Occoquan striper action

[HeaveToo]

I am starting to catch a fair number of Occoquan stripers from the river.  One day I caught 9 before I had to leave.  Most of them are schoolies and I haven't gotten anything over 18" yet but I am sure that they will show up.

I went out the other day, about a week ago, and caught the 9.  Two days ago I didn't catch a single striper but I caught two large mouth bass that were 18" and 17" along with 2 20"+ catfish.  The crappie are also running and I caught them each time I went out.

I decided to go out today.  I got up into the area that I normally fish and the stripers were blowing up the surface.  I managed to catch one striper when it dawned on me that I just heard thunder and the river is actually rising.  I paddled like hell for home and managed to stow all of my stuff before the rain hit.  The striper that I caught was 18" and fat!

They are biting on clouser's minnow, chartreuse and white.  Size does matter and I was fishing a 2 ot most of the time. 

Hopefully the big ones will show up soon.

[Daniel Davala]

Great report HeaveToo - WELL DONE!  You have certainly put in some time out there finding them.  Are you fishing a sinking line most of the time? 

 

That section of river also gets a tremendous Shad run in the Spring - mostly Hickories, and a great run of spawning Stripers at that time as well - some quite large.  You should have that whole stretch pretty well dialed in by then.  Lots to look forward to.

 

Dan

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[John Bilotta]

Heave,

Agree with Dan, thanks. I've also been catching a fair number of  good size catfish in the past two weeks, generally on a 2/0 olive/white clouser. I'm fishing a TH skagit from Three Sisters up through Georgetown and over on  the northside of Roosevelt Island closest to  Key Bridge. 

John

[Richard Lin]

John - Can I do with TH rod at Georgetown Waterfront Park? I have to find a place where I can stand in the water with TH rod.

 

Thanks

Richard

[HeaveToo]

I went in the Occoquan today and didn't expect much because the water is very murky.  There is a lot of current in the tail end making the areas I normally fish class 1 or class 2 rapids.  I paddled up against the current and got situated long enough to make a few casts.  On the third cast I caught a 20" striper.  This one fought twice as hard because the current was really flowing.  It managed to pull me out of my spot and I had to stow my anchor while fighting the fish.  I then went down two descent rifles in the kayak and managed to get out of them and land the fish.  After that I did make one more paddle up into the area and caught a 16" fish.

Following that fish I was getting a bit nervous catching these fish and going through the rapids so I moved to the end of the rapids.  At the end of the rapids I was fishing it like you would fish gravelly point.  I managed to hook another 10 fish ranging from 8" to 16" long.  Another boat managed to get into the area where I was fishing (local knowledge) and they were spin fishing.  They were catching fish but not as many as I was.

I have made a modified chartreuse and white clouser with a zonker strip tied into it and then I wrap Mylar over the body.  It is an effective fly as all of the fish I caught were on that.  I am also using a base of red thread.  This is on a 2 ot hook.

During this trip I had another 5 or so hook ups and losses and a bunch of hits that didn't connect.  The bite is definitely on the outgoing tide in the current.

[Josh Delmonico]

Thanks for the report. Is it possible to send a pic of the fly?

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[Brian D]

I've never fished the occoquan -- is it possible to reach the spots you're getting to from shore? Where do you put in?

[HeaveToo]

Here is the picture of the modified clouser as requested.  Cast it across the current and keep your line tight as it drifts.  Once it is almost out of the current begin to strip it back in.  The rabbit hair gives it awesome action. 

You have to have a canoe or kayak to access where I am fishing.  A boat probably can't get back into the area that I am fishing.  I have had some success at the end of the big rocks though.  I imagine that if the current is flowing you may be able to pick some fish up by the foot bridge as well.

[HeaveToo]

I finally managed to get out tonight to fish after working way too much!  I fished for 2 hours.  The bite was slow but the fish were hovering in the mid to upper teens for inches.  The nicest fish was 17 3/4" long.  He fought pretty darn good too.

So right now the fish are holding in two places.  The first place is where I have been catching them all along but it is tricky to get to and fish because the water levels are up.  The second place is right at the end of the big rocks.  They are holding on the edges of the current.

[Steve F]

Heave,

I'm planning on heading out early tomorrow to wade at the LHC bridge but I was thinking of swinging over to Occoquan at the slack tide with my dad and his kayaks to change things up if it's quiet in Mt Vernon.  Can you put in at the foot bridge parking or do you have to go to the Occo Regional park?  I've never been out there, but reading the discussions and looking at the map, it seems that all the action is upstream of the foot bridge.  Thanks!

 

  ~ Steve

[HeaveToo]

The tide seems to make all the difference for the stripers.  The outgoing tide is like a light switch and the action isn't there until the tide starts going out.

I have put in at the Footbridge.  It can be difficult to put the kayak down there but I managed to do it quite a few times.  One other place that I frequently put in is at the Rt. 123 bridge in the town of Occoquan.  There is a parking lot under the bridge that offers you a very short portage to put the kayak in the water.  Just watch the loose large stones for foot placement.  If you go to the area where the is a break in the guardrail and then go do the drainage area it is a bit easier and shallower to access.  From there it isn't too bad of a paddle.

When you get there the water is a little up.  Have no fear as they were biting last night.  Paddle to the area where the main current comes down from the rocks and fish the current.  They tend to hold in the current and at the edges of the current.  I drew a map and can answer further questions about this.

In this post is a picture of the clowser's that I am using.  It has been highly effective and it is in size 2ot.  There are a ton of baitfish in that area that are of a similar size and they are feeding heavily on this.  I have talked to other fishermen who tell me that as the water cools bigger fish will move in.  My bigggest so far is 20".  I know of one 7 lb fish being caught out of there.

There is no real shore access to this spot.  Most of the time you have it all to yourself.

If you do manage to paddle upstream it is where I catch most of my fish.  There is a deep pool that is just below where there is a 1' drop off (riffle) where you can't paddle any further past that point.  Last night I had a hard time getting into this area and actually fished from a back eddy just near it and I picked up three fish on the swirling back eddy.  Cast out into the main current and let your fly drift until it is parallel with the current and then strip it in.  Same technique for the lower area.

I am fishing a sink tip line.  I am loosing flies in some areas and my lead eyes are getting banged up so I am making contact with the bottom.  My depth finder has told me it is 5-6 feet in the main channel and deep pool area.  It does very depending on the tide.  I would say it is easily 6-7 feet with all of the water flowing through there right now.

On the lower area where I am catching fish it is 7+ feet deep.  The fish seem to be hitting at all stages and I have had some smaller schoolies chase the fly to the surface.  Currently the water temp is 62 degrees on the surface.

I have had MOST of my luck in the furthest back place.  The bigger fish have been coming from that area as well.

Just be careful in that area.....with the higher water it is tougher to fish the further back place and it is a bit nerve wracking.

Good luck and watch the tides!

[Steve F]

Wow, great info!  I had to forgo the trip this morning as my dad wasn't able to make it with his kayaks after all.  But we will definitely be putting all this knowledge to good use next week for the long weekend.  The tides seem to work out a bit better as well.  Looks like I'll have to swing out to LHC or Gravelly tonight to get my fix for this weekend.  Thanks for spreading the good word!

   ~ Steve

[mike phelps]

I fished this past weekend below 301 bridge and found an abundant
amount of fish in the 20"-30 " range. I was expecting to find larger
fish in the mid thirties, however the larger fish have yet to show.
I saw large schools moving north and hopefully they will be present in
the area this week. Those who fish the occoquan or pohick may see an
increased number of stripers by midweek or the upcoming weekend.
Good luck. - Mike

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[HeaveToo]

I headed out today for a few hours to coincide with a falling tide.  I fished from 12:30 to 2:30.  I caught only one striper about 16".  It did fight good but the water in the Occoquan was a few feet low.  I can't figure this one out because the water is still flowing from the dam and it is really moving. 

It was so cold out there on the water today.  I am guessing that the season is just about passed!  This is the latest in the season that I have flyfished so this is definitely unique for me. 

I was wearing thermals underneath my jeans and waders and I was still cold.  I am not sure how much longer I will be yak fishing this year!

[Gregg DiSalvo]

Its official.  I picked up the Jackson Mayfly on sale this weekend.  Thank you all for the input and advice.  I feel like I could have gone in any direction and would have been happy, but I managed two outing with the mayfly so far and have loved it!  Its as smooth and stable as I remember it AND I got into a few nice LMGs when targeting striper.  I am hoping to open fall striper season in the next few weeks.  I saw a few busting bait, but it wasn't consistent and they shot right back down to the depths.  If I get out again this coming weekend, I may bring a spin rod to jig with as well, or I could just wait for the water to cool a bit more.

Anyway, I love the mayfly so far and feels great no longer being landlocked. 

Gregg