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Posted: 8/26/2014 4:55:07 PM EDT
Any good ponds accessible to the public in the Reston - Arlington - Alexandria area?

I live in Arlington and am trying to get back into fishing, mostly for fun but possibly for food. Bass, catfish, crappie, whatever.

I don't have a boat so it's gotta be shore fishing and in the past I have had the most fun on small office park sized ponds.

Any suggestions?
Link Posted: 8/26/2014 6:32:47 PM EDT
[#1]
There are plenty of fishmen on this board who may share their favorite fishing holes, but here is a listing for public Fairfax County placeshttp://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/fishing.htm

IWLA (private) in Centerville also has a stocked pond (catch and release)
Link Posted: 8/26/2014 10:18:08 PM EDT
[#2]
If you're looking for food, Cook Lake in Alexandria has farm raised catfish that are good eating size.
Link Posted: 8/29/2014 8:56:26 AM EDT
[#3]
Burke Lake is where I used to go around here.  Haven't been in a while.
Link Posted: 8/29/2014 5:44:54 PM EDT
[#4]

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If you're looking for food, Cook Lake in Alexandria has farm raised catfish that are good eating size.
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During the winter, this is also stocked with trout.
Link Posted: 8/29/2014 9:26:17 PM EDT
[#5]
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Quoted:

  During the winter, this is also stocked with trout.
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Quoted:
If you're looking for food, Cook Lake in Alexandria has farm raised catfish that are good eating size.

  During the winter, this is also stocked with trout.


I will have to check this out.

And I was at Burke on Tuesday with just a single tiny crappie. Any tips for a shore fisherman at Burke?
Link Posted: 9/1/2014 2:17:30 PM EDT
[#6]
A lot of fishing pressure on Burke, my suggestion is to fish elsewhere.  
Link Posted: 9/3/2014 1:57:38 PM EDT
[#7]
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Quoted:
A lot of fishing pressure on Burke, my suggestion is to fish elsewhere.  
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Unfortunately, too much pressure has been my experience with almost every public fishing water in NoVA.  I think the combination of population density combined with most people actually living on virtually no land produces a lot of pressure on any public outdoor recreation area.  I spend a fair amount of time fishing in public waters around NoVA, but I don't catch very much at all.  I enjoy getting outside and having a respite from suburban hell, but my enjoyment isn't tied to actual fishing success.
Link Posted: 9/4/2014 7:37:15 AM EDT
[#8]
The park entry side of Burke gets the most pressure.  The far side is better but not many open areas.  I used to have an inflatable raft with a electric trolling motor to get out near the island.  Some good bass out in that part.  Never could get ahold of the muskie though.
Link Posted: 9/4/2014 1:35:29 PM EDT
[#9]

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Quoted:
Unfortunately, too much pressure has been my experience with almost every public fishing water in NoVA.  I think the combination of population density combined with most people actually living on virtually no land produces a lot of pressure on any public outdoor recreation area.  I spend a fair amount of time fishing in public waters around NoVA, but I don't catch very much at all.  I enjoy getting outside and having a respite from suburban hell, but my enjoyment isn't tied to actual fishing success.
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Quoted:



Quoted:

A lot of fishing pressure on Burke, my suggestion is to fish elsewhere.  




Unfortunately, too much pressure has been my experience with almost every public fishing water in NoVA.  I think the combination of population density combined with most people actually living on virtually no land produces a lot of pressure on any public outdoor recreation area.  I spend a fair amount of time fishing in public waters around NoVA, but I don't catch very much at all.  I enjoy getting outside and having a respite from suburban hell, but my enjoyment isn't tied to actual fishing success.




 
So true.




I tend to hit the oddball places, just for this reason.  The illegals around here are like locusts around fishing holes.  They take anything/everything they can catch, so they tend to wipe out generations at a time.



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