Lake Fairfax Fishing in Fairfax County, Virginia
Vienna Area

Easy to access. There is a large parking lot within a few hundred feet of the lake. There is a significant amount of algae in the water, and most spots seem to be very shallow. On the positive side, there are a fair amount spots around the lake with easy access for casting (not on rocks or large inclines). My seven year old son and I spent about 3 hours fishing in the shallow regions next to the boardwalk and caught 3 very small largemouths and about 3 pounds of algae.

Have to agree. The boat going within 20' of where you are fishing is really annoying and rather disrepectful. Yet again, it normally is some high schooler driving it anyhow. This lake is heavily used year round. Once the summer months come around, too much algae for fishing. If taking the kids, go down to the picnic areas along the stream. There are plenty of 1-2" sunfish for them to catch with a few 2-3" largemouth just for fun. Use a smaller hook and earthworms and you will be catching them all day long (or until the kids get board). My kids love it so please, catch and release the small ones and clean up after yourself.

Have to agree. The boat going within 20' of where you are fishing is really annoying and rather disrepectful. Yet again, it normally is some high schooler driving it anyhow. This lake is heavily used year round. Once the summer months come around, too much algae for fishing. If taking the kids, go down to the picnic areas along the stream. There are plenty of 1-2" sunfish for them to catch with a few 2-3" largemouth just for fun. Use a smaller hook and earthworms and you will be catching them all day long (or until the kids get board). My kids love it so please, catch and release the small ones and clean up after yourself.

This Lake is situated at the Fairfax Lake Park, which has right next to the Lake itself the water ride called the Water Mine. So you get a lot of people noise coming from the Water Mine amusement coming over to the Lake area. Also the Lake areas where you are going to be fishing has plenty of paddle boaters that come right up to your fishing lines. I think the paddle boaters are attracted to seeing the folks fishing and not knowing any better paddle right up to where you are casting. Yes, with all that paddle boat action, it easily spooks any fish in the Lake. Also, the Lake's own touring boat comes right along where your fishing as well. This is a very heavily used and noisy Lake, thus I think you have to come very early in the morning or late in the afternoon for any sort of fishing action. Today, only one little boy with his father caught a little crappie. It was his first fish as they walked back to the camping grounds across from the marina boat rental hut. Also the boat rental hut person mentioned that there is bass right in front of the hut to the right and pan fish to the left of the hut itself. He also mentioned right across the Lake as well where we went. Also note, lots of poison ivy on the trees and hanging down from the trees so watch where you are going along the dirt trails circling the Lake. You'll see also roots of like large diameter vines that were cut and sprayed on some of the trees. Those are poison ivy vines, died but still has the poison ivy oils in them. Don't touch. Other than that, no bites, weedy area across the Lake. Locals there said small mouth bass, and large mouth bass, and pan fish, but no one was pulling anything nor nibbles either. I tried bait and lures for about 3.5 hours and called it a day. Again heavily used Park and Lake. The parking lot fills up fast due to Water Mine Amusement park. I would not come here to fish unless very early or late in the day. Park is more geared to family outings, there is a carousel for the kids at the marina, and the Water Mine Amusement area. Very noisy Lake during the day for fishing.

I fished today from about 6pm to 7:30pm with my children. I really enjoyed it. We were walked around the side of the lake to where we were opposite the boat rental area. We caught 4 bass, ranging in size from 6 inches to 10 inches. It's close to home and the kids really enjoyed it too. I'm definitely coming back.

We found the area to feel very open and urban. After 3 hours of fishing the only catch was a small catfish. Using different bait each of us got next to no nibbles.

took the kids fishing there this past week from friday till wednesday. caught a lot of bass and panfish. The toppers of the week were a 5Lb largemouth and a 3Lber both caught on spinnerbaits. Most of the action has been on the topwater. Using a Heddon Torpedo or a spook works great. I will spend most of my day flipping between the topwater and a spinnerbait.