfish will often gather at these areas, which in turn draws the bigger fish to them. In the summer, these areas are also productive, as the water is often times cooler than the overall temperature of the body of water. As a result, the baitfish and larger predatory fish will often use these areas as well.

During the winter months, lakes, ponds, rivers and streams will undergo water level fluctuations. This can be caused by nature or humans.

Sometimes lakes, ponds, and reservoirs will undergo what is called “winter drawdown.” This is the intention-lowering of the water level so that ice does not destroy parts of the dam. When this occurs “structure” and “cover” (drop-offs, flats, trees, rocks, etc.) can be revealed. Remember where these features are in the coming warmer months, and you will likely be fishing areas that hold more fish than other areas.

In the winter, there is often long periods without precipitation, this will also cause lakes, ponds, streams, and creeks to naturally have lower water levels. This also makes it easier to identify what we call “high percentage” areas.

Another key aspect of fishing is online research. Use the web to locate possible new areas to fish. You can identify their locations, whether they are public or private, and what type of species they may contain. Remember if planning to fish private properties to get landowner permission first. When seeking permission to fish private properties, I have had the most success offering to clean up areas of the lake/pond in exchange for the fishing opportunity.

The final piece of online research of the angler is understanding the species of fish you like to catch. Study the behaviors, characteristics and biology of the fish that you want to catch. This will help you understand what parts of the water your target species will most likely be located at during different times of the season. You will also be able to identify what types of lures and what type of presentation is mostly likely to be effective.

Taking time to research, whether in person or online, is an important piece of the puzzle in making your upcoming fishing trips successful. By researching before the fishing season, you can identify productive areas, new fishing locations and add or eliminate lures and fishing techniques based on the species you target.

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 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.