Park Authority

By Dan Grulke

Two years ago, I would have never thought I would have to write an article on how to shop for fishing gear. However with COVID-19, things have drastically changed.

Online shopping is at an all-time high; fishing gear is mostly low on stock; and the ability to replace fishing product takes forever, with the delay in shipping domestically and internationally. Below are ways that will give you an idea on how to navigate these issues.

Most brick-and-mortar stores are very low or out of some fishing equipment. This is due to two factors: high demand for fishing gear and the slow ability to replace it. With shipping restrictions and delays, it is hard for distributors to keep up with the demand for fishing tackle. As a result, most retailers are out of stock. One way to solve this issue is when the item you need is in stock, buy enough of the item to last you for a longer period. You can also research other places to buy tackle, look for the out-of-the-way places that people may not know about.

There are also multiple online retailers that carry fishing gear and auction sites. These sites often have fishing tackle that brick-and-mortar stores are out of. Remember that there are significant shipping delays, so plan your orders well in advance. If the site has a “notify when available” option, use it. Desirable fishing tackle is often sold out as soon as it comes in.

Prioritize your fishing equipment shopping list. What is your most effective lure? What is your favorite line? What lure do you need to have for summer? What lures can you do without? Once you have decided your priorities, you can then build a list and schedule of what is needed immediately and what can wait.

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.

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.  

Media Note: Click photo to download

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 

Media Note: Click photo to download

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.

Media Note: Click photo to download

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.

Media Note: Click photo to download

On January 12, 2020, more than 500 people gathered at Burke Lake Park in Springfield, VA, to witness the release of a rehabilitated bald eagle. The bird was recovered by the Fairfax County Police Department on December 12, 2019, after a community member saw the bird on a trail near Burke Lake, unable to fly.  Dr. Belinda Burwell, D.V.M., of Wildlife Veterinary Care, facilitated the rehabilitation of the bird, who suffered from a shoulder injury and lead poisoning. After a few jumps on the ground, the eagle headed towards the lake.

Photo: Hundreds of onlookers watched as a rehabilitated bald eagle was released at Burke Lake Park on Sunday, January 12, 2020. 

Media Note: Click photo to download

See more photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157712652985167

On January 1-3, 2021, the Fairfax County Park Authority joined America’s state parks including Virginia State Parks to encourage everyone to start 2021 with a hike. In Fairfax County, it’s a great way to appreciate more than 450 miles of trails and to set the bar for a new year of fitness and outdoor activity. This year’s contests included special prize amounts of $70 to commemorate the Park Authority’s 70th anniversary. Nearly 200 hikers submitted photos as part of the First Hike Fairfax 2021 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:

Elaine Starr, Huntley Meadows Park

Judges’ Choice: $70 Park Authority Gift Card OR 25-visit FCPA RECenter Pass

A panel of judges thought the photographer did an excellent job of clearly capturing the detail of this action shot from a Northern pintail at Huntley Meadows Park. They felt like the photo transported them to the Huntley wetlands – home to so many beautiful birds and animals.

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 2021 photos at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ffxparks/albums/72157717789997173