Lake Accotink Park, Springfield

Well, for starters, let me just say that this review is mostly about the fishing quality at lake Accotink. Accotink provides a fantastic carp fishing experience both on the lake and at the dam below. However, I've caught far more carp at the dam since it's smaller and more easy to locate the carp. I'm landing at least 4-6 carp every outing, which is about 3 hours each outing. Mostly from 2-4 lbs, but once in a while a big one surprizes me and runs out all of line. The biggest one I've caught was not weight but guessing I'd say an easy 15 lbs. but maybe more like 17 or 18. it was definitly over 30 inches, I did measure it but i can't remember if it was 34 or 36 inches. The bass fishing is difficult since the water clarity is poor at best and usually terrible since the carp stir up all the silt, dredging is fixing that problem though. The bass can get nice, it's not difficult to locate the big ones, 2-3 pounders, but there are lots of little ones running around. They're mainly feeding on the shad and like to chase them around afternoon hours around the rocky side adjacent to the marina and just before the dam. It's hardy to catch many bass, but silver rattle traps and white spinner baits with willow blades work wonders mimicing the shad. Try going behind the island where it's shallow, some bass like to school over there and you may be surprized about the numbers you'll see. there is a creek that runs into accotink and it's loaded with bass and bluegill, though mainly babies hang out there, you can see them schooling and some big ones come once in a while. top water frogs or dark plastics will definitly get a strike. Good luck - Danny