Occoquan Reservoir at Fountainhead Park

Jim White

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Jun 17, 2016, 11:40:43 AM6/17/16

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Thinking about fishing the Occoquan Reservoir at Fountainhead Park. Will rent a john boat with battery/trolling motor. Saw the Snakehead Wiki entry below that referenced catching snakehead. Anyone fished it lately for bass?

Jim White

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Jun 17, 2016, 3:08:30 PM6/17/16

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Okay so I just searched the site for references to the Occoquan Reservoir and found just a few. That led me to another look at the Google Earth view of the Occoquan. Write-ups on the site divide between the Reservoir (above the dam) and the tidal Occoquan area from the foot bridge and below to 123, I95 and US1. It appears that the area between the dam and the foot bridge is off limits from shore but can be fished from a boat (looks like there is some kind of spillway between the dam and the foot bridge at about the half-way point). The area between that spillway and the foot bridge looks, from the satellite view, to be very fishable water. Too bad it can't be fished from shore. The reservoir area above the dam appears to provide standard lake-type fishing. Work the shoreline, coves, structure, etc. A boat rental at Fountainhead will help me there. The tidal portion is another story. Access from shore looks tough (two-handers may have more success). Several marina are visible in overhead imagery. Do any of those rent boats?

Brian Cohen

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Jun 17, 2016, 3:17:08 PM6/17/16

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Jim, Occoquan Regional Park (on the tidal portion) has kayak rentals.

https://www.novaparks.com/parks/occoquan-regional-park/things-to-do/boat-kayak-rental

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Brian Dauer

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Jun 17, 2016, 8:49:50 PM6/17/16

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Jim,

I grew up fishing the Occoquan Reservoir. I'm pretty certain there are no Snakeheads in there and they haven't jumped the dam from the River to the Reservoir yet. This is a good thing. Some people including Google Maps will call the Reservoir, the "Occoquan River," but they are mistaken if it is any of the water above the dam.

It's a great largemouth fishery, but you may be a bit challenged attacking it with a fly rod due to the spin fishing pressure it receives. Fountainhead is too far up for smallmouth so you will be pursuing largemouth, bream, and the occasional crappie almost exclusively if you fish there. I've encountered hundreds of fishermen on the reservoir, but have only seen a handful of people approach it with a fly rod. Not that it can't be done, but definitely use a two hander or something that you can cast pretty far and work the coves and weed beds. You can rent boats with trolling motors at Lake Ridge Marina in Woodbridge or at Fountainhead Park in Fairfax Station.

If you are looking for Snakeheads and want to encounter an environment that might be a little more suitable for the fly rod, I would recommend fishing below the dam in the Occoquan/Potomac River. Occoquan Regional Park and Pohick Regional Park both rent kayaks, canoes, and maybe Jon Boats. I know the bottom of the dam in the Occoquan River and vegetation in the back of Pohick Bay can hold all kinds of species of fish and some pretty consistent Snakeheads. I've heard of people kayaking back into Pohick and hopping out to wade. If you do this, beware of snakes! Not to deter you from fishing the reservoir, but I would recommend the river (Pohick or Occ. Regional Park) for what you're trying to do.

Good luck!

Brian

On Friday, June 17, 2016 at 3:17:08 PM UTC-4, Brian Cohen wrote:

Jim, Occoquan Regional Park (on the tidal portion) has kayak rentals.

https://www.novaparks.com/parks/occoquan-regional-park/things-to-do/boat-kayak-rental

On Fri, Jun 17, 2016 at 3:08 PM, Jim White <jrwh...@gmail.com> wrote:

Okay so I just searched the site for references to the Occoquan Reservoir and found just a few. That led me to another look at the Google Earth view of the Occoquan. Write-ups on the site divide between the Reservoir (above the dam) and the tidal Occoquan area from the foot bridge and below to 123, I95 and US1. It appears that the area between the dam and the foot bridge is off limits from shore but can be fished from a boat (looks like there is some kind of spillway between the dam and the foot bridge at about the half-way point). The area between that spillway and the foot bridge looks, from the satellite view, to be very fishable water. Too bad it can't be fished from shore. The reservoir area above the dam appears to provide standard lake-type fishing. Work the shoreline, coves, structure, etc. A boat rental at Fountainhead will help me there. The tidal portion is another story. Access from shore looks tough (two-handers may have more success). Several marina are visible in overhead imagery. Do any of those rent boats?

On Friday, June 17, 2016 at 11:40:43 AM UTC-4, Jim White wrote:
Thinking about fishing the Occoquan Reservoir at Fountainhead Park. Will rent a john boat with battery/trolling motor. Saw the Snakehead Wiki entry below that referenced catching snakehead. Anyone fished it lately for bass?

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peter odell

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Jun 18, 2016, 8:39:46 AM6/18/16

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a

Fountainhead Regional Park rents johnboats for a pretty reasonable rate, and you can get electric motors as an option. I think kayaks also. I fished there last weekend, and caught 2 good bass and a ton of bluegills, all on topwater flies. I usually fish a bigger popper with a foam ant trailing 18 inches back or so. Early morning good, and boats don't have to be back until early evening. Lots of deep rocky drop-offs on the north side, but some good weeds and logs on the area directly across from the boathouse.

Jim White

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Jun 18, 2016, 1:04:21 PM6/18/16

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Thank you for the great responses! I think I now know just enough to be dangerous and perhaps successful fishing the Reservoir area out of Fountainhead. Will provide a trip report afterwards.

Cheers,

Jim

On Friday, June 17, 2016 at 11:40:43 AM UTC-4, Jim White wrote:

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