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Occoquan Reservoir Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Oct 23, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

A 2,100-acre Fairfax Water reservoir between Fairfax and Prince William counties, with a largemouth fishery Virginia DWR ranks best in its district.

4/5
Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.
Flow
4 cfs
Air / High
60 / 64 F
Wind
NE 9 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 01654000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view
Friday
23
October 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

4/5Good. Solid day ahead.Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Occoquan Reservoir offers the kind of conditions this water was made for. The nearest gauge is running 4 cfs, falling. Today brings a mixed sky, wind NE around 9 mph, steady pressure near 1026 hPa and a high of 64. Water sits around 74 F for the season (estimated). With the waxing gibbous, the solunar majors run 9:43 AM-11:43 AM and 10:12 PM-12:12 AM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Largemouth bassExcellent

The main feeding season after the spawn: work moving baits along weed edges, points and wood, and follow up with a soft plastic where a fish swirls.

Catfish (blue, channel)Excellent

Spawning season from late May into summer: Iowa DNR suggests drifting bait under a float along riprap and snags where males guard nests in cavities.

WalleyeExcellent

Summer pattern: nightcrawlers and leeches on rigs or jigs near bottom, trolled crankbaits to find scattered fish, and the shallows after dark in clear lakes.

CrappieGood

Early in this band crappie are spawning in protected coves; afterward they move to docks, brush piles and standing timber near deeper water.

Hybrid striped bassGood

Look for shad on flats with timber near creek channels and on windblown points; cast jigs and swimbaits where fish break the surface.

Tomorrow: Similar at 62 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Oct 24, 6:30 AMHow this report is made β†’

Before you go

Virginia requires a fishing licence from age 16, from $23.00 for residents. What a Virginia licence costs and where to buy it β†’

Chasing largemouth bass here? Check the size and bag limits with DWR before you keep anything. The season dates for Virginia, read off the agency, are on the Virginia seasons page.

Water and weather

Live readings from Accotink Creek near Annandale.

Flow, last 30 days

USGS gauge 01654000.

621722834 cfs09/2310/0310/1310/23

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp60 F
High / Low64 / 42 F
WindNE 9-13 mph
Pressure1025.9 hPa, steady
Sky / Rain55% cloud, 0%
Sunrise / Sunset07:26 / 18:19
MoonWaxing Gibbous, 91%
Water temp (gauge)53 F USGS
Water temp (seasonal)~74 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

5 AM8 AM11 AM2 PM5 PM8 PMsunrisesunsetPRIMEPRIME

Which day to fish Occoquan Reservoir this week

Today is the pick of the week on Occoquan Reservoir, at 4 out of 5.

Best day this week: today, Oct 23 β€” good at 4/5, steady pressure, neither help nor hindrance.

Today, Oct 23 β€” Good

Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Solunar majors
9:43 AM-11:43 AM and 10:12 PM-12:12 AM
Minor period
4:05 AM-5:05 AM
Sun
07:26 to 18:19
Moon
Waxing Gibbous, 91% lit
Sky and wind
Partly cloudy, 9 mph
Rain chance
0%

Forecast-based scores, less reliable further out: how the score is built.

Species guide

The species that matter on Occoquan Reservoir: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Largemouth bass illustration

Largemouth bass

Best: the spring pre-spawn and the fall feed

A warm-water sunfish of lakes, reservoirs, ponds and slow river backwaters that holds tight to cover: weeds, logs, rock ledges and docks. In Texas, TPWD surveys rank it "by far" the freshwater fish anglers most want to catch. The main feeding season after the spawn: work moving baits along weed edges, points and wood, and follow up with a soft plastic where a fish swirls.

Crappie illustration

Crappie

Best: the spring spawn; summer around docks, brush and the thermocline

Two slab-sided panfish, the white crappie and the black crappie, that gather around submerged timber, brush piles, docks and bridge pilings in lakes, reservoirs and slow river backwaters. Texas Parks and Wildlife counts crappie as the state's most popular panfish. Early in this band crappie are spawning in protected coves; afterward they move to docks, brush piles and standing timber near deeper water.

Catfish (blue, channel) illustration

Catfish (blue, channel)

Year-round, best at dusk and after dark

Three big catfish share most of the country's rivers and reservoirs: the channel catfish, the most widespread; the blue catfish, the largest; and the flathead, which hunts live fish. All feed mostly on or near the bottom. Spawning season from late May into summer: Iowa DNR suggests drifting bait under a float along riprap and snags where males guard nests in cavities.

Hybrid striped bass illustration

Hybrid striped bass

Best: the spring shad spawn and fall; summer at dawn and dusk

A hatchery cross of striped bass and white bass, also called wiper or palmetto bass, stocked by state agencies into reservoirs and rivers as a sport fish that also eats gizzard shad. Schools roam open water after shad. Look for shad on flats with timber near creek channels and on windblown points; cast jigs and swimbaits where fish break the surface.

Walleye illustration

Walleye

Best: spring and late fall, around dawn, dusk and night

A cool-water perch of large lakes, reservoirs and rivers whose reflective eyes are built for low light, so it feeds most at night and in murky water. The Missouri Department of Conservation ranks it among the continent's most important freshwater game fish. Summer pattern: nightcrawlers and leeches on rigs or jigs near bottom, trolled crankbaits to find scattered fish, and the shallows after dark in clear lakes.

When to come: the Occoquan Reservoir calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Largemouth bass
Crappie
Catfish (blue, channel)
Hybrid striped bass
Walleye
SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 74 F (estimated, not a reading).

5060708090JanMarMayJulSepNovOct, ~74 F now

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Occoquan Reservoir today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data
Thu, Oct 22

4/5 Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up. Largemouth bass led the card at excellent. High of 69 F, wind to 11 mph.

Wed, Oct 21

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Largemouth bass led the card at good. High of 68 F, wind to 8 mph.

Tue, Oct 20

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Largemouth bass led the card at good. High of 71 F, wind to 9 mph.

Where roughly, what depth, what bait. Skip anything you want to keep secret.
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Before you go

License

Virginia requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Virginia fishing license required. DWR lists for Occoquan: bass 5 per day; bluegill 50 per day combined; crappie 25 per day combined; catfish 20 per day per species. Gasoline motors up to 10 hp for anglers fishing from boats. Confirm in the current DWR freshwater regulations.

Access

Fountainhead Regional Park (10875 Hampton Road, Fairfax Station: ramp, seasonal rentals, fishing pier), Bull Run Marina Regional Park (Route 612, upper end) and Lake Ridge Park (Prince William County).

About this water

A 2,100-acre Fairfax Water Authority reservoir on the Occoquan River, on the line between Fairfax and Prince William counties, Virginia.

Fishing Occoquan Reservoir: the full guide

Fairfax Water's reservoir

Virginia DWR describes Occoquan Reservoir as a 2,100-acre Fairfax Water Authority impoundment that forms the boundary between Fairfax and Prince William counties. Management focuses on largemouth bass, bluegill and crappie; channel and flathead catfish and white perch are also present. Hybrid striped bass and walleye were stocked in the past, but DWR has discontinued those introductions.

Largemouth bass

DWR currently ranks Occoquan's largemouth bass fishery as the best in its district for catch rate of preferred fish over 15 inches.

Catfish

The reservoir held Virginia's previous state record flathead catfish, 66 lb 4 oz, caught by Mike Willems in May 1994, according to DWR. Channel catfish are also present.

Boats and access

Three marinas serve the reservoir: Fountainhead Park on Route 123 near Woodbridge, Bull Run Marina Regional Park on Route 612 at the upper end, and Lake Ridge Park in Prince William County. Anglers fishing from boats may use gasoline motors up to 10 horsepower. Fountainhead's ramp is open year-round, weather permitting, and the park rents kayaks, paddleboards and jon boats in season and has a fishing pier.

Common questions

What size motor can I use?

DWR says anglers fishing from boats may use gasoline motors up to 10 horsepower.

How does DWR rate the Occoquan bass?

DWR ranks the largemouth fishery best in its district for catch rate of fish over 15 inches.

Are there big catfish?

Flathead catfish are present; Occoquan produced Virginia's previous state record flathead, 66 lb 4 oz, in 1994.

Is fishing good at Occoquan Reservoir right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Good. Solid day ahead. Stable-to-falling pressure and workable wind line things up.

Nearby waters

Rappahannock River29 miPatuxent River38 miPotomac River40 miChesapeake Bay (Annapolis)49 miShenandoah River49 miLake Anna53 mi

Where this page's numbers come from

River and reservoir readings
USGS 01654000 β€” Accotink Creek near Annandale
Read from the USGS Water Data API (api.waterdata.usgs.gov). Latest value timestamped 2026-10-23 at 14:45 UTC.
Weather and pressure
Open-Meteo forecast model
Queried at 38.7200, -77.3300 in this water's own timezone. A model, not an observation.
Moon and solunar windows
Calculated on this site
Astronomical calculation from these coordinates and the date, not a third-party feed. How much weight it deserves.
Pages checked
The facts in the written guide were checked against these pages, from the agencies and operators that manage the water, on October 5, 2026. Anything we could not verify was taken out.
The written guide on this page
Pablo Ruiz Quintero
How this page was made. The daily report is computed by our scoring engine from live readings; nobody types it. The written text was drafted with AI assistance from the official pages listed above, and its facts were checked against those pages by automated verification on October 5, 2026; anything that could not be verified was taken out. Pablo Ruiz Quintero sets every guideline, the data-verification system and the minimum standards a page must meet to be published, reviews page structure and approves what goes live; the responsibility is his, and the AI carries out the work. We work this way because it is how one person can keep every page current with named sources. Errors are published in the verification log; the full policy is in the editorial policy.

Readings refresh on a 30-minute window. The full method, with every figure and its source, is on how our reports are made. Something wrong here? Tell us and it goes in the log with the date.