Fairfax County, VA · Lake
Burke Lake Park
218-acre Fairfax County lake stocked annually with muskellunge (since 1966 at ~2 fish per acre), walleye, and channel catfish. VA DWR manages it as a trophy muskie fishery — muskellunge are protected at a 40-inch minimum and one fish per day. Largemouth bass and crappie round out the warmwater fishery.
Live · updated
Top picks today
Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge & Chain Pickerel — tied at the top (23/100)
5 species tied for best of 6 tracked at Burke Lake Park.
Atmosphere
Water
Sun & Moon
Species at Burke Lake Park
6 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 5 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.
#1 Largemouth Bass Skip the Largemouth Bass trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Micropterus salmoides — Most popular gamefish in MD non-tidal waters. Ambush predator around cover — lily pads, submerged timber, docks, grass edges. Hits plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater across the season.
Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
Non-tidal VA: 5 per day in aggregate with smallmouth bass (can't combine to exceed 5 total). No statewide minimum size. Numerous water-specific exceptions: James River (Jackson/Cowpasture to Richmond fall line) has a 14–22 inch protected slot with only 1 fish/day over 22 in; New River (Fields Dam to VA-WV line) has the same slot; Shenandoah River (all forks) has an 11–14 inch protected slot; Lake Moomaw requires 12-inch minimum; Briery Creek has no 16-inch fish allowed. Check water-specific rules before keeping any fish.
Source: Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Crappie Skip the Crappie trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Pomoxis spp. — Covers both black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis). Schooling panfish around brush, docks, and submerged timber. Spring pre-spawn is the prime season — small minnows and 1/16-oz jigs are the go-to.
Prefers. Water 50–80°F (ideal 65°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 25
Non-tidal VA: 25 per day in aggregate (black + white crappie). No statewide minimum size. Several reservoirs impose a 9- or 10-inch minimum — Buggs Island (Kerr), Lake Gaston (which has no daily limit instead), Lake Anna, etc. More generous than MD (15/day) and narrower than DE (50/day aggregate panfish).
Source: Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Channel Catfish Skip the Channel Catfish trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.
Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 20
Non-tidal VA: 20 per day statewide, no minimum size. No daily limit in rivers below the fall line. Distinctly more generous than MD (5/day). Primary fisheries: James, Rappahannock, Shenandoah, Roanoke.
Source: Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Muskellunge Skip the Muskellunge trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Esox masquinongy — The "fish of 10,000 casts." MD's primary fisheries are Deep Creek Lake and the upper non-tidal Potomac. Apex freshwater predator that hits oversize glide baits, bucktails, and live suckers. Tiger muskie (musky × northern pike hybrid) regulated identically.
Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Min size
- 40"
- Daily creel
- 1
Non-tidal VA: 40-inch minimum statewide (higher than MD's 36-inch), 1 per day. The New River from Claytor Dam to the VA-WV state line has a seasonal protected slot: June 1–February 28, no muskie between 40 and 48 inches may be kept (so the effective legal size is 48+ in); March 1–May 31, the minimum rises to 48 inches. Primary fisheries: New River (world-class muskie water), Shenandoah, James below Columbia. Distinct from MD, which has no such slot.
Source: Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#1 Chain Pickerel Skip the Chain Pickerel trip today. In season 23/100
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Esox niger — Native toothy predator of mill ponds, blackwater rivers, and grassy shorelines — especially common on the Eastern Shore. Hits spinners, spoons, and minnow plugs aggressively. Cold-weather fishery when bass have shut down.
Prefers. Water 45–80°F (ideal 60°F) · either tide · depth 3–15 ft.
Last verified 51 days ago on 2026-04-22. Open source page →
- Daily creel
- 5
Non-tidal VA: 5 per day, no statewide minimum size. Lake Gaston and Buggs Island (Kerr Reservoir) have no daily limit. Less restrictive on size than MD (which requires 14-inch minimum).
Source: Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) regulations · verified 2026-04-22.
#6 Yellow Perch Check local Yellow Perch regulations before you keep one. Regs unverified 17/100
We don't have confirmed size, creel, or season rules for Yellow Perch in VA on file yet. The live conditions score still applies — but confirm the current regulations with your state agency before keeping any fish.
What's helping
- 8 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed
What's hurting
- incoming tide — yellow perch prefers slack tide
- Thunderstorms — get off the water immediately when storms approach
About. Perca flavescens — Late-winter and early-spring favorite. Schools up in tidal tributaries for the pre-spawn run in February and March, taking small minnows, shad darts, and small jigs. A classic Eastern Shore "neds" fishery.
Prefers. Water 45–70°F (ideal 58°F) · slack tide · depth 5–30 ft.
No regulations on file for Virginia non-tidal (VDWR) / non-tidal. Check the appropriate state agency directly before fishing.
Location Info
Water Body
Lake
Access
Pier, shore, and ramp
Jurisdiction
Virginia non-tidal (VDWR)
Coordinates
Notes
No private gas-powered boats — rental rowboats, canoes, paddleboats, and electric-motor boats only. Fee for parking and boat rentals. Anglers 16+ need a Virginia freshwater fishing license.
Local reports & rules for Burke Lake Park: Virginia DWR fishing & regulations → · trout stocking schedule → · fish-consumption advisory →
Nearby Access Points
Frequently Asked
Do I need a fishing license to fish at Burke Lake Park?
Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Burke Lake Park you need a Virginia freshwater fishing license issued by DWR (and a separate trout license for designated stocked trout waters October 1 through June 15). See the agency's current rules: https://dwr.virginia.gov/fishing/regulations/licenses/
What fish are commonly targeted at Burke Lake Park?
Burke Lake Park is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish, Muskellunge, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.
When is the best time to fish at Burke Lake Park?
It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Burke Lake Park against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.
What kind of access does Burke Lake Park have?
Burke Lake Park has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. No private gas-powered boats — rental rowboats, canoes, paddleboats, and electric-motor boats only. Fee for parking and boat rentals. Anglers 16+ need a Virginia freshwater fishing license.
Which state's fishing regulations apply at Burke Lake Park?
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) freshwater regulations apply at Burke Lake Park. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.
Is Burke Lake Park tidal water?
No. Burke Lake Park is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.
Is there parking or an entry fee at Burke Lake Park?
No private gas-powered boats — rental rowboats, canoes, paddleboats, and electric-motor boats only. Fee for parking and boat rentals. Anglers 16+ need a Virginia freshwater fishing license.