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Fishing

Fishing Accessibility Brochure

Fishing Articles

Fairfax County lakes offer a variety of species from bass to bluegill. These fish have preferences, so you may need to choose specific baits to entice the fish you are trying to catch. Using basic tackle and techniques, here are a few tips and tricks on targeting specific fish.

Tips and Tricks to Fishing in the Fall Season

By Jordan Jenkins.

As the cooler weather comes along, some people may think fishing in Fairfax County is over, but the bite is just getting started! Fall is one of the best times of the year to get out on the water and catch some fish. In the fall, it is common for fish to begin stocking up and feeding more so they can get nice and big before the winter. Before getting out on the water in the fall months, there’s a few tips and tricks to the trade that can help you make fall your favorite fishing season.

Fishing for Future Generations

Fishing is a sport that everyone can participate in and brings many people pleasure. Fish is also one of the healthiest dinners people may choose to eat. Our fisheries are not a finite resource, so we must learn to protect them to ensure that future generations may enjoy the sport. Here are a couple of tips to follow that will help each angler be a steward of the angling community.

The Fishing Season is Finally Back

Dust off your tackle box and take the tags off that brand-new fishing pole you got during the holidays because warmer weather is on the horizon and with it comes the early spring fishing season!

Trout Fishing in Virginia

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.

How to Shop for Fishing Tackle (Part 1)

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.

Cold-Weather Fishing

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).

Fishing with Children

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.

Maintaining Your Fishing Equipment

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.

Striped Bass Fishing in Fairfax County

The cold fall weather is finally starting to move in, and you know what that means. The Striped Bass are here. Striped Bass, or Stripers as most people call them, are a migratory fish that move up and down the East Coast of the United States. During the fall, massive schools of these fish travel up the Potomac River and into the creeks.

Riverbend Park

Riverbend's clear Potomac River waters are for smallmouth. There are sunfish and catfish, too. It's a great place for children. You can fish from shore, but better catches come from boats. There's a launch ramp for small craft and weekend rentals of rods and jon boats. Fishing supplies, instruction, classes, birthday parties and a summer camp are available. A Maryland or Virginia fishing license is valid, but the park does not sell them.

More About Fishing at Riverbend

Burke Lake Park

Burke Lake is a 218-acre, state-owned public fishing lake. Fairfax County owns the surrounding land. A 24-hour state launch ramp exclusively for anglers is near the dam. A marina, ramp and pier are mid-lake. Gas motors are prohibited. Smaller docks sit between the state ramp and dam. This may be the region's best muskie water. State surveys show it has the top largemouth bass population among Northern Virginia impoundments. Because it is heavily fished, bass tend towards deeper waters. The lake has channel cat, bluegill, white and yellow perch, redear sunfish, walleye, blue catfish and a healthy gizzard shad base.

More About Fishing at Burke Lake

Lake Accotink

Lake Accotink was drained in 2011. It was not restocked, but some fish have been transferred into it from other Park Authority lakes. It is generally a poor fishing water. Because of siltation, it is a shallow lake of three feet or less in most areas. Limited fishing generally centers on bluegill and catfish.

More About Lake Accotink

Other Web Resources

Virginia Fishing Regulations

Virginia Lakes

Boating, Fishing and Camping Classes

ECLP/Walney Pond

Parks with Small Lakes

Contributors

Dan Grulke - Lake Accotink Park
Jordan Jenkins - Lake Accotink Park
Jordan Libera - Riverbend Park
John Lipetz - Fish and Explore (FCPA-approved vendor)
Daston Sarmadi - Lake Fairfax Park
Public Information Office Staff

Free Rod Rental Program Q&A

New Free Rod Rental Program sponsored by Fairfax County Park Authority, Virginia DWR, and Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation.

No but we would like you to answer a short survey so the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources can make changes to programs they offer. Worms and bait do have a nominal fee.

The survey is used so that the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources can see what new programs are needed, what programs need to be modified, and how they can better serve our community.

Not unless you would like to be contacted. There is an opt out box to be contacted or not contacted.

Special programs coming up, free fishing days, events and programs offered through VDWR and wildlife information, to name a few.

The program is only available during normal operating hours at Burke Lake Park, Riverbend Park, Lake Fairfax Park (spring 2023), and Lake Accotink Park (spring 2023).

No, they are first-come-first-serve. Each site has eight rods/reels and tackle.

It is not required but the information is used to improve this program and other programs.

No, it is only permissible to use at the location you rented it from.

There is no time limit, but we recommend less than 4 hours, so that others can enjoy the same opportunity.

We recommend one rod per person and up to three rods for family units of four or more.

No, you are not. We ask that you be respectful of the equipment and take care of it, but we realize that accidents happen, and that losing tackle is part of the fishing experience. If we take care of the equipment, more people will be provided the same opportunity as you.

If you are over 16 years old you will need to purchase the appropriate fishing license. They can be bought at Walmart, Dick’s Sporting Goods, or by visiting the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources .

Burke Lake Park is located at 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station. For more information, visit Burke Lake Park, or call 703-323-6600.
Riverbend Park is located at 8700 Potomac Hills St., Great Falls. For more information, visit Riverbend Park, or call 703-759-9018.
Lake Fairfax Park is located at 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive in Reston. For more information, visit Lake Fairfax Park, or call 703-471-5415.
Lake Accotink Park is located at 7500 Accotink Park Road. For more information, visit Lake Accotink Park, or call 703-569-3464.
For more information about fishing at Fairfax County parks, email program coordinator Dan Grulke at Dan.Grulke@fairfaxcounty.gov.

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Fishing

Fishing Accessibility Brochure

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Fairfax County Park Authority Fishing

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Riverbend Park

Burke Lake Park

Lake Fairfax

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Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

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Free Rod Rental Program Q&A

Free Rod Rental Program FAQs

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Park Authority

Alert:

Department Resources

Related Resources

Fishing

Fishing Accessibility Brochure

Fishing Articles

Tips

Fairfax County Park Authority Fishing

Bragging Board

Burke Lake Electro-Fishing Survey

Riverbend Park

Burke Lake Park

Lake Fairfax

Lake Accotink

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

Hidden Pond Nature Center

Contributors

Free Rod Rental Program Q&A

Free Rod Rental Program FAQs

Is there a cost?

Why a survey?

Will I be contacted by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources?

If I selected "contacted," what information would I be contacted with?

What days and times is the program available?

Can we reserve rods?

Is the survey required?

Can I take the rod/reels and tackle off location?

How long can I use the rod?

How many rods/reels can I rent?

Am I responsible for broken or lost equipment?

Do I need a fishing license?

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