Henderson Lake, Virginia: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Henderson Lake in the Stafford County part of Virginia. What surrounds it is mixed woodland. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Stafford County list holds plenty of bigger water. The closest town, Falmouth, is 3.5 miles distant. Stafford is 4 miles away, with Southern Gateway at 4.2 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Henderson Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Across Stafford County, recorded fish include blueback herring, striped bass, tessellated darter, bluegill and American shad. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Henderson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 77°F; by January the average is down near 34°F. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. It holds true on Henderson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Launching is possible: a slipway lies 150 yards off. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Should this one be busy, Potomac Creek Site Two Lake is 1.9 miles off. None of that is settled for Henderson Lake in what we hold.