I had a few hours on Friday and decided to visit the Hemlock Overlook Park. I had been here on a recon a while back but had not fished it. I was anxious to see if the upper end of the Occoquan Reservoir was as good as it appeared.
I walked the half mile from the parking area down to the river and was startled to hear the raucous sounds of kids screaming and yelling with delight. A gaggle of kayakers and canoeists were working their way up the Occoquan River trail – clearly a school trip since this was after Labor Day. Given the noise of the voices that was punctuated with slapping paddles, I knew instantly the section of the creek was blown out.
Oh well, I was here. I waited for the group to pass and walked down the trail until I ran across some stacked canoes. After peeking at the river (waypoint 002 on the map), I realized there would be no wading downstream – the water was deep with high banks. I began fishing there and was encouraged by seeing some good-sized bass swimming near a fallen log. It took a while, but I finally convinced a nice one (12″) to fall victim to the Kent’s Stealth Bomber I was throwing. Encouraged by that, I began fishing upstream.
The bottom is pretty much sand, with a few large boulders scattered here and there. I hit the obvious deep spots with average results. Nothing big, but enough to make it interesting.
As I worked my way back up to the trailhead with the intent of continuing past it, I heard the echoes of the group returning. Rats. Not wanting to fish over the water they had disturbed, I gave up the ghost and headed home.
Bottom Line: Others have related how enjoyable fishing this section has been. Nothing big, but usually quiet and close to the main roads – it certainly is an alternative to Burke Lake just down the road.
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/hemlocktrack.jpg)
Getting There: From Route 123, turn west on VA-655/Clifton Road [there will be a sign for Hemlock]. Follow it to eventually turn left on Yates Ford Road [there will be a sign]. Follow it to the end.
Secrets Revealed? No. This is a very public location that is documented on the Fairfax County Park website
Tell a friend about this article by clicking on this link
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0086.jpg)
The gaggle heads upstream
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0087.jpg)
Don’t go farther than here.
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0088.jpg)
View downstream from the canoes… too deep to wade
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0089.jpg)
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0092.jpg)
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0093.jpg)
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0097.jpg)
The gaggle returns
![](https://switchfisher.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/DSCN0094.jpg)
Unless stated otherwise, this article was authored by Steve Moore