Fish Close to Home with FishLocalVA!
Author: Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Published: July 20, 2022
The morning started with the launch of the electroshock boat. A half-hour later, an assortment of fish were in the tank—largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie, channel catfish, brown bullhead, common carp and a few bowfin. Of the 30 or so bass captured, a half dozen were 3 pounds or better, with two fish near 5 pounds. Bluegill were very abundant, and the bowfin were all 20″ or longer. Were we sampling Chickahominy Lake? Kerr Reservoir? James River? No, we were at Lake No.1 at Three Lakes Park, a 7-acre lake owned by Henrico County and located in metro Richmond.
Three Lakes Park is one of the best bets in the Richmond area for a bass over 5 pounds, and during our sampling, we saw an angler do just that fishing a plastic worm from one of the fishing piers. To catch bass and bowfin at Lake No.1, target laydown trees and brush from the many access sites along the shoreline. Fish a spinnerbait or a small jig in the brush, or fish a popper or wacky rigged stickworm in more open areas. If sunfish are your target, fish a worm under a bobber on a #8 hook or try a 3-weight fly rod with some small dry flies, such as a #14 black gnat. For catfish, which are most abundant after the annual fall stocking, try bottom fishing with chicken livers on a #2 hook.
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I like to catch a bowfin. They seem really tough to catch but can be a great fight.