[Koi ponds around Northern Virginia?]

Looking to take my son out somewhere where he can fish for blue gill and be entertained while I fish for some koi. I figure carp fishing and the waters I like to go to aren't kid friendly, so I'm looking for someplace chill with walking paths and easy set-up or access, shallow water, etc.

I know of West Ridge off of Old Bridge road, but not sure what the population of koi is like. Any other ponds around Woodbridge, Dale City, Dumfries that have koi?

Going out Wednesday night with him for the first time this spring just dad and son. Going to grab some Mckey D's, set up chairs and poles at the water and just have a relaxed night fishing.

Will sweet corn work on koi? Or should I bring something else?

[Bollie/Doughball question]

I gotcha man. Sorry for the ignorance bud. I will give it a go for Friday with your suggestions. Thanks alot man. Can't wait to get out and give it a try.

[Bollie/Doughball question]

So you do use water at home, or not? By "chunk" do you just mean you take the oatmeal mix and peanut butter and roll them together into one batch and then separate it into balls at the lake? Or do you use a little water at home and then add as needed at the lake as you make individual balls?

[Bollie/Doughball question]

So should I put a small leader with the bead above a swivel so it doesn't slide and isn't too close to the hook?

I can try both covering the hook and doing the bead thing. Will mix up a batch for Friday and let you all know how it goes. Thanks for the advice fellas.

SoCal, still size 6 hook or would you upgrade one size up so the hook is slightly bigger? Also, what is the best way to mix the bait? Do you premake them or use water at the site to mold the oatmeal and add peanut butter in before rigging up?

[Bollie/Doughball question]

All,

Just curious as I heard this guy at a local pond tell me that oatmeal and peanut butter mix rock to catch carp there. If I am just fishing a basic sliding sinker rig (carolina style), how would I go about rigging a bait like that since the ball is bigger than a size 6 hook?

Would I just cover the hook so it's not exposed? Would I use a treble?

Haven't learned the hair rig yet and am just trying to keep it simple, but mix up the baits. Any simple rigs with common terminal tackle I can use for a bait like this on the bottom?

Thanks in advance.

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

Yesterday's fish. 12lbs 5ozs.

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

Carp spawning all freaking day in front of my buddy and I. So intimidating! Rolls non-stop with plenty in the 20+ range. Did manage a baby 3lber and a 12lb 5oz male.

The fight was pretty awesome though. Longest fight so far at about six minutes. Wicked fat and only 8ozs shy of a PB. Pics soon.

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

Alex, I see lots of carp over at Bull Run when bass fishing. Seems like the area to the left of the bridge has a lot of snags and the channel cuts around it too. Looks like a good spot. But, the cove to the right of the launch is where I always sight them.

What's the largest I can expect in that area and how hard are they to catch.

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

8lber

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

11lber

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

GW PB

[Afternoon Everyone :), I'm Back.]

Hello all, some of you all may not remember me as I've never really been as active a member as I wish I would have reflecting back. I've been off and on the forum probably about 3 - 4 years periodically (very limited) posting and lurking trying to learn about carp. I was always intimidated by the fish being caught and never quite seemed to grasp how to get started with carp despite all the great lessons these guys in here tried to teach me and info they tried to pass along.

I used to fish with Axel (a bit) way back in the day when a joint friend of ours worked at Lake Accotink and probably had most contact with him, but recently Pat Kerwin has got me very excited about carp fishing by being an absolute, cool guy and answering tons of general questions about our carp geography in the area and some other bits and pieces of relatable subject matter.

I've been lucky enough to be speaking to a few guys within the Northern Virginia FB group, who have also helped me get started.

When it really got going for me though and put me into full on carp addiction is a few weeks back when a trophy blue catfisherman friend of mine brought me to the GW Pkwy to fish for his prize fish. Well, it was going pretty slow most of the day, so he showed me how to set up a basic carp rig. I essentially tied on a carolina rig with a sliding sinker, threw a 8 - 10" leader on and put a few pieces of sweet corn on a size 6 hook. I ended up catching four carp in a very short amount of time (2 hours). The most fun day I've EVER had fishing (pics attached).

Since, I tried UOSA based on some rumors I heard of 30 +'s coming out of there (not so sure based on what I've seen in two attempts though). It is the Upper Occoquan Sewage Authority Lake/Pond off Centreville Road/28. I got my pass for the year and spent a day fishing the 125 - 150 yard stretch of accessible shoreline only getting a bunch of small carp. 6 below 2 lbs and one that went almost 4.

I tried Huntsman and landed a long male (based on what a buddy told me) that went 13lbs (pic also attached). This one was all length.

Outside of that I had a failed attempt yesterday at Fort Belvoir fishing around the pier and island and down into Accotink Bay based on a couple buddies of mine who work there saying crappie fishermen have hooked some big ones lately there.

Tomorrow I am headed back to GW and possibly the tidal basin depending on how the early morning action is. But, I had a few questions for you all as I'm looking for local spots to fish for carp that I can go to at night for a few hours after my kid goes to bed and won't run into trouble or have to pay to access.

Does Lake Terrapin have carp, and if so, what is the largest in there? I know I've personally caught bass 6 - 7lbs in there and my brother-in-law landed a trophy last summer. My buddy pulled a trophy cat out too last year. I have people SWEARING on FB that they are in there and decent sized.

I am also going to try Lake Cook per Pat's suggestion and keep focusing on swims in the Potomac River as well. Any ponds around Woodbridge I might be missing or good access spots to solid carp populations on the reservoir like Fountainhead, Lake Ridge, Hampton Road (the bridge there), Davis Ford Rd, Yates Ford Rd, etc?

Anyone know about Lakeside Apartments in Woodbridge? West Ridge (I know there are some small Koi here)?

Thanks for the help fellas. Want to try Terrapin tonight if anyone wants to get back to me by then. If anyone is interested, feel free to join me. We can coordinate. Good to be back, and this time... I plan on it being for GOOD! Ask Pat... I'm addicted Lol.