Where to Fish: Briery Creek Lake

By Frank Meade, Wintergreen Sporting Club

Briery Creek Lake is a big time largemouth bass fishery with incredible structure. Multiple state records.

Most people here seem to fish the banks and shallow water (5-10 ft) in the coves which can be productive especially when fish are on the nest. However, I am a fan of fishing the channels in some deeper water. Bouncing shaky heads off the bottom will catch fish. (Plan on a lot of snags and lost lures as they forgot to cut the pine tree forest before they dammed the creek 20 years ago.)

You will want to have an anchor for your kayak. I use a 5 ft chain from Home Depot (heaviest gauge they sell) with 35 ft of nylon rope to hold in place in the wind. Alternatively, you can tie up to stumps. A traditional anchor will get hung up on the bottom and have to be cut away. Note: There is risk if getting a submerged branch up a scupper hole. Happened twice to me in 25+ trips, but I was able to paddle off both times. This is not water you want to turtle in during cold conditions.

There is a lot of this lake that I have not explored. However, I have a honey hole where I can actually hop out of my kayak and wade in 1-3 ft of water and cast into 25 inches of water. There is a severe drop off and it holds fish.  This would work very well for fly fishermen with sinking tip line and/or weighted streamers.

Tip: Stop at Granny Bee’s on Abilene Road for breakfast, lunch, etc. Some good southern eats.

Briery Creek Lake

Details

Distance from Wintergreen: 1 hour 45 minutes

Water Type: 840 acre lake with standing timber and incredible structure.  Runs from 2 to 40 feet deep. Great wildlife.

Primary Game Fish: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Panfish, Catfish, Chain Pickerel

Recommended Lures/Flies: For largemouth bass: shaky head finesse worms (black grape by far my favorite) all year; hard plastic jerk baits in spring (shad); deep running crank baits (8-14’ down) in summer; weedless frogs for lily pads areas.

Very Kayak/Canoe Suitable

Website

http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=21

Directions: Rt 151S to 29S to 460E past Appomattox and toward Farmville to 15S for 3.9 miles, right on Abilene Road for 3.7 miles, left on Route 705 (just after 706), which is Lakeside Drive.  Follow this to end. This is the hand launch site which has 3-4 parking places and accesses my favorite fishing area. There are two public boat launches but I avoid those.