Bark Camp Lake is a 61-acre lake located in Scott County. It is the oldest Department-owned lake in Southwest Virginia. When construction of the lake was completed in the mid 1950's, a beautiful lake completely surrounded by forested land was born. Some of the trees surrounding the lake have found their way into the lake and are providing good habitat for fish and good fishing spots for anglers. Clear water and fairly dense stands of aquatic vegetation offer anglers and other "fish watchers" a unique scenario.
A variety of fish species are available for anglers, including largemouth bass, black crappie, several sunfish species, channel catfish, and trout. Most of these fish populations are self-sustaining, meaning that they reproduce in the lake and maintain fishable populations without the need for stocking. Catchable-sized trout are stocked seasonally to provide a bit of angling diversity. Grass carp are also stocked as needed to control aquatic vegetation.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Fishing > Lakes > Bark Camp Lake
Fishing > Lakes > Back Bay
With more than 25,000 acres, Back Bay is the largest body of water in the district. It produces good white perch and channel catfish at times, some flounder, and other saltwater and brackish water species. Many citation channel catfish are caught in the tributary creeks in the spring, as fish move into fresher water to spawn. The freshwater creeks feeding into the bay have largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Bank fishing is limited and available only in some of the tributary creeks.
Some fishing is available at the state-owned boat ramps on Mill Landing Road, Back Bay Landing Road, and some private ramps. Several private launch ramps are available on the bay and feeder creeks off Princess Anne and Muddy Creek Roads.
Fishing > Lakes > Arrowhead Lake
Lake Arrowhead is a 39 acre impoundment located in Page County near Luray, Virginia. The lake was constructed in 1971 by the USDA Soil Conservation Service as a flood control impoundment. The lake is owned by the Town of Luray and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland fisheries manages the fishery. Lake Arrowhead sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains offering a magnificent view of the Page Valley. Gradual sloping banks, relatively clear water, and a maximum depth of forty-three feet best describes the physical make up of the lake. The lake basin was cleared of all structure during construction making underwater structure sparse.
A local angling club, Page Valley Bass Anglers, has been active in adding brush fish attractors to the lake. In recent years overabundant aquatic vegetation (elodea) had become a problem in the shallow areas of the lake. The Town of Luray has gone to great effort by using herbicides and triploid grass carp to control the vegetation. Anglers have the opportunity to fish for largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, redear sunfish, and channel catfish at Lake Arrowhead.
Fishing > Lakes > Lake Anna
Lake Anna is a 9,600-acre impoundment located in Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania counties, owned by the Dominion Power Company. The impoundment was completed in 1972 and serves as cooling water for the North Anna Nuclear Power Station. Initial stockings began in 1972, with introductions of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. Subsequent stockings of channel catfish, largemouth bass (northern and southern strains), redear, striped bass, and walleye were made to improve and diversify the fishery. Blueback herring and threadfin shad were successfully introduced in the 1980's to provide additional forage for pelagic (open-water) predators. Annual stockings of striped bass and walleye continue in order to maintain these fisheries (other species are self sustaining).
Prior to 1985, largemouth bass were managed with a 12-inch size limit (five per day). That minimum was changed to a 12 to 15 inch protected slot in 1985 in an effort to help restructure the largemouth bass population. In recent years, as the popularity of catch-and-release bass fishing became prevalent, creel data indicated over 99% of bass caught at Anna were released. Thus, the need for any type of restrictive harvest restriction is moot, and the slot was dropped on July 1, 2006. Striped bass are currently managed under a 20-inch minimum size limit and a creel limit of four per day.
Lake Anna is a reasonable drive from both Northern Virginia and the Richmond area. Outdoorsmen can access Lake Anna at many private marinas, several campgrounds, and at Lake Anna State Park. Reservoir accessibility creates heavy use by both anglers and boaters, especially during summer months. A 2000 creel survey indicated that fishing pressure was around 24 hours/acre. The most popular species fished for included largemouth bass (69%), striped bass (15%), and crappie (12%). Crappie (70%) were harvested at the highest rate, followed by striped bass (29%) and largemouth bass (1%). A creel survey was conducted in 2005, but data have not been analyzed yet.
Hydrilla vertricillata, an exotic aquatic weed, became established into Lake Anna during the late 1980's. Abundance increased from 96 acres in 1990 to 832 acres in 1994. Triploid (sterile) grass carp were stocked into Virginia Power's Waste Heat Treatment Facility in 1994 to control Hydrilla, and Hydrilla abundance is now quite low in both impoundments (some escapement to the main lake side occurred). Grass carp are still alive from that stocking, but their numbers are declining. Most grass carp remaining are now over three feet long.
Fishing > Lakes > Amelia Lake
Amelia Lake is a 100-acre impoundment located entirely within Amelia Wildlife Management Area in Amelia County, Virginia. The lake is owned and managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The impoundment is located close enough to Richmond for convenient access to boating and fishing or other recreational activities on the management area.
Amelia Lake is managed to provide a warmwater fishery comprised of largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. The lake has an over-abundance of largemouth bass, which results in high catch rates of small fish for anglers. This impoundment is well suited for beginning anglers who are interested in catching fish that aren't necessarily trophies.
Amelia Lake can be reached by travelling on 360 to State Route 604 North. Once on 604, simply follow the signs to the lake.
Fishing > Lakes > Lake Airfield
Lake Airfield is located in Sussex and Southampton Counties, about eight miles south of Wakefield on Route 628. It is partially owned by VDGIF. It is surrounded by mixed pine and hardwood forest, with numerous cypress and tupelo trees along the shoreline. Water lilies are abundant in the shallow water and add some beauty to the lake. Those who discover its secrets know they'll be rewarded with some nice fish.
Read More >>>Fishing > Lakes > Albemarle Lake
Lake Albemarle is a 35-acre impoundment owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corp, this lake shows little sign of aging. The shoreline is virtually undeveloped and due to its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Albemarle provides a quality aesthetic outing.
The lake supports a variety of sport fish including self-sustaining populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and black crappie. Channel catfish are stocked annually by the Department to diversify the fishery.
Fishing > Lakes > Abel Reservoir
This 185-acre reservoir is long and riverine; it is almost too long for a single battery electric motor if you plan on traveling its length. There is residential development along the shoreline, although development is slow and sparse. Abel is a water supply for Stafford County.
Read More >>>Fishing > Lakes > Abbott Lake
Abbott Lake is a 24-acre impoundment located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Bedford County and is one of the attractions to the Peaks of Otter Park. Fishing is just one of the many recreational opportunities available in the Park. Numerous hiking opportunities range from very demanding hikes up high mountain peaks to the short flat trail around Abbott Lake. The Park also offers the outdoor enthusiast lodging at the popular Peaks of Otter Lodge or campground. Other facilities include picnic sites and shelters, a restaurant, restrooms, and scenic drives.
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